1
|
Furst LM, Roussel EM, Leung RF, George AM, Best SA, Whittle JR, Firestein R, Faux MC, Eisenstat DD. The Landscape of Pediatric High-Grade Gliomas: The Virtues and Pitfalls of Pre-Clinical Models. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:424. [PMID: 38927304 PMCID: PMC11200883 DOI: 10.3390/biology13060424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGG) are malignant and usually fatal central nervous system (CNS) WHO Grade 4 tumors. The majority of pHGG consist of diffuse midline gliomas (DMG), H3.3 or H3.1 K27 altered, or diffuse hemispheric gliomas (DHG) (H3.3 G34-mutant). Due to diffuse tumor infiltration of eloquent brain areas, especially for DMG, surgery has often been limited and chemotherapy has not been effective, leaving fractionated radiation to the involved field as the current standard of care. pHGG has only been classified as molecularly distinct from adult HGG since 2012 through Next-Generation sequencing approaches, which have shown pHGG to be epigenetically regulated and specific tumor sub-types to be representative of dysregulated differentiating cells. To translate discovery research into novel therapies, improved pre-clinical models that more adequately represent the tumor biology of pHGG are required. This review will summarize the molecular characteristics of different pHGG sub-types, with a specific focus on histone K27M mutations and the dysregulated gene expression profiles arising from these mutations. Current and emerging pre-clinical models for pHGG will be discussed, including commonly used patient-derived cell lines and in vivo modeling techniques, encompassing patient-derived xenograft murine models and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs). Lastly, emerging techniques to model CNS tumors within a human brain environment using brain organoids through co-culture will be explored. As models that more reliably represent pHGG continue to be developed, targetable biological and genetic vulnerabilities in the disease will be more rapidly identified, leading to better treatments and improved clinical outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liam M. Furst
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (L.M.F.); (E.M.R.); (R.F.L.); (M.C.F.)
- Stem Cell Medicine, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
| | - Enola M. Roussel
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (L.M.F.); (E.M.R.); (R.F.L.); (M.C.F.)
- Stem Cell Medicine, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia;
- Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Ryan F. Leung
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (L.M.F.); (E.M.R.); (R.F.L.); (M.C.F.)
- Stem Cell Medicine, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
| | - Ankita M. George
- Stem Cell Medicine, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
| | - Sarah A. Best
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia;
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - James R. Whittle
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia;
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia;
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Ron Firestein
- Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia;
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Maree C. Faux
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (L.M.F.); (E.M.R.); (R.F.L.); (M.C.F.)
- Stem Cell Medicine, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - David D. Eisenstat
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (L.M.F.); (E.M.R.); (R.F.L.); (M.C.F.)
- Stem Cell Medicine, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
- Children’s Cancer Centre, The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mandorino M, Maitra A, Armenise D, Baldelli OM, Miciaccia M, Ferorelli S, Perrone MG, Scilimati A. Pediatric Diffuse Midline Glioma H3K27-Altered: From Developmental Origins to Therapeutic Challenges. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1814. [PMID: 38791893 PMCID: PMC11120159 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), now referred to as diffuse midline glioma (DMG), is a highly aggressive pediatric cancer primarily affecting children aged 4 to 9 years old. Despite the research and clinical trials conducted to identify a possible treatment for DIPG, no effective drug is currently available. These tumors often affect deep midline brain structures in young children, suggesting a connection to early brain development's epigenetic regulation targets, possibly affecting neural progenitor functions and differentiation. The H3K27M mutation is a known DIPG trigger, but the exact mechanisms beyond epigenetic regulation remain unclear. After thoroughly examining the available literature, we found that over 85% of DIPG tumors contain a somatic missense mutation, K27M, in genes encoding histone H3.3 and H3.1, leading to abnormal gene expression that drives tumor growth and spread. This mutation impacts crucial brain development processes, including the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway, and may explain differences between H3K27M and non-K27M pediatric gliomas. Effects on stem cells show increased proliferation and disrupted differentiation. The genomic organization of H3 gene family members in the developing brain has revealed variations in their expression patterns. All these observations suggest a need for global efforts to understand developmental origins and potential treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Antonio Scilimati
- Research Laboratory for Woman and Child Health, Department of Pharmacy–Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (M.M.); (A.M.); (D.A.); (O.M.B.); (M.M.); (S.F.); (M.G.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Saratsis AM, Knowles T, Petrovic A, Nazarian J. H3K27M mutant glioma: Disease definition and biological underpinnings. Neuro Oncol 2024; 26:S92-S100. [PMID: 37818718 PMCID: PMC11066930 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noad164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
High-grade glioma (HGG) is the most common cause of cancer death in children and the most common primary central nervous system tumor in adults. While pediatric HGG was once thought to be biologically similar to the adult form of disease, research has shown these malignancies to be significantly molecularly distinct, necessitating distinct approaches to their clinical management. However, emerging data have shown shared molecular events in pediatric and adult HGG including the histone H3K27M mutation. This somatic missense mutation occurs in genes encoding one of two isoforms of the Histone H3 protein, H3F3A (H3.3), or HIST1H3B (H3.1), and is detected in up to 80% of pediatric diffuse midline gliomas and in up to 60% of adult diffuse gliomas. Importantly, the H3K27M mutation is associated with poorer overall survival and response to therapy compared to patients with H3 wild-type tumors. Here, we review the clinical features and biological underpinnings of pediatric and adult H3K27M mutant glioma, offering a groundwork for understanding current research and clinical approaches for the care of patients suffering with this challenging disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Antonela Petrovic
- DMG Research Center, Department of Oncology, University Children’s Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Javad Nazarian
- Research Center for Genetic Medicine, Children’s National Health System, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- Brain Tumor Institute, Children’s National Health System, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- DMG Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Leszczynska KB, Freitas-Huhtamäki A, Jayaprakash C, Dzwigonska M, Vitorino FNL, Horth C, Wojnicki K, Gielniewski B, Szadkowska P, Kaza B, Nazarian J, Ciolkowski MK, Trubicka J, Grajkowska W, Garcia BA, Majewski J, Kaminska B, Mieczkowski J. H2A.Z histone variants facilitate HDACi-dependent removal of H3.3K27M mutant protein in pediatric high-grade glioma cells. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113707. [PMID: 38306270 PMCID: PMC11026119 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) are deadly pediatric brain tumors, non-resectable due to brainstem localization and diffusive growth. Over 80% of DIPGs harbor a mutation in histone 3 (H3.3 or H3.1) resulting in a lysine-to-methionine substitution (H3K27M). Patients with DIPG have a dismal prognosis with no effective therapy. We show that histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors lead to a significant reduction in the H3.3K27M protein (up to 80%) in multiple glioma cell lines. We discover that the SB939-mediated H3.3K27M loss is partially blocked by a lysosomal inhibitor, chloroquine. The H3.3K27M loss is facilitated by co-occurrence of H2A.Z, as evidenced by the knockdown of H2A.Z isoforms. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) analysis confirms the occupancy of H3.3K27M and H2A.Z at the same SB939-inducible genes. We discover a mechanism showing that HDAC inhibition in DIPG leads to pharmacological modulation of the oncogenic H3.3K27M protein levels. These findings show the possibility of directly targeting the H3.3K27M oncohistone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna B Leszczynska
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland.
| | | | - Chinchu Jayaprakash
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Monika Dzwigonska
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Francisca N L Vitorino
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Cynthia Horth
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Kamil Wojnicki
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bartlomiej Gielniewski
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paulina Szadkowska
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Beata Kaza
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Javad Nazarian
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jacek Majewski
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Bozena Kaminska
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jakub Mieczkowski
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland; 3P-Medicine Laboratory, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kumar Suman A, Bhattacharjee S, Uppin MS, Fathima ST. Clinicohistoradiological and surgical outcome in diffuse midline glioma. Childs Nerv Syst 2024; 40:65-71. [PMID: 37644138 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-023-06095-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG) with H3K27M mutation is a rare and aggressive midline high grade glioma with a predominant astrocytic differentiation and K27M mutation in either H3F3A or HIST1H3B/C. This tumor is more common in children than in adults. The current study was aimed to determine clinicohistoradiological and surgical outcome of patients who have undergone surgery for DMG and study disease severity of patients with DMG. METHODS This is an observational study in which 29 DMG patients were evaluated for clinicohistoradiological and surgical outcomes by assessing the pre and postoperative neurological status. RESULT Survival duration was significantly high in patients with age > 18 years (p = 0.02). Patients who had undergone Radiation Therapy showed higher survival rate (p = 0.05) and the cases with low levels of Ki 67 index had improved post operative outcome (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION DMG with H3K27M mutation in newly classified Central Nervous System tumor are WHO grade IV Tumors, comprising H3K27M mutation as molecular marker for diagnosis and related with a poor prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arvind Kumar Suman
- Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, India, 229 405.
| | - Suchanda Bhattacharjee
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500 082
| | - Megha S Uppin
- Department of Pathology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500 082
| | - Syed Tazeem Fathima
- Department of Neurology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500 082
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang X, Fawwal DV, Spangle JM, Corbett AH, Jones CY. Exploring the Molecular Underpinnings of Cancer-Causing Oncohistone Mutants Using Yeast as a Model. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1187. [PMID: 38132788 PMCID: PMC10744705 DOI: 10.3390/jof9121187] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the molecular basis of cancer initiation and progression is critical in developing effective treatment strategies. Recently, mutations in genes encoding histone proteins that drive oncogenesis have been identified, converting these essential proteins into "oncohistones". Understanding how oncohistone mutants, which are commonly single missense mutations, subvert the normal function of histones to drive oncogenesis requires defining the functional consequences of such changes. Histones genes are present in multiple copies in the human genome with 15 genes encoding histone H3 isoforms, the histone for which the majority of oncohistone variants have been analyzed thus far. With so many wildtype histone proteins being expressed simultaneously within the oncohistone, it can be difficult to decipher the precise mechanistic consequences of the mutant protein. In contrast to humans, budding and fission yeast contain only two or three histone H3 genes, respectively. Furthermore, yeast histones share ~90% sequence identity with human H3 protein. Its genetic simplicity and evolutionary conservation make yeast an excellent model for characterizing oncohistones. The power of genetic approaches can also be exploited in yeast models to define cellular signaling pathways that could serve as actionable therapeutic targets. In this review, we focus on the value of yeast models to serve as a discovery tool that can provide mechanistic insights and inform subsequent translational studies in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinran Zhang
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (X.Z.); (D.V.F.); (A.H.C.)
| | - Dorelle V. Fawwal
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (X.Z.); (D.V.F.); (A.H.C.)
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
- Biochemistry, Cell & Developmental Biology Graduate Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jennifer M. Spangle
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Anita H. Corbett
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (X.Z.); (D.V.F.); (A.H.C.)
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Celina Y. Jones
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (X.Z.); (D.V.F.); (A.H.C.)
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Voon HPJ, Hii L, Garvie A, Udugama M, Krug B, Russo C, Chüeh AC, Daly RJ, Morey A, Bell TDM, Turner SJ, Rosenbluh J, Daniel P, Firestein R, Mann JR, Collas P, Jabado N, Wong LH. Pediatric glioma histone H3.3 K27M/G34R mutations drive abnormalities in PML nuclear bodies. Genome Biol 2023; 24:284. [PMID: 38066546 PMCID: PMC10704828 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03122-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Point mutations in histone variant H3.3 (H3.3K27M, H3.3G34R) and the H3.3-specific ATRX/DAXX chaperone complex are frequent events in pediatric gliomas. These H3.3 point mutations affect many chromatin modifications but the exact oncogenic mechanisms are currently unclear. Histone H3.3 is known to localize to nuclear compartments known as promyelocytic leukemia (PML) nuclear bodies, which are frequently mutated and confirmed as oncogenic drivers in acute promyelocytic leukemia. RESULTS We find that the pediatric glioma-associated H3.3 point mutations disrupt the formation of PML nuclear bodies and this prevents differentiation down glial lineages. Similar to leukemias driven by PML mutations, H3.3-mutated glioma cells are sensitive to drugs that target PML bodies. We also find that point mutations in IDH1/2-which are common events in adult gliomas and myeloid leukemias-also disrupt the formation of PML bodies. CONCLUSIONS We identify PML as a contributor to oncogenesis in a subset of gliomas and show that targeting PML bodies is effective in treating these H3.3-mutated pediatric gliomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hsiao P J Voon
- Cancer Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Linda Hii
- Cancer Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Andrew Garvie
- Cancer Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Maheshi Udugama
- Cancer Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Brian Krug
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Caterina Russo
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Anderly C Chüeh
- Cancer Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Roger J Daly
- Cancer Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Alison Morey
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Toby D M Bell
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen J Turner
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Joseph Rosenbluh
- Cancer Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Paul Daniel
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Ron Firestein
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Jeffrey R Mann
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Philippe Collas
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, 0424, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nada Jabado
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Lee H Wong
- Cancer Program, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Krug B, Hu B, Chen H, Ptack A, Chen X, Gretarsson KH, Deshmukh S, Kabir N, Andrade AF, Jabbour E, Harutyunyan AS, Lee JJY, Hulswit M, Faury D, Russo C, Xu X, Johnston MJ, Baguette A, Dahl NA, Weil AG, Ellezam B, Dali R, Blanchette M, Wilson K, Garcia BA, Soni RK, Gallo M, Taylor MD, Kleinman CL, Majewski J, Jabado N, Lu C. H3K27me3 spreading organizes canonical PRC1 chromatin architecture to regulate developmental programs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.28.567931. [PMID: 38116029 PMCID: PMC10729739 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.28.567931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2)-mediated histone H3K27 tri-methylation (H3K27me3) recruits canonical PRC1 (cPRC1) to maintain heterochromatin. In early development, polycomb-regulated genes are connected through long-range 3D interactions which resolve upon differentiation. Here, we report that polycomb looping is controlled by H3K27me3 spreading and regulates target gene silencing and cell fate specification. Using glioma-derived H3 Lys-27-Met (H3K27M) mutations as tools to restrict H3K27me3 deposition, we show that H3K27me3 confinement concentrates the chromatin pool of cPRC1, resulting in heightened 3D interactions mirroring chromatin architecture of pluripotency, and stringent gene repression that maintains cells in progenitor states to facilitate tumor development. Conversely, H3K27me3 spread in pluripotent stem cells, following neural differentiation or loss of the H3K36 methyltransferase NSD1, dilutes cPRC1 concentration and dissolves polycomb loops. These results identify the regulatory principles and disease implications of polycomb looping and nominate histone modification-guided distribution of reader complexes as an important mechanism for nuclear compartment organization. Highlights The confinement of H3K27me3 at PRC2 nucleation sites without its spreading correlates with increased 3D chromatin interactions.The H3K27M oncohistone concentrates canonical PRC1 that anchors chromatin loop interactions in gliomas, silencing developmental programs.Stem and progenitor cells require factors promoting H3K27me3 confinement, including H3K36me2, to maintain cPRC1 loop architecture.The cPRC1-H3K27me3 interaction is a targetable driver of aberrant self-renewal in tumor cells.
Collapse
|
9
|
Venneti S, Kawakibi AR, Ji S, Waszak SM, Sweha SR, Mota M, Pun M, Deogharkar A, Chung C, Tarapore RS, Ramage S, Chi A, Wen PY, Arrillaga-Romany I, Batchelor TT, Butowski NA, Sumrall A, Shonka N, Harrison RA, de Groot J, Mehta M, Hall MD, Daghistani D, Cloughesy TF, Ellingson BM, Beccaria K, Varlet P, Kim MM, Umemura Y, Garton H, Franson A, Schwartz J, Jain R, Kachman M, Baum H, Burant CF, Mottl SL, Cartaxo RT, John V, Messinger D, Qin T, Peterson E, Sajjakulnukit P, Ravi K, Waugh A, Walling D, Ding Y, Xia Z, Schwendeman A, Hawes D, Yang F, Judkins AR, Wahl D, Lyssiotis CA, de la Nava D, Alonso MM, Eze A, Spitzer J, Schmidt SV, Duchatel RJ, Dun MD, Cain JE, Jiang L, Stopka SA, Baquer G, Regan MS, Filbin MG, Agar NY, Zhao L, Kumar-Sinha C, Mody R, Chinnaiyan A, Kurokawa R, Pratt D, Yadav VN, Grill J, Kline C, Mueller S, Resnick A, Nazarian J, Allen JE, Odia Y, Gardner SL, Koschmann C. Clinical Efficacy of ONC201 in H3K27M-Mutant Diffuse Midline Gliomas Is Driven by Disruption of Integrated Metabolic and Epigenetic Pathways. Cancer Discov 2023; 13:2370-2393. [PMID: 37584601 PMCID: PMC10618742 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-0131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Patients with H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline glioma (DMG) have no proven effective therapies. ONC201 has recently demonstrated efficacy in these patients, but the mechanism behind this finding remains unknown. We assessed clinical outcomes, tumor sequencing, and tissue/cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) correlate samples from patients treated in two completed multisite clinical studies. Patients treated with ONC201 following initial radiation but prior to recurrence demonstrated a median overall survival of 21.7 months, whereas those treated after recurrence had a median overall survival of 9.3 months. Radiographic response was associated with increased expression of key tricarboxylic acid cycle-related genes in baseline tumor sequencing. ONC201 treatment increased 2-hydroxyglutarate levels in cultured H3K27M-DMG cells and patient CSF samples. This corresponded with increases in repressive H3K27me3 in vitro and in human tumors accompanied by epigenetic downregulation of cell cycle regulation and neuroglial differentiation genes. Overall, ONC201 demonstrates efficacy in H3K27M-DMG by disrupting integrated metabolic and epigenetic pathways and reversing pathognomonic H3K27me3 reduction. SIGNIFICANCE The clinical, radiographic, and molecular analyses included in this study demonstrate the efficacy of ONC201 in H3K27M-mutant DMG and support ONC201 as the first monotherapy to improve outcomes in H3K27M-mutant DMG beyond radiation. Mechanistically, ONC201 disrupts integrated metabolic and epigenetic pathways and reverses pathognomonic H3K27me3 reduction. This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 2293.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sunjong Ji
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Sebastian M. Waszak
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Nordic EMBL Partnership, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Laboratory of Computational Neuro-Oncology, Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stefan R. Sweha
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | | | | | - Chan Chung
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of New Biology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | | | - Patrick Y. Wen
- Center for Neuro-Oncology, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - John de Groot
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Kevin Beccaria
- Department of Neurosurgery, Necker Sick Children's University Hospital and Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | - Pascale Varlet
- Department of Neuropathology, Sainte-Anne Hospital and Paris Descartes University, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Heidi Baum
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | | | - Sophie L. Mottl
- Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Nordic EMBL Partnership, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yujie Ding
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Ziyun Xia
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | | | - Debra Hawes
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Fusheng Yang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Alexander R. Judkins
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | | | | | - Daniel de la Nava
- Health Research Institute of Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
- Solid Tumor Program, Cima Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Pediatrics, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Marta M. Alonso
- Health Research Institute of Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
- Solid Tumor Program, Cima Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Pediatrics, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Augustine Eze
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Jasper Spitzer
- Institute of Innate Immunity, AG Immunogenomics, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, AG Immunmonitoring and Genomics, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Susanne V. Schmidt
- Institute of Innate Immunity, AG Immunogenomics, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, AG Immunmonitoring and Genomics, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ryan J. Duchatel
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
- Paediatric Program, Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research, College of Health, Medicine, and Wellbeing, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Matthew D. Dun
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
- Paediatric Program, Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research, College of Health, Medicine, and Wellbeing, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Jason E. Cain
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sylwia A. Stopka
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Gerard Baquer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael S. Regan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mariella G. Filbin
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nathalie Y.R. Agar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lili Zhao
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | | | - Rajen Mody
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | | | - Ryo Kurokawa
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Drew Pratt
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Viveka N. Yadav
- Department of Pediatrics at Children's Mercy Research Institute, Kansas City, Missouri
| | - Jacques Grill
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Oncology and INSERM Unit 981, Gustave Roussy and University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Cassie Kline
- Division of Oncology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sabine Mueller
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- Department of Oncology, Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adam Resnick
- Division of Oncology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Javad Nazarian
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Research Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
- George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Serdyukova K, Swearingen AR, Coradin M, Nevo M, Tran H, Bajric E, Brumbaugh J. Leveraging dominant-negative histone H3 K-to-M mutations to study chromatin during differentiation and development. Development 2023; 150:dev202169. [PMID: 38771302 PMCID: PMC10617616 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Histone modifications are associated with regulation of gene expression that controls a vast array of biological processes. Often, these associations are drawn by correlating the genomic location of a particular histone modification with gene expression or phenotype; however, establishing a causal relationship between histone marks and biological processes remains challenging. Consequently, there is a strong need for experimental approaches to directly manipulate histone modifications. A class of mutations on the N-terminal tail of histone H3, lysine-to-methionine (K-to-M) mutations, was identified as dominant-negative inhibitors of histone methylation at their respective and specific residues. The dominant-negative nature of K-to-M mutants makes them a valuable tool for studying the function of specific methylation marks on histone H3. Here, we review recent applications of K-to-M mutations to understand the role of histone methylation during development and homeostasis. We highlight important advantages and limitations that require consideration when using K-to-M mutants, particularly in a developmental context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ksenia Serdyukova
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Alison R. Swearingen
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Mariel Coradin
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Mika Nevo
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Huong Tran
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Emir Bajric
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Justin Brumbaugh
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Espinoza Pereira KN, Shan J, Licht JD, Bennett RL. Histone mutations in cancer. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:1749-1763. [PMID: 37721138 PMCID: PMC10657182 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Genes encoding histone proteins are recurrently mutated in tumor samples, and these mutations may impact nucleosome stability, histone post-translational modification, or chromatin dynamics. The prevalence of histone mutations across diverse cancer types suggest that normal chromatin structure is a barrier to tumorigenesis. Oncohistone mutations disrupt chromatin structure and gene regulatory mechanisms, resulting in aberrant gene expression and the development of cancer phenotypes. Examples of oncohistones include the histone H3 K27M mutation found in pediatric brain cancers that blocks post-translational modification of the H3 N-terminal tail and the histone H2B E76K mutation found in some solid tumors that disrupts nucleosome stability. Oncohistones may comprise a limited fraction of the total histone pool yet cause global effects on chromatin structure and drive cancer phenotypes. Here, we survey histone mutations in cancer and review their function and role in tumorigenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jixiu Shan
- UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, U.S.A
| | - Jonathan D. Licht
- UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, U.S.A
| | - Richard L. Bennett
- UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Sad K, Jones CY, Adams M, Lustenberger S, Lee RS, Elayavalli SR, Farhi J, Lemon LD, Fasken MB, Corbett AH, Spangle JM. Histone H3 E50K mutation confers oncogenic activity and supports an EMT phenotype. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.11.561775. [PMID: 37873162 PMCID: PMC10592736 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.11.561775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Sequencing of human patient tumors has identified recurrent missense mutations in genes encoding core histones. We report that mutations that convert histone H3 amino acid 50 from a glutamate to a lysine (H3E50K) support an oncogenic phenotype in human cells. Expression of H3E50K is sufficient to transform human cells as evidenced by a dramatic increase in cell migration and invasion, and a statistically significant increase in proliferation and clonogenicity. H3E50K also increases the invasive phenotype in the context of co-occurring BRAF mutations, which are present in patient tumors characterized by H3E50K. H3E50 lies on the globular domain surface in a region that contacts H4 within the nucleosome. We find that H3E50K perturbs proximal H3 post-translational modifications globally and dysregulates gene expression, activating the epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Functional studies using S. cerevisiae reveal that, while yeast cells that express H3E50K as the sole copy of histone H3 show sensitivity to cellular stressors, including caffeine, H3E50K cells display some genetic interactions that are distinct from the characterized H3K36M oncohistone yeast model. Taken together, these data suggest that additional histone H3 mutations have the potential to be oncogenic drivers and function through distinct mechanisms that dysregulate gene expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Sad
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - CY Jones
- Department of Biology; Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta GA 30322
| | - M Adams
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - S Lustenberger
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - RS Lee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - SR Elayavalli
- Department of Biology; Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta GA 30322
| | - J Farhi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - LD Lemon
- Department of Biology; Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta GA 30322
| | - MB Fasken
- Department of Biology; Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta GA 30322
| | - AH Corbett
- Department of Biology; Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta GA 30322
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - JM Spangle
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Jassim A, Rahrmann EP, Simons BD, Gilbertson RJ. Cancers make their own luck: theories of cancer origins. Nat Rev Cancer 2023; 23:710-724. [PMID: 37488363 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00602-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Cancer has been a leading cause of death for decades. This dismal statistic has increased efforts to prevent the disease or to detect it early, when treatment is less invasive, relatively inexpensive and more likely to cure. But precisely how tissues are transformed continues to provoke controversy and debate, hindering cancer prevention and early intervention strategies. Various theories of cancer origins have emerged, including the suggestion that it is 'bad luck': the inevitable consequence of random mutations in proliferating stem cells. In this Review, we discuss the principal theories of cancer origins and the relative importance of the factors that underpin them. The body of available evidence suggests that developing and ageing tissues 'walk a tightrope', retaining adequate levels of cell plasticity to generate and maintain tissues while avoiding overstepping into transformation. Rather than viewing cancer as 'bad luck', understanding the complex choreography of cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors that characterize transformation holds promise to discover effective new ways to prevent, detect and stop cancer before it becomes incurable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amir Jassim
- CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Eric P Rahrmann
- CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ben D Simons
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Richard J Gilbertson
- CRUK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Wadhwani N, Nayak S, Wang Y, Hashizume R, Jie C, Mania-Farnell B, James CD, Xi G, Tomita T. WDR82-Mediated H3K4me3 Is Associated with Tumor Proliferation and Therapeutic Efficacy in Pediatric High-Grade Gliomas. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3429. [PMID: 37444539 PMCID: PMC10340597 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133429] [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: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs) are common malignant brain tumors without effective treatment and poor patient survival. Abnormal posttranslational modification at the histone H3 tail plays critical roles in tumor cell malignancy. We have previously shown that the trimethylation of lysine 4 at histone H3 (H3K4me3) plays a significant role in pediatric ependymoma malignancy and is associated with tumor therapeutic sensitivity. Here, we show that H3K4me3 and its methyltransferase WDR82 are elevated in pHGGs. A reduction in H3K4me3 by downregulating WDR82 decreases H3K4me3 promoter occupancy and the expression of genes associated with stem cell features, cell proliferation, the cell cycle, and DNA damage repair. A reduction in WDR82-mediated H3K4me3 increases the response of pediatric glioma cells to chemotherapy. These findings suggest that WDR82-mediated H3K4me3 is an important determinant of pediatric glioma malignancy and therapeutic response. This highlights the need for a more thorough understanding of the potential of WDR82 as an epigenetic target to increase therapeutic efficacy and improve the prognosis for children with malignant gliomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nitin Wadhwani
- Department of Pathology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Sonali Nayak
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Yufen Wang
- Department of Radio-oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Rintaro Hashizume
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Chunfa Jie
- Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences, Des Moines, IA 50312, USA
| | - Barbara Mania-Farnell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, IN 46323, USA
| | - Charles David James
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Guifa Xi
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Tadanori Tomita
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Ocasio JK, Budd KM, Roach JT, Andrews JM, Baker SJ. Oncohistones and disrupted development in pediatric-type diffuse high-grade glioma. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:367-388. [PMID: 37119408 PMCID: PMC10441521 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10105-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Recurrent, clonal somatic mutations in histone H3 are molecular hallmarks that distinguish the genetic mechanisms underlying pediatric and adult high-grade glioma (HGG), define biological subgroups of diffuse glioma, and highlight connections between cancer, development, and epigenetics. These oncogenic mutations in histones, now termed "oncohistones", were discovered through genome-wide sequencing of pediatric diffuse high-grade glioma. Up to 80% of diffuse midline glioma (DMG), including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and diffuse glioma arising in other midline structures including thalamus or spinal cord, contain histone H3 lysine 27 to methionine (K27M) mutations or, rarely, other alterations that result in a depletion of H3K27me3 similar to that induced by H3 K27M. This subgroup of glioma is now defined as diffuse midline glioma, H3K27-altered. In contrast, histone H3 Gly34Arg/Val (G34R/V) mutations are found in approximately 30% of diffuse glioma arising in the cerebral hemispheres of older adolescents and young adults, now classified as diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3G34-mutant. Here, we review how oncohistones modulate the epigenome and discuss the mutational landscape and invasive properties of histone mutant HGGs of childhood. The distinct mechanisms through which oncohistones and other mutations rewrite the epigenetic landscape provide novel insights into development and tumorigenesis and may present unique vulnerabilities for pHGGs. Lessons learned from these rare incurable brain tumors of childhood may have broader implications for cancer, as additional high- and low-frequency oncohistone mutations have been identified in other tumor types.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer K Ocasio
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kaitlin M Budd
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jordan T Roach
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memphis, TN, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jared M Andrews
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Suzanne J Baker
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
- St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memphis, TN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Andrade AF, Chen CCL, Jabado N. Oncohistones in brain tumors: the soil and seed. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:444-455. [PMID: 36933956 PMCID: PMC11075889 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Recurrent somatic mutations in histone 3 (H3) variants (termed 'oncohistones') have been identified in high-grade gliomas (HGGs) in children and young adults and induce tumorigenesis through disruption of chromatin states. Oncohistones occur with exquisite neuroanatomical specificity and are associated with specific age distribution and epigenome landscapes. Here, we review the known intrinsic ('seed') and the extrinsic ('soil') factors needed for their optimal oncogenic effect and highlight the many unresolved questions regarding their effects on development and crosstalk with the tumor microenvironment. The 'seed and soil' analogy, used to explain tumor metastatic niches, also applies to oncohistones, which mainly thrive and flourish in specific chromatin states during very narrow windows of development, creating exquisite vulnerabilities, which could provide effective therapies for these deadly cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Carol C L Chen
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C7, Canada
| | - Nada Jabado
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C7, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C7, Canada; The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Zhang Q, Yang L, Liu YH, Wilkinson JE, Krainer AR. Antisense oligonucleotide therapy for H3.3K27M diffuse midline glioma. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadd8280. [PMID: 37043556 PMCID: PMC10263181 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.add8280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) are pediatric high-grade brain tumors in the thalamus, midbrain, or pons; the latter subgroup are termed diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG). The brain stem location of these tumors limits the clinical management of DIPG, resulting in poor outcomes for patients. A heterozygous, somatic point mutation in one of two genes coding for the noncanonical histone H3.3 is present in most DIPG tumors. This dominant mutation in the H3-3A gene results in replacement of lysine 27 with methionine (K27M) and causes a global reduction of trimethylation on K27 of all wild-type histone H3 proteins, which is thought to be a driving event in gliomagenesis. In this study, we designed and systematically screened 2'-O-methoxyethyl phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that direct RNase H-mediated knockdown of H3-3A mRNA. We identified a lead ASO that effectively reduced H3-3A mRNA and H3.3K27M protein and restored global H3K27 trimethylation in patient-derived neurospheres. We then tested the lead ASO in two mouse models of DIPG: an immunocompetent mouse model using transduced mutant human H3-3A cDNA and an orthotopic xenograft with patient-derived cells. In both models, ASO treatment restored K27 trimethylation of histone H3 proteins and reduced tumor growth, promoted neural stem cell differentiation into astrocytes, neurons, and oligodendrocytes, and increased survival. These results demonstrate the involvement of the H3.3K27M oncohistone in tumor maintenance, confirm the reversibility of the aberrant epigenetic changes it promotes, and provide preclinical proof of concept for DMG antisense therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 11724
- Stony Brook University, Graduate Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, Stony Brook, NY, 11794
| | - Lucia Yang
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 11724
- Stony Brook University, Graduate Program in Genetics, Stony Brook, NY, 11794
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, 11794
| | - Ying Hsiu Liu
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 11724
| | - John E. Wilkinson
- University of Michigan, Department of Pathology, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109
| | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Park J, Chung C. Epigenetic and Metabolic Changes in Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. Brain Tumor Res Treat 2023; 11:86-93. [PMID: 37151150 PMCID: PMC10172016 DOI: 10.14791/btrt.2023.0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffuse midline glioma (DMG), hitherto known as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), is a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer that primarily affects children. Although the exact cause of DMG/DIPG is not known, a large proportion of DMG/DIPG tumors harbor mutations in the gene encoding the histone H3 protein, specifically the H3K27M mutation. This mutation decreases the level of H3K27me3, a histone modification that plays a vital role in regulating gene expression through epigenetic regulation. The mutation also alters the function of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), thereby preventing the repression of genes associated with cancer development. The decrease in H3K27me3 caused by the histone H3 mutation is accompanied by an increase in the level of H3K27ac, a post-translational modification related to active transcription. Dysregulation of histone modification markedly affects gene expression, contributing to cancer development and progression by promoting uncontrolled cell proliferation, tumor growth, and metabolism. DMG/DIPG alters the metabolism of methionine and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, as well as glucose and glutamine uptake. The role of epigenetic and metabolic changes in the development of DMG/DIPG has been studied extensively, and understanding these changes is critical to developing therapies targeting these pathways. Studies are currently underway to identify new therapeutic targets for DMG/DIPG, which may lead to the development of effective treatments for this devastating disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiyoon Park
- Department of New Biology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, Korea
- New Biology Research Center (NBRC), Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, Korea
| | - Chan Chung
- Department of New Biology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, Korea
- New Biology Research Center (NBRC), Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Klonou A, Korkolopoulou P, Giannopoulou AI, Kanakoglou DS, Pampalou A, Gargalionis AN, Sarantis P, Mitsios A, Sgouros S, Papavassiliou AG, Piperi C. Histone H3K9 methyltransferase SETDB1 overexpression correlates with pediatric high-grade gliomas progression and prognosis. J Mol Med (Berl) 2023; 101:387-401. [PMID: 36811655 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-023-02294-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs) are heterogeneous, diffuse, and highly infiltrative tumors with dismal prognosis. Aberrant post-translational histone modifications with elevated histone 3 lysine trimethylation (H3K9me3) have been recently implicated in pHGGs' pathology, conferring to tumor heterogeneity. The present study investigates the potential involvement of H3K9me3 methyltransferase SETDB1 in the cellular function, progression, and clinical significance of pHGG. The bioinformatic analysis detected SETDB1 enrichment in pediatric gliomas compared to the normal brain, as well as positive and negative correlations with a proneural and mesenchymal signature, respectively. In our cohort of pHGGs, SETDB1 expression was significantly increased compared to pLGG and normal brain tissue and correlated with p53 expression, as well as reduced patients' survival. In accordance, H3K9me3 levels were also elevated in pHGG compared to the normal brain and were associated with worse patient survival. Gene silencing of SETDB1 in two patient-derived pHGG cell lines showed a significant reduction in cell viability followed by reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. SETDB1 silencing further reduced cell migration of pHGG cells and the expression of the mesenchymal markers N-cadherin and vimentin. mRNA analysis of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers upon SETDB1 silencing showed a reduction in SNAI1 levels and downregulation of CDH2 along with the EMT regulator gene MARCKS. In addition, SETDB1 silencing significantly increased the bivalent tumor suppressor gene SLC17A7 mRNA levels in both cell lines, indicating its implication in the oncogenic process.Altogether, our findings demonstrate a predominant oncogenic role of SETDB1 in pHGG which along with elevated H3K9me3 levels correlate significantly to tumor progression and inferior patients' survival. There is evidence that targeting SETDB1 may effectively inhibit pHGG progression, providing a novel insight into the therapeutic strategies for pediatric gliomas. KEY MESSAGES: SETDB1 gene expression is enriched in pHGG compared to normal brain. SETDB1 expression is increased in pHGG tissues and associates with reduced patients' survival. Gene silencing of SETDB1 reduces cell viability and migration. SETDB1 silencing affects mesenchymal markers expression. SETDB1 silencing upregulates SLC17A7 levels. SETDB1 has an oncogenic role in pHGG.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Klonou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street - Bldg 16, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Penelope Korkolopoulou
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Angeliki-Ioanna Giannopoulou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street - Bldg 16, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios S Kanakoglou
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Andromachi Pampalou
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonios N Gargalionis
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street - Bldg 16, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Sarantis
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street - Bldg 16, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Mitsios
- Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, IASO Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15123, Athens, Greece
| | - Spyros Sgouros
- Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, IASO Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15123, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios G Papavassiliou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street - Bldg 16, 11527, Athens, Greece.
| | - Christina Piperi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street - Bldg 16, 11527, Athens, Greece.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Past, present and future of Focused Ultrasound as an adjunct or complement to DIPG/DMG therapy: A consensus of the 2021 FUSF DIPG meeting. Neoplasia 2023; 37:100876. [PMID: 36709715 PMCID: PMC9900434 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2023.100876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), now known as Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG) is a devastating pediatric brain tumor with limited treatment options and a very poor prognosis. Despite more than 250 clinical trials aimed to treat children diagnosed with DMG, no curative therapies currently exist for this patient population. A major obstacle has been the intact blood brain barrier (BBB) which prevents most therapeutics from crossing into the tumor bed. Focused Ultrasound (FUS) is an emerging, noninvasive medical technology which has been shown in both preclinical and clinical research to disrupt the blood brain barrier safely and temporarily. FUS blood brain barrier opening has been studied in combination with chemotherapies in preclinical DMG models, and this technology is now being investigated in clinical trials for the treatment of pediatric brain tumors. Focused ultrasound has additional mechanisms of action, including sonodynamic therapy and radiation sensitization, that hold promise as future DMG therapies as well. This paper, largely based off the proceedings from a workshop held by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation in October of 2021, summarizes the current state of the field of focused ultrasound for DIPG/DMG, including preclinical, technical, and clinical summaries in addition to recommended next steps for continued advancement of the game changing technology of Focused Ultrasound.
Collapse
|
21
|
Li S, Wang C, Chen J, Lan Y, Zhang W, Kang Z, Zheng Y, Zhang R, Yu J, Li W. Signaling pathways in brain tumors and therapeutic interventions. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:8. [PMID: 36596785 PMCID: PMC9810702 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01260-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain tumors, although rare, contribute to distinct mortality and morbidity at all ages. Although there are few therapeutic options for brain tumors, enhanced biological understanding and unexampled innovations in targeted therapies and immunotherapies have considerably improved patients' prognoses. Nonetheless, the reduced response rates and unavoidable drug resistance of currently available treatment approaches have become a barrier to further improvement in brain tumor (glioma, meningioma, CNS germ cell tumors, and CNS lymphoma) treatment. Previous literature data revealed that several different signaling pathways are dysregulated in brain tumor. Importantly, a better understanding of targeting signaling pathways that influences malignant behavior of brain tumor cells might open the way for the development of novel targeted therapies. Thus, there is an urgent need for a more comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis of these brain tumors, which might result in greater progress in therapeutic approaches. This paper began with a brief description of the epidemiology, incidence, risk factors, as well as survival of brain tumors. Next, the major signaling pathways underlying these brain tumors' pathogenesis and current progress in therapies, including clinical trials, targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and system therapies, have been systemically reviewed and discussed. Finally, future perspective and challenges of development of novel therapeutic strategies in brain tumor were emphasized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shenglan Li
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Neuro-Oncology, Cancer Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Can Wang
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Neuro-Oncology, Cancer Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinyi Chen
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Neuro-Oncology, Cancer Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanjie Lan
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Neuro-Oncology, Cancer Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Weichunbai Zhang
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Neuro-Oncology, Cancer Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuang Kang
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Neuro-Oncology, Cancer Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Zheng
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Neuro-Oncology, Cancer Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Neuro-Oncology, Cancer Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianyu Yu
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Neuro-Oncology, Cancer Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenbin Li
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, Cancer Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Skouras P, Markouli M, Strepkos D, Piperi C. Advances on Epigenetic Drugs for Pediatric Brain Tumors. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:1519-1535. [PMID: 36154607 PMCID: PMC10472812 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666220922150456] [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: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Pediatric malignant brain tumors represent the most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths in childhood. The therapeutic scheme of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy has improved patient management, but with minimal progress in patients' prognosis. Emerging molecular targets and mechanisms have revealed novel approaches for pediatric brain tumor therapy, enabling personalized medical treatment. Advances in the field of epigenetic research and their interplay with genetic changes have enriched our knowledge of the molecular heterogeneity of these neoplasms and have revealed important genes that affect crucial signaling pathways involved in tumor progression. The great potential of epigenetic therapy lies mainly in the widespread location and the reversibility of epigenetic alterations, proposing a wide range of targeting options, including the possible combination of chemoand immunotherapy, significantly increasing their efficacy. Epigenetic drugs, including inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases, histone deacetylases and demethylases, are currently being tested in clinical trials on pediatric brain tumors. Additional novel epigenetic drugs include protein and enzyme inhibitors that modulate epigenetic modification pathways, such as Bromodomain and Extraterminal (BET) proteins, Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 9 (CDK9), AXL, Facilitates Chromatin Transcription (FACT), BMI1, and CREB Binding Protein (CBP) inhibitors, which can be used either as standalone or in combination with current treatment approaches. In this review, we discuss recent progress on epigenetic drugs that could possibly be used against the most common malignant tumors of childhood, such as medulloblastomas, high-grade gliomas and ependymomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Skouras
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Mariam Markouli
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Strepkos
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Christina Piperi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Panditharatna E, Marques JG, Wang T, Trissal MC, Liu I, Jiang L, Beck A, Groves A, Dharia NV, Li D, Hoffman SE, Kugener G, Shaw ML, Mire HM, Hack OA, Dempster JM, Lareau C, Dai L, Sigua LH, Quezada MA, Stanton ACJ, Wyatt M, Kalani Z, Goodale A, Vazquez F, Piccioni F, Doench JG, Root DE, Anastas JN, Jones KL, Conway AS, Stopka S, Regan MS, Liang Y, Seo HS, Song K, Bashyal P, Jerome WP, Mathewson ND, Dhe-Paganon S, Suvà ML, Carcaboso AM, Lavarino C, Mora J, Nguyen QD, Ligon KL, Shi Y, Agnihotri S, Agar NY, Stegmaier K, Stiles CD, Monje M, Golub TR, Qi J, Filbin MG. BAF Complex Maintains Glioma Stem Cells in Pediatric H3K27M Glioma. Cancer Discov 2022; 12:2880-2905. [PMID: 36305736 PMCID: PMC9716260 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-21-1491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Diffuse midline gliomas are uniformly fatal pediatric central nervous system cancers that are refractory to standard-of-care therapeutic modalities. The primary genetic drivers are a set of recurrent amino acid substitutions in genes encoding histone H3 (H3K27M), which are currently undruggable. These H3K27M oncohistones perturb normal chromatin architecture, resulting in an aberrant epigenetic landscape. To interrogate for epigenetic dependencies, we performed a CRISPR screen and show that patient-derived H3K27M-glioma neurospheres are dependent on core components of the mammalian BAF (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complex. The BAF complex maintains glioma stem cells in a cycling, oligodendrocyte precursor cell-like state, in which genetic perturbation of the BAF catalytic subunit SMARCA4 (BRG1), as well as pharmacologic suppression, opposes proliferation, promotes progression of differentiation along the astrocytic lineage, and improves overall survival of patient-derived xenograft models. In summary, we demonstrate that therapeutic inhibition of the BAF complex has translational potential for children with H3K27M gliomas. SIGNIFICANCE Epigenetic dysregulation is at the core of H3K27M-glioma tumorigenesis. Here, we identify the BRG1-BAF complex as a critical regulator of enhancer and transcription factor landscapes, which maintain H3K27M glioma in their progenitor state, precluding glial differentiation, and establish pharmacologic targeting of the BAF complex as a novel treatment strategy for pediatric H3K27M glioma. See related commentary by Beytagh and Weiss, p. 2730. See related article by Mo et al., p. 2906.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eshini Panditharatna
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Joana G. Marques
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Tingjian Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Maria C. Trissal
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Ilon Liu
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Alexander Beck
- Center for Neuropathology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrew Groves
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Neekesh V. Dharia
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Deyao Li
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Samantha E. Hoffman
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Guillaume Kugener
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - McKenzie L. Shaw
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hafsa M. Mire
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Olivia A. Hack
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joshua M. Dempster
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Caleb Lareau
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Lingling Dai
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Logan H. Sigua
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael A. Quezada
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Ann-Catherine J. Stanton
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Meghan Wyatt
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Zohra Kalani
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Amy Goodale
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Francisca Vazquez
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Federica Piccioni
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Merck Research Laboratories, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - John G. Doench
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - David E. Root
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Jamie N. Anastas
- Division of Newborn Medicine and Epigenetics Program, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurosurgery and Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Kristen L. Jones
- Lurie Family Imaging Center, Center for Biomedical Imaging in Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Amy Saur Conway
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sylwia Stopka
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael S. Regan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yu Liang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hyuk-Soo Seo
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kijun Song
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Puspalata Bashyal
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - William P. Jerome
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nathan D. Mathewson
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sirano Dhe-Paganon
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mario L. Suvà
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Angel M. Carcaboso
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cinzia Lavarino
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Mora
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Quang-De Nguyen
- Lurie Family Imaging Center, Center for Biomedical Imaging in Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Keith L. Ligon
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yang Shi
- Division of Newborn Medicine and Epigenetics Program, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Oxford Branch, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sameer Agnihotri
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Nathalie Y.R. Agar
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kimberly Stegmaier
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Charles D. Stiles
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michelle Monje
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Todd R. Golub
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Jun Qi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mariella G. Filbin
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Pal S, Kaplan JP, Nguyen H, Stopka SA, Savani MR, Regan MS, Nguyen QD, Jones KL, Moreau LA, Peng J, Dipiazza MG, Perciaccante AJ, Zhu X, Hunsel BR, Liu KX, Alexandrescu S, Drissi R, Filbin MG, McBrayer SK, Agar NYR, Chowdhury D, Haas-Kogan DA. A druggable addiction to de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis in diffuse midline glioma. Cancer Cell 2022; 40:957-972.e10. [PMID: 35985342 PMCID: PMC9575661 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2022.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Diffuse midline glioma (DMG) is a uniformly fatal pediatric cancer driven by oncohistones that do not readily lend themselves to drug development. To identify druggable targets for DMG, we conducted a genome-wide CRISPR screen that reveals a DMG selective dependency on the de novo pathway for pyrimidine biosynthesis. This metabolic vulnerability reflects an elevated rate of uridine/uracil degradation that depletes DMG cells of substrates for the alternate salvage pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway. A clinical stage inhibitor of DHODH (rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo pathway) diminishes uridine-5'-phosphate (UMP) pools, generates DNA damage, and induces apoptosis through suppression of replication forks-an "on-target" effect, as shown by uridine rescue. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectroscopy imaging demonstrates that this DHODH inhibitor (BAY2402234) accumulates in the brain at therapeutically relevant concentrations, suppresses de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis in vivo, and prolongs survival of mice bearing intracranial DMG xenografts, highlighting BAY2402234 as a promising therapy against DMGs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharmistha Pal
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jakub P Kaplan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Huy Nguyen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sylwia A Stopka
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Milan R Savani
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Michael S Regan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Quang-De Nguyen
- Lurie Family Imaging Center, Center for Biomedical Imaging in Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02210, USA
| | - Kristen L Jones
- Lurie Family Imaging Center, Center for Biomedical Imaging in Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02210, USA
| | - Lisa A Moreau
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jingyu Peng
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Marina G Dipiazza
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Andrew J Perciaccante
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Xiaoting Zhu
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Bradley R Hunsel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Kevin X Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sanda Alexandrescu
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School Boston, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Bader 104, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rachid Drissi
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Mariella G Filbin
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Samuel K McBrayer
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Nathalie Y R Agar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Dipanjan Chowdhury
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Daphne A Haas-Kogan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Mitchener MM, Muir TW. Oncohistones: Exposing the nuances and vulnerabilities of epigenetic regulation. Mol Cell 2022; 82:2925-2938. [PMID: 35985302 PMCID: PMC9482148 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Work over the last decade has uncovered a new layer of epigenetic dysregulation. It is now appreciated that somatic missense mutations in histones, the packaging agents of genomic DNA, are often associated with human pathologies, especially cancer. Although some of these "oncohistone" mutations are thought to be key drivers of cancer, the impacts of the majority of them on disease onset and progression remain to be elucidated. Here, we survey this rapidly expanding research field with particular emphasis on how histone mutants, even at low dosage, can corrupt chromatin states. This work is unveiling the remarkable intricacies of epigenetic control mechanisms. Throughout, we highlight how studies of oncohistones have leveraged, and in some cases fueled, the advances in our ability to manipulate and interrogate chromatin at the molecular level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Tom W Muir
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Single-cell epigenetic analysis reveals principles of chromatin states in H3.3-K27M gliomas. Mol Cell 2022; 82:2696-2713.e9. [PMID: 35716669 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells are highly heterogeneous at the transcriptional level and epigenetic state. Methods to study epigenetic heterogeneity are limited in throughput and information obtained per cell. Here, we adapted cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) to analyze a wide panel of histone modifications in primary tumor-derived lines of diffused intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). DIPG is a lethal glioma, driven by a histone H3 lysine 27 mutation (H3-K27M). We identified two epigenetically distinct subpopulations in DIPG, reflecting inherent heterogeneity in expression of the mutant histone. These two subpopulations are robust across tumor lines derived from different patients and show differential proliferation capacity and expression of stem cell and differentiation markers. Moreover, we demonstrate the use of these high-dimensional data to elucidate potential interactions between histone modifications and epigenetic alterations during the cell cycle. Our work establishes new concepts for the analysis of epigenetic heterogeneity in cancer that could be applied to diverse biological systems.
Collapse
|
27
|
Kfoury-Beaumont N, Prakasam R, Pondugula S, Lagas JS, Matkovich S, Gontarz P, Yang L, Yano H, Kim AH, Rubin JB, Kroll KL. The H3K27M mutation alters stem cell growth, epigenetic regulation, and differentiation potential. BMC Biol 2022; 20:124. [PMID: 35637482 PMCID: PMC9153095 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01324-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodevelopmental disorders increase brain tumor risk, suggesting that normal brain development may have protective properties. Mutations in epigenetic regulators are common in pediatric brain tumors, highlighting a potentially central role for disrupted epigenetic regulation of normal brain development in tumorigenesis. For example, lysine 27 to methionine mutation (H3K27M) in the H3F3A gene occurs frequently in Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas (DIPGs), the most aggressive pediatric glioma. As H3K27M mutation is necessary but insufficient to cause DIPGs, it is accompanied by additional mutations in tumors. However, how H3K27M alone increases vulnerability to DIPG tumorigenesis remains unclear. RESULTS Here, we used human embryonic stem cell models with this mutation, in the absence of other DIPG contributory mutations, to investigate how H3K27M alters cellular proliferation and differentiation. We found that H3K27M increased stem cell proliferation and stem cell properties. It interfered with differentiation, promoting anomalous mesodermal and ectodermal gene expression during both multi-lineage and germ layer-specific cell specification, and blocking normal differentiation into neuroectoderm. H3K27M mutant clones exhibited transcriptomic diversity relative to the more homogeneous wildtype population, suggesting reduced fidelity of gene regulation, with aberrant expression of genes involved in stem cell regulation, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. These phenomena were associated with global loss of H3K27me3 and concordant loss of DNA methylation at specific genes in H3K27M-expressing cells. CONCLUSIONS Together, these data suggest that H3K27M mutation disrupts normal differentiation, maintaining a partially differentiated state with elevated clonogenicity during early development. This disrupted response to early developmental cues could promote tissue properties that enable acquisition of additional mutations that cooperate with H3K27M mutation in genesis of DMG/DIPG. Therefore, this work demonstrates for the first time that H3K27M mutation confers vulnerability to gliomagenesis through persistent clonogenicity and aberrant differentiation and defines associated alterations of histone and DNA methylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N. Kfoury-Beaumont
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California in San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - R. Prakasam
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
| | - S. Pondugula
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
| | - J. S. Lagas
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
| | - S. Matkovich
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
| | - P. Gontarz
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
| | - L. Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
| | - H. Yano
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
| | - A. H. Kim
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
- The Brain Tumor Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - J. B. Rubin
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
- The Brain Tumor Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, MO USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
| | - K. L. Kroll
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO USA
- The Brain Tumor Center, Washington University School of Medicine, Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, MO USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
du Chatinier A, Meel MH, Das AI, Metselaar DS, Waranecki P, Bugiani M, Breur M, Simonds EF, Lu ED, Weiss WA, Garcia Vallejo JJ, Hoving EW, Phoenix TN, Hulleman E. Generation of Immunocompetent Syngeneic Allograft Mouse Models for Pediatric Diffuse Midline Glioma. Neurooncol Adv 2022; 4:vdac079. [PMID: 35733514 PMCID: PMC9210310 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdac079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Diffuse midline gliomas (DMG) are highly malignant incurable pediatric brain tumors. A lack of effective treatment options highlights the need to investigate novel therapeutic strategies. This includes the use of immunotherapy, which has shown promise in other hard-to-treat tumors. To facilitate preclinical immunotherapeutic research, immunocompetent mouse models that accurately reflect the unique genetic, anatomical, and histological features of DMG patients are warranted.
Methods
We established cell cultures from primary DMG mouse models (C57BL/6) that were generated by brainstem targeted intra-uterine electroporation (IUE). We subsequently created allograft DMG mouse models by orthotopically implanting these tumor cells into syngeneic mice. Immunohistochemistry and -fluorescence, mass cytometry, and cell-viability assays were then used to verify that these murine tumors recapitulated human DMG.
Results
We generated three genetically distinct allograft models representing histone 3 wildtype (H3 WT) and K27M-mutant DMG (H3.3 K27M and H3.1 K27M). These allograft models recapitulated the histopathologic phenotype of their human counterparts, including their diffuse infiltrative growth and expression of DMG-associated antigens. These murine pontine tumors also exhibited an immune microenvironment similar to human DMG, characterized by considerable myeloid cell infiltration and a paucity of T-lymphocytes and NK cells. Finally, we show that these murine DMG cells display similar sensitivity to histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition as patient-derived DMG cells.
Conclusions
We created and validated an accessible method to generate immunocompetent allograft models reflecting different subtypes of DMG. These models adequately recapitulated the histopathology, immune microenvironment, and therapeutic response of human DMG, providing useful tools for future preclinical studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Michaël H Meel
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Arvid I Das
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Piotr Waranecki
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marianna Bugiani
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Breur
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Erin F Simonds
- Departments of Neurology, Neurological Surgery, and Pediatrics, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Edbert D Lu
- Departments of Neurology, Neurological Surgery, and Pediatrics, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - William A Weiss
- Departments of Neurology, Neurological Surgery, and Pediatrics, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Juan J Garcia Vallejo
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eelco W Hoving
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Timothy N Phoenix
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati/ Research in Patient Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Esther Hulleman
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Furth N, Algranati D, Dassa B, Beresh O, Fedyuk V, Morris N, Kasper LH, Jones D, Monje M, Baker SJ, Shema E. H3-K27M-mutant nucleosomes interact with MLL1 to shape the glioma epigenetic landscape. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110836. [PMID: 35584667 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated mutations in genes encoding histones dramatically reshape chromatin and support tumorigenesis. Lysine to methionine substitution of residue 27 on histone H3 (K27M) is a driver mutation in high-grade pediatric gliomas, known to abrogate polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) activity. We applied single-molecule systems to image individual nucleosomes and delineate the combinatorial epigenetic patterns associated with H3-K27M expression. We found that chromatin marks on H3-K27M-mutant nucleosomes are dictated both by their incorporation preferences and by intrinsic properties of the mutation. Mutant nucleosomes not only preferentially bind PRC2 but also directly interact with MLL1, leading to genome-wide redistribution of H3K4me3. H3-K27M-mediated deregulation of repressive and active chromatin marks leads to unbalanced "bivalent" chromatin, which may support a poorly differentiated cellular state. This study provides evidence for a direct effect of H3-K27M oncohistone on the MLL1-H3K4me3 pathway and highlights the capability of single-molecule tools to reveal mechanisms of chromatin deregulation in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noa Furth
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Danielle Algranati
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Bareket Dassa
- Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Faculty of Biochemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Olga Beresh
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Vadim Fedyuk
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Natasha Morris
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Lawryn H Kasper
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | | | - Michelle Monje
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Suzanne J Baker
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Efrat Shema
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Golbourn BJ, Halbert ME, Halligan K, Varadharajan S, Krug B, Mbah NE, Kabir N, Stanton ACJ, Locke AL, Casillo SM, Zhao Y, Sanders LM, Cheney A, Mullett SJ, Chen A, Wassell M, Andren A, Perez J, Jane EP, Premkumar DRD, Koncar RF, Mirhadi S, McCarl LH, Chang YF, Wu YL, Gatesman TA, Cruz AF, Zapotocky M, Hu B, Kohanbash G, Wang X, Vartanian A, Moran MF, Lieberman F, Amankulor NM, Wendell SG, Vaske OM, Panigrahy A, Felker J, Bertrand KC, Kleinman CL, Rich JN, Friedlander RM, Broniscer A, Lyssiotis C, Jabado N, Pollack IF, Mack SC, Agnihotri S. Loss of MAT2A compromises methionine metabolism and represents a vulnerability in H3K27M mutant glioma by modulating the epigenome. NATURE CANCER 2022; 3:629-648. [PMID: 35422502 PMCID: PMC9551679 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-022-00348-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) bearing driver mutations of histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27M) are incurable brain tumors with unique epigenomes. Here, we generated a syngeneic H3K27M mouse model to study the amino acid metabolic dependencies of these tumors. H3K27M mutant cells were highly dependent on methionine. Interrogating the methionine cycle dependency through a short-interfering RNA screen identified the enzyme methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A) as a critical vulnerability in these tumors. This vulnerability was not mediated through the canonical mechanism of MTAP deletion; instead, DMG cells have lower levels of MAT2A protein, which is mediated by negative feedback induced by the metabolite decarboxylated S-adenosyl methionine. Depletion of residual MAT2A induces global depletion of H3K36me3, a chromatin mark of transcriptional elongation perturbing oncogenic and developmental transcriptional programs. Moreover, methionine-restricted diets extended survival in multiple models of DMG in vivo. Collectively, our results suggest that MAT2A presents an exploitable therapeutic vulnerability in H3K27M gliomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Golbourn
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Matthew E Halbert
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Katharine Halligan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology Program, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Srinidhi Varadharajan
- Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Brian Krug
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nneka E Mbah
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nisha Kabir
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Lady Davis Research Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ann-Catherine J Stanton
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Abigail L Locke
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie M Casillo
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yanhua Zhao
- Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lauren M Sanders
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Allison Cheney
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
- University of California Santa Cruz Genomics Institute, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Steven J Mullett
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Apeng Chen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Michelle Wassell
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anthony Andren
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jennifer Perez
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Esther P Jane
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Daniel R David Premkumar
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Robert F Koncar
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shideh Mirhadi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lauren H McCarl
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yue-Fang Chang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yijen L Wu
- Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh and Rangos Research Center Animal Imaging Core, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Taylor A Gatesman
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Andrea F Cruz
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Michal Zapotocky
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Baoli Hu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Gary Kohanbash
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Xiuxing Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | | | - Michael F Moran
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Frank Lieberman
- Department of Neurology, Adult Neurooncology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nduka M Amankulor
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Stacy G Wendell
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Olena M Vaske
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
- University of California Santa Cruz Genomics Institute, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Ashok Panigrahy
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - James Felker
- Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kelsey C Bertrand
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Claudia L Kleinman
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Lady Davis Research Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jeremy N Rich
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Robert M Friedlander
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alberto Broniscer
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology Program, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Costas Lyssiotis
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nada Jabado
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ian F Pollack
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Stephen C Mack
- Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - Sameer Agnihotri
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Persson ML, Douglas AM, Alvaro F, Faridi P, Larsen MR, Alonso MM, Vitanza NA, Dun MD. The intrinsic and microenvironmental features of diffuse midline glioma; implications for the development of effective immunotherapeutic treatment strategies. Neuro Oncol 2022; 24:1408-1422. [PMID: 35481923 PMCID: PMC9435509 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffuse midline glioma (DMG), including those of the brainstem (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma), are pediatric tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). Recognized as the most lethal of all childhood cancers, palliative radiotherapy remains the only proven treatment option, however, even for those that respond, survival is only temporarily extended. DMG harbor an immunologically “cold” tumor microenvironment (TME) with few infiltrating immune cells. The mechanisms underpinning the cold TME are not well understood. Low expression levels of immune checkpoint proteins, including PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4, are recurring features of DMG and likely contribute to the lack of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The unique epigenetic signatures (including stem cell-like methylation patterns), a low tumor mutational burden, and recurring somatic mutations (H3K27M, TP53, ACVR1, MYC, and PIK3CA), possibly play a role in the reduced efficacy of traditional immunotherapies. Therefore, to circumvent the lack of efficacy thus far seen for the use of ICIs, adoptive cell transfer (including chimeric antigen receptor T cells) and the use of oncolytic viruses, are currently being evaluated for the treatment of DMG. It remains an absolute imperative that we improve our understanding of DMG’s intrinsic and TME features if patients are to realize the potential benefits offered by these sophisticated treatments. Herein, we summarize the limitations of immunotherapeutic approaches, highlight the emerging safety and clinical efficacy shown for sophisticated cell-based therapies, as well as the evolving knowledge underpinning the DMG-immune axis, to guide the development of immunotherapies that we hope will improve outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mika L Persson
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Precision Medicine Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Alicia M Douglas
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Precision Medicine Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Frank Alvaro
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Precision Medicine Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.,John Hunter Children's Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Pouya Faridi
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Martin R Larsen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Protein Research Group, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Marta M Alonso
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.,Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Nicholas A Vitanza
- The Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.,Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant, and Cellular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Matthew D Dun
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.,Precision Medicine Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Abstract
Chromatin dysfunction has been implicated in a growing number of cancers especially in children and young adults. In addition to chromatin modifying and remodeling enzymes, mutations in histone genes are linked to human cancers. Since the first reports of hotspot missense mutations affecting key residues at histone H3 tail, studies have revealed how these so-called "oncohistones" dominantly (H3K27M and H3K36M) or locally (H3.3G34R/W) inhibit corresponding histone methyltransferases and misregulate epigenome and transcriptome to promote tumorigenesis. More recently, widespread mutations in all four core histones are identified in diverse cancer types. Furthermore, an "oncohistone-like" protein EZHIP has been implicated in driving childhood ependymomas through a mechanism highly reminiscent of H3K27M mutation. We will review recent progresses on understanding the biochemical, molecular and biological mechanisms underlying the canonical and novel histone mutations. Importantly, these mechanistic insights have identified therapeutic opportunities for oncohistone-driven tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Varun Sahu
- Department of Genetics and Development and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Chao Lu
- Department of Genetics and Development and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA,Corresponding author: Chao Lu:
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Deshmukh S, Ptack A, Krug B, Jabado N. Oncohistones: a roadmap to stalled development. FEBS J 2022; 289:1315-1328. [PMID: 33969633 PMCID: PMC9990449 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Since the discovery of recurrent mutations in histone H3 variants in paediatric brain tumours, so-called 'oncohistones' have been identified in various cancers. While their mechanism of action remains under active investigation, several studies have shed light on how they promote genome-wide epigenetic perturbations. These findings converge on altered post-translational modifications on two key lysine (K) residues of the H3 tail, K27 and K36, which regulate several cellular processes, including those linked to cell differentiation during development. We will review how these oncohistones affect the methylation of cognate residues, but also disrupt the distribution of opposing chromatin marks, creating genome-wide epigenetic changes which participate in the oncogenic process. Ultimately, tumorigenesis is promoted through the maintenance of a progenitor state at the expense of differentiation in defined cellular and developmental contexts. As these epigenetic disruptions are reversible, improved understanding of oncohistone pathogenicity can result in needed alternative therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shriya Deshmukh
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Adam Ptack
- Department of Pediatrics, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Brian Krug
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nada Jabado
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Jenseit A, Camgöz A, Pfister SM, Kool M. EZHIP: a new piece of the puzzle towards understanding pediatric posterior fossa ependymoma. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 143:1-13. [PMID: 34762160 PMCID: PMC8732814 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02382-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ependymomas (EPN) are tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) that can arise in the supratentorial brain (ST-EPN), hindbrain or posterior fossa (PF-EPN) or anywhere in the spinal cord (SP-EPN), both in children and adults. Molecular profiling studies have identified distinct groups and subtypes in each of these anatomical compartments. In this review, we give an overview on recent findings and new insights what is driving PFA ependymomas, which is the most common group. PFA ependymomas are characterized by a young median age at diagnosis, an overall balanced genome and a bad clinical outcome (56% 10-year overall survival). Sequencing studies revealed no fusion genes or other highly recurrently mutated genes, suggesting that the disease is epigenetically driven. Indeed, recent findings have shown that the characteristic global loss of the repressive histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) mark in PFA ependymoma is caused by aberrant expression of the enhancer of zeste homolog inhibitory protein (EZHIP) or in rare cases by H3K27M mutations, which both inhibit EZH2 thereby preventing the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) from spreading H3K27me3. We present the current status of the ongoing work on EZHIP and its essential role in the epigenetic disturbance of PFA biology. Comparisons to the oncohistone H3K27M and its role in diffuse midline glioma (DMG) are drawn, highlighting similarities but also differences between the tumor entities and underlying mechanisms. A strong focus is to point out missing information and to present directions of further research that may result in new and improved therapies for PFA ependymoma patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne Jenseit
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KITZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aylin Camgöz
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KITZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KITZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcel Kool
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KITZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Ni S, Chen R, Hu K. Experimental murine models of brainstem gliomas. Drug Discov Today 2021; 27:1218-1235. [PMID: 34954326 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
As an intractable central nervous system (CNS) tumor, brainstem gliomas (BGs) are one of the leading causes of pediatric death by brain tumors. Owing to the risk of surgical resection and the little improvement in survival time after radiotherapy and chemotherapy, there is an urgent need to find reliable model systems to better understand the regional pathogenesis of the brainstem and improve treatment strategies. In this review, we outline the evolution of BG murine models, and discuss both their advantages and limitations in drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuting Ni
- Murad Research Center for Modernized Chinese Medicine, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Department of Pharmacy, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Rujing Chen
- Murad Research Center for Modernized Chinese Medicine, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; Department of Pharmacy, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Kaili Hu
- Murad Research Center for Modernized Chinese Medicine, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
McEachron TA, Helman LJ. Recent Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research. Cancer Res 2021; 81:5783-5799. [PMID: 34561271 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-1191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Over the past few years, the field of pediatric cancer has experienced a shift in momentum, and this has led to new and exciting findings that have relevance beyond pediatric malignancies. Here we present the current status of key aspects of pediatric cancer research. We have focused on genetic and epigenetic drivers of disease, cellular origins of different pediatric cancers, disease models, the tumor microenvironment, and cellular immunotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lee J Helman
- Osteosarcoma Institute, Dallas, Texas
- Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Pharmaco-proteogenomic profiling of pediatric diffuse midline glioma to inform future treatment strategies. Oncogene 2021; 41:461-475. [PMID: 34759345 PMCID: PMC8782719 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-02102-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Diffuse midline glioma (DMG) is a deadly pediatric and adolescent central nervous system (CNS) tumor localized along the midline structures of the brain atop the spinal cord. With a median overall survival (OS) of just 9–11-months, DMG is characterized by global hypomethylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27me3), driven by recurring somatic mutations in H3 genes including, HIST1H3B/C (H3.1K27M) or H3F3A (H3.3K27M), or through overexpression of EZHIP in patients harboring wildtype H3. The recent World Health Organization’s 5th Classification of CNS Tumors now designates DMG as, ‘H3 K27-altered’, suggesting that global H3K27me3 hypomethylation is a ubiquitous feature of DMG and drives devastating transcriptional programs for which there are no treatments. H3-alterations co-segregate with various other somatic driver mutations, highlighting the high-level of intertumoral heterogeneity of DMG. Furthermore, DMG is also characterized by very high-level intratumoral diversity with tumors harboring multiple subclones within each primary tumor. Each subclone contains their own combinations of driver and passenger lesions that continually evolve, making precision-based medicine challenging to successful execute. Whilst the intertumoral heterogeneity of DMG has been extensively investigated, this is yet to translate to an increase in patient survival. Conversely, our understanding of the non-genomic factors that drive the rapid growth and fatal nature of DMG, including endogenous and exogenous microenvironmental influences, neurological cues, and the posttranscriptional and posttranslational architecture of DMG remains enigmatic or at best, immature. However, these factors are likely to play a significant role in the complex biological sequelae that drives the disease. Here we summarize the heterogeneity of DMG and emphasize how analysis of the posttranslational architecture may improve treatment paradigms. We describe factors that contribute to treatment response and disease progression, as well as highlight the potential for pharmaco-proteogenomics (i.e., the integration of genomics, proteomics and pharmacology) in the management of this uniformly fatal cancer.
Collapse
|
38
|
H3.3K27M Mutation Controls Cell Growth and Resistance to Therapies in Pediatric Glioma Cell Lines. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13215551. [PMID: 34771714 PMCID: PMC8583077 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Although the involvement of the H3.3K27M mutation in Diffuse Midline Glioma tumorigenesis is now established, its role in their resistance to treatments and, therefore, in their fatal outcome remains poorly documented. Here, thanks to our models of H3.3K27M induction in pediatric glioma cells, we finally shed light on this crucial issue. Hence, we demonstrate here for the first time that H3.3K27M can increase cell radioresistance capabilities independently of TP53 alterations. Moreover, thanks to a drug library screening, we evidenced that this mutation can, depending on the cellular context, drastically modulate the response of these cells to different classes of compounds, thus paving the way for new therapeutic strategies. Altogether, our results provide here the proof that, beyond its role in tumorigenesis, the presence of H3.3K27M mutation by itself alters the response to treatments of pediatric glioma cells. Abstract High-grade gliomas represent the most lethal class of pediatric tumors, and their resistance to both radio- and chemotherapy is associated with a poor prognosis. Recurrent mutations affecting histone genes drive the tumorigenesis of some pediatric high-grade gliomas, and H3K27M mutations are notably characteristic of a subtype of gliomas called DMG (Diffuse Midline Gliomas). This dominant negative mutation impairs H3K27 trimethylation, leading to profound epigenetic modifications of genes expression. Even though this mutation was described as a driver event in tumorigenesis, its role in tumor cell resistance to treatments has not been deciphered so far. To tackle this issue, we expressed the H3.3K27M mutated histone in three initially H3K27-unmutated pediatric glioma cell lines, Res259, SF188, and KNS42. First, we validated these new H3.3K27M-expressing models at the molecular level and showed that K27M expression is associated with pleiotropic effects on the transcriptomic signature, largely dependent on cell context. We observed that the mutation triggered an increase in cell growth in Res259 and SF188 cells, associated with higher clonogenic capacities. Interestingly, we evidenced that the mutation confers an increased resistance to ionizing radiations in Res259 and KNS42 cells. Moreover, we showed that H3.3K27M mutation impacts the sensitivity of Res259 cells to specific drugs among a library of 80 anticancerous compounds. Altogether, these data highlight that, beyond its tumorigenic role, H3.3K27M mutation is strongly involved in pediatric glioma cells’ resistance to therapies, likely through transcriptomic reprogramming.
Collapse
|
39
|
Argersinger DP, Rivas SR, Shah AH, Jackson S, Heiss JD. New Developments in the Pathogenesis, Therapeutic Targeting, and Treatment of H3K27M-Mutant Diffuse Midline Glioma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13215280. [PMID: 34771443 PMCID: PMC8582453 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) are rare childhood central nervous system tumors that carry a dismal prognosis. Thus, innovative treatment approaches are greatly needed to improve clinical outcomes for these patients. Here, we discuss current trends in research of H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline glioma. This review highlights new developments of molecular pathophysiology for these tumors, as they relate to epigenetics and therapeutic targeting. We focus our discussion on combinatorial therapies addressing the inherent complexity of treating H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomas and incorporating recent advances in immunotherapy, molecular biology, genetics, radiation, and stereotaxic surgical diagnostics.
Collapse
|
40
|
Leszczynska KB, Jayaprakash C, Kaminska B, Mieczkowski J. Emerging Advances in Combinatorial Treatments of Epigenetically Altered Pediatric High-Grade H3K27M Gliomas. Front Genet 2021; 12:742561. [PMID: 34646308 PMCID: PMC8503186 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.742561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Somatic mutations in histone encoding genes result in gross alterations in the epigenetic landscape. Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a pediatric high-grade glioma (pHGG) and one of the most challenging cancers to treat, with only 1% surviving for 5 years. Due to the location in the brainstem, DIPGs are difficult to resect and rapidly turn into a fatal disease. Over 80% of DIPGs confer mutations in genes coding for histone 3 variants (H3.3 or H3.1/H3.2), with lysine to methionine substitution at position 27 (H3K27M). This results in a global decrease in H3K27 trimethylation, increased H3K27 acetylation, and widespread oncogenic changes in gene expression. Epigenetic modifying drugs emerge as promising candidates to treat DIPG, with histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors taking the lead in preclinical and clinical studies. However, some data show the evolving resistance of DIPGs to the most studied HDAC inhibitor panobinostat and highlight the need to further investigate its mechanism of action. A new forceful line of research explores the simultaneous use of multiple inhibitors that could target epigenetically induced changes in DIPG chromatin and enhance the anticancer response of single agents. In this review, we summarize the therapeutic approaches against H3K27M-expressing pHGGs focused on targeting epigenetic dysregulation and highlight promising combinatorial drug treatments. We assessed the effectiveness of the epigenetic drugs that are already in clinical trials in pHGGs. The constantly expanding understanding of the epigenetic vulnerabilities of H3K27M-expressing pHGGs provides new tumor-specific targets, opens new possibilities of therapy, and gives hope to find a cure for this deadly disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna B Leszczynska
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Chinchu Jayaprakash
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bozena Kaminska
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jakub Mieczkowski
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.,3P-Medicine Laboratory, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Yuan Y, Cao W, Zhou H, Qian H, Wang H. H2A.Z acetylation by lincZNF337-AS1 via KAT5 implicated in the transcriptional misregulation in cancer signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:609. [PMID: 34120148 PMCID: PMC8197763 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03895-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In eukaryotes, histones and their variants are essential for chromatin structure and function; both play important roles in the regulation of gene transcription, as well as the development of tumors. We aimed to explore the genomics data of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), combined with literature analysis, in terms of the histone variant H2A.Z. Cell phenotype assay confirmed the effect of H2A.Z on the proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis, and cell cycle of HCC cells. H2A.Z was shown to function via the tumor dysregulation signaling pathway, with BCL6 as its interacting protein. In addition, the acetylation level of H2A.Z was higher in HCC and was related to tumor formation. We found the acetylation of H2A.Z to be related to and regulated by lincZNF337-AS1. LincZNF337-AS1 was found to bind to H2A.Z and KAT5 at different sites, promoting the acetylation of H2A.Z through KAT5. We concluded that, in HCC, H2A.Z is an oncogene, whose acetylation promotes the transcription of downstream genes, and is regulated by lincZNF331-AS1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yin Yuan
- The Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Hospital Affiliated 5 to Nantong University(Taizhou People's Hospital), Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wen Cao
- The Department of Liver Disease of Hospital Affiliated 5 to Nantong University(Taizhou People's Hospital), Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hongbing Zhou
- The Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Hospital Affiliated 5 to Nantong University(Taizhou People's Hospital), Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Haixin Qian
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Honggang Wang
- The Department of General Surgery of Hospital Affiliated 5 to Nantong University(Taizhou People's Hospital), Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, China.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Krug B, Harutyunyan AS, Deshmukh S, Jabado N. Polycomb repressive complex 2 in the driver's seat of childhood and young adult brain tumours. Trends Cell Biol 2021; 31:814-828. [PMID: 34092471 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2021.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Deregulation of the epigenome underlies oncogenesis in numerous primary brain tumours in children and young adults. In this review, we describe how recurrent mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenases or histone 3 variants (oncohistones) in gliomas, expression of the oncohistone mimic enhancer of Zeste homologs inhibiting protein (EZHIP) in a subgroup of ependymoma, and epigenetic alterations in other embryonal tumours promote oncogenicity. We review the proposed mechanisms of cellular transformation, current tumorigenesis models and their link to development. We further stress the narrow developmental windows permissive to their oncogenic potential and how this may stem from converging effects deregulating polycomb repressive complex (PRC)2 function and targets. As altered chromatin states may be reversible, improved understanding of aberrant cancer epigenomes could orient the design of effective therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Krug
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Shriya Deshmukh
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nada Jabado
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, H4A 3J, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Husband HR, Campagne O, He C, Zhu X, Bianski BM, Baker SJ, Shelat AA, Tinkle CL, Stewart CF. Model-based evaluation of image-guided fractionated whole-brain radiation therapy in pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma xenografts. CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol 2021; 10:599-610. [PMID: 33939327 PMCID: PMC8213420 DOI: 10.1002/psp4.12627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation therapy (RT) is currently the standard treatment for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), the most common cause of death in children with brain cancer. A pharmacodynamic model was developed to describe the radiation-induced tumor shrinkage and overall survival in mice bearing DIPG. CD1-nude mice were implanted in the brain cortex with luciferase-labeled patient-derived orthotopic xenografts of DIPG (SJDIPGx7 H3F3AWT / K27 M and SJDIPGx37 H3F3AK27M / K27M ). Mice were treated with image-guided whole-brain RT at 1 or 2 Gy/fraction 5-days-on 2-days-off for a cumulative dose of 20 or 54 Gy. Tumor progression was monitored with bioluminescent imaging (BLI). A mathematical model describing BLI and overall survival was developed with data from mice receiving 2 Gy/fraction and validated using data from mice receiving 1 Gy/fraction. BLI data were adequately fitted with a logistic tumor growth function and a signal distribution model with linear radiation-induced killing effect. A higher tumor growth rate in SJDIPGx37 versus SJDIPGx7 xenografts and a killing effect decreasing with higher tumor baseline (p < 0.0001) were identified. Cumulative radiation dose was suggested to inhibit the tumor growth rate according to a Hill function. Survival distribution was best described with a Weibull hazard function in which the hazard baseline was a continuous function of tumor BLI. Significant differences were further identified between DIPG cell lines and untreated versus treated mice. The model was adequately validated with mice receiving 1 Gy/fraction and will be useful in guiding future preclinical trials incorporating radiation and to support systemic combination therapies with RT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hillary R. Husband
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesSt. Jude Children’s Research HospitalMemphisTNUSA
- College of Engineering and ScienceLouisiana Tech UniversityRustonLAUSA
| | - Olivia Campagne
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesSt. Jude Children’s Research HospitalMemphisTNUSA
| | - Chen He
- Department of Developmental NeurobiologySt. Jude Children’s Research HospitalMemphisTNUSA
| | - Xiaoyan Zhu
- Department of Developmental NeurobiologySt. Jude Children’s Research HospitalMemphisTNUSA
| | - Brandon M. Bianski
- Department of Radiation OncologySt. Jude Children’s Research HospitalMemphisTNUSA
| | - Suzanne J. Baker
- Department of Developmental NeurobiologySt. Jude Children’s Research HospitalMemphisTNUSA
| | - Anang A. Shelat
- Department of Chemical Biology and TherapeuticsSt. Jude Children’s Research HospitalMemphisTNUSA
| | | | - Clinton F. Stewart
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesSt. Jude Children’s Research HospitalMemphisTNUSA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Abedalthagafi M, Mobark N, Al-Rashed M, AlHarbi M. Epigenomics and immunotherapeutic advances in pediatric brain tumors. NPJ Precis Oncol 2021; 5:34. [PMID: 33931704 PMCID: PMC8087701 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-021-00173-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain tumors are the leading cause of childhood cancer-related deaths. Similar to adult brain tumors, pediatric brain tumors are classified based on histopathological evaluations. However, pediatric brain tumors are often histologically inconsistent with adult brain tumors. Recent research findings from molecular genetic analyses have revealed molecular and genetic changes in pediatric tumors that are necessary for appropriate classification to avoid misdiagnosis, the development of treatment modalities, and the clinical management of tumors. As many of the molecular-based therapies developed from clinical trials on adults are not always effective against pediatric brain tumors, recent advances have improved our understanding of the molecular profiles of pediatric brain tumors and have led to novel epigenetic and immunotherapeutic treatment approaches currently being evaluated in clinical trials. In this review, we focus on primary malignant brain tumors in children and genetic, epigenetic, and molecular characteristics that differentiate them from brain tumors in adults. The comparison of pediatric and adult brain tumors highlights the need for treatments designed specifically for pediatric brain tumors. We also discuss the advancements in novel molecularly targeted drugs and how they are being integrated with standard therapy to improve the classification and outcomes of pediatric brain tumors in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Malak Abedalthagafi
- Genomics Research Department, Saudi Human Genome Project, King Fahad Medical City and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | - Nahla Mobark
- Department of Paediatric Oncology Comprehensive Cancer Centre, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - May Al-Rashed
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Chair of Medical and Molecular Genetics Research, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Musa AlHarbi
- Department of Paediatric Oncology Comprehensive Cancer Centre, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Amatori S, Tavolaro S, Gambardella S, Fanelli M. The dark side of histones: genomic organization and role of oncohistones in cancer. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:71. [PMID: 33827674 PMCID: PMC8025322 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01057-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The oncogenic role of histone mutations is one of the most relevant discovery in cancer epigenetics. Recurrent mutations targeting histone genes have been described in pediatric brain tumors, chondroblastoma, giant cell tumor of bone and other tumor types. The demonstration that mutant histones can be oncogenic and drive the tumorigenesis in pediatric tumors, led to the coining of the term “oncohistones.” The first identified histone mutations were localized at or near residues normally targeted by post-translational modifications (PTMs) in the histone N-terminal tails and suggested a possible interference with histone PTMs regulation and reading. Main body In this review, we describe the peculiar organization of the multiple genes that encode histone proteins, and the latter advances in both the identification and the biological role of histone mutations in cancer. Recent works show that recurrent somatic mutations target both N-terminal tails and globular histone fold domain in diverse tumor types. Oncohistones are often dominant-negative and occur at higher frequencies in tumors affecting children and adolescents. Notably, in many cases the mutations target selectively only some of the genes coding the same histone protein and are frequently associated with specific tumor types or, as documented for histone variant H3.3 in pediatric glioma, with peculiar tumors arising from specific anatomic locations. Conclusion The overview of the most recent advances suggests that the oncogenic potential of histone mutations can be exerted, together with the alteration of histone PTMs, through the destabilization of nucleosome and DNA–nucleosome interactions, as well as through the disruption of higher-order chromatin structure. However, further studies are necessary to fully elucidate the mechanism of action of oncohistones, as well as to evaluate their possible application to cancer classification, prognosis and to the identification of new therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Amatori
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Molecular Pathology Laboratory "PaoLa", University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Arco d'Augusto 2, 61032, Fano, PU, Italy.
| | - Simona Tavolaro
- Fredis Associazione, Via Edoardo Jenner 30, 00151, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Gambardella
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Molecular Pathology Laboratory "PaoLa", University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Arco d'Augusto 2, 61032, Fano, PU, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, 86077, Pozzilli, IS, Italy
| | - Mirco Fanelli
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Molecular Pathology Laboratory "PaoLa", University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Via Arco d'Augusto 2, 61032, Fano, PU, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Abstract
Cancer is a complex disease characterized by loss of cellular homeostasis through genetic and epigenetic alterations. Emerging evidence highlights a role for histone variants and their dedicated chaperones in cancer initiation and progression. Histone variants are involved in processes as diverse as maintenance of genome integrity, nuclear architecture and cell identity. On a molecular level, histone variants add a layer of complexity to the dynamic regulation of transcription, DNA replication and repair, and mitotic chromosome segregation. Because these functions are critical to ensure normal proliferation and maintenance of cellular fate, cancer cells are defined by their capacity to subvert them. Hijacking histone variants and their chaperones is emerging as a common means to disrupt homeostasis across a wide range of cancers, particularly solid tumours. Here we discuss histone variants and histone chaperones as tumour-promoting or tumour-suppressive players in the pathogenesis of cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dan Filipescu
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
A novel proteomics approach to epigenetic profiling of circulating nucleosomes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7256. [PMID: 33790358 PMCID: PMC8012598 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86630-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Alteration of epigenetic modifications plays an important role in human cancer. Notably, the dysregulation of histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) has been associated with several cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the signature of histone PTMs on circulating nucleosomes is still not well described. We have developed a fast and robust enrichment method to isolate circulating nucleosomes from plasma for further downstream proteomic analysis. This method enabled us to quantify the global alterations of histone PTMs from 9 CRC patients and 9 healthy donors. Among 54 histone proteoforms identified and quantified in plasma samples, 13 histone PTMs were distinctive in CRC. Notably, methylation of histone H3K9 and H3K27, acetylation of histone H3 and citrullination of histone H2A1R3 were upregulated in plasma of CRC patients. A comparative analysis of paired samples identified 3 common histone PTMs in plasma and tumor tissue including the methylation and acetylation state of lysine 27 of histone H3. Moreover, we highlight for the first time that histone H2A1R3 citrulline is a modification upregulated in CRC patients. This new method presented herein allows the detection and quantification of histone variants and histone PTMs from circulating nucleosomes in plasma samples and could be used for biomarker discovery of cancer.
Collapse
|
48
|
Chen Z, Peng P, Zhang X, Mania-Farnell B, Xi G, Wan F. Advanced Pediatric Diffuse Pontine Glioma Murine Models Pave the Way towards Precision Medicine. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13051114. [PMID: 33807733 PMCID: PMC7961799 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) account for ~15% of pediatric brain tumors, which invariably present with poor survival regardless of treatment mode. Several seminal studies have revealed that 80% of DIPGs harbor H3K27M mutation coded by HIST1H3B, HIST1H3C and H3F3A genes. The H3K27M mutation has broad effects on gene expression and is considered a tumor driver. Determination of the effects of H3K27M on posttranslational histone modifications and gene regulations in DIPG is critical for identifying effective therapeutic targets. Advanced animal models play critical roles in translating these cutting-edge findings into clinical trial development. Here, we review current molecular research progress associated with DIPG. We also summarize DIPG animal models, highlighting novel genomic engineered mouse models (GEMMs) and innovative humanized DIPG mouse models. These models will pave the way towards personalized precision medicine for the treatment of DIPGs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zirong Chen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (Z.C.); (P.P.); (X.Z.)
| | - Peng Peng
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (Z.C.); (P.P.); (X.Z.)
| | - Xiaolin Zhang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (Z.C.); (P.P.); (X.Z.)
| | - Barbara Mania-Farnell
- Department of Biological Science, Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, IN 46323, USA;
| | - Guifa Xi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Correspondence: (G.X.); (F.W.); Tel.: +1-(312)5034296 (G.X.); +86-(027)-8366-5201 (F.W.)
| | - Feng Wan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (Z.C.); (P.P.); (X.Z.)
- Correspondence: (G.X.); (F.W.); Tel.: +1-(312)5034296 (G.X.); +86-(027)-8366-5201 (F.W.)
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Epigenetic-Targeted Treatments for H3K27M-Mutant Midline Gliomas. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1283:73-84. [PMID: 33155139 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-8104-5_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a lethal midline brainstem tumor that most commonly occurs in children and is genetically defined by substitution of methionine for lysine at site 27 of histone 3 (H3K27M) in the majority of cases. This mutation has since been shown to exert an influence on the posttranslational epigenetic landscape of this disease, with the loss of trimethylation at lysine 27 (H3K27me3) the most common alteration. Based on these findings, a number of drugs targeting these epigenetic changes have been proposed, specifically that alter histone trimethylation, acetylation, or phosphorylation. Various mechanisms have been explored, including inhibition of H327 demethylase and methyltransferase to target trimethylation, inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) and bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) to target acetylation, and inhibition of phosphatase-related enzymes to target phosphorylation. This chapter reviews the current rationales and progress made to date in epigenetically targeting DIPG via these mechanisms.
Collapse
|
50
|
Histone Variant H3.3 Mutations in Defining the Chromatin Function in Mammals. Cells 2020; 9:cells9122716. [PMID: 33353064 PMCID: PMC7766983 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The systematic mutation of histone 3 (H3) genes in model organisms has proven to be a valuable tool to distinguish the functional role of histone residues. No system exists in mammalian cells to directly manipulate canonical histone H3 due to a large number of clustered and multi-loci histone genes. Over the years, oncogenic histone mutations in a subset of H3 have been identified in humans, and have advanced our understanding of the function of histone residues in health and disease. The oncogenic mutations are often found in one allele of the histone variant H3.3 genes, but they prompt severe changes in the epigenetic landscape of cells, and contribute to cancer development. Therefore, mutation approaches using H3.3 genes could be relevant to the determination of the functional role of histone residues in mammalian development without the replacement of canonical H3 genes. In this review, we describe the key findings from the H3 mutation studies in model organisms wherein the genetic replacement of canonical H3 is possible. We then turn our attention to H3.3 mutations in human cancers, and discuss H3.3 substitutions in the N-terminus, which were generated in order to explore the specific residue or associated post-translational modification.
Collapse
|