Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40082910›Full record

ArticleCell communication and signaling : CCS2025

Basal cell adhesion molecule (BCAM) promotes mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition and tumor angiogenesis through paracrine signaling.

Suresh Sivakumar, Sonja Lieber, Raimund Dietze, Vanessa M Beutgen, Eileen C Sutor, Sophie Heidemann, Florian Finkernagel, Julia Teply-Szymanski, Andrea Nist, Thorsten Stiewe and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cell communication and signaling : CCS, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Suresh SivakumarTranslational Oncology, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI), Philipps University, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse 3, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
Sonja Lieber *Translational Oncology, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI), Philipps University, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse 3, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
Raimund Dietze *Translational Oncology, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI), Philipps University, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse 3, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
Vanessa M BeutgenInstitute of Translational Proteomics, Biochemical/Pharmacological Centre, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
Eileen C SutorTranslational Oncology, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI), Philipps University, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse 3, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
Sophie HeidemannTranslational Oncology, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI), Philipps University, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse 3, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
Florian FinkernagelTranslational Oncology, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI), Philipps University, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse 3, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
Julia Teply-SzymanskiGenomics Core Facility, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
Andrea NistGenomics Core Facility, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
Thorsten StieweGenomics Core Facility, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
Katrin RothCell Imaging Core Facility, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI), Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
Silke ReinartzTranslational Oncology, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI), Philipps University, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse 3, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
Johannes GraumannInstitute of Translational Proteomics, Biochemical/Pharmacological Centre, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
Sabine Müller-BrüsselbachTranslational Oncology, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI), Philipps University, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse 3, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
Rolf MüllerTranslational Oncology, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI), Philipps University, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse 3, 35043, Marburg, Germany. rolf.mueller@uni-marburg.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHigh expression of basal cell adhesion molecule (BCAM) is a hallmark of ovarian cancer (OC) progression. BCAM facilitates transcoelomic dissemination by promoting mesothelial cell clearance at peritoneal attachment sites of tumor cell spheroids. We investigated how BCAM mediates this effect and potentially drives other pro-metastatic functions.

methodsThe impact of BCAM on the tumor cell secretome and the mesothelial cell phenotype was analyzed by affinity proteomics, bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing, life-cell and multiphoton microscopy, biochemical and functional in vitro assays as well as a murine tumor model. BCAM manipulation involved ectopic overexpression, inducible expression and treatment with soluble BCAM.

resultsAll forms of BCAM enhanced the secretion of cytokines that impact cell motility, mesenchymal differentiation and angiogenesis, including AREG, CXCL family members, FGF2, TGFB2, and VEGF. Notably, their levels in OC ascites were correlated with BCAM expression, and recombinant BCAM-induced cytokines triggered mesothelial-mesenchymal transition (MMT). Mesothelial cells undergoing MMT exhibited enhanced motility away from attaching tumor spheroids, leading to mesothelial clearance at spheroid attachment sites. BCAM-mediated MMT-associated transcriptional changes were also observed in subpopulations of omental mesothelial cells from OC patients, and were associated with poor survival. Consistent with the secretome data, BCAM induced endothelial tube formation in vitro and markedly promoted tumor angiogenesis in a mouse model.

conclusionWe have identified previously unknown functions of the BCAM-induced secretome potentially impacting distinct stages of OC metastasis. While BCAM's impact on MMT may facilitate initiation of micrometastases, neo-angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth. Taken together with the observed clinical adverse association, our findings underscore the potential of BCAM as a therapeutic target.

Indexed as

Cell Adhesion MoleculesEpithelial-Mesenchymal TransitionNeovascularization, PathologicOvarian NeoplasmsParacrine CommunicationAngiogenesisAnimalsCell Line, TumorCell MovementCytokinesFemaleHumansMiceCell Adhesion MoleculesCytokinesBasal cell adhesion molecule (BCAM)Cancer cell migrationMesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (MMT)Ovarian cancer metastasisTumor angiogenesis

Identifiers

PMID40082910
PMCPMC11907816

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.