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Chen M, Zhu H, Li J, Luo D, Zhang J, Liu W, Wang J. Research progress on the relationship between AURKA and tumorigenesis: the neglected nuclear function of AURKA. Ann Med 2024; 56:2282184. [PMID: 38738386 PMCID: PMC11095293 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2282184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
AURKA is a threonine or serine kinase that needs to be activated by TPX2, Bora and other factors. AURKA is located on chromosome 20 and is amplified or overexpressed in many human cancers, such as breast cancer. AURKA regulates some basic cellular processes, and this regulation is realized via the phosphorylation of downstream substrates. AURKA can function in either the cytoplasm or the nucleus. It can promote the transcription and expression of oncogenes together with other transcription factors in the nucleus, including FoxM1, C-Myc, and NF-κB. In addition, it also sustains carcinogenic signaling, such as N-Myc and Wnt signaling. This article will focus on the role of AURKA in the nucleus and its carcinogenic characteristics that are independent of its kinase activity to provide a theoretical explanation for mechanisms of resistance to kinase inhibitors and a reference for future research on targeted inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menghua Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Huijun Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Danjing Luo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Jiaming Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Wenqi Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Jue Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
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Pearson AD, DuBois SG, Macy ME, de Rojas T, Donoghue M, Weiner S, Knoderer H, Bernardi R, Buenger V, Canaud G, Cantley L, Chung J, Fox E, Friend J, Glade-Bender J, Gorbatchevsky I, Gore L, Gupta A, Hawkins DS, Juric D, Lang LA, Leach D, Liaw D, Lesa G, Ligas F, Lindberg G, Lindberg W, Ludwinski D, Marshall L, Mazar A, McDonough J, Nysom K, Ours C, Pappo A, Parsons DW, Rosenfeld A, Scobie N, Smith M, Taylor D, Weigel B, Weinstein A, Karres D, Vassal G. Paediatric strategy forum for medicinal product development of PI3-K, mTOR, AKT and GSK3β inhibitors in children and adolescents with cancer. Eur J Cancer 2024; 207:114145. [PMID: 38936103 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2024.114145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) signalling pathway is a crucial path in cancer for cell survival and thus represents an intriguing target for new paediatric anti-cancer drugs. However, the unique clinical toxicities of targeting this pathway (resulting in hyperglycaemia) difficulties combining with chemotherapy, rarity of mutations in childhood tumours and concomitant mutations have resulted in major barriers to clinical translation of these inhibitors in treating both adults and children. Mutations in PIK3CA predict response to PI3-K inhibitors in adult cancers. The same mutations occur in children as in adults, but they are significantly less frequent in paediatrics. In children, high-grade gliomas, especially diffuse midline gliomas (DMG), have the highest incidence of PIK3CA mutations. New mutation-specific PI3-K inhibitors reduce toxicity from on-target PI3-Kα wild-type activity. The mTOR inhibitor everolimus is approved for subependymal giant cell astrocytomas. In paediatric cancers, mTOR inhibitors have been predominantly evaluated by academia, without an overall strategy, in empiric, mutation-agnostic clinical trials with very low response rates to monotherapy. Therefore, future trials of single agent or combination strategies of mTOR inhibitors in childhood cancer should be supported by very strong biological rationale and preclinical data. Further preclinical evaluation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta inhibitors is required. Similarly, even where there is an AKT mutation (∼0.1 %), the role of AKT inhibitors in paediatric cancers remains unclear. Patient advocates strongly urged analysing and conserving data from every child participating in a clinical trial. A priority is to evaluate mutation-specific, central nervous system-penetrant PI3-K inhibitors in children with DMG in a rational biological combination. The choice of combination, should be based on the genomic landscape e.g. PTEN loss and resistance mechanisms supported by preclinical data. However, in view of the very rare populations involved, innovative regulatory approaches are needed to generate data for an indication.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steven G DuBois
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ronald Bernardi
- Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group, South San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Vickie Buenger
- Coalition Against Childhood Cancer (CAC2), Philadelphia, USA
| | | | | | - John Chung
- Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Whippany, NJ, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Abha Gupta
- The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Princess Margaret Hospital Toronto, Canada
| | | | | | - Leigh Anna Lang
- Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | | | - Giovanni Lesa
- Paediatric Medicines Office, Scientific Evidence Generation Department, Human Division, European Medicines Agency (EMA), the Netherlands
| | - Franca Ligas
- Paediatric Medicines Office, Scientific Evidence Generation Department, Human Division, European Medicines Agency (EMA), the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Lynley Marshall
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK; The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | | | - Joe McDonough
- The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | | | - Christopher Ours
- National Human Genome Research Institute/National Institutes of Health, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Amy Weinstein
- Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the US, Atlanta, USA
| | - Dominik Karres
- Paediatric Medicines Office, Scientific Evidence Generation Department, Human Division, European Medicines Agency (EMA), the Netherlands
| | - Gilles Vassal
- ACCELERATE, Europe, Belgium; Gustave Roussy Cancer Centre, Paris, France
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3
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Zhou X, Wu Y, Qin L, Zeng M, Zhang M, Zhang J. Investigation of differentially expressed genes related to cellular senescence between high-risk and non-high-risk groups in neuroblastoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1421673. [PMID: 39135779 PMCID: PMC11317289 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1421673] [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: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Object This study aims to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between high-risk and non-high-risk groups in neuroblastoma (NB), construct a prognostic model, and establish a risk score formula. Materials and methods The NB dataset GSE49710 (n = 498) from the GEO database served as the training cohort to select DEGs between high-risk and non-high-risk NB groups. Cellular senescence-related genes were obtained from the Aging Atlas database. Intersection genes from both datasets were identified as key genes of cellular senescence-related genes (SRGs). A prognostic model was constructed using Univariate Cox regression analysis and the Lasso algorithm with SRGs. Validation was performed using the E-MTAB-8248 cohort (n = 223). The expression levels of AURKA and CENPA were evaluated via RT-qPCR in two clinical NB sample groups. Results Eight SRGs were identified, and a prognostic model comprising five genes related to cellular senescence was constructed. AURKA and CENPA showed significant expression in clinical samples and were closely associated with cellular senescence. Conclusion The prognostic model consisted with five cellular senescence related genes effectively predicts the prognosis of NB patients. AURKA and CENPA represent promising targets in NB for predicting cellular senescence, offering potential insights for NB therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyu Zhou
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuying Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Lan Qin
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Miao Zeng
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Mingying Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
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4
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Qi Y, Rezaeian AH, Wang J, Huang D, Chen H, Inuzuka H, Wei W. Molecular insights and clinical implications for the tumor suppressor role of SCF FBXW7 E3 ubiquitin ligase. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189140. [PMID: 38909632 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
FBXW7 is one of the most well-characterized F-box proteins, serving as substrate receptor subunit of SKP1-CUL1-F-box (SCF) E3 ligase complexes. SCFFBXW7 is responsible for the degradation of various oncogenic proteins such as cyclin E, c-MYC, c-JUN, NOTCH, and MCL1. Therefore, FBXW7 functions largely as a major tumor suppressor. In keeping with this notion, FBXW7 gene mutations or downregulations have been found and reported in many types of malignant tumors, such as endometrial, colorectal, lung, and breast cancers, which facilitate the proliferation, invasion, migration, and drug resistance of cancer cells. Therefore, it is critical to review newly identified FBXW7 regulation and tumor suppressor function under physiological and pathological conditions to develop effective strategies for the treatment of FBXW7-altered cancers. Since a growing body of evidence has revealed the tumor-suppressive activity and role of FBXW7, here, we updated FBXW7 upstream and downstream signaling including FBXW7 ubiquitin substrates, the multi-level FBXW7 regulatory mechanisms, and dysregulation of FBXW7 in cancer, and discussed promising cancer therapies targeting FBXW7 regulators and downstream effectors, to provide a comprehensive picture of FBXW7 and facilitate the study in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihang Qi
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Abdol-Hossein Rezaeian
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jingchao Wang
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Daoyuan Huang
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Hong Chen
- Vascular Biology Program, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hiroyuki Inuzuka
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Wenyi Wei
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Borah NA, Mittal R, Sucharita S, Rath S, Kaliki S, Patnaik S, Tripathy D, Reddy MM. Aurora Kinase A Is Overexpressed in Human Retinoblastoma and Correlates with Histopathologic High-Risk Factors: Implications for Targeted Therapy. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024:S0002-9440(24)00205-0. [PMID: 38879085 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2024.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Retinoblastoma (RB) is an intraocular malignancy initiated by loss of RB1 function and/or dysregulation of MYCN oncogene. RB is primarily treated with chemotherapy; however, systemic toxicity and long-term adverse effects remain a significant challenge necessitating the identification of specific molecular targets. Aurora kinase A (AURKA), a critical cell cycle regulator, contributes to cancer pathogenesis, especially in RB1-deficient and MYCN-dysregulated tumors. Our immunohistochemistry study in patient specimens (n = 67) discovered that AURKA is overexpressed in RB, and elevated expression correlates with one or more histopathologic high-risk factors, such as tumor involvement of the optic nerve, choroid, sclera, and/or anterior segment. More specifically, AURKA is ubiquitously expressed in most advanced-stage RB tumors that show a suboptimal response to chemotherapy. shRNA-mediated depletion/pharmacologic inhibition studies in cell lines, patient-derived cells, in vivo xenografts, and enucleated patient specimens confirm that RB cells are highly sensitive to a lack of functional AURKA. In addition, we deciphered that AURKA and MYCN associate with each other to regulate their levels in RB cells. Overall, our results demonstrate a previously unknown up-regulation of AURKA in RB, facilitated by its crosstalk with MYCN, and elevated levels of this kinase may indicate unfavorable prognosis in tumors refractory to chemotherapy. This study provides a rationale and confirms that therapeutic targeting of elevated AURKA in RB could be a potential treatment approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naheed Arfin Borah
- The Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Mithu Tulsi Chanrai Campus, Bhubaneswar, India; School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Ruchi Mittal
- Kanupriya Dalmia Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Mithu Tulsi Chanrai Campus, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Soumya Sucharita
- Kanupriya Dalmia Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Mithu Tulsi Chanrai Campus, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Suryasnata Rath
- Ophthalmic Plastics, Orbit and Ocular Oncology Service, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Mithu Tulsi Chanrai Campus, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Swathi Kaliki
- The Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, Hyderabad, India
| | - Srinivas Patnaik
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Devjyoti Tripathy
- Ophthalmic Plastics, Orbit and Ocular Oncology Service, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Mithu Tulsi Chanrai Campus, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Mamatha M Reddy
- The Operation Eyesight Universal Institute for Eye Cancer, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Mithu Tulsi Chanrai Campus, Bhubaneswar, India; School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India.
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6
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Chang CP, Yeh TK, Chen CT, Wang WP, Chen YT, Tsai CH, Chen YF, Ke YY, Wang JY, Chen CP, Hsieh TC, Wu MH, Huang CL, Chen YP, Zhuang H, Chi YH. Discovery of a Long Half-Life AURKA Inhibitor to Treat MYC-Amplified Solid Tumors as a Monotherapy and in Combination with Everolimus. Mol Cancer Ther 2024; 23:766-779. [PMID: 38592383 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0602] [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: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Aurora kinase inhibitors, such as alisertib, can destabilize MYC-family oncoproteins and have demonstrated compelling antitumor efficacy. In this study, we report 6K465, a novel pyrimidine-based Aurora A inhibitor, that reduces levels of c-MYC and N-MYC oncoproteins more potently than alisertib. In an analysis of the antiproliferative effect of 6K465, the sensitivities of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and breast cancer cell lines to 6K465 were strongly associated with the protein levels of c-MYC and/or N-MYC. We also report DBPR728, an acyl-based prodrug of 6K465 bearing fewer hydrogen-bond donors, that exhibited 10-fold improved oral bioavailability. DBPR728 induced durable tumor regression of c-MYC- and/or N-MYC-overexpressing xenografts including SCLC, triple-negative breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and medulloblastoma using a 5-on-2-off or once-a-week dosing regimen on a 21-day cycle. A single oral dose of DBPR728 at 300 mg/kg induced c-MYC reduction and cell apoptosis in the tumor xenografts for more than 7 days. The inhibitory effect of DBPR728 at a reduced dosing frequency was attributed to its uniquely high tumor/plasma ratio (3.6-fold within 7 days) and the long tumor half-life of active moiety 6K465. Furthermore, DBPR728 was found to synergize with the mTOR inhibitor everolimus to suppress c-MYC- or N-MYC-driven SCLC. Collectively, these results suggest DBPR728 has the potential to treat cancers overexpressing c-MYC and/or N-MYC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Ping Chang
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
- Department of Chemistry, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Teng-Kuang Yeh
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Chiung-Tong Chen
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Ping Wang
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Ting Chen
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hua Tsai
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Yan-Fu Chen
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Yu Ke
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Ya Wang
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Ping Chen
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Chih Hsieh
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Mine-Hsine Wu
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Lung Huang
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Ping Chen
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Hong Zhuang
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Hui Chi
- Institute of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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7
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Nishio Y, Kato K, Oishi H, Takahashi Y, Saitoh S. MYCN in human development and diseases. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1417607. [PMID: 38884091 PMCID: PMC11176553 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1417607] [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: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Somatic mutations in MYCN have been identified across various tumors, playing pivotal roles in tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and unfavorable prognoses. Despite its established notoriety as an oncogenic driver, there is a growing interest in exploring the involvement of MYCN in human development. While MYCN variants have traditionally been associated with Feingold syndrome type 1, recent discoveries highlight gain-of-function variants, specifically p.(Thr58Met) and p.(Pro60Leu), as the cause for megalencephaly-polydactyly syndrome. The elucidation of cellular and murine analytical data from both loss-of-function (Feingold syndrome model) and gain-of-function models (megalencephaly-polydactyly syndrome model) is significantly contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the physiological role of MYCN in human development and pathogenesis. This review discusses the MYCN's functional implications for human development by reviewing the clinical characteristics of these distinct syndromes, Feingold syndrome, and megalencephaly-polydactyly syndrome, providing valuable insights into the understanding of pathophysiological backgrounds of other syndromes associated with the MYCN pathway and the overall comprehension of MYCN's role in human development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Nishio
- Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Genetics, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kohji Kato
- Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Genetics, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hisashi Oishi
- Department of Comparative and Experimental Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Takahashi
- Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shinji Saitoh
- Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
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8
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Volegova MP, Brown LE, Banerjee U, Dries R, Sharma B, Kennedy A, Porco JA, George RE. The MYCN 5' UTR as a therapeutic target in neuroblastoma. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114134. [PMID: 38662542 PMCID: PMC11284644 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114134] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor MYCN amplification is seen in high-risk neuroblastoma, yet direct targeting of this oncogenic transcription factor has been challenging. Here, we take advantage of the dependence of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cells on increased protein synthesis to inhibit the activity of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A1 (eIF4A1) using an amidino-rocaglate, CMLD012824. Consistent with the role of this RNA helicase in resolving structural barriers in 5' untranslated regions (UTRs), CMLD012824 increased eIF4A1 affinity for polypurine-rich 5' UTRs, including that of the MYCN and associated transcripts with critical roles in cell proliferation. CMLD012824-mediated clamping of eIF4A1 spanned the full lengths of mRNAs, while translational inhibition was mediated through 5' UTR binding in a cap-dependent and -independent manner. Finally, CMLD012824 led to growth inhibition in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma models without generalized toxicity. Our studies highlight the key role of eIF4A1 in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma and demonstrate the therapeutic potential of disrupting its function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina P Volegova
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lauren E Brown
- Boston University, Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston, MA, USA; Boston University, Department of Chemistry, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ushashi Banerjee
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ruben Dries
- Boston University School of Medicine, Computational Biomedicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bandana Sharma
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Alyssa Kennedy
- Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John A Porco
- Boston University, Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston, MA, USA; Boston University, Department of Chemistry, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rani E George
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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9
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Yang G, Lin Y, Sun X, Cheng D, Li H, Hu S, Chen M, Wang Y, Wang Y. Preclinical Evaluation of JAB-2485, a Potent AURKA Inhibitor with High Selectivity and Favorable Pharmacokinetic Properties. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:21416-21425. [PMID: 38764682 PMCID: PMC11097369 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c01752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
As a critical mitotic regulator, Aurora kinase A (AURKA) is aberrantly activated in a wide range of cancers. Therapeutic targeting of AUKRA is a promising strategy for the treatment of solid tumors. In this study, we evaluated the preclinical characteristics of JAB-2485, a small-molecule inhibitor of AURKA currently in Phase I/IIa clinical trial in the US (NCT05490472). Biochemical studies demonstrated that JAB-2485 is potent and highly selective on AURKA, with subnanomolar IC50 and around 1500-fold selectivity over AURKB or AURKC. In addition, JAB-2485 exhibited favorable pharmacokinetic properties featured by low clearance and good bioavailability, strong dose-response relationship, as well as low risk for hematotoxicity and off-target liability. As a single agent, JAB-2485 effectively induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of small cell lung cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and neuroblastoma cells. Furthermore, JAB-2485 exhibited robust in vivo antitumor activity both as monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapies or the bromodomain inhibitor JAB-8263 in xenograft models of various cancer types. Together, these encouraging preclinical data provide a strong basis for safety and efficacy evaluations of JAB-2485 in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiqun Yang
- Jacobio Pharmaceuticals
Co., Ltd., 105 Jinghai Third Street, Beijing 100176, China
| | - Yiwei Lin
- Jacobio Pharmaceuticals
Co., Ltd., 105 Jinghai Third Street, Beijing 100176, China
| | - Xin Sun
- Jacobio Pharmaceuticals
Co., Ltd., 105 Jinghai Third Street, Beijing 100176, China
| | - Dai Cheng
- Jacobio Pharmaceuticals
Co., Ltd., 105 Jinghai Third Street, Beijing 100176, China
| | - Haijun Li
- Jacobio Pharmaceuticals
Co., Ltd., 105 Jinghai Third Street, Beijing 100176, China
| | - Shizong Hu
- Jacobio Pharmaceuticals
Co., Ltd., 105 Jinghai Third Street, Beijing 100176, China
| | - Mingming Chen
- Jacobio Pharmaceuticals
Co., Ltd., 105 Jinghai Third Street, Beijing 100176, China
| | - Yinxiang Wang
- Jacobio Pharmaceuticals
Co., Ltd., 105 Jinghai Third Street, Beijing 100176, China
| | - Yanping Wang
- Jacobio Pharmaceuticals
Co., Ltd., 105 Jinghai Third Street, Beijing 100176, China
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Yang Y, Zhang Y, Chen G, Sun B, Luo F, Gao Y, Feng H, Li Y. KAP1 stabilizes MYCN mRNA and promotes neuroblastoma tumorigenicity by protecting the RNA m 6A reader YTHDC1 protein degradation. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:141. [PMID: 38745192 PMCID: PMC11092262 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03040-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroblastoma (NB) patients with amplified MYCN often face a grim prognosis and are resistant to existing therapies, yet MYCN protein is considered undruggable. KAP1 (also named TRIM28) plays a crucial role in multiple biological activities. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between KAP1 and MYCN in NB. METHODS Transcriptome analyses and luciferase reporter assay identified that KAP1 was a downstream target of MYCN. The effects of KAP1 on cancer cell proliferation and colony formation were explored using the loss-of-function assays in vitro and in vivo. RNA stability detection was used to examine the influence of KAP1 on MYCN expression. The mechanisms of KAP1 to maintain MYCN mRNA stabilization were mainly investigated by mass spectrum, immunoprecipitation, RIP-qPCR, and western blotting. In addition, a xenograft mouse model was used to reveal the antitumor effect of STM2457 on NB. RESULTS Here we identified KAP1 as a critical regulator of MYCN mRNA stability by protecting the RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader YTHDC1 protein degradation. KAP1 was highly expressed in clinical MYCN-amplified NB and was upregulated by MYCN. Reciprocally, KAP1 knockdown reduced MYCN mRNA stability and inhibited MYCN-amplified NB progression. Mechanistically, KAP1 regulated the stability of MYCN mRNA in an m6A-dependent manner. KAP1 formed a complex with YTHDC1 and RNA m6A writer METTL3 to regulate m6A-modified MYCN mRNA stability. KAP1 depletion decreased YTHDC1 protein stability and promoted MYCN mRNA degradation. Inhibiting MYCN mRNA m6A modification synergized with chemotherapy to restrain tumor progression in MYCN-amplified NB. CONCLUSIONS Our research demonstrates that KAP1, transcriptionally activated by MYCN, forms a complex with YTHDC1 and METTL3, which in turn maintain the stabilization of MYCN mRNA in an m6A-dependent manner. Targeting m6A modification by STM2457, a small-molecule inhibitor of METTL3, could downregulate MYCN expression and attenuate tumor proliferation. This finding provides a new alternative putative therapeutic strategy for MYCN-amplified NB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yang
- Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Hematology & Oncology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Health Committee Key Laboratory of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Yingwen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Guoyu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Bowen Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Fei Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Yijin Gao
- Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Hematology & Oncology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Health Committee Key Laboratory of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Haizhong Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Yanxin Li
- Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Department of Hematology & Oncology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Health Committee Key Laboratory of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Shanghai, 200127, China.
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11
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Hu X, Zhou Y, Hill C, Chen K, Cheng C, Liu X, Duan P, Gu Y, Wu Y, Ewing RM, Li Z, Wu Z, Wang Y. Identification of MYCN non-amplified neuroblastoma subgroups points towards molecular signatures for precision prognosis and therapy stratification. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:1841-1854. [PMID: 38553589 PMCID: PMC7616008 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02666-y] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the extensive study of MYCN-amplified neuroblastomas, there is a significant unmet clinical need in MYCN non-amplified cases. In particular, the extent of heterogeneity within the MYCN non-amplified population is unknown. METHODS A total of 1566 samples from 16 datasets were identified in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and ArrayExpress. Characterisation of the subtypes was analysed by ConsensusClusterPlus. Independent predictors for subgrouping were constructed from the single sample predictor based on the multiclassPairs package. Findings were verified using immunohistochemistry and CIBERSORTx analysis. RESULTS We demonstrate that MYCN non-amplified neuroblastomas are heterogeneous and can be classified into 3 subgroups based on their transcriptional signatures. Within these groups, subgroup_2 has the worst prognosis and this group shows a 'MYCN' signature that is potentially induced by the overexpression of Aurora Kinase A (AURKA); whilst subgroup_3 is characterised by an 'inflamed' gene signature. The clinical implications of this subtype classification are significant, as each subtype demonstrates a unique prognosis and vulnerability to investigational therapies. A total of 420 genes were identified as independent subgroup predictors with average balanced accuracy of 0.93 and 0.84 for train and test datasets, respectively. CONCLUSION We propose that transcriptional subtyping may enhance precision prognosis and therapy stratification for patients with MYCN non-amplified neuroblastomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Hu
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Paediatric Research, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yilu Zhou
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Charlotte Hill
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Paediatric Research, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Cheng Cheng
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Paediatric Research, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xiaowei Liu
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Paediatric Research, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Peiwen Duan
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Paediatric Research, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yaoyao Gu
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Paediatric Research, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yeming Wu
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Paediatric Research, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215003, China
| | - Rob M Ewing
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Zhongrong Li
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Zhixiang Wu
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Paediatric Research, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215003, China.
| | - Yihua Wang
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
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Manzanares-Guzmán A, Lugo-Fabres PH, Camacho-Villegas TA. vNARs as Neutralizing Intracellular Therapeutic Agents: Glioblastoma as a Target. Antibodies (Basel) 2024; 13:25. [PMID: 38534215 DOI: 10.3390/antib13010025] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most prevalent and fatal form of primary brain tumors. New targeted therapeutic strategies for this type of tumor are imperative given the dire prognosis for glioblastoma patients and the poor results of current multimodal therapy. Previously reported drawbacks of antibody-based therapeutics include the inability to translocate across the blood-brain barrier and reach intracellular targets due to their molecular weight. These disadvantages translate into poor target neutralization and cancer maintenance. Unlike conventional antibodies, vNARs can permeate tissues and recognize conformational or cryptic epitopes due to their stability, CDR3 amino acid sequence, and smaller molecular weight. Thus, vNARs represent a potential antibody format to use as intrabodies or soluble immunocarriers. This review comprehensively summarizes key intracellular pathways in glioblastoma cells that induce proliferation, progression, and cancer survival to determine a new potential targeted glioblastoma therapy based on previously reported vNARs. The results seek to support the next application of vNARs as single-domain antibody drug-conjugated therapies, which could overcome the disadvantages of conventional monoclonal antibodies and provide an innovative approach for glioblastoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Manzanares-Guzmán
- Unidad de Biotecnología Médica y Farmacéutica, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco (CIATEJ), Guadalajara 44270, Mexico
| | - Pavel H Lugo-Fabres
- Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)-Unidad de Biotecnología Médica y Farmacéutica, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco (CIATEJ), Guadalajara 44270, Mexico
| | - Tanya A Camacho-Villegas
- Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)-Unidad de Biotecnología Médica y Farmacéutica, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco (CIATEJ), Guadalajara 44270, Mexico
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Bugara B, Durbas M, Kudrycka M, Malinowska A, Horwacik I, Rokita H. Silencing of the PHLDA1 leads to global proteome changes and differentiation pathways of human neuroblastoma cells. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1351536. [PMID: 38495105 PMCID: PMC10941682 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1351536] [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: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial pediatric solid tumor originating from the abnormal development of cells of the sympathoadrenal lineage of the neural crest. Targeting GD2 ganglioside (GD2), a glycolipid expressed on neuroblastoma cells, with GD2 ganglioside-recognizing antibodies affects several pivotal signaling routes that drive or influence the malignant phenotype of the cells. Previously performed gene expression profiling helped us to identify the PHLDA1 (pleckstrin homology-like domain family A member 1) gene as the most upregulated gene in the IMR-32 human neuroblastoma cells treated with the mouse 14G2a monoclonal antibody. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic analyses were applied to better characterize a role of PHLDA1 protein in the response of neuroblastoma cells to chimeric ch14.18/CHO antibody. Additionally, global protein expression profile analysis in the IMR-32 cell line with PHLDA1 silencing revealed the increase in biological functions of mitochondria, accompanied by differentiation-like phenotype of the cells. Moreover, mass spectrometry analysis of the proteins co-immunoprecipitated using anti-PHLDA1-specific antibody, selected a group of possible PHLDA1 binding partners. Also, a more detailed analysis suggested that PHLDA1 interacts with the DCAF7/AUTS2 complex, a key component of neuronal differentiation in vitro. Importantly, our results indicate that PHLDA1 silencing enhances the EGF receptor signaling pathway and combinatory treatment of gefitinib and ch14.18/CHO antibodies might be beneficial for neuroblastoma patients. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD044319.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata Bugara
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Virology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Durbas
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Virology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Maja Kudrycka
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Virology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Agata Malinowska
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Irena Horwacik
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Virology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Hanna Rokita
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Virology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
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14
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Roopnarine O, Thomas DD. Structural Dynamics of Protein Interactions Using Site-Directed Spin Labeling of Cysteines to Measure Distances and Rotational Dynamics with EPR Spectroscopy. APPLIED MAGNETIC RESONANCE 2024; 55:79-100. [PMID: 38371230 PMCID: PMC10868710 DOI: 10.1007/s00723-023-01623-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Here we review applications of site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) with engineered cysteines in proteins, to study the structural dynamics of muscle and non-muscle proteins, using and developing the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic techniques of dipolar EPR, double electron electron resonance (DEER), saturation transfer EPR (STEPR), and orientation measured by EPR. The SDSL technology pioneered by Wayne Hubbell and collaborators has greatly expanded the use of EPR, including the measurement of distances between spin labels covalently attached to proteins and peptides. The Thomas lab and collaborators have applied these techniques to elucidate dynamic interactions in the myosin-actin complex, myosin-binding protein C, calmodulin, ryanodine receptor, phospholamban, utrophin, dystrophin, β-III-spectrin, and Aurora kinase. The ability to design and engineer cysteines in proteins for site-directed covalent labeling has enabled the use of these powerful EPR techniques to measure distances, while showing that they are complementary with optical spectroscopy measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osha Roopnarine
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - David D. Thomas
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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15
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Kouroukli O, Bravou V, Giannitsas K, Tzelepi V. Tissue-Based Diagnostic Biomarkers of Aggressive Variant Prostate Cancer: A Narrative Review. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:805. [PMID: 38398199 PMCID: PMC10887410 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040805] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PC) is a common malignancy among elderly men, characterized by great heterogeneity in its clinical course, ranging from an indolent to a highly aggressive disease. The aggressive variant of prostate cancer (AVPC) clinically shows an atypical pattern of disease progression, similar to that of small cell PC (SCPC), and also shares the chemo-responsiveness of SCPC. The term AVPC does not describe a specific histologic subtype of PC but rather the group of tumors that, irrespective of morphology, show an aggressive clinical course, dictated by androgen receptor (AR) indifference. AR indifference represents an adaptive response to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), driven by epithelial plasticity, an inherent ability of tumor cells to adapt to their environment by changing their phenotypic characteristics in a bi-directional way. The molecular profile of AVPC entails combined alterations in the tumor suppressor genes retinoblastoma protein 1 (RB1), tumor protein 53 (TP53), and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). The understanding of the biologic heterogeneity of castration-resistant PC (CRPC) and the need to identify the subset of patients that would potentially benefit from specific therapies necessitate the development of prognostic and predictive biomarkers. This review aims to discuss the possible pathophysiologic mechanisms of AVPC development and the potential use of emerging tissue-based biomarkers in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Kouroukli
- Department of Pathology, Evaggelismos General Hospital, 10676 Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Bravou
- Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece;
| | | | - Vasiliki Tzelepi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
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16
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Dawber RS, Gimenez D, Batchelor M, Miles JA, Wright MH, Bayliss R, Wilson AJ. Inhibition of Aurora-A/N-Myc Protein-Protein Interaction Using Peptidomimetics: Understanding the Role of Peptide Cyclization. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300649. [PMID: 37907395 PMCID: PMC10962542 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300649] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Using N-Myc61-89 as a starting template we showcase the systematic use of truncation and maleimide constraining to develop peptidomimetic inhibitors of the N-Myc/Aurora-A protein-protein interaction (PPI); a potential anticancer drug discovery target. The most promising of these - N-Myc73-94-N85C/G89C-mal - is shown to favour a more Aurora-A compliant binding ensemble in comparison to the linear wild-type sequence as observed through fluorescence anisotropy competition assays, circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. Further in silico investigation of this peptide in its Aurora-A bound state, by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, imply (i) the bound conformation is more stable as a consequence of the constraint, which likely suppresses dissociation and (ii) the constraint may make further stabilizing interactions with the Aurora-A surface. Taken together this work unveils the first orthosteric N-Myc/Aurora-A inhibitor and provides useful insights on the biophysical properties and thus design of constrained peptides, an attractive therapeutic modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert S. Dawber
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular BiologyUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
- School of ChemistryUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
- School of Molecular and Cellular BiologyUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
| | - Diana Gimenez
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular BiologyUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
- School of ChemistryUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
| | - Matthew Batchelor
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular BiologyUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
- School of Molecular and Cellular BiologyUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
| | - Jennifer A. Miles
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular BiologyUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
- School of Molecular and Cellular BiologyUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
| | - Megan H. Wright
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular BiologyUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
- School of ChemistryUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
| | - Richard Bayliss
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular BiologyUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
- School of Molecular and Cellular BiologyUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
| | - Andrew J. Wilson
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular BiologyUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
- School of ChemistryUniversity of LeedsWoodhouse LaneLeedsLS2 9JTUK
- School of ChemistryUniversity of BirminghamEdgbaston, BirminghamB15 2TTUK
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Vaishnavi A, Kinsey CG, McMahon M. Preclinical Modeling of Pathway-Targeted Therapy of Human Lung Cancer in the Mouse. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2024; 14:a041385. [PMID: 37788883 PMCID: PMC10760064 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041385] [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] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Animal models, particularly genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), continue to have a transformative impact on our understanding of the initiation and progression of hematological malignancies and solid tumors. Furthermore, GEMMs have been employed in the design and optimization of potent anticancer therapies. Increasingly, drug responses are assessed in mouse models either prior, or in parallel, to the implementation of precision medical oncology, in which groups of patients with genetically stratified cancers are treated with drugs that target the relevant oncoprotein such that mechanisms of drug sensitivity or resistance may be identified. Subsequently, this has led to the design and preclinical testing of combination therapies designed to forestall the onset of drug resistance. Indeed, mouse models of human lung cancer represent a paradigm for how a wide variety of GEMMs, driven by a variety of oncogenic drivers, have been generated to study initiation, progression, and maintenance of this disease as well as response to drugs. These studies have now expanded beyond targeted therapy to include immunotherapy. We highlight key aspects of the relationship between mouse models and the evolution of therapeutic approaches, including oncogene-targeted therapies, immunotherapies, acquired drug resistance, and ways in which successful antitumor strategies improve on efficiently translating preclinical approaches into successful antitumor strategies in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aria Vaishnavi
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Conan G Kinsey
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Martin McMahon
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
- Department of Dermatology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
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18
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Ji Y, Zhang W, Shen K, Su R, Liu X, Ma Z, Liu B, Hu C, Xue Y, Xin Z, Yang Y, Li A, Jiang Z, Jing N, Zhu HH, Dong L, Zhu Y, Dong B, Pan J, Wang Q, Xue W. The ELAVL3/MYCN positive feedback loop provides a therapeutic target for neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7794. [PMID: 38016952 PMCID: PMC10684895 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43676-3] [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] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine prostate cancer is a rapidly progressive and lethal disease characterized by early visceral metastasis, poor prognosis, and limited treatment options. Uncovering the oncogenic mechanisms could lead to the discovery of potential therapeutic avenues. Here, we demonstrate that the RNA-binding protein ELAVL3 is specifically upregulated in neuroendocrine prostate cancer and that overexpression of ELAVL3 alone is sufficient to induce the neuroendocrine phenotype in prostate adenocarcinoma. Mechanistically, ELAVL3 is transcriptionally regulated by MYCN and subsequently binds to and stabilizes MYCN and RICTOR mRNA. Moreover, ELAVL3 is shown to be released in extracellular vesicles and induce neuroendocrine differentiation of adenocarcinoma cells via an intercellular mechanism. Pharmacological inhibition of ELAVL3 with pyrvinium pamoate, an FDA-approved drug, effectively suppresses tumor growth, reduces metastatic risk, and improves survival in neuroendocrine prostate cancer mouse models. Our results identify ELAVL3 as a critical regulator of neuroendocrine differentiation in prostate cancer and propose a drug repurposing strategy for targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyi Ji
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Kai Shen
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Ruopeng Su
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Xinyu Liu
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Zehua Ma
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Cong Hu
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Yizheng Xue
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Zhixiang Xin
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Ang Li
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Zhou Jiang
- Department of Pathology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Na Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Ren Ji Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Shanghai Cancer Institute & Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Helen He Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Ren Ji Med-X Stem Cell Research Center, Shanghai Cancer Institute & Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liang Dong
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Yinjie Zhu
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Baijun Dong
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Jiahua Pan
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200120, China.
| | - Wei Xue
- Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China.
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Borankova K, Krchniakova M, Leck LYW, Kubistova A, Neradil J, Jansson PJ, Hogarty MD, Skoda J. Mitoribosomal synthetic lethality overcomes multidrug resistance in MYC-driven neuroblastoma. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:747. [PMID: 37973789 PMCID: PMC10654511 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06278-x] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondria are central for cancer responses to therapy-induced stress signals. Refractory tumors often show attenuated sensitivity to apoptotic signaling, yet clinically relevant molecular actors to target mitochondria-mediated resistance remain elusive. Here, we show that MYC-driven neuroblastoma cells rely on intact mitochondrial ribosome (mitoribosome) processivity and undergo cell death following pharmacological inhibition of mitochondrial translation, regardless of their multidrug/mitochondrial resistance and stem-like phenotypes. Mechanistically, inhibiting mitoribosomes induced the mitochondrial stress-activated integrated stress response (ISR), leading to downregulation of c-MYC/N-MYC proteins prior to neuroblastoma cell death, which could be both rescued by the ISR inhibitor ISRIB. The ISR blocks global protein synthesis and shifted the c-MYC/N-MYC turnover toward proteasomal degradation. Comparing models of various neuroectodermal tumors and normal fibroblasts revealed overexpression of MYC proteins phosphorylated at the degradation-promoting site T58 as a factor that predetermines vulnerability of MYC-driven neuroblastoma to mitoribosome inhibition. Reducing N-MYC levels in a neuroblastoma model with tunable MYCN expression mitigated cell death induction upon inhibition of mitochondrial translation and functionally validated the propensity of neuroblastoma cells for MYC-dependent cell death in response to the mitochondrial ISR. Notably, neuroblastoma cells failed to develop significant resistance to the mitoribosomal inhibitor doxycycline over a long-term repeated (pulsed) selection. Collectively, we identify mitochondrial translation machinery as a novel synthetic lethality target for multidrug-resistant MYC-driven tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Borankova
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 65691, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Maria Krchniakova
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 65691, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lionel Y W Leck
- Cancer Drug Resistance & Stem Cell Program, School of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Bill Walsh Translational Cancer Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, St. Leonards, NSW, 2065, Australia
| | - Adela Kubistova
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Neradil
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 65691, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Patric J Jansson
- Cancer Drug Resistance & Stem Cell Program, School of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Bill Walsh Translational Cancer Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, St. Leonards, NSW, 2065, Australia
| | - Michael D Hogarty
- Division of Oncology and Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jan Skoda
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic.
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 65691, Brno, Czech Republic.
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20
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Altiner P, Çınaroğlu SS, Timucin AC, Timucin E. Computational completion of the Aurora interaction region of N-Myc in the Aurora a kinase complex. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18399. [PMID: 37884585 PMCID: PMC10603048 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45272-3] [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: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibiting protein-protein interactions of the Myc family is a viable pharmacological strategy for modulation of the levels of Myc oncoproteins in cancer. Aurora A kinase (AurA) and N-Myc interaction is one of the most attractive targets of this strategy because formation of this complex blocks proteasomal degradation of N-Myc in neuroblastoma. Two crystallization studies have captured this complex (PDB IDs: 5g1x, 7ztl), partially resolving the AurA interaction region (AIR) of N-Myc. Prompted by the missing N-Myc fragment in these crystal structures, we modeled the complete structure between AurA and N-Myc, and comprehensively analyzed how the incomplete and complete N-Myc behave in complex by molecular dynamics simulations. Molecular dynamics simulations of the incomplete PDB complex (5g1x) repeatedly showed partial dissociation of the short N-Myc fragment (61-89) from the kinase. The missing N-Myc (19-60) fragment was modeled utilizing the N-terminal lobe of AurA as the protein-protein interaction surface, wherein TPX2, a well-known partner of AurA, also binds. Binding free energy calculations along with flexibility analysis confirmed that the complete AIR of N-Myc stabilizes the complex, accentuating the N-terminal lobe of AurA as a binding site for the missing N-Myc fragment (19-60). We further generated additional models consisting of only the missing N-Myc (19-60), and the fused form of TPX2 (7-43) and N-Myc (61-89). These partners also formed more stable interactions with the N-terminal lobe of AurA than did the incomplete N-Myc fragment (61-89) in the 5g1x complex. Altogether, this study provides structural insights into the involvement of the N-terminus of the AIR of N-Myc and the N-terminal lobe of AurA in formation of a stable complex, reflecting its potential for effective targeting of N-Myc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinar Altiner
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), CNRS, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), 31077, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Ahmet Can Timucin
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Acibadem University, 34752, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Emel Timucin
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, School of Medicine, Acibadem University, 34752, Istanbul, Turkey.
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21
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Papadopoulos D, Uhl L, Ha SA, Eilers M. Beyond gene expression: how MYC relieves transcription stress. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:805-816. [PMID: 37422352 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
MYC oncoproteins are key drivers of tumorigenesis. As transcription factors, MYC proteins regulate transcription by all three nuclear polymerases and gene expression. Accumulating evidence shows that MYC proteins are also crucial for enhancing the stress resilience of transcription. MYC proteins relieve torsional stress caused by active transcription, prevent collisions between the transcription and replication machineries, resolve R-loops, and repair DNA damage by participating in a range of protein complexes and forming multimeric structures at sites of genomic instability. We review the key complexes and multimerization properties of MYC proteins that allow them to mitigate transcription-associated DNA damage, and propose that the oncogenic functions of MYC extend beyond the modulation of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Papadopoulos
- Theodor Boveri Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany; Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Leonie Uhl
- Theodor Boveri Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Anh Ha
- Theodor Boveri Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Eilers
- Theodor Boveri Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
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22
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Wahba A, Wolters R, Foster JH. Neuroblastoma in the Era of Precision Medicine: A Clinical Review. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4722. [PMID: 37835416 PMCID: PMC10571527 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194722] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The latest advances in treatment for patients with neuroblastoma are constantly being incorporated into clinical trials and clinical practice standards, resulting in incremental improvements in the survival of patients over time. Survivors of high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNBL), however, continue to develop treatment-related late effects. Additionally, for the majority of the nearly 50% of patients with HRNBL who experience relapse, no curative therapy currently exists. As technologies in diagnostic and molecular profiling techniques rapidly advance, so does the discovery of potential treatment targets. Here, we discuss the current clinical landscape of therapies for neuroblastoma in the era of precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jennifer H. Foster
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (A.W.); (R.W.)
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23
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Smiles WJ, Catalano L, Stefan VE, Weber DD, Kofler B. Metabolic protein kinase signalling in neuroblastoma. Mol Metab 2023; 75:101771. [PMID: 37414143 PMCID: PMC10362370 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroblastoma is a paediatric malignancy of incredibly complex aetiology. Oncogenic protein kinase signalling in neuroblastoma has conventionally focussed on transduction through the well-characterised PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways, in which the latter has been implicated in treatment resistance. The discovery of the receptor tyrosine kinase ALK as a target of genetic alterations in cases of familial and sporadic neuroblastoma, was a breakthrough in the understanding of the complex genetic heterogeneity of neuroblastoma. However, despite progress in the development of small-molecule inhibitors of ALK, treatment resistance frequently arises and appears to be a feature of the disease. Moreover, since the identification of ALK, several additional protein kinases, including the PIM and Aurora kinases, have emerged not only as drivers of the disease phenotype, but also as promising druggable targets. This is particularly the case for Aurora-A, given its intimate engagement with MYCN, a driver oncogene of aggressive neuroblastoma previously considered 'undruggable.' SCOPE OF REVIEW Aided by significant advances in structural biology and a broader understanding of the mechanisms of protein kinase function and regulation, we comprehensively outline the role of protein kinase signalling, emphasising ALK, PIM and Aurora in neuroblastoma, their respective metabolic outputs, and broader implications for targeted therapies. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS Despite massively divergent regulatory mechanisms, ALK, PIM and Aurora kinases all obtain significant roles in cellular glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolism and neuroblastoma progression, and in several instances are implicated in treatment resistance. While metabolism of neuroblastoma tends to display hallmarks of the glycolytic "Warburg effect," aggressive, in particular MYCN-amplified tumours, retain functional mitochondrial metabolism, allowing for survival and proliferation under nutrient stress. Future strategies employing specific kinase inhibitors as part of the treatment regimen should consider combinatorial attempts at interfering with tumour metabolism, either through metabolic pathway inhibitors, or by dietary means, with a view to abolish metabolic flexibility that endows cancerous cells with a survival advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Smiles
- Research Program for Receptor Biochemistry and Tumor Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, Müllner Hauptstraße 48, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Luca Catalano
- Research Program for Receptor Biochemistry and Tumor Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, Müllner Hauptstraße 48, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Victoria E Stefan
- Research Program for Receptor Biochemistry and Tumor Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, Müllner Hauptstraße 48, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Daniela D Weber
- Research Program for Receptor Biochemistry and Tumor Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, Müllner Hauptstraße 48, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Barbara Kofler
- Research Program for Receptor Biochemistry and Tumor Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University, Müllner Hauptstraße 48, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
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24
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Deng Z, Richardson DR. The Myc Family and the Metastasis Suppressor NDRG1: Targeting Key Molecular Interactions with Innovative Therapeutics. Pharmacol Rev 2023; 75:1007-1035. [PMID: 37280098 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.122.000795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, resulting in ∼10 million deaths in 2020. Major oncogenic effectors are the Myc proto-oncogene family, which consists of three members including c-Myc, N-Myc, and L-Myc. As a pertinent example of the role of the Myc family in tumorigenesis, amplification of MYCN in childhood neuroblastoma strongly correlates with poor patient prognosis. Complexes between Myc oncoproteins and their partners such as hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and Myc-associated protein X (MAX) result in proliferation arrest and pro-proliferative effects, respectively. Interactions with other proteins are also important for N-Myc activity. For instance, the enhancer of zest homolog 2 (EZH2) binds directly to N-Myc to stabilize it by acting as a competitor against the ubiquitin ligase, SCFFBXW7, which prevents proteasomal degradation. Heat shock protein 90 may also be involved in N-Myc stabilization since it binds to EZH2 and prevents its degradation. N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) is downregulated by N-Myc and participates in the regulation of cellular proliferation via associating with other proteins, such as glycogen synthase kinase-3β and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6. These molecular interactions provide a better understanding of the biologic roles of N-Myc and NDRG1, which can be potentially used as therapeutic targets. In addition to directly targeting these proteins, disrupting their key interactions may also be a promising strategy for anti-cancer drug development. This review examines the interactions between the Myc proteins and other molecules, with a special focus on the relationship between N-Myc and NDRG1 and possible therapeutic interventions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Neuroblastoma is one of the most common childhood solid tumors, with a dismal five-year survival rate. This problem makes it imperative to discover new and more effective therapeutics. The molecular interactions between major oncogenic drivers of the Myc family and other key proteins; for example, the metastasis suppressor, NDRG1, may potentially be used as targets for anti-neuroblastoma drug development. In addition to directly targeting these proteins, disrupting their key molecular interactions may also be promising for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Deng
- Centre for Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia (Z.D., D.R.R.), and Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan (D.R.R.)
| | - Des R Richardson
- Centre for Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia (Z.D., D.R.R.), and Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan (D.R.R.)
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25
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Zhang X, Cong X, Jin X, Liu Y, Zhang T, Fan X, Shi X, Zhang X, Wang X, Yang YG, Dai X. Deficiency of BAP1 inhibits neuroblastoma tumorigenesis through destabilization of MYCN. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:504. [PMID: 37543638 PMCID: PMC10404282 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06030-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factor MYCN is frequently amplified and overexpressed in a variety of cancers including high-risk neuroblastoma (NB) and promotes tumor cell proliferation, survival, and migration. Therefore, MYCN is being pursued as an attractive therapeutic target for selective inhibition of its upstream regulators because MYCN is considered a "undruggable" target. Thus, it is important to explore the upstream regulators for the transcription and post-translational modification of MYCN. Here, we report that BRCA1-associated protein-1 (BAP1) promotes deubiquitination and subsequent stabilization of MYCN by directly binding to MYCN protein. Furthermore, BAP1 knockdown inhibits NB tumor cells growth and migration in vitro and in vivo, which can be rescued partially by ectopic expression of MYCN. Importantly, depletion of BAP1 confers cellular resistance to bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) protein inhibitor JQ1 and Aurora A kinase inhibitor Alisertib. Furthermore, IHC results of NB tissue array confirmed the positive correlation between BAP1 and MYCN protein. Altogether, our work not only uncovers an oncogenic function of BAP1 by stabilizing MYCN, but also reveals a critical mechanism for the post-translational regulation of MYCN in NB. Our findings further indicate that BAP1 could be a potential therapeutic target for MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
| | - Xianling Cong
- Department of Dermatology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiangting Jin
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yu'e Liu
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xinyuan Fan
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiyao Shi
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaoying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yong-Guang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
- International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
| | - Xiangpeng Dai
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
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26
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Bogdanov K, Kudryavtseva E, Fomicheva Y, Churkina I, Lomaia E, Girshova L, Osipov Y, Zaritskey A. Shift of N-MYC Oncogene Expression in AML Patients Carrying the FLT3-ITD Mutation. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2023; 30:296-313. [PMID: 37606386 PMCID: PMC10443239 DOI: 10.3390/pathophysiology30030024] [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: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the FLT3 gene not only lead to abnormalities in its structure and function, but also affect the expression of other genes involved in leukemogenesis. This study evaluated the expression of genes that are more characteristic of neuroblastoma but less studied in leukemia. N-MYC oncogene expression was found to be more than 3-fold higher in primary AML patients carrying the FLT3-ITD mutation compared to carriers of other mutations as well as patients with normal karyotype (p = 0.03946). In contrast to the expression of several genes (C-MYC, SPT16, AURKA, AURKB) directly correlated to the allelic load of FLT3-ITD, the expression of the N-MYC oncogene is extremely weakly related or independent of it (p = 0.0405). Monitoring of N-MYC expression in some patients with high FLT3-ITD allelic load receiving therapy showed that a decrease in FLT3-ITD allelic load is not always accompanied by a decrease in N-MYC expression. On the contrary, N-MYC expression may remain elevated during the first three months after therapy, which is additional evidence of the emergence of resistance to therapy and progression of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin Bogdanov
- Almazov National Medical Research Centre, 2 Akkuratova Str., Saint Petersburg 197341, Russia; (E.K.); (Y.F.); (I.C.); (E.L.); (L.G.); (Y.O.); (A.Z.)
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27
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Hu J, Song F, Kang W, Xia F, Song Z, Wang Y, Li J, Zhao Q. Integrative analysis of multi-omics data for discovery of ferroptosis-related gene signature predicting immune activity in neuroblastoma. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1162563. [PMID: 37521469 PMCID: PMC10373597 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1162563] [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: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy for neuroblastoma remains unsatisfactory due to heterogeneity and weak immunogenicity. Exploring powerful signatures for the evaluation of immunotherapy outcomes remain the primary purpose. We constructed a ferroptosis-related gene (FRG) signature by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and Cox regression, identified 10 independent prognostic FRGs in a training cohort (GSE62564), and then verified them in an external validation cohort (TCGA). Associated with clinical factors, the signature accurately predicts overall survival of 3, 5, and 10 years. An independent prognostic nomogram, which included FRG risk, age, stage of the International Neuroblastoma Staging System, and an MYCN status, was constructed. The area under the curves showed satisfactory prognostic predicting performance. Through bulk RNA-seq and proteomics data, we revealed the relationship between hub genes and the key onco-promoter MYCN gene and then validated the results in MYCN-amplified and MYCN-non-amplified cell lines with qRT-PCR. The FRG signature significantly divided patients into high- and low-risk groups, and the differentially expressed genes between the two groups were enriched in immune actions, autophagy, and carcinogenesis behaviors. The low-risk group embodied higher positive immune component infiltration and a higher expression of immune checkpoints with a more favorable immune cytolytic activity (CYT). We verified the predictive power of this signature with data from melanoma patients undergoing immunotherapy, and the predictive power was satisfactory. Gene mutations were closely related to the signature and prognosis. AURKA and PRKAA2 were revealed to be nodal hub FRGs in the signature, and both were shown to have significantly different expressions between the INSS stage IV and other stages after immunohistochemical validation. With single-cell RNA-seq analysis, we found that genes related to T cells were enriched in TNFA signaling and interferon-γ hallmark. In conclusion, we constructed a ferroptosis-related gene signature that can predict the outcomes and work in evaluating the effects of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajian Hu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Fengju Song
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Wenjuan Kang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Fantong Xia
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Zi’an Song
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yangyang Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jie Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiang Zhao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
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28
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Fang J, Singh S, Cheng C, Natarajan S, Sheppard H, Abu-Zaid A, Durbin AD, Lee HW, Wu Q, Steele J, Connelly JP, Jin H, Chen W, Fan Y, Pruett-Miller SM, Rehg JE, Koo SC, Santiago T, Emmons J, Cairo S, Wang R, Glazer ES, Murphy AJ, Chen T, Davidoff AM, Armengol C, Easton J, Chen X, Yang J. Genome-wide mapping of cancer dependency genes and genetic modifiers of chemotherapy in high-risk hepatoblastoma. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4003. [PMID: 37414763 PMCID: PMC10326052 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39717-6] [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: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A lack of relevant genetic models and cell lines hampers our understanding of hepatoblastoma pathogenesis and the development of new therapies for this neoplasm. Here, we report an improved MYC-driven hepatoblastoma-like murine model that recapitulates the pathological features of embryonal type of hepatoblastoma, with transcriptomics resembling the high-risk gene signatures of the human disease. Single-cell RNA-sequencing and spatial transcriptomics identify distinct subpopulations of hepatoblastoma cells. After deriving cell lines from the mouse model, we map cancer dependency genes using CRISPR-Cas9 screening and identify druggable targets shared with human hepatoblastoma (e.g., CDK7, CDK9, PRMT1, PRMT5). Our screen also reveals oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in hepatoblastoma that engage multiple, druggable cancer signaling pathways. Chemotherapy is critical for human hepatoblastoma treatment. A genetic mapping of doxorubicin response by CRISPR-Cas9 screening identifies modifiers whose loss-of-function synergizes with (e.g., PRKDC) or antagonizes (e.g., apoptosis genes) the effect of chemotherapy. The combination of PRKDC inhibition and doxorubicin-based chemotherapy greatly enhances therapeutic efficacy. These studies provide a set of resources including disease models suitable for identifying and validating potential therapeutic targets in human high-risk hepatoblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Fang
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Shivendra Singh
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Changde Cheng
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sivaraman Natarajan
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Heather Sheppard
- Comparative Pathology Core, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Ahmed Abu-Zaid
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Adam D Durbin
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Ha Won Lee
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Qiong Wu
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jacob Steele
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering (CAGE), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jon P Connelly
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering (CAGE), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hongjian Jin
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Wenan Chen
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yiping Fan
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Shondra M Pruett-Miller
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering (CAGE), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jerold E Rehg
- Comparative Pathology Core, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Selene C Koo
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Teresa Santiago
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Joseph Emmons
- VPC Diagnostic Laboratory, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Stefano Cairo
- Champions Oncology, 1330 Piccard dr, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Ruoning Wang
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disease, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Evan S Glazer
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 910 Madison Ave., Suite 325, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Andrew J Murphy
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 910 Madison Ave., Suite 325, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Taosheng Chen
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Andrew M Davidoff
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 910 Madison Ave., Suite 325, Memphis, TN, USA
- St Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Carolina Armengol
- Childhood Liver Oncology Group, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Translational Program in Cancer Research (CARE), Badalona, Spain
- CIBER, Hepatic and Digestive Diseases, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERehd, Madrid, Spain
| | - John Easton
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
- St Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
- St Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
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Zhou Y, Yan H, Zhou Q, Wang P, Yang F, Yuan Z, Du Q, Zhai B. CCNB1IP1 prevents ubiquitination-mediated destabilization of MYCN and potentiates tumourigenesis of MYCN-amplificated neuroblastoma. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1328. [PMID: 37461251 PMCID: PMC10352605 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1328] [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: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND MYCN amplification as a common genetic alteration that correlates with a poor prognosis for neuroblastoma (NB) patients. However, given the challenge of directly targeting MYCN, indirect strategies to modulate MYCN by interfering with its cofactors are attractive in NB treatment. Although cyclin B1 interacting protein 1 (CCNB1IP1) has been found to be upregulated in MYCN-driven mouse NB tissues, its regulation with MYCN and collaboration in driving the biological behaviour of NB remains unknown. METHODS To evaluate the expression and clinical significance of CCNB1IP1 in NB patients, public datasets, clinical NB samples and cell lines were explored. MTT, EdU incorporation, colony and tumour sphere formation assays, and a mouse xenograft tumour model were utilized to examine the biological function of CCNB1IP1. The reciprocal manipulation of CCNB1IP1 and MYCN and the underlying mechanisms involved were investigated by gain- and loss-of-function approaches, dual-luciferase assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) experiments. RESULTS CCNB1IP1 was upregulated in MYCN-amplified (MYCN-AM) NB cell lines and patients-derived tumour tissues, which was associated with poor prognosis. Phenotypic studies revealed that CCNB1IP1 facilitated the proliferation and tumourigenicity of NB cells in cooperation with MYCN in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, MYCN directly mediates the transcription of CCNB1IP1, which in turn attenuated the ubiquitination and degradation of MYCN protein, thus enhancing CCNB1IP1-MYCN cooperativity. Moreover, CCNB1IP1 competed with F box/WD-40 domain protein 7 (FBXW7) for MYCN binding and enabled MYCN-mediated tumourigenesis in a C-terminal domain-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS Our study revealed a previously uncharacterized mechanism of CCNB1IP1-mediated MYCN protein stability and will provide new prospects for precise treatment of MYCN-AM NB based on MYCN-CCNB1IP1 interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhou
- Henan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Pediatric Diseases, Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hui Yan
- Henan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Pediatric Diseases, Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qiang Zhou
- Henan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Pediatric Diseases, Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Penggao Wang
- Henan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Pediatric Diseases, Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fang Yang
- Henan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Pediatric Diseases, Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ziqiao Yuan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qianming Du
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, P. R. China
- School of Basic Medicine & Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Bo Zhai
- Henan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Pediatric Diseases, Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolic Diseases, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
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Imamura J, Ganguly S, Muskara A, Liao RS, Nguyen JK, Weight C, Wee CE, Gupta S, Mian OY. Lineage plasticity and treatment resistance in prostate cancer: the intersection of genetics, epigenetics, and evolution. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1191311. [PMID: 37455903 PMCID: PMC10349394 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1191311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Androgen deprivation therapy is a cornerstone of treatment for advanced prostate cancer, and the development of castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is the primary cause of prostate cancer-related mortality. While CRPC typically develops through a gain in androgen receptor (AR) signaling, a subset of CRPC will lose reliance on the AR. This process involves genetic, epigenetic, and hormonal changes that promote cellular plasticity, leading to AR-indifferent disease, with neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) being the quintessential example. NEPC is enriched following treatment with second-generation anti-androgens and exhibits resistance to endocrine therapy. Loss of RB1, TP53, and PTEN expression and MYCN and AURKA amplification appear to be key drivers for NEPC differentiation. Epigenetic modifications also play an important role in the transition to a neuroendocrine phenotype. DNA methylation of specific gene promoters can regulate lineage commitment and differentiation. Histone methylation can suppress AR expression and promote neuroendocrine-specific gene expression. Emerging data suggest that EZH2 is a key regulator of this epigenetic rewiring. Several mechanisms drive AR-dependent castration resistance, notably AR splice variant expression, expression of the adrenal-permissive 3βHSD1 allele, and glucocorticoid receptor expression. Aberrant epigenetic regulation also promotes radioresistance by altering the expression of DNA repair- and cell cycle-related genes. Novel therapies are currently being developed to target these diverse genetic, epigenetic, and hormonal mechanisms promoting lineage plasticity-driven NEPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarrell Imamura
- Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Shinjini Ganguly
- Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Andrew Muskara
- Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Ross S. Liao
- Glickman Urologic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Jane K. Nguyen
- Glickman Urologic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Pathology, Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Christopher Weight
- Glickman Urologic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Christopher E. Wee
- Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Shilpa Gupta
- Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Omar Y. Mian
- Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
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31
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Zhang XW, Li JY, Li L, Hu WQ, Tao Y, Gao WY, Ye ZN, Jia HY, Wang JN, Miao XK, Yang WL, Wang R, Mou LY. Neurokinin-1 receptor drives PKCɑ-AURKA/N-Myc signaling to facilitate the neuroendocrine progression of prostate cancer. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:384. [PMID: 37385990 PMCID: PMC10310825 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05894-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
The widespread application of antiandrogen therapies has aroused a significant increase in the incidence of NEPC, a lethal form of the disease lacking efficient clinical treatments. Here we identified a cell surface receptor neurokinin-1 (NK1R) as a clinically relevant driver of treatment-related NEPC (tNEPC). NK1R expression increased in prostate cancer patients, particularly higher in metastatic prostate cancer and treatment-related NEPC, implying a relation with the progression from primary luminal adenocarcinoma toward NEPC. High NK1R level was clinically correlated with accelerated tumor recurrence and poor survival. Mechanical studies identified a regulatory element in the NK1R gene transcription ending region that was recognized by AR. AR inhibition enhanced the expression of NK1R, which mediated the PKCα-AURKA/N-Myc pathway in prostate cancer cells. Functional assays demonstrated that activation of NK1R promoted the NE transdifferentiation, cell proliferation, invasion, and enzalutamide resistance in prostate cancer cells. Targeting NK1R abrogated the NE transdifferentiation process and tumorigenicity in vitro and in vivo. These findings collectively characterized the role of NK1R in tNEPC progression and suggested NK1R as a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Wei Zhang
- School of Life Science Lanzhou University, 222 TianShui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
- Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Jing-Yi Li
- Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Departemnt of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of basic medical sciences, Fujian Medical University, 1 Xuefu North Road, Fuzhou, 350122, P. R. China
| | - Lin Li
- School of Life Science Lanzhou University, 222 TianShui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
- Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Qian Hu
- School of Life Science Lanzhou University, 222 TianShui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
- Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Yan Tao
- Key Laboratory of Urological Disease of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Wen-Yan Gao
- School of Life Science Lanzhou University, 222 TianShui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
- Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Zi-Nuo Ye
- School of Life Science Lanzhou University, 222 TianShui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
- Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Hao-Yuan Jia
- School of Life Science Lanzhou University, 222 TianShui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
- Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Jia-Nan Wang
- School of Life Science Lanzhou University, 222 TianShui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
- Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Kang Miao
- Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Le Yang
- Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Rui Wang
- Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China.
| | - Ling-Yun Mou
- School of Life Science Lanzhou University, 222 TianShui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China.
- Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China.
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D’Avola A, Kluckova K, Finch AJ, Riches JC. Spotlight on New Therapeutic Opportunities for MYC-Driven Cancers. Onco Targets Ther 2023; 16:371-383. [PMID: 37309471 PMCID: PMC10257908 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s366627] [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: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
MYC can be considered to be one of the most pressing and important targets for the development of novel anti-cancer therapies. This is due to its frequent dysregulation in tumors and due to the wide-ranging impact this dysregulation has on gene expression and cellular behavior. As a result, there have been numerous attempts to target MYC over the last few decades, both directly and indirectly, with mixed results. This article reviews the biology of MYC in the context of cancers and drug development. It discusses strategies aimed at targeting MYC directly, including those aimed at reducing its expression and blocking its function. In addition, the impact of MYC dysregulation on cellular biology is outlined, and how understanding this can underpin the development of approaches aimed at molecules and pathways regulated by MYC. In particular, the review focuses on the role that MYC plays in the regulation of metabolism, and the therapeutic avenues offered by inhibiting the metabolic pathways that are essential for the survival of MYC-transformed cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa D’Avola
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Katarina Kluckova
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Andrew J Finch
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - John C Riches
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
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33
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Saha G, Roy S, Basu M, Ghosh MK. USP7 - a crucial regulator of cancer hallmarks. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188903. [PMID: 37127084 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188903] [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: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Over the course of three decades of study, the deubiquitinase Herpesvirus associated Ubiquitin-Specific Protease/Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 7 (HAUSP/USP7) has gradually come to be recognized as a crucially important molecule in cellular physiology. The fact that USP7 is overexpressed in a number of cancers, including breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancers, supports the idea that USP7 is also an important regulator of tumorigenesis. In this review, we discuss USP7's function in relation to the cancer hallmarks described by Hanahan and Weinberg. This post-translational modifier can support increased proliferation, block unfavorable growth signals, stop cell death, and support an unstable cellular genome by manipulating key players in the pertinent signalling circuit. It is interesting to note that USP7 also aids in the stabilization of molecules that support angiogenesis and metastasis. Targeting USP7 has now emerged as a crucial component of USP7 research because pharmacological inhibition of USP7 supports p53-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Efficacious USP7 inhibition is currently being investigated in both synthetic and natural compounds, but issues with selectivity and a lack of co-crystal structure have hindered USP7 inhibition from being tested in clinical settings. Moreover, the development of new, more effective USP7 inhibitors and their encouraging implications by numerous groups give us a glimmer of hope for USP7-targeting medications as effective substitutes for hazardous cancer chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gouranga Saha
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB), TRUE Campus, CN-6, Sector-V, Salt Lake, Kolkata-700091 & 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, PIN - 700032, India
| | - Srija Roy
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB), TRUE Campus, CN-6, Sector-V, Salt Lake, Kolkata-700091 & 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, PIN - 700032, India
| | - Malini Basu
- Department of Microbiology, Dhruba Chand Halder College, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, PIN - 743372, India
| | - Mrinal K Ghosh
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB), TRUE Campus, CN-6, Sector-V, Salt Lake, Kolkata-700091 & 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, PIN - 700032, India.
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Roy P, Singh KP. Epigenetic mechanism of therapeutic resistance and potential of epigenetic therapeutics in chemorefractory prostate cancer. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 380:173-210. [PMID: 37657858 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2023.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. Depending upon the histopathological subtypes of prostate cancers, various therapeutic options, such as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSI), immunotherapy, and chemotherapy, are available to treat prostate cancer. While these therapeutics are effective in the initial stages during treatments, the tumors subsequently develop resistance to these therapies. Despite all the progress made so far, therapeutic resistance remains a major challenge in the treatment of prostate cancer. Although various mechanisms have been reported for the resistance development in prostate cancer, altered expression of genes either directly or indirectly involved in drug response pathways is a common event. In addition to the genetic basis of gene regulation such as mutations and gene amplifications, epigenetic alterations involved in the aberrant expression of genes have frequently been shown to be associated not only with cancer initiation and progression but also with therapeutic resistance development. There are several review articles compiling reports on genetic mechanisms involved in therapeutic resistance in prostate cancer. However, epigenetic mechanisms for the therapeutic resistance development in prostate cancer have not yet been summarized in a review article. Therefore, the objective of this article is to compile various reports and provide a comprehensive review of the epigenetic aberrations, and aberrant expression of genes by epigenetic mechanisms involved in CRPCs and therapeutic resistance development in prostate cancer. Additionally, the potential of epigenetic-based therapeutics in the treatment of chemorefractory prostate cancer as evidenced by clinical trials has also been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priti Roy
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Kamaleshwar P Singh
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States.
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GEWALT TABEA, NOH KAWON, MEDER LYDIA. The role of LIN28B in tumor progression and metastasis in solid tumor entities. Oncol Res 2023; 31:101-115. [PMID: 37304235 PMCID: PMC10208000 DOI: 10.32604/or.2023.028105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
LIN28B is an RNA-binding protein that targets a broad range of microRNAs and modulates their maturation and activity. Under normal conditions, LIN28B is exclusively expressed in embryogenic stem cells, blocking differentiation and promoting proliferation. In addition, it can play a role in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by repressing the biogenesis of let-7 microRNAs. In malignancies, LIN28B is frequently overexpressed, which is associated with increased tumor aggressiveness and metastatic properties. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of LIN28B in promoting tumor progression and metastasis in solid tumor entities and its potential use as a clinical therapeutic target and biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- TABEA GEWALT
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - KA-WON NOH
- Institute for Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - LYDIA MEDER
- Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Mildred Scheel School of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Wang D, Yin Z, Wang H, Wang L, Li T, Xiao R, Xie T, Han R, Dong R, Liu H, Liang K, Qing G. The super elongation complex drives transcriptional addiction in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf0005. [PMID: 36989355 PMCID: PMC10058231 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
MYCN amplification in neuroblastoma leads to aberrant expression of MYCN oncoprotein, which binds active genes promoting transcriptional amplification. Yet, how MYCN coordinates transcription elongation to meet productive transcriptional amplification and which elongation machinery represents MYCN-driven vulnerability remain to be identified. We conducted a targeted screen of transcription elongation factors and identified the super elongation complex (SEC) as a unique vulnerability in MYCN-amplified neuroblastomas. MYCN directly binds EAF1 and recruits SEC to enhance processive transcription elongation. Depletion of EAF1 or AFF1/AFF4, another core subunit of SEC, leads to a global reduction in transcription elongation and elicits selective apoptosis of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cells. A combination screen reveals SEC inhibition synergistically potentiates the therapeutic efficacies of FDA-approved BCL-2 antagonist ABT-199, in part due to suppression of MCL1 expression, both in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cells and in patient-derived xenografts. These findings identify disruption of the MYCN-SEC regulatory axis as a promising therapeutic strategy in neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghai Wang
- Department of Urology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zhinang Yin
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Honghong Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Liyuan Wang
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Tianyu Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Ruijing Xiao
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Ting Xie
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Ruyi Han
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Rui Dong
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Hudan Liu
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Kaiwei Liang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Guoliang Qing
- Department of Urology, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
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Xu M, Sun M, Zhang X, Nguyen R, Lei H, Shern JF, Thiele CJ, Liu Z. HAND2 Assists MYCN Enhancer Invasion to Regulate a Noradrenergic Neuroblastoma Phenotype. Cancer Res 2023; 83:686-699. [PMID: 36598365 PMCID: PMC10240397 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-2042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Noradrenergic neuroblastoma is characterized by a core transcriptional regulatory circuitry (CRC) comprised of transcription factors (TF) such as PHOX2B, HAND2, and GATA3, which form a network with MYCN. At normal physiologic levels, MYCN mainly binds to promoters but when aberrantly upregulated as in neuroblastoma, MYCN also binds to enhancers. Here, we investigated how MYCN invades enhancers and whether CRC TFs play a role in this process. HAND2 was found to regulate chromatin accessibility and to assist MYCN binding to enhancers. Moreover, HAND2 cooperated with MYCN to compete with nucleosomes to regulate global gene transcription. The cooperative interaction between MYCN and HAND2 could be targeted with an Aurora A kinase inhibitor plus a histone deacetylase inhibitor, resulting in potent downregulation of both MYCN and the CRC TFs and suppression of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma tumor growth. This study identifies cooperation between MYCN and HAND2 in neuroblastoma and demonstrates that simultaneously targeting MYCN and CRC TFs is an effective way to treat this aggressive pediatric tumor. SIGNIFICANCE HAND2 and MYCN compete with nucleosomes to regulate global gene transcription and to drive a malignant neuroblastoma phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Xu
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ming Sun
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Xiyuan Zhang
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Rosa Nguyen
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Haiyan Lei
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jack F. Shern
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Carol J. Thiele
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Zhihui Liu
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
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When Just One Phosphate Is One Too Many: The Multifaceted Interplay between Myc and Kinases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054746. [PMID: 36902175 PMCID: PMC10003727 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Myc transcription factors are key regulators of many cellular processes, with Myc target genes crucially implicated in the management of cell proliferation and stem pluripotency, energy metabolism, protein synthesis, angiogenesis, DNA damage response, and apoptosis. Given the wide involvement of Myc in cellular dynamics, it is not surprising that its overexpression is frequently associated with cancer. Noteworthy, in cancer cells where high Myc levels are maintained, the overexpression of Myc-associated kinases is often observed and required to foster tumour cells' proliferation. A mutual interplay exists between Myc and kinases: the latter, which are Myc transcriptional targets, phosphorylate Myc, allowing its transcriptional activity, highlighting a clear regulatory loop. At the protein level, Myc activity and turnover is also tightly regulated by kinases, with a finely tuned balance between translation and rapid protein degradation. In this perspective, we focus on the cross-regulation of Myc and its associated protein kinases underlying similar and redundant mechanisms of regulation at different levels, from transcriptional to post-translational events. Furthermore, a review of the indirect effects of known kinase inhibitors on Myc provides an opportunity to identify alternative and combined therapeutic approaches for cancer treatment.
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Fan Y, Luo F, Su M, Li Q, Zhong T, Xiong L, Li M, Yuan M, Wang D. Structure optimization, synthesis, and biological evaluation of 6-(2-amino-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-6-yl)-quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives as potential multi-targeted anticancer agents via Aurora A/ PI3K/BRD4 inhibition. Bioorg Chem 2023; 132:106352. [PMID: 36682147 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Aurora A (Aurora kinase A), a critical regulator of cell mitosis, is frequently overexpressed in many malignant cancers, and has been considered as a promising drug target for cancer therapy. Likewise, Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase alpha (PI3Kα) is also regarded as one of the most important targets in cancer therapy by mediating the cell growth and angiogenesis of various human cancers. In addition, Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) modulates oncogene expressions of Myc, Aurora kinase and various RTKs. Recently, accumulating evidences indicated that hyperactivated or abnormally expressed Aurora A, PI3Kα or BRD4 are closely associated with drug resistance and poor prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Hence, simultaneous inhibition of Aurora A, PI3Kα, and BRD4 is expected to be a new strategy for NSCLC therapy. In this study, we performed further structure optimization of 6-(2-amino-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-6-yl)-quinazolin-4(3H) -one based on previous study to obtain a series of derivatives for discovering potential Aurora A, PI3Kα and BRD4 multi-targeted inhibitors. MTT assay showed that most of the newly synthesized compounds exhibited an evident anticancer activity against the NSCLC cells. Among them, the IC50 values of the most potent compound 9a were 0.83, 0.26 and 1.02 μM against A549, HCC827 and H1975 cells, respectively. In addition, 9a markedly inhibited the Aurora A and PI3Kα kinase activities with IC50 values of 10.19 nM and 13.12 nM. Compound 9a induced G2/M phase arrests and apoptosis of HCC827 cells by simultaneous inhibition of Aurora A/PI3K/ BRD4 signaling pathways. Collectively, our studies suggested that 9a might be a potential multi-targeted inhibitor for NSCLC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhua Fan
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Fang Luo
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550014, China.
| | - Mingzhi Su
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Ting Zhong
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Liang Xiong
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Mei Li
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Meitao Yuan
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Daoping Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China; The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550014, China
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Cheng C, He T, Chen K, Cai Y, Gu Y, Pan L, Duan P, Wu Y, Wu Z. P300 Interacted With N-Myc and Regulated Its Protein Stability via Altering Its Post-Translational Modifications in Neuroblastoma. Mol Cell Proteomics 2023; 22:100504. [PMID: 36708875 PMCID: PMC9984901 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
MYCN amplification is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in neuroblastoma (NB), but its protein product cannot be directly targeted because of protein structure. Thus, this study aimed to explore novel ways to indirectly target N-Myc by regulating its post-translational modifications (PTMs) and therefore protein stability. N-Myc coimmunoprecipitation combined with HPLC-MS/MS identified 16 PTM residues and 114 potential N-Myc-interacting proteins. Notably, both acetylation and ubiquitination were identified on lysine 199 of N-Myc. We then discovered that p300, which can interact with N-Myc, modulated the protein stability of N-Myc in MYCN-amplified NB cell lines and simultaneously regulated the acetylation level and ubiquitination level on lysine-199 of N-Myc protein in vitro. Furthermore, p300 correlated with poor prognosis in NB patients. Taken together, p300 can be considered as a potential therapeutic target to treat MYCN-amplified NB patients, and other identified PTMs and interacting proteins also provide potential targets for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Cheng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Tian He
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanxia Cai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaoyao Gu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Lijia Pan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Peiwen Duan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Yeming Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China; Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
| | - Zhixiang Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China; Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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RUNX3 Meets the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System in Cancer. Cells 2023; 12:cells12050717. [PMID: 36899853 PMCID: PMC10001085 DOI: 10.3390/cells12050717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
RUNX3 is a transcription factor with regulatory roles in cell proliferation and development. While largely characterized as a tumor suppressor, RUNX3 can also be oncogenic in certain cancers. Many factors account for the tumor suppressor function of RUNX3, which is reflected by its ability to suppress cancer cell proliferation after expression-restoration, and its inactivation in cancer cells. Ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation represent a major mechanism for the inactivation of RUNX3 and the suppression of cancer cell proliferation. On the one hand, RUNX3 has been shown to facilitate the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of oncogenic proteins. On the other hand, RUNX3 can be inactivated through the ubiquitin-proteasome system. This review encapsulates two facets of RUNX3 in cancer: how RUNX3 suppresses cell proliferation by facilitating the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of oncogenic proteins, and how RUNX3 is degraded itself through interacting RNA-, protein-, and pathogen-mediated ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation.
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Lee IG, Lee BJ. Aurora Kinase A Regulation by Cysteine Oxidative Modification. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12020531. [PMID: 36830089 PMCID: PMC9952272 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12020531] [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: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Aurora kinase A (AURKA), which is a member of serine/threonine kinase family, plays a critical role in regulating mitosis. AURKA has drawn much attention as its dysregulation is critically associated with various cancers, leading to the development of AURKA inhibitors, a new class of anticancer drugs. As the spatiotemporal activity of AURKA critically depends on diverse intra- and inter-molecular factors, including its interaction with various protein cofactors and post-translational modifications, each of these pathways should be exploited for the development of a novel class of AURKA inhibitors other than ATP-competitive inhibitors. Several lines of evidence have recently shown that redox-active molecules can modify the cysteine residues located on the kinase domain of AURKA, thereby regulating its activity. In this review, we present the current understanding of how oxidative modifications of cysteine residues of AURKA, induced by redox-active molecules, structurally and functionally regulate AURKA and discuss their implications in the discovery of novel AURKA inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- In-Gyun Lee
- Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong-Jin Lee
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence:
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Candido MF, Medeiros M, Veronez LC, Bastos D, Oliveira KL, Pezuk JA, Valera ET, Brassesco MS. Drugging Hijacked Kinase Pathways in Pediatric Oncology: Opportunities and Current Scenario. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15020664. [PMID: 36839989 PMCID: PMC9966033 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020664] [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: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Childhood cancer is considered rare, corresponding to ~3% of all malignant neoplasms in the human population. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports a universal occurrence of more than 15 cases per 100,000 inhabitants around the globe, and despite improvements in diagnosis, treatment and supportive care, one child dies of cancer every 3 min. Consequently, more efficient, selective and affordable therapeutics are still needed in order to improve outcomes and avoid long-term sequelae. Alterations in kinases' functionality is a trademark of cancer and the concept of exploiting them as drug targets has burgeoned in academia and in the pharmaceutical industry of the 21st century. Consequently, an increasing plethora of inhibitors has emerged. In the present study, the expression patterns of a selected group of kinases (including tyrosine receptors, members of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK pathways, coordinators of cell cycle progression, and chromosome segregation) and their correlation with clinical outcomes in pediatric solid tumors were accessed through the R2: Genomics Analysis and Visualization Platform and by a thorough search of published literature. To further illustrate the importance of kinase dysregulation in the pathophysiology of pediatric cancer, we analyzed the vulnerability of different cancer cell lines against their inhibition through the Cancer Dependency Map portal, and performed a search for kinase-targeted compounds with approval and clinical applicability through the CanSAR knowledgebase. Finally, we provide a detailed literature review of a considerable set of small molecules that mitigate kinase activity under experimental testing and clinical trials for the treatment of pediatric tumors, while discuss critical challenges that must be overcome before translation into clinical options, including the absence of compounds designed specifically for childhood tumors which often show differential mutational burdens, intrinsic and acquired resistance, lack of selectivity and adverse effects on a growing organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Ferreira Candido
- Department of Cell Biology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Mariana Medeiros
- Regional Blood Center, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Luciana Chain Veronez
- Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil
| | - David Bastos
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-901, SP, Brazil
| | - Karla Laissa Oliveira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-901, SP, Brazil
| | - Julia Alejandra Pezuk
- Departament of Biotechnology and Innovation, Anhanguera University of São Paulo, UNIAN/SP, São Paulo 04119-001, SP, Brazil
| | - Elvis Terci Valera
- Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil
| | - María Sol Brassesco
- Departament of Biotechnology and Innovation, Anhanguera University of São Paulo, UNIAN/SP, São Paulo 04119-001, SP, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-16-3315-9144; Fax: +55-16-3315-4886
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Karadkhelkar NM, Lin M, Eubanks LM, Janda KD. Demystifying the Druggability of the MYC Family of Oncogenes. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:3259-3269. [PMID: 36734615 PMCID: PMC10182829 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c12732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The MYC family of oncogenes (MYC, MYCN, and MYCL) encodes a basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper (bHLHLZ) transcriptional regulator that is responsible for moving the cell through the restriction point. Through the HLHZIP domain, MYC heterodimerizes with the bHLHLZ protein MAX, which enables this MYC-MAX complex to bind to E-box regulatory DNA elements thereby controlling transcription of a large group of genes and their proteins. Translationally, MYC is one of the foremost oncogenic targets, and deregulation of expression of the MYC family gene/proteins occurs in over half of all human tumors and is recognized as a hallmark of cancer initiation and maintenance. Additionally, unexpected roles for this oncoprotein have been found in cancers that nominally have a non-MYC etiology. Although MYC is rarely mutated, its gain of function in cancer results from overexpression or from amplification. Moreover, MYC is a pleiotropic transcription factor possessing broad pathogenic prominence making it a coveted cancer target. A widely held notion within the biomedical research community is that the reliable modulation of MYC represents a tremendous therapeutic opportunity given its role in directly potentiating oncogenesis. However, the MYC-MAX heterodimer interaction contains a large surface area with a lack of well-defined binding sites creating the perception that targeting of MYC-MAX is forbidding. Here, we discuss the biochemistry behind MYC and MYC-MAX as it relates to cancer progression associated with these transcription factors. We also discuss the notion that MYC should no longer be regarded as undruggable, providing examples that a therapeutic window is achievable despite global MYC inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishant M. Karadkhelkar
- Departments of Chemistry and Immunology, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, Worm Institute of Research and Medicine (WIRM), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Mingliang Lin
- Departments of Chemistry and Immunology, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, Worm Institute of Research and Medicine (WIRM), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Lisa M. Eubanks
- Departments of Chemistry and Immunology, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, Worm Institute of Research and Medicine (WIRM), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Kim D. Janda
- Departments of Chemistry and Immunology, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, Worm Institute of Research and Medicine (WIRM), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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Zhao M, Gu W, Liu F, Yu L, Shu Y, Liu L, Hu J, Liu Y, Tang H, Mao J. Prominent Staining of MYCN Immunohistochemistry Predicts a Poor Prognosis in MYCN Non-Amplified Neuroblastoma. Pediatr Dev Pathol 2023; 26:124-132. [PMID: 36775958 DOI: 10.1177/10935266231151316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND MYCN gene amplification is a powerful indicator of poor prognosis of neuroblastoma patients. However, MYCN non-amplified patients still showed heterogeneity in survival outcome. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic role of MYCN immunohistochemistry (IHC) in pre-treatment and post-treatment neuroblastoma tumors. METHODS 215 untreated neuroblastoma tumors were stained with anti-MYCN antibody by immunohistochemical staining. 22 post-treatment tumors were used to compare MYCN staining with paired pre-treatment samples. Results were analyzed with other prognostic indicators. RESULTS Moderate or strong expression of MYCN was associated with unfavorable survival outcomes (P < .001). Prominent staining of MYCN IHC was 95% sensitive and 95% specific for the presence of MYCN gene amplification in this study. Ten of 214 (5%) patients showed prominent MYCN staining but MYCN non-amplification, and had a poor prognosis (29.6 ± 16.4%, 5-year overall survival). Most of cases (7/11, 64%) with high or moderate MYCN expression before chemotherapy showed lower expression in their tumors after chemotherapy. CONCLUSION MYCN protein overexpression was not only a sensitive and specific marker for MYCN gene amplification, but also a marker of poor prognosis in patients without MYCN amplification. However, MYCN protein expression was not always consistent before and after treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manli Zhao
- Department of Pathology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weizhong Gu
- Department of Pathology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Nephrology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lihua Yu
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan Shu
- Department of Pathology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Pathology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiahui Hu
- Department of Pathology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Pathology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hongfeng Tang
- Department of Pathology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianhua Mao
- Department of Nephrology, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Rishfi M, Krols S, Martens F, Bekaert SL, Sanders E, Eggermont A, De Vloed F, Goulding JR, Risseeuw M, Molenaar J, De Wilde B, Van Calenbergh S, Durinck K. Targeted AURKA degradation: Towards new therapeutic agents for neuroblastoma. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 247:115033. [PMID: 36549117 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.115033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Aurora kinase A (AURKA) is a well-established target in neuroblastoma (NB) due to both its catalytic functions during mitosis and its kinase-independent functions, including stabilization of the key oncoprotein MYCN. We present a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study of MK-5108-derived PROTACs against AURKA by exploring different linker lengths and exit vectors on the thalidomide moiety. PROTAC SK2188 induces the most potent AURKA degradation (DC50,24h 3.9 nM, Dmax,24h 89%) and shows an excellent binding and degradation selectivity profile. Treatment of NGP neuroblastoma cells with SK2188 induced concomitant MYCN degradation, high replication stress/DNA damage levels and apoptosis. Moreover, SK2188 significantly outperforms the parent inhibitor MK-5108 in a cell proliferation screen and patient-derived organoids. Furthermore, altering the attachment point of the PEG linker to the 5-position of thalidomide allowed us to identify a potent AURKA degrader with a linker as short as 2 PEG units. With this, our SAR-study provides interesting lead structures for further optimization and validation of AURKA degradation as a potential therapeutic strategy in neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Rishfi
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Simon Krols
- Laboratory for medicinal chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Fien Martens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah-Lee Bekaert
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ellen Sanders
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Aline Eggermont
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Fanny De Vloed
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joshua Robert Goulding
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Martijn Risseeuw
- Laboratory for medicinal chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jan Molenaar
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Bram De Wilde
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium; Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Serge Van Calenbergh
- Laboratory for medicinal chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Kaat Durinck
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium.
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47
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Chen J, Shi M, Chuen Choi SY, Wang Y, Lin D, Zeng H, Wang Y. Genomic alterations in neuroendocrine prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. BJUI COMPASS 2023; 4:256-265. [PMID: 37025467 PMCID: PMC10071089 DOI: 10.1002/bco2.212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is a lethal subtype of prostate cancer. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the prevalence of genomic alterations in NEPC and better understand its molecular features to potentially inform precision medicine. Methods EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched for eligible studies until March 2022. Study qualities were assessed using the Q-genie tool. The prevalence of gene mutations and copy number alterations (CNAs) were extracted, and meta-analysis was performed using R Studio with meta package. Results A total of 14 studies with 449 NEPC patients were included in this meta-analysis. The most frequently mutated gene in NEPC was TP53 (49.8%), and the prevalence of deleterious mutations in ATM/BRCA was 16.8%. Common CNAs in NEPC included RB1 loss (58.3%), TP53 loss (42.8%), PTEN loss (37.0%), AURKA amplification (28.2%), and MYCN amplification (22.9%). RB1/TP53 alterations and concurrent RB1 and TP53 alterations were remarkably common in NEPC, with a prevalence of 83.8% and 43.9%, respectively. Comparative analyses indicated that the prevalence of (concurrent) RB1/TP53 alterations was significantly higher in de novo NEPC than in treatment-emergent NEPC (t-NEPC). Conclusions This study presents the comprehensive prevalence of common genomic alterations and potentially actionable targets in NEPC and reveals the genomic differences between de novo NEPC and t-NEPC. Our findings highlight the importance of genomic testing in patients for precision medicine and provide insights into future studies exploring different NEPC subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junru Chen
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan China
- Vancouver Prostate Centre Vancouver BC Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics BC Cancer Agency Vancouver BC Canada
| | - Mingchen Shi
- Vancouver Prostate Centre Vancouver BC Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics BC Cancer Agency Vancouver BC Canada
| | - Stephen Yiu Chuen Choi
- Vancouver Prostate Centre Vancouver BC Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics BC Cancer Agency Vancouver BC Canada
| | - Yu Wang
- Vancouver Prostate Centre Vancouver BC Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics BC Cancer Agency Vancouver BC Canada
| | - Dong Lin
- Vancouver Prostate Centre Vancouver BC Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics BC Cancer Agency Vancouver BC Canada
| | - Hao Zeng
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Yuzhuo Wang
- Vancouver Prostate Centre Vancouver BC Canada
- Department of Urologic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics BC Cancer Agency Vancouver BC Canada
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Diebold M, Schönemann L, Eilers M, Sotriffer C, Schindelin H. Crystal structure of a covalently linked Aurora-A-MYCN complex. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2023; 79:1-9. [PMID: 36601802 PMCID: PMC9815099 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798322011433] [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: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Formation of the Aurora-A-MYCN complex increases levels of the oncogenic transcription factor MYCN in neuroblastoma cells by abrogating its degradation through the ubiquitin proteasome system. While some small-molecule inhibitors of Aurora-A were shown to destabilize MYCN, clinical trials have not been satisfactory to date. MYCN itself is considered to be `undruggable' due to its large intrinsically disordered regions. Targeting the Aurora-A-MYCN complex rather than Aurora-A or MYCN alone will open new possibilities for drug development and screening campaigns. To overcome the challenges that a ternary system composed of Aurora-A, MYCN and a small molecule entails, a covalently cross-linked construct of the Aurora-A-MYCN complex was designed, expressed and characterized, thus enabling screening and design campaigns to identify selective binders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Diebold
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lars Schönemann
- Institute of Structural Biology, Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Würzburg, Haus D15, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Eilers
- Theodor-Boveri-Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany,Correspondence e-mail: , ,
| | - Christoph Sotriffer
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany,Correspondence e-mail: , ,
| | - Hermann Schindelin
- Institute of Structural Biology, Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Würzburg, Haus D15, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany,Correspondence e-mail: , ,
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Swamy P M G, Abbas N, Dhiwar PS, Singh E, Ghara A, Das A. Discovery of potential Aurora-A kinase inhibitors by 3D QSAR pharmacophore modeling, virtual screening, docking, and MD simulation studies. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:125-146. [PMID: 34809538 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.2004236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The Aurora-kinase family comprises of cell cycle-regulated serine/threonine kinases playing a vital role during mitosis. Aurora-A kinase is involved in multiple mitotic events in cell cycle and is a major regulator of centrosome function during mitosis. Aurora-A is overexpressed in breast, lung, colon, ovarian, glial, and pancreatic cancer. Hence, Aurora-A kinase is a promising target in cancer therapy. In our current study, a four-point 3D QSAR pharmacophore model has been generated using substituted pyrimidine class of Aurora-A kinase inhibitors. It had a fixed cost value 88.7429. The model mapped well to the external test set comprising of clinically active molecules, with a correlation coefficient r = 0.99. From the mapping, it was found that the hydrophobic features (HY) of a molecule play an important role for Aurora-A kinase inhibitory activity, whereas the ring aromatic feature provides geometric constraint for spatial alignment of different functional group. The hypothesis, with one hydrogen bond acceptor, two ring aromatic features, and one hydrophobic feature, was selected to screen miniMaybridge database. The screened ligands were filtered on the basis of activity, shape, and drug likeliness. This led to the identification of five top hits. These identified potential leads were further subjected to docking with the ATP-binding site of Aurora-A kinase. The molecular dynamic simulation studies of top lead molecules having diverse scaffolds endorsed that the identified molecules had distinctive ability to inhibit Aurora-A kinase. Thus, this study may facilitate the medicinal chemists to design promising ligands with various scaffolds to inhibit Aurora-A kinase. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurubasavaraja Swamy P M
- Integrated drug discovery center, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Acharya & BM Reddy College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru, India
| | - Nahid Abbas
- Integrated drug discovery center, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Acharya & BM Reddy College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru, India
| | - Prasad Sanjay Dhiwar
- Integrated drug discovery center, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Acharya & BM Reddy College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru, India
| | - Ekta Singh
- Integrated drug discovery center, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Acharya & BM Reddy College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru, India
| | - Abhishek Ghara
- Integrated drug discovery center, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Acharya & BM Reddy College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru, India
| | - Arka Das
- Integrated drug discovery center, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Acharya & BM Reddy College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru, India
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Deciphering the Role of p53 and TAp73 in Neuroblastoma: From Pathogenesis to Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14246212. [PMID: 36551697 PMCID: PMC9777536 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246212] [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: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is an embryonic cancer that develops from neural crest stem cells, being one of the most common malignancies in children. The clinical manifestation of this disease is highly variable, ranging from spontaneous regression to increased aggressiveness, which makes it a major therapeutic challenge in pediatric oncology. The p53 family proteins p53 and TAp73 play a key role in protecting cells against genomic instability and malignant transformation. However, in NB, their activities are commonly inhibited by interacting proteins such as murine double minute (MDM)2 and MDMX, mutant p53, ΔNp73, Itch, and Aurora kinase A. The interplay between the p53/TAp73 pathway and N-MYC, a known biomarker of poor prognosis and drug resistance in NB, also proves to be decisive in the pathogenesis of this tumor. More recently, a strong crosstalk between microRNAs (miRNAs) and p53/TAp73 has been established, which has been the focused of great attention because of its potential for developing new therapeutic strategies. Collectively, this review provides an updated overview about the critical role of the p53/TAp73 pathway in the pathogenesis of NB, highlighting encouraging clues for the advance of alternative NB targeted therapies.
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