Angiogenesis, Metastasis, and the Cellular Microenvironment Notch1 Inhibition Alters the CD44/CD24 Population and Reduces the Formation of Brain Metastases from Breast Cancer

Brain metastasis from breast cancer is an increasingly important clinical problem. Here we assessed the role of CD44/CD24 cells and pathways that regulate them, in an experimental model of brain metastasis. Notch signaling (mediated by g-secretase) has been shown to contribute to maintenance of the cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype. Cells sorted for a reduced stem-like phenotype had a reduced ability to form brain metastases compared with unsorted or CD44/CD24 cells (P < 0.05; Kruskal–Wallis). To assess the effect of g-secretase inhibition, cells were cultured with DAPT and the CD44/CD24 phenotypes quantified. 231-BR cells with a CD44/CD24 phenotype was reduced by about 15% in cells treated with DAPT compared with DMSOtreated or untreated cells (P 1⁄4 0.001, ANOVA). In vivo, mice treated with DAPT developed significantly fewer microand macrometastases compared with vehicle treated or untreated mice (P 1⁄4 0.011, Kruskal–Wallis). Notch1 knockdown reduced the expression of CD44/CD24 phenotype by about 20%. In vitro, Notch1 shRNA resulted in a reduction in cellular growth at 24, 48, and 72 hours time points (P1⁄4 0.033, P1⁄4 0.002, and P 1⁄4 0.009, ANOVA) and about 60% reduction in Matrigel invasion was observed (P < 0.001, ANOVA). Cells transfected with shNotch1 formed significantly fewer macrometastases and micrometastases compared with scrambled shRNA or untransfected cells (P < 0.001; Kruskal–Wallis). These data suggest that the CSC phenotype contributes to the development of brain metastases from breast cancer, and this may arise in part from increased Notch activity. Mol Cancer Res; 9(7); 1–11. 2011 AACR.