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Chen W, Geng D, Chen J, Han X, Xie Q, Guo G, Chen X, Zhang W, Tang S, Zhong X. Roles and mechanisms of aberrant alternative splicing in melanoma - implications for targeted therapy and immunotherapy resistance. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:101. [PMID: 38462618 PMCID: PMC10926661 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03280-x] [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: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite advances in therapeutic strategies, resistance to immunotherapy and the off-target effects of targeted therapy have significantly weakened the benefits for patients with melanoma. MAIN BODY Alternative splicing plays a crucial role in transcriptional reprogramming during melanoma development. In particular, aberrant alternative splicing is involved in the efficacy of immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and melanoma metastasis. Abnormal expression of splicing factors and variants may serve as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for the diagnosis and prognosis of melanoma. Therefore, comprehensively integrating their roles and related mechanisms is essential. This review provides the first detailed summary of the splicing process in melanoma and the changes occurring in this pathway. CONCLUSION The focus of this review is to provide strategies for developing novel diagnostic biomarkers and summarize their potential to alter resistance to targeted therapies and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanxian Chen
- Department of Plastic and Burns Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515000, P. R. China
- Plastic Surgery Research Institute, Ear Deformities Treatment Center and Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Deyi Geng
- Department of Plastic and Burns Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515000, P. R. China
- Plastic Surgery Research Institute, Ear Deformities Treatment Center and Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Jiasheng Chen
- Department of Plastic and Burns Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515000, P. R. China
- Plastic Surgery Research Institute, Ear Deformities Treatment Center and Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xiaosha Han
- Department of Plastic and Burns Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515000, P. R. China
- Plastic Surgery Research Institute, Ear Deformities Treatment Center and Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Qihu Xie
- Department of Plastic and Burns Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515000, P. R. China
- Plastic Surgery Research Institute, Ear Deformities Treatment Center and Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Genghong Guo
- Department of Plastic and Burns Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515000, P. R. China
- Plastic Surgery Research Institute, Ear Deformities Treatment Center and Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xuefen Chen
- Department of Plastic and Burns Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515000, P. R. China
- Plastic Surgery Research Institute, Ear Deformities Treatment Center and Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Wancong Zhang
- Department of Plastic and Burns Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515000, P. R. China
- Plastic Surgery Research Institute, Ear Deformities Treatment Center and Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Shijie Tang
- Department of Plastic and Burns Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515000, P. R. China
- Plastic Surgery Research Institute, Ear Deformities Treatment Center and Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xiaoping Zhong
- Department of Plastic and Burns Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515000, P. R. China.
- Plastic Surgery Research Institute, Ear Deformities Treatment Center and Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
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Ming Z, Lim SY, Stewart A, Pedersen B, Shklovskaya E, Menzies AM, Carlino MS, Kefford RF, Lee JH, Scolyer RA, Long GV, Rizos H. IFN-γ Signaling Sensitizes Melanoma Cells to BH3 Mimetics. J Invest Dermatol 2023; 143:1246-1256.e8. [PMID: 36736995 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy targeting PD-1 and/or CTLA4 leads to durable responses in a proportion of patients with melanoma. However, many patients will not respond to these immune checkpoint inhibitors, and up to 60% of responding patients will develop treatment resistance. We describe a vulnerability in melanoma driven by immune cell activity that provides a pathway towards additional treatment options. This study evaluated short-term melanoma cell lines (referred to as PD1 PROG cells) derived from melanoma metastases that progressed on PD-1 inhibitor-based therapy. We show that the cytokine IFN-γ primes melanoma cells for apoptosis by promoting changes in the accumulation and interactions of apoptotic regulators MCL-1, NOXA, and BAK. The addition of pro-apoptotic BH3 mimetic drugs sensitized PD1 PROG melanoma cells to apoptosis in response to IFN-γ or autologous immune cell activation. These findings provide translatable strategies for combination therapies in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zizhen Ming
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Su Yin Lim
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ashleigh Stewart
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Bernadette Pedersen
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Elena Shklovskaya
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alexander M Menzies
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Mater Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matteo S Carlino
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Blacktown Cancer and Haematology Centre, Blacktown Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Richard F Kefford
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jenny H Lee
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Richard A Scolyer
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Georgina V Long
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Mater Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Helen Rizos
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
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Peng Z, Gillissen B, Richter A, Sinnberg T, Schlaak MS, Eberle J. Enhanced Apoptosis and Loss of Cell Viability in Melanoma Cells by Combined Inhibition of ERK and Mcl-1 Is Related to Loss of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential, Caspase Activation and Upregulation of Proapoptotic Bcl-2 Proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054961. [PMID: 36902392 PMCID: PMC10002974 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeting of MAP kinase pathways by BRAF inhibitors has evolved as a key therapy for BRAF-mutated melanoma. However, it cannot be applied for BRAF-WT melanoma, and also, in BRAF-mutated melanoma, tumor relapse often follows after an initial phase of tumor regression. Inhibition of MAP kinase pathways downstream at ERK1/2, or inhibitors of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, such as Mcl-1, may serve as alternative strategies. As shown here, the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib and the ERK inhibitor SCH772984 showed only limited efficacy in melanoma cell lines, when applied alone. However, in combination with the Mcl-1 inhibitor S63845, the effects of vemurafenib were strongly enhanced in BRAF-mutated cell lines, and the effects of SCH772984 were enhanced in both BRAF-mutated and BRAF-WT cells. This resulted in up to 90% loss of cell viability and cell proliferation, as well as in induction of apoptosis in up to 60% of cells. The combination of SCH772984/S63845 resulted in caspase activation, processing of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), phosphorylation of histone H2AX, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and cytochrome c release. Proving the critical role of caspases, a pan-caspase inhibitor suppressed apoptosis induction, as well as loss of cell viability. As concerning Bcl-2 family proteins, SCH772984 enhanced expression of the proapoptotic Bim and Puma, as well as decreased phosphorylation of Bad. The combination finally resulted in downregulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and enhanced expression of the proapoptotic Noxa. In conclusion, combined inhibition of ERK and Mcl-1 revealed an impressive efficacy both in BRAF-mutated and WT melanoma cells, and may thus represent a new strategy for overcoming drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Peng
- Skin Cancer Centre Charité, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Clinical Medicine, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Bernhard Gillissen
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Tumor Immunology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Antje Richter
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Tumor Immunology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Sinnberg
- Skin Cancer Centre Charité, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Max S. Schlaak
- Skin Cancer Centre Charité, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jürgen Eberle
- Skin Cancer Centre Charité, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence:
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Yang Q, He Y, Tian L, Zhang Z, Qiu L, Tao X, Wei H. Anti-tumor effect of infant-derived Enterococcus via the inhibition of proliferation and inflammation as well as the promotion of apoptosis. Food Funct 2023; 14:2223-2238. [PMID: 36757840 DOI: 10.1039/d2fo03045d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Probiotic Enterococcus hirae WEHI01 and Enterococcus faecium WEFA23 from infants were previously found to effectively inhibit the development of melanoma. In this study, their immunomodulatory and antitumor mechanisms were systemically studied. In vitro assay showed that E. hirae WEHI01 and E. faecium WEFA23 achieved biphasic immune regulation, which was revealed by the activation of resting spleen lymphocytes and RAW264.7 macrophages, as well as the anti-inflammation effect when immune cells were treated with LPS. The antitumor effects of E. hirae WEHI01 and E. faecium WEFA23 in vitro and vivo were then investigated. CCK8 and the cell scratch assay showed that the conditioned media, which were co-incubated with Enterococcus and spleen lymphocytes, significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of B16F10, HepG-2 and HT-29 cells. The results of the tumor-bearing mice model experiment showed that E. faecium WEFA23 inhibition of the growth of tumors in mice, and the anti-tumor mechanism involved three aspects, namely tumor proliferation (decreasing expressions of LDHA, VEGF, MMP2, MMP9 and HIF-1α), inhibition of the pro-inflammation state (decreasing expressions of IL-6, TGF-β and IL-17) and the promotion of apoptosis (increasing expression of Bax/Bcl-2, caspase-3 and p53). The results suggest that the two strains of Enterococcus could be promising candidates for treating melanoma with a highly inhibitory effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330047, P. R. China.
| | - Yao He
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330047, P. R. China.
| | - Linlin Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330047, P. R. China.
| | - Zhihong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330047, P. R. China.
| | - Liang Qiu
- Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330004, P. R. China
| | - Xueying Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330047, P. R. China.
| | - Hua Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330047, P. R. China.
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Fairlie WD, Lee EF. Targeting the BCL-2-regulated apoptotic pathway for the treatment of solid cancers. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:2397-2410. [PMID: 34581776 PMCID: PMC8589438 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The deregulation of apoptosis is a key contributor to tumourigenesis as it can lead to the unwanted survival of rogue cells. Drugs known as the BH3-mimetics targeting the pro-survival members of the BCL-2 protein family to induce apoptosis in cancer cells have achieved clinical success for the treatment of haematological malignancies. However, despite our increasing knowledge of the pro-survival factors mediating the unwanted survival of solid tumour cells, and our growing BH3-mimetics armamentarium, the application of BH3-mimetic therapy in solid cancers has not reached its full potential. This is mainly attributed to the need to identify clinically safe, yet effective, combination strategies to target the multiple pro-survival proteins that typically mediate the survival of solid tumours. In this review, we discuss current and exciting new developments in the field that has the potential to unleash the full power of BH3-mimetic therapy to treat currently recalcitrant solid malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- W. Douglas Fairlie
- Cell Death and Survival Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
- Cell Death and Survival Laboratory, School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Erinna F. Lee
- Cell Death and Survival Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
- Cell Death and Survival Laboratory, School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
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Ahmed F, Tseng HY, Ahn A, Gunatilake D, Alavi S, Eccles M, Rizos H, Gallagher SJ, Tiffen JC, Hersey P, Emran AA. Repurposing melanoma chemotherapy to activate inflammasomes in treatment of BRAF/MAPK inhibitor resistant melanoma. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 142:1444-1455.e10. [PMID: 34695412 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The development of resistance to treatments of melanoma is commonly associated with upregulation of the MAPK pathway and development of an undifferentiated state. Prior studies have suggested that melanoma with these resistance characteristics may be susceptible to innate death mechanisms such as pyroptosis triggered by activation of inflammasomes. In the present studies we have taken cell lines from patients before and after development of resistance to BRAF V600 inhibitors and exposed the resistant melanoma to temozolomide (a commonly used chemotherapy) with and without chloroquine to inhibit autophagy. It was found that melanoma with an inflammatory undifferentiated state appeared susceptible to this combination when tested in vitro and in vivo against xenografts in NSG mice. Translation of the latter results into patients would promise durable responses in patients treated by the combination. The inflammasome and death mechanism involved appeared to vary between melanoma and involved either AIM2 or NLRP3 inflammasomes and gasdermin D or E. These preliminary studies have raised questions as to the selectivity for different inflammasomes in different melanoma and their selective targeting by chemotherapy. They also question whether the inflammatory state of melanoma may be used as biomarkers to select patients for inflammasome targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzana Ahmed
- Melanoma Immunology and Oncology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Hsin-Yi Tseng
- Melanoma Immunology and Oncology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia; Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Antonio Ahn
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Dilini Gunatilake
- Melanoma Immunology and Oncology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sara Alavi
- Melanoma Immunology and Oncology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia; Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Michael Eccles
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Helen Rizos
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Stuart J Gallagher
- Melanoma Immunology and Oncology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia; Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Jessamy C Tiffen
- Melanoma Immunology and Oncology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia; Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Peter Hersey
- Melanoma Immunology and Oncology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia; Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.
| | - Abdullah Al Emran
- Melanoma Immunology and Oncology Group, Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia; Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia; Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts
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Lai J, Liu Z, Zhao Y, Ma C, Huang H. Anticancer Effects of I-BET151, an Inhibitor of Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal Domain Proteins. Front Oncol 2021; 11:716830. [PMID: 34540687 PMCID: PMC8443787 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.716830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
I-BET151 is an inhibitor of bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins that selectively inhibits BET family members (BRD2, BRD3, BRD4, and BRDT). Over the past ten years, many studies have demonstrated the potential of I-BET151 in cancer treatment. Specifically, I-BET151 causes cell cycle arrest and inhibits tumor cell proliferation in some hematological malignancies and solid tumors, such as breast cancer, glioma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, and ovarian cancer. The anticancer activity of I-BET151 is related to its effects on NF-κB, Notch, and Hedgehog signal transduction pathway, tumor microenvironment (TME) and telomere elongation. Remarkably, the combination of I-BET151 with select anticancer drugs can partially alleviate the occurrence of drug resistance in chemotherapy. Especially, the combination of forskolin, ISX9, CHIR99021, I-BET151 and DAPT allows GBM cells to be reprogrammed into neurons, and this process does not experience an intermediate pluripotent state. The research on the anticancer mechanism of I-BET151 will lead to new treatment strategies for clinical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiacheng Lai
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ziqiang Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yulei Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Chengyuan Ma
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Haiyan Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Emran AA, Tseng HY, Gunatilake D, Cook SJ, Ahmed F, Wang S, Hersey P, Gallagher SJ, Tiffen JC. A Combination of Epigenetic BET and CDK9 Inhibitors for Treatment of Human Melanoma. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 141:2238-2249.e12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2020.12.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Guo JH, Yin SS, Liu H, Liu F, Gao FH. Tumor microenvironment immune-related lncRNA signature for patients with melanoma. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:857. [PMID: 34164491 PMCID: PMC8184426 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-1794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Background The incidence of malignant melanoma accounts for only approximately 5% of skin malignant tumors, however, it accounts for 75% of its mortality. Long-chain non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has a wide range of functional activities. Disorders of lncRNAs may lead to the occurrence and development of melanoma, and may also be related to immunotherapy. Methods The transcriptomic data of primary and metastatic melanoma patients and 331 immune-related genes were downloaded from skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) in the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. On this basis, 460 immunologically relevant lncRNAs were identified by constructing a co-expression network of immunogenic genes and lncRNAs in primary and metastatic melanoma patients. Prognostic genes were screened using univariate Cox regression analysis. ROC analysis was performed to evaluate the robustness of the prognostic signature. Results Univariate correlation analysis showed that only 3 of the 23 immune-related lncRNAs were at high risk and the rest were at low risk. Signatures of 7 immune-related lncRNAs were identified by multivariate correlation analysis. The clinical correlation analysis showed that the 7 immune-related lncRNAs were associated with the clinical stage of primary and metastatic melanoma. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that only 7 immune-related lncRNA signals divided tumor patients into high-risk and low-risk groups, while the low-risk group was enriched in the immune system process M13664 and immune response M19817 sets. PPI interaction network analysis showed that 11 G protein-coupled receptors and 6 corresponding ligands in the 2 gene sets affected the tumor microenvironment and were negatively related to the risk of the 7 immune-related lncRNAs. The tumor microenvironment immune cell infiltration analysis also supported the finding that anti-tumor immunity in the low-risk group was stronger than in the high-risk group. Conclusions These results indicate that characteristics of the 7 immune-related lncRNAs have prognostic value for melanoma patients and can be used as potential immunotherapy targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Hui Guo
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shan-Shan Yin
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hua Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Tenth Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng-Hou Gao
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai 9th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Fairlie WD, Lee EF. Co-Operativity between MYC and BCL-2 Pro-Survival Proteins in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:2841. [PMID: 33799592 PMCID: PMC8000576 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22062841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
B-Cell Lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), c-MYC and related proteins are arguably amongst the most widely studied in all of biology. Every year there are thousands of papers reporting on different aspects of their biochemistry, cellular and physiological mechanisms and functions. This plethora of literature can be attributed to both proteins playing essential roles in the normal functioning of a cell, and by extension a whole organism, but also due to their central role in disease, most notably, cancer. Many cancers arise due to genetic lesions resulting in deregulation of both proteins, and indeed the development and survival of tumours is often dependent on co-operativity between these protein families. In this review we will discuss the individual roles of both proteins in cancer, describe cancers where co-operativity between them has been well-characterised and finally, some strategies to target these proteins therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Douglas Fairlie
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia;
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3084, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3084, Australia
| | - Erinna F. Lee
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia;
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3084, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3084, Australia
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Trisciuoglio D, Del Bufalo D. New insights into the roles of antiapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family in melanoma progression and therapy. Drug Discov Today 2021; 26:1126-1135. [PMID: 33545382 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Prosurvival and antiapoptotic B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family proteins are often overexpressed in cutaneous melanoma, one of the most aggressive types of human cancer. They are also implicated in resistance to therapy and participate in melanoma progression by regulating various processes, including cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and crosstalk with the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we summarize recent findings related to prosurvival members of the Bcl-2 family beyond their canonical functions in the apoptotic pathway, mainly focusing on their potential roles as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cutaneous melanoma. We also provide an overview of different approaches used to inhibit Bcl-2 proteins in preclinical and clinical studies, which are mainly based on the inhibition of protein expression or the disruption of their antiapoptotic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Trisciuoglio
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, Rome, Italy; Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council, via degli Apuli 4, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, Rome, Italy.
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Hartman ML, Gajos-Michniewicz A, Talaj JA, Mielczarek-Lewandowska A, Czyz M. BH3 mimetics potentiate pro-apoptotic activity of encorafenib in BRAF V600E melanoma cells. Cancer Lett 2020; 499:122-136. [PMID: 33259900 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.11.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BRAFV600- and MEK1/2-targeting therapies rarely produce durable response in melanoma patients. We investigated five BRAFV600E melanoma cell lines derived from drug-naïve tumor specimens to assess cell death response to encorafenib (Braftovi), a recently FDA-approved BRAFV600 inhibitor. Drug-naïve cell lines (i) did not harbor damaging alterations in genes encoding core apoptotic machinery, but they differed in (ii) mitochondrial priming as demonstrated by whole-cell BH3 profiling, and (iii) levels of selected anti-apoptotic proteins. Encorafenib modulated the balance between apoptosis-regulating proteins as it upregulated BIM and BMF, and attenuated NOXA, but did not affect the levels of pro-survival proteins except for MCL-1 and BCL-XL in selected cell lines. Induction of apoptosis could be predicted using Dynamic BH3 profiling. The extent of apoptosis was dependent on both (i) cell-intrinsic proximity to the apoptotic threshold (initial mitochondrial priming) and (ii) the abundance of encorafenib-induced BIM (iBIM; drug-induced change in priming). While co-inhibition of MCL-1 and BCL-XL/BCL-2 was indispensable for apoptosis in drug-naïve cells, encorafenib altered cell dependence to MCL-1, and reliance on BCL-XL/BCL-2 was additionally found in cell lines that were highly primed to apoptosis by encorafenib. This translated into robust apoptosis when encorafenib was combined with selective BH3 mimetics. Our study provides a mechanistic insight into the role of proteins from the BCL-2 family in melanoma cell response to targeted therapy, and presents preclinical evidence that (i) MCL-1 is a druggable target to potentiate encorafenib activity, whereas (ii) pharmacological inhibition of BCL-XL/BCL-2 might be relevant but only for a narrow group of encorafenib-treated patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariusz L Hartman
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Street, 92-215, Lodz, Poland.
| | - Anna Gajos-Michniewicz
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Street, 92-215, Lodz, Poland
| | - Julita A Talaj
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Street, 92-215, Lodz, Poland
| | | | - Malgorzata Czyz
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Street, 92-215, Lodz, Poland
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D’Aguanno S, Del Bufalo D. Inhibition of Anti-Apoptotic Bcl-2 Proteins in Preclinical and Clinical Studies: Current Overview in Cancer. Cells 2020; 9:cells9051287. [PMID: 32455818 PMCID: PMC7291206 DOI: 10.3390/cells9051287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The dynamic interplay between pro-death and pro-survival Bcl-2 family proteins is responsible for a cell’s fate. Due to the recognized relevance of this family in cancer progression and response to therapy, different efforts have made in recent years in order to develop small molecules able to target anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and Mcl-1. The limitations of the first Bcl-2 family targeted drugs, regarding on-target and off-target toxicities, have been overcome with the development of venetoclax (ABT-199), the first BH3 mimetic inhibitor approved by the FDA. The purpose of this review is to discuss the state-of-the-art in the development of drugs targeting Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic proteins and to highlight the potential of their application as single agents or in combination for improving anti-cancer therapy, focusing in particular on solid tumors.
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