Reversion of the Malignant Phenotype of Human Breast Cells in Three-Dimensional Culture and in Vivo by Integrin Blocking Antibodies

• Published in: The Journal of cell biology Vol. 137; no. 1; pp. 231 - 245
• Main Authors: Weaver, V. M., Petersen, O. W., Wang, F., Larabell, C. A., Briand, P., Damsky, C., Bissell, M. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Rockefeller University Press 07.04.1997; The Rockefeller University Press
• Subjects: Acinar cells; Animals; Antibodies; Antibodies, Monoclonal - pharmacology; Antigens, CD - genetics; Antigens, CD - immunology; Basement Membrane - chemistry; Basement Membrane - cytology; BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; Binding, Competitive - immunology; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Breast Neoplasms - immunology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Breasts; Cadherins; Cell adhesion; Cell Biology; Cell Division - physiology; Cell growth; Cells; Cellular biology; Epithelial cells; Extracellular Matrix - chemistry; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Genotype; Humans; Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments - pharmacology; Integrin beta1 - genetics; Integrin beta1 - immunology; Integrin beta4; Integrins; Mice; Phenotype; Phenotypes; Rats; Signal Transduction - physiology; Transformation, Genetic - physiology; Tumor Cells, Cultured - chemistry; Tumor Cells, Cultured - cytology; Tumor Cells, Cultured - physiology; Tumors
• ISSN: 0021-9525; 1540-8140
• DOI: 10.1083/jcb.137.1.231

In a recently developed human breast cancer model, treatment of tumor cells in a 3-dimensional culture with inhibitory β1-integrin antibody or its Fab fragments led to a striking morphological and functional reversion to a normal phenotype. A stimulatory β1-integrin antibody proved to be ineffective. The newly formed reverted acini re-assembled a basement membrane and re-established E-cadherin-catenin complexes, and re-organized their cytoskeletons. At the same time they downregulated cyclin D1, upregulated p21cip,waf-1, and stopped growing. Tumor cells treated with the same antibody and injected into nude mice had significantly reduced number and size of tumors in nude mice. The tissue distribution of other integrins was also normalized, suggesting the existence of intimate interactions between the different integrin pathways as well as adherens junctions. On the other hand, nonmalignant cells when treated with either α6 or β4 function altering antibodies continued to grow, and had disorganized colony morphologies resembling the untreated tumor colonies. This shows a significant role of the α6/β4 heterodimer in directing polarity and tissue structure. The observed phenotypes were reversible when the cells were disassociated and the antibodies removed. Our results illustrate that the extracellular matrix and its receptors dictate the phenotype of mammary epithelial cells, and thus in this model system the tissue phenotype is dominant over the cellular genotype.