1
|
Li MC, Lai YL, Kuo PH, Reddy JS, Chen CM, Manimala J, Wang PC, Wu MS, Chang CY, Yang CM, Lin CY, Huang YC, Chiu CH, Chang L, Lin WH, Yeh TK, Yen WC, Hsieh HP. Discovery of Dual MER/AXL Kinase Inhibitors as Bifunctional Small Molecules for Inhibiting Tumor Growth and Enhancing Tumor Immune Microenvironment. J Med Chem 2024; 67:10906-10927. [PMID: 38913493 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
A series of bifunctional compounds have been discovered for their dual functionality as MER/AXL inhibitors and immune modulators. The furanopyrimidine scaffold, renowned for its suitability in kinase inhibitor discovery, offers at least three distinct pharmacophore access points. Insights from molecular modeling studies guided hit-to-lead optimization, which revealed that the 1,3-diketone side chain hybridized with furanopyrimidine scaffold that respectively combined amino-type substituent and 1H-pyrazol-4-yl substituent on the top and bottom of the aryl regions to produce 22 and 33, exhibiting potent antitumor activities in various syngeneic and xenograft models. More importantly, 33 demonstrated remarkable immune-modulating activity by upregulating the expression of total T-cells, cytotoxic CD8+ T-cells, and helper CD4+ T-cells in the spleen. These findings underscored the bifunctional capabilities of 33 (BPR5K230) with excellent oral bioavailability (F = 54.6%), inhibiting both MER and AXL while modulating the tumor microenvironment and highlighting its diverse applicability for further studies to advance its therapeutic potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mu-Chun Li
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
- Biomedical Translation Research Center (BioTReC), Academia Sinica, Taipei City 115202, Taiwan, ROC
| | - You-Liang Lai
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Po-Hsien Kuo
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Julakanti Satyanarayana Reddy
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chih-Ming Chen
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Julakanti Manimala
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Pei-Chen Wang
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ming-Shiem Wu
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chun-Yu Chang
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chen-Ming Yang
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chin-Yu Lin
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yu-Chen Huang
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chun-Hsien Chiu
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ling Chang
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Wen-Hsing Lin
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Teng-Kuang Yeh
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Wan-Ching Yen
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hsing-Pang Hsieh
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 350401, Taiwan, ROC
- Biomedical Translation Research Center (BioTReC), Academia Sinica, Taipei City 115202, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu City 300044, Taiwan, ROC
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Liu Z, Chen L, Zhang J, Yang J, Xiao X, Shan L, Mao W. Recent discovery and development of AXL inhibitors as antitumor agents. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 272:116475. [PMID: 38714043 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116475] [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: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
AXL, a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), plays a pivotal role in various cellular functions. It is primarily involved in processes such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumor cells, angiogenesis, apoptosis, immune regulation, and chemotherapy resistance mechanisms. Therefore, targeting AXL is a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of cancer. AXL inhibitors that have entered clinical trials, such as BGB324(1), have shown promising efficacy in the treatment of melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Additionally, novel AXL-targeted drugs, such as AXL degraders, offer a potential solution to overcome the limitations of traditional small-molecule AXL inhibitors targeting single pathways. We provide an overview of the structure and biological functions of AXL, discusses its correlation with various cancers, and critically analyzes the structure-activity relationship of AXL small-molecule inhibitors in cellular contexts. Additionally, we summarize multiple research and development strategies, offering insights for the future development of innovative AXL inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zihang Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Precision Medicine Center, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Precision Medicine Center, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China
| | - Jifa Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Precision Medicine Center, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Precision Medicine Center, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xue Xiao
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Lianhai Shan
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China.
| | - Wuyu Mao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Precision Medicine Center, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Danielli SG, Wurth J, Morice S, Kisele S, Surdez D, Delattre O, Bode PK, Wachtel M, Schäfer BW. Evaluation of the Role of AXL in Fusion-positive Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma Identifies the Small-molecule Inhibitor Bemcentinib (BGB324) as Potent Chemosensitizer. Mol Cancer Ther 2024; 23:864-876. [PMID: 38471796 PMCID: PMC11148551 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a highly aggressive pediatric cancer with features of skeletal muscle differentiation. More than 80% of the high-risk patients ultimately fail to respond to chemotherapy treatment, leading to limited therapeutic options and dismal prognostic rates. The lack of response and subsequent tumor recurrence is driven in part by stem cell-like cells, the tumor subpopulation that is enriched after treatment, and characterized by expression of the AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL). AXL mediates survival, migration, and therapy resistance in several cancer types; however, its function in RMS remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of AXL in RMS tumorigenesis, migration, and chemotherapy response, and whether targeting of AXL with small-molecule inhibitors could potentiate the efficacy of chemotherapy. We show that AXL is expressed in a heterogeneous manner in patient-derived xenografts (PDX), primary cultures and cell line models of RMS, consistent with its stem cell-state selectivity. By generating a CRISPR/Cas9 AXL knock-out and overexpressing models, we show that AXL contributes to the migratory phenotype of RMS, but not to chemotherapy resistance. Instead, pharmacologic blockade with the AXL inhibitors bemcentinib (BGB324), cabozantinib and NPS-1034 rapidly killed RMS cells in an AXL-independent manner and augmented the efficacy of the chemotherapeutics vincristine and cyclophosphamide. In vivo administration of the combination of bemcentinib and vincristine exerted strong antitumoral activity in a rapidly progressing PDX mouse model, significantly reducing tumor burden compared with single-agent treatment. Collectively, our data identify bemcentinib as a promising drug to improve chemotherapy efficacy in patients with RMS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara G Danielli
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jakob Wurth
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Morice
- Balgrist University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich (UZH), Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Samanta Kisele
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Didier Surdez
- Balgrist University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich (UZH), Zürich, Switzerland
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, Diversity and Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Laboratory, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Center, Institut Curie Research Center, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Delattre
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, Diversity and Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Laboratory, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Center, Institut Curie Research Center, Paris, France
| | - Peter K Bode
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Wachtel
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Beat W Schäfer
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Moon DO. Curcumin in Cancer and Inflammation: An In-Depth Exploration of Molecular Interactions, Therapeutic Potentials, and the Role in Disease Management. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2911. [PMID: 38474160 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052911] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This paper delves into the diverse and significant roles of curcumin, a polyphenolic compound from the Curcuma longa plant, in the context of cancer and inflammatory diseases. Distinguished by its unique molecular structure, curcumin exhibits potent biological activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and potential anticancer effects. The research comprehensively investigates curcumin's molecular interactions with key proteins involved in cancer progression and the inflammatory response, primarily through molecular docking studies. In cancer, curcumin's effectiveness is determined by examining its interaction with pivotal proteins like CDK2, CK2α, GSK3β, DYRK2, and EGFR, among others. These interactions suggest curcumin's potential role in impeding cancer cell proliferation and survival. Additionally, the paper highlights curcumin's impact on inflammation by examining its influence on proteins such as COX-2, CRP, PDE4, and MD-2, which are central to the inflammatory pathway. In vitro and clinical studies are extensively reviewed, shedding light on curcumin's binding mechanisms, pharmacological impacts, and therapeutic application in various cancers and inflammatory conditions. These studies are pivotal in understanding curcumin's functionality and its potential as a therapeutic agent. Conclusively, this review emphasizes the therapeutic promise of curcumin in treating a wide range of health issues, attributed to its complex chemistry and broad pharmacological properties. The research points towards curcumin's growing importance as a multi-faceted natural compound in the medical and scientific community.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Oh Moon
- Department of Biology Education, Daegu University, 201, Daegudae-ro, Gyeongsan-si 38453, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sadri F, Hosseini SF, Rezaei Z, Fereidouni M. Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling in breast cancer: Reciprocal regulation of microRNAs and implications in precision medicine. Genes Dis 2024; 11:760-771. [PMID: 37692482 PMCID: PMC10491881 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a molecularly heterogeneous disease and the most common female malignancy. In recent years, therapy approaches have evolved to accommodate molecular diversity, with a focus on more biologically based therapies to minimize negative consequences. To regulate cell fate in human breast cells, the Hippo signaling pathway has been associated with the alpha subtype of estrogen receptors. This pathway regulates tissue size, regeneration, and healing, as well as the survival of tissue-specific stem cells, proliferation, and apoptosis in a variety of organs, allowing for cell differentiation. Hippo signaling is mediated by the kinases MST1, MST2, LATS1, and LATS2, as well as the adaptor proteins SAV1 and MOB. These kinases phosphorylate the downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway, yes-associated protein (YAP), and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), suppressing the expression of their downstream target genes. The Hippo signaling pathway kinase cascade plays a significant role in all cancers. Understanding the principles of this kinase cascade would prevent the occurrence of breast cancer. In recent years, small noncoding RNAs, or microRNAs, have been implicated in the development of several malignancies, including breast cancer. The interconnections between miRNAs and Hippo signaling pathway core proteins in the breast, on the other hand, remain poorly understood. In this review, we focused on highlighting the Hippo signaling system, its key parts, its importance in breast cancer, and its regulation by miRNAs and other related pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farzad Sadri
- Student Research Committee, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand 9717853577, Iran
| | | | - Zohreh Rezaei
- Department of Biology, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan 9816745785, Iran
| | - Mohammad Fereidouni
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand 9717853577, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang S, Wang J, Chen Z, Luo J, Guo W, Sun L, Lin L. Targeting M2-like tumor-associated macrophages is a potential therapeutic approach to overcome antitumor drug resistance. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:31. [PMID: 38341519 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00522-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor drug resistance emerges from the interaction of two critical factors: tumor cellular heterogeneity and the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) constitute essential components of the TME. M2-like TAMs are essential in facilitating tumor metastasis as well as augmenting the drug resistance of tumors. This review encapsulates the mechanisms that M2-like TAMs use to promote tumor drug resistance. We also describe the emerging therapeutic strategies that are currently targeting M2-like TAMs in combination with other antitumor drugs, with some still undergoing clinical trial evaluation. Furthermore, we summarize and analyze various existing approaches for developing novel drugs that target M2-like TAMs to overcome tumor resistance, highlighting how targeting M2-like TAMs can effectively stop tumor growth, metastasis, and overcome tumor drug resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shujing Wang
- The First Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingrui Wang
- The First Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiqiang Chen
- The First Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiamin Luo
- The First Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Guo
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lingling Sun
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lizhu Lin
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Clinical Research Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- Lingnan Medical Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Quesnel A, Martin LD, Tarzi C, Lenis VP, Coles N, Islam M, Angione C, Outeiro TF, Khundakar AA, Filippou PS. Uncovering potential diagnostic and pathophysiological roles of α-synuclein and DJ-1 in melanoma. Cancer Med 2024; 13. [PMID: 38189631 PMCID: PMC10807602 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6900] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanoma, the most lethal skin cancer type, occurs more frequently in Parkinson's disease (PD), and PD is more frequent in melanoma patients, suggesting disease mechanisms overlap. α-synuclein, a protein that accumulates in PD brain, and the oncogene DJ-1, which is associated with PD autosomal recessive forms, are both elevated in melanoma cells. Whether this indicates melanoma progression or constitutes a protective response remains unclear. We hereby investigated the molecular mechanisms through which α-synuclein and DJ-1 interact, suggesting novel biomarkers and targets in melanoma. METHODS The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) expression profiles derived from UCSC Xena were used to obtain α-synuclein and DJ-1 expression and correlated with survival in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM). Immunohistochemistry determined the expression in metastatic melanoma lymph nodes. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and molecular docking assessed protein binding and affinity with chemotherapeutic drugs. Further validation was performed using in vitro cellular models and ELISA immunoassays. RESULTS α-synuclein and DJ-1 were upregulated in primary and metastatic SKCM. Aggregated α-synuclein was selectively detected in metastatic melanoma lymph nodes. α-synuclein overexpression in SK-MEL-28 cells induced the expression of DJ-1, supporting PPI and a positive correlation in melanoma patients. Molecular docking revealed a stable protein complex, with differential binding to chemotherapy drugs such as temozolomide, dacarbazine, and doxorubicin. Parallel reduction of both proteins in temozolomide-treated SK-MEL-28 spheroids suggests drug binding may affect protein interaction and/or stability. CONCLUSION α-synuclein, together with DJ-1, may play a role in melanoma progression and chemosensitivity, constituting novel targets for therapeutic intervention, and possible biomarkers for melanoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agathe Quesnel
- School of Health & Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington, UK
| | - Leya Danielle Martin
- School of Health & Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington, UK
| | - Chaimaa Tarzi
- School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
- Centre for Digital Innovation, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
| | - Vasileios P Lenis
- School of Health & Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington, UK
| | - Nathan Coles
- School of Health & Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington, UK
| | - Meez Islam
- School of Health & Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington, UK
| | - Claudio Angione
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington, UK
- School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
- Centre for Digital Innovation, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
| | - Tiago F Outeiro
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ahmad A Khundakar
- School of Health & Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington, UK
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Panagiota S Filippou
- School of Health & Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington, UK
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Creixell M, Taylor SD, Gerritsen J, Bae SY, Jiang M, Augustin T, Loui M, Boixo C, Creixell P, White FM, Meyer AS. Dissecting signaling regulators driving AXL-mediated bypass resistance and associated phenotypes by phosphosite perturbations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.20.563266. [PMID: 37961516 PMCID: PMC10634689 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.20.563266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-targeted therapies are often effective but invariably limited by drug resistance. A major mechanism of acquired resistance involves "bypass" switching to alternative pathways driven by non-targeted RTKs that restore proliferation. One such RTK is AXL whose overexpression, frequently observed in bypass resistant tumors, drives both cell survival and associated malignant phenotypes such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) transition and migration. However, the signaling molecules and pathways eliciting these responses have remained elusive. To explore these coordinated effects, we generated a panel of mutant lung adenocarcinoma PC9 cell lines in which each AXL intracellular tyrosine residue was mutated to phenylalanine. By integrating measurements of phosphorylation signaling and other phenotypic changes associated with resistance through multivariate modeling, we mapped signaling perturbations to specific resistant phenotypes. Our results suggest that AXL signaling can be summarized into two clusters associated with progressive disease and poor clinical outcomes in lung cancer patients. These clusters displayed favorable Abl1 and SFK motifs and their phosphorylation was consistently decreased by dasatinib. High-throughput kinase specificity profiling showed that AXL likely activates the SFK cluster through FAK1 which is known to complex with Src. Moreover, the SFK cluster overlapped with a previously established focal adhesion kinase (FAK1) signature conferring EMT-mediated erlotinib resistance in lung cancer cells. Finally, we show that downstream of this kinase signaling, AXL and YAP form a positive feedback loop that sustains drug tolerant persister cells. Altogether, this work demonstrates an approach for dissecting signaling regulators by which AXL drives erlotinib resistance-associated phenotypic changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marc Creixell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles
| | - Scott D. Taylor
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles
| | - Jacqueline Gerritsen
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA, USA; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA, USA; Center for Precision Cancer Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA, USA
| | - Song Yi Bae
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles
| | - Mingxuan Jiang
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, United Kingdom
| | - Teresa Augustin
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle Loui
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles
| | - Carmen Boixo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles
| | - Pau Creixell
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, United Kingdom
| | - Forest M White
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA, USA; Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA, USA; Center for Precision Cancer Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA, USA
| | - Aaron S Meyer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Masson C, Thouvenin J, Boudier P, Maillet D, Kuchler-Bopp S, Barthélémy P, Massfelder T. Biological Biomarkers of Response and Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Renal Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3159. [PMID: 37370768 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123159] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents around 2% of cancer-related deaths worldwide per year. RCC is an immunogenic malignancy, and treatment of metastatic RCC (mRCC) has greatly improved since the advent of the new immunotherapy agents, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, it should be stressed that a large proportion of patients does not respond to these therapies. There is thus an urgent need to identify predictive biomarkers of efficacy or resistance associated with ICIs or ICI/Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) combinations; this is a major challenge to achieve precision medicine for mRCC in routine practice. To identify potential biomarkers, it is necessary to improve our knowledge on the biology of immune checkpoints. A lot of efforts have been made over the last decade in the field of immuno-oncology. We summarize here the main data obtained in this field when considering mRCC. As for clinical biomarkers, clinician and scientific experts of the domain are facing difficulties in identifying such molecular entities, probably due to the complexity of immuno-oncology and the constant adaptation of tumor cells to their changing environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Masson
- Regenerative NanoMedicine, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), UMR_S U1260 INSERM and University of Strasbourg, 67085 Strasbourg, France
| | - Jonathan Thouvenin
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Lyon Sud, 69310 Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Philippe Boudier
- Medical Oncology Department, Institut de Cancérologie Strasbourg Europe, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - Denis Maillet
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital Lyon Sud, 69310 Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Sabine Kuchler-Bopp
- Regenerative NanoMedicine, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), UMR_S U1260 INSERM and University of Strasbourg, 67085 Strasbourg, France
| | - Philippe Barthélémy
- Medical Oncology Department, Institut de Cancérologie Strasbourg Europe, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - Thierry Massfelder
- Regenerative NanoMedicine, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), UMR_S U1260 INSERM and University of Strasbourg, 67085 Strasbourg, France
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Yang JCH, Su WC, Chiu CH, Shiah HS, Lee KY, Hsia TC, Uno M, Crawford N, Terakawa H, Chen WC, Takayama G, Hsu C, Hong Y, Saintilien C, McGill J, Chang GC. Evaluation of combination treatment with DS-1205c, an AXL kinase inhibitor, and osimertinib in metastatic or unresectable EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer: results from a multicenter, open-label phase 1 study. Invest New Drugs 2023; 41:306-316. [PMID: 36892745 PMCID: PMC10140009 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-023-01341-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of DS-1205c, an oral AXL-receptor inhibitor, in combination with osimertinib in metastatic or unresectable EFGR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who developed disease progression during EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment. An open-label, non-randomized phase 1 study was conducted in Taiwan, in which 13 patients received DS-1205c monotherapy at a dosage of 200, 400, 800, or 1200 mg twice daily for 7 days, followed by combination treatment with DS-1205c (same doses) plus osimertinib 80 mg once daily in 21-day cycles. Treatment continued until disease progression or other discontinuation criteria were met. At least one treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) was reported in all 13 patients treated with DS-1205c plus osimertinib; with ≥ 1 grade 3 TEAE in 6 patients (one of whom also had a grade 4 increased lipase level), and 6 patients having ≥ 1 serious TEAE. Eight patients experienced ≥ 1 treatment-related AE (TRAE). The most common (2 cases each) were anemia, diarrhea, fatigue, increased AST, increased ALT, increased blood creatinine phosphokinase, and increased lipase. All TRAEs were non-serious, with the exception of an overdose of osimertinib in 1 patient. No deaths were reported. Two-thirds of patients achieved stable disease (one-third for > 100 days), but none achieved a complete or partial response. No association between AXL positivity in tumor tissue and clinical efficacy was observed. DS-1205c was well-tolerated with no new safety signals in patients with advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLC when administered in combination with the EFGR TKI osimertinib. ClinicalTrials.gov ; NCT03255083.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James Chih-Hsin Yang
- National Taiwan University Cancer Center, No. 57, Ln. 155, Sec. 3, Keelung Rd., Da'an Dist., Taipei City, 106, Taiwan.
| | - Wu-Chou Su
- National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Hua Chiu
- Taipei Cancer Center and Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Her-Shyong Shiah
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kang-Yun Lee
- Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Te-Chun Hsia
- China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ching Hsu
- Daiichi Sankyo Inc., Basking Ridge, NJ, USA
| | - Ying Hong
- Daiichi Sankyo Inc., Basking Ridge, NJ, USA
| | | | | | - Gee-Chen Chang
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sharma A, Shambhwani D, Pandey S, Singh J, Lalhlenmawia H, Kumarasamy M, Singh SK, Chellappan DK, Gupta G, Prasher P, Dua K, Kumar D. Advances in Lung Cancer Treatment Using Nanomedicines. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:10-41. [PMID: 36643475 PMCID: PMC9835549 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c04078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Carcinoma of the lungs is among the most menacing forms of malignancy and has a poor prognosis, with a low overall survival rate due to delayed detection and ineffectiveness of conventional therapy. Therefore, drug delivery strategies that may overcome undesired damage to healthy cells, boost therapeutic efficacy, and act as imaging tools are currently gaining much attention. Advances in material science have resulted in unique nanoscale-based theranostic agents, which provide renewed hope for patients suffering from lung cancer. Nanotechnology has vastly modified and upgraded the existing techniques, focusing primarily on increasing bioavailability and stability of anti-cancer drugs. Nanocarrier-based imaging systems as theranostic tools in the treatment of lung carcinoma have proven to possess considerable benefits, such as early detection and targeted therapeutic delivery for effectively treating lung cancer. Several variants of nano-drug delivery agents have been successfully studied for therapeutic applications, such as liposomes, dendrimers, polymeric nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, hydrogels, and micelles. In this Review, we present a comprehensive outline on the various types of overexpressed receptors in lung cancer, as well as the various targeting approaches of nanoparticles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akshansh Sharma
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan 173229, India
| | | | - Sadanand Pandey
- Department
of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, South Korea
| | - Jay Singh
- Department
of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras
Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Hauzel Lalhlenmawia
- Department
of Pharmacy, Regional Institute of Paramedical
and Nursing Sciences, Zemabawk, Aizawl, Mizoram 796017, India
| | - Murali Kumarasamy
- Department
of Biotechnology, National Institute of
Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur 844102, India
| | - Sachin Kumar Singh
- School
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional
University, Phagwara 144411, India
- Faculty
of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative
Medicine, University of Technology, Sydney, Ultimo-NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Dinesh Kumar Chellappan
- Department
of Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy, International
Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
| | - Gaurav Gupta
- Department
of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Suresh
Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur 302017, India
- Department
of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical
and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 602117, India
- Uttaranchal
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal
University, Dehradun 248007, India
| | - Parteek Prasher
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Petroleum &
Energy Studies, Dehradun 248007, India
| | - Kamal Dua
- Faculty
of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative
Medicine, University of Technology, Sydney, Ultimo-NSW 2007, Australia
- Discipline
of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Ultimo-NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Deepak Kumar
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan 173229, India
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Liu J, Chen Y, Yu L, Yang L. Mechanisms of venetoclax resistance and solutions. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1005659. [PMID: 36313732 PMCID: PMC9597307 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1005659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax is currently approved for treatment of hematologic diseases and is widely used either as monotherapy or in combination strategies. It has produced promising results in the treatment of refractory or relapsed (R/R) and aged malignant hematologic diseases. However, with clinical use, resistance to venetoclax has emerged. We review the mechanism of reduced dependence on BCL-2 mediated by the upregulation of antiapoptotic proteins other than BCL-2, such as MCL-1 and BCL-XL, which is the primary mechanism of venetoclax resistance, and find that this mechanism is achieved through different pathways in different hematologic diseases. Additionally, this paper also summarizes the current investigations of the mechanisms of venetoclax resistance in terms of altered cellular metabolism, changes in the mitochondrial structure, altered or modified BCL-2 binding domains, and some other aspects; this article also reviews relevant strategies to address these resistance mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiachen Liu
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yidong Chen
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lihua Yu
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lihua Yang
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Lihua Yang,
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Jeon Y, Kang H, Yang Y, Park D, Choi B, Kim J, Kim J, Nam K. A Novel Selective Axl/Mer/CSF1R Kinase Inhibitor as a Cancer Immunotherapeutic Agent Targeting Both Immune and Tumor Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194821. [PMID: 36230744 PMCID: PMC9563311 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Immune checkpoint blockade has had great success over the past decade, but many patients with cancer do not benefit because most immune checkpoint inhibitors only target T cells. Targeting non-T cell populations in the tumor microenvironment (TME) has been shown to affect responses to them. Simultaneous inhibition of Axl, Mer and CSF1R by a novel receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor Q702 induces antitumor immunity by reducing the number of M2 macrophages and MDSCs and inducing M1 macrophages and cytotoxic CD8 T cells in the TME, and increasing the expression of MHC-I and E-cadherin in tumor cells. Our data indicate that therapy targeting both immune cells and cancer cells in the TME by Q702 can induce more effective clinical responses in patients with cancer. Abstract Although immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) represents a major breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy, only a limited number of patients with cancer benefit from ICB-based immunotherapy because most immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) target only T cell activation. Therefore, targeting non-T cell components in the tumor microenvironment (TME) can help subvert resistance and increase the applications of ICB-based therapy. Axl and Mer are involved in the carcinogenesis of multiple types of cancer by modulating immune and biological behaviors within tumors. Colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) mediates tumorigenesis in the TME by enhancing tumor associated macrophage (TAM) and myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) infiltration, facilitating immune escape. Therefore, the simultaneous inhibition of Axl, Mer, and CSF1R kinases may improve therapeutic efficacy by targeting non-T cell components in the TME. Here, we present Q702, a selective, potent small molecule inhibitor targeting Axl, Mer, and CSF1R, for oral administration. Q702 induced antitumor activity in syngeneic tumor mouse models by: remodeling the TME toward immune stimulation; expanding M1 macrophage and CD8 T cell populations and decreasing M2 macrophage and MDSC populations in the TME; and increasing MHC class I and E-cadherin expression in tumor cells. Thus, Q702 may have great potential to broaden the coverage of populations benefiting from ICB-based immunotherapy.
Collapse
|
14
|
Malvankar C, Kumar D. AXL kinase inhibitors- A prospective model for medicinal chemistry strategies in anticancer drug discovery. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188786. [PMID: 36058379 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Deviant expressions of the tyrosine kinase AXL receptor are strongly correlated with a plethora of malignancies. Henceforth, the topic of targeting AXL is beginning to gain prominence due to mounting evidence of the protein's substantial connection to poor prognosis and treatment resistance. This year marked a milestone in clinical testing for AXL as an anti-carcinogenic target, with the start of the first AXL-branded inhibitor study. It is critical to emphasize that AXL is a primary and secondary target in various kinase inhibitors that have been approved or are on the verge of being approved while interpreting the present benefits and future potential effects of AXL suppression in the clinical setting. Several research arenas across the globe resolutely affirm the crucial significance of AXL receptors in the case study of several pathophysiologies including AML, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. This review endeavors to delve deeply into the biological, chemical, and structural features of AXL kinase; primary AXL inhibitors that target the enzyme (either purposefully or unintentionally); and the prospects and barriers for turning AXL inhibitors into a feasible treatment alternative. Furthermore, we analyse the co-crystal structure of AXL, which remains extensively unexplored, as well as the mutations of AXL that may be valuable in the development of novel inhibitors in the upcoming future and take a comprehensive look at the medicinal chemistry of AXL inhibitors of recent years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chinmay Malvankar
- Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University, Pune, Maharashtra 411038, India
| | - Dileep Kumar
- Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University, Pune, Maharashtra 411038, India; Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA; UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Murphy BM, Burd CE. The aging lung microenvironment awakens melanoma metastases. Cancer Cell 2022; 40:815-817. [PMID: 35868308 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2022.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
In a recent publication in Nature, Fane et al. establish WNT5A as a central, age-sensitive regulator of the dormancy-to-reactivation axis of melanoma. They show that aged fibroblasts in the lungs suppress WNT5A signaling induced at the primary tumor site to awaken dormant melanoma cells and promote the outgrowth of metastases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon M Murphy
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Christin E Burd
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Oosterwijk-Wakka JC, de Weijert MCA, Franssen GM, Kolev DR, de Haan TAFJ, Boerman OC, Mulders PFA, Oosterwijk E. Combination of sunitinib and 177Lu-labeled antibody cG250 targeted radioimmunotherapy: A promising new therapeutic strategy for patients with advanced renal cell cancer. Neoplasia 2022; 32:100826. [PMID: 35878454 PMCID: PMC9309230 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2022.100826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Sunitinib is an effective treatment for patients with metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (mRCC) but ultimately resistance occurs. The aim of this study was to investigate sunitinib resistance in RCCs and to develop therapeutic combination strategies with targeted radioimmunotherapy (RIT). We studied two RCC models, analyzed Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor (VEGFR) and AXL/MET expression and performed therapy studies in Balb/cnu/nu mice combining sunitinib and [177Lu]Lu-cG250 RIT (6.5 MBq/10 μg), specifically targeting RCC cells. pAXL and pMET were expressed in sunitinib-resistant SK-RC-52 and absent in sunitinib-sensitive NU12. NGS evaluation showed that expression of VEGFA, VEGFB, VEGFD, PGF and VEGFR1,2,3 was higher and expression of VEGFC and PDGFA was lower in NU12 than in SK-RC-52. Therapy studies combining sunitinib with [177Lu]Lu-cG250 RIT showed that the best response in mice with “resistant” SK-RC-52 tumors was observed with two cycles of Sunitinib and [177Lu]Lu-cG250 RIT, probably due to increased vascular permeability by sunitinib treatment. In the “sensitive” NU12 model, two cycles of [177Lu]Lu-cG250 RIT and two cycles of combination treatment were equally effective. Enhanced therapeutic efficacy was achieved when two agents ([177Lu]Lu-cG250 RIT and sunitinib) that on their own did not induce satisfactory response levels, are combined. Our findings provide a promising new therapeutic strategy for patients with advanced RCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeannette C Oosterwijk-Wakka
- Radboud university medical center, Department of Urology, 267 Experimental Urology, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Mirjam C A de Weijert
- Radboud university medical center, Department of Urology, 267 Experimental Urology, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Gerben M Franssen
- Radboud university medical center, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Dimitar R Kolev
- Radboud university medical center, Department for Health Evidence, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Ton A F J de Haan
- Radboud university medical center, Department for Health Evidence, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Otto C Boerman
- Radboud university medical center, Animal research facility, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Peter F A Mulders
- Radboud university medical center, Department of Urology, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Egbert Oosterwijk
- Radboud university medical center, Department of Urology, 267 Experimental Urology, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Peters S, Paz-Ares L, Herbst RS, Reck M. Addressing CPI resistance in NSCLC: targeting TAM receptors to modulate the tumor microenvironment and future prospects. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-004863. [PMID: 35858709 PMCID: PMC9305809 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-004863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for the majority of cases. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs), including those targeting programmed cell death protein-1 and its ligand (PD-1/PD-L1), have revolutionized the treatment landscape for various cancers. Notably, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-based regimens now form the standard first-line therapy for metastatic NSCLC, substantially improving patients' overall survival. Despite the progress made using CPI-based therapies in advanced NSCLC, most patients experience disease progression after an initial response due to resistance. Given the currently limited therapeutic options available for second-line and beyond settings in NSCLC, new treatment approaches are needed to improve long-term survival in these patients. Thus, CPI resistance is an emerging concept in cancer treatment and an active area of clinical research.Among the key mechanisms of CPI resistance is the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Effective CPI therapy is based on shifting immune responses against cancer cells, therefore, manipulating the immunosuppressive TME comprises an important strategy to combat CPI resistance. Several aspects of the TME can contribute to treatment resistance in NSCLC, including through the activation of Tyro3, Axl, MerTK (TAM) receptors which are essential pleiotropic regulators of immune homeostasis. Their roles include negatively modulating the immune response, therefore ectopic expression of TAM receptors in the context of cancer can contribute to the immunosuppressive, protumorigenic TME. Furthermore, TAM receptors represent important candidates to simultaneously target both tumor cells and immune cells in the TME. Clinical development of TAM receptor inhibitors (TAM RIs) is increasingly focused on their ability to rescue the antitumor immune response, thereby shifting the immunosuppressive TME to an immunostimulatory TME. There is a strong biological rationale for combining TAM RIs with a CPI to overcome resistance and improve long-term clinical responses in NSCLC. Combinatorial clinical trials of TAM RIs with CPIs are underway with encouraging preliminary results. This review outlines the key mechanisms of CPI resistance, including the role of the immunosuppressive TME, and discusses the rationale for targeting TAM receptors as a novel, promising therapeutic strategy to overcome CPI resistance in NSCLC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Solange Peters
- Medical Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Luis Paz-Ares
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre and CNIO-H12O Lung Cancer Unit, Universidad Complutense and Ciberonc, Madrid, Spain
| | - Roy S Herbst
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Martin Reck
- Lung Clinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North, Center for Lung Research, Grosshansdorf, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Fane ME, Chhabra Y, Alicea GM, Maranto DA, Douglass SM, Webster MR, Rebecca VW, Marino GE, Almeida F, Ecker BL, Zabransky DJ, Hüser L, Beer T, Tang HY, Kossenkov A, Herlyn M, Speicher DW, Xu W, Xu X, Jaffee EM, Aguirre-Ghiso JA, Weeraratna AT. Stromal changes in the aged lung induce an emergence from melanoma dormancy. Nature 2022; 606:396-405. [PMID: 35650435 PMCID: PMC9554951 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04774-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Disseminated cancer cells from primary tumours can seed in distal tissues, but may take several years to form overt metastases, a phenomenon that is termed tumour dormancy. Despite its importance in metastasis and residual disease, few studies have been able to successfully characterize dormancy within melanoma. Here we show that the aged lung microenvironment facilitates a permissive niche for efficient outgrowth of dormant disseminated cancer cells-in contrast to the aged skin, in which age-related changes suppress melanoma growth but drive dissemination. These microenvironmental complexities can be explained by the phenotype switching model, which argues that melanoma cells switch between a proliferative cell state and a slower-cycling, invasive state1-3. It was previously shown that dermal fibroblasts promote phenotype switching in melanoma during ageing4-8. We now identify WNT5A as an activator of dormancy in melanoma disseminated cancer cells within the lung, which initially enables the efficient dissemination and seeding of melanoma cells in metastatic niches. Age-induced reprogramming of lung fibroblasts increases their secretion of the soluble WNT antagonist sFRP1, which inhibits WNT5A in melanoma cells and thereby enables efficient metastatic outgrowth. We also identify the tyrosine kinase receptors AXL and MER as promoting a dormancy-to-reactivation axis within melanoma cells. Overall, we find that age-induced changes in distal metastatic microenvironments promote the efficient reactivation of dormant melanoma cells in the lung.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell E Fane
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yash Chhabra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gretchen M Alicea
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Devon A Maranto
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stephen M Douglass
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Vito W Rebecca
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gloria E Marino
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Brett L Ecker
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Daniel J Zabransky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Laura Hüser
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Wei Xu
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Xiaowei Xu
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Jaffee
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Julio A Aguirre-Ghiso
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ashani T Weeraratna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Adam-Artigues A, Arenas EJ, Martínez-Sabadell A, Brasó-Maristany F, Cervera R, Tormo E, Hernando C, Martínez MT, Carbonell-Asins J, Simón S, Poveda J, Moragón S, Zazo S, Martínez D, Rovira A, Burgués O, Rojo F, Albanell J, Bermejo B, Lluch A, Prat A, Arribas J, Eroles P, Cejalvo JM. Targeting HER2-AXL heterodimerization to overcome resistance to HER2 blockade in breast cancer. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabk2746. [PMID: 35594351 PMCID: PMC9122332 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk2746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Anti-HER2 therapies have markedly improved prognosis of HER2-positive breast cancer. However, different mechanisms play a role in treatment resistance. Here, we identified AXL overexpression as an essential mechanism of trastuzumab resistance. AXL orchestrates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and heterodimerizes with HER2, leading to activation of PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways in a ligand-independent manner. Genetic depletion and pharmacological inhibition of AXL restored trastuzumab response in vitro and in vivo. AXL inhibitor plus trastuzumab achieved complete regression in trastuzumab-resistant patient-derived xenograft models. Moreover, AXL expression in HER2-positive primary tumors was able to predict prognosis. Data from the PAMELA trial showed a change in AXL expression during neoadjuvant dual HER2 blockade, supporting its role in resistance. Therefore, our study highlights the importance of targeting AXL in combination with anti-HER2 drugs across HER2-amplified breast cancer patients with high AXL expression. Furthermore, it unveils the potential value of AXL as a druggable prognostic biomarker in HER2-positive breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Enrique J. Arenas
- Preclinical Research Program, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona 08035, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid 28019, Spain
| | - Alex Martínez-Sabadell
- Preclinical Research Program, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona 08035, Spain
| | - Fara Brasó-Maristany
- August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona 08036, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | | | - Eduardo Tormo
- INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia 46010, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid 28019, Spain
| | - Cristina Hernando
- INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia 46010, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de València, Valencia 46010, Spain
| | - María Teresa Martínez
- INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia 46010, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de València, Valencia 46010, Spain
| | | | - Soraya Simón
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de València, Valencia 46010, Spain
| | - Jesús Poveda
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de València, Valencia 46010, Spain
| | - Santiago Moragón
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de València, Valencia 46010, Spain
| | - Sandra Zazo
- Department of Pathology, IIS Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Débora Martínez
- August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona 08036, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Ana Rovira
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid 28019, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona 08003, Spain
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Octavio Burgués
- INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia 46010, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid 28019, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de València, Valencia 46010, Spain
| | - Federico Rojo
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid 28019, Spain
- Department of Pathology, IIS Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Joan Albanell
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid 28019, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona 08003, Spain
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona 08003, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Barcelona 08002, Spain
| | - Begoña Bermejo
- INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia 46010, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid 28019, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de València, Valencia 46010, Spain
| | - Ana Lluch
- INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia 46010, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid 28019, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de València, Valencia 46010, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia 46010, Spain
| | - Aleix Prat
- August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona 08036, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain
- SOLTI Breast Cancer Research Group, Barcelona 08008, Spain
| | - Joaquín Arribas
- Preclinical Research Program, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona 08035, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid 28019, Spain
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona 08003, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona 08010, Spain
| | - Pilar Eroles
- INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia 46010, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid 28019, Spain
- Department of Physiology, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia 46010, Spain
| | - Juan Miguel Cejalvo
- INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia 46010, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid 28019, Spain
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de València, Valencia 46010, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Two-Front War on Cancer-Targeting TAM Receptors in Solid Tumour Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14102488. [PMID: 35626092 PMCID: PMC9140196 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In recent years, many studies have shown the importance of TAM kinases in both normal and neoplastic cells. In this review, we present and discuss the role of the TAM family (AXL, MERTK, TYRO3) of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) as a dual target in cancer, due to their intrinsic roles in tumour cell survival, migration, chemoresistance, and their immunosuppressive roles in the tumour microenvironment. This review presents the potential of TAMs as emerging therapeutic targets in cancer treatment, focusing on the distinct structures of TAM receptor tyrosine kinases. We analyse and compare different strategies of TAM inhibition, for a full perspective of current and future battlefields in the war with cancer. Abstract Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are transmembrane receptors that bind growth factors and cytokines and contain a regulated kinase activity within their cytoplasmic domain. RTKs play an important role in signal transduction in both normal and malignant cells, and their encoding genes belong to the most frequently affected genes in cancer cells. The TAM family proteins (TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK) are involved in diverse biological processes: immune regulation, clearance of apoptotic cells, platelet aggregation, cell proliferation, survival, and migration. Recent studies show that TAMs share overlapping functions in tumorigenesis and suppression of antitumour immunity. MERTK and AXL operate in innate immune cells to suppress inflammatory responses and promote an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment, while AXL expression correlates with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, and motility in tumours. Therefore, TAM RTKs represent a dual target in cancer due to their intrinsic roles in tumour cell survival, migration, chemoresistance, and their immunosuppressive roles in the tumour microenvironment (TME). In this review, we discuss the potential of TAMs as emerging therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. We critically assess and compare current approaches to target TAM RTKs in solid tumours and the development of new inhibitors for both extra- and intracellular domains of TAM receptor kinases.
Collapse
|
21
|
Engelsen AST, Lotsberg ML, Abou Khouzam R, Thiery JP, Lorens JB, Chouaib S, Terry S. Dissecting the Role of AXL in Cancer Immune Escape and Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibition. Front Immunol 2022; 13:869676. [PMID: 35572601 PMCID: PMC9092944 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.869676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The development and implementation of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) in clinical oncology have significantly improved the survival of a subset of cancer patients with metastatic disease previously considered uniformly lethal. However, the low response rates and the low number of patients with durable clinical responses remain major concerns and underscore the limited understanding of mechanisms regulating anti-tumor immunity and tumor immune resistance. There is an urgent unmet need for novel approaches to enhance the efficacy of ICI in the clinic, and for predictive tools that can accurately predict ICI responders based on the composition of their tumor microenvironment. The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) AXL has been associated with poor prognosis in numerous malignancies and the emergence of therapy resistance. AXL is a member of the TYRO3-AXL-MERTK (TAM) kinase family. Upon binding to its ligand GAS6, AXL regulates cell signaling cascades and cellular communication between various components of the tumor microenvironment, including cancer cells, endothelial cells, and immune cells. Converging evidence points to AXL as an attractive molecular target to overcome therapy resistance and immunosuppression, supported by the potential of AXL inhibitors to improve ICI efficacy. Here, we review the current literature on the prominent role of AXL in regulating cancer progression, with particular attention to its effects on anti-tumor immune response and resistance to ICI. We discuss future directions with the aim to understand better the complex role of AXL and TAM receptors in cancer and the potential value of this knowledge and targeted inhibition for the benefit of cancer patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnete S. T. Engelsen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Maria L. Lotsberg
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Raefa Abou Khouzam
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jean-Paul Thiery
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
- Inserm, UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Villejuif, France
| | - James B. Lorens
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Salem Chouaib
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
- Inserm, UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Villejuif, France
- Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University Paris Sud, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Stéphane Terry
- Inserm, UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Villejuif, France
- Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University Paris Sud, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Research Department, Inovarion, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Zammarchi F, Havenith KEG, Chivers S, Hogg P, Bertelli F, Tyrer P, Janghra N, Reinert HW, Hartley JA, van Berkel PH. Preclinical Development of ADCT-601, a Novel Pyrrolobenzodiazepine Dimer-based Antibody-drug Conjugate Targeting AXL-expressing Cancers. Mol Cancer Ther 2022; 21:582-593. [PMID: 35086955 PMCID: PMC9377743 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0715] [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] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
AXL, a tyrosine kinase receptor that is overexpressed in many solid and hematologic malignancies, facilitates cancer progression and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Importantly, drug-induced expression of AXL results in resistance to conventional chemotherapy and targeted therapies. Together with its presence on multiple cell types in the tumor immune microenvironment, these features make it an attractive therapeutic target for AXL-expressing malignancies. ADCT-601 (mipasetamab uzoptirine) is an AXL-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) comprising a humanized anti-AXL antibody site specifically conjugated using GlycoConnect technology to PL1601, which contains HydraSpace, a Val-Ala cleavable linker and the potent pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer cytotoxin SG3199. This study aimed to validate the ADCT-601 mode of action and evaluate its efficacy in vitro and in vivo, as well as its tolerability and pharmacokinetics. ADCT-601 bound to both soluble and membranous AXL, and was rapidly internalized by AXL-expressing tumor cells, allowing release of PBD dimer, DNA interstrand cross-linking, and subsequent cell killing. In vivo, ADCT-601 had potent and durable antitumor activity in a wide variety of human cancer xenograft mouse models, including patient-derived xenograft models with heterogeneous AXL expression where ADCT-601 antitumor activity was markedly superior to an auristatin-based comparator ADC. Notably, ADCT-601 had antitumor activity in a monomethyl auristatin E-resistant lung-cancer model and synergized with the PARP inhibitor olaparib in a BRCA1-mutated ovarian cancer model. ADCT-601 was well tolerated at doses of up to 6 mg/kg and showed excellent stability in vivo. These preclinical results warrant further evaluation of ADCT-601 in the clinic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Zammarchi
- ADC Therapeutics (UK) Limited, London, United Kingdom.,Corresponding Author: Francesca Zammarchi, Imperial College White City Campus, ADC Therapeutics (UK) Limited, London W12 0BZ, United Kingdom. E-mail:
| | | | - Simon Chivers
- ADC Therapeutics (UK) Limited, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Hogg
- ADC Therapeutics (UK) Limited, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Peter Tyrer
- AstraZeneca (MedImmune/Spirogen), Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Abou Khouzam R, Zaarour RF, Brodaczewska K, Azakir B, Venkatesh GH, Thiery J, Terry S, Chouaib S. The Effect of Hypoxia and Hypoxia-Associated Pathways in the Regulation of Antitumor Response: Friends or Foes? Front Immunol 2022; 13:828875. [PMID: 35211123 PMCID: PMC8861358 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.828875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia is an environmental stressor that is instigated by low oxygen availability. It fuels the progression of solid tumors by driving tumor plasticity, heterogeneity, stemness and genomic instability. Hypoxia metabolically reprograms the tumor microenvironment (TME), adding insult to injury to the acidic, nutrient deprived and poorly vascularized conditions that act to dampen immune cell function. Through its impact on key cancer hallmarks and by creating a physical barrier conducive to tumor survival, hypoxia modulates tumor cell escape from the mounted immune response. The tumor cell-immune cell crosstalk in the context of a hypoxic TME tips the balance towards a cold and immunosuppressed microenvironment that is resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Nonetheless, evidence is emerging that could make hypoxia an asset for improving response to ICI. Tackling the tumor immune contexture has taken on an in silico, digitalized approach with an increasing number of studies applying bioinformatics to deconvolute the cellular and non-cellular elements of the TME. Such approaches have additionally been combined with signature-based proxies of hypoxia to further dissect the turbulent hypoxia-immune relationship. In this review we will be highlighting the mechanisms by which hypoxia impacts immune cell functions and how that could translate to predicting response to immunotherapy in an era of machine learning and computational biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raefa Abou Khouzam
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rania Faouzi Zaarour
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Klaudia Brodaczewska
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bilal Azakir
- Faculty of Medicine, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Goutham Hassan Venkatesh
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jerome Thiery
- INSERM U1186, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France.,Faculty of Medicine, University Paris Sud, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Stéphane Terry
- INSERM U1186, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France.,Faculty of Medicine, University Paris Sud, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.,Research Department, Inovarion, Paris, France
| | - Salem Chouaib
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.,INSERM U1186, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Hsu CH, Huang YH, Lin SM, Hsu C. AXL and MET in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Literature Review. Liver Cancer 2022; 11:94-112. [PMID: 35634427 PMCID: PMC9109073 DOI: 10.1159/000520501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) have been shown to improve survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared with placebo. Distinct from other MKIs, cabozantinib has inhibitory activity for both AXL and MET. This review considers the literature elucidating the role of AXL and MET in HCC progression, treatment resistance, and immunomodulation. A systematic search of the PubMed database was conducted on November 16, 2020, and identified a total of 174 search results. A further 36 potentially relevant articles were identified based on the authors' knowledge. After initial screening by title/abstract, 159 underwent full-text screening and we identified 69 original research articles reporting empirical data from in vitro or in vivo models of HCC evaluating the effects of manipulating AXL or MET signaling on tumorigenic behavior. SUMMARY AXL expression is highly correlated with HCC progression and outcomes and has been reported to be involved in transforming growth factor-β and the regulation of PI3K/AKT, ERK/MAPK, and CCN proteins. MET protein expression is increased in HCC with the highest histological grade and has been reported to be involved in the regulation of PI3K/AKT, PLCγ/DAG/PKC, and MAPK/ERK signaling. Both AXL and MET are key regulators of sorafenib resistance in HCC. In terms of immunomodulation, there are data to indicate that AXL and MET interact with the immune components of the tumor microenvironment and promote tumorigenesis and treatment resistance. In addition, AXL was found to play a potential role in the development of a protumorigenic neutrophil phenotype in HCC. Combined inhibition of MET and programmed cell death protein resulted in additive reduction of HCC cell growth. KEY MESSAGES AXL and MET play key roles in HCC progression, treatment resistance, and immunomodulation. Continued development of drugs that target these receptor tyrosine kinases appears likely to represent a useful strategy to improve outcomes for patients with HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Hung Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Oncology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan,Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan,**Chiun Hsu,
| | - Yi-Hsiang Huang
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shi-Ming Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan,*Shi-Ming Lin, lsmpaicyto @ gmail.com
| | - Chiun Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Oncology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan,National Taiwan University Cancer Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Truong D, Cherradi-Lamhamedi SE, Ludwig JA. Targeting the IGF/PI3K/mTOR Pathway and AXL/YAP1/TAZ pathways in Primary Bone Cancer. J Bone Oncol 2022; 33:100419. [PMID: 35251924 PMCID: PMC8892134 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbo.2022.100419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary bone cancers (PBC) belong to the family of mesenchymal tumors classified based on their cellular origin, extracellular matrix, genetic regulation, and epigenetic modification. The three major PBC types, Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, and chondrosarcoma, are frequently aggressive tumors, highly metastatic, and typically occur in children and young adults. Despite their distinct origins and pathogenesis, these sarcoma subtypes rely upon common signaling pathways to promote tumor progression, metastasis, and survival. The IGF/PI3K/mTOR and AXL/YAP/TAZ pathways, in particular, have gained significant attention recently given their ties to oncogenesis, cell fate and differentiation, metastasis, and drug resistance. Naturally, these pathways – and their protein constituents – have caught the eye of the pharmaceutical industry, and a wide array of small molecule inhibitors and antibody drug-conjugates have emerged. Here, we review how the IGF/PI3K/mTOR and AXL/YAP/TAZ pathways promote PBC and highlight the drug candidates under clinical trial investigation.
Collapse
|
26
|
Lai YL, Wang KH, Hsieh HP, Yen WC. Novel FLT3/AURK multikinase inhibitor is efficacious against sorafenib-refractory and sorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma. J Biomed Sci 2022; 29:5. [PMID: 35062934 PMCID: PMC8781143 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00788-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common type of cancer and has a high mortality rate worldwide. Sorafenib is the only systemic treatment demonstrating a statistically significant but modest overall survival benefit. We previously have identified the aurora kinases (AURKs) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) multikinase inhibitor DBPR114 exhibiting broad spectrum anti-tumor effects in both leukemia and solid tumors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of DBPR114 in the treatment of advanced HCC. Methods Human HCC cell lines with histopathology/genetic background similar to human HCC tumors were used for in vitro and in vivo studies. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were used to evaluate the drug effect on endothelial tube formation. Western blotting, immunohistochemical staining, and mRNA sequencing were employed to investigate the mechanisms of drug action. Xenograft models of sorafenib-refractory and sorafenib-acquired resistant HCC were used to evaluate the tumor response to DBPR114. Results DBPR114 was active against HCC tumor cell proliferation independent of p53 alteration status and tumor grade in vitro. DBPR114-mediated growth inhibition in HCC cells was associated with apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, and polyploidy formation. Further analysis indicated that DBPR114 reduced the phosphorylation levels of AURKs and its substrate histone H3. Moreover, the levels of several active-state receptor tyrosine kinases were downregulated by DBPR114, verifying the mechanisms of DBPR114 action as a multikinase inhibitor in HCC cells. DBPR114 also exhibited anti-angiogenic effect, as demonstrated by inhibiting tumor formation in HUVEC cells. In vivo, DBPR114 induced statistically significant tumor growth inhibition compared with the vehicle control in multiple HCC tumor xenograft models. Histologic analysis revealed that the DBPR114 treatment reduced cell proliferation, and induced apoptotic cell death and multinucleated cell formation. Consistent with the histological findings, gene expression analysis revealed that DBPR114-modulated genes were mostly related to the G2/M checkpoint and mitotic spindle assembly. DBPR114 was efficacious against sorafenib-intrinsic and -acquired resistant HCC tumors. Notably, DBPR114 significantly delayed posttreatment tumor regrowth and prolonged survival compared with the regorafenib group. Conclusion Our results indicated that targeting AURK signaling could be a new effective molecular-targeted agent in the treatment of patients with HCC. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12929-022-00788-0.
Collapse
|
27
|
Guo J, Zheng J, Zhang H, Tong J. RNA m6A methylation regulators in ovarian cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:609. [PMID: 34794452 PMCID: PMC8600856 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02318-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant RNA modification of mammalian mRNAs and plays a vital role in many diseases, especially tumours. In recent years, m6A has become the topic of intense discussion in epigenetics. M6A modification is dynamically regulated by methyltransferases, demethylases and RNA-binding proteins. Ovarian cancer (OC) is a common but highly fatal malignancy in female. Increasing evidence shows that changes in m6A levels and the dysregulation of m6A regulators are associated with the occurrence, development or prognosis of OC. In this review, the latest studies on m6A and its regulators in OC have been summarized, and we focus on the key role of m6A modification in the development and progression of OC. Additionally, we also discuss the potential use of m6A modification and its regulators in the diagnosis and treatment of OC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jialu Guo
- Department of the Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 310053, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hangzhou Women's Hospital (Hangzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), 310008, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianfeng Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hangzhou Women's Hospital (Hangzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), 310008, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hangzhou Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, 310008, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Huizhi Zhang
- Department of the Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 310053, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinyi Tong
- Department of the Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 310053, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hangzhou Women's Hospital (Hangzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), 310008, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Fragment-based lead discovery of indazole-based compounds as AXL kinase inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 49:116437. [PMID: 34600239 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
AXL is a member of the TAM (TYRO3, AXL, MER) subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases. It is upregulated in a variety of cancers and its overexpression is associated with poor disease prognosis and acquired drug resistance. Utilizing a fragment-based lead discovery approach, a new indazole-based AXL inhibitor was obtained. The indazole fragment hit 11, identified through a high concentration biochemical screen, was expeditiously improved to fragment 24 by screening our in-house expanded library of fragments (ELF) collection. Subsequent fragment optimization guided by docking studies provided potent inhibitor 54 with moderate exposure levels in mice. X-ray crystal structure of analog 50 complexed with the I650M mutated kinase domain of Mer revealed the key binding interactions for the scaffold. The good potency coupled with reasonable kinase selectivity, moderate in vivo exposure levels, and availability of structural information for the series makes it a suitable starting point for further optimization efforts.
Collapse
|
29
|
Chang H, An R, Li X, Lang X, Feng J, Lv M. Anti-Axl monoclonal antibodies attenuate the migration of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Oncol Lett 2021; 22:749. [PMID: 34539853 PMCID: PMC8436363 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.13010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase, anexelekto (Axl) is involved in tumor cell growth, migration and invasion, and has been associated with chemotherapy resistance, which makes it an attractive target for cancer therapy. In total, six Axl-targeted monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and two antibody-drug conjugates have been reported in the last 10 years, which have been shown to have bioactivity in inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and migration. The Axl external cell domain (Axl−ECD), consisting of 426 amino acids, has always been used as an antigen in the screening process for all six of these Axl-targeted mAbs. However, the Axl functional domain, which interacts with its natural ligand, growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6), is only a small part of the Axl−ECD. Antibodies targeting the Axl functional domain may efficiently block Gas6-Axl binding and attenuate its downstream signals and activities. To the best of our knowledge, no mAbs targeting the Axl functional domain have been reported. In the present study, a major Axl functional domain interacting with Gas6 was determined using bioinformatics and structural biology methods. In MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell assays, anti-Axl mAbs targeting this relatively specific Axl functional domain almost completely neutralized the stimulation of Gas6 in both Axl phosphorylation and cell migration assays, and showed similar activity to the positive control drug R428 (a small molecular tyrosine kinase inhibitor of Axl currently in phase II clinical trials) in the cell migration assay. Given the important role of Axl in tumor development and chemotherapy resistance, Axl-targeted mAbs could be used to inhibit tumor cells directly, as well as reduce the development of chemotherapy resistance by blocking Axl activity. The application of Axl-targeted mAbs combined with chemotherapy provides a promising treatment strategy for patients with tumors, particularly those with triple-negative breast cancer, for whom no targeted therapy is currently available.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Chang
- Institute of Medical Technology, Suzhou Vocational Health College, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215009, P.R. China.,College of Basic Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050200, P.R. China
| | - Ran An
- College of Basic Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050200, P.R. China.,Hebei Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Research on Cardio-cerebrovascular Disease, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, P.R. China
| | - Xinying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoling Lang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Gene Engineering Antibody, Beijing 100850, P.R. China
| | - Jiannan Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, P.R. China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Gene Engineering Antibody, Beijing 100850, P.R. China
| | - Ming Lv
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Gene Engineering Antibody, Beijing 100850, P.R. China.,Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Military Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Beijing 100850, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Chen YC, Chien CY, Hsu CC, Lee CH, Chou YT, Shiah SG, Liu SY, Yen CY, Hsieh ACT, Wabitsch M, Shieh YS. Obesity-associated leptin promotes chemoresistance in colorectal cancer through YAP-dependent AXL upregulation. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:4220-4240. [PMID: 34659884 PMCID: PMC8493400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity results from an imbalance between caloric intake and energy expenditure, and it is highly associated with colorectal carcinogenesis and therapeutic resistance in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Dysregulation of adipokine production in obesity has been reported to cause malignant behaviors in CRC. Leptin, which is the principal hormone secreted by adipocytes and an obesity-associated adipokine, is significantly overexpressed in CRC tissues. However, the effect of leptin on chemoresistance in CRC is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to clarify the role of leptin and the underlying mechanisms in mediating 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) resistance in CRC. We used palmitate to artificially generate obese adipocytes. As expected, lipid accumulation was significantly increased in obese adipocytes. We demonstrated that CRC cells incubated with conditioned media (CM) harvested from obese adipocytes were associated with increased resistance to 5-FU. Notably, this increase in resistance to 5-FU was through the elevated production and secretion of leptin. Leptin could further stimulate the expression of AXL and activate its downstream signaling molecule, PLCγ, thereby resulting in an increased expression of p-glycoprotein (P-gp) in CRC cells. Mechanistically, leptin induced AXL expression via the inhibition of AMPK and subsequent increase in YAP activation and nuclear translocation. In addition, nuclear YAP interacted with TEAD and promoted the occupancy of TEAD on the AXL promoter, thereby stimulating AXL promoter activity after leptin treatment. Furthermore, leptin neutralization rescued the sensitivity of CRC tumors to 5-FU in mice fed on a high-fat diet (HFD). These results indicated that leptin mediated 5-FU resistance through YAP-dependent AXL overexpression in CRC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Chen Chen
- Molecular and Cell Biology, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and Graduate Institute of Life Science, National Defense Medical CenterTaipei 114201, Taiwan
| | - Chu-Yen Chien
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical CenterTaipei 114201, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Chen Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical CenterTaipei 114201, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Hsing Lee
- Department and Graduate Institute of Biochemistry, National Defense Medical CenterTaipei 114201, Taiwan
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical CenterTaipei 114201, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Chou
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua UniversityHsinchu 300044, Taiwan
| | - Shine-Gwo Shiah
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research InstitutesMiaoli 350, Taiwan
| | - Shyun-Yeu Liu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Chi Mei Medical CenterTainan 71004, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Yu Yen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Chi Mei Medical CenterTainan 71004, Taiwan
| | | | - Martin Wabitsch
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Centre for Hormonal Disorders in Children and Adolescents, Ulm University HospitalUlm 89081, Germany
| | - Yi-Shing Shieh
- Molecular and Cell Biology, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and Graduate Institute of Life Science, National Defense Medical CenterTaipei 114201, Taiwan
- Department and Graduate Institute of Biochemistry, National Defense Medical CenterTaipei 114201, Taiwan
- Department of Dentistry, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical CenterTaipei 114201, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Terry S, Dalban C, Rioux Leclercq N, Adam J, Meylan M, Buart S, Bougoüin A, Lespagnol A, Dugay F, Colina Moreno I, Lacroix G, Lorens JB, Gausdal G, Fridman WH, Mami-Chouaib F, Chaput N, Beuselinck B, Chabaud S, Barros Monteiro J, Vano Y, Escudier B, Sautes-Fridman C, Albiges L, Chouaib S. Association of AXL and PD-L1 expression with clinical outcomes in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma treated with PD-1 blockade. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:6749-6760. [PMID: 34407968 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-0972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE A minority of patients currently respond to single agent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and strategies to increase response rates are urgently needed. AXL is receptor tyrosine kinase commonly associated with drug-resistance and poor prognosis in many cancer types including in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Recent experimental cues in breast, pancreatic and lung cancer models have linked AXL with immune suppression and resistance to antitumor immunity. However, its role in intrinsic and acquired resistance to ICB remains largely unexplored. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In this study, tumoral expression of AXL was examined in ccRCC specimens from 316 metastatic patients receiving PD-1 inhibitor, nivolumab, in the GETUG AFU 26 NIVOREN trial after failure of anti-angiogenic therapy. We assessed associations between AXL and patient outcomes following PD-1 blockade, as well as the relationship with various markers including PD-L1, VEGFA, the immune markers CD3, CD8, CD163, CD20, and the mutational status of the tumor suppressor gene VHL Results: Our results show that high AXL expression levels in tumor cells is associated with lower response rates and a trend to shorter progression-free survival following anti-PD-1 treatment. AXL expression was strongly associated with tumor PD-L1 expression, especially in tumors with VHL inactivation. Moreover, patients with tumors displaying concomitant PD-L1 expression and high AXL expression had the worst overall survival. CONCLUSIONS Our findings propose AXL as candidate factor of resistance to PD-1 blockade, and provide compelling support for screening both AXL and PD-L1 expression in the management of advanced ccRCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Maxime Meylan
- Inflammation, complement & cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers
| | | | - Antoine Bougoüin
- Inflammation, Complement and Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers
| | - Alexandra Lespagnol
- Department of Somatic Cancer Genetics, Pontchaillou Hospital, CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | | | | | - Guillaume Lacroix
- Inflammation, Complement and Cancer, Cordeliers Research Center, INSERM UMRS 1138
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Catherine Sautes-Fridman
- Laboratoire Inflammation, complement et cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Inserm UMRS 1138
| | - Laurence Albiges
- Department of Cancer Medicine, Institut Gustave Roussy, Université Paris Saclay
| | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Solares I, Viñal D, Morales-Conejo M, Rodriguez-Salas N, Feliu J. Novel molecular targeted therapies for patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 with inoperable plexiform neurofibromas: a comprehensive review. ESMO Open 2021; 6:100223. [PMID: 34388689 PMCID: PMC8363824 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2021.100223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder that carries a higher risk of tumor development. Plexiform neurofibromas (PNs) are present in 50% of NF1 and cause significant morbidity when surgery is not feasible. Systemic therapies had not succeeded to reduce PN tumor volume until 2016 when the first trial with an MAPK/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (MEK) inhibitor was published. We performed a systematic research on novel targeted therapies for patients with NF1 and PNs in PubMed, EMBASE, and conference abstracts with the last update in February 2021. Since 2016, seven trials have reported positive results with MEK inhibitors and other molecular targeted therapies (cabozantinib). Selumetinib has shown an overall response rate of 68% in children with NF1 and symptomatic inoperable PNs, and was associated with pain improvement and a manageable adverse events profile. This led to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of selumetinib in May 2020. Recently, cabozantinib and mirdametinib have also proven their efficacy in adult population. Other MEK inhibitors such as trametinib and binimetinib have also communicated promising preliminary results. Ongoing trials in different populations and with intermittent dosing strategies are underway. PNs are a major cause of morbidity in NF1. Promising efficacy results with MEK inhibitors and cabozantinib have been reported. MEK inhibitors are associated with a manageable toxicity profile. Selumetinib is now FDA approved for the treatment of PNs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I Solares
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reference Center for Inherited Metabolic Disease - MetabERN, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, UCM Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - D Viñal
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
| | - M Morales-Conejo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Reference Center for Inherited Metabolic Disease - MetabERN, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, UCM Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Grupo de Enfermedades Mitocondriales y Neuromusculares, Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre (i+12), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - N Rodriguez-Salas
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain; Translational Oncology Group, IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain; Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - J Feliu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain; Translational Oncology Group, IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain; Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Discovery of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives as novel selective Axl inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2021; 48:128247. [PMID: 34271070 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Axl and Mer are members of the TAM (Tyro3-Axl-Mer) family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Previously, we reported that enzyme-mediated inhibition of Mer by an Axl/Mer dual inhibitor led to retinal toxicity in mice, whereas selective Axl inhibition by compound 1 did not. On the other hand, compound 1 showed low membrane permeability. Here, we designed and synthesized a novel series of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives and evaluated their Axl and Mer inhibitory activities, leading to identification of ER-001259851-000 as a potent and selective Axl inhibitor with drug-likeness and a promising pharmacokinetic profile in mice.
Collapse
|
34
|
Brose MS, Robinson B, Sherman SI, Krajewska J, Lin CC, Vaisman F, Hoff AO, Hitre E, Bowles DW, Hernando J, Faoro L, Banerjee K, Oliver JW, Keam B, Capdevila J. Cabozantinib for radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (COSMIC-311): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol 2021; 22:1126-1138. [PMID: 34237250 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(21)00332-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) previously treated with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-targeted therapy have aggressive disease and no available standard of care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the tyrosine kinase inhibitor cabozantinib in this patient population. METHODS In this global, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial, patients aged 16 years and older with radioiodine-refractory DTC (papillary or follicular and their variants) and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1 were randomly assigned (2:1) to oral cabozantinib (60 mg once daily) or matching placebo, stratified by previous lenvatinib treatment and age. The randomisation scheme used stratified permuted blocks of block size six and an interactive voice-web response system; both patients and investigators were masked to study treatment. Patients must have received previous lenvatinib or sorafenib and progressed during or after treatment with up to two VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Patients receiving placebo could cross over to open-label cabozantinib on disease progression confirmed by blinded independent radiology committee (BIRC). The primary endpoints were objective response rate (confirmed response per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours [RECIST] version 1.1) in the first 100 randomly assigned patients (objective response rate intention-to-treat [OITT] population) and progression-free survival (time to earlier of disease progression per RECIST version 1.1 or death) in all patients (intention-to-treat [ITT] population), both assessed by BIRC. This report presents the primary objective response rate analysis and a concurrent preplanned interim progression-free survival analysis. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03690388, and is no longer enrolling patients. FINDINGS Between Feb 27, 2019, and Aug 18, 2020, 227 patients were assessed for eligibility, of whom 187 were enrolled from 164 clinics in 25 countries and randomly assigned to cabozantinib (n=125) or placebo (n=62). At data cutoff (Aug 19, 2020) for the primary objective response rate and interim progression-free survival analyses, median follow-up was 6·2 months (IQR 3·4-9·2) for the ITT population and 8·9 months (7·1-10·5) for the OITT population. An objective response in the OITT population was achieved in ten (15%; 99% CI 5·8-29·3) of 67 patients in the cabozantinib group versus 0 (0%; 0-14·8) of 33 in the placebo (p=0·028) but did not meet the prespecified significance level (α=0·01). At interim analysis, the primary endpoint of progression-free survival was met in the ITT population; cabozantinib showed significant improvement in progression-free survival over placebo: median not reached (96% CI 5·7-not estimable [NE]) versus 1·9 months (1·8-3·6); hazard ratio 0·22 (96% CI 0·13-0·36; p<0·0001). Grade 3 or 4 adverse events occurred in 71 (57%) of 125 patients receiving cabozantinib and 16 (26%) of 62 receiving placebo, the most frequent of which were palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia (13 [10%] vs 0), hypertension (11 [9%] vs 2 [3%]), and fatigue (ten [8%] vs 0). Serious treatment-related adverse events occurred in 20 (16%) of 125 patients in the cabozantinib group and one (2%) of 62 in the placebo group. There were no treatment-related deaths. INTERPRETATION Our results show that cabozantinib significantly prolongs progression-free survival and might provide a new treatment option for patients with radioiodine-refractory DTC who have no available standard of care. FUNDING Exelixis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcia S Brose
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Bruce Robinson
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Steven I Sherman
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jolanta Krajewska
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology, Maria Sklodowska Curie National Research Institute of Oncology Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Chia-Chi Lin
- Department of Oncology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Ana O Hoff
- Department of Endocrinology, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Erika Hitre
- Department of Medical Oncology and Clinical Pharmacology "B", Országos Onkológiai Intézet, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Daniel W Bowles
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jorge Hernando
- Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Bhumsuk Keam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jaume Capdevila
- Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Vago JP, Amaral FA, van de Loo FAJ. Resolving inflammation by TAM receptor activation. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 227:107893. [PMID: 33992683 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The control of inflammation is strictly regulated to ensure the adequate intensity and duration of an inflammatory response, enabling the removal of the trigger factors and the restoration of the integrity of the tissues and their functions. This process is coordinated by anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving mediators that regulate the cellular and molecular events necessary to restore homeostasis, and defects in this control are associated with the development of chronic and autoimmune diseases. The TAM family of receptor tyrosine kinases-Tyro3, Axl, and MerTK-plays an essential role in efferocytosis, a key process for the resolution of inflammation. However, new studies have demonstrated that TAM receptor activation not only reduces the synthesis of pro-inflammatory mediators by different cell types in response to some stimuli but also stimulates the production of anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving molecules that control the inflammation. This review provides a comprehensive view of TAM receptor family members as important players in controlling inflammatory responses through anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving actions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juliana P Vago
- Experimental Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Flávio A Amaral
- Experimental Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fons A J van de Loo
- Experimental Rheumatology, Department of Rheumatology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Inoue S, Yamane Y, Tsukamoto S, Azuma H, Nagao S, Murai N, Nishibata K, Fukushima S, Ichikawa K, Nakagawa T, Hata Sugi N, Ito D, Kato Y, Goto A, Kakiuchi D, Ueno T, Matsui J, Matsushima T. Discovery of a potent and selective Axl inhibitor in preclinical model. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 39:116137. [PMID: 33930844 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Axl and Mer are a members of the TAM (Tyro3-Axl-Mer) family of receptor tyrosine kinases, which, when activated, can promote tumor cell survival, proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and tumor-host interactions. Chronic inhibition of Mer leads to retinal toxicity in mice. Therefore, successful development of an Axl targeting agent requires ensuring that it is safe for prolonged treatment. Here, to clarify whether enzyme inhibition of Mer by a small molecule leads to retinal toxicity in mice, we designed and synthesized Axl/Mer inhibitors and Axl-selective inhibitors. We identified an Axl/Mer dual inhibitor 28a, which showed retinal toxicity at a dose of 100 mg/kg in mice. Subsequent derivatization of a pyridine derivative led to the discovery of a pyrimidine derivative, 33g, which selectively inhibited the activity of Axl over Mer without retinal toxicity at a dose of 100 mg/kg in mice. Additionally, the compound displayed in vivo anti-tumor effects without influencing body weight in a Ba/F3-Axl isogenic subcutaneous model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Inoue
- Medicinal Chemistry, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan.
| | - Yoshinobu Yamane
- Medicinal Chemistry, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Shuntaro Tsukamoto
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Azuma
- Medicinal Chemistry, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Satoshi Nagao
- Medicinal Chemistry, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Norio Murai
- Medicinal Chemistry, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Kyoko Nishibata
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Sayo Fukushima
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Kenji Ichikawa
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Takayuki Nakagawa
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Naoko Hata Sugi
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ito
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Yu Kato
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Aya Goto
- Drug Safety, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Dai Kakiuchi
- Drug Safety, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Takashi Ueno
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Junji Matsui
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Matsushima
- Medicinal Chemistry, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
New Insights into YES-Associated Protein Signaling Pathways in Hematological Malignancies: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081981. [PMID: 33924049 PMCID: PMC8073623 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081981] [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: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary YES-associated protein (YAP) is a co-transcriptional activator that binds to transcriptional factors to increase the rate of transcription of a set of genes, and it can intervene in the onset and progression of different tumors. Most of the data in the literature refer to the effects of the YAP system in solid neoplasms. In this review, we analyze the possibility that YAP can also intervene in hematological neoplasms such as lymphomas, multiple myeloma, and acute and chronic leukemias, modifying the phenomena of cell proliferation and cell death. The possibilities of pharmacological intervention related to the YAP system in an attempt to use its modulation therapeutically are also discussed. Abstract The Hippo/YES-associated protein (YAP) signaling pathway is a cell survival and proliferation-control system with its main activity that of regulating cell growth and organ volume. YAP operates as a transcriptional coactivator in regulating the onset, progression, and treatment response in numerous human tumors. Moreover, there is evidence suggesting the involvement of YAP in the control of the hematopoietic system, in physiological conditions rather than in hematological diseases. Nevertheless, several reports have proposed that the effects of YAP in tumor cells are cell-dependent and cell-type-determined, even if YAP usually interrelates with extracellular signaling to stimulate the onset and progression of tumors. In the present review, we report the most recent findings in the literature on the relationship between the YAP system and hematological neoplasms. Moreover, we evaluate the possible therapeutic use of the modulation of the YAP system in the treatment of malignancies. Given the effects of the YAP system in immunosurveillance, tumorigenesis, and chemoresistance, further studies on interactions between the YAP system and hematological malignancies will offer very relevant information for the targeting of these diseases employing YAP modifiers alone or in combination with chemotherapy drugs.
Collapse
|
38
|
Khera L, Vinik Y, Maina F, Lev S. The AXL-PYK2-PKCα axis as a nexus of stemness circuits in TNBC. Life Sci Alliance 2021; 4:4/6/e202000985. [PMID: 33785524 PMCID: PMC8046419 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202000985] [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: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A clinically relevant AXL-PYK2-PKCα axis where PYK2 and PKCα act as signaling nodes and functionally cooperate to converge stemness promoting pathways and regulate Oct4 and Nanog pluripotent TFs. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are implicated in tumor initiation, metastasis and drug resistance, and considered as attractive targets for cancer therapy. Here we identified a clinically relevant signaling nexus mediated by AXL receptor, PYK2 and PKCα and show its impact on stemness in TNBC. AXL, PYK2, and PKCα expression correlates with stemness signature in basal-like breast cancer patients, and their depletion in multiple mesenchymal TNBC cell lines markedly reduced the number of mammosphere-forming cells and cells harboring CSCs characteristic markers. Knockdown of PYK2 reduced the levels of AXL, PKCα, FRA1, and PYK2 proteins, and similar trend was obtained upon PKCα depletion. PYK2 depletion decreased AXL transcription through feedback loops mediated by FRA1 and TAZ, whereas PKCα inhibition induced redistribution of AXL to endosomal/lysosomal compartment and enhanced its degradation. PYK2 and PKCα cooperate at a convergence point of multiple stemness-inducing pathways to regulate AXL levels and concomitantly the levels/activation of STAT3, TAZ, FRA1, and SMAD3 as well as the pluripotent transcription factors Nanog and Oct4. Induction of stemness in TNBC sensitized cells to PYK2 and PKCα inhibition suggesting that targeting the AXL-PYK2-PKCα circuit could be an efficient strategy to eliminate CSCs in TNBC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lohit Khera
- Molecular Cell Biology Department, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yaron Vinik
- Molecular Cell Biology Department, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Flavio Maina
- Aix Marseille University, Le Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 7288, Marseille, France
| | - Sima Lev
- Molecular Cell Biology Department, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Targeting AXL kinase sensitizes leukemic stem and progenitor cells to venetoclax treatment in acute myeloid leukemia. Blood 2021; 137:3641-3655. [PMID: 33786587 PMCID: PMC8462401 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020007651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
AXL activity is upregulated in AML stem/progenitor cells, so a novel AXL inhibitor with favorable pharmaceutical properties was developed. AXL inhibition sensitizes AML cells to venetoclax, with strong synergistic effects via AXL/BCL-2–mediated oxidative phosphorylation signaling pathways.
The abundance of genetic abnormalities and phenotypic heterogeneities in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) poses significant challenges to the development of improved treatments. Here, we demonstrated that a key growth arrest-specific gene 6/AXL axis is highly activated in cells from patients with AML, particularly in stem/progenitor cells. We developed a potent selective AXL inhibitor that has favorable pharmaceutical properties and efficacy against preclinical patient-derived xenotransplantation (PDX) models of AML. Importantly, inhibition of AXL sensitized AML stem/progenitor cells to venetoclax treatment, with strong synergistic effects in vitro and in PDX models. Mechanistically, single-cell RNA-sequencing and functional validation studies uncovered that AXL inhibition, alone or in combination with venetoclax, potentially targets intrinsic metabolic vulnerabilities of AML stem/progenitor cells and shows a distinct transcriptomic profile and inhibits mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Inhibition of AXL or BCL-2 also differentially targets key signaling proteins to synergize in leukemic cell killing. These findings have a direct translational impact on the treatment of AML and other cancers with high AXL activity.
Collapse
|
40
|
Post SM, Andreeff M, DiNardo C, Khoury JD, Ruvolo PP. TAM kinases as regulators of cell death. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2021; 1868:118992. [PMID: 33647320 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2021.118992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Receptor Tyrosine Kinases are critical regulators of signal transduction that support cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Dysregulation of normal Receptor Tyrosine Kinase function by mutation or other activity-altering event can be oncogenic or can impact the transformed malignant cell so it becomes particularly resistant to stress challenge, have increased proliferation, become evasive to immune surveillance, and may be more prone to metastasis of the tumor to other organ sites. The TAM family of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (TYRO3, AXL, MERTK) is emerging as important components of malignant cell survival in many cancers. The TAM kinases are important regulators of cellular homeostasis and proper cell differentiation in normal cells as receptors for their ligands GAS6 and Protein S. They also are critical to immune and inflammatory processes. In malignant cells, the TAM kinases can act as ligand independent co-receptors to mutant Receptor Tyrosine Kinases and in some cases (e.g. FLT3-ITD mutant) are required for their function. They also have a role in immune checkpoint surveillance. At the time of this review, the Covid-19 pandemic poses a global threat to world health. TAM kinases play an important role in host response to many viruses and it is suggested the TAM kinases may be important in aspects of Covid-19 biology. This review will cover the TAM kinases and their role in these processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Post
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Michael Andreeff
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America; Section of Molecular Hematology and Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Courtney DiNardo
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Joseph D Khoury
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Peter P Ruvolo
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America; Section of Molecular Hematology and Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Chen CJ, Liu YP. MERTK Inhibition: Potential as a Treatment Strategy in EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Resistant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14020130. [PMID: 33562150 PMCID: PMC7915726 DOI: 10.3390/ph14020130] [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: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are currently the most effective treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, who carry primary EGFR mutations. However, the patients eventually develop drug resistance to EGFR-TKIs after approximately one year. In addition to the acquisition of the EGFR T790M mutation, the activation of alternative receptor-mediated signaling pathways is a common mechanism for conferring the insensitivity of EGFR-TKI in NSCLC. Upregulation of the Mer receptor tyrosine kinase (MERTK), which is a member of the Tyro3-Axl-MERTK (TAM) family, is associated with a poor prognosis of many cancers. The binding of specific ligands, such as Gas6 and PROS1, to MERTK activates phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, which are the signaling pathways shared by EGFR. Therefore, the inhibition of MERTK can be considered a new therapeutic strategy for overcoming the resistance of NSCLC to EGFR-targeted agents. Although several small molecules and monoclonal antibodies targeting the TAM family are being developed and have been described to enhance the chemosensitivity and converse the resistance of EGFR-TKI, few have specifically been developed as MERTK inhibitors. The further development and investigation of biomarkers which can accurately predict MERTK activity and the response to MERTK inhibitors and MERTK-specific drugs are vitally important for obtaining appropriate patient stratification and increased benefits in clinical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Ju Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan;
| | - Yu-Peng Liu
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-7-3121101
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Choi J, Lee H, Kwon E, Kong H, Kwon O, Cha H. TGFβ promotes YAP-dependent AXL induction in mesenchymal-type lung cancer cells. Mol Oncol 2021; 15:679-696. [PMID: 33207077 PMCID: PMC7858114 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The acquisition of chemoresistance remains a major cause of cancer mortality due to the limited accessibility of targeted or immune therapies. However, given that severe alterations of molecular features during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) lead to acquired chemoresistance, emerging studies have focused on identifying targetable drivers associated with acquired chemoresistance. Particularly, AXL, a key receptor tyrosine kinase that confers resistance against targets and chemotherapeutics, is highly expressed in mesenchymal cancer cells. However, the underlying mechanism of AXL induction in mesenchymal cancer cells is poorly understood. Our study revealed that the YAP signature, which was highly enriched in mesenchymal-type lung cancer, was closely correlated to AXL expression in 181 lung cancer cell lines. Moreover, using isogenic lung cancer cell pairs, we also found that doxorubicin treatment induced YAP nuclear translocation in mesenchymal-type lung cancer cells to induce AXL expression. Additionally, the concurrent activation of TGFβ signaling coordinated YAP-dependent AXL expression through SMAD4. These data suggest that crosstalk between YAP and the TGFβ/SMAD axis upon treatment with chemotherapeutics might be a promising target to improve chemosensitivity in mesenchymal-type lung cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Haeseung Lee
- Intellectual Information TeamFuture Medicine DivisionKorea Institute of Oriental MedicineDaejeonKorea
| | - Eun‐Ji Kwon
- College of PharmacySeoul National UniversityKorea
| | | | - Ok‐Seon Kwon
- Stem Cell Research CenterKorea Research Institute of Bioscience and BiotechnologyDaejeonKorea
| | - Hyuk‐Jin Cha
- College of PharmacySeoul National UniversityKorea
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical SciencesSeoul National UniversityKorea
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Msaouel P, Genovese G, Gao J, Sen S, Tannir NM. TAM kinase inhibition and immune checkpoint blockade- a winning combination in cancer treatment? Expert Opin Ther Targets 2021; 25:141-151. [PMID: 33356674 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2021.1869212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have shown great promise in a wide spectrum of malignancies. However, responses are not always durable, and this mode of treatment is only effective in a subset of patients. As such, there exists an unmet need for novel approaches to bolster ICI efficacy.Areas covered: We review the role of the Tyro3, Axl, and Mer (TAM) receptor tyrosine kinases in promoting tumor-induced immune suppression and discuss the benefits that may be derived from combining ICI with TAM kinase-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We searched the MEDLINE Public Library of Medicine (PubMed) and EMBASE databases and referred to ClinicalTrials.gov for relevant ongoing studies.Expert opinion: Targeting of TAM kinases may improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade. However, it remains to be determined whether this effect will be better achieved by the selective targeting of each TAM receptor, depending on the context, or by multi-receptor TAM inhibitors. Triple inhibition of all TAM receptors is more likely to be associated with an increased risk for adverse events. Clinical trial designs should use high-resolution clinical endpoints and proper control arms to determine the synergistic effects of combining TAM inhibition with immune checkpoint blockade.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pavlos Msaouel
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Giannicola Genovese
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jianjun Gao
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Nizar M Tannir
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Cabozantinib for neurofibromatosis type 1-related plexiform neurofibromas: a phase 2 trial. Nat Med 2021; 27:165-173. [PMID: 33442015 PMCID: PMC8275010 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-020-01193-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) plexiform neurofibromas (PNs) are progressive, multicellular neoplasms that cause morbidity and may transform to sarcoma. Treatment of Nf1fl/fl;Postn-Cre mice with cabozantinib, an inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases, caused a reduction in PN size and number and differential modulation of kinases in cell lineages that drive PN growth. Based on these findings, the Neurofibromatosis Clinical Trials Consortium conducted a phase II, open-label, nonrandomized Simon two-stage study to assess the safety, efficacy and biologic activity of cabozantinib in patients ≥16 years of age with NF1 and progressive or symptomatic, inoperable PN ( NCT02101736 ). The trial met its primary outcome, defined as ≥25% of patients achieving a partial response (PR, defined as ≥20% reduction in target lesion volume as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) after 12 cycles of therapy. Secondary outcomes included adverse events (AEs), patient-reported outcomes (PROs) assessing pain and quality of life (QOL), pharmacokinetics (PK) and the levels of circulating endothelial cells and cytokines. Eight of 19 evaluable (42%) trial participants achieved a PR. The median change in tumor volume was 15.2% (range, +2.2% to -36.9%), and no patients had disease progression while on treatment. Nine patients required dose reduction or discontinuation of therapy due to AEs; common AEs included gastrointestinal toxicity, hypothyroidism, fatigue and palmar plantar erythrodysesthesia. A total of 11 grade 3 AEs occurred in eight patients. Patients with PR had a significant reduction in tumor pain intensity and pain interference in daily life but no change in global QOL scores. These data indicate that cabozantinib is active in NF1-associated PN, resulting in tumor volume reduction and pain improvement.
Collapse
|
45
|
Rios-Doria J, Favata M, Lasky K, Feldman P, Lo Y, Yang G, Stevens C, Wen X, Sehra S, Katiyar K, Liu K, Wynn R, Harris JJ, Ye M, Spitz S, Wang X, He C, Li YL, Yao W, Covington M, Scherle P, Koblish H. A Potent and Selective Dual Inhibitor of AXL and MERTK Possesses Both Immunomodulatory and Tumor-Targeted Activity. Front Oncol 2020; 10:598477. [PMID: 33425754 PMCID: PMC7793849 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.598477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK constitute the TAM family of receptor tyrosine kinases, which play important roles in tumor growth, survival, cell adhesion, as well as innate immunity, phagocytosis, and immune-suppressive activity. Therefore, targeting both AXL and MERTK kinases may directly impact tumor growth and relieve immunosuppression. We describe here the discovery of INCB081776, a potent and selective dual inhibitor of AXL and MERTK that is currently in phase 1 clinical trials. In cellular assays, INCB081776 effectively blocked autophosphorylation of AXL or MERTK with low nanomolar half maximal inhibitory concentration values in tumor cells and Ba/F3 cells transfected with constitutively active AXL or MERTK. INCB081776 inhibited activation of MERTK in primary human macrophages and partially reversed M2 macrophage–mediated suppression of T-cell proliferation, which was associated with increased interferon-γ production. In vivo, the antitumor activity of INCB081776 was enhanced in combination with checkpoint blockade in syngeneic models, and resulted in increased proliferation of intratumoral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Finally, antitumor activity of INCB081776 was observed in a subset of sarcoma patient–derived xenograft models, which was linked with inhibition of phospho-AKT. These data support the potential therapeutic utility of INCB081776 as an immunotherapeutic agent capable of both enhancing tumor immune surveillance and blocking tumor cell survival mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kerri Lasky
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | | | - Yvonne Lo
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Gengjie Yang
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | | | - Xiaoming Wen
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Sarita Sehra
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Kamna Katiyar
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Ke Liu
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Richard Wynn
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | | | - Min Ye
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Susan Spitz
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Xiaozhao Wang
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Chunhong He
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Yun-Long Li
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Wenqing Yao
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | | | - Peggy Scherle
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Holly Koblish
- Incyte Research Institute, Wilmington, DE, United States
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Samji P, Rajendran MK, Warrier VP, Ganesh A, Devarajan K. Regulation of Hippo signaling pathway in cancer: A MicroRNA perspective. Cell Signal 2020; 78:109858. [PMID: 33253912 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have suggested that Hippo signaling is not only involved in controlling organ size in Drosophila but can also regulate cell proliferation, tissue homeostasis, differentiation, apoptosis and regeneration. Any dysregulation of Hippo signaling, especially the hyper activation of its downstream effectors YAP/TAZ, can lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and malignant transformation. In majority of cancers, expression of YAP/TAZ is extremely high and this increased expression of YAP/TAZ has been shown to be an independent predictor of prognosis and indicator of increased cell proliferation, metastasis and poor survival. In this review, we have summarized the most recent findings about the cross talk of Hippo signaling pathway with other signaling pathways and its regulation by different miRNAs in various cancer types. Recent evidence has suggested that Hippo pathway is also involved in mediating the resistance of different cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs and in a few cancer types, this is brought about by regulating miRNAs. Therefore, the delineation of the underlying mechanisms regulating the chemotherapeutic resistance might help in developing better treatment options. This review has attempted to provide an overview of different drugs/options which can be utilized to target oncogenic YAP/TAZ proteins for therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Samji
- Cancer Biology Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, IIT Madras, Chennai, India.
| | - Manoj K Rajendran
- Cancer Biology Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, IIT Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Vidya P Warrier
- Cancer Biology Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, IIT Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Akshayaa Ganesh
- Cancer Biology Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, IIT Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Karunagaran Devarajan
- Cancer Biology Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, IIT Madras, Chennai, India
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
AXL Receptor in Breast Cancer: Molecular Involvement and Therapeutic Limitations. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228419. [PMID: 33182542 PMCID: PMC7696061 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer was one of the first malignancies to benefit from targeted therapy, i.e., treatments directed against specific markers. Inhibitors against HER2 are a significant example and they improved the life expectancy of a large cohort of patients. Research on new biomarkers, therefore, is always current and important. AXL, a member of the TYRO-3, AXL and MER (TAM) subfamily, is, today, considered a predictive and prognostic biomarker in many tumor contexts, primarily breast cancer. Its oncogenic implications make it an ideal target for the development of new pharmacological agents; moreover, its recent role as immune-modulator makes AXL particularly attractive to researchers involved in the study of interactions between cancer and the tumor microenvironment (TME). All these peculiarities characterize AXL as compared to other members of the TAM family. In this review, we will illustrate the biological role played by AXL in breast tumor cells, highlighting its molecular and biological features, its involvement in tumor progression and its implication as a target in ongoing clinical trials.
Collapse
|
48
|
von Itzstein MS, Burke MC, Brekken RA, Aguilera TA, Zeh HJ, Beg MS. Targeting TAM to Tame Pancreatic Cancer. Target Oncol 2020; 15:579-588. [PMID: 32996059 DOI: 10.1007/s11523-020-00751-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death within the next few years. Current therapeutic strategies have limited effectiveness and therefore there is an urgency to develop novel effective therapies. The receptor tyrosine kinase subfamily TAM (Tyro3, Axl, MerTK) is directly implicated in the pathogenesis of the metastatic, chemoresistant, and immunosuppressive phenotype in pancreatic cancer. TAM inhibitors are promising investigational therapies for pancreatic cancer due to their potential to target multiple aspects of pancreatic cancer biology. Specifically, recent mechanistic investigations and therapeutic combinations in the preclinical setting suggest that TAM inhibition with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy should be evaluated clinically.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell S von Itzstein
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390-8852, USA
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Michael C Burke
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390-8852, USA
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Todd A Aguilera
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Herbert J Zeh
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Muhammad Shaalan Beg
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX, 75390-8852, USA.
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Di Stasi R, De Rosa L, D'Andrea LD. Therapeutic aspects of the Axl/Gas6 molecular system. Drug Discov Today 2020; 25:2130-2148. [PMID: 33002607 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Axl receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and its ligand, growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6), are involved in several biological functions and participate in the development and progression of a range of malignancies and autoimmune disorders. In this review, we present this molecular system from a drug discovery perspective, highlighting its therapeutic implications and challenges that need to be addressed. We provide an update on Axl/Gas6 axis biology, exploring its role in fields ranging from angiogenesis, cancer development and metastasis, immune response and inflammation to viral infection. Finally, we summarize the molecules that have been developed to date to target the Axl/Gas6 molecular system for therapeutic and diagnostic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Di Stasi
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Lucia De Rosa
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Luca D D'Andrea
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Guo CH, Hsia S, Chung CH, Lin YC, Shih MY, Chen PC, Peng CL, Henning SM, Hsu GSW, Li Z. Nutritional supplements in combination with chemotherapy or targeted therapy reduces tumor progression in mice bearing triple-negative breast cancer. J Nutr Biochem 2020; 87:108504. [PMID: 32956826 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2020.108504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The potential anti-cancer properties of selenium (Se) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been documented. However, few studies have been conducted examining anti-tumor effects of nutritional supplements (NS) containing Se and EPA/DHA in combination with anti-cancer agents, such as taxol (Tax), adriamycin (Adr), and avastin (Ava). Compared with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)-bearing positive control (TB) mice, a low dose of Tax, Adr, and Ava decreased tumor size and the incidence of metastasis in TB-Tax, TB-Adr, and TB-Ava groups. Combination treatment with anti-cancer agent and NS (2.7 μg Se and 5.1 mg EPA/3.7 mg DHA/g) induced additional decreases in TB-Tax-NS, TB-Adr-NS, and TB-Ava-NS groups. Th1-associated cytokines were increased, and Th2-type cytokines were decreased significantly in TB mice with combination treatment than that of anti-cancer agent treatment alone. Combination treatment with anti-cancer agents and NS has also been shown to further increased tumor malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, lowered hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, angiogenic markers (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and CD31) and metastatic potential, as well as reduced heat shock proteins, receptor tyrosine kinase AXL, and surface markers of cancer stem cells, and increased apoptotic proteins. For immune checkpoint molecules, combination treatment was associated with a greater decrease in programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) in both tumors and mammary glands, but PD-1 level in primary tumors was increased. Our results suggest that combination treatment with low-dose anti-cancer agents (Tax, Adr, and Ava) and oral supplementation of Se/ EPA/DHA significantly decreased tumor growth and metastatic progression in TNBC mice through multiple anti-tumor mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Hung Guo
- Micronutrition and Biomedical Nutrition Lab, Institute of Biomedical Nutrition, Hung-Kuang University, Taichung 433, Taiwan; Taiwan Nutraceutical Association, Taipei 105, Taiwan.
| | - Simon Hsia
- Taiwan Nutraceutical Association, Taipei 105, Taiwan
| | | | - Yi-Chun Lin
- Taiwan Nutraceutical Association, Taipei 105, Taiwan
| | - Min-Yi Shih
- Taiwan Nutraceutical Association, Taipei 105, Taiwan
| | | | - Chia-Lin Peng
- Taiwan Nutraceutical Association, Taipei 105, Taiwan
| | - Susanne M Henning
- UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Guoo-Shyng W Hsu
- Department of Nutritional Science, Fu Jen University, New Taipei City 242, Taiwan
| | - Zhaoping Li
- UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
| |
Collapse
|