ZEB1 confers stem cell-like properties in breast cancer by targeting neurogenin-3

• DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17077
• Publication Date: 2017-04-13T11:27:17Z
• Authors: Chen Zhou; Huimin Jiang; Zhen Zhang; Guomin Zhang; Hang Wang; Quansheng Zhang; Peiqing Sun; Rong Xiang; Shuang Yang
• Keywords: HDAC1; Ectopic expression; PAX4; Tumor progression

// Chen Zhou 1, * , Huimin Jiang Zhen Zhang 1 Guomin Hang Wang Quansheng 2 Peiqing Sun 3 Rong Xiang and Shuang Yang Tianjin Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Neurovascular Regulation, Medical School Nankai University, 300071, China Organ Transplantation, First Center Hospital, 300192, Department Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Yang, email: [e-mail] Keywords: breast cancer, neurogenin-3, stemness properties, tumor initiation, ZEB1 Received: December 29, 2016 Accepted: March 20, 2017 Published: April 13, ABSTRACT stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation cancer believed be implicated in progression, recurrence. Here, we report that ectopic expression zinc finger E-box binding homeobox protein (ZEB1) results the acquisition CSC properties by cells, leading initiation progression vitro vivo . The neurogenin gene ( Ngn3 ) is bona fide target ZEB1, its repression key factor contributing ZEB1-induced cell stemness. suppressed transcription forming ZEB1/DNA methyltransferase (DNMT)3B/histone deacetylase (HDAC1) complex on promoter, promoter hypermethylation silencing. rescue attenuated symmetric division. Immunohistological analysis human specimens revealed strong inverse relationship between NGN3 expression. Thus, our findings suggest ZEB1-mediated silencing required for maintenance. Targeted therapies against ZEB1/Ngn3 axis may highly valuable prevention treatment cancer.