Activation of Canonical BMP4-SMAD7 Signaling Suppresses Breast Cancer Metastasis
Abstract
Metastasis is the major cause of death in patients with cancer; with no therapeutic cure, treatments remain largely palliative. As such, new targets and therapeutic strategies are urgently required. Here, we show that bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4) blocks metastasis in animal models of breast cancer and predicts improved survival in patients. In preclinical models of spontaneous metastasis, BMP4 acted as an autocrine mediator to modulate a range of known metastasis-regulating genes, including Smad7, via activation of canonical BMP-SMAD signaling. Restored BMP4 expression or therapeutically administered BMP4 protein, blocked metastasis and increased survival by sensitizing cancer cells to anoikis, thereby reducing the number of circulating tumor cells. Gene silencing of Bmp4 or its downstream mediator Smad7, reversed this phenotype. Administration of recombinant BMP4 markedly reduced spontaneous metastasis to lung and bone. Elevated levels of BMP4 and SMAD7 were prognostic for improved recurrence-free survival and overall survival in patients with breast cancer, indicating the importance of canonical BMP4 signaling in the suppression of metastasis and highlighting new avenues for therapy against metastatic disease.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Mar 13, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-0743
Entities
People
- Allan D. Burrows
- Andrew D. Redfern
- Belinda S. Parker
- Bruce Latham
- Erica K. Sloan
- Lap Hing Chi
- Naoto T Ueno
- Peter Lau
- Robin L. Anderson
- Sherene Loi
- Suraya Roslan
- Yuan Cao
Organizations
- Cancer Council Victoria
- Cancer Research Institute
- Fiona Stanley Hospital
- La Trobe University
- Monash University
- National Health and Medical Research Council
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
- University of Melbourne
- University of Texas at Austin
- University of Western Australia