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Michele I. Vitolo, PhD

Academic Title:

Assistant Professor

Primary Appointment:

Pharmacology

Secondary Appointment(s):

Physiology

Location:

BRB 10-039

Phone (Primary):

410-706-3331

Education and Training

I completed my undergraduate work at Franklin and Marshall College in 1995, obtained my M.S. in 1999 and my Ph.D. in 2004 from University of Maryland Baltimore. For my thesis work, I studied the transcription factor RUNX2 and its function in angiogenesis and tumorigenesis. During my postdoctoral training with Dr. Kurtis Bachman, I learned powerful genetic techniques to develop a novel in vitro isogenic cell system for examining PTEN deficiency on cell signaling. I continued my postdoctoral training with Dr. Stuart Martin and focused on the role that PTEN deletion plays in the formation of microtentacles (McTNs) and the ability of cancer cells to metastasize. In 2012, I became a Research Associate in the laboratory of Dr. Martin.

Highlighted Publications

Yu, Y., Suryo Rahmanto, Y., Lee, M.H., Wu, P.H., Phillip, J.M., Huang, C.H., Vitolo, M.I., Gaillard, S., Martin, S.S., Wirtz, D., Shih, I.M., and Wang, T.L. (2018) Inhibition of ovarian tumor cell invasiveness by targeting SYK in tyrosine kinase signaling pathway. Oncogene. Apr 11. 2018 Jul;37(28):3778-3789.  PMCID: PMC6043408

Lusche, D.F., Buchele, E.C., Russell, K.B., Soll, B.A. Vitolo, M.I., Klemme, M.R., Wessels, D.J. and Soll, D.R. (2018) Overexpressing TPTE2(TPIP), a homolog of the Human Tumor Suppressor Gene PTEN, Rescues the Abnormal Phenotype of the PTEN-/- Mutant. Oncotarget. Apr 20;9(30):21100-21121.  PMCID: PMC5940379

Linthicum, W., Thanh, M.H., Vitolo, M.I.* and Wen, Q.* (2018) Effects of Ras/MAPK and PI3K Pathway on Mechanical Properties of Breast Epithelial Cells. Int J Mol Sci. May 30;19(6). (*co-corresponding author).  PMCID: PMC6032141

Pratt, S.J.P., Hernandez-Ochoa, E.O., Lee, R.M., Ory, E.C., Lyons, J.S., Joca, H., Johnson, A., Thompson, K., Bailey, P., Lee, C.J., Mathias, T., Vitolo, M.I., Trudeau, M., Stains, J.P., Ward, C.W., Schneider, M.F., and Martin, S.S. (2018) Real-time scratch assay reveals mechanisms of early calcium signaling in MCF-7 cells in response to wounding. Oncotarget. May 18;9(38):25008-25024.  PMCID: PMC5982755

Bailey, P.C., Lee, R.M., Vitolo, M.I., Pratt, S.J., Chakrabarti, K., Lee, C.J., Thompson, K.N., Ory, E., and Martin, S.S. (2018) Single-Cell Tracking of Breast Cancer Cells Enables Prediction of Sphere Formation from Early Cell Divisions. iScience. Aug 21;8:29-39 PMC6170521

Thompson, K., Whipple, R.A., Yoon, J.R., Lipsky, M., Charpentier, M.S., Boggs, A.E., Chakrabarti, K., Bhandary, L., Hessler, L.K., Martin, S.S, and Vitolo, M.I. (2015) The combinatorial activation of the PI3K and Ras/MAPK pathways is sufficient for aggressive tumor formation, while individual pathway activation supports cell persistence. Oncotarget, Nov 3;6(34):35231-46.  PMCID: PMC4742101

Bhandary, L., Whipple, R.A., Vitolo, M.I., Charpentier, M.S., Boggs, A.E., Thompson, K., Chakrabarti, K. and Martin, S.S (2015) ROCK inhibition promotes microtentacles that enhance reattachment of breast cancer cellsOncotarget. Mar 20;6(8):6251-66. PMCID: PMC4467435

Boggs, A.E., Vitolo, M.I., Whipple, R.A., Charpentier, M.S., Ioffe, O.B., Tuttle, K.C., Goloubeva, O.G., Lu, Y., Mills, G.B., and Martin, S.S. (2015) Alpha-tubulin acetylation elevated in metastatic and basal-like breast cancer cells promotes microtentacle formation, adhesion and invasive migrationCancer Research. Jan 1;75(1):203-15. PMCID: PMC4350791

Shriver, M., Stroka, K.M., Vitolo, M.I., Martin, S.S., Huso, D.L., Konstantopoulos, K. and Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, A. (2014) Loss of Giant Obscurins from Breast Epithelium Promotes Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition, Tumorigenicity and MetastasisOncogene. Nov 10. [Epub ahead of print] PMCID: PMC4426246

Perry, N.A., Vitolo, M.I., Martin, S.S., and Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, A. (2014) Loss of the obscurin-RhoGEF downregulates RhoA signaling and increases microtentacle formation and attachment of breast epithelial cellsOncotarget. Sep 30;5(18):8558-68. PMCID: PMC4226704

PMCID: PMC4742101

Additional Publication Citations

Charpentier, M.S., Whipple, R.A., Vitolo, M.I., Boggs, A.E., Slovic, J., Thompson, K.N., Bhandary, L., and Martin, S.S. (2013) Curcumin targets breast cancer stem-like cells with microtentacles that persist in mammospheres and promote attachmentCancer Research. 2014 Feb 15;74(4):1250-60.  PMCID: PMC3990412

Whipple, R.A., Vitolo, M.I., Boggs, A.E., Charpentier, M.S., Thompson, K., and Martin, S.S. (2013) Parthenolide and costunolide reduce microtentacles and tumor cell attachment by selectively targeting detyrosinated tubulin independent from NF-κB inhibitionBreast Cancer Research Sep 13;15(5):R83. [Epub ahead of print].  PMCID: PMC3979133

Vitolo, M.I., Boggs, A.E., Thompson, K., Whipple, R.A., Yoon, J.R, Slovic, J., Charpentier, M.S., Matrone, M.A., and Martin, S.S. (2013) PTEN loss disrupts the actin cortex to promote tubulin microtentacle formation and increased metastatic potential. Oncogene Apr 25;32(17):2200-10. Epub 2012 Jun 11.

Pierce, A.D., Anglin, I.E., Vitolo, M.I., Mochin, M.T., Underwood, K.F. Goldblum, S.E. Kommineni, S., and Passaniti, A. (2012) Glucose-activated RUNX2 phosphorylation promotes endothelial cell proliferation and an angiogenic phenotypeJ Cell BiochemJan;113(1):282-92.  PMCID: PMC3244527

Whipple, R.A., Matrone, M.A., Cho, E.H., Balzer, E.M., Vitolo, M.I., Yoon, J.R., Ioffe, O.B., Tuttle, K.C., Yang, J., and Martin, S.S. (2010) Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition promotes tubulin detyrosination and microtentacles that enhance endothelial engagement.Cancer Research. Oct 15;70(20):8127-37. Epub 2010 Oct 5.  PMCID: PMC3123454

Weiss, M.B., Vitolo, M.I., Mohseni, M., Rosen, D.M., Denmeade, S.R., Park, B.H., Weber, D.J., and Bachman, K.E. (2010) Deletion of p53 in human mammary epithelial cells causes chromosomal instability and altered therapeutic responseOncogene. Aug 19;29(33):4715-24. Epub 2010 Jun 21.  PMCID: PMC3164558

Matrone, M.A., Whipple, R.A, Thompson, K., Cho, E.H., Vitolo, M.I., Balzer, E.M., Yoon, J.R., Ioffe, O.B., Tuttle, K.C., Tan, M., and Martin, S.S. (2010) Metastatic breast tumors express increased tau, which promotes microtentacle formation and the reattachment of detached breast tumor cellsOncogene. Jun 3; 29(22):3217-27. Epub 2010 Mar 15.  PMCID: PMC3132415

Vitolo, M.I.*, Weiss, M.B., Szmachinski, M., Tahir, K.S., Waldman, T., Park, B.H., Martin, S.S., Weber, D.J., and Bachman, K.E. (2009) Deletion of PTEN promotes tumorigenic signaling and altered response to chemotherapeutic agents in Human Mammary Epithelial CellsCancer Research. Nov 1; 69(21):8275-83. Epub 2009 Oct 20.  PMCID: PMC2783190  (*corresponding author)  

Abukdeir, A.M.*, Vitolo, M.I.*, Argani, P., DeMarzo, A., Karakas, B., Konishi, H., Gustin J.P., Lauring, J., Garay, J.P., Pendleton, C., Konishi, Y., Blair, B.G., Brenner, K., Carraway, H. Bachman, K.E., and Park, B.H. (2008) Tamoxifen stimulated growth of human breast cancer due to loss of p21 expressionProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Jan. 8:105(1):288-93. Epub 2007 Dec. 27. PMCID: PMC2224203  *co-first authors

Vitolo, M.I., Jr., Anglin, I.E., Mahoney, W.M., Renoud, K.J., and Passaniti, A. (2007) The RUNX2 Transcription Factor Cooperates with the YES-associated Protein, YAP, to Modulate Cell TransformationCancer Biology and Therapy. Jun 1;6(6):856-63. Epub 2007 Mar 1.

Research Interests

Role of PTEN in microtentacle formation and metastasis

The loss of the tumor suppressor PTEN is associated with cancer stage, lymph node status, and disease-related death, and the high rate of loss in primary tumors suggests a potential role in initiation and/or progression of the disease. However, specific cellular alterations in human breast epithelium controlled by PTEN inactivation, which lead to an increased metastatic phenotype, remain poorly defined. Using a PTEN isogenic somatic cell knock-out model, we are investigating the molecular mechanisms by which PTEN loss promotes metastatic efficiency of circulating tumor cells. We have determined that PTEN loss confers both apoptotic resistance and production of microtentacles (McTNs) in mammary epithelial cells upon detachment. McTNs are membrane structures observed in detached cells and are increased in frequency, and number and length per cell as compared to their isogenic, PTEN expressing parental counterparts. These novel structures (McTNs) are structurally distinct from classical actin based extensions of adherent cells, persist for days in breast tumor lines that are resistant to anoikis, and aid in the reattachment to matrix or cell monolayers. Therefore, the combination of apoptotic resistance and enhanced McTNs expression due to PTEN loss may have important consequences for facilitating tumor cell extravasation and efficient adherence to new sites.

Are PIK3CA activating mutations and PTEN loss reciprocal mutations?

The acquisition of PIK3CA mutations and PTEN loss are often assumed to be reciprocal mutations since they can be mutually exclusive and each promotes AKT activation. However, recent clinical studies highlight major differences in patient outcomes when PTEN loss/mutation or PIK3CA mutation occurs, where PTEN loss leads to a worse patient prognosis, perhaps due to functions of PTEN beyond that of PI3K pathway maintenance. We have determined differences in cytoskeletal structure and signaling between cells with PTEN loss and PIK3CA activation, and therefore the current PI3K inhibitor therapies in clinical trials may not be sufficient for patients with PTEN loss. Understanding the molecular targets of PTEN that promote McTNs and reattachment could provide new therapeutic opportunities to reduce metastatic potential. Once substrates of PTEN are known, the kinases responsible for their phosphorylation could be targeted therapeutically. Presumably, the high level of phosphorylation in these PTEN substrates is what drives cytoskeletal alterations in PTEN-/- tumor cells.

Grants and Contracts

NCI Mentored Scientist Research Award
PTEN loss increases efficiency of breast tumor metastasis