Epithelial-mesenchymal transition sensitizes breast cancer cells to cell death via the fungus-derived sesterterpenoid ophiobolin A

Sci Rep. 2021 May 20;11(1):10652. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-89923-9.

Abstract

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) imparts properties of cancer stem-like cells, including resistance to frequently used chemotherapies, necessitating the identification of molecules that induce cell death specifically in stem-like cells with EMT properties. Herein, we demonstrate that breast cancer cells enriched for EMT features are more sensitive to cytotoxicity induced by ophiobolin A (OpA), a sesterterpenoid natural product. Using a model of experimentally induced EMT in human mammary epithelial (HMLE) cells, we show that EMT is both necessary and sufficient for OpA sensitivity. Moreover prolonged, sub-cytotoxic exposure to OpA is sufficient to suppress EMT-imparted CSC features including sphere formation and resistance to doxorubicin. In vivo growth of CSC-rich mammary cell tumors, is suppressed by OpA treatment. These data identify a driver of EMT-driven cytotoxicity with significant potential for use either in combination with standard chemotherapy or for tumors enriched for EMT features.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition* / drug effects
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition* / genetics
  • Female
  • Fungi / chemistry*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Sesterterpenes / pharmacology*
  • Twist-Related Protein 1 / metabolism

Substances

  • MIRN200 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Sesterterpenes
  • TWIST1 protein, human
  • Twist-Related Protein 1
  • ophiobolin A
  • Doxorubicin