Hyperactive growth factor receptor signaling remains active in many tumors that resist current therapies. The drosophila Dac gene was cloned as a dominant inhibitor of the hyperactive EGFR (eclipse). The RDGN genetic network, consisting of the dachshund (dac), eyes absent (eya), eyeless, and sine oculis (so) genes, regulates cell fate determination in metazoans. Our analysis of over 2,000 patients demonstrated increased nuclear DACH1 expression correlated inversely with cellular mitosis and predicted a ~40 month improved breast cancer patient survival. We have shown DACH1 inhibits oncogene-mediated breast oncogenesis, blocking breast cancer epithelial cell DNA synthesis, colony formation, growth in matrigel and tumor growth in mice. Genetic deletion of DACH1 in the mouse results in perinatal lethality. To determine the molecular mechanisms by which DACH1 inhibits mammary tumorigenesis and to determine to functional significance of DACH1 in vivo we will:
Aim 1. Determine the mechanisms governing DACH1/Eya inhibition of breast tumor cellular proliferation. We will determine the DACH1 binding proteins governing breast tumor growth we will characterize these components in human breast cancer and investigate allelic inactivation of DACH1. We will define endogenous gene targets of DACH1 using ChIP on chip assays.
Aim 2. Determine the role of DACH1 as a suppressor of mammary tumor onset, progression and metastasis using Dach1f1/f1 transgenic mice. The role of DACH1 as a suppressor of mammary tumorigenesis will be analyzed using DACH1 shRNA and Dach1fl/fl transgenic mice in primary culture and transgenic mice (MMTV-Cre/MMTV-ErbB2).
Aim 3. Determine the mechanism by which DACH1/Eya inhibits cellular migration. DACH1 inhibits cellular migration and chemotaxis. Using a proteomic approach DACH1 was shown to regulate expression and production of secreted cytokines from breast cancer cells. We will characterize the contribution of these factors to breast cancer metastasis in vivo in using heterotypic breast cancer transplant models. These studies will characterize a completely novel tumor and metastasis suppressor pathway. We will determine the mechanism by which DACH1 inhibits breast tumor cellular proliferation and metastasis in vivo.

Public Health Relevance

This year in the United States 41,000 will die from breast cancer resistant to the current forms of therapy. In order for us to find new approaches to treatment of breast cancer new models of breast cancer progression and new molecular targets are required. We have identified a completely novel pathway of genes that block breast cancer growth and spread that when lost in human breast cancer, predict very bad outcome. We and will determine how this new gene pathway blocks breast cancer cellular growth and metastasis to provide the basis for new types of therapies for breast cancer

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01CA132115-01A1
Application #
7653332
Study Section
Tumor Cell Biology Study Section (TCB)
Program Officer
Woodhouse, Elizabeth
Project Start
2009-07-20
Project End
2011-06-30
Budget Start
2009-07-20
Budget End
2010-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$320,588
Indirect Cost
Name
Thomas Jefferson University
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
053284659
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19107
Liu, Qian; Li, Anping; Yu, Shengnan et al. (2018) DACH1 antagonizes CXCL8 to repress tumorigenesis of lung adenocarcinoma and improve prognosis. J Hematol Oncol 11:53
Pestell, Timothy G; Jiao, Xuanmao; Kumar, Mukesh et al. (2017) Stromal cyclin D1 promotes heterotypic immune signaling and breast cancer growth. Oncotarget 8:81754-81775
Xu, Hanxiao; Yu, Shengnan; Yuan, Xun et al. (2017) DACH1 suppresses breast cancer as a negative regulator of CD44. Sci Rep 7:4361
Di Sante, Gabriele; Di Rocco, Agnese; Pupo, Claudia et al. (2017) Hormone-induced DNA damage response and repair mediated by cyclin D1 in breast and prostate cancer. Oncotarget 8:81803-81812
Xu, Hanxiao; Yu, Shengnan; Liu, Qian et al. (2017) Recent advances of highly selective CDK4/6 inhibitors in breast cancer. J Hematol Oncol 10:97
Casimiro, Mathew C; Di Sante, Gabriele; Di Rocco, Agnese et al. (2017) Cyclin D1 Restrains Oncogene-Induced Autophagy by Regulating the AMPK-LKB1 Signaling Axis. Cancer Res 77:3391-3405
Kong, Deguang; Liu, Yu; Liu, Qian et al. (2016) The retinal determination gene network: from developmental regulator to cancer therapeutic target. Oncotarget 7:50755-50765
Di Sante, Gabriele; Casimiro, Mathew C; Pestell, Timothy G et al. (2016) Time-Lapse Video Microscopy for Assessment of EYFP-Parkin Aggregation as a Marker for Cellular Mitophagy. J Vis Exp :
Ozcan, Lale; Ghorpade, Devram S; Zheng, Ze et al. (2016) Hepatocyte DACH1 Is Increased in Obesity via Nuclear Exclusion of HDAC4 and Promotes Hepatic Insulin Resistance. Cell Rep 15:2214-2225
Zhao, Qian; Deng, Shengqiong; Wang, Guangxue et al. (2016) A direct quantification method for measuring plasma MicroRNAs identified potential biomarkers for detecting metastatic breast cancer. Oncotarget 7:21865-74

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