Origin and interpretation of cancer transcriptome profiling: the essential role of the stroma in determining prognosis and drug resistance

Abstract Mesenchymal gene expression in tumors has been implicated in cancer recurrence, metastasis, and poor prognosis of patients. The source of these mesenchymal signals has been mostly attributed to the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition‐like phenotype of epithelial tumor cells. However, recen...

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Main Authors: Nicolas Goossens, Yujin Hoshida, Julio A Aguirre‐Ghiso
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2015-08-01
Series:EMBO Molecular Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201505284
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author Nicolas Goossens
Yujin Hoshida
Julio A Aguirre‐Ghiso
author_facet Nicolas Goossens
Yujin Hoshida
Julio A Aguirre‐Ghiso
author_sort Nicolas Goossens
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Mesenchymal gene expression in tumors has been implicated in cancer recurrence, metastasis, and poor prognosis of patients. The source of these mesenchymal signals has been mostly attributed to the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition‐like phenotype of epithelial tumor cells. However, recent evidence from colorectal and other cancer transcriptome studies clearly shows that the mesenchymal gene expression likely originates from stromal cells in and around the tumor and that this microenvironment specifically confers tumor aggressiveness. These findings highlight the need to move away from tumor‐centric interpretations and to better establish the complementary role of the stromal microenvironment in fueling aggressive traits of cancer cells. This observation also suggests that future attempts at transcriptome profiling of whole tumor tissue must take into account the origin of mesenchymal gene expression profiles to better guide development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for cancer.
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spelling doaj-art-ad198f37c5b04d31ba4fa2fc7971a0422025-08-20T04:03:00ZengSpringer NatureEMBO Molecular Medicine1757-46761757-46842015-08-017111385138710.15252/emmm.201505284Origin and interpretation of cancer transcriptome profiling: the essential role of the stroma in determining prognosis and drug resistanceNicolas Goossens0Yujin Hoshida1Julio A Aguirre‐Ghiso2Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Liver Cancer Program, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiDivision of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Liver Cancer Program, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology, Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiAbstract Mesenchymal gene expression in tumors has been implicated in cancer recurrence, metastasis, and poor prognosis of patients. The source of these mesenchymal signals has been mostly attributed to the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition‐like phenotype of epithelial tumor cells. However, recent evidence from colorectal and other cancer transcriptome studies clearly shows that the mesenchymal gene expression likely originates from stromal cells in and around the tumor and that this microenvironment specifically confers tumor aggressiveness. These findings highlight the need to move away from tumor‐centric interpretations and to better establish the complementary role of the stromal microenvironment in fueling aggressive traits of cancer cells. This observation also suggests that future attempts at transcriptome profiling of whole tumor tissue must take into account the origin of mesenchymal gene expression profiles to better guide development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for cancer.https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201505284
spellingShingle Nicolas Goossens
Yujin Hoshida
Julio A Aguirre‐Ghiso
Origin and interpretation of cancer transcriptome profiling: the essential role of the stroma in determining prognosis and drug resistance
EMBO Molecular Medicine
title Origin and interpretation of cancer transcriptome profiling: the essential role of the stroma in determining prognosis and drug resistance
title_full Origin and interpretation of cancer transcriptome profiling: the essential role of the stroma in determining prognosis and drug resistance
title_fullStr Origin and interpretation of cancer transcriptome profiling: the essential role of the stroma in determining prognosis and drug resistance
title_full_unstemmed Origin and interpretation of cancer transcriptome profiling: the essential role of the stroma in determining prognosis and drug resistance
title_short Origin and interpretation of cancer transcriptome profiling: the essential role of the stroma in determining prognosis and drug resistance
title_sort origin and interpretation of cancer transcriptome profiling the essential role of the stroma in determining prognosis and drug resistance
url https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201505284
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