EP2675468A1

EP2675468A1 - Method for treating breast cancer by decreasing the expression of adenine nucleotide translocator 2 mrna

Info

Publication number: EP2675468A1
Application number: EP11858532.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Chul Woo Kim; Ji Young Jang
Original assignee: Bioinfra Inc
Current assignee: Bioinfra Inc
Priority date: 2011-02-18
Filing date: 2011-10-20
Publication date: 2013-12-25
Also published as: WO2012111900A1; CN103379914B; KR20120095263A; JP2014506888A; EP2675468A4; CN103379914A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for treating breast cancer by decreasing the expression of ANT2 (adenine nucleotide translocator 2) mRNA. Particularly, the present invention provides a composition for the treatment of breast cancer, comprising ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA as an active ingredient, characterized by ability to suppress metastasis of breast cancer cells. The present composition enhances an effect of TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) for treating the breast cancer. Also, the present invention provides a composition for treating stem cells of breast cancer, comprising ANT2 (adenine nucleotide translocator 2) siRNA or ANT2 shRNA as an active ingredient. Therefore, the present invention provides a therapeutic for breast cancer, which is highly effective for suppressing the metastasis of breast cancer cells and overcoming drug resistance. Furthermore, the therapeutic is applicable to the prevention of stem cells of breast cancer.

Description

METHOD FOR TREATING BREAST CANCER BY DECREASING THE EXPRESSION OF ADENINE NUCLEOTIDE TRANSLOCATOR 2 MRNA

The present invention relates to a method for treating breast cancer by decreasing the expression of adenine nucleotide translocator 2 mRNA. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for treating breast cancer by ANT2 siRNA (small interfering RNA) or ANT2 shRNA (short hairpin RNA).

Tumor is a result of abnormal, incontrollable and disordered cell proliferation including excessive abnormal cell proliferation. When a tumor exhibits destructive proliferation, infiltration and metastasis, it is classified as a malignant tumor. In particular from the view point of molecular biology, a tumor is considered as a genetic disease caused by mutation of a gene. To treat malignant tumors, three treatment methods which are surgical operation, radiotherapy and chemotherapy have been conducted either separately or together. Particularly, surgical operation is a method to eliminate most of pathogenic tissues, which is thus very effective to remove tumors growing in the breast, colon and skin but not so effective to treat tumors in spine and dispersive tumors.

Radiotherapy has been performed to treat acute inflammatory, benign or malignant tumors, endocrine disorders and allergies, and it has been effective to treat such malignant tumors resulted from abnormal rapid cell division. However, the ratio therapy carries serious side effects such as functional disorder or defect of normal cells, outbreak of cutaneous disorders on the treated area and particularly retardation and anostosis in children.

Chemotherapy is a method to disturb duplication or metabolism of cancer cells, which has been performed to treat breast cancer, lung cancer and testicular tumor. The biggest problem of this treatment method is the side effect carried by systemic chemotherapy. Side effects of such chemotherapy are lethal and thus increase anxiety and fear for the treatment. One of the representative side effects of chemotherapy is dose limiting toxicity (DLT). Mucositis is one of examples of DLT for various anticancer agents (antimetabolic agents such as 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate, and antitumor antibiotics such as doxorubicin). Most cases of side effects require hospitalization or at least need pain killers. So, side effects by chemotherapy and radiotherapy are such as are serious matters for the treatment of cancer patients.

In the meantime, gene therapy is based on the DNA recombination technique, which is the method to insert a therapeutic gene into cancer patient cells to correct gene defect or to endow a novel functions to disordered cells to treat or prevent various genetic diseases caused by mutations diseases, infective of genes, diseases, cancer, autoimmune cardiovascular diseases, etc. More particularly, gene therapy is a method to treat the said diseases by inducing intracellular expressions of normal proteins or therapeutic target proteins by conveying a therapeutic gene into a target organ. Gene therapy has an excellent selectivity, compared with other treatment methods using drugs and can be applied for a long term with improved treatment effect on difficult diseases. To enhance the therapeutic effect of gene therapy, gene transfer technique is essential for the realization of high efficient gene expression in target cells.

A gene carrier is a mediator for the insertion of a therapeutic gene into a target cell. A preferable gene carrier is the one that is not harmful for human, can be mass-produced and has ability to transmit a therapeutic gene effectively and induce constant expression of the therapeutic gene. Thus, gene transfer technique is a key factor for gene therapy and representative gene carriers most wanted for gene therapy so far are exemplified by viral carriers such as adenovirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV), and retrovirus; and non-viral carriers such as liposome and polyethyleneimine.

It is one of the strategies of gene therapy to control tumor cells by using a tumor suppressor gene, a tumor-specific killer virus, a suicide gene and an immunoregulation gene. Particularly, the method using a tumor suppressor gene is to treat cancer by conveying the original form of a tumor suppressor gene such as p53, which is deficient or mutated in many cancer patients. The method using a tumor-specific killer virus is to treat cancer by conveying a virus gene carrier that can be proliferated selectively in tumor cells into cancer patients by taking advantage of the activity of a tumor suppressor gene transformed in cancer tissues. The basic strategy of the above two methods is to kill tumor cells directly. In the meantime, the method using a suicide gene is to induce suicide of tumor cells by inserting sensitive genes such as HSK-TK. The method using an immunoregulation gene is to treat disease indirectly by stimulating T-cell mediated tumor cell recognition by delivering a gene increasing antitumor immune response such as interleukin 12 (IL12) , interleukin 4 (IL4) , interleukin 7 (IL7), γ-interferon and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or by inducing apoptosis by interrupting tumor inducing proteins.

In relation to gene therapy among various attempts to treat cancer, the present inventors selected ANT 2 (adenine nucleotide translocator 2) as a target gene to develop an effective safe anticancer agent.

ANT (adenine nucleotide translocator) is an enzyme found in inner membrane (IM) of mitochondria, which imports ADP from cytoplasm through VDAC (voltage dependent anion channel) of outer membrane (OM) of mitochondria and exports ATP generated in electron transfer chain system into cytoplasm (HLA Vieira, et ale , Cell Death and Differentiation, 7, 1146-1154, 2000).

It is also known that ANT playing a key role in energy metabolism of cells is classified into ANTI, ANT2 and ANT3. Particularly ANT2 exhibits low expression rate in normal cells but is highly expressed in cancer cells or similarly highly proliferated cells, which seems to be closely related to glycolysis under anaerobic condition, so that ANT2 is rising up as a new target for cancer treatment (Chevrollier, A, et al., Med. Sci., 21 (2), 156-161, 2005).

The present inventors found that ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA which can specifically suppress of ANT2 mRNA expression, selectively suppresses the metastasis of breast cancer cells and kill the progenitor cells of breast cancer. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a composition for treating breast cancer and a method for treating stem cells of breast cancer. Particularly, the present invention provides a composition for treating breast cancer or stem cells of breast cancer comprising ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA as an active ingredient.

The present invention provides a composition for treating breast cancer, comprising adenine nucleotide translocator 2 (ANT2) small interfering RNA (siRNA) or adenine nucleotide translocator 2 (ANT2) short hairpin RNA (shRNA)as an active ingredient, characterized by ability to suppress metastasis of breast cancer cells.

In one embodiment the present invention, the ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA induces degradation of ANT2 mRNA by interacting an anti-sense sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:3 with a sense sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1.

In another embodiment, the composition suppresses the expression of HER2/neu (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2).

In another embodiment, the composition enhances an effect of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) for treating the breast cancer.

In another embodiment, the composition enhances an expression of death receptor 4 (DR4) and death receptor 5 (DR5) and suppresses an expression of death decoy receptor 1 (DcR1) and death decoy receptor 2 (DcR2).

In another embodiment, the composition increases the expression and activity of p53 protein.

The present invention also provides a composition for treating stem cells of breast cancer comprising ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA as an active ingredient.

In one embodiment, the composition inhibits expression and activity of ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2 (ABCG2).

In another embodiment, when the present composition is coadministered with an anti-cancer agent, the composition enhances the effect of the anti-cancer agent by improving the response of the stem cells to the anti-cancer agent and reducing development of tolerance toward the anti-cancer agent. The anti-cancer agent comprises doxorubicin.

The present invention also provides a method for treating breast cancer comprising administering to a patient in need ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA as an active ingredient, which is characterized in inhibiting metastasis of breast cancer cells.

The present invention also provides a method for treating stem cells of breast cancer, comprising administering to a patient in need ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA.

The ANT2 siRNA or ATN2 shRNA according to the present invention decreases the expression of ANT2 mRNA and thus effectively induces cell death. In addition, the present invention gives a solution to TRAIL resistance. Furthermore, The ANT2 siRNA or ATN2 shRNA according to the present invention inhibits the metastasis of breast cancer cells and is effective to treat stem cells of breast cancer.

Therefore, it is expected that the present invention provides therapeutics for breast cancer, which are highly effective for inhibiting the metastasis of breast cancer cells and overcoming the tolerance toward an anti-cancer agent. Further, the present invention could be used to develop therapeutics for stem cells of breast cancer.

FIG. 1 shows that when the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is transfected with ANT2 shRNA, its HER2/neu expression level is reduced.

FIG. 2A shows that when the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is transfected with ANT2 shRNA, the introduced ANT2 shRNA promotes the degradation of HSP90 resulting in the reduction of the expression level of HSP90.

FIG. 2B shows that when the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is transfected with ANT2 shRNA, its HER2 expression level is reduced.

FIG. 3A shows that when the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is transfected with ANT2 shRNA, its Akt activity is reduced.

FIG. 3B shows that the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is decreased in Akt activity when transfected with ANT2 shRNA, and recovers its Akt activity by ANT2 overexpression.

FIG. 3C shows that when the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is transfected with ANT2 shRNA, HSP90 weakly interacts with Akt and the activity of Akt is reduced.

FIG. 4A shows that when the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is transfected with ANT2 shRNA, there is a decrease in the mRNA expression level of VEGF.

FIG. 4B shows that when the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is transfected with ANT2 shRNA, there is a decrease in the intracellular level of VEGF.

FIG. 4C shows that the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is decreased in the mRNA expression level of VEGF when transfected with ANT2 shRNA, and recovers VEGF mRNA levels by the overexpression of ANT2.

FIG. 5A shows that when the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is transfected with ANT2 shRNA, there is a decrease in the mRNA expression level of MT1-MMP.

FIG. 5B shows that when the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is transfected with ANT2 shRNA, there is a decrease in the protein expression level of MT1-MMP.

FIG. 6A shows that the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is decreased in the mRNA expression level of MT1-MMP when transfected with ANT2 shRNA, and recovers the mRNA expression level by the overexpression of PI3K.

FIG. 6B shows that the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is decreased in the protein expression level of MT1-MMP when transfected with ANT2 shRNA, and recovers the protein expression level by the overexpression of PI3K.

FIG. 7A shows that when the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is transfected with ANT2 shRNA, there is a decrease in the mRNA expression level of both MMP2 and MMP9.

FIG. 7B shows that when the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is transfected with ANT2 shRNA, there is a decrease in the activity of both MMP2 and MMP9.

FIG. 8A shows that when the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is transfected with ANT2 shRNA, its invasion ability is reduced.

FIG. 8B shows that when the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 overexpressing HER2/neu is transfected with ANT2 shRNA, its migration ability is reduced.

FIG. 9A shows a result of the resistance of MCF7 and the sensitivity (apoptosis) of MDA-MB-231 to TRAIL.

FIG. 9B shows a result of Western blotting, wherein while the breast cancer cell line MCF7 is resistant to TRAIL, the introduction of ANT2 shRNA induces the sensitivity of MCF7 to TRAIL (apoptosis).

FIG. 9C shows that the breast cancer cell line MCF7 is resistant to TRAIL, but the introduction of ANT2 shRNA induces the cells to undergo apoptosis as observed in cell photographs.

FIG. 10A shows that the breast cancer cell lines T47D and BT474 are resistant to TRAIL, but the introduction of ANT2 shRNA effectively induces the cells to undergo apoptosis.

FIG. 10B shows that the breast cancer cell line MCF7 is resistant to TRAIL, but the introduction of ANT2 shRNA makes the cells highly sensitive to TRAIL (apoptosis) and the overexpression of ANT2 by transfection with an ANT2 expression vector eliminates the apoptotic effect of ANT2 shRNA.

FIG. 10C shows that the breast cancer cell lines T47D and BT474 are resistant to TRAIL, but they are induced to undergo TRAIL-mediated apoptosis when transfected with ANT2 shRNA, with the concomitant accompaniment of events including the cleavage of caspase-8/9/7, bid truncation, and increased release of cytochrome c due to mitochondrial destruction.

FIG. 11A shows that the breast cancer cell line MCF7, resistant to TRAIL, is low in the expression level of the TRAIL receptors DR4 and DR5 and high in the expression level of the decoy receptors DcR1 and DcR2, which interfere with the TRAIL signaling pathway and that the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, sensitive to TRAIL, is high in the expression level of the TRAIL receptors DR4 and DR5 and low in the expression level of the decoy receptors DcR1 and DcR2.

FIG. 11B shows that the breast cancer cell line MCF7, resistant to TRAIL, is low in the expression level of the TRAIL receptors DR4 and DR5 and high in the expression level of the decoy receptors DcR1 and DcR2, the introduction of ANT2 shRNA increases the expression of DR5 and decreases the expression of DcR2.

FIG. 11C shows that the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, sensitive to TRAIL, is low in the expression level of the TRAIL receptors DR4 and DR5 and high in the expression level of the decoy receptors DcR1 and DcR2, the introduction of ANT2 shRNA increases the expression of DR5 and decreases the expression of DcR2.

FIG. 12A shows that the breast cancer cell line MCF7, resistant to TRAIL, is increased in the expression and phosphorylation/activation of p53 protein when transfected with ANT2 shRNA.

FIG. 12B shows that the breast cancer cell line MCF7, resistant to TRAIL, is increased in the transcriptional activity of p53 protein when transfected with ANT2 shRNA.

FIG. 12C shows that the breast cancer cell line MCF7, resistant to TRAIL, is increased in the expression level of the TRAIL receptors DR4 and DR5 when transfected with ANT2 shRNA, indicating that the increased expression is attributed to the activation of p53.

FIG. 13 shows that the breast cancer cell line MCF7, resistant to TRAIL, is increased in sensitivity to TRAIL when transfected with ANT2 shRNA, indicating that the increased sensitivity is attributed to the activation of p53.

FIG. 14A shows that after the breast cancer cell line MCF7 is transplanted to immunodeficient Balb/c nude mice, the growth of the resulting tumor was slightly suppressed by treatment with TRAIL alone, moderately by treatment with ANT2 shRNA alone, and greatly by treatment with a combination of TRAIL and ANT2 shRNA.

FIG. 14B shows that after the breast cancer cell line MCF7 is transplanted to immunodeficient Balb/c nude mice, the growth of the resulting tumor was greatly suppressed by treatment with a combination of TRAIL and ANT2 shRNA and the tumor increased in the expression level of the TRAIL receptors DR4 and DR5.

FIG. 15A shows a result of RT-PCR, wherein the progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) sorted from the breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 and unsorted cells are found to express high levels of ANT2.

FIG. 15B shows a result of real-time RT-qPCR, wherein the progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) sorted from the breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 and unsorted cells are found to express high levels of ANT2.

FIG. 16A shows the morphological change when the normal breast epithelial cell line MCF10A is mesenchymally transdifferentiated by transfection with E-cadherin shRNA.

FIG. 16B shows that when the normal breast epithelial cell line MCF10A is mesenchymally transdifferentiated by transfection with E-cadherin shRNA, the cells are decreased in the expression level of E-cadherin and increased in the expression level of ANT2.

FIG. 17A shows that when the progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) isolated from the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 are transfected with ANT2 shRNA, they are effectively induced to undergo apoptosis.

FIG. 17B shows that when the progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) isolated from the breast cancer cell line MCF7 are transfected with ANT2 shRNA, the progenitor cells are effectively induced to undergo apoptosis.

FIG. 18A shows that when the normal breast epithelial cell line MCF10A is transfected with ANT2 shRNA, the breast epithelial cell line is not induced to undergo apoptosis.

FIG. 18B shows that when the normal breast epithelial cell line MCF10A is mesenchymally transdifferentiated by transfection with E-cadherin shRNA, the introduction of ANT2 shRNA can effectively induce apoptosis.

FIG. 19A shows that MDA-MB-231 with a high proportion of the breast cancer progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) and MCF7 with a low proportion of the breast cancer progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) show high and low abilities to form cell masses, respectively, and that the ability to form cell masses is reduced in both the cells by the transfection with ANT2 shRNA.

FIG. 19B shows that MDA-MB-231 with a high proportion of the breast cancer progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) and MCF7 with a low proportion of the breast cancer progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) show high and low abilities to form cell masses, respectively, and that the ability to form cell masses is reduced in both the cells by the transfection with ANT2 shRNA.

FIG. 20 shows that MDA-MB-231 treated with ANT2 shRNA, wherein while MDA-MB-231 with a high proportion of the breast cancer progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) is highly resistant to doxorubicin, the introduction of ANT2 shRNA makes the cells, whether sorted for CD44+/CD24- cells or unsorted, sensitive to doxorubicin.

FIG. 21 shows the result of low doxorubicin resistance breast cancer cell lines, MCF7 treated with ANT2 shRNA, wherein MCF7 with a low proportion of the breast cancer progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) is sensitive to doxorubicin (adherent cells) while only the progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) shows resistance to doxorubicin (floating cells) and that the introduction of ANT2 shRNA makes the cells, whether sorted for CD44+/CD24- cells or unsorted, sensitive to doxorubicin.

FIG. 22 shows that the progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) isolated from both the breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 are high in the mRNA expression level of ABCG2 involved in drug resistance, in contrast to unsorted cells (left panel) and that when the normal breast epithelial cell line MCF10A is mesenchymally transdifferentiated by transfection with E-cadherin shRNA, the resulting cells are increased in the mRNA level of ABCG2 (right panel).

FIG. 23 shows that the progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) isolated from both the breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 are high in the protein expression level of ABCG2 involved in drug resistance, in contrast to unsorted cells, and decreased in the protein expression level of ABCG2 when transfected with ANT2 shRNA and that when the normal breast epithelial cell line MCF10A is mesenchymally transdifferentiated by transfection with E-cadherin shRNA, the resulting cells are increased in the protein level of ABCG2.

FIG. 24 shows that the progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) isolated from both the breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 are higher in the activity of ABCG2 involved in drug resistance than are unsorted cells and that when the normal breast epithelial cell line MCF10A is mesenchymally transdifferentiated by transfection with E-cadherin shRNA, the resulting cells are increased in the activity of ABCG2.

FIG. 25 shows that the progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) isolated from both the breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 are higher in the activity of ABCG2 involved in drug resistance than are unsorted cells, the introduction of ANT2 shRNA decreases the activity of ABCG2 and that the cells mesenchymally transdifferentiated from the normal breast epithelial cell line MCF10A by transfection with E-cadherin shRNA show an increased activity of ABCG2, but are decreased in the activity of ABCG2 by introduction of ANT2 shRNA thereinto.

FIG. 26 shows that the nanocomplexes targeting CD44, which is highly expression on the surface of progenitor cells of breast cancer, selectively delivers ANT2 shRNA to the cell line expressing CD44.

The present invention provides a composition for treating breast cancer comprising ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA as an active ingredient, which is characterized in inhibiting the metastasis of breast cancer cells. Particularly, the present inventors found that the ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA inhibits the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells into other tissues.

Breast cancer cells are known to activate certain signal transduction pathways through the cell receptor EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) for their proliferation, survival, and migration and invasion into other tissues. Particularly, HER2/neu, a member of the EGFR family, is known to be overexpressed on the surface of the cancer cells, up to 30% of breast cancer patients. The overexpression of HER2/neu gives rise to a poor prognosis for breast cancer patients and shows multi-drug resistance in chemotherapy. Representative among the HER2/neu-mediated signal transduction pathway is the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, the activation of which causes breast cancer cells to proliferate, survive, and migrate and invade into other tissues. Therefore, the treatment of breast cancer has focused on down-regulating the expression of HER2/neu or interfering with the activity of the HER2/neu-mediated signaling pathway.

The present invention provides a method wherein, when the expression of the ANT2 gene, which is known to be overexpressed in breast cancer cells and plays a crucial role in the ATP production of breast cancer cells, is inhibited by ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA. In addition, the cancer cells are not only induced to undergo cell death due to an insufficient supply of the energy necessary for the survival thereof, but also prevented from migration or invasion into other tissues, resulting in the suppression of cancer metastasis.

Without bound to any theory, it is known that HSP90 (heat shock protein 90) maintains the expression of HER2/neu on the surface of breast cancer cells and to perform its functions only when it binds to ATP. Accordingly, the present invention expected that when the intracellular ATP level of breast cancer cells is depleted by ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA, HSP90 cannot bind sufficiently to ATP and thus cannot perform its functions, leading to the degradation of HER2/neu. From this expectation, the present inventors framed a hypothesis that the degradation of HER2/neu causes a decrease in the activity of HER2/neu-mediated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, resulting in weakening the ability of breast cancer cells to migrate and invade into other tissues. The human breast cancer cell line SK-BR3, known to overexpress HER2/neu, was induced to decrease in ANT2 expression level by the transfection of ANT2 shRNA thereinto. It was observed that the lack of intracellular ATP decreases HSP90 activity, resulting in suppressed HER2/neu expression. In addition, it was experimentally proved that the HER2/neu-mediated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is inhibited, resulting in suppressing the ability of breast cancer cells to migrate and invade into other tissues.

In accordance with another aspect thereof, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of breast cancer, comprising ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA as an active ingredient. It is designed to control the expression of TRAIL receptors to increase the therapeutic effect of TRAIL on breast cancer.

The TRAIL/apo2 ligand, a member of tumor necrosis factor, can selectively kill cancer cells, but not normal cells. However, the use of TRAIL in chemotherapy makes cancer cells resistant to TRAIL. This resistance is currently a popular research topic. Accordingly, the present inventors tried to slove the resistance problem using ANT2 shRNA.

The present invention presents that the introduction of ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA into breast cancer cells promotes TRAIL-induced apoptosis of tumor cells and amplifies the suppressive effect of TRAIL on tumor growth both in cell culture conditions (in vitro) and in animals (in vivo). In this context, the regulation of TRAIL receptor expression was found to account for the mechanism of ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA in promoting the TRAIL-induced apoptosis of breast cancer cells. Among the TRAIL receptors, there are DR4 (TRAILR1; TRAIL receptor 1) and DR5 (TRAILR2: TRAIL receptor 2). When TRAIL binds to the DR4 and DR5, the apoptosis signal is transduced into the cancer cell, so that the cell dies. However, the TRAIL receptors DcR1 (decoy receptors 1: TRAILR3) and DcR2 (decoy receptors 2: TRAILR4) function to protect tumor cells from DR4 and DR5-mediated apoptosis signals. That is, if TRAIL binds to DcR1 and DcR2, the apoptosis signal is not transduced into the tumor cells. There are various reasons for the resistance of tumor cells to TRAIL. Important among them is the fact that DcR1 and DcR2 are up-regulated on the surface of tumor cells while DR4 and DR5 is down-regulated. The present inventors have verified that ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA cause an alteration in the intracellular signal transduction pathways of cancer cells to up-regulate DR4 and DR5 with the concomitant down-regulation of DcR1 and DcR2, thus increasing the sensitivity of tumor cells to TRAIL and overcoming the drug resistance of tumor cells.

Furthermore, the present invention provide a method wherein, through a cell culture experiment (in vitro) and an animal test (in vivo) that the knock-down of ANT2 by ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA interference promotes the therapeutic effect of TRAIL on breast cancer and gives a solution to the problem of resistance to TRAIL, which is based on the regulation of TRAIL receptor expression.

In accordance with another aspect thereof, the present invention provides a composition for the treatment of stem cells of breast cancer, comprising ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA as an active ingredient.

One of the most difficult problems with chemo- and radiotherapy is the post-treatment emergence of new tumors (cancer recurrence). Currently used chemo- or radiotherapy can kill most of tumor cells, but not all in many cases. Some cells left following treatment might be the source of recurrence and are thought to be cancer stem cells (e.g., breast cancer stem cells). It is therefore very important to effectively eliminate breast cancer stem cells. In the present invention, ANT2 shRNA was proven to be able to kill breast cancer stem cells.

To examine the medicinal potential and effect of ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA as a therapeutic for breast cancer stem cells, breast cancer cell line-derived side populations (CD44+/CD24-), which are the progenitor cells of breast cancer cells were used for the experiment. Particularly, breast epithelial cells (MCF10A) mesenchymally-transdifferentiated through E-cadherin knockdown were used. This was on the basis of the fact that when transdifferentiated from epitheilial cells (epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, EMT), the mesenchymal cells show characteristics of breast cancer stem cells. In addition, an adenovirus system was utilized to effectively carry ANT2 shRNA into breast cancer stem cells. In this context, adenovirus expressing ANT2 shRNA was constructed and infected into breast cancer stem cells. As a result, ANT2 shRNA efficiently induced apoptotic cell death in both of the two cell groups of breast cancer stem cells characteristic. And, ANT2 shRNA solved the problem of resistance and thus sensitized both cells to the drug.

Further, when the present composition is coadministered with an anti-cancer agent, the composition enhances the effect of the anti-cancer agent by improving the response of the stem cells to the anti-cancer agent and reducing development of tolerance toward the anti-cancer agent. The anti-cancer agent comprises doxorubicin.

The present invention also provides a method for the treatment of breast cancer comprising administering to a patient in need ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA as an active ingredient, which is characterized in inhibiting metastasis of breast cancer cells.

The present invention also provides a method for treatment of stem cells of breast cancer, comprising administering to a patient in need ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA.

It is apparent to those skilled in the art that the administration dose vary depending on the patient s weight, age, gender, health state and diet, frequency of administration, route of administration, and rate of the excretion of the composition, and the severity of disease.

Practical and presently preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrative as shown in the following Examples. However, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, on consideration of this disclosure, may make modifications and improvements within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[Examples]

<Construction of ANT2 shRNA expression vector>

ANT2 mRNA sequence (GenBank Accession No. NM_001152) was obtained from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). The candidate sets of ANT2 siRNA were obtained by introducing the above ANT2 mRNA sequence to siRNA prediction program (http://www.ambion.com/technical, resources/siRNA target finder). Among several candidates, siRNA binding to sequence 5'-GCAGAUCACUGCAGAUAAG-3', corresponding to second exon of the ANT2 mRNA, was prepared to detect the silencing effect on ANT2 mRNA in vitro test. [The synthesis of ANT2 siRNA was conducted at Bioneer (Korea)].

Based on these result, ANT2 shRNA was prepared. Specifically, two stranded oligomers with following sequences were synthesized. [The synthesis of ANT2 siRNA was conducted at Bioneer (Korea)].

After annealing with above two oligomers, the sequences were cloned into the BamHI and HindIII region within the MCS (multi-cloning site) of pSilencer 3.1-H1 puro plasmid vector (Ambion, Austin, TX). A sequence of TT was attached to end of the sense sequence to improve the efficiency of siRNA expression.

In the experiments to confirm ANT2 shRNA effects, a scrambled shRNA (purchased from Ambion) was used as a negative control, which gives the same condition as a shRNA of interest, but neither block the expression of the ANT2 nor affect the expression of the target mRNA.

The nucleic acid sequences of shRNA expressed from the above vector are provided below:

SEQ ID NO 1: 5'-GCAGAUCACUGCAGAUAAGUU-3' (sense sequence of ANT2 shRNA)

SEQ ID NO 2: 5'-UUCAAGAGA-3' (loop sequence of ANT2 shRNA)

SEQ ID NO 3: 5'-AACUUAUCUGCAGUGAUCUGC-3' (anti-sense sequence of ANT2 shRNA)

Example 1: Effects of ANT2 shRNA on HER2/neu Expression

The introduction of ANT2 shRNA was found to decrease the expression level of HER2/neu on the surface of the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 as measured by FACS (flow cytometry and cell sorting).

For introducing ANT2 shRNA into the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3, Lipofectamine^TM2000 (Invitrogen), a non-viral delivery system, was used. In this regard, the positively charged, hydrophilic components of Lipofectamine^TM2000 interact with the negative charged shRNA to form a complex. This complex fuses with the cell membranes to deliver the shRNA into the cell.

For FACS analysis, HER2/neu expressed on cell surfaces was bound with a antibody [primary antibody: anti-human HER2/neu antibody(Santa Cruz biotechnology, Heidelberg, Germany)] which was subsequently reacted with a secondary antibody (FITC-conjugated-anti--rabbit-IgG(Santa Cruz biotechnology, Heidelberg, Germany)). Because the secondary antibody was conjugated with a fluorescent material, its detection by FACS allowed the HER2/neu-expressed cells to be sorted from non-expressed cells. SK-BR3 expressed a high expression level of HER2/neu (sc shRNA) whereas the expression of HER2/neu was down-regulated by the introduction of ANT2 shRNA into cells (FIG. 1).

To monitor a change in interaction between HER2/neu and HSP90 with the knockdown of ANT2, proteins were extracted from the human breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 transfected with ANT2 shRNA.

In detail, first, the proteins were immunoprecipitated with anti-human HER2/neu antibody (Santa Cruz biotechnology, Heidelberg, Germany), followed by Western blotting with an anti-human HSP90 antibody (Santa Cruz biotechnology, Heidelberg, Germany) to determine protein expression levels. The results are given in FIG. 2.

When the expression of ANT2 was down regulated by ANT2 shRNA, as shown in FIG. 2, weak interaction between HER2/neu and HSP90 was detected while an increased level of ubiquitination, a process of marking a protein with ubiquitin before degradation, was detected. That is, the knockdown of ANT2 by shRNA induced a decreased interaction between HER2/neu and HSP90 to increase the ubiquitination of HER2/neu, resulting in a decrease in the expression level of HER2/neu.

In this regard, an HSP inhibitor/17-AAG (17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (A.G. Scientific Inc., San Diego, CA)) was used as a positive control. Beta-actin, a cytoskeletal protein, was used as a loading control because it generally remains the same proportion of total cell protein except under circumstances that experimental conditions are dramatically affecting cytoskeletal rearrangement or cell adhesion. For quantitative analysis of beta-actin, an anti-beta-actin antibody (Cell signaling Tech., Beverly, MA) was used.

Example 2: Effect of ANT2 shRNA on Akt Activity

In the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3, highly expressed HER2/neu activates Akt. The activated Akt is known to be involved in the mechanism of survival of breast cancer cells as well as in the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells into other tissues. The activation of Akt can be determined by phosphorylation at tyrosine residues.

After transfection of ANT2 shRNA into the human breast cancer cell line SK-BR3, activated Akt (phosphorylated) was quantitatively analyzed [anti-Akt and anti-phospho-Akt antibodies (Cell signaling Tech., Beverly, MA)]. The activity of Akt, which is kept high in the breast cancer cell line, was decreased by the introduction of ANT2 shRNA. 17-AAG, known to inhibit HSP90 and thus the HER2/neu-mediated Akt signaling pathway, was used as a positive control (FIG. 3A).

In addition, the suppression of Akt by ANT2 shRNA was confirmed by another experiment. The activity of phospho-Akt was decreased upon the knockdown of ANT2 by ANT2 shRNA, but was found to be recovered upon the overexpression of ANT2 by introduction of an ANT2-overexpressing vector. LY294002 (Calbiochem, San Diego, CA), an inhibitor of PI3K which induces the phosphorylation of Akt, was used as a positive control (FIG. 3B).

In conjunction with the down-regulation of Akt by ANT2 shRNA, an experiment was performed to examine whether ANT2 shRNA suppresses the activity of HSP90, resulting in poor interaction with Akt, on the basis of the report that HSP90 interacts with Akt.

First, HSP90 was immunoprecipitated with the antibody [HSP inhibitor/17-AAG (17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin): A.G. Scientific Inc. (San Diego, CA)] followed by Western blotting with anti-Akt antibody (Cell signaling Tech. , Beverly, MA) to determine the expression level. ANT2 shRNA was found to interfere with the interaction between HSP90 and Akt and decrease the level of phospho-Akt (FIG. 3C). The data indicate that the suppression of HSP90 activity by ANT2 shRNA leads to a weak interaction between HSP90 and Akt as well as a reduced activity of Akt.

Example 3: Effect of ANT2 shRNA on VEGF Production

In the present invention, it was found that the introduction of ANT2 shRNA into the human breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 causes a reduction in Akt activity (suppressing the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway), resulting in the down-regulation of VEGF, which is involved in angiogenesis around tumor cells.

In detail, cells transfected with ANT2 shRNA were cultured for 24 hrs, followed by isolation of total RNAs. From the mRNA of them, cDNA was synthesized through reverse transcription with oligo-dT. Using primers specific for VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), the expression of VEGF was analyzed.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the knockdown of ANT2 by shRNA in the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 was observed to reduce the mRNA level of VEGF, which is involved in angiogenesis, as measured by RT-PCR.

In addition, intracellular VEGF protein levels were decreased using FACS (flow cytometry and cell sorting). VEGF is produced within cells and released from cells. To prevent this extracellular secretion, the cells were treated with BFA (brefeldin A). When VEGF protein was accumulated, its amounts were compared. In this regard, after the intracellular accumulation of VEGF by treatment with BFA, the cell membranes were perforated to form holes through which the primary anti-VEGF antibody (BD Pharmingen, San Diego, CA) was introduced into the cells. Subsequently, a secondary antibody [FITC-conjugated-anti-mouse IgG antibody (BD Pharmingen, San Diego, CA)] was allowed to bind to the primary antibody complexed with the VEGF, followed by FACS analysis (FIG. 4B).

In addition, ANT2 shRNA was experimentally reconfirmed to down-regulate the mRNA expression of VEGF. The introduction of an ANT2-overexpressing vector (pcDNA3.0-ANT2 expression vector) increased the expression of ANT2, with the concomitant recovery of VEGF mRNA levels. An inhibitory drug (LY294002) against PI3K that induces the phosphorylation of Akt (FIG. 4C) was used as a positive control, on the basis of the fact that the mRNA expression of VEGF is induced by the activation of the PI3K/Akt signal transduction pathway.

Example 4: Effect of ANT2 shRNA on the Expression and Activity of MMPs

In this example, it was found that the knockdown of ANT2 by shRNA in the human breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 decreases the Akt activity (suppression of PI3K/Akt signal transduction pathway) to degrade ECM (extracellular matrix), thus down-regulating MMPs (Matrix metalloproteinases), which are involved in the migration and invasion of cancer cells.

Among MMPs, MT1-MMP, known to be controlled in expression by VEGF, and MMP2 and MMP9, both known as being controlled in activity by MT1-MMP, were examined for expression and activity.

First, the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 transfected with ANT2 shRNA was found to decrease in the mRNA level of MT1-MMP, which is responsible for the degradation of ECM (extracellular matrix), as measured by RT-PCR (FIG. 5A), and also in the protein level, as measured by Western blotting (FIG. 5B). Furthermore, ANT2 shRNA was re-confirmed to decrease the mRNA expression of MT1-MMP. In this regard, when a PI3K-overexpressing vector [wild-type PI3K/p110 vector (provided by Dr. Karin Reif)] was introduced to artificially activate the PI3K/Akt signal transduction pathway, MT1-MMP was observed to be recovered in mRNA level, as measured by RT-PCR (FIG. 6A), and in protein level, as measured by Western blotting (FIG. 6B).

In addition, RT-PCR showed that the introduction of ANT2 shRNA into the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 decreased the level of MMP2 mRNA and MMP9 mRNA, both controlled by MTI-MMP (FIG. 7A). GAPDH mRNA was used as a loading control to show the uniform quantities of the mRNAs used because GAPDH remains constant irrespective of intra- and extracellular conditions. The introduction of ANT2 shRNA into the breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 was found to deactivate MMP2 and MMP9, both controlled by MT1-MMP, as measured by gelatin zymography. In the zymogram, the higher gelatinase activity of MMP2 and MMP9, which accounts for the greater population of the active forms of MMP2 and MMP9, allowed the appearance of more intensive white bands (FIG. 7B).

Example 5: Effect of ANT2 shRNA on the Migration and Invasion of Breast Cancer Cell Line into Other Tissues

The introduction of ANT2 shRNA decreased the expression and activity of MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases), which are responsible for the migration and invasion of tumor cells, as demonstrated in Example 4. The following experiment was performed to quantitatively examine the reduction in the migration and invasion capacity of tumor cells.

In detail, to confirm that ANT2 shRNA can decrease the ability of tumor cells to migrate and invade, a matrigel invasion assay and a transwell migration assay were performed. A matrigel invasion assay is to analyze the invasion ability of tumor cells by staining the cells which degrade and proceed through matrigel.

Specifically, the human breast cancer cell line SK-BR3 which was transfected with ANT2 shRNA was incubated for 18hours. After that, 100 μl of 0.1% BSA, α-MEM containing 2×10⁴ cells therein was put in an upper side of chamber (Becton Dickinson Labware, USA), followed by incubation. 24 hours later, the medium was removed from the upper sied of the chamber, and the cells were washed three times with PBS and taken with a cotton swab. The cells which passed through the matrigel and adhered to the outside bottom of the well were fixed for 10 min with 10% formalin and stained for 20 min with 0.1% crystal violet. Stained cells were counted under a microscope. Separately, a transwell migration assay was utilized to examine the migration ability of tumor cells. The lower side of a transwell insert with a 8 μm pore size (Corning) was coated with gelatin (Sigma) before a cell suspension was placed into the transwell insert. At this time, a serum-free medium containing bFGF (Sigma) at a concentration of 10 ng/mL was put in the external vessel. After incubation for a predetermined time (18 hours), the inside of the insert was wiped with a cotton swab to take endothelial cells which did not migrate. The cells which migrated into the lower layer were stained with a Diff-Quick solution and counted under a 200x microscopic sight.

When ANT2 shRNA was introduced, the cells which passed through the matrigel and transwells and thus were stained were decreased in count, indicating that the invasion and migration ability of tumor cells was weakened (FIG. 8).

Example 6: Effect of ANT2 shRNA on Sensitivity to TRAIL

Breast cancer cell lines transfected with ANT2 shRNA were examined for reactivity to TRAIL (cancer cell death).

As breast cancer cell lines in this experiment, MCF7 resistant to TRAIL, and MDA-MB-231 highly sensitive to TRAIL were employed. MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 were treated with TRAIL at various concentrations after which cell death was analyzed with a CCK8 reagent. The CCK8 assay is a cell viability assay. Specifically, 100 μL of a cell suspension was placed onto each well (1×10⁴ cells/well). The cells were treated with 10-fold serial dilutions of TRAIL starting from 1 μg/mL to zero, followed by incubation for 12 hrs. After the addition of 10 μL of the CCK8 reagent, the cells were incubated for a proper time (4 hours) in a CO₂ incubator and measured for absorbance at 450 nm to analyze cell death.

TRAIL induced MDA-MB-231 cells to undergo apoptisis by TRAIL whereas the TRAIL-mediated apoptosis did not work for MCF7 cells (FIG. 9A). In this method, only viable cells showed a color change with the CCK8 reagent, which was detected at a certain wavelength.

When TRAIL was added at a concentration of as high as 100 ng/mL, MCF7 cells, which are resistant to TRAIL, were not induced to undergo apoptosis. However, the introduction of ANT2 shRNA into MCF7 cells induced apoptosis (~25%). In combination with TRAIL, ANT2 shRNA was found to induce more potential apoptosis (~65%) as measured by the CCK8 reagent (FIG. 9B). Also, the introduction of ANT2 shRNA was observed to decrease the intracellular protein level of ANT2 as measured by Western blotting. As for a negative control, it was PBS for TRAIL, and sc shRNA (scrambled shRNA) for ANT2 shRNA.

After being treated with TRAIL alone, ANT2 shRNA alone, and TRAIL and ANT2 shRNA in combination, MCF7 cells, resistant to TRAIL, were examined for apoptosis, and the results are shown in FIG. 9C. As shown in FIG. 9C, the strongest apoptosis was induced by a combination of ANT2 shRNA and TRAIL.

The same results as MCF7 were detected from the breast cancer cell lines T47D and BT474, both known to be resistant to TRAIL (FIG. 10A). For this, a CCK8 assay was employed to quantify the apoptosis.

The increased sensitivity to TRAIL was reconfirmed to be attributed to the knockdown of ANT2 by shRNA. In this context, when an ANT2-overexpressing vector (pcDNA-ANT2) was used to artificially overexpress ANT2, TRAIL-mediated apoptosis was found to be reduced as measured by a CCK8 assay (FIG. 10B). The empty vector pcDNA was introduced as a negative control for pcDNA-ANT2. When ANT2 shRNA increased sensitivity to TRAIL to induce apoptosis, the concurrent events of intracellular proteins (cleavage of PARP protein, cleavage of caspase-8/9/7, and truncation of Bid proteins) were detected by Western blots.

Because mitochondria play an important role in the regulation of apoptosis, cytochrome C, which is released from mitochondria to cytoplasm, was quantitatively monitored upon the ANT2 shRNA-triggered, TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. The mitochondrial protein COX IV was used as a loading control to guarantee the use of mitochondrial proteins in the same amount. No changes in the pattern of apoptosis-induced proteins were observed when TRAIL was used alone. Greater changes in the protein pattern were observed when the cells were treated with ANT2 shRNA in combination with TRAIL than ANT shRNA alone (FIG. 10C). These changes of intracellular protein patterns confirmed that ANT2 shRNA enhanced TRAIL-mediated apoptosis.

Example 7: Effect of ANT2 shRNA on the Expression of TRAIL Receptor

The breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB-231, which are different in sensitivity to TRAIL from each other, were analyzed for expression levels of the receptors DR4, DR5, DcR1, and DcR2, all binding to TRAIL, by Western blots.

When bound to TRAIL, DR4 and DR5 deliver normal apoptotic signals into the cells whereas DcR1 and DcR2 do not. Accordingly, higher sensitivity to TRAIL can be obtained by higher expression levels of DR4 and DR5 and lower expression levels of DcR1 and DcR2.

As shown in FIG. 11A, MCF7 cells, which are low in sensitivity to TRAIL, are observed to have low levels of DR4 and DR5 and high levels of DcR1 and DcR2 while high levels of DR4 and DR5 and low levels of DcR1 and DcR2 were detected in MDA-MB-231 cells, which are high in sensitivity to TRAIL.

Upon the introduction of ANT2 shRNA, expression patterns of TRAIL receptors were examined, and the results are given in FIG. 11B. As shown in FIG. 26B, the introduction of ANT2 shRNA up-regulated DR4 and DR5, and down-regulated DcR1 and DcR2. In T47D and BT474 cell lines, which are known to have TRAIL resistance, the same effects as in MCF7 were observed. That is, the introduction of ANT2 shRNA increased the expression of DR4 and DR5, but decreased the expression of DcR1 and DcR2 (FIG. 11C).

Example 8: Effect of ANT2 shRNA on p53 Activity

An experiment was conducted to reveal the mechanism in which ANT2 shRNA up-regulates DR4 and DR5. On the basis of the report that the tumor suppressor protein p53 induces the expression of DR4 and DR5, the introduction of ANT2 shRNA was examined to determine whether it increases the expression of p53 and the level of phosphorylated p53. p53 and phosphoryated p53 were quantitatively measured [anti-Thr81 phospho-p53 and anti-p53 antibodies (Santa Cruz Biotechnology , Heidelberg, Germany)].

As shown in FIG. 12A, the introduction of ANT2 shRNA up-regulated p53 and increased the activity of p53.

A reporter gene assay showed that the up-regulation of p53 by ANT2 shRNA is attributed to increased affinity for the promoter of p53. This assay is generally designed in such a manner that when a certain protein binds to DNA to induce the expression of a gene of interest, the reporter is concurrently expressed and quantitatively analyzed by absorbance. In detail, cells were co-transfected with ANT2 shRNA and a pGL-p53 binding site-luciferase expression vector, and incubated for a certain period of time. A substrate was reacted with the expressed luciferase to measure the activity of the luciferase using a luminometer (FB12 luminometer; Berthold Detection Systems, Pforzheim, Germany).

As shown in FIG. 12B, the introduction of ANT2 shRNA induced a significant increase in the expression of the reporter gene fused with p53. sc shRNA (scrambled shRNA), which was designed to have no influence on the expression of mRNAs, was used as a negative control for ANT2 shRNA. The data indicate that ANT2 shRNA increases the gene expression inducting ability of p53.

In addition, an experiment was performed to reconfirm that the introduction of ANT2 shRNA induces the expression and activity of p53, thus up-regulating the TRAIL receptors DR4 and DR5. As shown in FIG. 12C, pre-treatment with the p53 inhibitor (pifithrin-alpha: Biovision, Zurich, Switzerland) suppressed the up-regulation of DR4 and DR5 by ANT2 shRNA (Western blots).

Furthermore, treatment with the p53 inhibitor (pifithrin-alpha) suppressed the up-regulation of TRAIL-mediated apoptosis by ANT2 shRNA, which confirmed that the introduction of ANT2 shRNA induced the expression and activity of p53, leading to an increase in sensitivity to TRAIL. The cell death was quantified using a CCK8 assay, with the use of PBS as a negative control for the p53 inhibitor (FIG. 13).

As is apparent from the data, the introduction of ANT2 shRNA into breast cancer cell lines increases the activity of p53, ultimately resulting in the up-regulation of DR4 and DR5 on cell surfaces.

Example 9: In Vivo Assay of ANT2 shRNA for Ability to Suppress Tumor Growth by Increasing Sensitivity to TRAIL

An animal test was conducted to examine whether ANT2 shRNA suppresses tumor growth by activating the TRAIL-mediated apoptosis.

The breast cancer cell line MCF7 resistant to TRAIL was transplanted into immunedeficient Balb/c nude mice. When a tumor grew to a volume of 100 mm³, they were treated with ANT2 shRNA and TRAIL. In this regard, TRAIL was intraperitoneally injected (10 mg/kg) while ANT2 shRNA was directly injected into the tumor (100 μg: supplemented 200 μl Lipofectamine^TM 2000). At this time, Lipofectamine^TM 2000 was used to deliver ANT2 shRNA into tumor cells. After three treatments over 45 days, the size of tumor was monitored. A same volume of PBS and sc shRNA was used as respective negative controls for TRAIL and sc shRNA.

As shown in FIG. 14A, TRAIL alone had no significant influences on tumor growth, as in the cell culture tests. ANT2 alone was observed to suppress tumor growth. However, the greatest suppressive effect on tumor growth was obtained when the animal was treated ANT2 shRNA and TRAIL at the same time.

On 45th day, the animal models were subjected to euthanasia and the tumors were excised. The expression patterns of TRAIL receptors in the tumor cells were examined using RT-PCR, and the results are given in FIG. 14B.

As shown in FIG. 14B, the introduction of ANT2 shRNA up-regulated DR4 and DR5, but down-regulated DcR2.

The data imply that the TRAIL-mediated tumor suppression by ANT2 shRNA is attributed to the expression control of TRAIL receptors.

<Construction of ANT2 shRNA Adenovirus>

Adenovirus system was used for the effective tranfection of progenitor cells with ANT2 shRNA (ANT2 shRNA sequence and loop sequence targeting ANT2 are the same as sequences used in the construction of ANT2 shRNA expression vector).

To construct a recombinant adenovirus, the pSilencer-ANT2shRNA DNA was subcloned into the EcoRI/HindIII site of the Pca14 shuttle vector, which is designed to facilitate cloning into an adenovirus vector. A real-clone was detected by PvuI enzyme mapping (DNA was enzymatically digested and electrophoresed to detect a DNA fragment at a suitable size position). Within the BJ5183 competent cell (an E.coli strain allowing the homologous recombination between an adenovirus vector and a shuttle vector DNA), a Pca14-mANT2shRNA DNA linearized by PcaI was subjected to homologous recombination with an adenovirus-dl324 vector (E1 deleted: replication-defective vector) DNA linearized by BstBI. The resulting recombinant DNA was transformed into DH5α cells and amplified. After being detected, a real-clone was transfected into a 293a packaging cell (a cell designed to readily introduce DNA thereinto, and to allow the mass production of cloned adenovirus therein due to the presence of the adenoviral replication gene E1) to induce the proliferation of adenovirus within the cell. Thus, the enriched adenovirus-mANT2shRNA was separated to purity using a PEG-CsCl (density gradient layer separation) method before use in experiments.

Example 10: Effect of ANT2 shRNA on the Progenitor Cells of Breast Cancer Cell Line

A breast cancer cell line is composed of progenitor cells and non-progenitor cells. ANT2 protein is highly expressed in both cell populations. In this example, apoptosis according to the introduction of ANT2 shRNA was examined in both cell populations.

The progenitor cells of a tumor are characterized by CD44+/CD24- on their surface. Of the breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 is composed predominantly of progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) (more than 80%), while MCF7 contains a minor proportion (less than 10%) of progenitor cells.

The two cell lines and the progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) separated therefrom were analyzed for ANT2 gene expression using RT-PCR. Real-time PCR was also used to confirm the results of RT-PCR. The two cell lines were treated with an CD44 monoclonal antibody[anti-PE-conjugated CD44 monoclonal antibody (BD-PharMingen, San Diego, California, USA) and anti-PE microbeads [MiltenyiBiotec. (BergischGladbach, Germany)], followed by sorting necessary cells with the aid of MACS (Magnetic Activating cell sorter). The sorted cells and the non-sorted cells of progenitor cells were analyzed for ANT2 mRNA level using RT-PCR and real-time PCR.

As shown in FIG. 15, both cell lines, whether sorted into the progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) or not, were high in ANT2 expression level. These results imply that the down regulation of ANT2 by shRNA can induce apoptosis in both the progenitor cells and the non-progenitor cells, thus enhancing the therapeutic possibility.

In addition, an experiment was conducted to show the ability of ANT2 shRNA to induce the progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) of the breast cancer cell to undergo apoptosis. As a cell system for this experiment, mesenchymal cells artificially converted from a normal breast epithelial cell line (MCF10A) by suppressing E-cadherin were employed. The mesenchymal cells are known to show the characteristics of breast cancer stem cells.

Upon the knockdown of E-cadherin by shRNA in the normal breast epithelial cell (MCF10A), as shown in FIG. 16A, the cells which had normally grown in a densely adherent pattern changed to show a loosely adherent growth pattern, which indicates the conversion of the normal epithelial cells into mesenchymal cells. At this time, the cells were found to increase in E-cadherin expression and decrease in ANT2 expression, as measured by RT-PCR (FIG. 16B).

Further, ANT2 shRNA was introduced into only the progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) separated from the breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF7, after which apoptosis was analyzed using FACS with Annexin V-FITC and PI staining. This assay is based on the fact that when cells are dead, intracellular proteins and DNA are released from the cells (CD44+/CD24-) and reacted with Annexin V-FITC and PI, respectively. The results are given in FIG. 17. Even the progenitor cells separated from the two tumor cell lines were observed to be effectively induced to undergo apoptosis by ANT2 shRNA. For this, sc shRNA was used as a negative control.

Furthermore, ANT2 shRNA was examined to determine whether it can induce effective apoptosis in the breast cancer stem-like cells obtained by introducing E-cadherin shRNA into the normal breast epithelial cell line (MCF10A). The results are given in FIG. 18. For analysis, the cells were stained with annexin-V-FITC and PI. This is based on the fact that cell membranes at an early stage of programmed cell death are destroyed to release phospholipids such as phosphatydylserine from the cells and Annexin V is associated with the phospholipids, which is used as a proof for the early stage of programmed cell death. As for PI (propium iodide), it binds DNA by intercalating between bases and is a fluorescent molecule that can be used to stain DNA. It is used to determine cell death on the basis of nuclear blebs and condensation upon apoptosis. The normal breast epithelial cell line (MCF10A) was used as a negative control for this experiment. Even when ANT2 shRNA was introduced, little apoptosis was induced in the normal breast epithelial cell line (MCF10A) having low level of ANT2 expression (FIG. 18A). On the other hand, the meshechymally transdifferentiated cells obtained by introducing E-cadherin shRNA into MCF10A were improved in ANT2 expression level and, when ANT2 shRNA was introduced thereinto, the cells (E-cad shRNA transfected-MCF10A) were effectively induced to undergo apoptosis (FIG. 18B).

The results indicate that ANT2 shRNA can effectively kill breast cancer stem cells without influence on normal epithelial cells.

Example 11: Effect of ANT2 shRNA on Tumor Growth Activity of Progenitor Cells

An experiment was performed to examine the effect of ANT2 shRNA on the tumor growth activity of the progenitor cells of breast cancer.

In detail, only progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-), which act as a source of tumor recurrence, were isolated from the breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 (in the same manner as in Example 10) and transfected with ANT2 shRNA, after which they were cultured in non-adherent culture dishes (the attachment of cell to culture was minimized to promote the formation of cell mass) to observe the formation of cell mass.

As shown in FIG. 19A, a large number of cell masses were formed when ANT2 shRNA was not introduced whereas the introduction of ANT2 shRNA allowed the formation of almost no or few cell masses. In addition, as whown in FIG. 19B, the cell masses, although formed, were very small in volume.

These results indicate that ANT2 shRNA inhibits the tumor growth activity of the progenitor cells which play a crucial role in the recurrence of tumor.

Example 12: Effect of ANT2 shRNA on Drug Resistance of Breast Cancer Progenitor Cells

The progenitor cells of breast cancer (CD44+/CD24-) exhibit high resistance to drugs (anti-cancer agents). The effect of ANT2 shRNA on the sensitivity of progenitor cells to drugs was examined.

The MDA-MB-231 cell line which has a predominant proportion of progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) was treated with 10-fold serial dilutions of doxorubicin, a widely used anticancer agent starting from 10 μM to zero, followed by incubation (24 hrs). The apoptosis was quantitatively analyzed using a CCK8 assay and the results are given in FIG. 20. The assay was conducted in the same manner as in Example 6.

As shown in FIG. 20, neither progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) nor the non-progenitor cells were sensitive to doxorubicin. In contrast, both cells, when transfected with ANT2 shRNA, were induced to undergo apoptosis in a dose-dependent pattern.

The breast cancer cell line MCF7, which has a minor proportion of progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-), was treated with various concentrations of doxorubicin, widely used for the treatment of breast cancer, after which apoptosis was quantitatively analyzed using a CCK8 assay. The results are given in FIG. 21. As shown in FIG. 21, the progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) were less sensitive to doxorubicin than was a mixed population of the progenitor cells and the non-progenitor cells. On the other hand, the introduction of ANT2 shRNA was found to induce apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in both cell populations. The results indicate that the introduction of ANT2 shRNA makes the cells more sensitive to doxorubicin, giving a solution to the problem of drug resistance.

Example 13: Effect of ANT2 shRNA on the Expression of the Receptor ABCG2 Responsible for Drug Resistance of Breast Cancer Progenitor Cells

One of the representative reasons for the high resistance, that is, the low sensitivity of the progenitor cells of breast cancer to drugs is the overexpression of the MDR (multi-drug resistance receptors), which are located in the cell membranes, functioning to transport drugs from cells to the exterior. Representative among the receptors is ABCG2 which is highly expressed particularly in breast cancer cells.

The following experiments were conducted to examine whether the enhancement of drug sensitivity by ANT2 shRNA is attributed to the control of the expression and activity of ABCG2.

The breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF7, which have high and low proportions of the progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-), respectively, were used in this experiment. Progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) sorted from the breast cancer cells lines, unsorted cells, and the mesenchymally transdifferentiated-breast epithelial cell line (MCF10A) by the knockdown of E-cadherin were analyzed for ABCG2 mRNA expression using RT-PCR. In addition, ABCG protein levels were determined by Western blotting with an anti-ABCG2 antibody (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc., Santa Cruz, CA, USA).

As shown in FIG. 22, the mRNA expression level of ABCG2 is increased in progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) sorted from the two tumor cell lines, non-sorted cells, and the mesenchymally transdifferentiated-breast epithelial cell line (MCF10A) by the knockdown of E-cadherin.

As shown in FIG. 23, the protein expression level of ABCG2 is increased in progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) sorted from the two tumor cell lines, non-sorted cells, and the mesenchymally transdifferentiated-breast epithelial cell line (MCF10A) by the knockdown of E-cadherin. In addition, the increased level of ABCG2 was observed to be reduced when ANT2 shRNA was introduced. The results indicate that breast cancer progenitor cells and breast cancer stem cells, both expressing a high level of ABCG2, can be reduced in ABCG2 expression by the introduction of ANT2 shRNA thereinto.

Furthermore, the progenitor cells of breast cancer were examined to determine if there was a practical increase in the activity of ABCG2. In detail, progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) sorted from the breast cancer cells lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF7, unsorted cells, and the mesenchymally transdifferentiated-breast epithelial cell line (MCF10A) by the knockdown of E-cadherin were analyzed for ABCG2 activity using Hoechst 33342. The extent of accumulation of Hoechst 33342 gives a quantitative index for the activity of ABCG2. The results are given in FIG. 24.

As shown in FIG. 24, ABCG2 activity is increased in progenitor cells (CD44+/CD24-) sorted from the two tumor cell lines, non-sorted cells, and the mesenchymally transdifferentiated-breast epithelial cell line (MCF10A) by the knockdown of E-cadherin.

On the basis of the results obtained above, the effect of ANT2 shRNA on the activity of ABCG2 was examined. To this end, the cells were treated with Hoechst 33342 (Sigma), followed by fluorescent excited cells sorting to quantitatively analyze the activity of ABCG2. The results are given in FIG. 25. As shown in FIG. 25, the activity of ABCG2 was effectively decreased by ANT2 shRNA.

These results indicate that when the progenitor cells of breast cancer, which show high expression levels and activity of the receptor ABCG2 involved in drug resistance, are transfected with ANT2 shRNA, the expression and activity of ABCG2 are decreased. That is, ANT2 shRNA reduces the activity of ABCG2 in the progenitor cells of breast cancer, giving a solution to the problem of drug resistance.

Example 14: Selective Delivery of ANT2 shRNA to Breast Cancer Progenitor Cells and Apoptotic Effect thereof

An experiment was conducted to examine whether ANT2 shRNA can effectively kill progenitor cells of breast cancer. When patients with breast cancer are treated by using ANT2 shRNA, it is very important to effectively deliver ANT2 shRNA to target cells. In this experiment, nano-complexes[PEI/hyaluronic acid (HA) nano-complexes] were prepared to use as a delivery material targeting CD44 which is highly expressed on the progenitor cells of breast cancer. To examine whether ANT2 shRNA can be effectively delivered to the breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and T47D, which express CD44 at a high and a low level, respectively, fluorescence-conjugated nanoparticle [PEI/hyaluronic acid (HA) nano-complexes]was complexed with ANT2 shRNA. The resulting nano-complexes were applied to each cell line and then incubated, followed by analyzing intracellular fluorescent intensity to determine the level of the ANT2 shRNA introduced into the cells.

As shown in FIG. 26, the selective delivery of the gene of interest to the cell line MDA-MB-231 expressing CD44 at high levels was highly effective.

The data indicate that with the aid of the delivering nano-complexes[PEI/hyaluronic acid (HA) nano-complexes] targeting CD44 which is highly expressed on the surface of the progenitor cells of breast cancer, ANT2 shRNA can be selectively delivered to the progenitor cells and induce the cells to undergo apoptosis.

It is understood to a person skilled in the art that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments and attached drawings disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present invention, but are intended to describe the invention. The technical spirit of the present invention is not limited to such embodiments and drawings.

It is expected that the present invention provides therapeutics for breast cancer, which are highly effective for inhibiting the metastasis of breast cancer cells and overcoming the tolerance toward an anti-cancer agent. Further, the present invention could be used to develop therapeutics for stem cells of breast cancer.

SEQ ID NO 1: 5'-GCAGAUCACUGCAGAUAAGUU-3' (sense sequence of ANT2 shRNA)

SEQ ID NO 2: 5'-UUCAAGAGA-3' (loop sequence of ANT2 shRNA)

SEQ ID NO 3: 5'-AACUUAUCUGCAGUGAUCUGC-3' (anti-sense sequence of ANT2 shRNA)

Claims

A composition for treatment of breast cancer, comprising adenine nucleotide translocator 2 (ANT2) small interfering RNA (siRNA) or adenine nucleotide translocator 2 (ANT2) short hairpin RNA (shRNA) as an active ingredient, characterized by ability to suppress metastasis of breast cancer cells.
The composition according to claim 1, wherein the ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA induces degradation of ANT2 mRNA by interacting an anti-sense sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:3 with a sense sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1.
The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition suppresses the expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu).
The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition enhances an effect of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) for treating the breast cancer.
The composition according to claim 4, wherein the composition enhances an expression of death receptor 4 (DR4) and death receptor 5 (DR5) and suppresses an expression of death decoy receptor 1 (DcR1) and death decoy receptor 2 (DcR2).
The composition according to claim 4, wherein the composition increases p53 in expression level and activity.
A composition for treating stem cells of breast cancer, comprising Adenine nucleotide translocator 2 small interfering RNA (ANT2 siRNA) or ANT2 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) as an active ingredient.
The composition according to claim 7, wherein the composition inhibits expression and activity of ABCG2 (ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2).
The composition according to claim 7, when the stem cells are further treated with an anti-cancer agent, the composition enhances the effect of the anti-cancer agent by improving the response of the stem cells to the anti-cancer agent and reducing development of tolerance toward the anti-cancer agent.
The composition according to claim 9, wherein the anti-cancer agent is doxorubicin.
A method for inhibiting metastasis of breast cancer cells comprising:

administering an effective amount of a composition comprising adenine nucleotide translocator 2 (ANT2) small interfering RNA (siRNA) or adenine nucleotide translocator 2 (ANT2) short hairpin RNA (shRNA) as an active ingredient to a subject in need thereof.
A method for treating stem cells of a breast cancer comprising:

administering an effective amount of a composition comprising adenine nucleotide translocator 2 (ANT2) small interfering RNA (siRNA) or adenine nucleotide translocator 2 (ANT2) short hairpin RNA (shRNA) as an active ingredient to a subject in need thereof.