Focal adhesion kinase and wnt signalling regulates human ductal carcinoma in situ stem cell activity and response to radiotherapy.

Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) can avoid or efficiently repair DNA damage from radio and chemotherapy, which suggests they play a role in disease recurrence. 20% of patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy for ductal carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) of the breast recur and our previous data shows that high grade DCIS have increased numbers of CSCs. Here, we investigate the role of Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) and Wnt pathways in DCIS stem cells and their capacity to survive irradiation. Using DCIS cell lines and patient samples we demonstrate that CSC-enriched populations are relatively radioresistant and possess high FAK activity. Immunohistochemical studies of active FAK in DCIS tissue show high expression was associated with a shorter median time to recurrence. Treatment with a FAK inhibitor or FAK siRNA in non-adherent and 3D matrigel culture reduced mammosphere formation, and potentiated the effect of 2Gy irradiation. Moreover, inhibition of FAK in vitro and in vivo decreased self-renewal capacity, levels of Wnt3a and B-Catenin revealing a novel FAK-Wnt axis regulating DCIS stem cell activity. Overall, these data establish that the FAK-Wnt axis is a promising target to eradicate self-renewal capacity and progression of human breast cancers. Stem Cells 2014.