[en] Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) processes endow epithelial cells with enhanced migratory/invasive properties and are therefore likely to contribute to tumor invasion and metastatic spread. Because of the difficulty in following EMT processes in human tumors, we have developed and characterized an animal model with transplantable human breast tumor cells (MDA-MB-468) uniquely showing spontaneous EMT events to occur. Using vimentin as a marker of EMT, heterogeneity was revealed in the primary MDA-MB-468 xenografts with vimentin-negative and vimentin-positive areas, as also observed on clinical human invasive breast tumor specimens. Reverse transcriptase-PCR after microdissection of these populations from the xenografts revealed EMT traits in the vimentin-positive zones characterized by enhanced 'mesenchymal gene' expression (Snail, Slug and fibroblast-specific protein-1) and diminished expression of epithelial molecules (E-cadherin, ZO-3 and JAM-A). Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) were detected in the blood as soon as 8 days after s.c. injection, and lung metastases developed in all animals injected as examined by in vivo imaging analyses and histology. High levels of vimentin RNA were detected in CTCs by reverse transcriptase-quantitative PCR as well as, to a lesser extent, Snail and Slug RNA. Von Willebrand Factor/vimentin double immunostainings further showed that tumor cells in vascular tumoral emboli all expressed vimentin. Tumoral emboli in the lungs also expressed vimentin whereas macrometastases displayed heterogenous vimentin expression, as seen in the primary xenografts. In conclusion, our data uniquely demonstrate in an in vivo context that EMT occurs in the primary tumors, and associates with an enhanced ability to intravasate and generate CTCs. They further suggest that mesenchymal-to-epithelial phenomena occur in secondary organs, facilitating the metastatic growth
Disciplines :
Biochemistry, biophysics & molecular biology
Author, co-author :
Bonnomet, Arnaud
Syne, Laïdya ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Biologie cellulaire et moléculaire appliquée à l'homme
Brysse, Anne ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Labo de biologie des tumeurs et du développement
Feyereisen, Emilie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Radiothérapie
Thompson, E. W.
Noël, Agnès ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Biologie cellulaire et moléculaire appliquée à l'homme
Foidart, Jean-Michel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Gynécologie - Obstétrique
Birembaut, Philippe
Polette, Myriam
Gilles, Christine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Labo de biologie des tumeurs et du développement
Language :
English
Title :
A dynamic in vivo model of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions in circulating tumor cells and metastases of breast cancer.
Publication date :
2012
Journal title :
Oncogene
ISSN :
0950-9232
eISSN :
1476-5594
Publisher :
Nature Publishing Group, Basingstoke, United Kingdom
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