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Merlini A, Rabino M, Brusco S, Pavese V, Masci D, Sangiolo D, Bironzo P, Scagliotti GV, Novello S, D'Ambrosio L. Epigenetic determinants in soft tissue sarcomas: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2024; 28:17-28. [PMID: 38234142 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2024.2306344] [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: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Soft tissue sarcomas are a group of rare, mesenchymal tumors characterized by dismal prognosis in advanced/metastatic stages. Knowledge of their molecular determinants is still rather limited. However, in recent years, epigenetic regulation - the modification of gene expression/function without DNA sequence variation - has emerged as a key player both in sarcomagenesis and sarcoma progression. AREAS COVERED Herein, we describe and review the main epigenetic mechanisms involved in chromatin remodeling and their role as disease drivers in different soft tissue sarcoma histotypes, focusing on epithelioid sarcoma, synovial sarcoma, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Focusing on chromatin-remodeling complexes, we provide an in-depth on the role of BAF complex alterations in these soft tissue sarcoma histotypes. In parallel, we highlight current state-of-the-art and future perspectives in the development of rational, innovative treatments leveraging on epigenetic dysregulation in soft tissue sarcomas. EXPERT OPINION Therapeutic options for metastatic/advanced sarcomas are to date very limited and largely represented by cytotoxic agents, with only modest results. In the continuous attempt to find novel targets and innovative, effective drugs, epigenetic mechanisms represent an emerging and promising field of research, especially for malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, epithelioid and synovial sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martina Rabino
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | - Silvia Brusco
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Orbassano (TO), Italy
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research Royal Cancer Hospital, London, UK
| | - Valeria Pavese
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | - Debora Masci
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | - Dario Sangiolo
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | - Paolo Bironzo
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Orbassano (TO), Italy
- Medical Oncology, S. Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | - Giorgio Vittorio Scagliotti
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Orbassano (TO), Italy
- Medical Oncology, S. Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | - Silvia Novello
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Orbassano (TO), Italy
- Medical Oncology, S. Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Orbassano (TO), Italy
| | - Lorenzo D'Ambrosio
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Orbassano (TO), Italy
- Medical Oncology, S. Luigi Gonzaga University Hospital, Orbassano (TO), Italy
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Aurrière J, Goudenège D, Baris OR, Boguenet M, May-Panloup P, Lenaers G, Khiati S. Cancer/Testis Antigens into mitochondria: a hub between spermatogenesis, tumorigenesis and mitochondrial physiology adaptation. Mitochondrion 2020; 56:73-81. [PMID: 33220498 DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2020.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Cancer/Testis Antigens (CTAs) genes are expressed only during spermatogenesis and tumorigenesis. Both processes share common specific metabolic adaptation related to energy supply, with a glucose to lactate gradient, leading to changes in mitochondrial physiology paralleling CTAs expression. In this review, we address the role of CTAs in mitochondria (mitoCTAs), by reviewing all published data, and assessing the putative localization of CTAs by screening for the presence of a mitochondrial targeting sequence (MTS). We evidenced that among the 276 CTAs, five were already shown to interfere with mitochondrial activities and 67 display a potential MTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade Aurrière
- MitoLab Team, Institut MitoVasc, CNRS UMR6015, INSERM U1083, Angers University, Angers, France
| | - David Goudenège
- MitoLab Team, Institut MitoVasc, CNRS UMR6015, INSERM U1083, Angers University, Angers, France; Departments of Biochemistry and Genetics, University Hospital Angers, Angers, France
| | - Olivier R Baris
- MitoLab Team, Institut MitoVasc, CNRS UMR6015, INSERM U1083, Angers University, Angers, France
| | - Magalie Boguenet
- MitoLab Team, Institut MitoVasc, CNRS UMR6015, INSERM U1083, Angers University, Angers, France
| | - Pascale May-Panloup
- MitoLab Team, Institut MitoVasc, CNRS UMR6015, INSERM U1083, Angers University, Angers, France; Reproductive Biology Unit, Angers University Hospital, 49000 Angers, France
| | - Guy Lenaers
- MitoLab Team, Institut MitoVasc, CNRS UMR6015, INSERM U1083, Angers University, Angers, France
| | - Salim Khiati
- MitoLab Team, Institut MitoVasc, CNRS UMR6015, INSERM U1083, Angers University, Angers, France.
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Cassandri M, Fioravanti R, Pomella S, Valente S, Rotili D, Del Baldo G, De Angelis B, Rota R, Mai A. CDK9 as a Valuable Target in Cancer: From Natural Compounds Inhibitors to Current Treatment in Pediatric Soft Tissue Sarcomas. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:1230. [PMID: 32903585 PMCID: PMC7438590 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.01230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-Dependent Kinases (CDKs) are well-known reliable targets for cancer treatment being often deregulated. Among them, since the transcription-associated CDK9 represents the sentry of cell transcriptional homeostasis, it can be a valuable target for managing cancers in which the transcriptional machinery is dysregulated by tumor-driver oncogenes. Here we give an overview of some natural compounds identified as CDK inhibitors with reported activity also against CDK9, that were taken as a model for the development of highly active synthetic anti-CDK9 agents. After, we summarize the data on CDK9 inhibition in a group of rare pediatric solid tumors such as rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, synovial sarcoma and malignant rhabdoid tumors (soft tissue sarcomas), highlighting the more recent results in this field. Finally, we discuss the perspective and challenge of CDK9 modulation in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Cassandri
- Department of Oncohematology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Fioravanti
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Pomella
- Department of Oncohematology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Sergio Valente
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Dante Rotili
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giada Del Baldo
- Department of Oncohematology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Biagio De Angelis
- Department of Oncohematology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Oncohematology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonello Mai
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Immunoreactivity of a Monoclonal Antibody to SS18-SSX Fusion Gene Product in Formalin-fixed Paraffin-embedded Synovial Sarcoma Tissue Section. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2018; 26:206-211. [DOI: 10.1097/pai.0000000000000413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Mooney SM, Qiu R, Kim JJ, Sacho EJ, Rajagopalan K, Johng D, Shiraishi T, Kulkarni P, Weninger KR. Cancer/testis antigen PAGE4, a regulator of c-Jun transactivation, is phosphorylated by homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 1, a component of the stress-response pathway. Biochemistry 2014; 53:1670-9. [PMID: 24559171 PMCID: PMC4198062 DOI: 10.1021/bi500013w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
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Prostate-associated gene 4 (PAGE4)
is a cancer/testis antigen that
is typically restricted to the testicular germ cells but is aberrantly
expressed in cancer. Furthermore, PAGE4 is developmentally regulated
with dynamic expression patterns in the developing prostate and is
also a stress-response protein that is upregulated in response to
cellular stress. PAGE4 interacts with c-Jun, which is activated by
the stress-response kinase JNK1, and plays an important role in the
development and pathology of the prostate gland. Here, we have identified
homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 1 (HIPK1), also a component
of the stress-response pathway, as a kinase that phosphorylates PAGE4
at T51. We show that phosphorylation of PAGE4 is critical for its
transcriptional activity since mutating this T residue abolishes its
ability to potentiate c-Jun transactivation. In vitro single molecule FRET indicates phosphorylation results in compaction
of (still) intrinsically disordered PAGE4. Interestingly, however,
while our previous observations indicated that the wild-type nonphosphorylated
PAGE4 protein interacted with c-Jun [RajagopalanK. et al. (2014) 1842, 154−16324263171], here we show that phosphorylation of PAGE4
weakens its interaction with c-Jun in vitro. These
data suggest that phosphorylation induces conformational changes in
natively disordered PAGE4 resulting in its decreased affinity for
c-Jun to promote interaction of c-Jun with another, unidentified,
partner. Alternatively, phosphorylated PAGE4 may induce transcription
of a novel partner, which then potentiates c-Jun transactivation.
Regardless, the present results clearly implicate PAGE4 as a component
of the stress-response pathway and uncover a novel link between components
of this pathway and prostatic development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Mooney
- The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, ‡Oncology, §Cellular and Molecular Medicine, and ∥Department of Biomedical Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , 733 North Broadway, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
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