In vitro and in vivo tumor growth inhibition by a p16-mimicking peptide in p16INK4A-defective, pRb-positive human melanoma cells

Preferential killing of melanoma cells by a p16-related peptide

We report the identification of a synthetic, cell-penetrating peptide able to kill human melanoma cells efficiently and selectively, while being less toxic to normal human melanocytes and nontoxic to human fibroblasts. The peptide is based on the target-binding site of the melanoma suppressor and senescence effector p16 (also known as INK4A or CDKN2A), coupled to a cell-penetrating moiety. The killing is by apoptosis and appears to act by a route other than the canonical downstream target of p16 and CDK4, the retinoblastoma (RB) protein family, as it is also effective in HeLa cells and a melanocyte line expressing HPV E7 oncogenes, which both lack any active RB. There was varying toxicity to other types of cancer cell lines, such as glioblastoma. Melanoma cell killing by a p16-derived peptide was reported once before but only at a higher concentration, while selectivity and generality were not previously tested.

Suppression of human tumor cell proliferation by Smurf2-induced senescence

The limitation of proliferative potential in human somatic cells imposed by replicative senescence has been proposed as a mechanism of tumor suppression. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Smurf2 is up-regulated during replicative senescence in response to telomere shortening, and induces senescence when expressed adventitiously in early passage or telomerase-immortalized human fibroblasts. To investigate the generality of Smurf2's control of cell proliferation, we have studied the effects of Smurf2 up-regulation on cell proliferation in early passage human mammary epithelial cells which normally do not show elevated expression of Smurf2 during senescence, and in 16 human cancer cell lines derived from both sarcomas and carcinomas. Here we report that Smurf2 up-regulation induced senescence in a wide variety of human cell types, including highly neoplastic cell lines. Consistent with our previous findings, the ability of Smurf2 to arrest cell proliferation did not require its ubiquitin ligase activity. Furthermore, expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 was increased in tumor cells undergoing Smurf2-induced senescence, and such increase occurred independently of the transactivation function of p53. Our results, which reveal a previously unsuspected tumor suppression function for Smurf2-induced senescence, suggest that modulation of Smurf2 action may be a useful strategy for inhibition of cancer cell growth.

Defective cell cycle checkpoint functions in melanoma are associated with altered patterns of gene expression

Defects in DNA damage responses may underlie genetic instability and malignant progression in melanoma. Cultures of normal human melanocytes (NHMs) and melanoma lines were analyzed to determine whether global patterns of gene expression could predict the efficacy of DNA damage cell cycle checkpoints that arrest growth and suppress genetic instability. NHMs displayed effective G1 and G2 checkpoint responses to ionizing radiation-induced DNA damage. A majority of melanoma cell lines (11/16) displayed significant quantitative defects in one or both checkpoints. Melanomas with B-RAF mutations as a class displayed a significant defect in DNA damage G2 checkpoint function. In contrast the epithelial-like subtype of melanomas with wild-type N-RAS and B-RAF alleles displayed an effective G2 checkpoint but a significant defect in G1 checkpoint function. RNA expression profiling revealed that melanoma lines with defects in the DNA damage G1 checkpoint displayed reduced expression of p53 transcriptional targets, such as CDKN1A and DDB2, and enhanced expression of proliferation-associated genes, such as CDC7 and GEMININ. A Bayesian analysis tool was more accurate than significance analysis of microarrays for predicting checkpoint function using a leave-one-out method. The results suggest that defects in DNA damage checkpoints may be recognized in melanomas through analysis of gene expression.

New technologies used in the study of human melanoma

The amount of information on tumor biology has expanded enormously, essentially due to the completion of the human genome sequencing and to the application of new technologies that represent an exciting breakthrough in molecular analysis. Often these data spring from experimental procedures, such as a serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) and DNA microarrays, which cannot be defined as hypothesis-driven: it may appear to be a "brute force" approach through which no information can be directly generated concerning the specific functions of selected genes in a definite context. However, interesting results are fruitfully generated, and thus it is important to consider the enormous potential these new technologies possess and to learn how to apply this novel form of knowledge in the emerging field of molecular medicine. This review, after a limited outline regarding several classic aspects of human cutaneous melanoma biology, genetics, and clinical approaches, will focus on the proficient use of up-to-date technologies in the study of the neoplastic disease and on their capability to provide effective support to conventional approaches in melanoma diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

Enhanced gene transfer and oncolysis of head and neck cancer and melanoma cells by fiber chimeric oncolytic adenoviruses

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a fiber knob replacement strategy to improve infectivity and efficacy of Ad5 fiber chimeric oncolytic viruses for treatment of melanoma and head and neck cancers (HNC).

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Adenoviral receptors and transduction levels were used to determine the level of infectivity of fiber-modified, green fluorescent protein-expressing, replication-deficient viruses in a panel of melanoma and HNC cell lines in vitro. Virus yield and cytotoxicity assays were used to determine the tumor specificity and virus replication-mediated cytotoxicity of the fiber-modified oncolytic viruses in the same panel of melanoma and HNC in vitro. Xenograft tumor models were used to assess the antitumor activity of those fiber-modified chimeric viruses compared with the parental virus.

RESULTS

Marker gene expression following gene transfer of the fiber chimeric vectors in melanoma and HNC cell lines was approximately 10-fold higher than that obtained with parental Ad5 vector. The fiber chimeric oncolytic variants mediated killing of melanoma and HNC cells that was 2- to 576-fold better than with the parental virus. In addition, fiber chimeric variants produced 2- to 7-fold more progeny virus in tumor cells than the parental virus. Moreover, a high multiplicity of infection was needed for the fiber chimeric viruses to produce cytotoxicity in normal cells. A significantly stronger antitumor response and survival advantage were shown in the tested melanoma and HNC xenograft models following i.t. injections.

CONCLUSIONS

In vitro and in vivo studies showed the improved transduction, replication, cytotoxicity, antitumor efficacy, and survival advantage in melanoma and HNC tumor models, suggesting a potential use of these oncolytic agents for the treatment of melanoma and HNCs.

Oligopeptides impairing the Myc-Max heterodimerization inhibit lung cancer cell proliferation by reducing Myc transcriptional activity

Deregulated CMYC gene causes cell transformation and is often correlated with tumor progression and a worse clinical outcome of cancer patients. The transcription factor Myc functions by heterodimerizing with its partner, Max. As a strategy to inhibit Myc activity, we have synthesized three small peptides corresponding to segments of the leucine zipper (LZ) region of Max. The purpose of these peptides is to occupy the site of recognition between Myc and Max located in the LZ and inhibit-specific heterodimerization between these proteins. We have used the synthesized oligopeptides in two lung cancer cell lines with different levels of Myc expression. Results demonstrate that: (i) the three peptides resulted equally effective in competing the interaction between Myc and Max in vitro; (ii) they were efficiently internalized into the cells and significantly inhibited cell growth in the cells showing the highest Myc expression; (iii) one specific peptide, only nine aminoacids long, efficiently impaired the transcriptional activity of Myc in vivo, showing a more stable interaction with this protein. Our results are relevant to the development of novel anti-tumoral therapeutic strategies, directed to Myc-overexpressing tumors.