Inhibition of Notch signaling reduces the stem-like cell population in T47D breast cancer cells and prevents mammosphere formation.

Abstract

Abstract Abstract #106 Breast cancer has been proposed as a stem cell-derived disorder based on studies identifying cancer stem cells (CSCs) in breast tumors and established cell lines. These self-renewing CSCs are thought to be responsible for breast cancer formation, progression and recurrence; therefore, a deeper understanding of the signaling pathways regulating CSC survival will benefit development of novel therapeutic strategies. Notch signaling, which is known to be dysregulated in breast cancer and has been implicated in mammary stem cell self-renewal, can be effectively blocked by gamma-secretase inhibitors (GSIs). While GSIs are currently in clinical trials for breast cancer, it is unclear how these compounds will affect CSCs or if CSCs from different breast cancer phenotypes (estrogen receptor-alpha (ER)-positive and negative) will be differentially affected. Here, we demonstrate stem-like cells derived from the T47D breast cancer cell line show elevated levels of Notch signaling, with an ER-negative subclone (T47D-C42) having higher intrinsic levels of Notch activity compared to an ER-positive subclone (T47D-A18). Blockade of Notch signaling with three structurally distinct GSIs reduced the number of stem-like cells, and completely abolished secondary mammosphere formation, which is a measure of stem cell self-renewal. Importantly, this effect was irreversible with MRK-003, but not with the two other GSIs. Moreover, our results suggest that the ER-negative cell line was more sensitive to the GSIs compared to the ER-positive line. This is consistent with our recent report that loss of estrogen signals results in Notch activation. These novel findings support a role for Notch signaling in CSC self-renewal and proliferation, and they suggest Notch inhibition may have clinical benefits in targeting CSCs. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 106.