Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but highly aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor. Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) may contribute to tumorigenesis in a subset of tumors via inhibition of tumor suppressors such as retinoblastoma (RB1) by mutated viral T-antigens, but the molecular pathogenesis of MCPyV-negative MCC is largely unexplored. Through our MI-ONCOSEQ precision oncology study we performed integrative sequencing on two cases of MCPyV-negative MCC, as well as a validation cohort of 14 additional MCC cases (n=16). In addition to previously identified mutations in TP53, RB1, and PIK3CA, we discovered activating mutations of oncogenes including HRAS and loss-of-function mutations in PRUNE2 and NOTCH family genes in MCPyV-negative MCC. MCPyV-negative tumors also displayed high overall mutation burden (10.09 +/- 2.32 mutations per Mb) and were characterized by a prominent UV-signature pattern with C > T transitions comprising 85% of mutations. In contrast, mutation burden was low in MCPyV-positive tumors (0.40 +/- 0.09 mutations per Mb) and lacked a UV signature. These findings suggest a potential ontologic dichotomy in MCC, characterized by either viral-dependent or UV-dependent tumorigenic pathways.

Glioblastoma-initiating cells (GIC) are a tumorigenic cell subpopulation resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and are a likely source of recurrence. However, the basis through which GICs are maintained has yet to be elucidated in detail. We herein demonstrated that the carcinoembryonic antigen–related cell adhesion molecule Ceacam1L acts as a crucial factor in GIC maintenance and tumorigenesis by activating c-Src/STAT3 signaling. Furthermore, we showed that monomers of the cytoplasmic domain of Ceacam1L bound to c-Src and STAT3 and induced their phosphorylation, whereas oligomerization of this domain ablated this function. Our results suggest that Ceacam1L-dependent adhesion between GIC and surrounding cells play an essential role in GIC maintenance and proliferation, as mediated by signals transmitted by monomeric forms of the Ceacam1L cytoplasmic domain. Cancer Res; 75(19); 1–11. ©2015 AACR.

Glioblastoma-initiating cells (GIC) are a tumorigenic cell subpopulation resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and are a likely source of recurrence. However, the basis through which GIC are maintained have yet to be elucidated in detail. We herein demonstrated that carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule Ceacam1L acts as a crucial factor in GIC maintenance and tumorigenesis by activating c-Src/STAT3 signaling. Further, we showed that monomers of the cytoplasmic domain of Ceacam1 bound to c-Src and STAT3 and induced their phosphorylation, whereas oligomerization of this domain ablated this function. Our results suggest that Ceacam1L-dependent adhesion between GIC and surrounding cells play an essential role in GIC maintenance and proliferation, as mediated by signals transmitted by monomeric forms of the Ceacam1L cytoplasmic domain.

Thrombin-mediated proteolysis is a major determinant of metastasis, but is not universally important for primary tumor growth. Here, we report that colorectal adenocarcinoma represents one important exception whereby thrombin-mediated functions support both primary tumor growth and metastasis. In contrast with studies of multiple nongastrointestinal cancers, we found that the growth of primary tumors formed by murine and human colon cancer cells was reduced in mice by genetic or pharmacologic reduction of circulating prothrombin. Reduced prothrombin expression was associated with lower mitotic indices and invasion of surrounding tissue. Mechanistic investigations revealed that thrombin-driven colonic adenocarcinoma growth relied upon at least two targets of thrombin-mediated proteolysis, protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) expressed by stromal cells and the extracellular matrix protein, fibrinogen. Colonic adenocarcinoma growth was reduced in PAR-1–deficient mice, implicating stromal cell-associated PAR-1 as one thrombin target important for tumor outgrowth. Furthermore, tumor growth was dramatically impeded in fibrinogen-deficient mice, offering the first direct evidence of a critical functional role for fibrinogen in malignant tumor growth. Tumors harvested from fibrinogen-deficient mice displayed a relative reduction in cell proliferative indices, as well as increased tumor necrosis and decreased tumor vascular density. Collectively, our findings established a functional role for thrombin and its targets PAR-1 and fibrinogen in the pathogenesis of colonic adenocarcinoma, supporting tumor growth as well as local invasion and metastasis. Cancer Res; 75(19); 1–9. ©2015 AACR.

Thrombin-mediated proteolysis is a major determinant of metastasis, but is not universally important for primary tumor growth. Here we report that colorectal adenocarcinoma represents one important exception whereby thrombin-mediated functions support both primary tumor growth and metastasis. In contrast to studies of multiple non-gastrointestinal cancers, we found that the growth of primary tumors formed by murine and human colon cancer cells was reduced in mice by genetic or pharmacological reduction of circulating prothrombin. Reduced prothrombin expression associated with lower mitotic indices and invasion of surrounding tissue. Mechanistic investigations revealed that thrombin-driven colonic adenocarcinoma growth relied upon at least two targets of thrombin-mediated proteolysis, protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) expressed by stromal cells, and the extracellular matrix protein, fibrinogen. Colonic adenocarcinoma growth was reduced in PAR-1-deficient mice, implicating PAR-1 as a stromal cell target for thrombin important for tumor outgrowth. Furthermore, tumor growth was dramatically impeded in fibrinogen-deficient mice, offering the first direct evidence of a critical functional role for fibrinogen in malignant tumor growth. Tumors harvested from fibrinogen-deficient mice displayed a relative reduction in cell proliferative indices, as well as increased tumor necrosis and decreased tumor vascular density. Collectively, our findings established a functional role for thrombin and its targets PAR-1 and fibrinogen in the pathogenesis of colonic adenocarcinoma, supporting tumor growth as well as local invasion and metastasis.