Papillary Cancer Cell Lines Research Articles

MAPK pathway and NIS in B-CPAP human papillary thyroid carcinoma cells treated with resveratrol

BackgroundResveratrol, a herbal phytoalexin, is known to have anti-tumor effects in several tumors including thyroid cancer cells. AimThe aim of this study was to determine the effects of resveratrol on the expression of BRAF, ERK and NIS mRNA levels and protein expression in B-CPAP human thyroid papillary cancer cell line. MethodsB-CPAP cells were treated with resveratrol at concentrations of 10–100 μM for 24–48–72 h. Cell viability was assessed by XTT Cell Proliferation Assay. BRAF, ERK and NIS mRNA levels were evaluated by rt-PCR method. Protein expressions were evaluated by Western Blot method. ResultsResveratrol was found to inhibit cell proliferation in a time and dose dependent manner. The IC50 values of resveratrol were 18.7 μM and 56.8 μM after 48 h and 72 h respectively. Resveratrol treatment of B-CPAP cells resulted in up to 1.5-fold reduction in BRAF mRNA and up to 5.5 fold reduction in ERK mRNA levels. NIS mRNA levels showed up to 3-fold increase. Western Blot studies confirmed the rt- PCR results with a decrease in BRAF and ERK, and increase in NIS protein expressions. ConclusionThis study demonstrated that resveratrol inhibits thyroid papillary carcinoma cell proliferation and reduces poor prognostic BRAF and ERK mRNA and protein expressions, while increasing NIS mRNA and protein expression suggesting a redifferentiating effect. More studies are needed to evaluate resveratrol as a novel therapeutic agent in the treatment of papillary thyroid cancer.

Extra-Cellular Vesicles Derived from Thyroid Cancer Cells Promote the Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and the Transfer of Malignant Phenotypes through Immune Mediated Mechanisms.

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer, and its incidence is increasing in many countries around the world. Among thyroid cancers, the papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) histotype is particularly prevalent. A small percentage of papillary tumors is associated with metastases and aggressive behavior due to de-differentiation obtained through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by which epithelial thyroid cells acquire a fibroblast-like morphology, reduce cellular adhesion, increase motility and expression of mesenchymal proteins. The tumor microenvironment plays an important role in promoting an aggressive phenotype through hypoxia and the secretion of HMGB1 and other factors. Hypoxia has been shown to drastically change the tumor cell phenotype and has been associated with increasing metastatic and migratory behavior. Cells transfer information to neighboring cells or distant locations by releasing extracellular membrane vesicles (EVs) that contain key molecules, such as mRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), and proteins, that are able to modify protein expression in recipient cells. In this study, we investigated the potential role of EVs released by the anaplastic cancer cell line CAL-62 in inducing a malignant phenotype in a papillary cancer cell line (BCPAP).

Abstract 4089: Thyroid tumor microenvironment: mutual interaction between cancer and inflammatory cells

Abstract Thyroid cancer is the most prevalent endocrine malignancy in the United States with an unacceptably high recurrence rate of 20-30%. Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs), one of the most critical component of solid tumor microenvironments, promote cancer initiation, growth, progression, metastasis and angiogenesis. These TAMs release cytokines as well as other secretory components like exosomes in the tumor microenvironment. Previously, we found that M1 polarized TAMs modulate thyroid cancer phenotype by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), facilitating tissue metastasis and dissemination. In our present study, we used an in vitro model system to assess the crosstalk between the secretory components of macrophages and the epithelial cells in the thyroid tumor microenvironment. We used THP-1 monocyte/macrophage cell line along with thyroid cancer cell lines: consisting of two papillary cancer cell lines (BCPAP and TPC-1), one anaplastic cancer cell line (8505C) and one follicular cancer cell line (CGTHW-1). We observed that activated THP-1 macrophages are polarized towards M1 phenotype, secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TGF-β, IL6, TNF-α, IL-1β, amongst others. These cytokines are responsible for halt in proliferation and change in morphology to mesenchymal phenotype promoting EMT in thyroid cancer cells. Similar pattern in phenotypical changes were noted in thyroid cancer cells treated with activated THP-1 macrophage exosomes. We also observed that EMT markers, such as vimentin and NFκ-B, are modulated in response to activated macrophage secreted exosomes. Moreover, secretory components from anaplastic thyroid cancer cells led to enhanced activation of THP-1 cells. These findings support a mutual cooperation between thyroid cancer cells and inflammatory cells in tumor microenvironment in defining thyroid cancer phenotype. Such correlation can identify early markers and prevent thyroid cancer differentiation, and are putative targets for therapy. Citation Format: Neha Yashpal Tuli, Robert B. Bednarczyk, Ghada M. Ben Rahoma, Augustine Moscatello, Jan Geliebter, Raj K. Tiwari. Thyroid tumor microenvironment: mutual interaction between cancer and inflammatory cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4089.

Abstract 2879: PIGU modulates radioactive iodine uptake in differentiated thyroid cancers

Abstract Radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment has a significant role in the management of differentiated thyroid carcinoma after surgical treatment. Although there is significant variability between patients, in response to RAI treatment, the mechanism responsible for this phenomenon is unknown. PIGU is an endoplasmic reticulum protein and a component of the GPIT complex, which plays a crucial role in post-translational modification of proteins such as sodium iodide symporter (NIS). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed significantly lower expression of PIGU in papillary carcinomas compared to matched normal thyroid tissue (P<0.001). To study the role of PIGU in RAI uptake of differentiated thyroid cancer, we stably expressed PIGU and mock plasmid in the papillary cancer cell line (K1-PIGU and K1, respectively). Immunofluorescence analysis showed a significant increase in perinuclear expression of PIGU in the K1-PIGU cancer cells compared to controls. Similarly, flow cytometry analysis showed a significant increase in membranous expression of NIS in PIGU transfected cancer cells compared to controls. There were no significant differences in proliferation, invasion or motility between K1-PIGU and K1 cell lines. PIGU expression significantly increased I125 uptake compared to controls both in vitro (1.13 and 1030 ppm, respectively, p< .001) and in vivo (153 and 1.2×105 ppm, respectively, p< .001). Mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibition showed clinically meaningful increases in iodine uptake and retention in a subgroup of patients with thyroid cancer that is refractory to radioiodine. To address the mechanism underlying PIGU down regulation in RAI resistant tumors, we treated K1 and KI-PIGU cells with U0126 MEK inhibitor. This inhibition resulted in a significant increase in PIGU expression and I125 uptake in vitro. Taken together, our results revealed a pivotal role for PIGU in RAI sensitivity of thyroid cancer cells, by modulation of NIS expression. Citation Format: MORAN AMIT, shorook Na’ara, Tomer Charas, Ziv gil. PIGU modulates radioactive iodine uptake in differentiated thyroid cancers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2879.

P65 - The role of HSP90 in Quercetin-induced apoptosis in human papillary thyroid (B-CPAP) cancer cells

As in many other cancers, genetic alterations that occur in genes encoding for key proteins of major signalling pathways are the driving force for the tumorigenesis of thyroid cancer. HSP90 is an emerging therapeutic target of interest for the treatment of cancer and is responsible for modulating cellular response to stress by maintaining the function of signalling proteins. In this study, we have worked with B-CPAP, a thyroid papillary cancer cell line which is known to have BRAF V600E mutation. We have administered the flavonoid Quercetin, which is known to induce apoptosis by inhibiting HSP production on various cancer cell lines, at different concentrations (between 10 and 75µM) for 24hours. We have measured cell viability using WST-1 assay. We found that the viability decreases in a dose dependent manner. Then, we chose Quercetin concentrations between 10-75µM for 24hours, for the apoptosis and cell cycle analysis in flow cytometry by Annexin V and propidium iodide. We have also applied Hoechst stain to cancer cells for visualizing them on fluorescence microscopy and confirmed apoptosis with the presence of apoptotic signs in nuclei of cancer cells. Finally, we used Western blotting to compare HSP90 and Cleaved-PARP levels in cells treated with Quercetin and the control group. In the light of the obtained data, our results suggest that in future studies it would be useful to investigate the apoptotic mechanisms of Quercetin and use combinational therapies on BCPAP cells.Supported by Marmara University Scientific Research Commission (SAG-C-TUP-130313-0063)

Abstract 1107: Tumor microenvironment based modulation of thyroid cancer phenotype

Abstract Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the progression of solid malignant tumor with studies showing that the presence of specific inflammatory-immune cells, such as macrophages, at the tumor site leads to poor prognosis. M1 polarized macrophages secrete pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines which induce an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumor cells; a process where epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal traits, thus facilitating tissue infiltration and consequent metastasis. EMT as a marker of cancer progression is understudied in thyroid cancer. In our present study, we evaluated the crosstalk between the macrophages and the epithelial cells in the thyroid tumor microenvironment with the use of an in vitro model system consisting of an immortalized thyroid cell line (Nthy-ori 3-1), three papillary cancer cell lines (BCPAP, 8505C and TPC-1) and one follicular cancer cell line (CGTHW-1). We observed the halt in proliferation of the thyroid cancer cells as the epithelial cells differentiate into mesenchymal cells under the influence of activated macrophage conditioned media. We also observed a statistically significant (p<0.05) upregulation of migration and invasion of thyroid tumor cells in presence of macrophage conditioned media. Using nuclear and cytoplasmic extracts from the thyroid cancer cell lines, we observed that EMT markers including E-cadherin, β-catenin, vimentin, NFk-B, snail, slug and twist are modulated in response to activated macrophage conditioned media. Downregulation of E-cadherin, required for maintenance of stable junction and β-catenin essential for cell-cell adhesion was noticed in response to macrophage conditioned media. Transcription factors like NFk-B, snail and slug were translocated to the nucleus, which is indicative of the initiation of EMT. Our data provides evidence that macrophage secreted proteins play a crucial role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition in thyroid tumor advancement and metastasis. We have successfully identified some significant markers including transcription factors such as NFk-B, slug, twist and snail that play a critical role in the induction of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in thyroid cancer. These findings will allow for the possible development of targeted therapy designed at inhibiting EMT and subsequent suppression of thyroid cancer metastasis and dissemination. Citation Format: Neha Y. Tuli, Jonathan Cabin, Robert Suriano, Robert Bednarczyk, Elyse Hanly, Jan Geliebter, Edward Shin, Raj K. Tiwari. Tumor microenvironment based modulation of thyroid cancer phenotype. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1107. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1107

Non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma inhibits thyroid papillary cancer cell invasion via cytoskeletal modulation, altered MMP-2/-9/uPA activity.

Plasma, the fourth state of matter, is defined as a partially or completely ionized gas that includes a mixture of electrons and ions. Advances in plasma physics have made it possible to use non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (NTP) in cancer research. However, previous studies have focused mainly on apoptotic cancer cell death mediated by NTP as a potential cancer therapy. In this study, we investigated the effect of NTP on invasion or metastasis, as well as the mechanism by which plasma induces anti-migration and anti-invasion properties in human thyroid papillary cancer cell lines (BHP10-3 and TPC1). Wound healing, pull-down, and Transwell assays demonstrated that NTP reduced cell migration and invasion. In addition, NTP induced morphological changes and cytoskeletal rearrangements, as detected by scanning electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry. We also examined matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/-9 and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) activity using gelatin zymography, uPA assays and RT-PCR. FAK, Src, and paxillin expression was detected using Western blot analyses and immunocytochemistry. NTP decreased FAK, Src, and paxillin expression as well as MMP/uPA activity. In conclusion, NTP inhibited the invasion and metastasis of BHP10-3 and TPC1 cells by decreasing MMP-2/-9 and uPA activities and rearranging the cytoskeleton, which is regulated by the FAK/Src complex. These findings suggest novel actions for NTP and may aid in the development of new therapeutic strategies for locally invasive and metastatic cancers.

The Role of Macrophage‐Induced Inflammation in Thyroid Cancer Progression

Objectives: Tumor microenvironment, specifically inflammation-mediated molecular changes, define tumor phenotype. Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the commonest thyroid cancer and those with tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) portend a poorer prognosis and higher metastatic propensity. Since epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is closely linked to metastasis, in this study we examine the cross-talk between macrophages and epithelial cells in modulating metastatic propensity. The aims of this study are to: 1) investigate ability of the macrophages to induce EMT in PTC, and 2) assess functional changes in PTC in their invasive properties. Methods: In this in vitro study performed in January 2013, normal thyrocytes (NThy-ori 3-1) and two papillary cancer cell lines (BCPAP and 8505C,) were treated with either physiologic media (PM) or macrophage conditioned media (MCM) and nuclear and cytoplasmic extracts were obtained. Western blot analysis was performed for expression of EMT markers including slug, twist and snail. Cell morphology, migration and invasion assays were also performed to examine in vitro phenotypic characteristics of tumor cells. Results: EMT markers were modulated in thyroid cells in response to MCM which potentially lead to changes in in vitro phenotypic characteristics of cells including statistically significant (p<.05) upregulation of migration and invasion. Conclusions: Secreted molecules from macrophages lead to EMT as well as increased migratory and invasive properties in PTC. Validation of these findings in human PTC samples is underway to define the clinical relevance the phenotypic changes.

Abstract 638: PBF overexpression causes increased p53 ubiquitination and degradation via MDM2.

Abstract The pituitary tumor-transforming gene-binding factor (PBF) is a relatively uncharacterised proto-oncogene, which is overexpressed in thyroid tumours. PBF elicits tumor growth in nude mice, whilst thyroid targeted transgenic overexpression in the PBF-Tg mouse induces hyperplasia and macrofollicular lesions, accompanied by induction of the E2 ubiquitin ligase Rad6. Our previous unpublished data showed that PBF binds to p53, and reduces stimulation of downstream target genes by competitive binding. Further, half-life studies of p53 showed reduced p53 stability when PBF was overexpressed in K1 and TPC-1 thyroid papillary cancer cell lines, and ubiquitination assays confirmed this was due to increased ubiquitination and subsequent degradation by the proteasome. Now, GST pull-down assays demonstrate direct binding between PBF and MDM2, the principal negative regulator of p53. The competitive inhibitor of p53-MDM2 binding, Nutlin-3, revealed that the increased degradation of p53 observed when PBF was overexpressed was mediated by MDM2. No change in p53-MDM2 binding stringency was detected when PBF expression was ameliorated by siRNA treatment, and MDM2 subcellular localisation was unchanged by PBF overexpression. However, co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed that PBF specifically interacts with Rad6, which has previously been shown to regulate p53 ubiquitination. Further, PBF-Tg mice demonstrated significantly induced genetic instability at 6 weeks of age, as determined by FISSR-PCR. Thus we propose that aberrantly expressed PBF functionally inactivates p53 via a complex interplay between Rad6 and MDM2, thus promoting genetic instability and tumorigenesis. Our studies, carried out in a panel of thyroid and colorectal cells lines, suggest this may be pertinent not only to thyroid cancer, but to colorectal and other tumour types. Citation Format: Gavin Ryan, Robert Seed, Martin Read, Jim Fong, Andrew Turnell, Vicki Smith, Jayne Franklyn, Christopher McCabe, Kristien Boelaert. PBF overexpression causes increased p53 ubiquitination and degradation via MDM2. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 638. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-638

HMGB1 induces the overexpression of miR-222 and miR-221 and increases growth and motility in papillary thyroid cancer cells

Experimental and epidemiological studies have revealed that chronic inflammation contributes to cancer progression and even predisposes to cellular transformation. Inflammatory infiltrates in papillary thyroid cancer include lymphocytes, macrophages and cytokines. High-mobility group box1 protein (HMGB1) is a late inflammatory cytokine that signals danger to the immune system through the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) and Toll-like receptor. The activation of the above receptors results in the secretion of growth, chemotactic and angiogenic factors that contribute to chronic inflammation. In this study, we suggest that apart from the activation of signal transduction pathways by the activation of RAGE, the indirect inhibition of cell cycle regulators [such as phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)] may also cause an increase in cell growth and motility. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have increasingly been implicated in regulating the malignant progression of cancer. MiR-221 and miR-222 have been found to be deregulated in human papillary thyroid carcinomas. They are involved in cell proliferation through the inhibition of the cell cycle regulator, p27kip1, in human papillary carcinomas. In this study, we show that HMGB1 increases the expression of miR-221 and miR-222 in primary cultures of excised papillary lesions and in an established papillary cancer cell line (BCPAP). The overexpression of oncogenic miR-221 and miR-222 caused by HMGB1 is associated with an increase in malignancy scores, namely cell growth and motility.

Modulation of matrix metalloproteinase activity in human thyroid cancer cell lines using demethylating agents and histone deacetylase inhibitors

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of treating human thyroid cancer cell lines with demethylating agents and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors to see if they would downregulate expression and activity of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, resulting in inhibition of growth and invasion. A total of 1 papillary cancer cell line (TPC-1) and 3 follicular thyroid cancer cell lines (FTC-133, FTC-236, and FTC-238) were treated with the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine (5-AZC) and the HDAC inhibitors trichostatin A (TSA) and valproic acid (VA). The activity of MMP proteins was determined using gelatin zymography, and commercially available assays were used to quantify growth inhibition and thyroid cancer cell invasion. Treatment with TSA and VA resulted in decreased protein activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in all cell lines in a dose-dependent manner after 48 hours of treatment compared with untreated controls. In addition, 5-, TSA, and VA caused inhibition of growth in the range of 25-80% for all cell lines at 24, 48, and 72 hours. VA and TSA significantly decreased cell invasion in the FTC-133 and TPC-1 cell lines. The HDAC inhibitors TSA and VA decreased the protein activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and, in combination with the demethylating agent 5-AZC, inhibited cellular growth in human papillary and follicular thyroid cancer cell lines. These results elucidate our understanding of the pathways affected by the demethylating agents and HDAC inhibitors, and provide further evidence that MMPs are a potentially useful target for molecular therapies in patients with aggressive or refractory thyroid cancers.

Activation of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase gene promoter by hepatocyte nuclear factor-1beta in human papillary thyroid cancer cells.

We previously demonstrated that the human nicotinamide N-methytransferase (NNMT) gene was highly expressed in many papillary thyroid cancers and cell lines. The expression in other papillary and follicular cancers or cell lines and normal thyroid cells was low or undetectable. To gain an understanding of the molecular mechanism of this cell-specific expression, the NNMT promoter was cloned and studied by luciferase reporter gene assay. The promoter construct was expressed highly in papillary cancer cell lines, including those with higher (e.g. BHP 2-7) and lower (e.g. BHP 14-9) NNMT gene expression, and expressed weakly in follicular thyroid cancer cell lines. Further study with 5'-deletion promoter construct suggested that the NNMT promoter was regulated differently in BHP 2-7 and BHP 14-9 cells. In BHP 2-7 cells, promoter activity was dependent on an upstream sequence. In BHP 14-9 cells, sequence in the basal promoter region contributed notably to the overall promoter activity. RT-PCR or Western blot analysis indicated that hepatocyte nuclear factor-1beta (HNF-1beta) was expressed in only papillary cancer cell lines with high NNMT gene expression. HNF-1beta was not expressed or expressed very weakly in other papillary, follicular, and Hurthle cancer cell lines and primary cultures of normal thyroid cells and benign thyroid conditions. A HNF-1 binding site was identified in the NNMT basal promoter region. Mutations in this site decreased NNMT promoter activity in the HNF-1beta-positive BHP 2-7 cells, but not in the HNF-1beta-negative BHP 14-9 cells. HNF-1beta bound to the HNF-1 site specifically as a homodimer as determined by gel retardation assays with HNF-1beta-specific antibody. Cotransfection of a HNF-1beta expression plasmid increased NNMT promoter activity significantly in both HNF-1beta-positive and -negative thyroid cancer cell lines and Hep G2 liver cancer cells. Furthermore, transient expression of HNF-1beta in BHP 14-9 cells increased endogenous NNMT protein levels. In summary, HNF-1beta functions as a transcription activator for NNMT gene expression in some papillary thyroid cancer cells.

15-Deoxy-delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 induces apoptosis of a thyroid papillary cancer cell line (CG3 cells) through increasing intracellular iron and oxidative stress.

Treatment of carcinoma cell lines with 15-deoxy-delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), a natural ligand of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, has been reported to induce apoptosis and/or inhibit proliferation. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic effect and the action mechanisms of 15d-PGJ2 in a thyroid papillary cancer cell line, CG3. The results indicate that 15d-PGJ2 caused cytotoxicity and increased the amount of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in these cells. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors (carbonyl cyanide m-chloro-phenylhydrazone, oligomycin, cyclosporin A and rotenone), NADPH oxidase inhibitor (diphenyleneiodonium), xanthine oxidase inhibitor (allopurinol) and NO synthase inhibitor (N-monomethyl-L-arginine acetate) did not reduce the generation of ROS. However, catalase, N-acetyl-cysteine and the iron chelator desferri-oxamine decreased the intracellular ROS of 15d-PGJ2-treated CG3 cells. Furthermore, 15d-PGJ2 enhanced the accumulation of iron in the CG3 cells. These data suggest that 15d-PGJ2 induces the generation of ROS by enhancing the accumulation of intracellular iron and that the increased oxidative stress may cause apoptosis of CG3 cells.

High frequency deletion of the tumour suppressor gene P16 INK4a (MTS1) in human thyroid cancer cell lines

p16 INK4a (MTS1) is an important negative regulator of mammalian cell proliferation, acting via inhibition of CDK4/cyclin D-dependent phosphorylation of pRb to prevent progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Loss of p16 activity by either gene deletion, mutation or transcriptional inactivation has now been found in a wide range of human cancers of both epithelial and mesenchymal origin, at a frequency rivalling that of p53 mutation. As a first step towards investigating its possible role as a tumour suppressor gene in thyroid tumorigenesis, we have carried out a Southern blot analysis of the p16 gene locus in a series of cell lines derived from differentiated human thyroid cancers. Homozygous deletion of the entire p16 coding sequence was observed in two of three follicular and two of four papillary cancer cell lines, but not in normal tissue or normal cells immortalised by SV40 T antigen. Given the co-existence of p16 abnormalities in primary tumours and cell lines observed in other tumour types. this high frequency of deletion suggests that p16 is a key tumour suppressor gene in the genesis of differentiated thyroid cancer.