Oncogenic K-Ras mutation occurs frequently in several types of cancers, including pancreatic and lung cancers. Tumors with K-Ras mutation are resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs as well as molecular targeting agents. Although numerous approaches are ongoing to find effective ways to treat these tumors, there are still no effective therapies for K-Ras mutant cancer patients. Here we report that K-Ras mutant cancers are more dependent on K-Ras in anchorage-independent culture conditions than in monolayer culture conditions. In seeking to determine mechanisms that contribute to the K-Ras dependency in anchorage-independent culture conditions, we discovered the involvement of Met in K-Ras–dependent, anchorage-independent cell growth. The Met signaling pathway is enhanced and plays an indispensable role in anchorage-independent growth even in cells in which Met is not amplified. Indeed, Met expression is elevated under anchorage-independent growth conditions and is regulated by K-Ras in a MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK)-dependent manner. Remarkably, in spite of a global downregulation of mRNA translation during anchorage-independent growth, we find that Met mRNA translation is specifically enhanced under these conditions. Importantly, ectopic expression of an active Met mutant rescues K-Ras ablation-derived growth suppression, indicating that K-Ras–mediated Met expression drives “K-Ras addiction” in anchorage-independent conditions. Our results indicate that enhanced Met expression and signaling is essential for anchorage-independent growth of K-Ras mutant cancer cells and suggests that pharmacological inhibitors of Met could be effective for K-Ras mutant tumor patients. Cancer Res; 75(14); 1–12. ©2015 AACR.

The DNA damage response (DDR) is a comprehensive and complex network of phosphorylation-mediated signaling pathways that originates endogenously from the DNA lesion and activates intrinsic DNA repair mechanisms. Here we describe a macrophage-dependent mechanism that regulates the response to DNA damage. We demonstrate that human monocytes, by releasing macrophage-derived HB-EGF, enhance DDR in neighboring cells suffering from DNA damage. Consequently, HB-EGF–treated cells exhibit higher double-strand break (DSB) rejoining and display lower levels of residual DSBs. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) injection induce DSBs along with elevation in the number of macrophages and HB-EGF expression. Significantly, macrophage depletion or blocking HB-EGF activity results in higher levels of nonrepairable DSBs, suggesting that macrophages play a role in the resolution of DNA damage via HB-EGF. This study establishes that macrophages, acting through the activation of the EGFR cascade, constitute an important cell nonautonomous physiologic component of the DDR and points to a unique role played by immune cells in maintaining genome integrity. Cancer Res; 75(13); 1–11. ©2015 AACR.

The DNA-damage response (DDR) is a comprehensive and complex network of phosphorylation-mediated signaling pathways that originates endogenously from the DNA lesion and activates intrinsic DNA repair mechanisms. Here we describe a macrophage-dependent mechanism that regulates the response to DNA damage. We demonstrate that human monocytes, by releasing macrophage-derived HB-EGF, enhance DDR in neighboring cells suffering from DNA damage. Consequently, HB-EGF-treated cells exhibit higher double-strand break (DSB) rejoining and display lower levels of residual DSBs. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) injection induce DSBs along with elevation in the number of macrophages and HB-EGF expression. Significantly, macrophage depletion or blocking HB-EGF activity results in higher levels of non-repairable DSBs, suggesting that macrophages play a role in the resolution of DNA damage via HB-EGF. This study establishes that macrophages, acting through the activation of the EGFR cascade, constitute an important cell-non-autonomous physiological component of the DDR and points to a unique role played by immune cells in maintaining genome integrity.

Oncogenic K-Ras mutation occurs frequently in several types of cancers including pancreatic and lung cancers. Tumors with K-Ras mutation are resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs as well as molecular targeting agents. Although numerous approaches are ongoing to find effective ways to treat these tumors, there are still no effective therapies for K-Ras mutant cancer patients. Here we report that K-Ras mutant cancers are more dependent on K-Ras in anchorage independent culture conditions than in monolayer culture conditions. In seeking to determine mechanisms that contribute to the K-Ras dependency in anchorage independent culture conditions, we discovered the involvement of Met in K-Ras-dependent, anchorage independent cell growth. The Met signaling pathway is enhanced and plays an indispensable role in anchorage independent growth even in cells in which Met is not amplified. Indeed, Met expression is elevated under anchorage-independent growth conditions and is regulated by K-Ras in a MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK)-dependent manner. Remarkably, in spite of a global down-regulation of mRNA translation during anchorage independent growth, we find that Met mRNA translation is specifically enhanced under these conditions. Importantly, ectopic expression of an active Met mutant rescues K-Ras ablation-derived growth suppression, indicating that K-Ras mediated Met expression drives “K-Ras addiction” in anchorage independent conditions. Our results indicate that enhanced Met expression and signaling is essential for anchorage independent growth of K-Ras mutant cancer cells and suggests that pharmacological inhibitors of Met could be effective for K-Ras mutant tumor patients.

Increased mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in peripheral blood cells (PBC) has been associated with the risk of developing several tumor types. Here we evaluate sources of variation of this biomarker and its association with breast cancer risk in a prospective cohort study. mtDNA copy number was measured using quantitative real-time PCR on PBC DNA samples from participants in the UK-based Breakthrough Generations Study. Temporal and assay variation was evaluated in a serial study of 91 women, with two blood samples collected approximately 6-years apart. Then, associations with breast cancer risk factors and risk were evaluated in 1,108 cases and 1,099 controls using a nested case–control design. In the serial study, mtDNA copy number showed low assay variation but large temporal variation [assay intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), 79.3%–87.9%; temporal ICC, 38.3%). Higher mtDNA copy number was significantly associated with younger age at blood collection, being premenopausal, having an older age at menopause, and never taking HRT, both in cases and controls. Based on measurements in a single blood sample taken on average 6 years before diagnosis, higher mtDNA copy number was associated with increased breast cancer risk [OR (95% CI) for highest versus lowest quartile, 1.37 (1.02–1.83); P trend = 0.007]. In conclusion, mtDNA copy number is associated with breast cancer risk and represents a promising biomarker for risk assessment. The relatively large temporal variation should be taken into account in future analyses. Cancer Res; 75(14); 1–7. ©2015 AACR.