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Thng DKH, Hooi L, Siew BE, Lee KY, Tan IJW, Lieske B, Lin NS, Kow AWC, Wang S, Rashid MBMA, Ang C, Koh JJM, Toh TB, Tan KK, Chow EKH. A functional personalised oncology approach against metastatic colorectal cancer in matched patient derived organoids. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:52. [PMID: 38413740 PMCID: PMC10899621 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00543-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequently occurring cancer. Progression on to an advanced metastatic malignancy (metCRC) is often indicative of poor prognosis, as the 5-year survival rates of patients decline rapidly. Despite the availability of many systemic therapies for the management of metCRC, the long-term efficacies of these regimens are often hindered by the emergence of treatment resistance due to intratumoral and intertumoral heterogeneity. Furthermore, not all systemic therapies have associated biomarkers that can accurately predict patient responses. Hence, a functional personalised oncology (FPO) approach can enable the identification of patient-specific combinatorial vulnerabilities and synergistic combinations as effective treatment strategies. To this end, we established a panel of CRC patient-derived organoids (PDOs) as clinically relevant biological systems, of which three pairs of matched metCRC PDOs were derived from the primary sites (ptCRC) and metastatic lesions (mCRC). Histological and genomic characterisation of these PDOs demonstrated the preservation of histopathological and genetic features found in the parental tumours. Subsequent application of the phenotypic-analytical drug combination interrogation platform, Quadratic Phenotypic Optimisation Platform, in these pairs of PDOs identified patient-specific drug sensitivity profiles to epigenetic-based combination therapies. Most notably, matched PDOs from one patient exhibited differential sensitivity patterns to the rationally designed drug combinations despite being genetically similar. These findings collectively highlight the limitations of current genomic-driven precision medicine in guiding treatment strategies for metCRC patients. Instead, it suggests that epigenomic profiling and application of FPO could complement the identification of novel combinatorial vulnerabilities to target synchronous ptCRC and mCRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dexter Kai Hao Thng
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lissa Hooi
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bei En Siew
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kai-Yin Lee
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ian Jse-Wei Tan
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bettina Lieske
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Norman Sihan Lin
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alfred Wei Chieh Kow
- Division of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shi Wang
- Department of Pathology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Chermaine Ang
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jasmin Jia Min Koh
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tan Boon Toh
- The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- The Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ker-Kan Tan
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Edward Kai-Hua Chow
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
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Liu F, Liao Z, Zhang Z. MYC in liver cancer: mechanisms and targeted therapy opportunities. Oncogene 2023; 42:3303-3318. [PMID: 37833558 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02861-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
MYC, a major oncogenic transcription factor, regulates target genes involved in various pathways such as cell proliferation, metabolism and immune evasion, playing a critical role in the tumor initiation and development in multiple types of cancer. In liver cancer, MYC and its signaling pathways undergo significant changes, exerting a profound impact on liver cancer progression, including tumor proliferation, metastasis, dedifferentiation, metabolism, immune microenvironment, and resistance to comprehensive therapies. This makes MYC an appealing target, despite it being previously considered an undruggable protein. In this review, we discuss the role and mechanisms of MYC in liver physiology, chronic liver diseases, hepatocarcinogenesis, and liver cancer progression, providing a theoretical basis for targeting MYC as an ideal therapeutic target for liver cancer. We also summarize and prospect the strategies for targeting MYC, including direct and indirect approaches to abolish the oncogenic function of MYC in liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Furong Liu
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhibin Liao
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhanguo Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China.
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Bonner EA, Lee SC. Therapeutic Targeting of RNA Splicing in Cancer. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1378. [PMID: 37510283 PMCID: PMC10379351 DOI: 10.3390/genes14071378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA splicing is a key regulatory step in the proper control of gene expression. It is a highly dynamic process orchestrated by the spliceosome, a macro-molecular machinery that consists of protein and RNA components. The dysregulation of RNA splicing has been observed in many human pathologies ranging from neurodegenerative diseases to cancer. The recent identification of recurrent mutations in the core components of the spliceosome in hematologic malignancies has advanced our knowledge of how splicing alterations contribute to disease pathogenesis. This review article will discuss our current understanding of how aberrant RNA splicing regulation drives tumor initiation and progression. We will also review current therapeutic modalities and highlight emerging technologies designed to target RNA splicing for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Bonner
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA;
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Stanley C. Lee
- Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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