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Scattolin D, Maso AD, Ferro A, Frega S, Bonanno L, Guarneri V, Pasello G. The emerging role of Schlafen-11 (SLFN11) in predicting response to anticancer treatments: Focus on small cell lung cancer. Cancer Treat Rev 2024; 128:102768. [PMID: 38797062 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2024.102768] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by a dismal prognosis. Many efforts have been made so far for identifying novel biomarkers for a personalized treatment for SCLC patients. Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) is a protein differently expressed in many cancers and recently emerged as a new potential biomarker. Lower expression of SLFN11 correlates with a worse prognosis in SCLC and other tumors. SLFN11 has a role in tumorigenesis, inducing replication arrest in the presence of DNA damage through the block of the replication fork. SLFN11 interacts also with chromatin accessibility, proteotoxic stress and mammalian target of rapamycin signalling pathway. The expression of SLFN11 is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms, including promoter methylation, histone deacetylation, and the histone methylation. The downregulation of SLFN11 correlates with a worse response to topoisomerase I and II inhibitors, alkylating agents, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors in different cancer types. Some studies exploring strategies for overcoming drug resistance in tumors with low levels of SLFN11 showed promising results. One of these strategies includes the interaction with the Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-related pathway, constitutively activated and leading to cell survival and tumor growth in the presence of low levels of SLFN11. Furthermore, the expression of SLFN11 is dynamic through time and different anticancer therapy and liquid biopsy seems to be an attractive tool for catching SLFN11 different expressions. Despite this, further investigations exploring SLFN11 as a predictive biomarker, its longitudinal changes, and new strategies to overcome drug resistances are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Scattolin
- Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy; Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Alessandra Ferro
- Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Frega
- Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Laura Bonanno
- Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy; Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Valentina Guarneri
- Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy; Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giulia Pasello
- Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy; Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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Zannikou M, Fish EN, Platanias LC. Signaling by Type I Interferons in Immune Cells: Disease Consequences. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1600. [PMID: 38672681 PMCID: PMC11049350 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16081600] [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: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This review addresses interferon (IFN) signaling in immune cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) and examines how this affects cancer progression. The data reveal that IFNs exert dual roles in cancers, dependent on the TME, exhibiting both anti-tumor activity and promoting cancer progression. We discuss the abnormal IFN signaling induced by cancerous cells that alters immune responses to permit their survival and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markella Zannikou
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Superior Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Eleanor N. Fish
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, 67 College Street, Toronto, ON M5G 2M1, Canada;
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Leonidas C. Platanias
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Superior Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Medicine, Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 820 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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3
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Raynaud CM, Ahmed EI, Jabeen A, Sanchez A, Sherif S, Carneiro-Lobo TC, Awad A, Awartani D, Naik A, Thomas R, Decock J, Zoppoli G, Bedongnetti D, Hendrickx WRL. Modulation of SLFN11 induces changes in DNA Damage response in breast cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:291. [PMID: 38001424 PMCID: PMC10668346 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03144-w] [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: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lack of Schlafen family member 11 (SLFN11) expression has been recently identified as a dominant genomic determinant of response to DNA damaging agents in numerous cancer types. Thus, several strategies aimed at increasing SLFN11 are explored to restore chemosensitivity of refractory cancers. In this study, we examined various approaches to elevate SLFN11 expression in breast cancer cellular models and confirmed a corresponding increase in chemosensitivity with using the most successful efficient one. As oncogenic transcriptomic downregulation is often driven by methylation of the promotor region, we explore the demethylation effect of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (decitabine), on the SLFN11 gene. Since SLFN11 has been reported as an interferon inducible gene, and interferon is secreted during an active anti-tumor immune response, we investigated the in vitro effect of IFN-γ on SLFN11 expression in breast cancer cell lines. As a secondary approach to pick up cross talk between immune cells and SLFN11 expression we used indirect co-culture of breast cancer cells with activated PBMCs and evaluated if this can drive SLFN11 upregulation. Finally, as a definitive and specific way to modulate SLFN11 expression we implemented SLFN11 dCas9 (dead CRISPR associated protein 9) systems to specifically increase or decrease SLFN11 expression. RESULTS After confirming the previously reported correlation between methylation of SLFN11 promoter and its expression across multiple cell lines, we showed in-vitro that decitabine and IFN-γ could increase moderately the expression of SLFN11 in both BT-549 and T47D cell lines. The use of a CRISPR-dCas9 UNISAM and KRAB system could increase or decrease SLFN11 expression significantly (up to fivefold), stably and specifically in BT-549 and T47D cancer cell lines. We then used the modified cell lines to quantify the alteration in chemo sensitivity of those cells to treatment with DNA Damaging Agents (DDAs) such as Cisplatin and Epirubicin or DNA Damage Response (DDRs) drugs like Olaparib. RNAseq was used to elucidate the mechanisms of action affected by the alteration in SLFN11 expression. In cell lines with robust SLFN11 promoter methylation such as MDA-MB-231, no SLFN11 expression could be induced by any approach. CONCLUSION To our knowledge this is the first report of the stable non-lethal increase of SLFN11 expression in a cancer cell line. Our results show that induction of SLFN11 expression can enhance DDA and DDR sensitivity in breast cancer cells and dCas9 systems may represent a novel approach to increase SLFN11 and achieve higher sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents, improving outcome or decreasing required drug concentrations. SLFN11-targeting therapies might be explored pre-clinically to develop personalized approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eiman I Ahmed
- Tumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ayesha Jabeen
- Tumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Apryl Sanchez
- Tumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shimaa Sherif
- Tumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Amany Awad
- Tumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Dina Awartani
- Tumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Adviti Naik
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Center, Doha, Qatar
| | - Remy Thomas
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Center, Doha, Qatar
| | - Julie Decock
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Center, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
| | - Gabriele Zoppoli
- Department of Internal Medicine (DiMI), University of Genoa and Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Ospedale Policlinico San Martino IRCCS per l'Oncologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Davide Bedongnetti
- Tumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Internal Medicine (DiMI), University of Genoa and Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Clinical and Experimental Oncology and Hematology, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Wouter R L Hendrickx
- Tumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
- College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar.
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Zhang R, Datta S. Adaptive Sparse Multi-Block PLS Discriminant Analysis: An Integrative Method for Identifying Key Biomarkers from Multi-Omics Data. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14050961. [PMID: 37239321 DOI: 10.3390/genes14050961] [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: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
With the growing use of high-throughput technologies, multi-omics data containing various types of high-dimensional omics data is increasingly being generated to explore the association between the molecular mechanism of the host and diseases. In this study, we present an adaptive sparse multi-block partial least square discriminant analysis (asmbPLS-DA), an extension of our previous work, asmbPLS. This integrative approach identifies the most relevant features across different types of omics data while discriminating multiple disease outcome groups. We used simulation data with various scenarios and a real dataset from the TCGA project to demonstrate that asmbPLS-DA can identify key biomarkers from each type of omics data with better biological relevance than existing competitive methods. Moreover, asmbPLS-DA showed comparable performance in the classification of subjects in terms of disease status or phenotypes using integrated multi-omics molecular profiles, especially when combined with other classification algorithms, such as linear discriminant analysis and random forest. We have made the R package called asmbPLS that implements this method publicly available on GitHub. Overall, asmbPLS-DA achieved competitive performance in terms of feature selection and classification. We believe that asmbPLS-DA can be a valuable tool for multi-omics research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runzhi Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
| | - Susmita Datta
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
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Concannon K, Morris BB, Gay CM, Byers LA. Combining targeted DNA repair inhibition and immune-oncology approaches for enhanced tumor control. Mol Cell 2023; 83:660-680. [PMID: 36669489 PMCID: PMC9992136 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Targeted therapy and immunotherapy have revolutionized cancer treatment. However, the ability of cancer to evade the immune system remains a major barrier for effective treatment. Related to this, several targeted DNA-damage response inhibitors (DDRis) are being tested in the clinic and have been shown to potentiate anti-tumor immune responses. Seminal studies have shown that these agents are highly effective in a pan-cancer class of tumors with genetic defects in key DNA repair genes such as BRCA1/2, BRCA-related genes, ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), and others. Here, we review the molecular consequences of targeted DDR inhibition, from tumor cell death to increased engagement of the anti-tumor immune response. Additionally, we discuss mechanistic and clinical rationale for pairing targeted DDRis with immunotherapy for enhanced tumor control. We also review biomarkers for patient selection and promising new immunotherapy approaches poised to form the foundation of next-generation DDRi and immunotherapy combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Concannon
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Benjamin B Morris
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Carl M Gay
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lauren A Byers
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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Xu J, Chen S, Liang J, Hao T, Wang H, Liu G, Jin X, Li H, Zhang J, Zhang C, He Y. Schlafen family is a prognostic biomarker and corresponds with immune infiltration in gastric cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:922138. [PMID: 36090985 PMCID: PMC9452737 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.922138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Schlafen (SLFN) gene family plays an important role in immune cell differentiation and immune regulation. Previous studies have found that the increased SLFN5 expression in patients with intestinal metaplasia correlates with gastric cancer (GC) progression. However, no investigation has been conducted on the SLFN family in GC. Therefore, we systematically explore the expression and prognostic value of SLFN family members in patients with GC, elucidating their possible biological function and its correlation with tumor immune cells infiltration. TCGA database results indicated that the SLFN5, SLFN11, SLFN12, SLFN12L, and SLFN13 expression was significantly higher in GC. The UALCAN and KM plotter databases indicated that enhanced the SLFN family expression was associated with lymph node metastasis, tumor stage, and tumor grade and predicted an adverse prognosis. cBioportal database revealed that the SLFN family had a high frequency of genetic alterations in GC (about 12%), including mutations and amplification. The GeneMANIA and STRING databases identified 20 interacting genes and 16 interacting proteins that act as potential targets of the SLFN family. SLFN5, SLFN11, SLFN12, SLFN12L, and SLFN14 may be implicated in the immunological response, according to Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Additionally, Timer and TISIDB databases indicate that SLFN5, SLFN11, SLFN12, SLFN12L, and SLFN14 are involved in the immune response. Furthermore, Timer, TCGA, and TISIDB databases suggested that the SLFN5, SLFN11, SLFN12, SLFN12L, and SLFN14 expression in GC is highly linked with immune cell infiltration levels, immune checkpoint, and the many immune cell marker sets expression. We isolated three samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and activated T cells; the results showed the expression of SLFN family members decreased significantly when T cell active. In conclusion, the SLFN family of proteins may act as a prognostic indicator of GC and is associated with immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint expression in GC. Additionally, it may be involved in tumor immune evasion by regulating T cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiannan Xu
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Songyao Chen
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jianming Liang
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tengfei Hao
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huabin Wang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guangyao Liu
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinghan Jin
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huan Li
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Junchang Zhang
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Changhua Zhang
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Changhua Zhang, ; Yulong He,
| | - Yulong He
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Center of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Changhua Zhang, ; Yulong He,
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7
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Structural, molecular, and functional insights into Schlafen proteins. EXPERIMENTAL & MOLECULAR MEDICINE 2022; 54:730-738. [PMID: 35768579 PMCID: PMC9256597 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00794-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Schlafen (SLFN) genes belong to a vertebrate gene family encoding proteins with high sequence homology. However, each SLFN is functionally divergent and differentially expressed in various tissues and species, showing a wide range of expression in cancer and normal cells. SLFNs are involved in various cellular and tissue-specific processes, including DNA replication, proliferation, immune and interferon responses, viral infections, and sensitivity to DNA-targeted anticancer agents. The fundamental molecular characteristics of SLFNs and their structures are beginning to be elucidated. Here, we review recent structural insights into the N-terminal, middle and C-terminal domains (N-, M-, and C-domains, respectively) of human SLFNs and discuss the current understanding of their biological roles. We review the distinct molecular activities of SLFN11, SLFN5, and SLFN12 and the relevance of SLFN11 as a predictive biomarker in oncology. The diverse roles that Schlafen family proteins play in cell proliferation, immune modulation, and other biological processes make them promising targets for treating and tracking diseases, especially cancer. Ukhyun Jo and Yves Pommier from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, USA, review the molecular characteristics and structural features of Schlafen proteins. These proteins take their name from the German word for “sleep”, as the first described Schlafen proteins caused cells to stop dividing, although later reports found that related members of the same protein family serve myriad cellular functions, including in the regulation of DNA replication. A better understanding of Schlafen proteins could open up new avenues in cancer management, for instance, diagnostics that monitor activity levels of one such protein, SLFN11, could help oncologists predict how well patients might respond to anti-cancer therapies.
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Ntzifa A, Londra D, Rampias T, Kotsakis A, Georgoulias V, Lianidou E. DNA Methylation Analysis in Plasma Cell-Free DNA and Paired CTCs of NSCLC Patients before and after Osimertinib Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13235974. [PMID: 34885084 PMCID: PMC8656722 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13235974] [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: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Osimertinib has been an effective second-line treatment in EGFR mutant NSCLC patients; however, resistance inevitably occurs. DNA methylation has been previously implicated in NSCLC progression and often in therapy resistance, however its distinct role in osimertinib resistance is not elucidated as yet. In the present study, we directly compared DNA methylation of nine selected genes (RASSF1A, RASSF10, APC, WIF-1, BRMS1, SLFN11, RARβ, SHISA3, and FOXA1) in plasma-cfDNA and paired CTCs of NSCLC patients who were longitudinally monitored during osimertinib treatment. Peripheral blood (PB) from 42 NSCLC patients was obtained at two time points: (a) baseline: before treatment with osimertinib and (b) at progression of disease (PD). DNA methylation of the selected genes was detected in plasma-cfDNA (n = 80) and in paired CTCs (n = 74). Direct comparison of DNA methylation of six genes between plasma-cfDNA and paired CTC samples (n = 70) revealed a low concordance, indicating that CTCs and cfDNA give complementary information. DNA methylation analysis of plasma-cfDNA and CTCs indicated that when at least one of these genes was methylated there was a statistically significant increase at PD compared to baseline (p = 0.031). For the first time, DNA methylation analysis in plasma-cfDNA and paired CTCs of NSCLC patients during osimertinib therapy indicated that DNA methylation of these genes could be a possible resistance mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliki Ntzifa
- Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells Lab, Lab of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece; (A.N.); (D.L.)
| | - Dora Londra
- Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells Lab, Lab of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece; (A.N.); (D.L.)
| | - Theodoros Rampias
- Basic Research Center, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Athanasios Kotsakis
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece;
| | - Vassilis Georgoulias
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hellenic Oncology Research Group (HORG), 11471 Athens, Greece;
| | - Evi Lianidou
- Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells Lab, Lab of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece; (A.N.); (D.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-210-727-4311
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9
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A wake-up call for cancer DNA damage: the role of Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) across multiple cancers. Br J Cancer 2021; 125:1333-1340. [PMID: 34294893 PMCID: PMC8576031 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01476-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA-damaging agents exploit increased genomic instability, a hallmark of cancer. Recently, inhibitors targeting the DNA damage response (DDR) pathways, such as PARP inhibitors, have also shown promising therapeutic potential. However, not all tumors respond well to these treatments, suggesting additional determinants of response are required. Schlafen 11 (SLFN11), a putative DNA/RNA helicase that induces irreversible replication block, is emerging as an important regulator of cellular response to DNA damage. Preclinical and emerging clinical trial data suggest that SLFN11 is a predictive biomarker of response to a wide range of therapeutics that cause DNA damage including platinum salts and topoisomerase I/II inhibitors, as well as PARP inhibitors, which has raised exciting possibilities for its clinical application. In this article, we review the function, prevalence, and clinical testing of SLFN11 in tumor biopsy samples and circulating tumor cells. We discuss mounting evidence of SLFN11 as a key predictive biomarker for a wide range of cancer therapeutics and as a prognostic marker across several cancer types. Furthermore, we discuss emerging areas of investigation such as epigenetic reactivation of SLFN11 and its role in activating immune response. We then provide perspectives on open questions and future directions in studying this important biomarker.
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Chabanon RM, Rouanne M, Lord CJ, Soria JC, Pasero P, Postel-Vinay S. Targeting the DNA damage response in immuno-oncology: developments and opportunities. Nat Rev Cancer 2021; 21:701-717. [PMID: 34376827 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-021-00386-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment and substantially improved patient outcome with regard to multiple tumour types. However, most patients still do not benefit from such therapies, notably because of the absence of pre-existing T cell infiltration. DNA damage response (DDR) deficiency has recently emerged as an important determinant of tumour immunogenicity. A growing body of evidence now supports the concept that DDR-targeted therapies can increase the antitumour immune response by (1) promoting antigenicity through increased mutability and genomic instability, (2) enhancing adjuvanticity through the activation of cytosolic immunity and immunogenic cell death and (3) favouring reactogenicity through the modulation of factors that control the tumour-immune cell synapse. In this Review, we discuss the interplay between the DDR and anticancer immunity and highlight how this dynamic interaction contributes to shaping tumour immunogenicity. We also review the most innovative preclinical approaches that could be used to investigate such effects, including recently developed ex vivo systems. Finally, we highlight the therapeutic opportunities presented by the exploitation of the DDR-anticancer immunity interplay, with a focus on those in early-phase clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman M Chabanon
- ATIP-Avenir Group, Inserm Unit U981, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Mathieu Rouanne
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Inserm Unit U1015, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
- Département d'Urologie, Hôpital Foch, Université Versailles-Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Université Paris-Saclay, Suresnes, France
| | - Christopher J Lord
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Jean-Charles Soria
- Drug Development Department (DITEP), Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
- Faculté de Médicine, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Philippe Pasero
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Institut de Génétique Humaine, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Sophie Postel-Vinay
- ATIP-Avenir Group, Inserm Unit U981, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France.
- Drug Development Department (DITEP), Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France.
- Faculté de Médicine, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.
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Liu Y, Zhang Z, Fu S, Wang S, Cheng X, Lei K, Li Z, Sun T, Ma M. Study of Clinical Predictive Value and Immune Characterization of SLFN11 in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. Int J Gen Med 2021; 14:6741-6754. [PMID: 34675634 PMCID: PMC8521339 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s336823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background SLFN11 has been found to regulate the development and progression of a variety of cancers and is associated with drug therapy, while its role in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains unclear; therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate SLFN11 expression in ccRCC patients and its correlations with clinicopathological and immunological features. Methods Gene profiles of ccRCC and the clinicopathological information of patients were downloaded from the TCGA database. Microarrays from the GEO database were used as a validation set for SLFN11 expression, which was experimentally verified in renal cancer cell lines by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR); protein expression and methylation levels were obtained from the HPA database and the UALCAN database. ROC curves, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox analysis were used to assess the diagnostic and predictive value of SLFN11 in ccRCC. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks for SLFN11 were obtained from the STRING website, and the TISIDB and TIMER 2.0 databases were used to study the relationship between SLFN11 and immune infiltration in the tumour microenvironment (TME). Results SLFN11 was significantly overexpressed in ccRCC tissues and renal cancer cell lines, which may be closely related to its hypermethylation status (P < 0.001). SLFN11 was positively correlated with a highly aggressive disease state, with the ROC curve showing an AUC value of 0.910 for SLFN11 in diagnosing ccRCC, and Kaplan–Meier and Cox analyses also revealed that upregulation of SLFN11 predicted a poor prognosis for ccRCC patients (P < 0.05). In addition, enrichment analysis showed that SLFN11 was closely associated with immune-related signalling pathways, and further exploration comprehensively demonstrated strong positive correlations with tumour immune lymphocytes, immune checkpoint genes, chemokines and chemokine receptors. Conclusion Overall, our data analysis shows that SLFN11 is a strong diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for ccRCC and is also associated with immune infiltration in the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifu Liu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhicheng Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengqiang Fu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyuan Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofeng Cheng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Kunyang Lei
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhilong Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Sun
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Ma
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, People's Republic of China
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12
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Jo U, Murai Y, Takebe N, Thomas A, Pommier Y. Precision Oncology with Drugs Targeting the Replication Stress, ATR, and Schlafen 11. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4601. [PMID: 34572827 PMCID: PMC8465591 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13184601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Precision medicine aims to implement strategies based on the molecular features of tumors and optimized drug delivery to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment. DNA replication is a logical approach because it can be targeted by a broad range of anticancer drugs that are both clinically approved and in development. These drugs increase deleterious replication stress (RepStress); however, how to selectively target and identify the tumors with specific molecular characteristics are unmet clinical needs. Here, we provide background information on the molecular processes of DNA replication and its checkpoints, and discuss how to target replication, checkpoint, and repair pathways with ATR inhibitors and exploit Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) as a predictive biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ukhyun Jo
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA; (Y.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Yasuhisa Murai
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA; (Y.M.); (A.T.)
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki 036-8562, Japan
| | - Naoko Takebe
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA;
| | - Anish Thomas
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA; (Y.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA; (Y.M.); (A.T.)
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13
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Schlafens: Emerging Proteins in Cancer Cell Biology. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092238. [PMID: 34571887 PMCID: PMC8465726 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Schlafens (SLFN) are a family of genes widely expressed in mammals, including humans and rodents. These intriguing proteins play different roles in regulating cell proliferation, cell differentiation, immune cell growth and maturation, and inhibiting viral replication. The emerging evidence is implicating Schlafens in cancer biology and chemosensitivity. Although Schlafens share common domains and a high degree of homology, different Schlafens act differently. In particular, they show specific and occasionally opposing effects in some cancer types. This review will briefly summarize the history, structure, and non-malignant biological functions of Schlafens. The roles of human and mouse Schlafens in different cancer types will then be outlined. Finally, we will discuss the implication of Schlafens in the anti-tumor effect of interferons and the use of Schlafens as predictors of chemosensitivity.
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14
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Coussy F, El-Botty R, Château-Joubert S, Dahmani A, Montaudon E, Leboucher S, Morisset L, Painsec P, Sourd L, Huguet L, Nemati F, Servely JL, Larcher T, Vacher S, Briaux A, Reyes C, La Rosa P, Lucotte G, Popova T, Foidart P, Sounni NE, Noel A, Decaudin D, Fuhrmann L, Salomon A, Reyal F, Mueller C, Ter Brugge P, Jonkers J, Poupon MF, Stern MH, Bièche I, Pommier Y, Marangoni E. BRCAness, SLFN11, and RB1 loss predict response to topoisomerase I inhibitors in triple-negative breast cancers. Sci Transl Med 2021; 12:12/531/eaax2625. [PMID: 32075943 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aax2625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Topoisomerase I (TOP1) inhibitors trap TOP1 cleavage complexes resulting in DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) during replication, which are repaired by homologous recombination (HR). Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) could be eligible for TOP1 inhibitors given the considerable proportion of tumors with a defect in HR-mediated repair (BRCAness). The TOP1 inhibitor irinotecan was tested in 40 patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) of TNBC. BRCAness was determined with a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay, and expression of Schlafen family member 11 (SLFN11) and retinoblastoma transcriptional corepressor 1 (RB1) was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry analyses. In addition, the combination of irinotecan and the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR) inhibitor VE-822 was tested in SLFN11-negative PDXs, and two clinical non-camptothecin TOP1 inhibitors (LMP400 and LMP776) were tested. Thirty-eight percent of the TNBC models responded to irinotecan. BRCAness combined with high SLFN11 expression and RB1 loss identified highly sensitive tumors, consistent with the notion that deficiencies in cell cycle checkpoints and DNA repair result in high sensitivity to TOP1 inhibitors. Treatment by the ATR inhibitor VE-822 increased sensitivity to irinotecan in SLFN11-negative PDXs and abolished irinotecan-induced phosphorylation of checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1). LMP400 (indotecan) and LMP776 (indimitecan) showed high antitumor activity in BRCA1-mutated or BRCAness-positive PDXs. Last, low SLFN11 expression was associated with poor survival in 250 patients with TNBC treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy. In conclusion, a substantial proportion of TNBC respond to irinotecan. BRCAness, high SLFN11 expression, and RB1 loss are highly predictive of response to irinotecan and the clinical indenoisoquinoline TOP1 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Coussy
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.,Medical Oncology Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.,Genetics Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Rania El-Botty
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | - Ahmed Dahmani
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Elodie Montaudon
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Sophie Leboucher
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, UMR3306, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Ludivine Morisset
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Pierre Painsec
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Laura Sourd
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Léa Huguet
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Fariba Nemati
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Luc Servely
- BioPôle Alfort, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94704 Maisons Alfort, France.,INRA, PHASE Department, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | | | - Sophie Vacher
- Genetics Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Adrien Briaux
- Genetics Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Cécile Reyes
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Philippe La Rosa
- INSERM, U900, 75005 Paris, France.,Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Georges Lucotte
- INSERM, U900, 75005 Paris, France.,Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Tatiana Popova
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.,INSERM U830, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Pierre Foidart
- Laboratory of Tumor and Developmental Biology, Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliqué-Cancer (GIGA-Cancer), University of Liège, Liège 4000, Belgium
| | - Nor Eddine Sounni
- Laboratory of Tumor and Developmental Biology, Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliqué-Cancer (GIGA-Cancer), University of Liège, Liège 4000, Belgium
| | - Agnès Noel
- Laboratory of Tumor and Developmental Biology, Groupe Interdisciplinaire de Génoprotéomique Appliqué-Cancer (GIGA-Cancer), University of Liège, Liège 4000, Belgium
| | - Didier Decaudin
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.,Medical Oncology Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Laetitia Fuhrmann
- Department of Pathology, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Anne Salomon
- Department of Pathology, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Fabien Reyal
- Surgery Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.,U932, Immunity and Cancer, INSERM, Institut Curie, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Christopher Mueller
- Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Petra Ter Brugge
- Division of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Genomics Centre Netherlands, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, 1066 CX, Netherlands
| | - Jos Jonkers
- Division of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Genomics Centre Netherlands, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, 1066 CX, Netherlands
| | - Marie-France Poupon
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Marc-Henri Stern
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.,INSERM U830, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Ivan Bièche
- Genetics Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Elisabetta Marangoni
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France.
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15
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SLFN11 promotes CDT1 degradation by CUL4 in response to replicative DNA damage, while its absence leads to synthetic lethality with ATR/CHK1 inhibitors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2015654118. [PMID: 33536335 PMCID: PMC8017720 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2015654118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Schlafen-11 (SLFN11) inactivation in ∼50% of cancer cells confers broad chemoresistance. To identify therapeutic targets and underlying molecular mechanisms for overcoming chemoresistance, we performed an unbiased genome-wide RNAi screen in SLFN11-WT and -knockout (KO) cells. We found that inactivation of Ataxia Telangiectasia- and Rad3-related (ATR), CHK1, BRCA2, and RPA1 overcome chemoresistance to camptothecin (CPT) in SLFN11-KO cells. Accordingly, we validate that clinical inhibitors of ATR (M4344 and M6620) and CHK1 (SRA737) resensitize SLFN11-KO cells to topotecan, indotecan, etoposide, cisplatin, and talazoparib. We uncover that ATR inhibition significantly increases mitotic defects along with increased CDT1 phosphorylation, which destabilizes kinetochore-microtubule attachments in SLFN11-KO cells. We also reveal a chemoresistance mechanism by which CDT1 degradation is retarded, eventually inducing replication reactivation under DNA damage in SLFN11-KO cells. In contrast, in SLFN11-expressing cells, SLFN11 promotes the degradation of CDT1 in response to CPT by binding to DDB1 of CUL4CDT2 E3 ubiquitin ligase associated with replication forks. We show that the C terminus and ATPase domain of SLFN11 are required for DDB1 binding and CDT1 degradation. Furthermore, we identify a therapy-relevant ATPase mutant (E669K) of the SLFN11 gene in human TCGA and show that the mutant contributes to chemoresistance and retarded CDT1 degradation. Taken together, our study reveals new chemotherapeutic insights on how targeting the ATR pathway overcomes chemoresistance of SLFN11-deficient cancers. It also demonstrates that SLFN11 irreversibly arrests replication by degrading CDT1 through the DDB1-CUL4CDT2 ubiquitin ligase.
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16
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Takashima T, Sakamoto N, Murai J, Taniyama D, Honma R, Ukai S, Maruyama R, Kuraoka K, Rajapakse VN, Pommier Y, Yasui W. Immunohistochemical analysis of SLFN11 expression uncovers potential non-responders to DNA-damaging agents overlooked by tissue RNA-seq. Virchows Arch 2020; 478:569-579. [PMID: 32474729 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-020-02840-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
DNA-damaging agents include first-line drugs such as platinum (cisplatin, carboplatin), topoisomerase inhibitors (etoposide, doxorubicin), and replication inhibitors (cytarabine, gemcitabine). Despite their wide and long usage, there is no clinically available biomarker to predict responses to these drugs. Schlafen 11 (SLFN11), a putative DNA/RNA helicase, recently emerged as a dominant determinant of sensitivity to these drugs by enforcing the replication block in response to DNA damage. Since the clinical importance of SLFN11 is implicated, a comprehensive analysis of SLFN11 expression across human organs will provide a practical resource to develop the utility of SLFN11 in the clinic. In this study, we established a scoring system of SLFN11 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and assessed SLFN11 expression in ~ 700 malignant as well as the adjacent non-tumor tissues across 16 major human adult organs. We found that the SLFN11 expression is tissue specific and varies during tumorigenesis. Although The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) is a prevailing tool to assess gene expression in various malignant and normal tissues, our IHC data exhibited obvious discrepancy from the TCGA data in several organs. Importantly, SLFN11-negative tumors, potentially non-responders to DNA-damaging agents, were largely overrated in TCGA because TCGA samples are a mixture of infiltrating immune cells, including T cells, B cells, and macrophages, which have strong SLFN11 expression. Thus, our study reveals the significance of immunohistochemical procedures for evaluating expression of SLFN11 in patient samples and provides a robust resource of SLFN11 expression across adult human organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Takashima
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Naoya Sakamoto
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Junko Murai
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, 997-0052, Japan
| | - Daiki Taniyama
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Ririno Honma
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Shoichi Ukai
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Ryota Maruyama
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan
| | - Kazuya Kuraoka
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, National Hospital Organization, Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure city, Hiroshima, 737-0023, Japan
| | - Vinodh N Rajapakse
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Wataru Yasui
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
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17
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Saleiro D, Platanias LC. Interferon signaling in cancer. Non-canonical pathways and control of intracellular immune checkpoints. Semin Immunol 2020; 43:101299. [PMID: 31771762 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2019.101299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The interferons (IFNs) are cytokines with important antineoplastic and immune modulatory effects. These cytokines have been conserved through evolution as important elements of the immune surveillance against cancer. Despite this, defining their precise and specific roles in the generation of antitumor responses remains challenging. Emerging evidence suggests the existence of previously unknown roles for IFNs in the control of the immune response against cancer that may redefine our understanding on how these cytokines function. Beyond the engagement of classical JAK-STAT signaling pathways that promote transcription and expression of gene products, the IFNs engage multiple other signaling cascades to generate products that mediate biological responses and outcomes. There is recent emerging evidence indicating that IFNs control the expression of both traditional immune checkpoints like the PD-L1/PD1 axis, but also less well understood "intracellular" immune checkpoints whose targeting may define new approaches for the treatment of malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Saleiro
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Division of Hematology-Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Superior Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Leonidas C Platanias
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and Division of Hematology-Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 East Superior Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Medicine, Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 820 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
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18
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Roelands J, Hendrickx W, Zoppoli G, Mall R, Saad M, Halliwill K, Curigliano G, Rinchai D, Decock J, Delogu LG, Turan T, Samayoa J, Chouchane L, Ballestrero A, Wang E, Finetti P, Bertucci F, Miller LD, Galon J, Marincola FM, Kuppen PJK, Ceccarelli M, Bedognetti D. Oncogenic states dictate the prognostic and predictive connotations of intratumoral immune response. J Immunother Cancer 2020; 8:e000617. [PMID: 32376723 PMCID: PMC7223637 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-000617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An immune active cancer phenotype typified by a T helper 1 (Th-1) immune response has been associated with increased responsiveness to immunotherapy and favorable prognosis in some but not all cancer types. The reason of this differential prognostic connotation remains unknown. METHODS To explore the contextual prognostic value of cancer immune phenotypes, we applied a multimodal pan-cancer analysis among 31 different histologies (9282 patients), encompassing immune and oncogenic transcriptomic analysis, mutational and neoantigen load and copy number variations. RESULTS We demonstrated that the favorable prognostic connotation conferred by the presence of a Th-1 immune response was abolished in tumors displaying specific tumor-cell intrinsic attributes such as high transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling and low proliferation capacity. This observation was independent of mutation rate. We validated this observation in the context of immune checkpoint inhibition. WNT-β catenin, barrier molecules, Notch, hedgehog, mismatch repair, telomerase activity and AMPK signaling were the pathways most coherently associated with an immune silent phenotype together with mutations of driver genes including IDH1/2, FOXA2, HDAC3, PSIP1, MAP3K1, KRAS, NRAS, EGFR, FGFR3, WNT5A and IRF7. CONCLUSIONS This is the first systematic study demonstrating that the prognostic and predictive role of a bona fide favorable intratumoral immune response is dependent on the disposition of specific oncogenic pathways. This information could be used to refine stratification algorithms and prioritize hierarchically relevant targets for combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Roelands
- Cancer Research Department, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter Hendrickx
- Cancer Research Department, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
| | - Gabriele Zoppoli
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine (DiMI), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Raghvendra Mall
- Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohamad Saad
- Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
| | - Kyle Halliwill
- Genomics Research Center (GRC), AbbVie Biotherapeutics, Redwood City, California, USA
| | - Giuseppe Curigliano
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Darawan Rinchai
- Cancer Research Department, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Lucia G Delogu
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica, Fondazione Città della Speranza, Padua, Italy
| | - Tolga Turan
- Genomics Research Center (GRC), AbbVie Biotherapeutics, Redwood City, California, USA
| | - Josue Samayoa
- Genomics Research Center (GRC), AbbVie Biotherapeutics, Redwood City, California, USA
| | | | - Alberto Ballestrero
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine (DiMI), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Peter J K Kuppen
- Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Michele Ceccarelli
- Genomics Research Center (GRC), AbbVie Biotherapeutics, Redwood City, California, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (DIETI), University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
- Istituto di Ricerche Genetiche "G. Salvatore", Biogem s.c.ar.l, 83031, Ariano Irpino, Italy
| | - Davide Bedognetti
- Cancer Research Department, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
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19
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Zhou C, Liu C, Liu W, Chen W, Yin Y, Li CW, Hsu JL, Sun J, Zhou Q, Li H, Hu B, Fu P, Atyah M, Ma Q, Xu Y, Dong Q, Hung MC, Ren N. SLFN11 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis and metastasis by targeting RPS4X via mTOR pathway. Theranostics 2020; 10:4627-4643. [PMID: 32292519 PMCID: PMC7150495 DOI: 10.7150/thno.42869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the most refractory malignancies worldwide. Schlafen family member 11 (SLFN11) has been reported to play an important role in inhibiting the production of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1). However, whether SLFN11 also inhibits hepatitis B virus (HBV), and affects HBV-induced HCC remain to be systematically investigated. Methods: qRT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining were conducted to investigate the potential role and prognostic value of SLFN11 in HCC. Then SLFN11 was stably overexpressed or knocked down in HCC cell lines. To further explore the potential biological function of SLFN11 in HCC, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, colony formation assays, wound healing assays and transwell cell migration and invasion assays were performed in vitro. Meanwhile, HCC subcutaneous xenograft tumor models were established for in vivo assays. Subsequently, immunoprecipitation (IP) and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analyses were applied to understand the molecular mechanisms of SLFN11 in HCC. Co-IP, immunofluorescence and IHC staining were used to analyze the relationship between ribosomal protein S4 X-linked (RPS4X) and SLFN11. Finally, the therapeutic potential of SLFN11 with mTOR pathway inhibitor INK128 on inhibiting HCC growth and metastasis was evaluated in vitro and in vivo orthotopic xenograft mouse models. Results: We demonstrate that SLFN11 expression is decreased in HCC, which is associated with shorter overall survival and higher recurrence rates in patients. In addition, we show that low SLFN11 expression is associated with aggressive clinicopathologic characteristics. Moreover, overexpression of SLFN11 inhibits HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, facilitates apoptosis in vitro, and impedes HCC growth and metastasis in vivo, all of which are attenuated by SLFN11 knockdown. Mechanistically, SLFN11 physically associates with RPS4X and blocks the mTOR signaling pathway. In orthotopic mouse models, overexpression of SLFN11 or inhibition of mTOR pathway inhibitor by INK128 reverses HCC progression and metastasis. Conclusions: SLFN11 may serve as a powerful prognostic biomarker and putative tumor suppressor by suppressing the mTOR signaling pathway via RPS4X in HCC. Our study may therefore offer a novel therapeutic strategy for treating HCC patients with the mTOR pathway inhibitor INK128.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenhao Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chunxiao Liu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wenjie Liu
- Biomedical Research Centre, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanyong Chen
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Fudan Minhang Academic Health System, and Key Laboratory of Whole-period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer (SMHC), Minhang Hospital & AHS, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yirui Yin
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chia-Wei Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Hsu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jialei Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bo Hu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peiyao Fu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Manar Atyah
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianni Ma
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiongzhu Dong
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Institute of Fudan Minhang Academic Health System, and Key Laboratory of Whole-period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer (SMHC), Minhang Hospital & AHS, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mien-Chie Hung
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ning Ren
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Fudan Minhang Academic Health System, and Key Laboratory of Whole-period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer (SMHC), Minhang Hospital & AHS, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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