Adipose-derived stem/stromal cell secretome modulates breast cancer cell proliferation and differentiation state towards aggressiveness

It is becoming increasingly evident that mesenchymal stem/stromal cells are recruited by cancer cells from nearby endogenous host stroma and promote events such as tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis, as well as mediate therapeutic resistance. Consequently, understanding the regulatory mechanisms of ASCs that influence the tumor microenvironment may provide an avenue for further treatment. To understand the role of the ASC secretome in breast cancer cell proliferation, death, and phenotype alteration, adipose-derived stem cell-conditioned medium (mASC) was used to cultivate MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. These breast cancer cells in mASC showed a shorter doubling time, higher frequency of EdU positivity, and higher levels of phosphorylated histone 3. In addition, increased expression of cyclin B1 was observed, suggesting that proliferation was induced. The mASC was also able to increase apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, which was confirmed by caspase-7 activation. The number of tumor-initiating cells (CD44(+) CD24(-/low)) and migration capacity were increased in cells cultivated in mASC. These data collectively suggest that ASC-conditioned medium can induce selective pressure by increasing cell proliferation, giving rise to a more aggressive phenotype in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Our study provides a foundation for further elucidation of the precise mechanism underlying ASCs in breast cancer cells and the modulation of ASCs in potential therapeutic uses. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. and Societe Francaise de Biochimie et Biologie Moleculaire (SFBBM). All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells are recruited by cancer cells to promote tumor events and therapeutic resistance, with their conditioned medium showing the ability to induce increased proliferation and a more aggressive phenotype in breast cancer cells. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of ASCs in the tumor microenvironment may provide potential avenues for further treatment.