Basal-like breast cancer stem cells are sensitive to anti-DR5 mediated cytotoxicity

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2012 Jun;133(2):437-45. doi: 10.1007/s10549-011-1763-0. Epub 2011 Sep 14.

Abstract

Breast cancer stem cells (BrCSC) are resistant to common therapeutic modalities including chemotherapy, radiation, and hormonal agents. They are thought to contribute to treatment resistance, relapse, and metastases. This study examines the effect of a monoclonal anti-DR5 antibody (TRA-8) and chemotherapy (adriamycin, taxol) on BrCSC populations from basal-like breast cancer cell lines. Doubly enriched BrCSC (CD44(+), CD24(-), ALDH(+)) cells were exposed to TRA-8 and control reagents and examined for cytotoxicity, caspase activation, tumorsphere formation and tumorigenicity. Doubly enriched BrCSC populations expressed cell surface DR5 and were sensitive to TRA-8 mediated cytotoxicity with induction of caspase 8 and 3 activation. TRA-8 at sub-nanomolar concentrations inhibited 2LMP and SUM159 BrCSC tumorsphere formation and was more than 50-fold more inhibitory than TRAIL or anti-DR4 at equimolar concentrations. Chemotherapy treatment of 2LMP and SUM159 cell lines resulted in a relative increase of BrCSC, whereas TRA-8 produced a decrease in the percentage of BrCSC. TRA-8 exposure to 2LMP and SUM159 BrCSC preparations produced significant inhibition of tumorigenicity. DR5 maybe a therapeutic target on the surface of basal-like BrCSC which is amenable to agonistic monoclonal anti-DR5 therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / toxicity*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / toxicity*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Neoplasms, Basal Cell / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms, Basal Cell / metabolism*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • TRA-8 monoclonal antibody