An epigenetic screening determines BET proteins as targets to suppress self-renewal and tumorigenicity in canine mammary cancer cells

Sci Rep. 2019 Nov 22;9(1):17363. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-53915-7.

Abstract

Targeting self-renewal and tumorigenicity has been proposed as a potential strategy against cancer stem cells (CSCs). Epigenetic proteins are key modulators of gene expression and cancer development contributing to regulation and maintenance of self-renewal and tumorigenicity. Here, we have screened a small-molecule epigenetic inhibitor library using 3D in vitro models in order to determine potential epigenetic targets associated with self-renewal and tumorigenicity in Canine Mammary Cancer (CMC) cells. We identified inhibition of BET proteins as a promising strategy to inhibit CMC colonies and tumorspheres formation. Low doses of (+)-JQ1 were able to downregulate important genes associated to self-renewal pathways such as WNT, NOTCH, Hedgehog, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, EGF receptor and FGF receptor in CMC tumorspheres. In addition, we observed downregulation of ZEB2, a transcription factor important for the maintenance of self-renewal in canine mammary cancer cells. Furthermore, low doses of (+)-JQ1 were not cytotoxic in CMC cells cultured in 2D in vitro models but induced G2/M cell cycle arrest accompanied by upregulation of G2/M checkpoint-associated genes including BTG2 and CCNG2. Our work indicates the BET inhibition as a new strategy for canine mammary cancers by modulating the self-renewal phenotype in tumorigenic cells such as CSCs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Azepines / pharmacology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Carcinogenesis / drug effects
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics*
  • Dog Diseases / genetics*
  • Dog Diseases / pathology
  • Dogs
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Epigenesis, Genetic* / drug effects
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Genetic Testing / methods
  • Indazoles / pharmacology
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / genetics*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / pathology
  • Multigene Family / genetics
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / physiology
  • Pyridones / pharmacology
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Triazoles / pharmacology

Substances

  • (+)-JQ1 compound
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Azepines
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • GSK343
  • Indazoles
  • Pyridones
  • Transcription Factors
  • Triazoles