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Mondru AK, Wilkinson B, Aljasir MA, Alrumayh A, Greaves G, Emmett M, Albohairi S, Pritchard-Jones R, Cross MJ. The ERK5 pathway in BRAFV600E melanoma cells plays a role in development of acquired resistance to dabrafenib but not vemurafenib. FEBS Lett 2024. [PMID: 38977937 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14960] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Malignant melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer with a poor prognosis, frequently features BRAFV600E mutation resulting in activation of the MAPK pathway and melanocyte proliferation and survival. BRAFV600E inhibitors like vemurafenib and dabrafenib have enhanced patient survival, yet drug resistance remains a significant challenge. We investigated the role of the ERK5 pathway in BRAFV600E melanoma cells and cells with acquired resistance to PLX4720 (vemurafenib) and dabrafenib. In BRAFV600E melanoma, ERK5 inhibition minimally affected viability compared to ERK1/2 inhibition. In vemurafenib-resistant cells, ERK5 inhibition alone didn't impact viability or restore drug sensitivity to vemurafenib. However, in dabrafenib-resistant cells, ERK5 inhibition reduced viability and enhanced the anti-proliferative effect of MEK1/2 inhibition. Targeting the ERK5 pathway may represent a therapeutic opportunity in dabrafenib-resistant melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil Kumar Mondru
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Beth Wilkinson
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Mohammad A Aljasir
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Ahmed Alrumayh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Georgia Greaves
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Maxine Emmett
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Saad Albohairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Rowan Pritchard-Jones
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Michael J Cross
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, UK
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2
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Krenz B, Lee J, Kannan T, Eilers M. Immune evasion: An imperative and consequence of MYC deregulation. Mol Oncol 2024. [PMID: 38957016 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13695] [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: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
MYC has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide range of human tumors and has been described for many years as a transcription factor that regulates genes with pleiotropic functions to promote tumorigenic growth. However, despite extensive efforts to identify specific target genes of MYC that alone could be responsible for promoting tumorigenesis, the field is yet to reach a consensus whether this is the crucial function of MYC. Recent work shifts the view on MYC's function from being a gene-specific transcription factor to an essential stress resilience factor. In highly proliferating cells, MYC preserves cell integrity by promoting DNA repair at core promoters, protecting stalled replication forks, and/or preventing transcription-replication conflicts. Furthermore, an increasing body of evidence demonstrates that MYC not only promotes tumorigenesis by driving cell-autonomous growth, but also enables tumors to evade the host's immune system. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of how MYC impairs antitumor immunity and why this function is evolutionarily hard-wired to the biology of the MYC protein family. We show why the cell-autonomous and immune evasive functions of MYC are mutually dependent and discuss ways to target MYC proteins in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastian Krenz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jongkuen Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Toshitha Kannan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Eilers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, Würzburg, Germany
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3
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Klomp JA, Klomp JE, Stalnecker CA, Bryant KL, Edwards AC, Drizyte-Miller K, Hibshman PS, Diehl JN, Lee YS, Morales AJ, Taylor KE, Peng S, Tran NL, Herring LE, Prevatte AW, Barker NK, Hover LD, Hallin J, Chowdhury S, Coker O, Lee HM, Goodwin CM, Gautam P, Olson P, Christensen JG, Shen JP, Kopetz S, Graves LM, Lim KH, Wang-Gillam A, Wennerberg K, Cox AD, Der CJ. Defining the KRAS- and ERK-dependent transcriptome in KRAS-mutant cancers. Science 2024; 384:eadk0775. [PMID: 38843331 DOI: 10.1126/science.adk0775] [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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
How the KRAS oncogene drives cancer growth remains poorly understood. Therefore, we established a systemwide portrait of KRAS- and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent gene transcription in KRAS-mutant cancer to delineate the molecular mechanisms of growth and of inhibitor resistance. Unexpectedly, our KRAS-dependent gene signature diverges substantially from the frequently cited Hallmark KRAS signaling gene signature, is driven predominantly through the ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, and accurately reflects KRAS- and ERK-regulated gene transcription in KRAS-mutant cancer patients. Integration with our ERK-regulated phospho- and total proteome highlights ERK deregulation of the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) and other components of the cell cycle machinery as key processes that drive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) growth. Our findings elucidate mechanistically the critical role of ERK in driving KRAS-mutant tumor growth and in resistance to KRAS-ERK MAPK targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey A Klomp
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jennifer E Klomp
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Clint A Stalnecker
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kirsten L Bryant
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - A Cole Edwards
- Cell Biology and Physiology Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kristina Drizyte-Miller
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Priya S Hibshman
- Cell Biology and Physiology Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - J Nathaniel Diehl
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ye S Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Alexis J Morales
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Khalilah E Taylor
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Sen Peng
- Illumina, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Nhan L Tran
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA
| | - Laura E Herring
- Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Alex W Prevatte
- Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Natalie K Barker
- Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | | | - Jill Hallin
- Mirati Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Saikat Chowdhury
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Oluwadara Coker
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hey Min Lee
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Craig M Goodwin
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Prson Gautam
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Peter Olson
- Mirati Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | | | - John P Shen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Scott Kopetz
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lee M Graves
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kian-Huat Lim
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Andrea Wang-Gillam
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Krister Wennerberg
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adrienne D Cox
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Cell Biology and Physiology Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Channing J Der
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Cell Biology and Physiology Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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4
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Klomp JE, Diehl JN, Klomp JA, Edwards AC, Yang R, Morales AJ, Taylor KE, Drizyte-Miller K, Bryant KL, Schaefer A, Johnson JL, Huntsman EM, Yaron TM, Pierobon M, Baldelli E, Prevatte AW, Barker NK, Herring LE, Petricoin EF, Graves LM, Cantley LC, Cox AD, Der CJ, Stalnecker CA. Determining the ERK-regulated phosphoproteome driving KRAS-mutant cancer. Science 2024; 384:eadk0850. [PMID: 38843329 DOI: 10.1126/science.adk0850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
To delineate the mechanisms by which the ERK1 and ERK2 mitogen-activated protein kinases support mutant KRAS-driven cancer growth, we determined the ERK-dependent phosphoproteome in KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer. We determined that ERK1 and ERK2 share near-identical signaling and transforming outputs and that the KRAS-regulated phosphoproteome is driven nearly completely by ERK. We identified 4666 ERK-dependent phosphosites on 2123 proteins, of which 79 and 66%, respectively, were not previously associated with ERK, substantially expanding the depth and breadth of ERK-dependent phosphorylation events and revealing a considerably more complex function for ERK in cancer. We established that ERK controls a highly dynamic and complex phosphoproteome that converges on cyclin-dependent kinase regulation and RAS homolog guanosine triphosphatase function (RHO GTPase). Our findings establish the most comprehensive molecular portrait and mechanisms by which ERK drives KRAS-dependent pancreatic cancer growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E Klomp
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - J Nathaniel Diehl
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Klomp
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - A Cole Edwards
- Cell Biology and Physiology Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Runying Yang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Alexis J Morales
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Khalilah E Taylor
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kristina Drizyte-Miller
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kirsten L Bryant
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Antje Schaefer
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jared L Johnson
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Emily M Huntsman
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Tomer M Yaron
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | | | - Elisa Baldelli
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - Alex W Prevatte
- UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Natalie K Barker
- UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Laura E Herring
- UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | | | - Lee M Graves
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lewis C Cantley
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Adrienne D Cox
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Cell Biology and Physiology Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Channing J Der
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Cell Biology and Physiology Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Clint A Stalnecker
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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5
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Perurena N, Situ L, Cichowski K. Combinatorial strategies to target RAS-driven cancers. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:316-337. [PMID: 38627557 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-024-00679-6] [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] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Although RAS was formerly considered undruggable, various agents that inhibit RAS or specific RAS oncoproteins have now been developed. Indeed, the importance of directly targeting RAS has recently been illustrated by the clinical success of mutant-selective KRAS inhibitors. Nevertheless, responses to these agents are typically incomplete and restricted to a subset of patients, highlighting the need to develop more effective treatments, which will likely require a combinatorial approach. Vertical strategies that target multiple nodes within the RAS pathway to achieve deeper suppression are being investigated and have precedence in other contexts. However, alternative strategies that co-target RAS and other therapeutic vulnerabilities have been identified, which may mitigate the requirement for profound pathway suppression. Regardless, the efficacy of any given approach will likely be dictated by genetic, epigenetic and tumour-specific variables. Here we discuss various combinatorial strategies to treat KRAS-driven cancers, highlighting mechanistic concepts that may extend to tumours harbouring other RAS mutations. Although many promising combinations have been identified, clinical responses will ultimately depend on whether a therapeutic window can be achieved and our ability to prospectively select responsive patients. Therefore, we must continue to develop and understand biologically diverse strategies to maximize our likelihood of success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiara Perurena
- Genetics Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lisa Situ
- Genetics Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karen Cichowski
- Genetics Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Ludwig Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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6
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Zhao W, Ouyang C, Huang C, Zhang J, Xiao Q, Zhang F, Wang H, Lin F, Wang J, Wang Z, Jiang B, Li Q. ELP3 stabilizes c-Myc to promote tumorigenesis. J Mol Cell Biol 2024; 15:mjad059. [PMID: 37771073 PMCID: PMC11054291 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjad059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
ELP3, the catalytic subunit of the Elongator complex, is an acetyltransferase and associated with tumor progression. However, the detail of ELP3 oncogenic function remains largely unclear. Here, we found that ELP3 stabilizes c-Myc to promote tumorigenesis in an acetyltransferase-independent manner. Mechanistically, ELP3 competes with the E3-ligase FBXW7β for c-Myc binding, resulting in the inhibition of FBXW7β-mediated ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of c-Myc. ELP3 knockdown diminishes glycolysis and glutaminolysis and dramatically retards cell proliferation and xenograft growth by downregulating c-Myc, and such effects are rescued by the reconstitution of c-Myc expression. Moreover, ELP3 and c-Myc were found overexpressed with a positive correlation in colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Taken together, we elucidate a new function of ELP3 in promoting tumorigenesis by stabilizing c-Myc, suggesting that inhibition of ELP3 is a potential strategy for treating c-Myc-driven carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Department of Neurosurgery and Department of Neuroscience, Fujian Key Laboratory of Brain Tumors Diagnosis and Precision Treatment, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, China
| | - Cong Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Chen Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jiaojiao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Qiao Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Fengqiong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Huihui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Furong Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jinyang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Zhanxiang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery and Department of Neuroscience, Fujian Key Laboratory of Brain Tumors Diagnosis and Precision Treatment, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Brain Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, China
| | - Bin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Qinxi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
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7
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Chen L, Niu W, Zang H, Qiu Y. DTX3L Accelerates Pancreatic cancer Progression via FAK/PI3K/AKT Axis. Biochem Genet 2024; 62:814-830. [PMID: 37460862 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10451-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
DTX3L (Deltex E3 ubiquitin ligase 3 L) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase, a member of the deltex family. It is also known as B-lymphoma and BAL-associated protein (BBAP). DTX3L has been proven to play an important role in various tumor development; however, its role in pancreatic cancer remains unknown. So, we analyzed the DTX3L expression in pancreatic cancer based on the TCGA database and verified it in our samples by qRT‑PCR and western blot. We identified that DTX3L was highly expressed in pancreatic cancer, and its expression level was significantly negatively correlated with patients' survival. Using CCK8, colony formation, transwell, and wound healing assays, we found that upregulated DTX3L promotes pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Mechanically, DTX3L combined with EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and prevented the ubiquitination degradation of it. Upregulated EGFR activated the FAK/PI3K/Akt pathway and promoted the progression of pancreatic cancer. Moreover, we found that DTX3L can weaken pancreatic cancer cells' sensitivity to chemotherapy using the orthotopic implant tumor model. In conclusion, DTX3L accelerates pancreatic cancer progression by EGFR dependent FAK/PI3K/Akt pathway activation and may become a potential target for pancreatic cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nantong First People's Hospital, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, #6 Hai'Er Xiang North Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wenyang Niu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nantong First People's Hospital, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, #6 Hai'Er Xiang North Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hong Zang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nantong First People's Hospital, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, #6 Hai'Er Xiang North Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Yudong Qiu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, Jiangsu Province, China.
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
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8
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Ascanelli C, Dahir R, Wilson CH. Manipulating Myc for reparative regeneration. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1357589. [PMID: 38577503 PMCID: PMC10991803 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1357589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The Myc family of proto-oncogenes is a key node for the signal transduction of external pro-proliferative signals to the cellular processes required for development, tissue homoeostasis maintenance, and regeneration across evolution. The tight regulation of Myc synthesis and activity is essential for restricting its oncogenic potential. In this review, we highlight the central role that Myc plays in regeneration across the animal kingdom (from Cnidaria to echinoderms to Chordata) and how Myc could be employed to unlock the regenerative potential of non-regenerative tissues in humans for therapeutic purposes. Mastering the fine balance of harnessing the ability of Myc to promote transcription without triggering oncogenesis may open the door to many exciting opportunities for therapeutic development across a wide array of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Catherine H. Wilson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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9
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Molina-Arcas M, Downward J. Exploiting the therapeutic implications of KRAS inhibition on tumor immunity. Cancer Cell 2024; 42:338-357. [PMID: 38471457 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decade, RAS oncogenic proteins have transitioned from being deemed undruggable to having two clinically approved drugs, with several more in advanced stages of development. Despite the initial benefit of KRAS-G12C inhibitors for patients with tumors harboring this mutation, the rapid emergence of drug resistance underscores the urgent need to synergize these inhibitors with other therapeutic approaches to improve outcomes. RAS mutant tumor cells can create an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), suggesting an increased susceptibility to immunotherapies following RAS inhibition. This provides a rationale for combining RAS inhibitory drugs with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). However, achieving this synergy in the clinical setting has proven challenging. Here, we explore how understanding the impact of RAS mutant tumor cells on the TME can guide innovative approaches to combining RAS inhibition with immunotherapies, review progress in both pre-clinical and clinical stages, and discuss challenges and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julian Downward
- Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK.
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10
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Gaballa A, Gebhardt-Wolf A, Krenz B, Mattavelli G, John M, Cossa G, Andreani S, Schülein-Völk C, Montesinos F, Vidal R, Kastner C, Ade CP, Kneitz B, Gasteiger G, Gallant P, Rosenfeldt M, Riedel A, Eilers M. PAF1c links S-phase progression to immune evasion and MYC function in pancreatic carcinoma. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1446. [PMID: 38365788 PMCID: PMC10873513 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45760-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), endogenous MYC is required for S-phase progression and escape from immune surveillance. Here we show that MYC in PDAC cells is needed for the recruitment of the PAF1c transcription elongation complex to RNA polymerase and that depletion of CTR9, a PAF1c subunit, enables long-term survival of PDAC-bearing mice. PAF1c is largely dispensable for normal proliferation and regulation of MYC target genes. Instead, PAF1c limits DNA damage associated with S-phase progression by being essential for the expression of long genes involved in replication and DNA repair. Surprisingly, the survival benefit conferred by CTR9 depletion is not due to DNA damage, but to T-cell activation and restoration of immune surveillance. This is because CTR9 depletion releases RNA polymerase and elongation factors from the body of long genes and promotes the transcription of short genes, including MHC class I genes. The data argue that functionally distinct gene sets compete for elongation factors and directly link MYC-driven S-phase progression to tumor immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdallah Gaballa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Anneli Gebhardt-Wolf
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Bastian Krenz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Greta Mattavelli
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mara John
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Giacomo Cossa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Silvia Andreani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christina Schülein-Völk
- Core Unit High-Content Microscopy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Francisco Montesinos
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Raphael Vidal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Carolin Kastner
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Carsten P Ade
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Burkhard Kneitz
- Department of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Georg Gasteiger
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Versbacher Str. 9, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Peter Gallant
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mathias Rosenfeldt
- Institute of Pathology, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Angela Riedel
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Eilers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologyy, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, Julius Maximilian University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany.
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.
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11
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Mathew M, Nguyen NT, Bhutia YD, Sivaprakasam S, Ganapathy V. Metabolic Signature of Warburg Effect in Cancer: An Effective and Obligatory Interplay between Nutrient Transporters and Catabolic/Anabolic Pathways to Promote Tumor Growth. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:504. [PMID: 38339256 PMCID: PMC10854907 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030504] [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: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Aerobic glycolysis in cancer cells, originally observed by Warburg 100 years ago, which involves the production of lactate as the end product of glucose breakdown even in the presence of adequate oxygen, is the foundation for the current interest in the cancer-cell-specific reprograming of metabolic pathways. The renewed interest in cancer cell metabolism has now gone well beyond the original Warburg effect related to glycolysis to other metabolic pathways that include amino acid metabolism, one-carbon metabolism, the pentose phosphate pathway, nucleotide synthesis, antioxidant machinery, etc. Since glucose and amino acids constitute the primary nutrients that fuel the altered metabolic pathways in cancer cells, the transporters that mediate the transfer of these nutrients and their metabolites not only across the plasma membrane but also across the mitochondrial and lysosomal membranes have become an integral component of the expansion of the Warburg effect. In this review, we focus on the interplay between these transporters and metabolic pathways that facilitates metabolic reprogramming, which has become a hallmark of cancer cells. The beneficial outcome of this recent understanding of the unique metabolic signature surrounding the Warburg effect is the identification of novel drug targets for the development of a new generation of therapeutics to treat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Vadivel Ganapathy
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (M.M.); (N.T.N.); (Y.D.B.); (S.S.)
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12
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Wang Y, Yao M, Li C, Yang K, Qin X, Xu L, Shi S, Yu C, Meng X, Xie C. Targeting ST8SIA6-AS1 counteracts KRAS G12C inhibitor resistance through abolishing the reciprocal activation of PLK1/c-Myc signaling. Exp Hematol Oncol 2023; 12:105. [PMID: 38104151 PMCID: PMC10724920 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-023-00466-3] [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: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND KRASG12C inhibitors (KRASG12Ci) AMG510 and MRTX849 have shown promising efficacy in clinical trials and been approved for the treatment of KRASG12C-mutant cancers. However, the emergence of therapy-related drug resistance limits their long-term potential. This study aimed to identify the critical mediators and develop overcoming strategies. METHODS By using RNA sequencing, RT-qPCR and immunoblotting, we identified and validated the upregulation of c-Myc activity and the amplification of the long noncoding RNA ST8SIA6-AS1 in KRASG12Ci-resistant cells. The regulatory axis ST8SIA6-AS1/Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1)/c-Myc was investigated by bioinformatics, RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization, RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA pull-down and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Gain/loss-of-function assays, cell viability assay, xenograft models, and IHC staining were conducted to evaluate the anti-cancer effects of co-inhibition of ST8SIA6-AS1/PLK1 pathway and KRAS both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS KRASG12Ci sustainably decreased c-Myc levels in responsive cell lines but not in cell lines with intrinsic or acquired resistance to KRASG12Ci. PLK1 activation contributed to this ERK-independent c-Myc stability, which in turn directly induced PLK1 transcription, forming a positive feedback loop and conferring resistance to KRASG12Ci. ST8SIA6-AS1 was found significantly upregulated in resistant cells and facilitated the proliferation of KRASG12C-mutant cancers. ST8SIA6-AS1 bound to Aurora kinase A (Aurora A)/PLK1 and promoted Aurora A-mediated PLK1 phosphorylation. Concurrent targeting of KRAS and ST8SIA6-AS1/PLK1 signaling suppressed both ERK-dependent and -independent c-Myc expression, synergistically led to cell death and tumor regression and overcame KRASG12Ci resistance. CONCLUSIONS Our study deciphers that the axis of ST8SIA6-AS1/PLK1/c-Myc confers both intrinsic and acquired resistance to KRASG12Ci and represents a promising therapeutic target for combination strategies with KRASG12Ci in the treatment of KRASG12C-mutant cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafang Wang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingyue Yao
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, People's Republic of China
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Anhui Provincial Hospital), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Drug Discovery and Development Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Li
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Kexin Yang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Lingang Laboratory, 319 Yueyang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Xiaolong Qin
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Lansong Xu
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, People's Republic of China
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Anhui Provincial Hospital), University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Drug Discovery and Development Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, People's Republic of China
| | - Shangxuan Shi
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Chengcheng Yu
- Drug Discovery and Development Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, People's Republic of China
- Lingang Laboratory, 319 Yueyang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Xiangjun Meng
- Gastroenterology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200001, China
- China Center for Digestive Diseases Research and Clinical Translation of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200001, China
- China Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gut Microecology and Associated Major Diseases Research, Shanghai, 200001, China
| | - Chengying Xie
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, People's Republic of China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
- Lingang Laboratory, 319 Yueyang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China.
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13
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Di Giorgio E, Choudhary H, Ferino A, Cortolezzis Y, Dalla E, D’Este F, Comelli M, Rapozzi V, Xodo LE. Suppression of the KRAS- NRF2 axis shifts arginine into the phosphocreatine energy system in pancreatic cancer cells. iScience 2023; 26:108566. [PMID: 38144458 PMCID: PMC10746371 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108566] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC), the KRASG12D-NRF2 axis controls cellular functions such as redox homeostasis and metabolism. Disruption of this axis through suppression of NRF2 leads to profound reprogramming of metabolism. Unbiased transcriptome and metabolome analyses showed that PDAC cells with disrupted KRASG12D-NRF2 signaling (NRF2-/- cells) shift from aerobic glycolysis to metabolic pathways fed by amino acids. Metabolome, RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses revealed a blockade of the urea cycle, making NRF2-/- cells dependent on exogenous arginine for survival. Arginine is channeled into anabolic pathways, including the synthesis of phosphocreatine, which generates an energy buffer essential for cell growth. A similar switch was observed in tumor clones that had survived FOLFIRINOX therapy or blockade of KRAS signaling. Inhibition of the creatine pathway with cyclocreatine reduced both ATP and invasion rate in 3D spheroids from NRF2-deficient PDAC cells. Our study provides basis for the rational development of combination therapies for pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eros Di Giorgio
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Himanshi Choudhary
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Annalisa Ferino
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Ylenia Cortolezzis
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Emiliano Dalla
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Francesca D’Este
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Marina Comelli
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Valentina Rapozzi
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Luigi E. Xodo
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
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14
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Edwards AC, Stalnecker CA, Morales AJ, Taylor KE, Klomp JE, Klomp JA, Waters AM, Sudhakar N, Hallin J, Tang TT, Olson P, Post L, Christensen JG, Cox AD, Der CJ. TEAD Inhibition Overcomes YAP1/TAZ-Driven Primary and Acquired Resistance to KRASG12C Inhibitors. Cancer Res 2023; 83:4112-4129. [PMID: 37934103 PMCID: PMC10821578 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-2994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Primary/intrinsic and treatment-induced acquired resistance limit the initial response rate to and long-term efficacy of direct inhibitors of the KRASG12C mutant in cancer. To identify potential mechanisms of resistance, we applied a CRISPR/Cas9 loss-of-function screen and observed loss of multiple components of the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway, which acts to suppress YAP1/TAZ-regulated gene transcription. YAP1/TAZ activation impaired the antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of KRASG12C inhibitor (G12Ci) treatment in KRASG12C-mutant cancer cell lines. Conversely, genetic suppression of YAP1/WWTR1 (TAZ) enhanced G12Ci sensitivity. YAP1/TAZ activity overcame KRAS dependency through two distinct TEAD transcription factor-dependent mechanisms, which phenocopy KRAS effector signaling. First, TEAD stimulated ERK-independent transcription of genes normally regulated by ERK (BIRC5, CDC20, ECT2, FOSL1, and MYC) to promote progression through the cell cycle. Second, TEAD caused activation of PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling to overcome apoptosis. G12Ci treatment-induced acquired resistance was also caused by YAP1/TAZ-TEAD activation. Accordingly, concurrent treatment with pharmacologic inhibitors of TEAD synergistically enhanced KRASG12C inhibitor antitumor activity in vitro and prolonged tumor suppression in vivo. In summary, these observations reveal YAP1/TAZ-TEAD signaling as a crucial driver of primary and acquired resistance to KRAS inhibition and support the use of TEAD inhibitors to enhance the antitumor efficacy of KRAS-targeted therapies. SIGNIFICANCE YAP1/TAZ-TEAD activation compensates for loss of KRAS effector signaling, establishing a mechanistic basis for concurrent inhibition of TEAD to enhance the efficacy of KRASG12C-selective inhibitor treatment of KRASG12C-mutant cancers. See related commentary by Johnson and Haigis, p. 4005.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Cole Edwards
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Clint A. Stalnecker
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Alexis Jean Morales
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Khalilah E. Taylor
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Jennifer E. Klomp
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Jeffrey A. Klomp
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Andrew M. Waters
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | | | - Jill Hallin
- Mirati Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, California
| | | | - Peter Olson
- Mirati Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, California
| | - Leonard Post
- Vivace Therapeutics, Inc., San Mateo, California
| | | | - Adrienne D. Cox
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Channing J. Der
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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15
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Espinosa-Gil S, Ivanova S, Alari-Pahissa E, Denizli M, Villafranca-Magdalena B, Viñas-Casas M, Bolinaga-Ayala I, Gámez-García A, Faundez-Vidiella C, Colas E, Lopez-Botet M, Zorzano A, Lizcano JM. MAP kinase ERK5 modulates cancer cell sensitivity to extrinsic apoptosis induced by death-receptor agonists. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:715. [PMID: 37919293 PMCID: PMC10622508 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06229-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Death receptor ligand TRAIL is a promising cancer therapy due to its ability to selectively trigger extrinsic apoptosis in cancer cells. However, TRAIL-based therapies in humans have shown limitations, mainly due inherent or acquired resistance of tumor cells. To address this issue, current efforts are focussed on dissecting the intracellular signaling pathways involved in resistance to TRAIL, to identify strategies that sensitize cancer cells to TRAIL-induced cytotoxicity. In this work, we describe the oncogenic MEK5-ERK5 pathway as a critical regulator of cancer cell resistance to the apoptosis induced by death receptor ligands. Using 2D and 3D cell cultures and transcriptomic analyses, we show that ERK5 controls the proteostasis of TP53INP2, a protein necessary for full activation of caspase-8 in response to TNFα, FasL or TRAIL. Mechanistically, ERK5 phosphorylates and induces ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation of TP53INP2, resulting in cancer cell resistance to TRAIL. Concordantly, ERK5 inhibition or genetic deletion, by stabilizing TP53INP2, sensitizes cancer cells to the apoptosis induced by recombinant TRAIL and TRAIL/FasL expressed by Natural Killer cells. The MEK5-ERK5 pathway regulates cancer cell proliferation and survival, and ERK5 inhibitors have shown anticancer activity in preclinical models of solid tumors. Using endometrial cancer patient-derived xenograft organoids, we propose ERK5 inhibition as an effective strategy to sensitize cancer cells to TRAIL-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Espinosa-Gil
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular and Institut de Neurociències. Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
- Protein Kinases in Cancer Research. Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Saska Ivanova
- IRB Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERDEM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Melek Denizli
- Biomedical Research Group in Gynecology, Vall Hebron Institute of Research, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Villafranca-Magdalena
- Biomedical Research Group in Gynecology, Vall Hebron Institute of Research, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Viñas-Casas
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular and Institut de Neurociències. Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
- Protein Kinases in Cancer Research. Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Idoia Bolinaga-Ayala
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular and Institut de Neurociències. Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
- Protein Kinases in Cancer Research. Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrés Gámez-García
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular and Institut de Neurociències. Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claudia Faundez-Vidiella
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular and Institut de Neurociències. Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
- Protein Kinases in Cancer Research. Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eva Colas
- Biomedical Research Group in Gynecology, Vall Hebron Institute of Research, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Lopez-Botet
- University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Immunology laboratory, Dpt. of Pathology, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Zorzano
- IRB Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERDEM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biomedicina Molecular, Facultat de Biología, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Miguel Lizcano
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular and Institut de Neurociències. Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain.
- Protein Kinases in Cancer Research. Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain.
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16
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Jha RK, Kouzine F, Levens D. MYC function and regulation in physiological perspective. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1268275. [PMID: 37941901 PMCID: PMC10627926 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1268275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
MYC, a key member of the Myc-proto-oncogene family, is a universal transcription amplifier that regulates almost every physiological process in a cell including cell cycle, proliferation, metabolism, differentiation, and apoptosis. MYC interacts with several cofactors, chromatin modifiers, and regulators to direct gene expression. MYC levels are tightly regulated, and deregulation of MYC has been associated with numerous diseases including cancer. Understanding the comprehensive biology of MYC under physiological conditions is an utmost necessity to demark biological functions of MYC from its pathological functions. Here we review the recent advances in biological mechanisms, functions, and regulation of MYC. We also emphasize the role of MYC as a global transcription amplifier.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - David Levens
- Gene Regulation Section, Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, MD, United States
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17
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Pan P, Geng T, Li Z, Ding X, Shi M, Li Y, Wang Y, Shi Y, Wu J, Zhong L, Ji D, Li Z, Meng X. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Proteolysis-Targeting Chimeras as Highly Selective and Efficient Degraders of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 5. J Med Chem 2023; 66:13568-13586. [PMID: 37751283 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) is recognized as a key member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family and is involved in tumor growth, migration, and angiogenesis. However, the results of ERK5 inhibition in multiple studies are controversial, and a highly specific ERK5-targeting agent is required to confirm physiological functions. Using proteolysis-targeting chimera technology, we designed the selective ERK5 degrader PPM-3 and examined its biological effect on cancer cells. Interestingly, the selective degradation of ERK5 with PPM-3 did not influence tumor cell growth directly. Based on proteomics analysis, the ERK5 deletion may be associated with tumor immunity. PPM-3 influences tumor development by affecting the differentiation of macrophages. Therefore, PPM-3 is an effective small-molecule tool for studying ERK5 and a promising immunotherapy drug candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengming Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Tongtong Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zhongtang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xuyang Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Mengyuan Shi
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Yang Li
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Food Nutrition/Safety and Medicinal Chemistry, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Yashuai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yuanyuan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jiaojiao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Liang Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Dengbo Ji
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery III, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Zhongjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xiangbao Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
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Ren X, Yan J, Zhao Q, Bao X, Han X, Zheng C, Zhou Y, Chen L, Wang B, Yang L, Lin X, Liu D, Lin Y, Li M, Fang H, Lu Z, Lyu J. The Fe-S cluster assembly protein IscU2 increases α-ketoglutarate catabolism and DNA 5mC to promote tumor growth. Cell Discov 2023; 9:76. [PMID: 37488138 PMCID: PMC10366194 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00558-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
IscU2 is a scaffold protein that is critical for the assembly of iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters and the functions of Fe-S-containing mitochondrial proteins. However, the role of IscU2 in tumor development remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that IscU2 expression is much higher in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tissues than in adjacent normal pancreatic tissues. In PDAC cells, activated KRAS enhances the c-Myc-mediated IscU2 transcription. The upregulated IscU2 stabilizes Fe-S cluster and regulates the activity of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) dehydrogenase and aconitase 2, which promote α-KG catabolism through oxidative and reductive TCA cycling, respectively. In addition to promoting mitochondrial functions, activated KRAS-induced and IscU2-dependent acceleration of α-KG catabolism results in reduced α-KG levels in the cytosol and nucleus, leading to an increase in DNA 5mC due to Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 3 (TET3) inhibition and subsequent expression of genes including DNA polymerase alpha 1 catalytic subunit for PDAC cell proliferation and tumor growth in mice. These findings underscore a critical role of IscU2 in KRAS-promoted α-KG catabolism, 5mC-dependent gene expression, and PDAC growth and highlight the instrumental and integrated regulation of mitochondrial functions and gene expression by IscU2 in PDAC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun Ren
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jimei Yan
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qiongya Zhao
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xinzhu Bao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xinyu Han
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chen Zheng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lifang Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lina Yang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xi Lin
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dandan Liu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuyan Lin
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Min Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hezhi Fang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Zhimin Lu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Jianxin Lyu
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Entrialgo-Cadierno R, Cueto-Ureña C, Welch C, Feliu I, Macaya I, Vera L, Morales X, Michelina SV, Scaparone P, Lopez I, Darbo E, Erice O, Vallejo A, Moreno H, Goñi-Salaverri A, Lara-Astiaso D, Halberg N, Cortes-Dominguez I, Guruceaga E, Ambrogio C, Lecanda F, Vicent S. The phospholipid transporter PITPNC1 links KRAS to MYC to prevent autophagy in lung and pancreatic cancer. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:86. [PMID: 37210549 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01788-w] [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: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The discovery of functionally relevant KRAS effectors in lung and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (LUAD and PDAC) may yield novel molecular targets or mechanisms amenable to inhibition strategies. Phospholipids availability has been appreciated as a mechanism to modulate KRAS oncogenic potential. Thus, phospholipid transporters may play a functional role in KRAS-driven oncogenesis. Here, we identified and systematically studied the phospholipid transporter PITPNC1 and its controlled network in LUAD and PDAC. METHODS Genetic modulation of KRAS expression as well as pharmacological inhibition of canonical effectors was completed. PITPNC1 genetic depletion was performed in in vitro and in vivo LUAD and PDAC models. PITPNC1-deficient cells were RNA sequenced, and Gene Ontology and enrichment analyses were applied to the output data. Protein-based biochemical and subcellular localization assays were run to investigate PITPNC1-regulated pathways. A drug repurposing approach was used to predict surrogate PITPNC1 inhibitors that were tested in combination with KRASG12C inhibitors in 2D, 3D, and in vivo models. RESULTS PITPNC1 was increased in human LUAD and PDAC, and associated with poor patients' survival. PITPNC1 was regulated by KRAS through MEK1/2 and JNK1/2. Functional experiments showed PITPNC1 requirement for cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and tumour growth. Furthermore, PITPNC1 overexpression enhanced lung colonization and liver metastasis. PITPNC1 regulated a transcriptional signature which highly overlapped with that of KRAS, and controlled mTOR localization via enhanced MYC protein stability to prevent autophagy. JAK2 inhibitors were predicted as putative PITPNC1 inhibitors with antiproliferative effect and their combination with KRASG12C inhibitors elicited a substantial anti-tumour effect in LUAD and PDAC. CONCLUSIONS Our data highlight the functional and clinical relevance of PITPNC1 in LUAD and PDAC. Moreover, PITPNC1 constitutes a new mechanism linking KRAS to MYC, and controls a druggable transcriptional network for combinatorial treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Entrialgo-Cadierno
- Program in Solid Tumours, University of Navarra, Centre of Applied Medical Research (CIMA), 55 Pio XII Avenue, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Cristina Cueto-Ureña
- Program in Solid Tumours, University of Navarra, Centre of Applied Medical Research (CIMA), 55 Pio XII Avenue, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Connor Welch
- Program in Solid Tumours, University of Navarra, Centre of Applied Medical Research (CIMA), 55 Pio XII Avenue, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Iker Feliu
- Program in Solid Tumours, University of Navarra, Centre of Applied Medical Research (CIMA), 55 Pio XII Avenue, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Irati Macaya
- Program in Solid Tumours, University of Navarra, Centre of Applied Medical Research (CIMA), 55 Pio XII Avenue, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Laura Vera
- Program in Solid Tumours, University of Navarra, Centre of Applied Medical Research (CIMA), 55 Pio XII Avenue, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Xabier Morales
- Imaging Unit and Cancer Imaging Laboratory, University of Navarra, CIMA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Sandra Vietti Michelina
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Centre, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Pietro Scaparone
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Centre, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Ines Lopez
- Program in Solid Tumours, University of Navarra, Centre of Applied Medical Research (CIMA), 55 Pio XII Avenue, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Elodie Darbo
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, BRIC, U 1312, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Oihane Erice
- Program in Solid Tumours, University of Navarra, Centre of Applied Medical Research (CIMA), 55 Pio XII Avenue, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Adrian Vallejo
- Program in Solid Tumours, University of Navarra, Centre of Applied Medical Research (CIMA), 55 Pio XII Avenue, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Haritz Moreno
- Program in Solid Tumours, University of Navarra, Centre of Applied Medical Research (CIMA), 55 Pio XII Avenue, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - David Lara-Astiaso
- Molecular Therapies Program, University of Navarra, CIMA, Pamplona, Spain
- Wellcome - MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute (CSCI), Cambridge, UK
| | - Nils Halberg
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ivan Cortes-Dominguez
- Imaging Unit and Cancer Imaging Laboratory, University of Navarra, CIMA, Pamplona, Spain
- Bioinformatics Platform, University of Navarra, CIMA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Elizabeth Guruceaga
- Bioinformatics Platform, University of Navarra, CIMA, Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Chiara Ambrogio
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Centre, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Fernando Lecanda
- Program in Solid Tumours, University of Navarra, Centre of Applied Medical Research (CIMA), 55 Pio XII Avenue, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Silve Vicent
- Program in Solid Tumours, University of Navarra, Centre of Applied Medical Research (CIMA), 55 Pio XII Avenue, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain.
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain.
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
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20
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Casalino L, Talotta F, Matino I, Verde P. FRA-1 as a Regulator of EMT and Metastasis in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098307. [PMID: 37176013 PMCID: PMC10179602 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098307] [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: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Among FOS-related components of the dimeric AP-1 transcription factor, the oncoprotein FRA-1 (encoded by FOSL1) is a key regulator of invasion and metastasis. The well-established FRA-1 pro-invasive activity in breast cancer, in which FOSL1 is overexpressed in the TNBC (Triple Negative Breast Cancer)/basal subtypes, correlates with the FRA-1-dependent transcriptional regulation of EMT (Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition). After summarizing the major findings on FRA-1 in breast cancer invasiveness, we discuss the FRA-1 mechanistic links with EMT and cancer cell stemness, mediated by transcriptional and posttranscriptional interactions between FOSL1/FRA-1 and EMT-regulating transcription factors, miRNAs, RNA binding proteins and cytokines, along with other target genes involved in EMT. In addition to the FRA-1/AP-1 effects on the architecture of target promoters, we discuss the diagnostic and prognostic significance of the EMT-related FRA-1 transcriptome, along with therapeutic implications. Finally, we consider several novel perspectives regarding the less explored roles of FRA-1 in the tumor microenvironment and in control of the recently characterized hybrid EMT correlated with cancer cell plasticity, stemness, and metastatic potential. We will also examine the application of emerging technologies, such as single-cell analyses, along with animal models of TNBC and tumor-derived CTCs and PDXs (Circulating Tumor Cells and Patient-Derived Xenografts) for studying the FRA-1-mediated mechanisms in in vivo systems of EMT and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Casalino
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "A. Buzzati Traverso", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Pietro Castellino, 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Talotta
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "A. Buzzati Traverso", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Pietro Castellino, 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Ilenia Matino
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "A. Buzzati Traverso", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Pietro Castellino, 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Pasquale Verde
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "A. Buzzati Traverso", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Pietro Castellino, 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
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Jandova J, Galons JP, Dettman DL, Wondrak GT. Systemic deuteration of SCID mice using the water-isotopologue deuterium oxide (D 2 O) inhibits tumor growth in an orthotopic bioluminescent model of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Mol Carcinog 2023; 62:598-612. [PMID: 36727657 PMCID: PMC10106369 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Since its initial discovery as a natural isotopologue of dihydrogen oxide (1 H2 O), extensive research has focused on the biophysical, biochemical, and pharmacological effects of deuterated water (2 H2 O [D2 O, also referred to as "heavy water"]). Using a panel of cultured human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells we have profiled (i) D2 O-induced phenotypic antiproliferative and apoptogenic effects, (ii) redox- and proteotoxicity-directed stress response gene expression, and (iii) phosphoprotein-signaling related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and MAP-kinase stress response pathways. Differential array analysis revealed early modulation of stress response gene expression in both BxPC-3 and PANC-1 PDAC cells elicited by D2 O (90%; ≤6 h; upregulated: HMOX1, NOS2, CYP2E1, CRYAB, DDIT3, NFKBIA, PTGS1, SOD2, PTGS2; downregulated: RUNX1, MYC, HSPA8, HSPA1A) confirmed by independent RT-qPCR analysis. Immunoblot-analysis revealed rapid (≤6 h) onset of D2 O-induced MAP-kinase signaling (p-JNK, p-p38) together with ER stress response upregulation (p-eIF2α, ATF4, XBP1s, DDIT3/CHOP). Next, we tested the chemotherapeutic efficacy of D2 O-based drinking water supplementation in an orthotopic PDAC model employing firefly luciferase-expressing BxPC-3-FLuc cells in SCID mice. First, feasibility and time course of systemic deuteration (30% D2 O in drinking water; 21 days) were established using time-resolved whole-body proton magnetic resonance imaging and isotope-ratio mass spectrometry-based plasma (D/H)-analysis. D2 O-supplementation suppressed tumor growth by almost 80% with downregulated expression of PCNA, MYC, RUNX1, and HSP70 while increasing tumor levels of DDIT3/CHOP, HO-1, and p-eIF2α. Taken together, these data demonstrate for the first time that pharmacological induction of systemic deuteration significantly reduces orthotopic tumor burden in a murine PDAC xenograft model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Jandova
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy & UA Cancer Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - David L. Dettman
- Department of Geosciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Georg T. Wondrak
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy & UA Cancer Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Fang T, Jiao Z, You Y, Cao J, Wang C, Liu J, Zhao W. Lenvatinib inhibited HCC cell migration and invasion through regulating the transcription and ubiquitination of UHRF1 and DNMT1. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 210:115489. [PMID: 36893815 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115489] [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: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of malignancy-related deaths. Lenvatinib, as a multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has gained increasing attention for its antitumor activity. However, the effect and mechanisms of Lenvatinib on HCC metastasis are virtually unknown. In this study, we revealed that Lenvatinib inhibited HCC cell motility and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), along with cell adhesion and extension. Concomitant high DNMT1 and UHRF1 mRNA levels were in HCC patients and indicated worse prognosis. On the one hand, Lenvatinib modulated the transcription of UHRF1 and DNMT1via negatively regulation of ERK/MAPK pathway. On the other hand, Lenvatinib downregulated DNMT1 and UHRF1 expression by promoting their protein degradation through ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, consequently, resulting in upregulation of E-Cadherin. Moreover, Lenvatinib attenuated Huh7 cell adhesion and metastasis in vivo. Our findings provided insight into the intriguing molecular mechanisms regarding the anti-metastasis effect of Lenvatinib in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Fang
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Translational Medical of Digestive System Tumor, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, PR China
| | - Zhen Jiao
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Translational Medical of Digestive System Tumor, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, PR China
| | - Yuting You
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Translational Medical of Digestive System Tumor, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, PR China
| | - Jiahao Cao
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Translational Medical of Digestive System Tumor, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, PR China
| | - Chuanzheng Wang
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Translational Medical of Digestive System Tumor, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, PR China
| | - Jingjing Liu
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Intestinal Microbiome and Human Health, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, PR China.
| | - Wenxiu Zhao
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Translational Medical of Digestive System Tumor, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361004, PR China.
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23
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Silvis MR, Silva D, Rohweder R, Schuman S, Gudipaty S, Truong A, Yap J, Affolter K, McMahon M, Kinsey C. MYC-mediated resistance to trametinib and HCQ in PDAC is overcome by CDK4/6 and lysosomal inhibition. J Exp Med 2023; 220:e20221524. [PMID: 36719686 PMCID: PMC9930170 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20221524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pharmacological inhibition of KRAS>RAF>MEK1/2>ERK1/2 signaling has provided no clinical benefit to patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Interestingly, combined inhibition of MEK1/2 (with trametinib [T]) plus autophagy (with chloroquine [CQ] or hydroxychloroquine [HCQ]) demonstrated striking anti-tumor effects in preclinical models and in a patient (Patient 1). However, not all patients respond to the T/HCQ regimen, and Patient 1 eventually developed resistant disease. Here we report that primary or acquired resistance is associated with focal DNA copy number gains encompassing c-MYC. Furthermore, ectopic expression of c-MYC in PDAC cell lines rendered them T/HCQ resistant. Interestingly, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, palbociclib (P), also induced autophagy and overrode c-MYC-mediated T/HCQ resistance, such that P/HCQ promoted regression of T/HCQ-resistant PDAC tumors with elevated c-MYC expression. Finally, P/HCQ treatment of Patient 1 resulted in a biochemical disease response. These data suggest that elevated c-MYC expression is both a marker and a mediator of T/HCQ resistance, which may be overcome by the use of P/HCQ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark R. Silvis
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Dilru Silva
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Riley Rohweder
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Sophia Schuman
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | | | - Jeffrey Yap
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Kajsa Affolter
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Martin McMahon
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Dermatology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Conan Kinsey
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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24
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Grierson PM, Tan B, Pedersen KS, Park H, Suresh R, Amin MA, Trikalinos NA, Knoerzer D, Kreider B, Reddy A, Liu J, Der CJ, Wang-Gillam A, Lim KH. Phase Ib Study of Ulixertinib Plus Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel in Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. Oncologist 2023; 28:e115-e123. [PMID: 36427020 PMCID: PMC9907047 DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyac237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ulixertinib is a novel oral ERK inhibitor that has shown promising single-agent activity in a phase I clinical trial that included patients with RAS-mutant cancers. METHODS We conducted a phase Ib trial combining ulixertinib with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (GnP) for untreated metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The trial comprised a dose de-escalation part and a cohort expansion part at the recommended phase II dose (RP2D). Primary endpoint was to determine the RP2D of ulixertinib plus GnP and secondary endpoints were to assess toxicity and safety profile, biochemical and radiographic response, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS Eighteen patients were enrolled. Ulixertinib 600 mg PO twice daily (BID) with GnP was initially administered but was de-escalated to 450 mg BID as RP2D early during dose expansion due to poor tolerability, which ultimately led to premature termination of the study. Common treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were anemia, thrombocytopenia, rash and diarrhea. For 5 response evaluable patients, one patient achieved a partial response and 2 patients achieved stable disease. For 15 patients who received the triplet, median PFS and OS were 5.46 and 12.23 months, respectively. CONCLUSION Ulixertinib plus GnP had similar frequency of grade ≥3 TRAEs and potentially efficacy as GnP, however was complicated by a high rate of all-grade TRAEs (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02608229).
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Grierson
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Benjamin Tan
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Katrina S Pedersen
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Haeseong Park
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Rama Suresh
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Manik A Amin
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Nikolaos A Trikalinos
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jingxia Liu
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Channing J Der
- Department of Pharmacology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Andrea Wang-Gillam
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kian-Huat Lim
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
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Chang WH, Liu Y, Hammes EA, Bryant KL, Cerione RA, Antonyak MA. Oncogenic RAS promotes MYC protein stability by upregulating the expression of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family member Survivin. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:102842. [PMID: 36581205 PMCID: PMC9860443 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The small GTPase KRAS is frequently mutated in pancreatic cancer and its cooperation with the transcription factor MYC is essential for malignant transformation. The key to oncogenic KRAS and MYC working together is the stabilization of MYC expression due to KRAS activating the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, which phosphorylates MYC at serine 62 (Ser 62). This prevents the proteasomal degradation of MYC while enhancing its transcriptional activity. Here, we identify how this essential signaling connection between oncogenic KRAS and MYC expression is mediated by the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family member Survivin. This discovery stemmed from our finding that Survivin expression is downregulated upon treatment of pancreatic cancer cells with the KRASG12C inhibitor Sotorasib. We went on to show that oncogenic KRAS increases Survivin expression by activating extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in pancreatic cancer cells and that treating the cells either with siRNAs targeting Survivin or with YM155, a small molecule that potently blocks Survivin expression, downregulates MYC and strongly inhibited their growth. We further determined that Survivin protects MYC from degradation by blocking autophagy, which then prevents cellular inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A from undergoing autophagic degradation. Cellular inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A, by inhibiting protein phosphatase 2A, helps to maintain MYC phosphorylation at Ser 62, thereby ensuring its cooperation with oncogenic KRAS in driving cancer progression. Overall, these findings highlight a novel role for Survivin in mediating the cooperative actions of KRAS and MYC during malignant transformation and raise the possibility that targeting Survivin may offer therapeutic benefits against KRAS-driven cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hsuan Chang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Yinzhe Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Emma A Hammes
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Kirsten L Bryant
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Richard A Cerione
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
| | - Marc A Antonyak
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
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Proteogenomics of diffuse gliomas reveal molecular subtypes associated with specific therapeutic targets and immune-evasion mechanisms. Nat Commun 2023; 14:505. [PMID: 36720864 PMCID: PMC9889805 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36005-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffuse gliomas are devastating brain tumors. Here, we perform a proteogenomic profiling of 213 retrospectively collected glioma tumors. Proteogenomic analysis reveals the downstream biological events leading by EGFR-, IDH1-, TP53-mutations. The comparative analysis illustrates the distinctive features of GBMs and LGGs, indicating CDK2 inhibitor might serve as a promising drug target for GBMs. Further proteogenomic integrative analysis combined with functional experiments highlight the cis-effect of EGFR alterations might lead to glioma tumor cell proliferation through ERK5 medicates nucleotide synthesis process. Proteome-based stratification of gliomas defines 3 proteomic subgroups (S-Ne, S-Pf, S-Im), which could serve as a complement to WHO subtypes, and would provide the essential framework for the utilization of specific targeted therapies for particular glioma subtypes. Immune clustering identifies three immune subtypes with distinctive immune cell types. Further analysis reveals higher EGFR alteration frequencies accounts for elevation of immune check point protein: PD-L1 and CD70 in T-cell infiltrated tumors.
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27
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Liu X, Dong X, Hu Y, Fang Y. Identification of thioredoxin-1 as a biomarker of lung cancer and evaluation of its prognostic value based on bioinformatics analysis. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1080237. [PMID: 36776308 PMCID: PMC9911911 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1080237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Thioredoxin-1 (TXN), a redox balance factor, plays an essential role in oxidative stress and has been shown to act as a potential contributor to various cancers. This study evaluated the role of TXN in lung cancer by bioinformatics analyses. Materials and methods Genes differentially expressed in lung cancer and oxidative stress related genes were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas, Gene Expression Omnibus and GeneCards databases. Following identification of TXN as an optimal differentially expressed gene by bioinformatics, the prognostic value of TXN in lung cancer was evaluated by univariate/multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses, with validation by receiver operation characteristic curve analysis. The association between TXN expression and lung cancer was verified by immunohistochemical analysis of the Human Protein Atlas database, as well as by western blotting and qPCR. Cell proliferation was determined by cell counting kit-8 after changing TXN expression using lentiviral transfection. Results Twenty differentially expressed oxidative stress genes were identified. Differential expression analysis identified five genes (CASP3, CAT, TXN, GSR, and HSPA4) and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis identified four genes (IL-6, CYCS, TXN, and BCL2) that differed significantly in lung cancer and normal lung tissue, indicating that TXN was an optimal differentially expressed gene. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that T stage (T3/T4), N stage (N2/N3), curative effect (progressive diseases) and high TXN expression were associated with poor survival, although high TXN expression was poorly predictive of overall survival. TXN was highly expressed in lung cancer tissues and cells. Knockdown of TXN suppressed cell proliferation, while overexpression of TXN enhanced cell proliferation. Conclusion High expression of TXN plays an important role in lung cancer development and prognosis. Because it is a prospective prognostic factor, targeting TXN may have clinical benefits in the treatment of lung cancer.
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Goodwin CM, Waters AM, Klomp JE, Javaid S, Bryant KL, Stalnecker CA, Drizyte-Miller K, Papke B, Yang R, Amparo AM, Ozkan-Dagliyan I, Baldelli E, Calvert V, Pierobon M, Sorrentino JA, Beelen AP, Bublitz N, Lüthen M, Wood KC, Petricoin EF, Sers C, McRee AJ, Cox AD, Der CJ. Combination Therapies with CDK4/6 Inhibitors to Treat KRAS-Mutant Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Res 2023; 83:141-157. [PMID: 36346366 PMCID: PMC9812941 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-0391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Mutational loss of CDKN2A (encoding p16INK4A) tumor-suppressor function is a key genetic step that complements activation of KRAS in promoting the development and malignant growth of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, pharmacologic restoration of p16INK4A function with inhibitors of CDK4 and CDK6 (CDK4/6) has shown limited clinical efficacy in PDAC. Here, we found that concurrent treatment with both a CDK4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) and an ERK-MAPK inhibitor (ERKi) synergistically suppresses the growth of PDAC cell lines and organoids by cooperatively blocking CDK4/6i-induced compensatory upregulation of ERK, PI3K, antiapoptotic signaling, and MYC expression. On the basis of these findings, a Phase I clinical trial was initiated to evaluate the ERKi ulixertinib in combination with the CDK4/6i palbociclib in patients with advanced PDAC (NCT03454035). As inhibition of other proteins might also counter CDK4/6i-mediated signaling changes to increase cellular CDK4/6i sensitivity, a CRISPR-Cas9 loss-of-function screen was conducted that revealed a spectrum of functionally diverse genes whose loss enhanced CDK4/6i growth inhibitory activity. These genes were enriched around diverse signaling nodes, including cell-cycle regulatory proteins centered on CDK2 activation, PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling, SRC family kinases, HDAC proteins, autophagy-activating pathways, chromosome regulation and maintenance, and DNA damage and repair pathways. Novel therapeutic combinations were validated using siRNA and small-molecule inhibitor-based approaches. In addition, genes whose loss imparts a survival advantage were identified (e.g., RB1, PTEN, FBXW7), suggesting possible resistance mechanisms to CDK4/6 inhibition. In summary, this study has identified novel combinations with CDK4/6i that may have clinical benefit to patients with PDAC. SIGNIFICANCE CRISPR-Cas9 screening and protein activity mapping reveal combinations that increase potency of CDK4/6 inhibitors and overcome drug-induced compensations in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig M. Goodwin
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Andrew M. Waters
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Jennifer E. Klomp
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Sehrish Javaid
- Program in Oral and Craniofacial Biomedicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Kirsten L. Bryant
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Pharmacology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
| | - Clint A. Stalnecker
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Kristina Drizyte-Miller
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Bjoern Papke
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Pathology, Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology and Systems Biology, 10117 Berlin, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Anna-Louise-Karsch-Str. 2, 10178 Berlin, Germany
| | - Runying Yang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Amber M. Amparo
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | | | - Elisa Baldelli
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
| | - Valerie Calvert
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
| | - Mariaelena Pierobon
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
| | | | | | - Natalie Bublitz
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Pathology, Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology and Systems Biology, 10117 Berlin, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Anna-Louise-Karsch-Str. 2, 10178 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mareen Lüthen
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Pathology, Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology and Systems Biology, 10117 Berlin, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Anna-Louise-Karsch-Str. 2, 10178 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kris C. Wood
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Emanuel F. Petricoin
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
| | - Christine Sers
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Pathology, Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology and Systems Biology, 10117 Berlin, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Anna-Louise-Karsch-Str. 2, 10178 Berlin, Germany
| | - Autumn J. McRee
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Adrienne D. Cox
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Pharmacology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Channing J. Der
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Department of Pharmacology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
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Yang H, Zhou X, Fu D, Le C, Wang J, Zhou Q, Liu X, Yuan Y, Ding K, Xiao Q. Targeting RAS mutants in malignancies: successes, failures, and reasons for hope. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2023; 43:42-74. [PMID: 36316602 PMCID: PMC9859734 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
RAS genes are the most frequently mutated oncogenes and play critical roles in the development and progression of malignancies. The mutation, isoform (KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS), position, and type of substitution vary depending on the tissue types. Despite decades of developing RAS-targeted therapies, only small subsets of these inhibitors are clinically effective, such as the allele-specific inhibitors against KRASG12C . Targeting the remaining RAS mutants would require further experimental elucidation of RAS signal transduction, RAS-altered metabolism, and the associated immune microenvironment. This study reviews the mechanisms and efficacy of novel targeted therapies for different RAS mutants, including KRAS allele-specific inhibitors, combination therapies, immunotherapies, and metabolism-associated therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Yang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and OncologyKey Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and InterventionMinistry of EducationThe Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310009P. R. China
| | - Xinyi Zhou
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and OncologyKey Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and InterventionMinistry of EducationThe Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310009P. R. China
| | - Dongliang Fu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and OncologyKey Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and InterventionMinistry of EducationThe Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310009P. R. China
| | - Chenqin Le
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and OncologyKey Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and InterventionMinistry of EducationThe Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310009P. R. China
| | - Jiafeng Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Gastroenterology of the Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310058P. R. China
| | - Quan Zhou
- Department of Cell BiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058P. R. China
| | - Xiangrui Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Department of Gastroenterology of the Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310058P. R. China
- Cancer CenterZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058P. R. China
| | - Ying Yuan
- Department of Medical Oncologythe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310058P. R. China
| | - Kefeng Ding
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and OncologyKey Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and InterventionMinistry of EducationThe Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310009P. R. China
- Cancer CenterZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310058P. R. China
| | - Qian Xiao
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and OncologyKey Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and InterventionMinistry of EducationThe Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310009P. R. China
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30
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Sattler M, Mohanty A, Kulkarni P, Salgia R. Precision oncology provides opportunities for targeting KRAS-inhibitor resistance. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:42-54. [PMID: 36751115 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Novel inhibitors targeting Kirsten rat sarcoma virus homolog (KRAS) KRASG12C in various cancers have shown good initial efficacy, but therapy-related drug resistance eventually occurs in most patients. It has become apparent that cancer cells not only rely on novel mutations that provide escape mechanisms, but about half of them become resistant in the absence of apparent genetic mutations. Redundancies within the KRAS signaling pathways and cross-talk between these pathways - as well as other canonical cancer-driving mechanisms - not only provide challenges but also present opportunities for drug development and targeted approaches. We discuss the challenges for the duality of KRAS inhibitor drug resistance with an additional focus on nongenetic mechanisms and the potential for patient-centered combination treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Sattler
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Atish Mohanty
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, 1500 E Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Prakash Kulkarni
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, 1500 E Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, 1500 E Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.
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31
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Ma J, Song Y, Zhuang T, Yang H, Yang X, Zheng J, Luo J, Xia Y, Fei X, Chan DW, Wu D, Xu P, Ni P, Dai J, Xu D, Hu Y. Identification of calcium and integrin-binding protein 1 as a reprogrammed glucose metabolism mediator to restrict immune cell infiltration in the stromal compartment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1158964. [PMID: 37187730 PMCID: PMC10175692 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1158964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
An increasing body of evidence has suggested that reprogrammed metabolism plays a critical role in the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by affecting the tumor and stromal cellular components in the tumor microenvironment (TME). By analyzing the KRAS pathway and metabolic pathways, we found that calcium and integrin-binding protein 1 (CIB1) corresponded with upregulation of glucose metabolism pathways and was associated with poor prognosis in patients with PDAC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Elevated CIB1 expression combined with upregulated glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation (Oxphos), hypoxia pathway activation, and cell cycle promoted PDAC tumor growth and increased tumor cellular com-ponents. Furthermore, we confirmed the mRNA overexpression of CIB1 and co-expression of CIB1 and KRAS mutation in cell lines from the Expression Atlas. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry staining from the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) showed that high expression of CIB1 in tumor cells was associated with an increased tumor compartment and reduced stromal cellular abundance. Furthermore, using multiplexed immunohistochemistry (mIHC), we verified that low stromal abundance was correlated with low infiltration of CD8+ PD-1- T cells which led to suppressed anti-tumor immunity. Overall, our findings identify CIB1 as a metabolic pathway-mediated factor for the restriction of immune cell infiltration in the stromal compartment of PDAC and highlight the potential value of CIB1 as a prognostic biomarker involved in metabolic reprogramming and immune modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junrui Ma
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Health Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Song
- Medical Technology Department, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Tongtao Zhuang
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hao Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Health Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaobao Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Health Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Juanjuan Zheng
- Blood Transfusion Department, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University Dezhou Hospital, Dezhou, Shandong, China
| | - Jiajun Luo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Health Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yihan Xia
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Health Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuefeng Fei
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Health Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - David W. Chan
- School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, China
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Health Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Peiqing Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Health Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Peihua Ni
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Health Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Dai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Health Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jing Dai, ; Dakang Xu, ; Yiqun Hu,
| | - Dakang Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Health Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jing Dai, ; Dakang Xu, ; Yiqun Hu,
| | - Yiqun Hu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Health Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jing Dai, ; Dakang Xu, ; Yiqun Hu,
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Fu L, Chen S, He G, Chen Y, Liu B. Targeting Extracellular Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in Cancer: An Update on Pharmacological Small-Molecule Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2022; 65:13561-13573. [PMID: 36205714 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), the only known substrate of MEK1/2, is located downstream of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK (MAPK) pathway and is associated with the abnormal activation and poor prognosis of cancer. To date, several small-molecule inhibitors of RAS, RAF, and MEK have been reported to make rapid advances in cancer therapy; however, acquired resistance still occurs, thereby weakening the therapeutic efficacy of these inhibitors. Recently, selective inhibition of ERK1/2 has been regarded as a potential cancer therapeutic strategy that can not only effectively block the MAPK pathway but also overcome drug resistance caused by upstream mutations in RAS, RAF, and MEK. Herein, we summarize the oncogenic roles, key signaling network, and the single- and dual-target inhibitors of ERK1/2 in preclinical and clinical trials. Together, these inspiring findings shed new light on the discovery of more small-molecule inhibitors of ERK1/2 as candidate drugs to improve cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leilei Fu
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Siwei Chen
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Gu He
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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Tanaka M, Kunita A, Yamagishi M, Katoh H, Ishikawa S, Yamamoto H, Abe J, Arita J, Hasegawa K, Shibata T, Ushiku T. KRAS mutation in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Linkage with metastasis-free survival and reduced E-cadherin expression. Liver Int 2022; 42:2329-2340. [PMID: 35833881 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Although KRAS mutations are the major driver of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), their role remains unexplored. This study aimed to elucidate the prognostic effects, association with clinicopathologic characteristics and potent functions of KRAS mutations in ICC. METHODS A hundred and seven resected stage I-III ICCs were analysed for KRAS mutation status and its link with clinicopathological features. An independent validation cohort (n = 138) was included. In vitro analyses using KRAS-mutant ICC cell lines were performed. RESULTS KRAS mutation was significantly associated with worse overall survival in stage I-III ICCs, which was validated in an independent cohort. Recurrence-free survival did not significantly differ between cases with and without KRAS mutations, but if limited to recurrence with extrahepatic metastasis, KRAS-mutant cases showed significantly worse distant metastasis-free survival than KRAS-wild cases showed. KRAS mutations were associated with frequent tumour budding with reduced E-cadherin expression. In vitro, KRAS depletion caused marked inhibition of cell growth and migration together with E-cadherin upregulation in KRAS-mutant ICC cells. The RNA-sequencing assay revealed that KRAS depletion caused MYC pathway downregulation and interferon pathway upregulation. CONCLUSIONS Our observations suggest that KRAS mutations are associated with aggressive behaviour of ICC, especially the development of extrahepatic metastasis. Mutant KRAS is likely to change the adhesive status of ICC cells, affect the responsiveness of tumour cells to interferon immune signals, and consequently promote extrahepatic metastasis. KRAS mutation status, which predicts the prognoses of patients with ICC after surgical resection, is expected to help stratify patients better for individual postoperative treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariko Tanaka
- Department of Pathology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akiko Kunita
- Department of Pathology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Yamagishi
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroto Katoh
- Department of Preventive Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shumpei Ishikawa
- Department of Preventive Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Yamamoto
- AIDS Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jun Abe
- Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Junichi Arita
- Department of Surgery, Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Hasegawa
- Department of Surgery, Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuhiro Shibata
- Division of Cancer Genomics, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Ushiku
- Department of Pathology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Huynh MV, Hobbs GA, Schaefer A, Pierobon M, Carey LM, Diehl JN, DeLiberty JM, Thurman RD, Cooke AR, Goodwin CM, Cook JH, Lin L, Waters AM, Rashid NU, Petricoin EF, Campbell SL, Haigis KM, Simeone DM, Lyssiotis CA, Cox AD, Der CJ. Functional and biological heterogeneity of KRAS Q61 mutations. Sci Signal 2022; 15:eabn2694. [PMID: 35944066 PMCID: PMC9534304 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abn2694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Missense mutations at the three hotspots in the guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) RAS-Gly12, Gly13, and Gln61 (commonly known as G12, G13, and Q61, respectively)-occur differentially among the three RAS isoforms. Q61 mutations in KRAS are infrequent and differ markedly in occurrence. Q61H is the predominant mutant (at 57%), followed by Q61R/L/K (collectively 40%), and Q61P and Q61E are the rarest (2 and 1%, respectively). Probability analysis suggested that mutational susceptibility to different DNA base changes cannot account for this distribution. Therefore, we investigated whether these frequencies might be explained by differences in the biochemical, structural, and biological properties of KRASQ61 mutants. Expression of KRASQ61 mutants in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and RIE-1 epithelial cells caused various alterations in morphology, growth transformation, effector signaling, and metabolism. The relatively rare KRASQ61E mutant stimulated actin stress fiber formation, a phenotype distinct from that of KRASQ61H/R/L/P, which disrupted actin cytoskeletal organization. The crystal structure of KRASQ61E was unexpectedly similar to that of wild-type KRAS, a potential basis for its weak oncogenicity. KRASQ61H/L/R-mutant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell lines exhibited KRAS-dependent growth and, as observed with KRASG12-mutant PDAC, were susceptible to concurrent inhibition of ERK-MAPK signaling and of autophagy. Our results uncover phenotypic heterogeneity among KRASQ61 mutants and support the potential utility of therapeutic strategies that target KRASQ61 mutant-specific signaling and cellular output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minh V. Huynh
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - G. Aaron Hobbs
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Antje Schaefer
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Mariaelena Pierobon
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine,
George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
| | - Leiah M. Carey
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - J. Nathaniel Diehl
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jonathan M. DeLiberty
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ryan D. Thurman
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Adelaide R. Cooke
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Craig M. Goodwin
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Joshua H. Cook
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,
Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's
Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lin Lin
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology,
University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Andrew M. Waters
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Naim U. Rashid
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, NC 27955, USA
| | - Emanuel F. Petricoin
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine,
George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
| | - Sharon L. Campbell
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kevin M. Haigis
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,
Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's
Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Harvard Digestive Disease Center, Harvard Medical School,
Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Diane M. Simeone
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University, New York,
NY10016, USA
| | - Costas A. Lyssiotis
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology,
University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of
Gastroenterology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48198, USA
- University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann
Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Adrienne D. Cox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 2799, USA
| | - Channing J. Der
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Cook SJ, Lochhead PA. ERK5 Signalling and Resistance to ERK1/2 Pathway Therapeutics: The Path Less Travelled? Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:839997. [PMID: 35903549 PMCID: PMC9315226 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.839997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The RAS-regulated RAF-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signalling pathway is frequently de-regulated in human cancer. Melanoma in particular exhibits a high incidence of activating BRAFV600E/K and NRASQ61L/K mutations and such cells are addicted to the activity of these mutant oncoproteins. As a result three different BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) have now been approved for BRAFV600E/K- mutant melanoma and have transformed the treatment of this disease. Despite this, clinical responses are typically transient as tumour cells develop resistance. These resistance mechanisms frequently involve reinstatement of ERK1/2 signalling and BRAFi are now deployed in combination with one of three approved MEK1/2 inhibitors (MEKi) to provide more durable, but still transient, clinical responses. Furthermore, inhibitors to ERK1/2 (ERK1/2i) have also been developed to counteract ERK1/2 signalling. However, recent studies have suggested that BRAFi/MEKi and ERK1/2i resistance can arise through activation of a parallel signalling pathway leading to activation of ERK5, an unusual protein kinase that contains both a kinase domain and a transcriptional transactivation domain. Here we review the evidence supporting ERK5 as a mediator of BRAFi/MEKi and ERK1/2i resistance. We also review the challenges in targeting ERK5 signalling with small molecules, including paradoxical activation of the transcriptional transactivation domain, and discuss new therapeutic modalities that could be employed to target ERK5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J. Cook
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Pamela A. Lochhead, ; Simon J. Cook,
| | - Pamela A. Lochhead
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Pamela A. Lochhead, ; Simon J. Cook,
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Liu N, Steer CJ, Song G. MicroRNA-206 enhances antitumor immunity by disrupting the communication between malignant hepatocytes and regulatory T cells in c-Myc mice. Hepatology 2022; 76:32-47. [PMID: 34606648 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Intertumoral accumulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of HCC. Because of poor understanding of the immunosuppression mechanism(s) in HCC, immunotherapy is largely unsuccessful for the treatment of HCC. APPROACH AND RESULTS Hydrodynamic injection (HDI) of c-Myc into mice resulted in enlarged spleens and lethal HCC associated with an increase in hepatic Tregs and depletion of CTLs (cytotoxic T lymphocytes). Malignant hepatocytes in c-Myc mice overproduced TGFβ1, which enhanced the suppressor function of Tregs and impaired the proliferation and cytotoxicity of CTLs. In addition to activating TGFβ signaling, c-Myc synergized with Yin Yang 1 to impair microRNA-206 (miR-206) biogenesis. HDI of miR-206 fully prevented HCC and the associated enlargement of the spleen, whereas 100% of control mice died from HCC within 5-9 weeks postinjection. Mechanistically, by directly targeting errant kirsten ras oncogene (KRAS) signaling, miR-206 impeded the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) axis that drives expression of Tgfb1. By blocking the KRAS/MEK/ERK axis, miR-206 prevented TGFβ1 overproduction, thereby impairing the suppressor function and expansion of Tregs, but enhancing the expansion and cytotoxic program of CTLs. Disrupting the interaction between miR-206 and Kras offset the roles of miR-206 in inhibiting immunosuppression and HCC. Depletion of CD8+ T cells impaired the ability of miR-206 to inhibit HCC. CONCLUSIONS c-Myc-educated hepatocytes promoted immunosuppression by overproducing TGFβ1, which promoted HCC development. miR-206, by attenuating TGFβ1 overproduction, disrupted the communication of malignant hepatocytes with CTLs and Tregs, which prevented HCC. miR-206 represents a potential immunotherapeutic agent against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningning Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Clifford J Steer
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Guisheng Song
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Pan X, Pei J, Wang A, Shuai W, Feng L, Bu F, Zhu Y, Zhang L, Wang G, Ouyang L. Development of small molecule extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) inhibitors for cancer therapy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:2171-2192. [PMID: 35646548 PMCID: PMC9136582 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway is widely activated by a variety of extracellular stimuli, and its dysregulation is associated with the proliferation, invasion, and migration of cancer cells. ERK1/2 is located at the distal end of this pathway and rarely undergoes mutations, making it an attractive target for anticancer drug development. Currently, an increasing number of ERK1/2 inhibitors have been designed and synthesized for antitumor therapy, among which representative compounds have entered clinical trials. When ERK1/2 signal transduction is eliminated, ERK5 may provide a bypass route to rescue proliferation, and weaken the potency of ERK1/2 inhibitors. Therefore, drug research targeting ERK5 or based on the compensatory mechanism of ERK5 for ERK1/2 opens up a new way for oncotherapy. This review provides an overview of the physiological and biological functions of ERKs, focuses on the structure-activity relationships of small molecule inhibitors targeting ERKs, with a view to providing guidance for future drug design and optimization, and discusses the potential therapeutic strategies to overcome drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Junping Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Aoxue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wen Shuai
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lu Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Faqian Bu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yumeng Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lan Zhang
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
- Corresponding authors. Tel./fax: +86 28 85503817.
| | - Guan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Corresponding authors. Tel./fax: +86 28 85503817.
| | - Liang Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Corresponding authors. Tel./fax: +86 28 85503817.
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38
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Kurarinone induced p53-Independent G0/G1 cell cycle arrest by degradation of K-RAS via WDR76 in human colorectal cancer cells. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 923:174938. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.174938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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39
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Casalino L, Talotta F, Cimmino A, Verde P. The Fra-1/AP-1 Oncoprotein: From the "Undruggable" Transcription Factor to Therapeutic Targeting. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14061480. [PMID: 35326630 PMCID: PMC8946526 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The genetic and epigenetic changes affecting transcription factors, coactivators, and chromatin modifiers are key determinants of the hallmarks of cancer. The acquired dependence on oncogenic transcriptional regulators, representing a major determinant of cancer cell vulnerability, points to transcription factors as ideal therapeutic targets. However, given the unavailability of catalytic activities or binding pockets for small-molecule inhibitors, transcription factors are generally regarded as undruggable proteins. Among components of the AP-1 complex, the FOS-family transcription factor Fra-1, encoded by FOSL1, has emerged as a prominent therapeutic target. Fra-1 is overexpressed in most solid tumors, in response to the BRAF-MAPK, Wnt-beta-catenin, Hippo-YAP, IL-6-Stat3, and other major oncogenic pathways. In vitro functional analyses, validated in onco-mouse models and corroborated by prognostic correlations, show that Fra-1-containing dimers control tumor growth and disease progression. Fra-1 participates in key mechanisms of cancer cell invasion, Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition, and metastatic spreading, by driving the expression of EMT-inducing transcription factors, cytokines, and microRNAs. Here we survey various strategies aimed at inhibiting tumor growth, metastatic dissemination, and drug resistance by interfering with Fra-1 expression, stability, and transcriptional activity. We summarize several tools aimed at the design and tumor-specific delivery of Fra-1/AP-1-specific drugs. Along with RNA-based therapeutics targeting the FOSL1 gene, its mRNA, or cognate regulatory circRNAs, we will examine the exploitation of blocking peptides, small molecule inhibitors, and innovative Fra-1 protein degraders. We also consider the possible caveats concerning Fra-1 inhibition in specific therapeutic contexts. Finally, we discuss a recent suicide gene therapy-based approach, aimed at selectively killing the Fra-1-overexpressing neoplastic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Casalino
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics “Adriano Buzzati Traverso”, Consiglio Nazionale dele Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy;
- Correspondence: (L.C.); (P.V.)
| | | | - Amelia Cimmino
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics “Adriano Buzzati Traverso”, Consiglio Nazionale dele Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Pasquale Verde
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics “Adriano Buzzati Traverso”, Consiglio Nazionale dele Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy;
- Correspondence: (L.C.); (P.V.)
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Zhang J, Pearson AJ, Sabherwal N, Telfer BA, Ali N, Kan K, Xu Q, Zhang W, Chen F, Li S, Wang J, Gray NS, Risa-Ebrí B, Finegan KG, Cross MJ, Giurisato E, Whitmarsh AJ, Tournier C. Inhibiting ERK5 overcomes breast cancer resistance to anti-HER2 therapy by targeting the G1/S cell cycle transition. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:131-145. [PMID: 36466034 PMCID: PMC7613885 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-21-0089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) became a landmark in the treatment of HER2-driven breast cancer. Nonetheless, the clinical efficacy of anti-HER2 therapies can be short-lived and a significant proportion of patients ultimately develop metastatic disease and die. One striking consequence of oncogenic activation of HER2 in breast cancer cells is the constitutive activation of the extracellular-regulated protein kinase 5 (ERK5) through its hyperphosphorylation. In this study, we sought to decipher the significance of this unique molecular signature in promoting therapeutic resistance to anti-HER2 agents. We found that a small-molecule inhibitor of ERK5 suppressed the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (RB) in HER2 positive breast cancer cells. As a result, ERK5 inhibition enhanced the anti-proliferative activity of single-agent anti-HER2 therapy in resistant breast cancer cell lines by causing a G1 cell cycle arrest. Moreover, ERK5 knockdown restored the anti-tumor activity of the anti-HER2 agent lapatinib in human breast cancer xenografts. Taken together, these findings support the therapeutic potential of ERK5 inhibitors to improve the clinical benefit that patients receive from targeted HER2 therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwei Zhang
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health (FBMH), University of Manchester, UK
| | - Adam J Pearson
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health (FBMH), University of Manchester, UK
| | - Nitin Sabherwal
- Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, FBMH, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Brian A Telfer
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, FBMH, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Nisha Ali
- Manchester University NHS FT, Wythenshawe hospital, UK
| | - Karmern Kan
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health (FBMH), University of Manchester, UK
| | - Qiuping Xu
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health (FBMH), University of Manchester, UK
| | - Wei Zhang
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health (FBMH), University of Manchester, UK
| | - Fuhui Chen
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health (FBMH), University of Manchester, UK
| | - Shiyang Li
- Wellcome Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, School of Biological Sciences, FBMH, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Jinhua Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Blanca Risa-Ebrí
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, FBMH, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Katherine G Finegan
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, FBMH, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Michael J Cross
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology (ISMIB), University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Emanuele Giurisato
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health (FBMH), University of Manchester, UK,Department of Biotechnology Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Italy
| | - Alan J Whitmarsh
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, School of Biological Sciences, FBMH, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Cathy Tournier
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health (FBMH), University of Manchester, UK,Corresponding author: Cathy Tournier, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK, Tel: +44 161 275 5417,
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Luan Z, Morimoto Y, Fushimi A, Yamashita N, Suo W, Bhattacharya A, Hagiwara M, Jin C, Kufe D. MUC1-C dictates neuroendocrine lineage specification in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. Carcinogenesis 2022; 43:67-76. [PMID: 34657147 PMCID: PMC8832436 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgab097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) and poorly differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine (NE) carcinomas are KRAS mutant malignancies with a potential common cell of origin. PDAC ductal, but not NE, lineage traits have been associated with cell-intrinsic activation of interferon (IFN) pathways. The present studies demonstrate that the MUC1 C-terminal subunit (MUC1-C), which evolved to protect mammalian epithelia from loss of homeostasis, is aberrantly overexpressed in KRAS mutant PDAC tumors and cell lines. We show that MUC1-C is necessary for activation of the type I and II IFN pathways and for expression of the Yamanaka OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and MYC (OSKM) pluripotency factors. Our results demonstrate that MUC1-C integrates IFN signaling and pluripotency with NE dedifferentiation by forming a complex with MYC and driving the (i) achaete-scute homolog 1 and BRN2/POU3F2 neural, and (ii) NOTCH1/2 stemness transcription factors. Of translational relevance, targeting MUC1-C genetically and pharmacologically in PDAC cells (i) suppresses OSKM, NE dedifferentiation and NOTCH1/2, and (ii) inhibits self-renewal capacity and tumorigenicity. In PDAC tumors, we show that MUC1 significantly associates with activation of IFN signaling, MYC and NOTCH, and that upregulation of the MUC1-C → MYC pathway confers a poor prognosis. These findings indicate that MUC1-C dictates PDAC NE lineage specification and is a potential target for the treatment of recalcitrant pancreatic carcinomas with NE dedifferentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Luan
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | | | - Atsushi Fushimi
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Molecular Epidemiology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nami Yamashita
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wenhao Suo
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | | | - Masayuki Hagiwara
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Urology, Keio University Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Caining Jin
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Donald Kufe
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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42
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Diehl JN, Hibshman PS, Ozkan-Dagliyan I, Goodwin CM, Howard SV, Cox AD, Der CJ. Targeting the ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade for the treatment of KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer. Adv Cancer Res 2022; 153:101-130. [PMID: 35101228 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2021.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Mutational activation of the KRAS oncogene is found in ~95% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the major form of pancreatic cancer. With substantial experimental evidence that continued aberrant KRAS function is essential for the maintenance of PDAC tumorigenic growth, the National Cancer Institute has identified the development of effective anti-KRAS therapies as one of four major initiatives for pancreatic cancer research. The recent clinical success in the development of an anti-KRAS therapy targeting one specific KRAS mutant (G12C) supports the significant potential impact of anti-KRAS therapies. However, KRASG12C mutations comprise only 2% of KRAS mutations in PDAC. Thus, there remains a dire need for additional therapeutic approaches for targeting the majority of KRAS-mutant PDAC. Among the different directions currently being pursued for anti-KRAS drug development, one of the most promising involves inhibitors of the key KRAS effector pathway, the three-tiered RAF-MEK-ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. We address the promises and challenges of targeting ERK MAPK signaling as an anti-KRAS therapy for PDAC. In particular, we also summarize the key role of the MYC transcription factor and oncoprotein in supporting ERK-dependent growth of KRAS-mutant PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Nathaniel Diehl
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Priya S Hibshman
- Cell Biology and Physiology Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Irem Ozkan-Dagliyan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Craig M Goodwin
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Sarah V Howard
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Adrienne D Cox
- Cell Biology and Physiology Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Channing J Der
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Cell Biology and Physiology Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
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43
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Welcker M, Wang B, Rusnac DV, Hussaini Y, Swanger J, Zheng N, Clurman BE. Two diphosphorylated degrons control c-Myc degradation by the Fbw7 tumor suppressor. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabl7872. [PMID: 35089787 PMCID: PMC8797792 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl7872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
c-Myc (hereafter, Myc) is a cancer driver whose abundance is regulated by the SCFFbw7 ubiquitin ligase and proteasomal degradation. Fbw7 binds to a phosphorylated Myc degron centered at threonine 58 (T58), and mutations of Fbw7 or T58 impair Myc degradation in cancers. Here, we identify a second Fbw7 phosphodegron at Myc T244 that is required for Myc ubiquitylation and acts in concert with T58 to engage Fbw7. While Ras-dependent Myc serine 62 phosphorylation (pS62) is thought to stabilize Myc by preventing Fbw7 binding, we find instead that pS62 greatly enhances Fbw7 binding and is an integral part of a high-affinity degron. Crystallographic studies revealed that both degrons bind Fbw7 in their diphosphorylated forms and that the T244 degron is recognized via a unique mode involving Fbw7 arginine 689 (R689), a mutational hotspot in cancers. These insights have important implications for Myc-associated tumorigenesis and therapeutic strategies targeting Myc stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Welcker
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Baiyun Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Domniţa-Valeria Rusnac
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Yasser Hussaini
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Jherek Swanger
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Ning Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Bruce E. Clurman
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
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44
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TIMP-2 regulates 5-Fu resistance via the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway in colorectal cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:297-315. [PMID: 35022331 PMCID: PMC8791226 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) is the first-line chemotherapeutic option for colorectal cancer. However, its efficacy is inhibited by drug resistance. Cytokines play an important role in tumor drug resistance, even though their mechanisms are largely unknown. Using a cytokine array, we established that tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) is highly expressed in 5-Fu resistant colorectal cancer patients. Analysis of samples from 84 patients showed that elevated TIMP-2 expression levels in colorectal patients were correlated with poor prognostic outcomes. In a 5-Fu-resistant patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model, TIMP-2 was also found to be highly expressed. We established an autocrine mechanism through which elevated TIMP-2 protein levels sustained colorectal cancer cell resistance to 5-Fu by constitutively activating the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway. Inhibition of TIMP-2 using an anti-TIMP-2 antibody or ERK/MAPK inhibition by U0126 suppressed TIMP-2 mediated 5-Fu-resistance in CRC patients. In conclusion, a novel TIMP-2-ERK/MAPK mediated 5-Fu resistance mechanism is involved in colorectal cancer. Therefore, targeting TIMP-2 or ERK/MAPK may provide a new strategy to overcome 5-Fu resistance in colorectal cancer chemotherapy.
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45
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Clinical Significance and Regulation of ERK5 Expression and Function in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020348. [PMID: 35053510 PMCID: PMC8773716 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) is a unique kinase among MAPKs family members, given its large structure characterized by the presence of a unique C-terminal domain. Despite increasing data demonstrating the relevance of the ERK5 pathway in the growth, survival, and differentiation of normal cells, ERK5 has recently attracted the attention of several research groups given its relevance in inflammatory disorders and cancer. Accumulating evidence reported its role in tumor initiation and progression. In this review, we explore the gene expression profile of ERK5 among cancers correlated with its clinical impact, as well as the prognostic value of ERK5 and pERK5 expression levels in tumors. We also summarize the importance of ERK5 in the maintenance of a cancer stem-like phenotype and explore the major known contributions of ERK5 in the tumor-associated microenvironment. Moreover, although several questions are still open concerning ERK5 molecular regulation, different ERK5 isoforms derived from the alternative splicing process are also described, highlighting the potential clinical relevance of targeting ERK5 pathways.
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46
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DFMO Improves Survival and Increases Immune Cell Infiltration in Association with MYC Downregulation in the Pancreatic Tumor Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413175. [PMID: 34947972 PMCID: PMC8706739 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has an extremely poor five-year survival rate of less than 10%. Immune suppression along with chemoresistance are obstacles for PDAC therapeutic treatment. Innate immune cells, such as tumor-associated macrophages, are recruited to the inflammatory environment of PDAC and adversely suppress cytotoxic T lymphocytes. KRAS and MYC are important oncogenes associated with immune suppression and pose a challenge to successful therapies. Here, we targeted KRAS, through inhibition of downstream c-RAF with GW5074, and MYC expression via difluoromethylornithine (DFMO). DFMO alone and with GW5074 reduced in vitro PDAC cell viability. Both DFMO and GW5074 showed efficacy in reducing in vivo PDAC growth in an immunocompromised model. Results in immunocompetent syngeneic tumor-bearing mice showed that DFMO and combination treatment markedly decreased tumor size, but only DFMO increased survival in mice. To further investigate, immunohistochemical staining showed DFMO diminished MYC expression and increased tumor infiltration of macrophages, CD86+ cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. GW5074 was not as effective in modulating the tumor infiltration of total CD3+ lymphocytes or tumor progression and maintained MYC expression. Collectively, this study highlights that in contrast to GW5074, the inhibition of MYC through DFMO may be an effective treatment modality to modulate PDAC immunosuppression.
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47
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Klomp JE, Lee YS, Goodwin CM, Papke B, Klomp JA, Waters AM, Stalnecker CA, DeLiberty JM, Drizyte-Miller K, Yang R, Diehl JN, Yin HH, Pierobon M, Baldelli E, Ryan MB, Li S, Peterson J, Smith AR, Neal JT, McCormick AK, Kuo CJ, Counter CM, Petricoin EF, Cox AD, Bryant KL, Der CJ. CHK1 protects oncogenic KRAS-expressing cells from DNA damage and is a target for pancreatic cancer treatment. Cell Rep 2021; 37:110060. [PMID: 34852220 PMCID: PMC8665414 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We apply genetic screens to delineate modulators of KRAS mutant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) sensitivity to ERK inhibitor treatment, and we identify components of the ATR-CHK1 DNA damage repair (DDR) pathway. Pharmacologic inhibition of CHK1 alone causes apoptotic growth suppression of both PDAC cell lines and organoids, which correlates with loss of MYC expression. CHK1 inhibition also activates ERK and AMPK and increases autophagy, providing a mechanistic basis for increased efficacy of concurrent CHK1 and ERK inhibition and/or autophagy inhibition with chloroquine. To assess how CHK1 inhibition-induced ERK activation promotes PDAC survival, we perform a CRISPR-Cas9 loss-of-function screen targeting direct/indirect ERK substrates and identify RIF1. A key component of non-homologous end joining repair, RIF1 suppression sensitizes PDAC cells to CHK1 inhibition-mediated apoptotic growth suppression. Furthermore, ERK inhibition alone decreases RIF1 expression and phenocopies RIF1 depletion. We conclude that concurrent DDR suppression enhances the efficacy of ERK and/or autophagy inhibitors in KRAS mutant PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E Klomp
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ye S Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Craig M Goodwin
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Björn Papke
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jeff A Klomp
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Andrew M Waters
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Clint A Stalnecker
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jonathan M DeLiberty
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kristina Drizyte-Miller
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Runying Yang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - J Nathaniel Diehl
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Hongwei H Yin
- Departments of Cancer and Cell Biology, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Mariaelena Pierobon
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
| | - Elisa Baldelli
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
| | - Meagan B Ryan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Siqi Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - Jackson Peterson
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - Amber R Smith
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - James T Neal
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Aaron K McCormick
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Calvin J Kuo
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Christopher M Counter
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - Emanuel F Petricoin
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA 20110, USA
| | - Adrienne D Cox
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kirsten L Bryant
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Channing J Der
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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48
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Chen M, Linstra R, van Vugt MATM. Genomic instability, inflammatory signaling and response to cancer immunotherapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2021; 1877:188661. [PMID: 34800547 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188661] [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: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Genomic and chromosomal instability are hallmarks of cancer and shape the genomic composition of cancer cells, thereby determining their behavior and response to treatment. Various genetic and epigenetic alterations in cancer have been linked to genomic instability, including DNA repair defects, oncogene-induced replication stress, and spindle assembly checkpoint malfunction. A consequence of genomic and chromosomal instability is the leakage of DNA from the nucleus into the cytoplasm, either directly or through the formation and subsequent rupture of micronuclei. Cytoplasmic DNA subsequently activates cytoplasmic DNA sensors, triggering downstream pathways, including a type I interferon response. This inflammatory signaling has pleiotropic effects, including enhanced anti-tumor immunity and potentially results in sensitization of cancer cells to immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, cancers frequently evolve mechanisms to avoid immune clearance, including suppression of inflammatory signaling. In this review, we summarize inflammatory signaling pathways induced by various sources of genomic instability, adaptation mechanisms that suppress inflammatory signaling, and implications for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengting Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Renske Linstra
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel A T M van Vugt
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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49
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Chen WS, Liang Y, Zong M, Liu JJ, Kaneko K, Hanley KL, Zhang K, Feng GS. Single-cell transcriptomics reveals opposing roles of Shp2 in Myc-driven liver tumor cells and microenvironment. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109974. [PMID: 34758313 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms of Myc-driven liver tumorigenesis are inadequately understood. Herein we show that Myc-driven hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is dramatically aggravated in mice with hepatocyte-specific Ptpn11/Shp2 deletion. However, Myc-induced tumors develop selectively from the rare Shp2-positive hepatocytes in Shp2-deficent liver, and Myc-driven oncogenesis depends on an intact Ras-Erk signaling promoted by Shp2 to sustain Myc stability. Despite a stringent requirement of Shp2 cell autonomously, Shp2 deletion induces an immunosuppressive environment, resulting in defective clearance of tumor-initiating cells and aggressive tumor progression. The basal Wnt/β-catenin signaling is upregulated in Shp2-deficient liver, which is further augmented by Myc transfection. Ablating Ctnnb1 suppresses Myc-induced HCC in Shp2-deficient livers, revealing an essential role of β-catenin. Consistently, Myc overexpression and CTNNB1 mutations are frequently co-detected in HCC patients with poor prognosis. These data elucidate complex mechanisms of liver tumorigenesis driven by cell-intrinsic oncogenic signaling in cooperation with a tumor-promoting microenvironment generated by disrupting the specific oncogenic pathway.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Biomarkers, Tumor
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Hepatocytes/metabolism
- Hepatocytes/pathology
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Mutation
- Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11/genetics
- Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11/metabolism
- Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11/physiology
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/metabolism
- Single-Cell Analysis/methods
- Transcriptome
- Tumor Microenvironment
- Wnt Signaling Pathway
- beta Catenin/genetics
- beta Catenin/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy S Chen
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Pathology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Yan Liang
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Pathology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Min Zong
- Department of Pathology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jacey J Liu
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Pathology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kota Kaneko
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Pathology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kaisa L Hanley
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Pathology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Gen-Sheng Feng
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Pathology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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50
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Sacco A, Federico C, Todoerti K, Ziccheddu B, Palermo V, Giacomini A, Ravelli C, Maccarinelli F, Bianchi G, Belotti A, Ribolla R, Favasuli V, Revenko AS, Macleod AR, Willis B, Cai H, Hauser J, Rooney C, Willis SE, Martin PL, Staniszewska A, Ambrose H, Hanson L, Cattaneo C, Tucci A, Rossi G, Ronca R, Neri A, Mitola S, Bolli N, Presta M, Moschetta M, Ross S, Roccaro AM. Specific targeting of the KRAS mutational landscape in myeloma as a tool to unveil the elicited antitumor activity. Blood 2021; 138:1705-1720. [PMID: 34077955 PMCID: PMC9710471 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020010572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations in KRAS have been identified as the most recurring somatic variants in the multiple myeloma (MM) mutational landscape. Combining DNA and RNA sequencing, we studied 756 patients and observed KRAS as the most frequently mutated gene in patients at diagnosis; in addition, we demonstrated the persistence or de novo occurrence of the KRAS aberration at disease relapse. Small-molecule inhibitors targeting KRAS have been developed; however, they are selective for tumors carrying the KRASG12C mutation. Therefore, there is still a need to develop novel therapeutic approaches to target the KRAS mutational events found in other tumor types, including MM. We used AZD4785, a potent and selective antisense oligonucleotide that selectively targets and downregulates all KRAS isoforms, as a tool to dissect the functional sequelae secondary to KRAS silencing in MM within the context of the bone marrow niche and demonstrated its ability to significantly silence KRAS, leading to inhibition of MM tumor growth, both in vitro and in vivo, and confirming KRAS as a driver and therapeutic target in MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Sacco
- Clinical Research Development and Phase I Unit, CREA Laboratory, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Federico
- Clinical Research Development and Phase I Unit, CREA Laboratory, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Katia Todoerti
- Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Bachisio Ziccheddu
- Department of Molecular Biotechnologies and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Valentina Palermo
- Clinical Research Development and Phase I Unit, CREA Laboratory, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arianna Giacomini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cosetta Ravelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Maccarinelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giada Bianchi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Angelo Belotti
- Hematology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Vanessa Favasuli
- Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Joana Hauser
- Oncology R &D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom; and
| | - Claire Rooney
- Oncology R &D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom; and
| | | | | | | | - Helen Ambrose
- Oncology R &D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom; and
| | - Lyndsey Hanson
- Oncology R &D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom; and
| | | | | | - Giuseppe Rossi
- Hematology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Ronca
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonino Neri
- Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Mitola
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Niccolò Bolli
- Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Presta
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Sarah Ross
- Oncology R &D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom; and
| | - Aldo M. Roccaro
- Clinical Research Development and Phase I Unit, CREA Laboratory, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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