Proteomic Profiling of the ECM of Xenograft Breast Cancer Metastases in Different Organs Reveals Distinct Metastatic Niches

Abstract

Metastasis causes most cancer-related deaths, and one poorly understood aspect of metastatic cancer is the adaptability of cells from a primary tumor to create new niches and survive in multiple, different secondary sites. We used quantitative mass spectrometry to analyze the extracellular matrix (ECM), a critical component of metastatic niches, in metastases to the brain, lungs, liver, and bone marrow, all derived from parental MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells. Tumor and stromal cells cooperated in forming niches; stromal cells produced predominantly core, structural ECM proteins and tumor cells produced a diverse array of ECM-associated proteins, including secreted factors and modulators of the matrix. In addition, tumor and stromal cells together created distinct niches in each tissue. Downregulation of SERPINB1, a protein elevated in brain metastases, led to a reduction in brain metastasis, suggesting that some niche-specific ECM proteins may be involved in metastatic tropism.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2020
Source ID
10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-2961

Entities

People

  • Alexandra Naba
  • Genevieve Abbruzzese
  • Janine S A Warren
  • Jess D Hebert
  • Richard O. Hynes
  • Samuel A. Myers
  • Steven A Carr

Organizations

  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • National Institutes of Health

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Oncology (Cancer Research).

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology