An Integrated Systems Biology Approach Identifies TRIM25 as a Key Determinant of Breast Cancer Metastasis

Publication date: 15 August 2017
Source:Cell Reports, Volume 20, Issue 7
Author(s): Logan A. Walsh, Mariano J. Alvarez, Erich Y. Sabio, Marsha Reyngold, Vladimir Makarov, Suranjit Mukherjee, Ken-Wing Lee, Alexis Desrichard, Şevin Turcan, Martin G. Dalin, Vinagolu K. Rajasekhar, Shuibing Chen, Linda T. Vahdat, Andrea Califano, Timothy A. Chan
At the root of most fatal malignancies are aberrantly activated transcriptional networks that drive metastatic dissemination. Although individual metastasis-associated genes have been described, the complex regulatory networks presiding over the initiation and maintenance of metastatic tumors are still poorly understood. There is untapped value in identifying therapeutic targets that broadly govern coordinated transcriptional modules dictating metastatic progression. Here, we reverse engineered and interrogated a breast cancer-specific transcriptional interaction network (interactome) to define transcriptional control structures causally responsible for regulating genetic programs underlying breast cancer metastasis in individual patients. Our analyses confirmed established pro-metastatic transcription factors, and they uncovered TRIM25 as a key regulator of metastasis-related transcriptional programs. Further, in vivo analyses established TRIM25 as a potent regulator of metastatic disease and poor survival outcome. Our findings suggest that identifying and targeting keystone proteins, like TRIM25, can effectively collapse transcriptional hierarchies necessary for metastasis formation, thus representing an innovative cancer intervention strategy.

Graphical abstract

Teaser

Aberrantly activated transcriptional networks drive metastatic dissemination. Walsh et al. reverse engineer a breast cancer-specific regulatory network, uncovering a transcriptional hierarchy underlying breast cancer metastasis. Findings suggest that collapsing transcriptional hierarchies by targeting keystone proteins, such as TRIM25, is critical to affect the coordinated transcriptomic reprogramming required for metastasis.


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