Michele I. Vitolo, PhD

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 attachment. Cancer 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 inhibition. Breast 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 phenotype. J 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 response. Oncogene. 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 cells. Oncogene. 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 Cells. Cancer 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 expression. Proceedings 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 Transformation. Cancer Biology and Therapy. Jun 1;6(6):856-63. Epub 2007 Mar 1.

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.

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