201
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Ma X, Chen J, Tian Y. Pregnane X receptor as the "sensor and effector" in regulating epigenome. J Cell Physiol 2015; 230:752-7. [PMID: 25294580 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.24838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2014] [Accepted: 09/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The pregnane X receptor (PXR, NR1I2) is a ligand-activated nuclear receptor which plays an essential role in organism's metabolic detoxification system by sensing the presence of xenobiotics and triggering detoxification responses. In addition to its role in xenobiotic metabolism, PXR has pleiotropic functions in regulating immune/inflammatory responses, cell proliferation, bile acid/cholesterol metabolism, glucose and lipid metabolism, steroid/endocrine homeostasis, and bone metabolism. Recent research suggests that the PXR is required for maintaining healthy commensalism between microbiota and gut. Interestingly, the metabolites such as indole derivatives from commensal microbes serve as the ligands for the PXR in intestinal epithelium forming an intricate mutualistic interaction between host and microbiota. PXR-regulated gene responses are controlled at epigenetic level by chromatin modifications, DNA methylation and noncoding RNA. Developmental alterations of the epigenome by exposure to the xenobiotics or diseases may produce persistent changes in PXR-regulated physiological responses. These new areas of research promise to vastly increase our understanding of PXR-regulated responses. In this review we highlight recent results on the epigenetic mechanisms for the PXR-regulated gene expression and discuss the physiological significance of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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202
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Westcott JM, Prechtl AM, Maine EA, Dang TT, Esparza MA, Sun H, Zhou Y, Xie Y, Pearson GW. An epigenetically distinct breast cancer cell subpopulation promotes collective invasion. J Clin Invest 2015; 125:1927-43. [PMID: 25844900 DOI: 10.1172/jci77767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells can engage in a process called collective invasion, in which cohesive groups of cells invade through interstitial tissue. Here, we identified an epigenetically distinct subpopulation of breast tumor cells that have an enhanced capacity to collectively invade. Analysis of spheroid invasion in an organotypic culture system revealed that these "trailblazer" cells are capable of initiating collective invasion and promote non-trailblazer cell invasion, indicating a commensal relationship among subpopulations within heterogenous tumors. Canonical mesenchymal markers were not sufficient to distinguish trailblazer cells from non-trailblazer cells, suggesting that defining the molecular underpinnings of the trailblazer phenotype could reveal collective invasion-specific mechanisms. Functional analysis determined that DOCK10, ITGA11, DAB2, PDFGRA, VASN, PPAP2B, and LPAR1 are highly expressed in trailblazer cells and required to initiate collective invasion, with DOCK10 essential for metastasis. In patients with triple-negative breast cancer, expression of these 7 genes correlated with poor outcome. Together, our results indicate that spontaneous conversion of the epigenetic state in a subpopulation of cells can promote a transition from in situ to invasive growth through induction of a cooperative form of collective invasion and suggest that therapeutic inhibition of trailblazer cell invasion may help prevent metastasis.
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203
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Hamm CA, Costa FF. Epigenomes as therapeutic targets. Pharmacol Ther 2015; 151:72-86. [PMID: 25797698 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetics is a molecular phenomenon that pertains to heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence. Epigenetic modifications in a whole genome, known as the epigenome, play an essential role in the regulation of gene expression in both normal development and disease. Traditional epigenetic changes include DNA methylation and histone modifications. Recent evidence reveals that other players, such as non-coding RNAs, may have an epigenetic regulatory role. Aberrant epigenetic signaling is becoming to be known as a central component of human disease, and the reversible nature of the epigenetic modifications provides an exciting opportunity for the development of clinically relevant therapeutics. Current epigenetic therapies provide a clinical benefit through disrupting DNA methyltransferases or histone deacetylases. However, the emergence of next-generation epigenetic therapies provides an opportunity to more effectively disrupt epigenetic disease states. Novel epigenetic therapies may improve drug targeting and drug delivery, optimize dosing schedules, and improve the efficacy of preexisting treatment modalities (chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy). This review discusses the epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to the disease, available epigenetic therapies, epigenetic therapies currently in development, and the potential future use of epigenetic therapeutics in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A Hamm
- Cancer Biology and Epigenomics Program, Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Research Center and Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, 225 E. Chicago Avenue, Box 220, Chicago, IL 60611-2605, USA.
| | - Fabricio F Costa
- Cancer Biology and Epigenomics Program, Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Research Center and Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, 225 E. Chicago Avenue, Box 220, Chicago, IL 60611-2605, USA; StartUp Health Academy, 2000 Broadway St, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10.023, USA; Genomic Enterprise, 2405 N. Sheffield Av., # 14088, Chicago, IL 60.614, USA; Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Program, UCB - Brasilia, SGAN 916 Modulo B, Bloco C, 70.790-160 Brasilia, Brazil.
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204
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Schübeler D. ESCI award lecture: regulation, function and biomarker potential of DNA methylation. Eur J Clin Invest 2015; 45:288-93. [PMID: 25608229 DOI: 10.1111/eci.12403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Methylation of DNA and modifications of histones have emerged as intricately involved in gene regulation as they cross-talk and respond in multiple ways to the activity of transcription factors. Measuring these epigenome components has become a powerful tool to identify regulatory principles and biomarkers that predict cellular state during development or disease. Here, I will focus on DNA methylation as a reversible epigenetic modification of DNA that has been studied in great detail at the level of the genome. Recent advances in sequencing have identified unexpected dynamics of this modification, which are tightly linked to gene regulation. Understanding how DNA methylation patterns are read and how they contribute to regulation will be critical to interpret and utilize genomic maps of DNA methylation. As these patterns are dynamic during cellular differentiation and perturbed in disease, they present an opportunity to use DNA methylation as a biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Schübeler
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Faculty of Science, Basel, Switzerland
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205
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Epigenetic control of autoimmune diseases: From bench to bedside. Clin Immunol 2015; 157:1-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2014.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2014] [Revised: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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206
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Yamamoto H, Imai K. Microsatellite instability: an update. Arch Toxicol 2015; 89:899-921. [PMID: 25701956 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-015-1474-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Deficient DNA mismatch repair (MMR) results in a strong mutator phenotype known as microsatellite instability (MSI), which is a hallmark of Lynch syndrome-associated cancers. MSI is characterized by length alterations within simple repeated sequences that are called microsatellites. Lynch syndrome is primarily caused by mutations in the MMR genes, mainly MLH1 and MSH2, and less frequently in MSH6, and rarely PMS2, and large genomic rearrangements account for 5-20 % of all mutations. Germ line hemiallelic methylations of MLH1 or MSH2 are termed as epimutations and have been identified as causative of Lynch syndrome. Moreover, germ line 3' deletions of EPCAM gene is involved in MSH2 methylation. MSI is also observed in about 15 % of sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC), gastric cancer (GC), and endometrial cancer (EC), and at lower frequencies in other cancers, often in association with hypermethylation of the MLH1 gene. Trimethylation of histone H3 on Lys36 (H3K36 me3) is an epigenetic histone mark that was required for DNA MMR in vivo. Thus, mutations in the H3K36 trimethyltransferase SETD2 have been reported as a potential cause of MSI. Genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptomic differences have been identified between cancers with and without MSI. Recent comprehensive molecular characterizations of CRC, EC, and GC by The Cancer Genome Atlas indicate that MSI+ cancers are distinct biological entities. The BRAF V600E mutation is specifically associated with sporadic MSI+ CRCs with methylated MLH1, but is not associated with Lynch syndrome-related CRCs. Accumulating evidence indicates a role of interactions between MSI and microRNA (miRNA) in the pathogenesis of MSI-positive (MSI+) cancer. As another new mechanism underlying MSI, overexpression of miR-155 or miR-21 has been shown to downregulate the expression of the MMR genes. Gene targets of frameshift mutations caused by MSI are involved in various cellular functions, including DNA repair (MSH3 and MSH6), cell signaling (TGFBR2 and ACVR2A), apoptosis (BAX), epigenetic regulation (HDAC2 and ARID1A), and miRNA processing (TARBP2 and XPO5), and a subset of MSI+ CRCs reportedly shows the mutated miRNA machinery phenotype. Moreover, microsatellite repeats in miRNA genes, such as hsa-miR-1273c, may be novel MSI targets for CRC, and mutations in noncoding regulatory regions of MRE11, BAX (BaxΔ2), and HSP110 (HSP110ΔE9) may affect the efficiency of chemotherapy. Thus, analyses of MSI and its related molecular alterations in cancers are increasingly relevant in clinical settings, and MSI is a useful screening marker for identifying patients with Lynch syndrome and a prognostic factor for chemotherapeutic interventions. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the pathogenesis of MSI and focus on genome-wide analyses that indicate the potential use of MSI and related alterations as biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Yamamoto
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, 216-8511, Japan,
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207
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Dicks N, Gutierrez K, Michalak M, Bordignon V, Agellon LB. Endoplasmic reticulum stress, genome damage, and cancer. Front Oncol 2015; 5:11. [PMID: 25692096 PMCID: PMC4315039 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2015.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2014] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been linked to many diseases, including cancer. A large body of work has focused on the activation of the ER stress response in cancer cells to facilitate their survival and tumor growth; however, there are some studies suggesting that the ER stress response can also mitigate cancer progression. Despite these contradictions, it is clear that the ER stress response is closely associated with cancer biology. The ER stress response classically encompasses activation of three separate pathways, which are collectively categorized the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR has been extensively studied in various cancers and appears to confer a selective advantage to tumor cells to facilitate their enhanced growth and resistance to anti-cancer agents. It has also been shown that ER stress induces chromatin changes, which can also facilitate cell survival. Chromatin remodeling has been linked with many cancers through repression of tumor suppressor and apoptosis genes. Interplay between the classic UPR and genome damage repair mechanisms may have important implications in the transformation process of normal cells into cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Dicks
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University , Montréal, QC , Canada
| | - Karina Gutierrez
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University , Montréal, QC , Canada
| | - Marek Michalak
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta , Edmonton, AB , Canada
| | - Vilceu Bordignon
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University , Montréal, QC , Canada
| | - Luis B Agellon
- School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University , Montréal, QC , Canada
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208
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Zhang Y, Wang X, Han L, Zhou Y, Sun S. Green tea polyphenol EGCG reverse cisplatin resistance of A549/DDP cell line through candidate genes demethylation. Biomed Pharmacother 2015; 69:285-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2014.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2014] [Accepted: 12/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
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209
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Li Y, Sarkar FH. Targeting Epigenetically Deregulated miRNA by Nutraceuticals: Focusing on Cancer Prevention and Treatment. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s40495-015-0016-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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210
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Li X, Mei Q, Nie J, Fu X, Han W. Decitabine: a promising epi-immunotherapeutic agent in solid tumors. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2015; 11:363-75. [DOI: 10.1586/1744666x.2015.1002397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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211
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Morgensztern D, Campo MJ, Dahlberg SE, Doebele RC, Garon E, Gerber DE, Goldberg SB, Hammerman PS, Heist R, Hensing T, Horn L, Ramalingam SS, Rudin CM, Salgia R, Sequist L, Shaw AT, Simon GR, Somaiah N, Spigel DR, Wrangle J, Johnson D, Herbst RS, Bunn P, Govindan R. Molecularly targeted therapies in non-small-cell lung cancer annual update 2014. J Thorac Oncol 2015; 10:S1-63. [PMID: 25535693 PMCID: PMC4346098 DOI: 10.1097/jto.0000000000000405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
There have been significant advances in the understanding of the biology and treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) during the past few years. A number of molecularly targeted agents are in the clinic or in development for patients with advanced NSCLC. We are beginning to understand the mechanisms of acquired resistance after exposure to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with oncogene addicted NSCLC. The advent of next-generation sequencing has enabled to study comprehensively genomic alterations in lung cancer. Finally, early results from immune checkpoint inhibitors are very encouraging. This review summarizes recent advances in the area of cancer genomics, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Morgensztern
- Department of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO
| | - Meghan J. Campo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston MA
| | - Suzanne E. Dahlberg
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston MA
| | - Robert C. Doebele
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado School of Medicine and University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO
| | - Edward Garon
- UCLA Santa Monica Hematology Oncology, Santa Monica, CA
| | - David E. Gerber
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Harold C. Simmons Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Sarah B. Goldberg
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yale School of Medicine and Cancer Center, New Haven, CT
| | | | - Rebecca Heist
- Department of Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Thomas Hensing
- Department of Oncology, The University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Leora Horn
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Suresh S. Ramalingam
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, GA
| | | | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Oncology, The University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Lecia Sequist
- Department of Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Alice T. Shaw
- Department of Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - George R. Simon
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Neeta Somaiah
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | | | - John Wrangle
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD
| | - David Johnson
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Roy S. Herbst
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yale School of Medicine and Cancer Center, New Haven, CT
| | - Paul Bunn
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Denver, CO
| | - Ramaswamy Govindan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO
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212
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Abstract
Epigenetics refers to the study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without a change in DNA sequence. Research has shown that epigenetic mechanisms provide an "extra" layer of transcriptional control that regulates how genes are expressed. These mechanisms are critical components in the normal development and growth of cells. Epigenetic abnormalities have been found to be causative factors in cancer, genetic disorders, and pediatric syndromes. Head and neck cancers are a group of malignancies with diverse biological behaviors and a strong, well-established association with environmental effects. Although the hunt for genetic alterations in head and neck cancer has continued in the past two decades, with unequivocal proof of a genetic role in multistage head and neck carcinogenesis, epigenetic alteration in association with promoter CpG islands hypermethylation has emerged in the past few years as one of the most active areas of cancer research. Silencing of the genes by hypermethylation or induction of oncogenes by promoter hypomethylation is a frequent mechanism in head and neck cancer and achieves increasing diagnostic and therapeutic importance. In this context it is important for clinicians to understand the principles of epigenetic mechanisms and how these principles relate to human health and disease. It is important to address the use of epigenetic pathways in new approaches to molecular diagnosis and novel targeted treatments across the clinical spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syeda Marriam Bakhtiar
- Department of Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computing, Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, Islamabad, Pakistan
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213
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Mansfield AS, Wang L, Cunningham JM, Jen J, Kolbert CP, Sun Z, Yang P. DNA methylation and RNA expression profiles in lung adenocarcinomas of never-smokers. Cancer Genet 2014; 208:253-60. [PMID: 25650174 DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergen.2014.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Revised: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Lung cancer occurs in never-smokers. Epigenetic changes in lung cancer potentially represent important diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets. We compared DNA methylation profiles of 28 adenocarcinomas of the lungs of never-smokers with paired adjacent nonmalignant lung tissue. We correlated differential methylation changes with gene expression changes from the same 28 sample pairs. Using principal component analysis, we observed a distinct separation in methylation profiles between tumor and adjacent nonmalignant lung tissue. Tumors were generally hypomethylated compared with adjacent nonmalignant tissue. Of 1,906 CpG sites differentially methylated between tumor and nonmalignant tissue, 1,198 were within classically defined CpG islands where tumors were hypermethylated compared with nonmalignant tissue. A total of 708 sites were outside CpG islands where tumors were hypomethylated compared with nonmalignant tissue. There were significant differences in expression of 351 genes (23%) of the 1,522 genes matched to the differentially methylated CpG sites. Genes that were not significantly differentially expressed and were hypermethylated within CpG sites were enriched for homeobox genes. These results suggest that the methylation profiles of lung adenocarcinomas of never-smokers and adjacent nonmalignant lung tissue are significantly different. Despite the differential methylation of homeobox genes, no significant changes in expression of these genes were detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron S Mansfield
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Liang Wang
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Julie M Cunningham
- Division of Experimental Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Medical Genome Facility, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jin Jen
- Division of Experimental Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Medical Genome Facility, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Zhifu Sun
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Ping Yang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Division of Epidemiology and Department of Medical Genetics, Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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214
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Gros C, Fleury L, Nahoum V, Faux C, Valente S, Labella D, Cantagrel F, Rilova E, Bouhlel MA, David-Cordonnier MH, Dufau I, Ausseil F, Mai A, Mourey L, Lacroix L, Arimondo PB. New insights on the mechanism of quinoline-based DNA Methyltransferase inhibitors. J Biol Chem 2014; 290:6293-302. [PMID: 25525263 PMCID: PMC4358266 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.594671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the epigenetic marks, DNA methylation is one of the most studied. It is highly deregulated in numerous diseases, including cancer. Indeed, it has been shown that hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes promoters is a common feature of cancer cells. Because DNA methylation is reversible, the DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), responsible for this epigenetic mark, are considered promising therapeutic targets. Several molecules have been identified as DNMT inhibitors and, among the non-nucleoside inhibitors, 4-aminoquinoline-based inhibitors, such as SGI-1027 and its analogs, showed potent inhibitory activity. Here we characterized the in vitro mechanism of action of SGI-1027 and two analogs. Enzymatic competition studies with the DNA substrate and the methyl donor cofactor, S-adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet), displayed AdoMet non-competitive and DNA competitive behavior. In addition, deviations from the Michaelis-Menten model in DNA competition experiments suggested an interaction with DNA. Thus their ability to interact with DNA was established; although SGI-1027 was a weak DNA ligand, analog 5, the most potent inhibitor, strongly interacted with DNA. Finally, as 5 interacted with DNMT only when the DNA duplex was present, we hypothesize that this class of chemical compounds inhibit DNMTs by interacting with the DNA substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Gros
- From the Unité de Service et de Recherche CNRS-Pierre Fabre 3388, ETaC, CRDPF, 31100 Toulouse, France
| | - Laurence Fleury
- From the Unité de Service et de Recherche CNRS-Pierre Fabre 3388, ETaC, CRDPF, 31100 Toulouse, France
| | - Virginie Nahoum
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS) CNRS, Toulouse, 31077, France, Université de Toulouse, UPS, IPBS, Toulouse, 31077, France
| | - Céline Faux
- From the Unité de Service et de Recherche CNRS-Pierre Fabre 3388, ETaC, CRDPF, 31100 Toulouse, France
| | - Sergio Valente
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drug, Sapienza University of Rome, I-00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Donatella Labella
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drug, Sapienza University of Rome, I-00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Frédéric Cantagrel
- From the Unité de Service et de Recherche CNRS-Pierre Fabre 3388, ETaC, CRDPF, 31100 Toulouse, France
| | - Elodie Rilova
- From the Unité de Service et de Recherche CNRS-Pierre Fabre 3388, ETaC, CRDPF, 31100 Toulouse, France
| | - Mohamed Amine Bouhlel
- INSERM UMR837-JPARC (Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Center), Team 4, IRCL, 59045 Lille, France
| | | | - Isabelle Dufau
- From the Unité de Service et de Recherche CNRS-Pierre Fabre 3388, ETaC, CRDPF, 31100 Toulouse, France
| | - Frédéric Ausseil
- From the Unité de Service et de Recherche CNRS-Pierre Fabre 3388, ETaC, CRDPF, 31100 Toulouse, France
| | - Antonello Mai
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drug, Sapienza University of Rome, I-00185 Roma, Italy, Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Sapienza University of Rome, I-00185 Roma, Italy, and
| | - Lionel Mourey
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS) CNRS, Toulouse, 31077, France, Université de Toulouse, UPS, IPBS, Toulouse, 31077, France
| | | | - Paola B Arimondo
- From the Unité de Service et de Recherche CNRS-Pierre Fabre 3388, ETaC, CRDPF, 31100 Toulouse, France,
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215
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Jekunen A. Clinicians' expectations for gene-driven cancer therapy. CLINICAL MEDICINE INSIGHTS-ONCOLOGY 2014; 8:159-64. [PMID: 25574148 PMCID: PMC4271717 DOI: 10.4137/cmo.s20737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Revised: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A new era of medicine is rapidly approaching, which will change not only pathological diagnosis but also medical decision-making. This paper raises the question of how well prepared doctors are to address the new issues that will soon confront them. The human genome has been completely sequenced and general understanding about cancer biology has increased enormously with understanding that unregulated gene function and complicated changes in signal pathways are related to uncontrolled cell growth. Thus, gene-driven therapy involving alterations to genes are recognized to present new therapy options. This advance will necessitate major changes to the decision-making aspect of physicians. This article focuses on defining the pertinent changes and addressing what they mean for practicing physicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antti Jekunen
- Vaasa Oncology Clinic, Turku University, Vaasa, Finland
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216
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Erdmann A, Halby L, Fahy J, Arimondo PB. Targeting DNA Methylation with Small Molecules: What’s Next? J Med Chem 2014; 58:2569-83. [DOI: 10.1021/jm500843d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Erdmann
- Epigenetic Targeting of Cancer,
USR3388 ETaC, CNRS-Pierre Fabre, 3 Avenue H. Curien, 31035 Toulouse Cedex 01, France
| | - Ludovic Halby
- Epigenetic Targeting of Cancer,
USR3388 ETaC, CNRS-Pierre Fabre, 3 Avenue H. Curien, 31035 Toulouse Cedex 01, France
| | - Jacques Fahy
- Epigenetic Targeting of Cancer,
USR3388 ETaC, CNRS-Pierre Fabre, 3 Avenue H. Curien, 31035 Toulouse Cedex 01, France
| | - Paola B Arimondo
- Epigenetic Targeting of Cancer,
USR3388 ETaC, CNRS-Pierre Fabre, 3 Avenue H. Curien, 31035 Toulouse Cedex 01, France
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217
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Hattori N, Ushijima T. Compendium of aberrant DNA methylation and histone modifications in cancer. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2014; 455:3-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.08.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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218
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Lee JV, Shah S, Carrer A, Wellen KE. A cancerous web: signaling, metabolism, and the epigenome. Mol Cell Oncol 2014; 2:e965620. [PMID: 27308412 PMCID: PMC4904988 DOI: 10.4161/23723548.2014.965620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Revised: 08/08/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Histone acetylation is sensitive to the availability of acetyl-CoA. However, the extent to which metabolic alterations in cancer cells impact tumor histone acetylation has been unclear. Here, we discuss our recent findings that oncogenic AKT1 activation regulates histone acetylation levels in tumors through regulation of acetyl-CoA metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce V Lee
- Department of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine ; Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Supriya Shah
- Department of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine ; Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Alessandro Carrer
- Department of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine ; Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Kathryn E Wellen
- Department of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute; University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine ; Philadelphia, PA USA
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219
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Orlando DA, Chen MW, Brown VE, Solanki S, Choi YJ, Olson ER, Fritz CC, Bradner JE, Guenther MG. Quantitative ChIP-Seq normalization reveals global modulation of the epigenome. Cell Rep 2014; 9:1163-70. [PMID: 25437568 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 335] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Revised: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 10/09/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenomic profiling by chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with massively parallel DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq) is a prevailing methodology used to investigate chromatin-based regulation in biological systems such as human disease, but the lack of an empirical methodology to enable normalization among experiments has limited the precision and usefulness of this technique. Here, we describe a method called ChIP with reference exogenous genome (ChIP-Rx) that allows one to perform genome-wide quantitative comparisons of histone modification status across cell populations using defined quantities of a reference epigenome. ChIP-Rx enables the discovery and quantification of dynamic epigenomic profiles across mammalian cells that would otherwise remain hidden using traditional normalization methods. We demonstrate the utility of this method for measuring epigenomic changes following chemical perturbations and show how reference normalization of ChIP-seq experiments enables the discovery of disease-relevant changes in histone modification occupancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Orlando
- Syros Pharmaceuticals, 480 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472, USA.
| | - Mei Wei Chen
- Syros Pharmaceuticals, 480 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472, USA
| | - Victoria E Brown
- Syros Pharmaceuticals, 480 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472, USA
| | | | - Yoon J Choi
- Syros Pharmaceuticals, 480 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472, USA
| | - Eric R Olson
- Syros Pharmaceuticals, 480 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472, USA
| | | | - James E Bradner
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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220
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Koffler J, Sharma S, Hess J. Predictive value of epigenetic alterations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Mol Cell Oncol 2014; 1:e954827. [PMID: 27308324 PMCID: PMC4905189 DOI: 10.1080/23723548.2014.954827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2014] [Revised: 07/14/2014] [Accepted: 07/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Head and neck cancer collectively describes malignant tumors originating from the mucosal surface of the upper aerodigestive tract. These tumors pose a great threat to public health because of their high incidence and mortality. Traditional risk factors are tobacco and alcohol abuse. More recently, infection by high-risk types of human papilloma virus (HPV) has been identified as an additional risk factor, especially for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Moreover, HPV-positive OPSCC is considered a distinct tumor entity with an improved clinical outcome compared to HPV-negative OPSCC. Epigenetic alterations act as key events in the pathogenesis of cancer and are of special interest for basic and translational oncology because of their reversible nature. This review provides a comprehensive summary of alterations of the epigenome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with a focus on the methylome (hypomethylation and hypermethylation) and its predictive value in the evaluation of pathologic states and clinical outcome, or monitoring response rates to certain therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Koffler
- Section Experimental and Translational Head and Neck Oncology; Department of Otolaryngology; Head and Neck Surgery; University Hospital Heidelberg ; Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sarika Sharma
- Section Experimental and Translational Head and Neck Oncology; Department of Otolaryngology; Head and Neck Surgery; University Hospital Heidelberg ; Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jochen Hess
- Section Experimental and Translational Head and Neck Oncology; Department of Otolaryngology; Head and Neck Surgery; University Hospital Heidelberg; Heidelberg, Germany; Research Group Molecular Mechanisms of Head and Neck Tumors; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ); Heidelberg, Germany
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221
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Oronsky B, Oronsky N, Scicinski J, Fanger G, Lybeck M, Reid T. Rewriting the epigenetic code for tumor resensitization: a review. Transl Oncol 2014; 7:626-31. [PMID: 25389457 PMCID: PMC4225689 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2014.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Revised: 08/08/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In cancer chemotherapy, one axiom, which has practically solidified into dogma, is that acquired resistance to antitumor agents or regimens, nearly inevitable in all patients with metastatic disease, remains unalterable and irreversible, rendering therapeutic rechallenge futile. However, the introduction of epigenetic therapies, including histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTIs), provides oncologists, like computer programmers, with new techniques to “overwrite” the modifiable software pattern of gene expression in tumors and challenge the “one and done” treatment prescription. Taking the epigenetic code-as-software analogy a step further, if chemoresistance is the product of multiple nongenetic alterations, which develop and accumulate over time in response to treatment, then the possibility to hack or tweak the operating system and fall back on a “system restore” or “undo” feature, like the arrow icon in the Windows XP toolbar, reconfiguring the tumor to its baseline nonresistant state, holds tremendous promise for turning advanced, metastatic cancer from a fatal disease into a chronic, livable condition. This review aims 1) to explore the potential mechanisms by which a group of small molecule agents including HDACis (entinostat and vorinostat), DNMTIs (decitabine and 5-azacytidine), and redox modulators (RRx-001) may reprogram the tumor microenvironment from a refractory to a nonrefractory state, 2) highlight some recent findings, and 3) discuss whether the current “once burned forever spurned” paradigm in the treatment of metastatic disease should be revised to promote active resensitization attempts with formerly failed chemotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Tony Reid
- UCSD Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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222
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Yang X, Han H, De Carvalho DD, Lay FD, Jones PA, Liang G. Gene body methylation can alter gene expression and is a therapeutic target in cancer. Cancer Cell 2014; 26:577-90. [PMID: 25263941 PMCID: PMC4224113 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2014.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 807] [Impact Index Per Article: 80.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2013] [Revised: 03/18/2014] [Accepted: 07/29/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation in promoters is well known to silence genes and is the presumed therapeutic target of methylation inhibitors. Gene body methylation is positively correlated with expression, yet its function is unknown. We show that 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine treatment not only reactivates genes but decreases the overexpression of genes, many of which are involved in metabolic processes regulated by c-MYC. Downregulation is caused by DNA demethylation of the gene bodies and restoration of high levels of expression requires remethylation by DNMT3B. Gene body methylation may, therefore, be an unexpected therapeutic target for DNA methylation inhibitors, resulting in the normalization of gene overexpression induced during carcinogenesis. Our results provide direct evidence for a causal relationship between gene body methylation and transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Yang
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Han Han
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Daniel D De Carvalho
- The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto ON M5G 1L7, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto ON M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Fides D Lay
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Peter A Jones
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
| | - Gangning Liang
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
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223
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Abstract
The comparison of DNA methylation patterns across cancer types (pan-cancer methylome analyses) has revealed distinct subgroups of tumors that share similar methylation patterns. Integration of these data with the wealth of information derived from cancer genome profiling studies performed by large international consortia has provided novel insights into the cellular aberrations that contribute to cancer development. There is evidence that genetic mutations in epigenetic regulators (such as DNMT3, IDH1/2 or H3.3) mediate or contribute to these patterns, although a unifying molecular mechanism underlying the global alterations of DNA methylation has largely been elusive. Knowledge gained from pan-cancer methylome analyses will aid the development of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, improve patient stratification and the discovery of novel druggable targets for therapy, and will generate hypotheses for innovative clinical trial designs based on methylation subgroups rather than on cancer subtypes. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the global profiling of tumor genomes for aberrant DNA methylation and the integration of these data with cancer genome profiling data, highlight potential mechanisms leading to different methylation subgroups, and show how this information can be used in basic research and for translational applications. A remaining challenge is to experimentally prove the functional link between observed pan-cancer methylation patterns, the associated genetic aberrations, and their relevance for the development of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Witte
- Division of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heid elberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Plass
- Division of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heid elberg, Germany
| | - Clarissa Gerhauser
- Division of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heid elberg, Germany
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224
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Graça I, Sousa EJ, Costa-Pinheiro P, Vieira FQ, Torres-Ferreira J, Martins MG, Henrique R, Jerónimo C. Anti-neoplastic properties of hydralazine in prostate cancer. Oncotarget 2014; 5:5950-64. [PMID: 24797896 PMCID: PMC4171604 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.1909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although early disease is often efficiently managed therapeutically, available options for advanced disease are mostly ineffective. Aberrant DNA methylation associated with gene-silencing of cancer-related genes is a common feature of PCa. Therefore, DNA methylation inhibitors might constitute an attractive alternative therapy. Herein, we evaluated the anti-cancer properties of hydralazine, a non-nucleoside DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) inhibitor, in PCa cell lines. In vitro assays showed that hydralazine exposure led to a significant dose and time dependent growth inhibition, increased apoptotic rate and decreased invasiveness. Furthermore, it also induced cell cycle arrest and DNA damage. These phenotypic effects were particularly prominent in DU145 cells. Following hydralazine exposure, decreased levels of DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b mRNA and DNMT1 protein were depicted. Moreover, a significant decrease in GSTP1, BCL2 and CCND2 promoter methylation levels, with concomitant transcript re-expression, was also observed. Interestingly, hydralazine restored androgen receptor expression, with upregulation of its target p21 in DU145 cell line. Protein array analysis suggested that blockage of EGF receptor signaling pathway is likely to be the main mechanism of hydralazine action in DU145 cells. Our data demonstrate that hydralazine attenuated the malignant phenotype of PCa cells, and might constitute a useful therapeutic tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Graça
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, Research Center of the Portuguese Oncology Institute-Porto
- Departments of School of Allied Health Sciences ESTSP, Polytechnic of Porto
| | - Elsa J Sousa
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, Research Center of the Portuguese Oncology Institute-Porto
| | - Pedro Costa-Pinheiro
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, Research Center of the Portuguese Oncology Institute-Porto
| | - Filipa Q Vieira
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, Research Center of the Portuguese Oncology Institute-Porto
- Departments of School of Allied Health Sciences ESTSP, Polytechnic of Porto
| | - Jorge Torres-Ferreira
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, Research Center of the Portuguese Oncology Institute-Porto
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute-Porto
| | - Maria Gabriela Martins
- Department of Hematology - Laboratory of Flow Cytometry, Portuguese Oncology Institute-Porto
| | - Rui Henrique
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, Research Center of the Portuguese Oncology Institute-Porto
- Department of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute-Porto
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology & Epigenetics Group, Research Center of the Portuguese Oncology Institute-Porto
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto
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225
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Lee JV, Carrer A, Shah S, Snyder NW, Wei S, Venneti S, Worth AJ, Yuan ZF, Lim HW, Liu S, Jackson E, Aiello NM, Haas NB, Rebbeck TR, Judkins A, Won KJ, Chodosh LA, Garcia BA, Stanger BZ, Feldman MD, Blair IA, Wellen KE. Akt-dependent metabolic reprogramming regulates tumor cell histone acetylation. Cell Metab 2014; 20:306-319. [PMID: 24998913 PMCID: PMC4151270 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2014.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 420] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Revised: 05/05/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Histone acetylation plays important roles in gene regulation, DNA replication, and the response to DNA damage, and it is frequently deregulated in tumors. We postulated that tumor cell histone acetylation levels are determined in part by changes in acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) availability mediated by oncogenic metabolic reprogramming. Here, we demonstrate that acetyl-CoA is dynamically regulated by glucose availability in cancer cells and that the ratio of acetyl-CoA:coenzyme A within the nucleus modulates global histone acetylation levels. In vivo, expression of oncogenic Kras or Akt stimulates histone acetylation changes that precede tumor development. Furthermore, we show that Akt's effects on histone acetylation are mediated through the metabolic enzyme ATP-citrate lyase and that pAkt(Ser473) levels correlate significantly with histone acetylation marks in human gliomas and prostate tumors. The data implicate acetyl-CoA metabolism as a key determinant of histone acetylation levels in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce V Lee
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Alessandro Carrer
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Supriya Shah
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Nathaniel W Snyder
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Shuanzeng Wei
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Sriram Venneti
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA 10065
| | - Andrew J Worth
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Zuo-Fei Yuan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Hee-Woong Lim
- Department of Genetics and Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Shichong Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Ellen Jackson
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Nicole M Aiello
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Naomi B Haas
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Timothy R Rebbeck
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Alexander Judkins
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California and Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA 90027
| | - Kyoung-Jae Won
- Department of Genetics and Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Lewis A Chodosh
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Ben Z Stanger
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Michael D Feldman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Ian A Blair
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Kathryn E Wellen
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
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226
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Easwaran H, Tsai HC, Baylin SB. Cancer epigenetics: tumor heterogeneity, plasticity of stem-like states, and drug resistance. Mol Cell 2014; 54:716-27. [PMID: 24905005 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2014.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 669] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The existence of subpopulations of cells in cancers with increased tumor-initiating capacities and self-renewal potential, often termed "cancer stem cells," is a much discussed and key area of cancer biology. Such cellular heterogeneity is very important because of its impact on therapy and especially states of treatment resistance. A major question is whether there is plasticity for evolution of these cell states during tumorigenesis that can involve movement between cell populations in a reversible fashion. In this review, we discuss the possible role of epigenetic abnormalities as well as genetic alterations in such dynamics and in the creation of cellular heterogeneity in cancers of all types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hariharan Easwaran
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Hsing-Chen Tsai
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Stephen B Baylin
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
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227
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Abstract
A major biomedical advance from recent years was the finding that gene expression and phenotypic traits may be shaped by potentially reversible and heritable modifications that occur without altering the sequence of the nucleotides, and became known as epigenetic changes. The term 'epigenetics' dates back to the 1940s, when it was first used in context of cellular differentiation decisions that are made during development. Since then, our understanding of epigenetic modifications that govern development and disease expanded considerably. The contribution of epigenetic changes to shaping phenotypes brings at least two major clinically relevant benefits. One of these, stemming from the reversibility of epigenetic changes, involves the possibility to therapeutically revert epigenetic marks to re-establish prior gene expression patterns. The strength and the potential of this strategy are illustrated by the first four epigenetic drugs that were approved in recent years and by the additional candidates that are at various stages in preclinical studies and clinical trials. The second particularity is the finding that epigenetic changes precede the appearance of histopathological modifications. This has the potential to facilitate the emergence of epigenetic biomarkers, some of which already entered the clinical arena, catalysing a major shift in prophylactic and therapeutic strategies, and promising to fill a decades-old gap in preventive medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Stein
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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228
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Interplay among epigenetic alterations and crosstalk between genetic and epigenetic alterations in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Esophagus 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10388-014-0431-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
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229
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Anwar SL, Lehmann U. DNA methylation, microRNAs, and their crosstalk as potential biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:7894-7913. [PMID: 24976726 PMCID: PMC4069317 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i24.7894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2013] [Revised: 01/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic alterations have been identified as a major characteristic in human cancers. Advances in the field of epigenetics have contributed significantly in refining our knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying malignant transformation. DNA methylation and microRNA expression are epigenetic mechanisms that are widely altered in human cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the third leading cause of cancer related mortality worldwide. Both DNA methylation and microRNA expression patterns are regulated in developmental stage specific-, cell type specific- and tissue-specific manner. The aberrations are inferred in the maintenance of cancer stem cells and in clonal cell evolution during carcinogenesis. The availability of genome-wide technologies for DNA methylation and microRNA profiling has revolutionized the field of epigenetics and led to the discovery of a number of epigenetically silenced microRNAs in cancerous cells and primary tissues. Dysregulation of these microRNAs affects several key signalling pathways in hepatocarcinogenesis suggesting that modulation of DNA methylation and/or microRNA expression can serve as new therapeutic targets for HCC. Accumulative evidence shows that aberrant DNA methylation of certain microRNA genes is an event specifically found in HCC which correlates with unfavorable outcomes. Therefore, it can potentially serve as a biomarker for detection as well as for prognosis, monitoring and predicting therapeutic responses in HCC.
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230
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Besaratinia A, Tommasi S. Epigenetics of human melanoma: promises and challenges. J Mol Cell Biol 2014; 6:356-67. [PMID: 24895357 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mju027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer with rising incidence and mortality rates. Although early-stage melanoma is highly curable, advanced-stage melanoma is refractory to treatment. This underscores the importance of prevention and early detection as well as the need to improve treatment and prognostication of human melanoma. Elucidating the underlying mechanisms of the initiation and progression of human melanoma can help identify potential targets of intervention for prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of this disease. Aberrant DNA methylation and histone modifications are the best-established epigenetic mechanisms of carcinogenesis. The occurrence of epigenetic changes prior to clinical diagnosis of cancer and their reversibility through pharmacologic/genetic approaches offer a promising avenue for basic and translational research on human melanoma. Candidate gene(s) or genome-wide aberrant DNA methylation and histone modifications have been observed in human melanoma tumor tissues and cell lines, and correlated to cellular and functional characteristics and/or clinicopathological features of this malignancy. The present review summarizes the published researches on aberrant DNA methylation and histone modifications in connection with human melanoma. Representative studies are highlighted to set forth the current state of knowledge, gaps in the knowledgebase, and future directions in these epigenetic fields of research. Examples of epigenetic therapy applied for human melanoma in vitro, and the challenges of its in vivo application for clinical treatment of solid tumors are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Besaratinia
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, M/C 9603, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Stella Tommasi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, M/C 9603, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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231
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Cui Y, Hausheer F, Beaty R, Zahnow C, Issa JP, Bunz F, Baylin SB. A recombinant reporter system for monitoring reactivation of an endogenously DNA hypermethylated gene. Cancer Res 2014; 74:3834-43. [PMID: 24876104 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-13-2287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Reversing abnormal gene silencing in cancer cells due to DNA hypermethylation of promoter CpG islands may offer new cancer prevention or therapeutic approaches. Moreover, such approaches may be broadly applicable to enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy. Here, we demonstrate the powerful utility of a novel gene reporter system to permit studies of the dynamics, mechanisms, and translational relevance of candidate therapies of this type in human colon cancer cells. The reporter system is based on in situ modification of the endogenous locus of the tumor-suppressor gene SFRP1, a pivotal regulator of the Wnt pathway that is silenced by DNA hypermethylation in many colon cancers. The modified SFRP1-GFP reporter allele used remained basally silent, like the unaltered allele, and it was activated only by drug treatments that derepress gene silencing by reversing DNA hypermethylation. We used the established DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (DNMTi) 5-aza-deoxycitidine (DAC) to show how this system can be used to address key questions in the clinical development of epigenetic cancer therapies. First, we defined conditions for which clinically relevant dosing could induce sustained induction of RNA and protein. Second, we found that, in vivo, a more prolonged drug exposure than anticipated was essential to derepress gene silencing in significant cell numbers, and this has implications for generating effective anticancer responses in patients with hematopoietic or solid tumors. Finally, we discovered how histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) alone, when administered to cells actively replicating DNA, can robustly reexpress the silenced gene with no change in promoter methylation status. Taken together, our findings offer a new tool and insights for devising optimal clinical experiments to evaluate DNMTi and HDACi, alone or in combination, and with other cancer treatments, as agents for the epigenetic management and prevention of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cui
- Authors' Affiliations: Cancer Biology Program, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
| | | | - Robert Beaty
- Authors' Affiliations: Cancer Biology Program, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
| | - Cynthia Zahnow
- Authors' Affiliations: Cancer Biology Program, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
| | - Jean Pierre Issa
- Fels Institute for Cancer and Molecular Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Frederick Bunz
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Stephen B Baylin
- Authors' Affiliations: Cancer Biology Program, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins;
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232
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Lou YF, Zou ZZ, Chen PJ, Huang GB, Li B, Zheng DQ, Yu XR, Luo XY. Combination of gefitinib and DNA methylation inhibitor decitabine exerts synergistic anti-cancer activity in colon cancer cells. PLoS One 2014; 9:e97719. [PMID: 24874286 PMCID: PMC4038521 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite recent advances in the treatment of human colon cancer, the chemotherapy efficacy against colon cancer is still unsatisfactory. In the present study, effects of concomitant inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and DNA methyltransferase were examined in human colon cancer cells. We demonstrated that decitabine (a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor) synergized with gefitinib (an EGFR inhibitor) to reduce cell viability and colony formation in SW1116 and LOVO cells. However, the combination of the two compounds displayed minimal toxicity to NCM460 cells, a normal human colon mucosal epithelial cell line. The combination was also more effective at inhibiting the AKT/mTOR/S6 kinase pathway. In addition, the combination of decitabine with gefitinib markedly inhibited colon cancer cell migration. Furthermore, gefitinib synergistically enhanced decitabine-induced cytotoxicity was primarily due to apoptosis as shown by Annexin V labeling that was attenuated by z-VAD-fmk, a pan caspase inhibitor. Concomitantly, cell apoptosis resulting from the co-treatment of gefitinib and decitabine was accompanied by induction of BAX, cleaved caspase 3 and cleaved PARP, along with reduction of Bcl-2 compared to treatment with either drug alone. Interestingly, combined treatment with these two drugs increased the expression of XIAP-associated factor 1 (XAF1) which play an important role in cell apoptosis. Moreover, small interfering RNA (siRNA) depletion of XAF1 significantly attenuated colon cancer cells apoptosis induced by the combination of the two drugs. Our findings suggested that gefitinib in combination with decitabine exerted enhanced cell apoptosis in colon cancer cells were involved in mitochondrial-mediated pathway and induction of XAF1 expression. In conclusion, based on the observations from our study, we suggested that the combined administration of these two drugs might be considered as a novel therapeutic regimen for treating colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-feng Lou
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Luoyang Central Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Luoyang, China
| | - Zheng-zhi Zou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science and Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pin-jia Chen
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Luoyang Central Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Luoyang, China
| | - Guo-bin Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Donghua Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Dongguan, China
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Luoyang Central Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Luoyang, China
| | - De-qing Zheng
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Donghua Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Dongguan, China
| | - Xiu-rong Yu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Luoyang Central Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Luoyang, China
| | - Xiao-yong Luo
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Luoyang Central Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Luoyang, China
- * E-mail:
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233
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Yamamoto H, Watanabe Y, Maehata T, Morita R, Yoshida Y, Oikawa R, Ishigooka S, Ozawa SI, Matsuo Y, Hosoya K, Yamashita M, Taniguchi H, Nosho K, Suzuki H, Yasuda H, Shinomura Y, Itoh F. An updated review of gastric cancer in the next-generation sequencing era: Insights from bench to bedside and vice versa. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:3927-3937. [PMID: 24744582 PMCID: PMC3983448 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i14.3927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2013] [Revised: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 03/10/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies and remains the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. There is an increasing understanding of the roles that genetic and epigenetic alterations play in GCs. Recent studies using next-generation sequencing (NGS) have revealed a number of potential cancer-driving genes in GC. Whole-exome sequencing of GC has identified recurrent somatic mutations in the chromatin remodeling gene ARID1A and alterations in the cell adhesion gene FAT4, a member of the cadherin gene family. Mutations in chromatin remodeling genes (ARID1A, MLL3 and MLL) have been found in 47% of GCs. Whole-genome sequencing and whole-transcriptome sequencing analyses have also discovered novel alterations in GC. Recent studies of cancer epigenetics have revealed widespread alterations in genes involved in the epigenetic machinery, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, nucleosome positioning, noncoding RNAs and microRNAs. Recent advances in molecular research on GC have resulted in the introduction of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies into clinical settings. The anti-human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2) antibody trastuzumab has led to an era of personalized therapy in GC. In addition, ramucirumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2, is the first biological treatment that showed survival benefits as a single-agent therapy in patients with advanced GC who progressed after first-line chemotherapy. Using NGS to systematically identify gene alterations in GC is a promising approach with remarkable potential for investigating the pathogenesis of GC and identifying novel therapeutic targets, as well as useful biomarkers. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances in the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of GC, focusing on the potential use of these genetic and epigenetic alterations as diagnostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.
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234
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Wisnieski F, Calcagno DQ, Leal MF, Chen ES, Gigek CO, Santos LC, Pontes TB, Rasmussen LT, Payão SLM, Assumpção PP, Lourenço LG, Demachki S, Artigiani R, Burbano RR, Smith MC. Differential expression of histone deacetylase and acetyltransferase genes in gastric cancer and their modulation by trichostatin A. Tumour Biol 2014; 35:6373-81. [PMID: 24668547 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-014-1841-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, even though its incidence and mortality have declined over the recent few decades. Epigenetic control using histone deacetylase inhibitors, such as trichostatin A (TSA), is a promising cancer therapy. This study aimed to assess the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of three histone deacetylases (HDAC1, HDAC2, and HDAC3), two histone acetyltransferases (GCN5 and PCAF), and two possible targets of these histone modifiers (MYC and CDKN1A) in 50 matched pairs of gastric tumors and corresponding adjacent nontumors samples from patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, as well as their correlations and their possible associations with clinicopathological features. Additionally, we evaluated whether these genes are sensitive to TSA in gastric cancer cell lines. Our results demonstrated downregulation of HDAC1, PCAF, and CDKN1A in gastric tumors compared with adjacent nontumors (P < 0.05). On the other hand, upregulation of HDAC2, GCN5, and MYC was observed in gastric tumors compared with adjacent nontumors (P < 0.05). The mRNA level of MYC was correlated to HDAC3 and GCN5 (P < 0.05), whereas CDKN1A was correlated to HDAC1 and GCN5 (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). In addition, the reduced expression of PCAF was associated with intestinal-type gastric cancer (P = 0.03) and TNM stages I/II (P = 0.01). The increased expression of GCN5 was associated with advanced stage gastric cancer (P = 0.02) and tumor invasion (P = 0.03). The gastric cell lines treated with TSA showed different patterns of histone deacetylase and acetyltransferase mRNA expression, downregulation of MYC, and upregulation of CDKN1A. Our findings suggest that alteration of histone modifier genes play an important role in gastric carcinogenesis, contributing to MYC and CDKN1A deregulation. In addition, all genes studied here are modulated by TSA, although this modulation appears to be dependent of the genetic background of the cell line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Wisnieski
- Disciplina de Genética, Departamento de Morfologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Botucatu, 740, São Paulo, 04023900, Brazil,
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235
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Forde PM, Brahmer JR, Kelly RJ. New strategies in lung cancer: epigenetic therapy for non-small cell lung cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2014; 20:2244-8. [PMID: 24644000 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-13-2088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Recent discoveries that non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can be divided into molecular subtypes based on the presence or absence of driver mutations have revolutionized the treatment of many patients with advanced disease. However, despite these advances, a majority of patients are still dependent on modestly effective cytotoxic chemotherapy to provide disease control and prolonged survival. In this article, we review the current status of attempts to target the epigenome, heritable modifications of DNA, histones, and chromatin that may act to modulate gene expression independently of DNA coding alterations, in NSCLC and the potential for combinatorial and sequential treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Forde
- Authors' Affiliation: Upper Aerodigestive Malignancies Division, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland
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236
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Jafary H, Ahmadian S, Soleimani M. Synergistic anticancer activity of valproate combined with nicotinamide enhances anti-proliferation response and apoptosis in MIAPaca2 cells. Mol Biol Rep 2014; 41:3801-12. [PMID: 24595447 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-014-3246-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2013] [Accepted: 02/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Histone deacetylase is strongly associated with epigenetic regulation and carcinogenesis, and its inhibitors can induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of the cancer cells. In this study we aimed to examine the antiproliferative effects a combination of the valproate with nicotinamide in MIAPaca2 cell line. We revealed that valproate acted in a synergistic/additive with nicotinamide to inhibit the proliferation and induction of apoptosis in MIAPaca2 cancer cell line. MIAPaca2 was treated with various concentrations of valproate. The MTT assay and colony formation in soft agar indicated that valproate at 0.5 mM, when used alone weakly, suppressed proliferation of cells (37 ± 3.02%) whereas the combination treatment of valproate + nicotinamide significantly suppressed cell proliferation (58 ± 3.5%). The effect of nicotinamide at 25 mM on cell proliferation and cell colonization induced 50% apoptosis of MIAPaca2 cells. To identify the anti-proliferation and apoptotic effects of valproate and nicotinamide we performed flow cytometric and microscopic analyses. The results indicated significant apoptosis induction and nuclear morphological alterations greater than when valproate was used alone. Furthermore, western blot analyses was performed to study the role of acetyl-histone H3 levels, and quantitative RNA expression analyses were performed on expression of thrombospondin (TSP) and maspin genes in MIAPaca2. We found that the combination treatment of valproate + nicotinamide enhanced the expression of maspin and TSP genes and the biological response of the cell line was correlated with the increase of histone H3 acetylation after nicotinamide and valproate application. Together our findings indicate that valproate which act as inhibitor of cell proliferation and inducer of apoptosis in human cancer MIAPaca2 cells when used in combination with nicotinamide makes it a potentially good candidate for new anticancer drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanieh Jafary
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 13145-1384, Tehran, Iran
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237
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Abstract
Advances in our understanding of glioma biology has led to an increase in targeted therapies in preclinical and clinical trials; however, cellular heterogeneity often precludes the targeted molecules from being found on all glioma cells, thus reducing the efficacy of these treatments. In contrast, one trait shared by virtually all tumor cells is altered (dysregulated) metabolism. Tumor cells have an increased reliance on glucose, suggesting that treatments affecting cellular metabolism may be an effective method to improve current therapies. Indeed, metabolism has been a focus of cancer research in the last few years, as many pathways long associated with tumor growth have been found to intersect metabolic pathways in the cell. The ketogenic diet (high fat, low carbohydrate and protein), caloric restriction, and fasting all cause a metabolic change, specifically, a reduction in blood glucose and an increase in blood ketones. We, and others, have demonstrated that these metabolic changes improve survival in animal models of malignant gliomas and can potentiate the anti-tumor effect of chemotherapies and radiation treatment. In this review we discuss the use of metabolic alteration for the treatment of malignant brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric C Woolf
- Neuro-Oncology Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013
| | - Adrienne C Scheck
- Neuro-Oncology Research, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013
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238
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Glass C, Wilson M, Gonzalez R, Zhang Y, Perkins AS. The role of EVI1 in myeloid malignancies. Blood Cells Mol Dis 2014; 53:67-76. [PMID: 24495476 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2014.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The EVI1 oncogene at human chr 3q26 is rearranged and/or overexpressed in a subset of acute myeloid leukemias and myelodysplasias. The EVI1 protein is a 135 kDa transcriptional regulator with DNA-binding zinc finger domains. Here we provide a critical review of the current state of research into the molecular mechanisms by which this gene plays a role in myeloid malignancies. The major pertinent cellular effects are blocking myeloid differentiation and preventing cellular apoptosis, and several potential mechanisms for these phenomena have been identified. Evidence supports a role for EVI1 in inducing cellular quiescence, and this may contribute to the resistance to chemotherapy seen in patients with neoplasms that overexpress EVI1. Another isoform, MDS1-EVI1 (or PRDM3), encoded by the same locus as EVI1, harbors an N-terminal histone methyltransferase(HMT) domain; experimental findings indicate that this protein and its HMT activity are critical for the progression of a subset of AMLs, and this provides a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn Glass
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Michael Wilson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Ruby Gonzalez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Archibald S Perkins
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
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239
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Abstract
Genotyping tumor tissue in search of somatic genetic alterations for actionable information has become routine practice in clinical oncology. Although these sequence alterations are highly informative, sampling tumor tissue has significant inherent limitations; tumor tissue is a single snapshot in time, is subject to selection bias resulting from tumor heterogeneity, and can be difficult to obtain. Cell-free fragments of DNA are shed into the bloodstream by cells undergoing apoptosis or necrosis, and the load of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) correlates with tumor staging and prognosis. Moreover, recent advances in the sensitivity and accuracy of DNA analysis have allowed for genotyping of cfDNA for somatic genomic alterations found in tumors. The ability to detect and quantify tumor mutations has proven effective in tracking tumor dynamics in real time as well as serving as a liquid biopsy that can be used for a variety of clinical and investigational applications not previously possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis A Diaz
- Luis A. Diaz Jr, Swim Across America Laboratory and Ludwig Center for Cancer Genetics and Therapeutics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; and Alberto Bardelli, Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment at Candiolo, University of Torino, Candiolo, and the Fondazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
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240
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López F, Sampedro T, Llorente JL, Domínguez F, Hermsen M, Suárez C, Alvarez-Marcos C. Utility of MS-MLPA in DNA methylation profiling in primary laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Oral Oncol 2014; 50:291-7. [PMID: 24444674 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2014.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 01/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) assay is a method that has rarely been exploited in DNA methylation profiling of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). MATERIAL AND METHODS Methylation of the gene was investigated by MS-MLPA in a well-characterized series of 53 LSCC and 30 samples of healthy mucosa. Aberrant promoter hypermethylation was confirmed using bisulfite pyrosequencing, and methylation-specific. RESULTS Promoter hypermethylation was observed in 36 of the 53 patients (68%). CDKN2B (28%), APC (17%), RARβ (15%), DAPK1 (11%) and CHFR (11%) were most frequently hypermethylated. Aberrant methylation of CHFR was mainly a late-stage event. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and bisulfite pyrosequencing confirmed aberrant methylation for CDKN2B, APC and DAPK1. CONCLUSION Promoter methylation profiling of LSCC using MS-MLPA identified CDKN2B, DAPK1, RARβ, APC, and CHFR as frequent epigenetic events. The clinical implications of these genes as biomarkers are highly relevant as attractive targets for cancer therapy, given the reversible nature of epigenetic gene silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando López
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
| | - Teresa Sampedro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital San Agustín, Avilés, Asturias, Spain
| | - José L Llorente
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | | | - Mario Hermsen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | - Carlos Suárez
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | - César Alvarez-Marcos
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
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241
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Ahuja N, Easwaran H, Baylin SB. Harnessing the potential of epigenetic therapy to target solid tumors. J Clin Invest 2014; 124:56-63. [PMID: 24382390 DOI: 10.1172/jci69736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic therapies may play a prominent role in the future management of solid tumors. This possibility is based on the clinical efficacy of existing drugs in treating defined hematopoietic neoplasms, paired with promising new data from preclinical and clinical studies that examined these agents in solid tumors. We suggest that current drugs may represent a targeted therapeutic approach for reprogramming solid tumor cells, a strategy that must be pursued in concert with the explosion in knowledge about the molecular underpinnings of normal and cancer epigenomes. We hypothesize that understanding targeted proteins in the context of their enzymatic and scaffolding functions and in terms of their interactions in complexes with proteins that are targets of new drugs under development defines the future of epigenetic therapies for cancer.
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242
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Recillas-Targa F. Interdependency between genetic and epigenetic regulatory defects in cancer. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1165:33-52. [PMID: 24839017 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0856-1_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation is understood as heritable changes in gene expression and genome function that can occur without affecting the DNA sequence. In its in vivo context DNA is coupled to a group of small basic proteins that together with the DNA form the chromatin. The organization and regulation of the chromatin alliance with multiple nuclear functions are inconceivable without genetic information. With the advance on the understanding of the chromatin organization of the eukaryotic genome, it has been clear that not only genetics but also epigenetics influence both normal human biology and diseases. As a consequence, the basic concepts and mechanisms of cancer need to be readdressed and viewed not only locally but also at the whole genome scale or even, in the three-dimensional context of the cell nucleus space. Such a vision has a larger impact than has been previously predicted, since phenomena like aging, senescence, the entail of nutrition, stem cell biology, and cancer are orchestrated by epigenetic and genetic processes. Here I describe the relevance and central role of genetic and epigenetic defects in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Félix Recillas-Targa
- Departamento de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-242, México, 04510, D.F, México,
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243
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Darby MM, Sabunciyan S. Repetitive Elements and Epigenetic Marks in Behavior and Psychiatric Disease. ADVANCES IN GENETICS 2014; 86:185-252. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-800222-3.00009-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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244
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Pan DS, Yang QJ, Fu X, Shan S, Zhu JZ, Zhang K, Li ZB, Ning ZQ, Lu XP. Discovery of an orally active subtype-selective HDAC inhibitor, chidamide, as an epigenetic modulator for cancer treatment. MEDCHEMCOMM 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c4md00350k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Tumorigenesis is maintained through a complex interplay of multiple cellular biological processes and is regulated to some extent by epigenetic control of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-Si Pan
- Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Ltd
- BIO-Incubator
- Shenzhen
- P. R. China
| | - Qian-Jiao Yang
- Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Ltd
- BIO-Incubator
- Shenzhen
- P. R. China
| | - Xin Fu
- Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Ltd
- BIO-Incubator
- Shenzhen
- P. R. China
| | - Song Shan
- Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Ltd
- BIO-Incubator
- Shenzhen
- P. R. China
| | - Jing-Zhong Zhu
- Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Ltd
- BIO-Incubator
- Shenzhen
- P. R. China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Ltd
- BIO-Incubator
- Shenzhen
- P. R. China
| | - Zhi-Bin Li
- Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Ltd
- BIO-Incubator
- Shenzhen
- P. R. China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Ning
- Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Ltd
- BIO-Incubator
- Shenzhen
- P. R. China
| | - Xian-Ping Lu
- Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Ltd
- BIO-Incubator
- Shenzhen
- P. R. China
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245
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Fagan RL, Wu M, Chédin F, Brenner C. An ultrasensitive high throughput screen for DNA methyltransferase 1-targeted molecular probes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78752. [PMID: 24236046 PMCID: PMC3827244 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2013] [Accepted: 09/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) is the enzyme most responsible for epigenetic modification of human DNA and the intended target of approved cancer drugs such as 5-aza-cytidine and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. 5-aza nucleosides have complex mechanisms of action that require incorporation into DNA, and covalent trapping and proteolysis of DNMT isozymes. Direct DNMT inhibitors are needed to refine understanding of the role of specific DNMT isozymes in cancer etiology and, potentially, to improve cancer prevention and treatment. Here, we developed a high throughput pipeline for identification of direct DNMT1 inhibitors. The components of this screen include an activated form of DNMT1, a restriction enzyme-coupled fluorigenic assay performed in 384 well plates with a z-factor of 0.66, a counter screen against the restriction enzyme, a screen to eliminate DNA intercalators, and a differential scanning fluorimetry assay to validate direct binders. Using the Microsource Spectrum collection of 2320 compounds, this screen identified nine compounds with dose responses ranging from 300 nM to 11 µM, representing at least two different pharmacophores with DNMT1 inhibitory activity. Seven of nine inhibitors identified exhibited two to four-fold selectivity for DNMT1 versus DNMT3A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L. Fagan
- Department of Biochemistry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Meng Wu
- Department of Biochemistry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Frédéric Chédin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Genome Center, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Charles Brenner
- Department of Biochemistry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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246
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Jafary H, Ahmadian S, Soleimani M. The enhanced apoptosis and antiproliferative response to combined treatment with valproate and nicotinamide in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Tumour Biol 2013; 35:2701-10. [PMID: 24213853 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-013-1356-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 10/23/2013] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Acetylation of histone is a major player in epigenetic modifications, resulting in open chromatin structures and, hence, permissive conditions for transcription-factor recruitment to the promoters, followed by initiation of transcription. Histone deacetylase inhibitors arrest cancer cell growth and cause apoptosis with low toxicity thereby constituting a promising treatment for cancer. In this study, we examined the antiproliferative effects of valproate with a combination of nicotinamide in the MCF-7 cell line. MCF-7 was treated with various concentrations of valproate. The MTT assay showed that the viability of MCF-7 cells was inhibited and the cell activity was decreased. Viability percent of valproate and nicotinamide combined treatment cells (28 ± 2) was 1.78 times increased compared with the valproate-alone (0.5 mM) treated cells (50 ± 2). Colony formation in soft agar indicated that valproate at 0.3 mM, when used alone, weakly suppressed proliferation of cells (82 ± 3) and the combination treatment of valproate + nicotinamide strongly suppressed cell proliferation (51 ± 3). The flow cytometric and microscopic analyses of HDACI combined with treated cells indicated strong apoptosis induction and nuclear morphological alterations greater than those of valproate alone. Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis confirmed the efficiency of the HDAC inhibitor combination, revealing the effectively upregulated p16 and p21. Furthermore, to investigate the role of acetyl-histone H3 levels, western blot analyses have been performed and high levels of acetylated histone H3 were detected in valproate- and nicotinamide-treated cells. These results suggest that the combination treatment of valproate with nicotinamide exerts significant antitumor activity and could be a promising therapeutic candidate to treat human breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanieh Jafary
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 13145-1384, Tehran, Iran
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247
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Abstract
The influence of the microenvironment on tumour progression is becoming clearer. In this Review we address the role of an essential signalling pathway, that of transforming growth factor-β, in the regulation of components of the tumour microenvironment and how this contributes to tumour progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Pickup
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medicine and Pathology, Cancer Biology, 2220 Pierce Avenue, 691 Preston Research Building, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
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Knapp S, Weinmann H. Small-molecule modulators for epigenetics targets. ChemMedChem 2013; 8:1885-91. [PMID: 24127276 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201300344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
A capital conference: Influencing epigenetic mechanisms may be highly relevant for future therapies of various diseases such as cancer, inflammation, and metabolic disorders. Leading experts in the field gathered in Berlin on June 5-6, 2013 at a Bayer HealthCare Life Science Workshop to share recent success stories and to discuss future trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Knapp
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building and Target Discovery Institute, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7FZ (UK)
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Eccles SA, Aboagye EO, Ali S, Anderson AS, Armes J, Berditchevski F, Blaydes JP, Brennan K, Brown NJ, Bryant HE, Bundred NJ, Burchell JM, Campbell AM, Carroll JS, Clarke RB, Coles CE, Cook GJR, Cox A, Curtin NJ, Dekker LV, dos Santos Silva I, Duffy SW, Easton DF, Eccles DM, Edwards DR, Edwards J, Evans DG, Fenlon DF, Flanagan JM, Foster C, Gallagher WM, Garcia-Closas M, Gee JMW, Gescher AJ, Goh V, Groves AM, Harvey AJ, Harvie M, Hennessy BT, Hiscox S, Holen I, Howell SJ, Howell A, Hubbard G, Hulbert-Williams N, Hunter MS, Jasani B, Jones LJ, Key TJ, Kirwan CC, Kong A, Kunkler IH, Langdon SP, Leach MO, Mann DJ, Marshall JF, Martin LA, Martin SG, Macdougall JE, Miles DW, Miller WR, Morris JR, Moss SM, Mullan P, Natrajan R, O’Connor JPB, O’Connor R, Palmieri C, Pharoah PDP, Rakha EA, Reed E, Robinson SP, Sahai E, Saxton JM, Schmid P, Smalley MJ, Speirs V, Stein R, Stingl J, Streuli CH, Tutt ANJ, Velikova G, Walker RA, Watson CJ, Williams KJ, Young LS, Thompson AM. Critical research gaps and translational priorities for the successful prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2013; 15:R92. [PMID: 24286369 PMCID: PMC3907091 DOI: 10.1186/bcr3493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 275] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2013] [Accepted: 09/12/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Breast cancer remains a significant scientific, clinical and societal challenge. This gap analysis has reviewed and critically assessed enduring issues and new challenges emerging from recent research, and proposes strategies for translating solutions into practice. METHODS More than 100 internationally recognised specialist breast cancer scientists, clinicians and healthcare professionals collaborated to address nine thematic areas: genetics, epigenetics and epidemiology; molecular pathology and cell biology; hormonal influences and endocrine therapy; imaging, detection and screening; current/novel therapies and biomarkers; drug resistance; metastasis, angiogenesis, circulating tumour cells, cancer 'stem' cells; risk and prevention; living with and managing breast cancer and its treatment. The groups developed summary papers through an iterative process which, following further appraisal from experts and patients, were melded into this summary account. RESULTS The 10 major gaps identified were: (1) understanding the functions and contextual interactions of genetic and epigenetic changes in normal breast development and during malignant transformation; (2) how to implement sustainable lifestyle changes (diet, exercise and weight) and chemopreventive strategies; (3) the need for tailored screening approaches including clinically actionable tests; (4) enhancing knowledge of molecular drivers behind breast cancer subtypes, progression and metastasis; (5) understanding the molecular mechanisms of tumour heterogeneity, dormancy, de novo or acquired resistance and how to target key nodes in these dynamic processes; (6) developing validated markers for chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity; (7) understanding the optimal duration, sequencing and rational combinations of treatment for improved personalised therapy; (8) validating multimodality imaging biomarkers for minimally invasive diagnosis and monitoring of responses in primary and metastatic disease; (9) developing interventions and support to improve the survivorship experience; (10) a continuing need for clinical material for translational research derived from normal breast, blood, primary, relapsed, metastatic and drug-resistant cancers with expert bioinformatics support to maximise its utility. The proposed infrastructural enablers include enhanced resources to support clinically relevant in vitro and in vivo tumour models; improved access to appropriate, fully annotated clinical samples; extended biomarker discovery, validation and standardisation; and facilitated cross-discipline working. CONCLUSIONS With resources to conduct further high-quality targeted research focusing on the gaps identified, increased knowledge translating into improved clinical care should be achievable within five years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne A Eccles
- The Institute of Cancer Research, 15 Cotswold Road, London SM2 5MG, UK
| | - Eric O Aboagye
- Imperial College London, Exhibition Rd, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Simak Ali
- Imperial College London, Exhibition Rd, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | | | - Jo Armes
- Kings College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | | | - Jeremy P Blaydes
- University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Keith Brennan
- University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Nicola J Brown
- University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Helen E Bryant
- University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Nigel J Bundred
- University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | | | | | - Jason S Carroll
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute/University of Cambridge, Trinity Lane, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK
| | - Robert B Clarke
- University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Charlotte E Coles
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Gary JR Cook
- Kings College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Angela Cox
- University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Nicola J Curtin
- Newcastle University, Claremont Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | | | | | - Stephen W Duffy
- Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Douglas F Easton
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute/University of Cambridge, Trinity Lane, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK
| | - Diana M Eccles
- University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Dylan R Edwards
- University of East Anglia, Earlham Road, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Joanne Edwards
- University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - D Gareth Evans
- University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Deborah F Fenlon
- University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | | | - Claire Foster
- University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | | | | | - Julia M W Gee
- University of Cardiff, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Andy J Gescher
- University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 4RH, UK
| | - Vicky Goh
- Kings College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Ashley M Groves
- University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | | | - Michelle Harvie
- University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Bryan T Hennessy
- Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, 123, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | | | - Ingunn Holen
- University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Sacha J Howell
- University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Anthony Howell
- University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | | | | | | | - Bharat Jasani
- University of Cardiff, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Louise J Jones
- Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Timothy J Key
- University of Oxford, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK
| | - Cliona C Kirwan
- University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Anthony Kong
- University of Oxford, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK
| | - Ian H Kunkler
- University of Edinburgh, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK
| | - Simon P Langdon
- University of Edinburgh, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK
| | - Martin O Leach
- The Institute of Cancer Research, 15 Cotswold Road, London SM2 5MG, UK
| | - David J Mann
- Imperial College London, Exhibition Rd, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - John F Marshall
- Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Lesley Ann Martin
- The Institute of Cancer Research, 15 Cotswold Road, London SM2 5MG, UK
| | - Stewart G Martin
- University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Sue M Moss
- Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Paul Mullan
- Queen’s University Belfast, University Road, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
| | - Rachel Natrajan
- The Institute of Cancer Research, 15 Cotswold Road, London SM2 5MG, UK
| | | | | | - Carlo Palmieri
- The University of Liverpool, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UK
| | - Paul D P Pharoah
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute/University of Cambridge, Trinity Lane, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK
| | - Emad A Rakha
- University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Elizabeth Reed
- Princess Alice Hospice, West End Lane, Esher KT10 8NA, UK
| | - Simon P Robinson
- The Institute of Cancer Research, 15 Cotswold Road, London SM2 5MG, UK
| | - Erik Sahai
- London Research Institute, 44 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LY, UK
| | - John M Saxton
- University of East Anglia, Earlham Road, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Peter Schmid
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 9PX, UK
| | | | | | - Robert Stein
- University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - John Stingl
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute/University of Cambridge, Trinity Lane, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Christine J Watson
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute/University of Cambridge, Trinity Lane, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK
| | - Kaye J Williams
- University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Leonie S Young
- Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, 123, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
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250
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Huffman K, Martinez ED. Pre-clinical studies of epigenetic therapies targeting histone modifiers in lung cancer. Front Oncol 2013; 3:235. [PMID: 24058902 PMCID: PMC3766830 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2013] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment options for lung cancer patients have been generally limited to standard therapies or targeted interventions which involve a small number of known mutations. Although the targeted therapies are initially successful, they most often result in drug resistance, relapse, and mortality. We now know that the complexity of lung cancer comes not only from genomic changes, but also from aberrant epigenetic regulatory events. Epigenetic therapies have shown promise as single agents in the treatment of hematological malignancies but have yet to meet this expectation in solid tumors thus fostering researchers to pursue new approaches in the development and use of epigenetic interventions. Here, we review some recent pre-clinical findings involving the use of drugs targeting histone modifying enzymes both as single agents and as co-therapies against lung cancer. A greater understanding of the impact of these epigenetic compounds in lung cancer signaling is needed and further evaluation in vivo is warranted in several cases based on the pre-clinical activity of a subset of compounds discussed in this review, including drugs co-targeting HDACs and EGF receptor, targeting Brd4 and targeting Jumonji histone demethylases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Huffman
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, TX , USA
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