Cellular plasticity confers cancer cells the ability to adapt to micro-environmental changes, a fundamental requirement for tumour progression and metastasis. The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a transcriptional programme associated with increased cell motility and stemness. Beside EMT, the mesenchymal to amoeboid transition (MAT) has been described during tumour progression but, to date, little is known about its transcriptional control and involvement in stemness. The aim of this study is to investigate (i) the transcriptional profile associated with the MAT programme and (ii) to study whether MAT acquisition in melanoma cancer cells correlate with clonogenic potential to promote tumor growth. Our results demonstrate that MAT programme in melanoma is characterised by increased stemness and clonogenic features of cancer cells, thus sustaining tumour progression. Furthermore, these data suggest that stemness is not an exclusive feature of cells undergoing EMT, but more generally is associated with an increase in cellular plasticity of cancer cells.
Mesenchymal to amoeboid transition is associated with stem-like features of melanoma cells.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Integrated gene and miRNA expression analysis of prostate cancer associated fibroblasts supports a prominent role for interleukin-6 in fibroblast activation.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesTumor microenvironment coevolves with and simultaneously sustains cancer progression. Reactive fibroblasts found in prostate cancer (PCa), known as cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF), have been indeed shown to fuel tumor development and metastasis by mutually interacting with PCa cells. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that lead to activation of CAFs from tissue-resident fibroblasts, circulating marrow-derived fibroblast progenitors or mesenchymal stem cells. Through integrated gene and microRNA expression profiling, here we showed that transcriptome of CAFs isolated from prostate tumors strictly resembles that of normal fibroblasts stimulated in vitro with interleukin-6 (IL6), thus confirming the capability of the cytokine to promote acquisition of an activated and cancer-promoting phenotype, and, for the first time, proving that IL6 is able per se to induce all the complex transcriptional changes characteristic of patient-derived CAFs. Comparison with publicly available datasets, however, suggested that prostate CAFs may be alternatively characterized by IL6 and TGF-related signatures, indicating that either signal, depending on the context, tumor stage and etiology, may concur to fibroblast activation. Our analyses also highlighted pathways relevant for induction of reactive stroma, including genes the role of which in fibroblast activation is still to be explored. In addition, we revealed a role for muscle-specific miR-133b as a soluble factor secreted by activated fibroblasts to support paracrine activation of non-activated fibroblasts or promote tumor progression. Overall, in this study we provided insights on the molecular mechanisms driving fibroblast activation in prostate cancer, thus contributing to identify novel hits for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the crucial interplay between tumor cells and their microenvironment. Tumor microenvironment coevolves with and simultaneously sustains cancer progression. Reactive fibroblasts found in prostate cancer (PCa), known as cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF), have been indeed shown to fuel tumor development and metastasis by mutually interacting with PCa cells. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that lead to activation of CAFs from tissue-resident fibroblasts, circulating marrow-derived fibroblast progenitors or mesenchymal stem cells. Through integrated gene and microRNA expression profiling, here we showed that transcriptome of CAFs isolated from prostate tumors strictly resembles that of normal fibroblasts stimulated in vitro with interleukin-6 (IL6), thus confirming the capability of the cytokine to promote acquisition of an activated and cancer-promoting phenotype, and, for the first time, proving that IL6 is able per se to induce all the complex transcriptional changes characteristic of patient-derived CAFs. Comparison with publicly available datasets, however, suggested that prostate CAFs may be alternatively characterized by IL6 and TGF-related signatures, indicating that either signal, depending on the context, tumor stage and etiology, may concur to fibroblast activation. Our analyses also highlighted pathways relevant for induction of reactive stroma, including genes the role of which in fibroblast activation is still to be explored. In addition, we revealed a role for muscle-specific miR-133b as a soluble factor secreted by activated fibroblasts to support paracrine activation of non-activated fibroblasts or promote tumor progression. Overall, in this study we provided insights on the molecular mechanisms driving fibroblast activation in prostate cancer, thus contributing to identify novel hits for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the crucial interplay between tumor cells and their microenvironment. Tumor microenvironment coevolves with and simultaneously sustains cancer progression. Reactive fibroblasts found in prostate cancer (PCa), known as cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF), have been indeed shown to fuel tumor development and metastasis by mutually interacting with PCa cells. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that lead to activation of CAFs from tissue-resident fibroblasts, circulating marrow-derived fibroblast progenitors or mesenchymal stem cells. Through integrated gene and microRNA expression profiling, here we showed that transcriptome of CAFs isolated from prostate tumors strictly resembles that of normal fibroblasts stimulated in vitro with interleukin-6 (IL6), thus confirming the capability of the cytokine to promote acquisition of an activated and cancer-promoting phenotype, and, for the first time, proving that IL6 is able per se to induce all the complex transcriptional changes characteristic of patient-derived CAFs. Comparison with publicly available datasets, however, suggested that prostate CAFs may be alternatively characterized by IL6 and TGF-related signatures, indicating that either signal, depending on the context, tumor stage and etiology, may concur to fibroblast activation. Our analyses also highlighted pathways relevant for induction of reactive stroma, including genes the role of which in fibroblast activation is still to be explored. In addition, we revealed a role for muscle-specific miR-133b as a soluble factor secreted by activated fibroblasts to support paracrine activation of non-activated fibroblasts or promote tumor progression. Overall, in this study we provided insights on the molecular mechanisms driving fibroblast activation in prostate cancer, thus contributing to identify novel hits for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the crucial interplay between tumor cells and their microenvironment.
Integrated gene and miRNA expression analysis of prostate cancer associated fibroblasts supports a prominent role for interleukin-6 in fibroblast activation.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
PKC-alpha modulation by miR-483-3p in platinum-resistant ovarian carcinoma cells.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesResistance to platinum compounds represents a major obstacle to the cure of ovarian carcinoma. The molecular profiling of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cells may be helpful to clarify if altered gene expression can contribute to the drug-resistant phenotype. The expression pattern of three ovarian carcinoma cell lines was examined. The analysis revealed the modulation of several genes in the two platinum-resistant cell lines as compared to parental platinum-sensitive cells. The integration of the information obtained through gene expression analysis may be useful to clarify the specific molecular alterations of factors and pathway favouring survival of tumor cells.
PKC-alpha modulation by miR-483-3p in platinum-resistant ovarian carcinoma cells.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesWe aimed at analyzing the transcriptome changes associated with SPOP mutation in DU145 cells
SPOP Deregulation Improves the Radiation Response of Prostate Cancer Models by Impairing DNA Damage Repair.
Cell line
View SamplesThe study was aimed at identifying genes directly or indirectly regulated by miR-205 in the prostate. To this purpose, DU145 prostate cancer cells, which express miR-205 at very low levels, were transfected with miR-205 synthetic precursor and consequent alterations of gene expression analyzed using a microarray approach.
miR-205 Exerts tumor-suppressive functions in human prostate through down-regulation of protein kinase Cepsilon.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesLocated in the perisinusoidal space of Disse, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) communicate with all other liver cell types by physical association and / or by producing cytokines and chemokines. In liver disease and folllowing liver transplantation, elevated levels of endotoxin (bacterial lipopolysaccharide: LPS) stimulate HSCs to produce increased amounts of cytokines and chemokines. Transcriptomic analysis of cultured HSCs stimulated with LPS yields a survey of expression changes which potentially modulate the hepatic inflammatory and immune responses.
The transcriptomic response of rat hepatic stellate cells to endotoxin: implications for hepatic inflammation and immune regulation.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
LEADeR role of miR-205 host gene as long noncoding RNA in prostate basal cell differentiation.
Cell line
View SamplesWe aimed at analyzing the transcriptome changes associated with the deletion of a portion of the Alu element from MIR205HG transcript
LEADeR role of miR-205 host gene as long noncoding RNA in prostate basal cell differentiation.
Cell line
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