151
|
Kaushik I, Ramachandran S, Srivastava SK. CRISPR-Cas9: A multifaceted therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2019; 96:4-12. [PMID: 31054324 PMCID: PMC6829064 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2019.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 is an RNA guided endonuclease that has revolutionized the ability to edit genome and introduce desired manipulations in the target genomic sequence. It is a flexible methodology and is capable of targeting multiple loci simultaneously. Owing to the fact that cancer is an amalgamation of several genetic mutations, application of CRISPR-Cas9 technology is considered as a novel strategy to combat cancer. Genetic and epigenetic modulations in cancer leads to development of resistance to conventional therapy options. Given the abundance of transcriptomic and genomic alterations in cancer, developing a strategy to decipher these alterations is critical. CRISPR-Cas9 system has proven to be a promising tool in generating cellular and animal models to mimic the mutations and understand their role in tumorigenesis. CRISPR-Cas9 is an upheaval in the field of cancer immunotherapy. Furthermore, CRISPR-Cas9 plays an important role in the development of whole genome libraries for cancer patients. This approach will help understand the diversity in genome variation among the patients and also, will provide multiple variables to scientists to investigate and improvise cancer therapy. This review will focus on the discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 system, mechanisms behind CRISPR technique and its current status as a potential tool for investigating the genomic mutations associated with all cancer types.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Itishree Kaushik
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX, 79601, USA
| | - Sharavan Ramachandran
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX, 79601, USA
| | - Sanjay K Srivastava
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX, 79601, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
152
|
Zhang W, Ge H, Jiang Y, Huang R, Wu Y, Wang D, Guo S, Li S, Wang Y, Jiang H, Cheng J. Combinational therapeutic targeting of BRD4 and CDK7 synergistically induces anticancer effects in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2019; 469:510-523. [PMID: 31765738 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The bromodomain and extra-terminal domain protein BRD4 has been recognized as a key oncogenic driver and a druggable target against cancer. However, these BRD4 inhibitors as monotherapy were moderate in efficacy in preclinical models. Here we utilized a small-scale drug synergy screen that combined the BRD4 inhibitor (JQ1) with 8 epigenetic or transcriptional targeted chemicals and identified THZ1 (a CDK7 inhibitor) acting synergistically with JQ1 against head neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Combinational JQ1 and THZ1 treatment impaired cell proliferation, induced apoptosis and senescence, which were largely recapitulated by dual BRD4 and CDK7 knockdown. Combinational treatment inhibited tumor growth and progression in 4NQO-induced HNSCC and xenograft animal models. RNA-sequencing analyses identified hundreds of differentially expressed genes modulated by JQ1 and THZ1, which were significantly enriched in categories including cell cycle and apoptosis. Mechanistically, combinational treatment reduced H3K27ac enrichment in the super-enhancer region of YAP1, which inactivated its transcription and in turn induced anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects. Combined BRD4 and CDK7 upregulation associated with worst prognosis in HNSCC patients. Collectively, our findings reveal a novel therapeutic strategy of pharmacological inhibitions of BRD4 and CDK7 against HNSCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, 210029, People's Republic of China; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Han Ge
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, 210029, People's Republic of China; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Jiang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Rong Huang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaping Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongmiao Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Songsong Guo
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Sheng Li
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanling Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongbing Jiang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Cheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, 210029, People's Republic of China; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
153
|
Bakshi M, Kim TK, Porter L, Mwangi W, Mulenga A. Amblyomma americanum ticks utilizes countervailing pro and anti-inflammatory proteins to evade host defense. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1008128. [PMID: 31756216 PMCID: PMC6897422 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Feeding and transmission of tick-borne disease (TBD) agents by ticks are facilitated by tick saliva proteins (TSP). Thus, defining functional roles of TSPs in tick evasion is expected to reveal potential targets in tick-antigen based vaccines to prevent TBD infections. This study describes two types of Amblyomma americanum TSPs: those that are similar to LPS activate macrophage (MΦ) to express pro-inflammation (PI) markers and another set that suppresses PI marker expression by activated MΦ. We show that similar to LPS, three recombinant (r) A. americanum insulin-like growth factor binding-related proteins (rAamIGFBP-rP1, rAamIGFBP-rP6S, and rAamIGFBP-rP6L), hereafter designated as PI-rTSPs, stimulated both PBMC -derived MΦ and mice RAW 267.4 MΦ to express PI co-stimulatory markers, CD40, CD80, and CD86 and cytokines, TNFα, IL-1, and IL-6. In contrast, two A. americanum tick saliva serine protease inhibitors (serpins), AAS27 and AAS41, hereafter designated as anti-inflammatory (AI) rTSPs, on their own did not affect MΦ function or suppress expression of PI markers, but enhanced expression of AI cytokines (IL-10 and TGFβ) in MΦ that were pre-activated by LPS or PI-rTSPs. Mice paw edema test demonstrated that in vitro validated PI- and AI-rTSPs are functional in vivo since injection of HEK293-expressed PI-rTSPs (individually or as a cocktail) induced edema comparable to carrageenan-induced edema and was characterized by upregulation of CD40, CD80, CD86, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, and chemokines: CXCL1, CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, and CCL11, whereas the AI-rTSPs (individually and cocktail) were suppressive. We propose that the tick may utilize countervailing PI and AI TSPs to regulate evasion of host immune defenses whereby TSPs such as rAamIGFBP-rPs activate host immune cells and proteins such as AAS27 and AAS41 suppress the activated immune cells. Several studies have documented immuno-suppressive activities in whole tick saliva and salivary gland protein extracts. We have made contribution toward understanding the molecular basis of tick feeding, as we have described functions of defined tick saliva immuno-modulatory proteins. We have shown that A. americanum injects two groups of functionally opposed tick saliva proteins: those that could counter-intuitively be characterized as pro-host defense, and those that are expected to have anti-host immune defense functions. Based on our data, we propose that the tick evades host defense using countervailing pro- and anti- inflammatory proteins in which the pro-host defense tick saliva proteins stimulate host immune cells such as macrophages, and the anti-host defense tick saliva proteins suppress functions of the activated immune cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Bakshi
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, TAMU, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Tae Kwon Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, TAMU, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lindsay Porter
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, TAMU, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Waithaka Mwangi
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, TAMU, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, TAMU, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
154
|
Schiedel M, Moroglu M, Ascough DMH, Chamberlain AER, Kamps JJAG, Sekirnik AR, Conway SJ. Chemische Epigenetik: der Einfluss chemischer und chemo‐biologischer Techniken auf die Zielstruktur‐Validierung von Bromodomänen. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201812164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Schiedel
- Department of ChemistryChemistry Research LaboratoryUniversity of Oxford Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA Großbritannien
| | - Mustafa Moroglu
- Department of ChemistryChemistry Research LaboratoryUniversity of Oxford Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA Großbritannien
| | - David M. H. Ascough
- Department of ChemistryChemistry Research LaboratoryUniversity of Oxford Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA Großbritannien
| | - Anna E. R. Chamberlain
- Department of ChemistryChemistry Research LaboratoryUniversity of Oxford Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA Großbritannien
| | - Jos J. A. G. Kamps
- Department of ChemistryChemistry Research LaboratoryUniversity of Oxford Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA Großbritannien
| | - Angelina R. Sekirnik
- Department of ChemistryChemistry Research LaboratoryUniversity of Oxford Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA Großbritannien
| | - Stuart J. Conway
- Department of ChemistryChemistry Research LaboratoryUniversity of Oxford Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA Großbritannien
| |
Collapse
|
155
|
Suppression of BCL6 function by HDAC inhibitor mediated acetylation and chromatin modification enhances BET inhibitor effects in B-cell lymphoma cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16495. [PMID: 31712669 PMCID: PMC6848194 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52714-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple genetic aberrations in the regulation of BCL6, including in acetyltransferase genes, occur in clinically aggressive B-cell lymphomas and lead to higher expression levels and activity of this transcriptional repressor. BCL6 is, therefore, an attractive target for therapy in aggressive lymphomas. In this study romidepsin, a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in Burkitt and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cell lines, which are model cells for studying the mechanism of action of BCL6. Romidepsin caused BCL6 acetylation at early timepoints inhibiting its function, while at later timepoints BCL6 expression was reduced and target gene expression increased due to chromatin modification. MYC contributes to poor prognosis in aggressive lymphoma. MYC function is reduced by inhibition of chromatin readers of the bromodomain and extra-terminal repeat (BET) family, which includes BRD4. The novel combination of romidepsin and JQ1, a BRD4 inhibitor was investigated and showed synergy. Collectively we suggest that the combination of HDACi and BRD4i should be pursued in further pre-clinical testing.
Collapse
|
156
|
Mak DW, Li S, Minchom A. Challenging the recalcitrant disease—developing molecularly driven treatments for small cell lung cancer. Eur J Cancer 2019; 119:132-150. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2019.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
|
157
|
Synergy between arsenic trioxide and JQ1 on autophagy in pancreatic cancer. Oncogene 2019; 38:7249-7265. [DOI: 10.1038/s41388-019-0930-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
|
158
|
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: biological hallmarks, current status, and future perspectives of combined modality treatment approaches. Radiat Oncol 2019; 14:141. [PMID: 31395068 PMCID: PMC6688256 DOI: 10.1186/s13014-019-1345-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 251] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly devastating disease with poor prognosis and rising incidence. Late detection and a particularly aggressive biology are the major challenges which determine therapeutic failure. In this review, we present the current status and the recent advances in PDAC treatment together with the biological and immunological hallmarks of this cancer entity. On this basis, we discuss new concepts combining distinct treatment modalities in order to improve therapeutic efficacy and clinical outcome - with a specific focus on protocols involving radio(chemo)therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
|
159
|
Perusina Lanfranca M, Thompson JK, Bednar F, Halbrook C, Lyssiotis C, Levi B, Frankel TL. Metabolism and epigenetics of pancreatic cancer stem cells. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 57:19-26. [PMID: 30273655 PMCID: PMC6438777 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2018.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic Cancer (PDA) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by early spread and a high mortality. Current studies suggest that a subpopulation of cells exist within tumors, cancer stem cell (CSC), which are capable of self-renewal and give rise to unique progeny which form the major neoplastic cellular component of tumors. While CSCs constitute a small cellular subpopulation within the tumor, their resistance to chemotherapy and radiation make them an important therapeutic target for eradication. Along with distinctive phenotypic properties, CSCs possess a unique metabolic plasticity allowing them to rapidly respond and adapt to environmental changes. These cells and their progeny also display a significantly altered epigenetic state with distinctive patterns of DNA methylation. Several mechanisms of cross-talk between epigenetic and metabolic pathways in PDA exist which ultimately contribute to the observed cellular plasticity and enhanced tumorigenesis. In this review we discuss various examples of this metabolic-epigenetic interplay and how it may constitute a new avenue for therapy specifically targeting CSCs in PDA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - J K Thompson
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - F Bednar
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - C Halbrook
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - C Lyssiotis
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - B Levi
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - T L Frankel
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
160
|
Hosein AN, Huang H, Wang Z, Parmar K, Du W, Huang J, Maitra A, Olson E, Verma U, Brekken RA. Cellular heterogeneity during mouse pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression at single-cell resolution. JCI Insight 2019; 5:129212. [PMID: 31335328 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.129212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a major cause of cancer-related death with limited therapeutic options available. This highlights the need for improved understanding of the biology of PDA progression, a highly complex and dynamic process featuring changes in cancer cells and stromal cells. A comprehensive characterization of PDA cancer cell and stromal cell heterogeneity during disease progression is lacking. In this study, we aimed to profile cell populations and understand their phenotypic changes during PDA progression. To that end, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing technology to agnostically profile cell heterogeneity during different stages of PDA progression in genetically engineered mouse models. Our data indicate that an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of cancer cells accompanies tumor progression in addition to distinct populations of macrophages with increasing inflammatory features. We also noted the existence of three distinct molecular subtypes of fibroblasts in the normal mouse pancreas, which ultimately gave rise to two distinct populations of fibroblasts in advanced PDA, supporting recent reports on intratumoral fibroblast heterogeneity. Our data also suggest that cancer cells and fibroblasts may be dynamically regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. This study systematically describes the landscape of cellular heterogeneity during the progression of PDA and has the potential to act as a resource in the development of therapeutic strategies against specific cell populations of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdel Nasser Hosein
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, and.,Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Huocong Huang
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, and
| | | | - Kamalpreet Parmar
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Wenting Du
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, and
| | - Jonathan Huang
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Anirban Maitra
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Udit Verma
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, and.,Department of Pharmacology and.,Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
161
|
Blake DR, Vaseva AV, Hodge RG, Kline MP, Gilbert TSK, Tyagi V, Huang D, Whiten GC, Larson JE, Wang X, Pearce KH, Herring LE, Graves LM, Frye SV, Emanuele MJ, Cox AD, Der CJ. Application of a MYC degradation screen identifies sensitivity to CDK9 inhibitors in KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer. Sci Signal 2019; 12:12/590/eaav7259. [PMID: 31311847 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aav7259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Stabilization of the MYC oncoprotein by KRAS signaling critically promotes the growth of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Thus, understanding how MYC protein stability is regulated may lead to effective therapies. Here, we used a previously developed, flow cytometry-based assay that screened a library of >800 protein kinase inhibitors and identified compounds that promoted either the stability or degradation of MYC in a KRAS-mutant PDAC cell line. We validated compounds that stabilized or destabilized MYC and then focused on one compound, UNC10112785, that induced the substantial loss of MYC protein in both two-dimensional (2D) and 3D cell cultures. We determined that this compound is a potent CDK9 inhibitor with a previously uncharacterized scaffold, caused MYC loss through both transcriptional and posttranslational mechanisms, and suppresses PDAC anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent growth. We discovered that CDK9 enhanced MYC protein stability through a previously unknown, KRAS-independent mechanism involving direct phosphorylation of MYC at Ser62 Our study thus not only identifies a potential therapeutic target for patients with KRAS-mutant PDAC but also presents the application of a screening strategy that can be more broadly adapted to identify regulators of protein stability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Devon R Blake
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Angelina V Vaseva
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Richard G Hodge
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - McKenzie P Kline
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Thomas S K Gilbert
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Vikas Tyagi
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Daowei Huang
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Gabrielle C Whiten
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jacob E Larson
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kenneth H Pearce
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Laura E Herring
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lee M Graves
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Stephen V Frye
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Michael J Emanuele
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Adrienne D Cox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Channing J Der
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. .,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| |
Collapse
|
162
|
Abstract
Biomarker discovery and validation are necessary for improving the prediction of clinical outcomes and patient monitoring. Despite considerable interest in biomarker discovery and development, improvements in the range and quality of biomarkers are still needed. The main challenge is how to integrate preclinical data to obtain a reliable biomarker that can be measured with acceptable costs in routine clinical practice. Epigenetic alterations are already being incorporated as valuable candidates in the biomarker field. Furthermore, their reversible nature offers a promising opportunity to ameliorate disease symptoms by using epigenetic-based therapy. Thus, beyond helping to understand disease biology, clinical epigenetics is being incorporated into patient management in oncology, as well as being explored for clinical applicability for other human pathologies such as neurological and infectious diseases and immune system disorders.
Collapse
|
163
|
Elmallah MIY, Micheau O. Epigenetic Regulation of TRAIL Signaling: Implication for Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11060850. [PMID: 31248188 PMCID: PMC6627638 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11060850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the main characteristics of carcinogenesis relies on genetic alterations in DNA and epigenetic changes in histone and non-histone proteins. At the chromatin level, gene expression is tightly controlled by DNA methyl transferases, histone acetyltransferases (HATs), histone deacetylases (HDACs), and acetyl-binding proteins. In particular, the expression level and function of several tumor suppressor genes, or oncogenes such as c-Myc, p53 or TRAIL, have been found to be regulated by acetylation. For example, HATs are a group of enzymes, which are responsible for the acetylation of histone proteins, resulting in chromatin relaxation and transcriptional activation, whereas HDACs by deacetylating histones lead to chromatin compaction and the subsequent transcriptional repression of tumor suppressor genes. Direct acetylation of suppressor genes or oncogenes can affect their stability or function. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have thus been developed as a promising therapeutic target in oncology. While these inhibitors display anticancer properties in preclinical models, and despite the fact that some of them have been approved by the FDA, HDACi still have limited therapeutic efficacy in clinical terms. Nonetheless, combined with a wide range of structurally and functionally diverse chemical compounds or immune therapies, HDACi have been reported to work in synergy to induce tumor regression. In this review, the role of HDACs in cancer etiology and recent advances in the development of HDACi will be presented and put into perspective as potential drugs synergizing with TRAIL's pro-apoptotic potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed I Y Elmallah
- INSERM, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, LNC UMR1231, F-21079 Dijon, France.
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Ain Helwan 11795 Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Olivier Micheau
- INSERM, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, LNC UMR1231, F-21079 Dijon, France.
| |
Collapse
|
164
|
Hinzman CP, Aljehane L, Brown-Clay JD, Kallakury B, Sonahara F, Goel A, Trevino J, Banerjee PP. Aberrant expression of PDZ-binding kinase/T-LAK cell-originated protein kinase modulates the invasive ability of human pancreatic cancer cells via the stabilization of oncoprotein c-MYC. Carcinogenesis 2019; 39:1548-1559. [PMID: 30165468 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgy114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
High frequency of mortality in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is vastly associated with the invasive and metastatic nature of these cancer cells. Little is known about the factors involved in this invasive/metastatic process. The current challenge in the treatment of these patients is the lack of viable options besides gemcitabine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of PDZ-binding kinase (PBK)/T-LAK cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK) in invasive PDAC cells and to determine whether PBK/TOPK expression drives invasiveness in PDAC. Using gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies in established and patient-derived xenograft-PDAC cell lines, and examining patient-derived archival tissue samples, we demonstrate for the first time that PBK/TOPK is upregulated in pancreatic cancer and expression levels are closely associated with the invasive property of pancreatic cancer cells. Modulation of PBK/TOPK causally regulates the invasive ability of PDAC cells. We also demonstrate that two key players in metastatic invasion, matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 gelatinase activity and gene promoter activities, are regulated by PBK/TOPK. Moreover, we demonstrate for the first time that PBK/TOPK provides stability of an oncoprotein, c-MYC, which transcriptionally regulates MMP-2 and MMP-9 in these invasive PDAC cells. Our in vitro and in situ data corroborate that PBK/TOPK is closely associated with the invasive nature of PDAC and reveal a novel mechanism by which the metastatic behavior of human pancreatic cancer cells is regulated. These findings provide a rationale for targeting PBK/TOPK for the therapeutic intervention of invasive/metastatic pancreatic cancer in human.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charles P Hinzman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Leala Aljehane
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Joshua D Brown-Clay
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Bhaskar Kallakury
- Department of Pathology, MedStar-Georgetown Hospital, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Fuminori Sonahara
- Center for Gastrointestinal Research, Center for Translational Genomics and Oncology Baylor Scott and White Research Institute and Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ajay Goel
- Center for Gastrointestinal Research, Center for Translational Genomics and Oncology Baylor Scott and White Research Institute and Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jose Trevino
- Department of Surgery, University of Florida Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Partha P Banerjee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
165
|
MEK Inhibition Targets Cancer Stem Cells and Impedes Migration of Pancreatic Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo. Stem Cells Int 2019; 2019:8475389. [PMID: 31281387 PMCID: PMC6589314 DOI: 10.1155/2019/8475389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a devastating disease with a very poor prognosis. At the same time, its incidence is on the rise, and PDAC is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030. Despite extensive work on new therapeutic approaches, the median overall survival is only 6-12 months after diagnosis and the 5-year survival is less than 7%. While pancreatic cancer is particularly difficult to treat, patients usually succumb not to the growth of the primary tumor, but to extensive metastasis; therefore, strategies to reduce the migratory and metastatic capacity of pancreatic cancer cells merit close attention. The vast majority of pancreatic cancers harbor RAS mutations. The outstanding relevance of the RAS/MEK/ERK pathway in pancreatic cancer biology has been extensively shown previously. Due to their high dependency on Ras mutations, pancreatic cancers might be particularly sensitive to inhibitors acting downstream of Ras. Herein, we use a genetically engineered mouse model of pancreatic cancer and primary pancreatic cancer cells were derived from this model to demonstrate that small-molecule MEK inhibitors functionally abrogate cancer stem cell populations as demonstrated by reduced sphere and organoid formation capacity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that MEK inhibition suppresses TGFβ-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and migration in vitro and ultimately results in a highly significant reduction in circulating tumor cells in mice.
Collapse
|
166
|
Miller AL, Fehling SC, Garcia PL, Gamblin TL, Council LN, van Waardenburg RCAM, Yang ES, Bradner JE, Yoon KJ. The BET inhibitor JQ1 attenuates double-strand break repair and sensitizes models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma to PARP inhibitors. EBioMedicine 2019; 44:419-430. [PMID: 31126889 PMCID: PMC6604668 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA repair deficiency accumulates DNA damage and sensitizes tumor cells to PARP inhibitors (PARPi). Based on our observation that the BET inhibitor JQ1 increases levels of DNA damage, we evaluated the efficacy of JQ1 + the PARPi olaparib in preclinical models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We also addressed the mechanism by which JQ1 increased DNA damage. METHODS The effect of JQ1 + olaparib on in vivo tumor growth was assessed with patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of PDAC. Changes in protein expression were detected by immunohistochemistry and immunoblot. In vitro growth inhibition and mechanistic studies were done using alamarBlue, qRT-PCR, immunoblot, immunofluorescence, ChIP, and shRNA knockdown assays. FINDINGS Tumors exposed in vivo to JQ1 had higher levels of the DNA damage marker γH2AX than tumors exposed to vehicle only. Increases in γH2AX was concomitant with decreased expression of DNA repair proteins Ku80 and RAD51. JQ1 + olaparib inhibited the growth of PDX tumors greater than either drug alone. Mechanistically, ChIP assays demonstrated that JQ1 decreased the association of BRD4 and BRD2 with promoter loci of Ku80 and RAD51, and shRNA data showed that expression of Ku80 and RAD51 was BRD4- and BRD2-dependent in PDAC cell lines. INTERPRETATION The data are consistent with the hypothesis that JQ1 confers a repair deficient phenotype and the consequent accumulation of DNA damage sensitizes PDAC cells to PARPi. Combinations of BET inhibitors with PARPi may provide a novel strategy for treating PDAC. FUND: NIH grants R01CA208272 and R21CA205501; UAB CMB T32 predoctoral training grant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aubrey L Miller
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Samuel C Fehling
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Patrick L Garcia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Tracy L Gamblin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Leona N Council
- Department of Pathology, Division of Anatomic Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, NP3551 North Pavilion UAB Hospital, Birmingham, AL, USA; The Birmingham Veterans Administration Medical Center, 700 19(th) St S, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Robert C A M van Waardenburg
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Eddy S Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Hazelrig Salter Radiation Oncology Center, 1700 6(th) Avenue S, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - James E Bradner
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karina J Yoon
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
167
|
Topacio BR, Zatulovskiy E, Cristea S, Xie S, Tambo CS, Rubin SM, Sage J, Kõivomägi M, Skotheim JM. Cyclin D-Cdk4,6 Drives Cell-Cycle Progression via the Retinoblastoma Protein's C-Terminal Helix. Mol Cell 2019; 74:758-770.e4. [PMID: 30982746 PMCID: PMC6800134 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2019.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The cyclin-dependent kinases Cdk4 and Cdk6 form complexes with D-type cyclins to drive cell proliferation. A well-known target of cyclin D-Cdk4,6 is the retinoblastoma protein Rb, which inhibits cell-cycle progression until its inactivation by phosphorylation. However, the role of Rb phosphorylation by cyclin D-Cdk4,6 in cell-cycle progression is unclear because Rb can be phosphorylated by other cyclin-Cdks, and cyclin D-Cdk4,6 has other targets involved in cell division. Here, we show that cyclin D-Cdk4,6 docks one side of an alpha-helix in the Rb C terminus, which is not recognized by cyclins E, A, and B. This helix-based docking mechanism is shared by the p107 and p130 Rb-family members across metazoans. Mutation of the Rb C-terminal helix prevents its phosphorylation, promotes G1 arrest, and enhances Rb's tumor suppressive function. Our work conclusively demonstrates that the cyclin D-Rb interaction drives cell division and expands the diversity of known cyclin-based protein docking mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sandra Cristea
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Shicong Xie
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Carrie S Tambo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Seth M Rubin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Julien Sage
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Mardo Kõivomägi
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Jan M Skotheim
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
168
|
Weber J, Rad R. Engineering CRISPR mouse models of cancer. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2019; 54:88-96. [PMID: 31078083 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Gene targeting in mammals has revolutionized the study of complex diseases, involving the interaction of multiple genes, cells, and organ systems. In cancer, genetically engineered mouse models deciphered biological principles by integrating molecular mechanisms, cellular processes, and environmental signals. Major advances in manipulative mouse genetics are currently emerging from breakthroughs in gene editing, which open new avenues for rapid model generation. Here, we review recent developments in engineering CRISPR mouse models of cancer. We describe engineering strategies, including germline manipulation of zygotes or embryonic stem cells, direct in vivo somatic gene editing, and ex vivo targeting of cellular transplant models. We also discuss promises and limitations of the expanding spectrum of CRISPR applications, ranging from engineering of simple mutations over complex genomic rearrangements to gene and epigenome regulation. Fast and scalable in vivo CRISPR methodologies pave the way for a new phase of functional cancer genomics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Weber
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Germany
| | - Roland Rad
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Functional Genomics, TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Germany; Department of Medicine II, TUM School of Medicine, Technische Universität München, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
169
|
Hamdan FH, Johnsen SA. Perturbing Enhancer Activity in Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11050634. [PMID: 31067678 PMCID: PMC6563029 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11050634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tight regulation of gene transcription is essential for normal development, tissue homeostasis, and disease-free survival. Enhancers are distal regulatory elements in the genome that provide specificity to gene expression programs and are frequently misregulated in cancer. Recent studies examined various enhancer-driven malignant dependencies and identified different approaches to specifically target these programs. In this review, we describe numerous features that make enhancers good transcriptional targets in cancer therapy and discuss different approaches to overcome enhancer perturbation. Interestingly, a number of approved therapeutic agents, such as cyclosporine, steroid hormones, and thiazolidinediones, actually function by affecting enhancer landscapes by directly targeting very specific transcription factor programs. More recently, a broader approach to targeting deregulated enhancer programs has been achieved via Bromodomain and Extraterminal (BET) inhibition or perturbation of transcription-related cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK). One challenge to enhancer-targeted therapy is proper patient stratification. We suggest that monitoring of enhancer RNA (eRNA) expression may serve as a unique biomarker of enhancer activity that can help to predict and monitor responsiveness to enhancer-targeted therapies. A more thorough investigation of cancer-specific enhancers and the underlying mechanisms of deregulation will pave the road for an effective utilization of enhancer modulators in a precision oncology approach to cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feda H Hamdan
- Gene Regulatory Mechanisms and Molecular Epigenetics Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Steven A Johnsen
- Gene Regulatory Mechanisms and Molecular Epigenetics Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
170
|
Napolitano M, Venturelli M, Molinaro E, Toss A. NUT midline carcinoma of the head and neck: current perspectives. Onco Targets Ther 2019; 12:3235-3244. [PMID: 31118674 PMCID: PMC6501778 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s173056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract: NUT midline carcinoma (NMC) is a rare and aggressive subtype of squamous carcinoma that typically arises from midline supradiaphragmatic structures, frequently from the head and neck area. NMC is genetically driven by a chromosomal rearrangement involving the NUT gene, which forms oncoproteins considered major pathogenic drivers of cellular transformation. Diagnosis of NMC has been made remarkably easier with the availability of a commercial antibody against NUT, and can be established through positive nuclear immunohistochemical staining. Although NMC remains an underrecognized malignancy, in recent years there has appeared to be increasing awareness of disease and frequency of diagnosis in adults. To date, a standard treatment for head and neck NMC has not been established and a multimodal approach with systemic chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy is currently adopted in clinical practice. Recently, BET inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitors have emerged as two promising classes of targeted agents, currently investigated in clinical trials for adults with head and neck NMC. At the same time, combination approaches and novel targeted agents, such as next-generation BET inhibitors and CDK9 inhibitors, have shown preclinical activity. The present review explores the clinical pathological characteristics of NMC of the head and neck and presents the current state of the art on diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of this rare but lethal disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Napolitano
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - M Venturelli
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - E Molinaro
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - A Toss
- Department of Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
171
|
Carew JS, Espitia CM, Zhao W, Visconte V, Anwer F, Kelly KR, Nawrocki ST. Rational cotargeting of HDAC6 and BET proteins yields synergistic antimyeloma activity. Blood Adv 2019; 3:1318-1329. [PMID: 31015208 PMCID: PMC6482361 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2018026484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of bromodomain and extra terminal (BET) protein family members, including BRD4, decreases the expression of c-MYC and other key oncogenic factors and also significantly induces histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) expression. On the basis of the role of HDAC6 in malignant pathogenesis, we hypothesized that rational cotargeting of HDAC6 and BET family proteins may represent a novel approach that yields synergistic antimyeloma activity. We used genetic and pharmacologic approaches to selectively impair HDAC6 and BET function and evaluated the consequential impact on myeloma pathogenesis. These studies identified HDAC6 upregulation as an efficacy reducing mechanism for BET inhibitors because antagonizing HDAC6 activity synergistically enhanced the activity of JQ1 in a panel of multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines and primary CD138+ cells obtained from patients with MM. The synergy of this therapeutic combination was linked to significant reductions in c-MYC expression and increases in apoptosis induction. Administration of the clinical HDAC6 inhibitor ricolinostat was very well tolerated and significantly augmented the in vivo antimyeloma activity of JQ1. Ex vivo pharmacodynamic analyses demonstrated that the combination of JQ1 and ricolinostat led to significantly lower MM cell proliferation and increased apoptosis and diminished expression of c-MYC and BCL-2. These data demonstrate that cotargeting of HDAC6 and BET family members is a novel and clinically actionable approach to augment the efficacy of both classes of agents that warrants further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer S Carew
- Division of Translational and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ
| | - Claudia M Espitia
- Division of Translational and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ
| | - Weiguo Zhao
- Cancer Therapy and Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Valeria Visconte
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Faiz Anwer
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ; and
| | - Kevin R Kelly
- Jane Anne Nohl Division of Hematology and Center for the Study of Blood Diseases, University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Steffan T Nawrocki
- Division of Translational and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ
| |
Collapse
|
172
|
A chemical toolbox for the study of bromodomains and epigenetic signaling. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1915. [PMID: 31015424 PMCID: PMC6478789 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09672-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bromodomains (BRDs) are conserved protein interaction modules which recognize (read) acetyl-lysine modifications, however their role(s) in regulating cellular states and their potential as targets for the development of targeted treatment strategies is poorly understood. Here we present a set of 25 chemical probes, selective small molecule inhibitors, covering 29 human bromodomain targets. We comprehensively evaluate the selectivity of this probe-set using BROMOscan and demonstrate the utility of the set identifying roles of BRDs in cellular processes and potential translational applications. For instance, we discovered crosstalk between histone acetylation and the glycolytic pathway resulting in a vulnerability of breast cancer cell lines under conditions of glucose deprivation or GLUT1 inhibition to inhibition of BRPF2/3 BRDs. This chemical probe-set will serve as a resource for future applications in the discovery of new physiological roles of bromodomain proteins in normal and disease states, and as a toolset for bromodomain target validation. Bromodomains are conserved protein interaction modules that recognize acetyl-lysine modifications. Here the authors present a set of 25 selective small molecule inhibitors covering 29 human bromodomain targets and comprehensively evaluate the selectivity of this probe-set.
Collapse
|
173
|
Juiz NA, Iovanna J, Dusetti N. Pancreatic Cancer Heterogeneity Can Be Explained Beyond the Genome. Front Oncol 2019; 9:246. [PMID: 31024848 PMCID: PMC6460948 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a major health problem because it induces almost systematic mortality. Carcinogenesis begins with genetic aberrations which trigger epigenetic modifications. While genetic mutations initiate tumorigenesis, they are unable to explain the vast heterogeneity observed among PDAC patients. Instead, epigenetic changes drive transcriptomic alterations that can regulate the malignant phenotype. The contribution of factors from the environment and tumor microenvironment defines different epigenetic landscapes that outline two clinical subtypes: basal, with the worst prognosis, and classical. The epigenetic nature of PDAC, as a reversible phenomenon, encouraged several studies to test epidrugs. However, these drugs lack specificity and although there are epigenetic patterns shared by all PDAC tumors, there are others that are specific to each subtype. Molecular characterization of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying PDAC heterogeneity could be an invaluable tool to predict personalized therapies, stratify patients and search for novel therapies with more specific phenotype-based targets. Novel therapeutic strategies using current anticancer compounds or existing drugs used in other pathologies, alone or in combination, could be used to kill tumor cells or convert aggressive tumors into a more benign phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Anahi Juiz
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Juan Iovanna
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Nelson Dusetti
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR 7258, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| |
Collapse
|
174
|
Schmidt AM. Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Disease. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2019; 39:558-568. [PMID: 30786741 PMCID: PMC6532416 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.119.310961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with types 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus. Although beneficial roles for strict control of hyperglycemia have been suggested, such a strategy is not without liabilities. Specifically, the risk of hypoglycemia and its consequences remain an omnipresent threat with such approaches. The advent of the CVOT (Cardiovascular Outcomes Trials) for new antidiabetes mellitus treatments has uncovered unexpected benefits of cardiovascular protection in some of the new classes of agents, such as the GLP-1 RAs (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) and the SGLT-2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2) inhibitors. Further, state-of-the-art approaches, such as antibodies to PCKSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9); RNA therapeutics; agents targeting distinct components of the immune/inflammatory response; and novel small molecules that block the actions of RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products) signaling, also hold potential as new therapies for diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Finally, interventions such as weight loss, through bariatric surgery, may hold promise for benefit in diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In this Brief Review, some of the novel approaches and emerging targets for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease are discussed. Ultimately, identification of the optimal timing and combinations of such interventions, especially in the context of personalized approaches, together with emerging disease-modifying agents, holds great promise to reduce the burden that diabetes poses to the cardiovascular system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ann Marie Schmidt
- From the Diabetes Research Program, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York
| |
Collapse
|
175
|
Oing C, Skowron MA, Bokemeyer C, Nettersheim D. Epigenetic treatment combinations to effectively target cisplatin-resistant germ cell tumors: past, present, and future considerations. Andrology 2019; 7:487-497. [PMID: 30924611 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Type II germ cell tumors represent the most common solid malignancy in men aged 15-45 years. Despite high cure rates of >90% over all stages, 10-15% of advanced patients develop treatment resistance and potentially succumb to their disease. Treatment of refractory germ cell tumors remains unsatisfactory, and new approaches are needed to further improve outcomes. OBJECTIVES With this narrative review, we highlight epigenetic mechanisms related to resistance to standard systemic treatment, which may act as promising targets for novel combined epigenetic treatment approaches. MATERIALS AND METHODS A comprehensive literature search of PubMed and MEDLINE was conducted to identify original and review articles on resistance mechanisms and/or epigenetic treatment of germ cell tumors in vitro and in vivo. Review articles were hand-searched to identify additional articles. RESULTS Distinct epigenetic phenomena have been linked to chemotherapy resistance in germ cell tumors, among which DNA hypermethylation, histone acetylation, and bromodomain proteins appear as promising targets for therapeutic exploitation. Inhibitors of key regulators, for example DNA methyltransferases (e.g. decitabine, guadecitabine), histone deacetylases (e.g. romidepsin), and bromodomain proteins (e.g. JQ1) decreased cell viability, triggered apoptosis, and growth arrest. Additionally, these epigenetic drugs induced differentiation and led to loss of pluripotency and re-sensitization towards cisplatin in cell lines and animal models. DISCUSSION Epigenetic treatments hold promise to (i) reduce the treatment burden of and (ii) overcome resistance to standard cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Combined approaches may enhance activity, while the ideal target and treatment combination of epigenetic drugs, either with another epigenetic agent or conventional cytotoxic agents need to be defined. CONCLUSION Epigenetic (combination) treatment for germ cell tumors should be further explored in pre-clinical and clinical research for its potential to further improve germ cell tumor treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Oing
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Division of Pneumology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Laboratory of Radiobiology and Experimental Radiooncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - M A Skowron
- Department of Urology, Urological Research Lab, Translational Urooncology, University Medical School Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - C Bokemeyer
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Division of Pneumology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - D Nettersheim
- Department of Urology, Urological Research Lab, Translational Urooncology, University Medical School Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
176
|
Jagust P, de Luxán-Delgado B, Parejo-Alonso B, Sancho P. Metabolism-Based Therapeutic Strategies Targeting Cancer Stem Cells. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:203. [PMID: 30967773 PMCID: PMC6438930 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer heterogeneity constitutes the major source of disease progression and therapy failure. Tumors comprise functionally diverse subpopulations, with cancer stem cells (CSCs) as the source of this heterogeneity. Since these cells bear in vivo tumorigenicity and metastatic potential, survive chemotherapy and drive relapse, its elimination may be the only way to achieve long-term survival in patients. Thanks to the great advances in the field over the last few years, we know now that cellular metabolism and stemness are highly intertwined in normal development and cancer. Indeed, CSCs show distinct metabolic features as compared with their more differentiated progenies, though their dominant metabolic phenotype varies across tumor entities, patients and even subclones within a tumor. Following initial works focused on glucose metabolism, current studies have unveiled particularities of CSC metabolism in terms of redox state, lipid metabolism and use of alternative fuels, such as amino acids or ketone bodies. In this review, we describe the different metabolic phenotypes attributed to CSCs with special focus on metabolism-based therapeutic strategies tested in preclinical and clinical settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Petra Jagust
- Centre for Stem Cells in Cancer and Ageing, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Beatriz de Luxán-Delgado
- Centre for Stem Cells in Cancer and Ageing, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Beatriz Parejo-Alonso
- Traslational Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Patricia Sancho
- Centre for Stem Cells in Cancer and Ageing, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.,Traslational Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
177
|
Shorstova T, Marques M, Su J, Johnston J, Kleinman CL, Hamel N, Huang S, Alaoui-Jamali MA, Foulkes WD, Witcher M. SWI/SNF-Compromised Cancers Are Susceptible to Bromodomain Inhibitors. Cancer Res 2019; 79:2761-2774. [PMID: 30877105 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-1545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The antitumor activity of bromodomain and extraterminal motif protein inhibitors (BETi) has been demonstrated across numerous types of cancer. As such, these inhibitors are currently undergoing widespread clinical evaluation. However, predictive biomarkers allowing the stratification of tumors into responders and nonresponders to BETi are lacking. Here, we showed significant antiproliferative effects of low dosage BETi in vitro and in vivo against aggressive ovarian and lung cancer models lacking SMARCA4 and SMARCA2, key components of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes. Restoration of SMARCA4 or SMARCA2 promoted resistance to BETi in these models and, conversely, knockdown of SMARCA4 sensitized resistant cells to BETi. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that exposure to BETi potently downregulated a network of genes involved in receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling in SMARCA4/A2-deficient cells, including the oncogenic RTK HER3. Repression of signaling downstream of HER3 was found to be an important determinant of response to BETi in SMARCA4/A2-deficient cells. Overall, we propose that BETi represent a rational therapeutic strategy in poor-prognosis, SMARCA4/A2-deficient cancers. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings address an unmet clinical need by identifying loss of SMARCA4/A2 as biomarkers of hypersensitivity to BETi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Shorstova
- Departments of Oncology and Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Lady Davis Institute and Segal Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Maud Marques
- Departments of Oncology and Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Lady Davis Institute and Segal Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jie Su
- Departments of Oncology and Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Lady Davis Institute and Segal Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jake Johnston
- Departments of Oncology and Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Lady Davis Institute and Segal Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Claudia L Kleinman
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Lady Davis Institute and Segal Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nancy Hamel
- Departments of Oncology and Human Genetics, McGill University, Lady Davis Institute and Segal Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sidong Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Moulay A Alaoui-Jamali
- Departments of Oncology and Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Lady Davis Institute and Segal Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - William D Foulkes
- Departments of Oncology and Human Genetics, McGill University, Lady Davis Institute and Segal Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michael Witcher
- Departments of Oncology and Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Lady Davis Institute and Segal Cancer Centre, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
178
|
Wang D, Li W, Zhao R, Chen L, Liu N, Tian Y, Zhao H, Xie M, Lu F, Fang Q, Liang W, Yin F, Li Z. Stabilized Peptide HDAC Inhibitors Derived from HDAC1 Substrate H3K56 for the Treatment of Cancer Stem-Like Cells In Vivo. Cancer Res 2019; 79:1769-1783. [PMID: 30842103 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-1421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
FDA-approved HDAC inhibitors exhibit dose-limiting adverse effects; thus, we sought to improve the therapeutic windows for this class of drugs. In this report, we describe a new class of peptide-based HDAC inhibitors derived from the HDAC1-specific substrate H3K56 with improved nonspecific toxicity compared with traditional small-molecular inhibitors. We showed that our designed peptides exerted superior antiproliferation effects on cancer stem-like cells with minimal toxicity to normal cells compared with the small-molecular inhibitor SAHA, which showed nonspecific toxicity to normal and cancer cells. These peptide inhibitors also inactivated cellular HDAC1 and HDAC6 and disrupted the formation of the HDAC1, LSD1, and CoREST complex. In ovarian teratocarcinoma (PA-1) and testicular embryonic carcinoma (NTERA-2) cell xenograft animal models (5 mice/group, 50 mg/kg, every other day, intraperitoneal injection), these peptides inhibited tumor growth by 80% to 90% with negligible organ (heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, brain) lesions. These results represent the first attempt to design chemically stabilized peptide inhibitors to investigate HDAC inhibition in cancer stem-like cells. These novel peptide inhibitors have significantly enhanced therapeutic window and offer promising opportunities for cancer therapy. SIGNIFICANCE: Selective antiproliferative effects of stabilized peptide HDAC inhibitors toward cancer stem-like cells provide a therapeutic alternative that avoids high nonspecific toxicity of current drugs.Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/79/8/1769/F1.large.jpg.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongyuan Wang
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenjun Li
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Rongtong Zhao
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Longjian Chen
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Na Liu
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuan Tian
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- Division of Life Science, Clarivate Analytics, Beijing, China
| | - Mingsheng Xie
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fei Lu
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qi Fang
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wei Liang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Feng Yin
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Zigang Li
- School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China.
| |
Collapse
|
179
|
Manzotti G, Ciarrocchi A, Sancisi V. Inhibition of BET Proteins and Histone Deacetylase (HDACs): Crossing Roads in Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11030304. [PMID: 30841549 PMCID: PMC6468908 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11030304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone DeACetylases (HDACs) are enzymes that remove acetyl groups from histones and other proteins, regulating the expression of target genes. Pharmacological inhibition of these enzymes re-shapes chromatin acetylation status, confusing boundaries between transcriptionally active and quiescent chromatin. This results in reinducing expression of silent genes while repressing highly transcribed genes. Bromodomain and Extraterminal domain (BET) proteins are readers of acetylated chromatin status and accumulate on transcriptionally active regulatory elements where they serve as scaffold for the building of transcription-promoting complexes. The expression of many well-known oncogenes relies on BET proteins function, indicating BET inhibition as a strategy to counteract their activity. BETi and HDACi share many common targets and affect similar cellular processes to the point that combined inhibition of both these classes of proteins is regarded as a strategy to improve the effectiveness of these drugs in cancer. In this work, we aim to discuss the molecular basis of the interplay between HDAC and BET proteins, pointing at chromatin acetylation as a crucial node of their functional interaction. We will also describe the state of the art of their dual inhibition in cancer therapy. Finally, starting from their mechanism of action we will provide a speculative perspective on how these drugs may be employed in combination with standard therapies to improve effectiveness and/or overcome resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Manzotti
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy.
| | - Alessia Ciarrocchi
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy.
| | - Valentina Sancisi
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
180
|
Guerra S, Cichowski K. Targeting Cancer at the Intersection of Signaling and Epigenetics. ANNUAL REVIEW OF CANCER BIOLOGY-SERIES 2019. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cancerbio-030617-050400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
While mutations resulting in the chronic activation of signaling pathways drive human cancer, the epigenetic state of a cell ultimately dictates the biological response to any given oncogenic signal. Moreover, large-scale genomic sequencing efforts have now identified a plethora of mutations in chromatin regulatory genes in human tumors, which can amplify, modify, or complement traditional oncogenic events. Nevertheless, the co-occurrence of oncogenic and epigenetic defects appears to create novel therapeutic vulnerabilities, which can be targeted by specific drug combinations. Here we discuss general mechanisms by which oncogenic and epigenetic alterations cooperate in human cancer and synthesize the field's early efforts in developing promising therapeutic combinations. Collectively, these studies reveal common themes underlying potential chemical synthetic lethal interactions and support both the expansion and refinement of this type of therapeutic approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Guerra
- Genetics Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Karen Cichowski
- Genetics Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Ludwig Center at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
181
|
Pan Y, Fei Q, Xiong P, Yang J, Zhang Z, Lin X, Pan M, Lu F, Huang H. Synergistic inhibition of pancreatic cancer with anti-PD-L1 and c-Myc inhibitor JQ1. Oncoimmunology 2019; 8:e1581529. [PMID: 31069140 PMCID: PMC6492971 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2019.1581529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exhibits marginal responses to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy and its mechanism remains poorly understood. We have investigated the effect of anti-PD-L1 and c-Myc inhibition in PDAC. Using 87 patients with PDAC from our hospital database we found a significant correlation between the expression of PD-L1 and c-Myc. Moreover, the expression of both PD-L1 and c-Myc was associated with poor overall survival. In addition, we confirmed this finding with the PDAC patients in the TCGA database. Using several PDAC cell lines we demonstrated a significant correlation between the expression of PD-L1 and c-Myc. We also found that expression of PD-L1 correlated with high-grade histology. JQ1, an inhibitor of c-Myc inhibited PD-L1 expression and tumor growth. Using xenograft models, we demonstrated that the combination of JQ1 and anti-PD-L1 antibody exerted synergistic inhibition of PDAC growth. Our data demonstrated that the expression of PD-L1 and c-Myc may be helpful prognostic biomarkers, and their inhibition may potentially serve as an effective treatment for PDAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Pan
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qinglin Fei
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ping Xiong
- Department of obstetrics and gynecology, 900 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Team, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jianyang Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zheyang Zhang
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xianchao Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Minggui Pan
- Department of Oncology and Hematology and Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente, Santa Clara, CA, USA
| | - Fengchun Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Heguang Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
182
|
Carrer A, Trefely S, Zhao S, Campbell SL, Norgard RJ, Schultz KC, Sidoli S, Parris JLD, Affronti HC, Sivanand S, Egolf S, Sela Y, Trizzino M, Gardini A, Garcia BA, Snyder NW, Stanger BZ, Wellen KE. Acetyl-CoA Metabolism Supports Multistep Pancreatic Tumorigenesis. Cancer Discov 2019; 9:416-435. [PMID: 30626590 PMCID: PMC6643997 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-18-0567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) has a poor prognosis, and new strategies for prevention and treatment are urgently needed. We previously reported that histone H4 acetylation is elevated in pancreatic acinar cells harboring Kras mutations prior to the appearance of premalignant lesions. Because acetyl-CoA abundance regulates global histone acetylation, we hypothesized that altered acetyl-CoA metabolism might contribute to metabolic or epigenetic alterations that promote tumorigenesis. We found that acetyl-CoA abundance is elevated in KRAS-mutant acinar cells and that its use in the mevalonate pathway supports acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM). Pancreas-specific loss of the acetyl-CoA-producing enzyme ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) accordingly suppresses ADM and tumor formation. In PDA cells, growth factors promote AKT-ACLY signaling and histone acetylation, and both cell proliferation and tumor growth can be suppressed by concurrent BET inhibition and statin treatment. Thus, KRAS-driven metabolic alterations promote acinar cell plasticity and tumor development, and targeting acetyl-CoA-dependent processes exerts anticancer effects. SIGNIFICANCE: Pancreatic cancer is among the deadliest of human malignancies. We identify a key role for the metabolic enzyme ACLY, which produces acetyl-CoA, in pancreatic carcinogenesis. The data suggest that acetyl-CoA use for histone acetylation and in the mevalonate pathway facilitates cell plasticity and proliferation, suggesting potential to target these pathways.See related commentary by Halbrook et al., p. 326.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 305.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Carrer
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sophie Trefely
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Steven Zhao
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sydney L Campbell
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Robert J Norgard
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Kollin C Schultz
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Simone Sidoli
- Epigenetics Institute, Departments of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Joshua L D Parris
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Hayley C Affronti
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sharanya Sivanand
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Shaun Egolf
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yogev Sela
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Marco Trizzino
- The Wistar Institute, Gene Expression and Regulation Program, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Alessandro Gardini
- The Wistar Institute, Gene Expression and Regulation Program, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Epigenetics Institute, Departments of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Nathaniel W Snyder
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ben Z Stanger
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Kathryn E Wellen
- Department of Cancer Biology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| |
Collapse
|
183
|
Wu Y, Wang Y, Diao P, Zhang W, Li J, Ge H, Song Y, Li Z, Wang D, Liu L, Jiang H, Cheng J. Therapeutic Targeting of BRD4 in Head Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:1777-1793. [PMID: 31037138 PMCID: PMC6485194 DOI: 10.7150/thno.31581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The bromodomain and extraterminal family members are epigenetic readers and transcriptional coactivators which are critically involved in various biological processes including tumorigenesis. BRD4 has been increasingly appreciated as a key oncogene and promising anticancer target. Here, we sought to characterize the expression of BRD4 and its tumorigenic roles as well as therapeutic targeting in HNSCC. Methods: Expression of BRD4 mRNA and protein was determined by bioinformatics interrogation of publically available databases, primary HNSCC samples and 4NQO-induced HNSCC animal model. The tumorigenic roles of BRD4 in HNSCC were evaluated by genetic and pharmacological approach in vitro and in vivo. Therapeutic efficiency of BRD4 targeting by JQ1 was assessed in three preclinical models including xenograft model, 4NQO-induced model and patients-derived xenograft model. Gene candidates responsible for therapeutic effects of JQ1 were identified by transcriptional profiling in HNSCC cells after JQ1 exposure. Results: Significant upregulation of BRD4 was found in primary HNSCC samples and 4NQO-induced HNSCC model. Its overexpression associated with aggressive clinicopathological features and inferior overall and disease-free survival. BRD4 depletion by genetic silencing or pharmacological inhibition impaired cell proliferation, migration and invasion and reduced tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Transcriptional profiling of HNSCC cells following JQ1 exposure identified hundreds of genes which might mediated its antitumor effects and enriched in cancer-relevant pathways. A novel prognostic risk score derived from JQ1-regulated genes was developed to stratify patients into subgroups with favorable or inferior prognosis. Conclusions: Our findings reveal that BRD4 serves as a novel and critical mediator underlying tumorigenesis and a robust prognostic biomarker in HNSCC. Therapeutic targeting of BRD4 represents a potent and promising strategy against HNSCC.
Collapse
|
184
|
|
185
|
Genomic characterization of genes encoding histone acetylation modulator proteins identifies therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. Nat Commun 2019; 10:733. [PMID: 30760718 PMCID: PMC6374416 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08554-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A growing emphasis in anticancer drug discovery efforts has been on targeting histone acetylation modulators. Here we comprehensively analyze the genomic alterations of the genes encoding histone acetylation modulator proteins (HAMPs) in the Cancer Genome Atlas cohort and observe that HAMPs have a high frequency of focal copy number alterations and recurrent mutations, whereas transcript fusions of HAMPs are relatively rare genomic events in common adult cancers. Collectively, 86.3% (63/73) of HAMPs have recurrent alterations in at least 1 cancer type and 16 HAMPs, including 9 understudied HAMPs, are identified as putative therapeutic targets across multiple cancer types. For example, the recurrent focal amplification of BRD9 is observed in 9 cancer types and genetic depletion of BRD9 inhibits tumor growth. Our systematic genomic analysis of HAMPs across a large-scale cancer specimen cohort may facilitate the identification and prioritization of potential drug targets and selection of suitable patients for precision treatment. Targeting histone acetylation modulators (HAMPs) is a promising avenue of drug discovery in cancer research. Here, the authors integrate multi-dimensional genomic profiles to systematically investigate recurrent genomic alterations in HAMPs, identifying potential therapeutic targets for precision epigenetic treatment.
Collapse
|
186
|
Lu P, Geng J, Zhang L, Wang Y, Niu N, Fang Y, Liu F, Shi J, Zhang ZG, Sun YW, Wang LW, Tang Y, Xue J. THZ1 reveals CDK7-dependent transcriptional addictions in pancreatic cancer. Oncogene 2019; 38:3932-3945. [PMID: 30692639 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-019-0701-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Revised: 10/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy with high mortality. Lack of effective treatment makes novel therapeutic discovery an urgent demand in PDAC research. By screening an epigenetic-related compound library, we identified THZ1, a covalent inhibitor of CDK7, as a promising candidate. Multiple long-established and patient-derived PDAC cell lines (PDC) were used to validate the efficacy of THZ1 in vitro. In addition, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and animal models of PDAC were utilized for examining THZ1 efficacy in vivo. Furthermore, RNA-Seq analyse was performed to reveal the molecular mechanism of THZ1 treatment. Finally, PDAC cell lines with primary or acquired resistance to THZ1 were investigated to explore the potential mechanism of THZ1 susceptibility. CDK7 inhibition was identified as a selective and potent therapeutic strategy for PDAC progression in multiple preclinical models. Mechanistic analyses revealed that CDK7 inhibition led to a pronounced downregulation of gene transcription, with a preferential repression of mitotic cell cycle and NF-κB signaling-related transcripts. MYC transcriptional was found to be involved in susceptibility of PDAC cells to CDK7 inhibition. In conclusion, Identification of CDK7-dependent transcriptional addiction in PDACs provides a potent therapeutic strategy that targets highly aggressive pancreatic cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ping Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Stem Cell Research Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Stem Cell Research Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ningning Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Stem Cell Research Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Fang
- Research Institute of Pancreatic Disease, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Juanjuan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Stem Cell Research Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Gang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong-Wei Sun
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li-Wei Wang
- Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yujie Tang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jing Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Stem Cell Research Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
187
|
Liu S, Hausmann S, Carlson SM, Fuentes ME, Francis JW, Pillai R, Lofgren SM, Hulea L, Tandoc K, Lu J, Li A, Nguyen ND, Caporicci M, Kim MP, Maitra A, Wang H, Wistuba II, Porco JA, Bassik MC, Elias JE, Song J, Topisirovic I, Van Rechem C, Mazur PK, Gozani O. METTL13 Methylation of eEF1A Increases Translational Output to Promote Tumorigenesis. Cell 2019; 176:491-504.e21. [PMID: 30612740 PMCID: PMC6499081 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.11.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Increased protein synthesis plays an etiologic role in diverse cancers. Here, we demonstrate that METTL13 (methyltransferase-like 13) dimethylation of eEF1A (eukaryotic elongation factor 1A) lysine 55 (eEF1AK55me2) is utilized by Ras-driven cancers to increase translational output and promote tumorigenesis in vivo. METTL13-catalyzed eEF1A methylation increases eEF1A's intrinsic GTPase activity in vitro and protein production in cells. METTL13 and eEF1AK55me2 levels are upregulated in cancer and negatively correlate with pancreatic and lung cancer patient survival. METTL13 deletion and eEF1AK55me2 loss dramatically reduce Ras-driven neoplastic growth in mouse models and in patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) from primary pancreatic and lung tumors. Finally, METTL13 depletion renders PDX tumors hypersensitive to drugs that target growth-signaling pathways. Together, our work uncovers a mechanism by which lethal cancers become dependent on the METTL13-eEF1AK55me2 axis to meet their elevated protein synthesis requirement and suggests that METTL13 inhibition may constitute a targetable vulnerability of tumors driven by aberrant Ras signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Liu
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Simone Hausmann
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Mary Esmeralda Fuentes
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Renjitha Pillai
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Shane Michael Lofgren
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Laura Hulea
- Lady Davis Institute and Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Kristofferson Tandoc
- Lady Davis Institute and Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Jiuwei Lu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Ami Li
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nicholas Dang Nguyen
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Marcello Caporicci
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael Paul Kim
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Anirban Maitra
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Huamin Wang
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ignacio Ivan Wistuba
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Michael Cory Bassik
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Joshua Eric Elias
- Deparment of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jikui Song
- Department of Biochemistry, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Ivan Topisirovic
- Lady Davis Institute and Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Capucine Van Rechem
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Pawel Karol Mazur
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Or Gozani
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
188
|
Rataj O, Haedicke-Jarboui J, Stubenrauch F, Iftner T. Brd4 inhibition suppresses HPV16 E6 expression and enhances chemoresponse: A potential new target in cervical cancer therapy. Int J Cancer 2019; 144:2330-2338. [PMID: 30421459 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.31986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Although a vast amount of research underlines the roles of the HR HPV E6 and E7 oncogenes in HPV-induced carcinogenesis of cervical cancer, it remains unclear whether these oncogenes are also involved in the resistance of the cancer against chemotherapy. We examined the role of the HPV16 E6 oncogene in cisplatin resistance by analyzing its expression in newly established cisplatin-sensitive versus -resistant cervical cancer cell lines (CC7, CC10). Resistant variants were obtained by interval exposure treatment with 1-2 μM cisplatin for 8-9 months. Our results demonstrate that the expression level of HPV16 E6 directly correlates with the extent of cisplatin resistance in novel as well as established (SiHa) drug resistant cervical cancer cell lines. Overexpression of HPV16 E6 in cisplatin-naïve cells rendered these cells more resistant to cisplatin. Reducing E6 expression by JQ1 treatment reversed the drug resistant phenotype and strongly enhanced chemoresponse only in HPV-positive cisplatin-resistant variants and not in HPV-negative C33A cervical cancer cells. The level of E6 directly correlated with the extent of cisplatin sensitivity and was shown to be increased in newly established drug-resistant cell line variants, while reducing E6 expression using Brd4-inhibitors enhanced chemoresponse when co-delivered with cisplatin. Inhibition of Brd4 could represent a new therapeutic option by increasing treatment response in cervical cancer cells and might allow lower cisplatin dosages, thus reducing negative side effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olga Rataj
- Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Juliane Haedicke-Jarboui
- Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Frank Stubenrauch
- Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Iftner
- Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
189
|
Rajendran P, Johnson G, Li L, Chen YS, Dashwood M, Nguyen N, Ulusan A, Ertem F, Zhang M, Li J, Sun D, Huang Y, Wang S, Leung HC, Lieberman D, Beaver L, Ho E, Bedford M, Chang K, Vilar E, Dashwood R. Acetylation of CCAR2 Establishes a BET/BRD9 Acetyl Switch in Response to Combined Deacetylase and Bromodomain Inhibition. Cancer Res 2019; 79:918-927. [PMID: 30643017 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
There continues to be interest in targeting epigenetic "readers, writers, and erasers" for the treatment of cancer and other pathologies. However, a mechanistic understanding is frequently lacking for the synergy observed when combining deacetylase and bromodomain inhibitors. Here we identify cell cycle and apoptosis regulator 2 (CCAR2) as an early target for acetylation in colon cancer cells treated with sulforaphane. N-terminal acetylation of CCAR2 diminished its interactions with histone deacetylase 3 and β-catenin, interfering with Wnt coactivator functions of CCAR2, including in cells harboring genetically encoded CCAR2 acetylation. Protein domain arrays and pull-down assays identified acetyl "reader" proteins that recognized CCAR2 acetylation sites, including BRD9 and members of the bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family. Treatment with the BET inhibitor JQ1 synergized with sulforaphane in colon cancer cells and suppressed tumor development effectively in a preclinical model of colorectal cancer. Studies with sulforaphane+JQ1 in combination implicated a BET/BRD9 acetyl switch and a shift in the pool of acetyl "reader" proteins in favor of BRD9-regulated target genes. SIGNIFICANCE: These results highlight the competition that exists among the "readers" of acetylated histone and nonhistone proteins and provide a mechanistic basis for potential new therapeutic avenues involving epigenetic combination treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Rajendran
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
| | - Gavin Johnson
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Li Li
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Ying-Shiuan Chen
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Mohaiza Dashwood
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Nhung Nguyen
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Ahmet Ulusan
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Furkan Ertem
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Mutian Zhang
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Jia Li
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Deqiang Sun
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Yun Huang
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Shan Wang
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Hon-Chiu Leung
- Mass Spectrometry-Proteomics Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - David Lieberman
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Laura Beaver
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
| | - Emily Ho
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
| | - Mark Bedford
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Kyle Chang
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Eduardo Vilar
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Roderick Dashwood
- Center for Epigenetics & Disease Prevention, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. .,The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| |
Collapse
|
190
|
Han Y, Lindner S, Bei Y, Garcia HD, Timme N, Althoff K, Odersky A, Schramm A, Lissat A, Künkele A, Deubzer HE, Eggert A, Schulte JH, Henssen AG. Synergistic activity of BET inhibitor MK-8628 and PLK inhibitor Volasertib in preclinical models of medulloblastoma. Cancer Lett 2019; 445:24-33. [PMID: 30611741 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most prevalent central nervous system tumor in children. Targeted treatment approaches for patients with high-risk medulloblastoma are needed as current treatment regimens are not curative in many cases and cause significant therapy-related morbidity. Medulloblastoma harboring MYC amplification have the most aggressive clinical course and worst outcome. Targeting the BET protein BRD4 has significant anti-tumor effects in preclinical models of MYC-amplified medulloblastoma, however, in most cases these are not curative. We here assessed the therapeutic efficacy of the orally bioavailable BRD4 inhibitor, MK-8628, in preclinical models of medulloblastoma. MK-8628 showed therapeutic efficacy against in vitro and in vivo models of MYC-amplified medulloblastoma by inducing apoptotic cell death and cell cycle arrest. Gene expression analysis of cells treated with MK-8628 showed that anti-tumor effects were accompanied by significant repression of MYC transcription as well as disruption of MYC-regulated transcriptional programs. Additionally, we found that targeting of MYC protein stability through pharmacological PLK1 inhibition showed synergistic anti-medulloblastoma effects when combined with MK-8628 treatment. Thus, MK-8628 is effective against preclinical high-risk medulloblastoma models and its effects can be enhanced through simultaneous targeting of PLK1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Youjia Han
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Sven Lindner
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University Children's Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Yi Bei
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Natalie Timme
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Kristina Althoff
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University Children's Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Andrea Odersky
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University Children's Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Alexander Schramm
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University Children's Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Andrej Lissat
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Annette Künkele
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany; German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Hedwig E Deubzer
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany; German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany; Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the Charité and the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Angelika Eggert
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany; German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes H Schulte
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany; German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Berlin, Germany
| | - Anton G Henssen
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany; German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
191
|
Mungamuri SK. Targeting the epigenome as a therapeutic strategy for pancreatic tumors. THERANOSTIC APPROACH FOR PANCREATIC CANCER 2019:211-244. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-819457-7.00011-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
|
192
|
Chandana S, Babiker HM, Mahadevan D. Therapeutic trends in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2018; 28:161-177. [DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2019.1557145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sreenivasa Chandana
- Phase I program, START Midwest, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Cancer and Hematology Centers of Western Michigan, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Department of Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Hani M. Babiker
- Early Phase Therapeutics Program, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Daruka Mahadevan
- Early Phase Therapeutics Program, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
193
|
Zhao L, Okhovat JP, Hong EK, Kim YH, Wood GS. Preclinical Studies Support Combined Inhibition of BET Family Proteins and Histone Deacetylases as Epigenetic Therapy for Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma. Neoplasia 2018; 21:82-92. [PMID: 30529073 PMCID: PMC6280696 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Advanced-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is usually a fatal malignancy despite optimal use of currently available treatments. In this preclinical study of novel CTCL therapy, we performed in vitro and ex vivo experiments to determine the efficacy of combination treatment with a panel of BET bromodomain inhibitors (BETi) (JQ1, OTX015, CPI-0610, I-BET762) and HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) (SAHA/Vorinostat, Romidepsin). BETi/HDACi combinations were synergistic (combination index <1) against cell viability and induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. Apoptosis was uniformly enhanced. From a mechanistic standpoint, proliferative drivers c-Myc, Cyclin D1, NFkB, and IL-15Rα were reduced. Inhibitory CDKN1A was increased. CDKN1B, IL-7R, IL-17Rα, STAT3, and STAT5 alterations varied. There were significant increases in extrinsic apoptotic pathway death receptors and ligands (FasL, DR4, DR5, TRAIL, and TNFR1). At clinically tolerable levels of single agents, Romidepsin (1 nM) + OTX015 (125 nM) induced the greatest apoptosis (60%_80%) at 96 hours. Ex vivo studies of leukemic CTCL cells obtained from patients with Sezary syndrome also showed higher levels of apoptosis (about 60%-90%) in response to combination treatments relative to single agents. In contrast, combination treatment of normal CD4+ T cells induced only minimal apoptosis (<10%). Our findings show that the mechanism of action of BETi/HDACi therapy in CTCL involves induction of both cell cycle arrest and apoptosis with reduced proliferative drivers and enhanced expression of apoptotic extrinsic pathway death receptors and ligands. Relative to single agents, the superior anti-CTCL effects of BETi/HDACi combinations in vitro and ex vivo provide a rationale for clinical trials exploring their efficacy as therapy for CTCL.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/pharmacology
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Cell Survival/drug effects
- Depsipeptides/pharmacology
- Drug Synergism
- Epigenesis, Genetic/drug effects
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Histone Deacetylases/metabolism
- Humans
- Inhibitory Concentration 50
- Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous/genetics
- Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous/metabolism
- Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous/pathology
- Mice
- Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin and the Middleton VA Medical Center, Madison, WI
| | | | - Eric K Hong
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Youn H Kim
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Gary S Wood
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin and the Middleton VA Medical Center, Madison, WI.
| |
Collapse
|
194
|
Tan Z, Zhang X, Kang T, Zhang L, Chen S. Arsenic sulfide amplifies JQ1 toxicity via mitochondrial pathway in gastric and colon cancer cells. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2018; 12:3913-3927. [PMID: 30532520 PMCID: PMC6241694 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s180976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Gastric and colon cancers have been the leading causes of cancer mortality in the world with limited therapy. Small molecules binding to bromodomains of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) exert strong antitumor activities against hematological malignancies, while generally have limited efficacy in advanced solid tumors. Here, we found that the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET)-bromodomain inhibitor JQ1, when combined with arsenic sulfide (As4S4, abbreviated as AS), synergistically decreased the expression of nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATs) as well as the downstream oncogene c-Myc and largely induced cell apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway in gastric and colon cancer cell lines. Methods The synergistic cytotoxicity of AS and JQ1 in gastric and colon cancer cells was determined by MTT assay and verified by FACS assay. Western blot analysis and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay were used to detect the expression of NFATs and downstream apoptotic proteins. The mitochondrial transmembrane potential was determined by FACS assay, and the metastasis of cancer cells was detected by the wound-healing assay. Results AS and JQ1 synergistically induced cell apoptosis in gastric and colon cancer cells by downregulating NFATs and upregulating apoptotic proteins. Combination of AS and JQ1 was associated with the decreased mitochondrial transmembrane potential, the cytochrome c release, and the subsequent caspase-3 activation. Conclusion Thus, our data indicate that AS can effectively enhance the cytotoxicity of BET inhibitors in gastric and colon cancer cells through mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis induction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Tan
- Department of Oncology, Xin Hua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China,
| | - Xiuli Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Xin Hua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China,
| | - Ting Kang
- Department of Oncology, Xin Hua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China,
| | - Lian Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Xin Hua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China,
| | - Siyu Chen
- Department of Oncology, Xin Hua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China,
| |
Collapse
|
195
|
Abstract
Although we have come a long way in our understanding of the signals that drive cancer growth, and how these signals can be targeted, effective control of this disease remains a key scientific and medical challenge. The therapy resistance and relapse that are commonly seen are driven in large part by the inherent heterogeneity within cancers that allows drugs to effectively eliminate some, but not all, malignant cells. Here, we focus on the fundamental drivers of this heterogeneity by examining emerging evidence that shows that these traits are often controlled by the disruption of normal cell fate and aberrant adoption of stem cell signals. We discuss how undifferentiated cells are preferentially primed for transformation and often serve as the cell of origin for cancers. We also consider evidence showing that activation of stem cell programmes in cancers can lead to progression, therapy resistance and metastatic growth and that targeting these attributes may enable better control over a difficult disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikki K Lytle
- Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Moores Cancer Center, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alison G Barber
- Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Moores Cancer Center, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tannishtha Reya
- Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Moores Cancer Center, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
196
|
Hishiki K, Akiyama M, Kanegae Y, Ozaki K, Ohta M, Tsuchitani E, Kaito K, Yamada H. NF-κB signaling activation via increases in BRD2 and BRD4 confers resistance to the bromodomain inhibitor I-BET151 in U937 cells. Leuk Res 2018; 74:57-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2018.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
|
197
|
|
198
|
Badamchi-Zadeh A, Moynihan KD, Larocca RA, Aid M, Provine NM, Iampietro MJ, Kinnear E, Penaloza-MacMaster P, Abbink P, Blass E, Tregoning JS, Irvine DJ, Barouch DH. Combined HDAC and BET Inhibition Enhances Melanoma Vaccine Immunogenicity and Efficacy. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 201:2744-2752. [PMID: 30249811 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1800885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The combined inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDAC) and the proteins of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family have recently shown therapeutic efficacy against melanoma, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, testicular, and lymphoma cancers in murine studies. However, in such studies, the role of the immune system in therapeutically controlling these cancers has not been explored. We sought to investigate the effect of the HDAC inhibitor romidepsin (RMD) and the BET inhibitor IBET151, both singly and in combination, on vaccine-elicited immune responses. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with differing vaccine systems (adenoviral, protein) in prime-boost regimens under treatment with RMD, IBET151, or RMD+IBET151. The combined administration of RMD+IBET151 during vaccination resulted in a significant increase in the frequency and number of Ag-specific CD8+ T cells. RMD+IBET151 treatment significantly increased the frequency of vaccine-elicited IFN-γ+ splenic CD8+ T cells and conferred superior therapeutic and prophylactic protection against B16-OVA melanoma. RNA sequencing analyses revealed strong transcriptional similarity between RMD+IBET151 and untreated Ag-specific CD8+ T cells except in apoptosis and IL-6 signaling-related genes that were differentially expressed. Serum IL-6 was significantly increased in vivo following RMD+IBET151 treatment, with recombinant IL-6 administration replicating the effect of RMD+IBET151 treatment on vaccine-elicited CD8+ T cell responses. IL-6 sufficiency for protection was not assessed. Combined HDAC and BET inhibition resulted in greater vaccine-elicited CD8+ T cell responses and enhanced therapeutic and prophylactic protection against B16-OVA melanoma. Increased IL-6 production and the differential expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes following RMD+IBET151 treatment are likely contributors to the enhanced cancer vaccine responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Badamchi-Zadeh
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Kelly D Moynihan
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Rafael A Larocca
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Malika Aid
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Nicholas M Provine
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215
| | - M Justin Iampietro
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Ekaterina Kinnear
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Pablo Penaloza-MacMaster
- Department of Microbiology-Immunology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Peter Abbink
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Eryn Blass
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215
| | - John S Tregoning
- Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Darrell J Irvine
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139.,Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139; and.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
| | - Dan H Barouch
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215; .,Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139; and
| |
Collapse
|
199
|
Henry KE, Dacek MM, Dilling TR, Caen JD, Fox IL, Evans MJ, Lewis JS. A PET Imaging Strategy for Interrogating Target Engagement and Oncogene Status in Pancreatic Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 25:166-176. [PMID: 30228208 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-1485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most deadly cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. Physicians often rely on biopsy or CT to guide treatment decisions, but these techniques fail to reliably measure the actions of therapeutic agents in PDAC. KRAS mutations are present in >90% of PDAC and are connected to many signaling pathways through its oncogenic cascade, including extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) and MYC. A key downstream event of MYC is transferrin receptor (TfR), which has been identified as a biomarker for cancer therapeutics and imaging. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In this study, we aimed to test whether zirconium-89 transferrin ([89Zr]Zr-Tf) could measure changes in MYC depending on KRAS status of PDAC, and assess target engagement of anti-MYC and anti-ERK-targeted therapies. RESULTS Mice bearing iKras*p53* tumors showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) uptake of [89Zr]Zr-Tf in mice withdrawn from inducible oncogenic KRAS. A therapy study with JQ1 showed a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.05) of [89Zr]Zr-Tf uptake in drug versus vehicle-treated mice bearing Capan-2 and Suit-2 xenografts. IHC analysis of resected PDAC tumors reflects the data observed via PET imaging and radiotracer biodistribution. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that [89Zr]Zr-Tf is a valuable tool to noninvasively assess oncogene status and target engagement of small-molecule inhibitors downstream of oncogenic KRAS, allowing a quantitative assessment of drug delivery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E Henry
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Megan M Dacek
- Program of Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Thomas R Dilling
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Jonathan D Caen
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Ian L Fox
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Michael J Evans
- Departments of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Jason S Lewis
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York. .,Program of Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.,Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.,Radiochemistry and Molecular Imaging Probes Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| |
Collapse
|
200
|
Hmga2 is dispensable for pancreatic cancer development, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14008. [PMID: 30228296 PMCID: PMC6143627 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32159-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Expression of the chromatin-associated protein HMGA2 correlates with progression, metastasis and therapy resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Hmga2 has also been identified as a marker of a transient subpopulation of PDAC cells that has increased metastatic ability. Here, we characterize the requirement for Hmga2 during growth, dissemination, and metastasis of PDAC in vivo using conditional inactivation of Hmga2 in well-established autochthonous mouse models of PDAC. Overall survival, primary tumour burden, presence of disseminated tumour cells in the peritoneal cavity or circulating tumour cells in the blood, and presence and number of metastases were not significantly different between mice with Hmga2-wildtype or Hmga2-deficient tumours. Treatment of mice with Hmga2-wildtype and Hmga2-deficient tumours with gemcitabine did not uncover a significant impact of Hmga2-deficiency on gemcitabine sensitivity. Hmga1 and Hmga2 overlap in their expression in both human and murine PDAC, however knockdown of Hmga1 in Hmga2-deficient cancer cells also did not decrease metastatic ability. Thus, Hmga2 remains a prognostic marker which identifies a metastatic cancer cell state in primary PDAC, however Hmga2 has limited if any direct functional impact on PDAC progression and therapy resistance.
Collapse
|