A 3D Heterotypic Breast Cancer Model Demonstrates a Role for Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Driving a Proliferative and Invasive Phenotype

Previous indirect 2D co-culture studies have demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) promote breast cancer (BC) progression through secretion of paracrine factors including growth factors, cytokines and chemokines. In order to investigate this aspect of the tumour microenvironment in a more relevant 3D co-culture model, spheroids incorporating breast cancer cells (BCCs), both cell lines and primary BCCs expanded as patient-derived xenografts, and MSCs were established. MSCs in co-cultures were shown to enhance proliferation of estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR)-positive BCCs. In addition, co-culture resulted in downregulation of E-cadherin in parallel with upregulation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-relation transcription factor, SNAIL. Cytoplasmic relocalization of ski-related novel protein N (SnON), a negative regulator of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signalling, and of β-catenin, involved in a number of pathways including Wnt signalling, was also observed in BCCs in co-cultures in contrast to monocultures. In addition, the β-catenin inhibitor, 3-[[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]amino]-benzoic acid methyl ester (MSAB), mediated reduced growth and invasion in the co-cultures. This study highlights the potential role for SnON as a biomarker for BC invasiveness, and the importance of interactions between TGF-β and Wnt signalling, involving SnON. Such pathways may contribute towards identifying possible targets for therapeutic intervention in BC patients.

Keywords: TGF-β signalling; Wnt signalling; epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT); mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs); ski-related novel protein N (SnON); spheroid co-culture model; tumour microenvironment (TME); tumour stroma.