1
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Brandner S. Rodent models of tumours of the central nervous system. Mol Oncol 2024. [PMID: 39324445 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13729] [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: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Modelling of human diseases is an essential component of biomedical research, to understand their pathogenesis and ultimately, develop therapeutic approaches. Here, we will describe models of tumours of the central nervous system, with focus on intrinsic CNS tumours. Model systems for brain tumours were established as early as the 1920s, using chemical carcinogenesis, and a systematic analysis of different carcinogens, with a more refined histological analysis followed in the 1950s and 1960s. Alternative approaches at the time used retroviral carcinogenesis, allowing a more topical, organ-centred delivery. Most of the neoplasms arising from this approach were high-grade gliomas. Whilst these experimental approaches did not directly demonstrate a cell of origin, the localisation and growth pattern of the tumours already pointed to an origin in the neurogenic zones of the brain. In the 1980s, expression of oncogenes in transgenic models allowed a more targeted approach by expressing the transgene under tissue-specific promoters, whilst the constitutive inactivation of tumour suppressor genes ('knock out')-often resulted in embryonic lethality. This limitation was elegantly solved by engineering the Cre-lox system, allowing for a promoter-specific, and often also time-controlled gene inactivation. More recently, the use of the CRISPR Cas9 technology has significantly increased experimental flexibility of gene expression or gene inactivation and thus added increased value of rodent models for the study of pathogenesis and establishing preclinical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Brandner
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and Division of Neuropathology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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2
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Shiraishi R, Cancila G, Kumegawa K, Torrejon J, Basili I, Bernardi F, Silva PBGD, Wang W, Chapman O, Yang L, Jami M, Nishitani K, Arai Y, Xiao Z, Yu H, Lo Re V, Marsaud V, Talbot J, Lombard B, Loew D, Jingu M, Okonechnikov K, Sone M, Motohashi N, Aoki Y, Pfister SM, Chavez L, Hoshino M, Maruyama R, Ayrault O, Kawauchi D. Cancer-specific epigenome identifies oncogenic hijacking by nuclear factor I family proteins for medulloblastoma progression. Dev Cell 2024; 59:2302-2319.e12. [PMID: 38834071 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.05.013] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Normal cells coordinate proliferation and differentiation by precise tuning of gene expression based on the dynamic shifts of the epigenome throughout the developmental timeline. Although non-mutational epigenetic reprogramming is an emerging hallmark of cancer, the epigenomic shifts that occur during the transition from normal to malignant cells remain elusive. Here, we capture the epigenomic changes that occur during tumorigenesis in a prototypic embryonal brain tumor, medulloblastoma. By comparing the epigenomes of the different stages of transforming cells in mice, we identify nuclear factor I family of transcription factors, known to be cell fate determinants in development, as oncogenic regulators in the epigenomes of precancerous and cancerous cells. Furthermore, genetic and pharmacological inhibition of NFIB validated a crucial role of this transcription factor by disrupting the cancer epigenome in medulloblastoma. Thus, this study exemplifies how epigenomic changes contribute to tumorigenesis via non-mutational mechanisms involving developmental transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Shiraishi
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Gabriele Cancila
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR, INSERM, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR 3347, INSERM U1021, Orsay 91400, France
| | - Kohei Kumegawa
- Cancer Cell Diversity Project, NEXT-Ganken Program, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan
| | - Jacob Torrejon
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR, INSERM, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR 3347, INSERM U1021, Orsay 91400, France
| | - Irene Basili
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR, INSERM, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR 3347, INSERM U1021, Orsay 91400, France
| | - Flavia Bernardi
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR, INSERM, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR 3347, INSERM U1021, Orsay 91400, France
| | - Patricia Benites Goncalves da Silva
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Wanchen Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Owen Chapman
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Liying Yang
- Project for Cancer Epigenomics, Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan
| | - Maki Jami
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Kayo Nishitani
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Yukimi Arai
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Zhize Xiao
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Hua Yu
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR, INSERM, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR 3347, INSERM U1021, Orsay 91400, France
| | - Valentina Lo Re
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR, INSERM, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR 3347, INSERM U1021, Orsay 91400, France
| | - Véronique Marsaud
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR, INSERM, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR 3347, INSERM U1021, Orsay 91400, France
| | - Julie Talbot
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR, INSERM, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR 3347, INSERM U1021, Orsay 91400, France
| | - Bérangère Lombard
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CurieCoreTech Mass Spectrometry Proteomics, Paris 75005, France
| | - Damarys Loew
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CurieCoreTech Mass Spectrometry Proteomics, Paris 75005, France
| | - Maho Jingu
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan; Department of Biomolecular Science, Graduate School of Science, Toho University, Chiba 274-8510, Japan
| | - Konstantin Okonechnikov
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Masaki Sone
- Department of Biomolecular Science, Graduate School of Science, Toho University, Chiba 274-8510, Japan
| | - Norio Motohashi
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Yoshitsugu Aoki
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Lukas Chavez
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Mikio Hoshino
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan
| | - Reo Maruyama
- Cancer Cell Diversity Project, NEXT-Ganken Program, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan; Project for Cancer Epigenomics, Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan.
| | - Olivier Ayrault
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR, INSERM, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR 3347, INSERM U1021, Orsay 91400, France.
| | - Daisuke Kawauchi
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo 187-8502, Japan.
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3
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Arnskötter F, da Silva PBG, Schouw ME, Lukasch C, Bianchini L, Sieber L, Garcia-Lopez J, Ahmad ST, Li Y, Lin H, Joshi P, Spänig L, Radoš M, Roiuk M, Sepp M, Zuckermann M, Northcott PA, Patrizi A, Kutscher LM. Loss of Elp1 in cerebellar granule cell progenitors models ataxia phenotype of Familial Dysautonomia. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 199:106600. [PMID: 38996985 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Familial Dysautonomia (FD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a splice site mutation in the gene ELP1, which disproportionally affects neurons. While classically characterized by deficits in sensory and autonomic neurons, neuronal defects in the central nervous system have also been described. Although ELP1 expression remains high in the normal developing and adult cerebellum, its role in cerebellar development is unknown. To explore the role of Elp1 in the cerebellum, we knocked out Elp1 in cerebellar granule cell progenitors (GCPs) and examined the outcome on animal behavior and cellular composition. We found that GCP-specific conditional knockout of Elp1 (Elp1cKO) resulted in ataxia by 8 weeks of age. Cellular characterization showed that the animals had smaller cerebella with fewer granule cells. This defect was already apparent as early as 7 days after birth, when Elp1cKO animals also had fewer mitotic GCPs and shorter Purkinje dendrites. Through molecular characterization, we found that loss of Elp1 was associated with an increase in apoptotic cell death and cell stress pathways in GCPs. Our study demonstrates the importance of ELP1 in the developing cerebellum, and suggests that loss of Elp1 in the GC lineage may also play a role in the progressive ataxia phenotypes of FD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Arnskötter
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patricia Benites Goncalves da Silva
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
| | - Mackenna E Schouw
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
| | - Chiara Lukasch
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
| | - Luca Bianchini
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Laura Sieber
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
| | - Jesus Garcia-Lopez
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA; Center of Excellence in Neuro-Oncology Sciences (CENOS), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA; Department of In vivo Pharmacology-Immunology, Tempest Therapeutics, Brisbane, CA, USA
| | - Shiekh Tanveer Ahmad
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA; Center of Excellence in Neuro-Oncology Sciences (CENOS), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yiran Li
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA; Center of Excellence in Neuro-Oncology Sciences (CENOS), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hong Lin
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA; Center of Excellence in Neuro-Oncology Sciences (CENOS), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Piyush Joshi
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
| | - Lisa Spänig
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Magdalena Radoš
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
| | - Mykola Roiuk
- Signal Transduction in Cancer and Metabolism, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mari Sepp
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marc Zuckermann
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany; Division of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, Preclinical Modeling Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Paul A Northcott
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA; Center of Excellence in Neuro-Oncology Sciences (CENOS), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Annarita Patrizi
- Schaller Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lena M Kutscher
- Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer Junior Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, A partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany.
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4
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Rodriguez-Blanco J, Salvador AD, Suter RK, Swiderska-Syn M, Palomo-Caturla I, Kliebe V, Shahani P, Peterson K, Turos-Cabal M, Vieira ME, Wynn DT, Howell AJ, Yang F, Ban Y, McCrea HJ, Zindy F, Danis E, Vibhakar R, Jermakowicz A, Martin V, Coss CC, Harris BT, de Cubas A, Chen XS, Barnoud T, Roussel MF, Ayad NG, Robbins DJ. Triptolide and its prodrug Minnelide target high-risk MYC-amplified medulloblastoma in preclinical models. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e171136. [PMID: 38885332 PMCID: PMC11290968 DOI: 10.1172/jci171136] [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: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Most children with medulloblastoma (MB) achieve remission, but some face very aggressive metastatic tumors. Their dismal outcome highlights the critical need to advance therapeutic approaches that benefit such high-risk patients. Minnelide, a clinically relevant analog of the natural product triptolide, has oncostatic activity in both preclinical and early clinical settings. Despite its efficacy and tolerable toxicity, this compound has not been evaluated in MB. Utilizing a bioinformatic data set that integrates cellular drug response data with gene expression, we predicted that Group 3 (G3) MB, which has a poor 5-year survival, would be sensitive to triptolide/Minnelide. We subsequently showed that both triptolide and Minnelide attenuate the viability of G3 MB cells ex vivo. Transcriptomic analyses identified MYC signaling, a pathologically relevant driver of G3 MB, as a downstream target of this class of drugs. We validated this MYC dependency in G3 MB cells and showed that triptolide exerts its efficacy by reducing both MYC transcription and MYC protein stability. Importantly, Minnelide acted on MYC to reduce tumor growth and leptomeningeal spread, which resulted in improved survival of G3 MB animal models. Moreover, Minnelide improved the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy, further highlighting its potential for the treatment of MYC-driven G3 MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jezabel Rodriguez-Blanco
- Darby Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, and
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | | | - Robert K. Suter
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | | | | | - Valentin Kliebe
- Darby Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, and
| | - Pritika Shahani
- Darby Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, and
| | - Kendell Peterson
- Darby Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, and
| | | | - Megan E. Vieira
- Darby Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, and
| | - Daniel T. Wynn
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Ashley J. Howell
- Darby Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, and
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Yuguang Ban
- Department of Public Health Sciences, and
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Heather J. McCrea
- Departments of Neurological Surgery and Pediatrics, University of Miami, Jackson Health System, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Frederique Zindy
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Etienne Danis
- University of Colorado Cancer Center
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, and
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Anna Jermakowicz
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Vanesa Martin
- Department of Morphology and Cell Biology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
| | | | - Brent T. Harris
- Departments of Neurology and Pathology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC, USA
| | - Aguirre de Cubas
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and
| | - X. Steven Chen
- Department of Public Health Sciences, and
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Thibaut Barnoud
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Martine F. Roussel
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Nagi G. Ayad
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | - David J. Robbins
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
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5
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Ye X, Yang C, Xu H, He Q, Sheng L, Lin J, Wang X. Exploring the therapeutic mechanisms of Coptidis Rhizoma in gastric precancerous lesions: a network pharmacology approach. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:211. [PMID: 38837097 PMCID: PMC11153449 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01070-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastric precancerous lesions are a critical stage in the development of gastric cancer or gastric adenocarcinoma, and their outcome plays an important role in the malignant progression of gastric cancer. Coptidis Rhizoma has a good effect on Gastric precancerous lesions. However, the specific mechanisms of its action remain incompletely elucidated. METHODS Network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were used to explore the active ingredients and molecular mechanism of Coptidis Rhizoma in treating gastric precancerous lesions. The active compounds of Coptidis Rhizoma and their potential gastric precancerous lesions related targets were obtained from TCMSP, GeneCards, and OMIM databases. An interaction network based on protein-protein interactions (PPIs) was constructed to visualize the interactions between hub genes. Analysis of GO enrichment and KEGG pathway were conducted using the DAVID database. An investigation of interactions between active compounds and potential targets was carried out by molecular docking. Finally, animal experiments were conducted to verify the effect and mechanism of Coptidis Rhizoma in treating precancerous lesions of gastric cancer. RESULTS A total of 11 active compounds and 95 anti-gastric precancerous lesions targets of Coptidis Rhizoma were screened for analysis. GO enrichment analysis showed that the mechanism of Coptidis Rhizoma acting on gastric precancerous lesions involves gene expression regulation and apoptosis regulation. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that Coptidis Rhizoma against gastric precancerous lesions involving the AKT /HIF-1α/VEGF signalling pathway. Molecular docking simulations indicated potential interactions between these compounds and core targets involved in anti-gastric precancerous lesions activity. In addition, it was confirmed in vivo that Berberine and Coptidis Rhizoma may reverse atrophy and potential intestinal metaplasia by inhibiting the expression of p-AKT, HIFA, and VEGF. CONCLUSION Bioactive compounds in Coptidis Rhizoma have the potential to prevent atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. These compounds function by regulating the proteins implicated in AKT /HIF-1α/VEGF signalling pathways that are crucial in gastric epithelial cell differentiation, proliferation and maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuxing Ye
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, 351 Mingyue Street, Wucheng District, Jinhua, 321000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chao Yang
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 548 Binwen Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Hanzhi Xu
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Qin He
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, 351 Mingyue Street, Wucheng District, Jinhua, 321000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lin Sheng
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Jinhua, 321000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junmei Lin
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, 351 Mingyue Street, Wucheng District, Jinhua, 321000, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 548 Binwen Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310000, China.
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6
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Lu S, Yin Z, Chen J, Wu L, Sun Y, Gao X, Huang P, Jordan JT, Plotkin SR, Xu L. Integrating Ataxia Evaluation into Tumor-Induced Hearing Loss Model to Comprehensively Study NF2-Related Schwannomatosis. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1961. [PMID: 38893082 PMCID: PMC11171041 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16111961] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
NF2-related Schwannomatosis (NF2-SWN) is a disease that needs new solutions. The hallmark of NF2-SWN, a dominantly inherited neoplasia syndrome, is bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VSs), which progressively enlarge, leading to sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, facial weakness, and pain that translates to social impairment and clinical depression. Standard treatments for growing VSs include surgery and radiation therapy (RT); however, both carry the risk of further nerve damage that can result in deafness and facial palsy. The resultant suffering and debility, in combination with the paucity of therapeutic options, make the effective treatment of NF2-SWN a major unmet medical need. A better understanding of these mechanisms is essential to developing novel therapeutic targets to control tumor growth and improve patients' quality of life. Previously, we developed the first orthotopic cerebellopontine angle mouse model of VSs, which faithfully mimics tumor-induced hearing loss. In this model, we observed that mice exhibit symptoms of ataxia and vestibular dysfunction. Therefore, we further developed a panel of five tests suitable for the mouse VS model and investigated how tumor growth and treatment affect gait, coordination, and motor function. Using this panel of ataxia tests, we demonstrated that both ataxia and motor function deteriorated concomitantly with tumor progression. We further demonstrated that (i) treatment with anti-VEGF resulted in tumor size reduction, mitigated ataxia, and improved rotarod performance; (ii) treatment with crizotinib stabilized tumor growth and led to improvements in both ataxia and rotarod performance; and (iii) treatment with losartan did not impact tumor growth nor ameliorate ataxia or motor function. Our studies demonstrated that these methods, paired with hearing tests, enable a comprehensive evaluation of tumor-induced neurological deficits and facilitate the assessment of the effectiveness of novel therapeutics to improve NF2 treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simeng Lu
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Zhenzhen Yin
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jie Chen
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Limeng Wu
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Stomatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100073, China
| | - Yao Sun
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Clinical Research for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Xing Gao
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Peigen Huang
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Justin T. Jordan
- Stephen E. and Catherine Pappas Center for Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurology and Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Scott R. Plotkin
- Stephen E. and Catherine Pappas Center for Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurology and Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Lei Xu
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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7
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Shendy NAM, Bikowitz M, Sigua LH, Zhang Y, Mercier A, Khashana Y, Nance S, Liu Q, Delahunty IM, Robinson S, Goel V, Rees MG, Ronan MA, Wang T, Kocak M, Roth JA, Wang Y, Freeman BB, Orr BA, Abraham BJ, Roussel MF, Schonbrunn E, Qi J, Durbin AD. Group 3 medulloblastoma transcriptional networks collapse under domain specific EP300/CBP inhibition. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3483. [PMID: 38664416 PMCID: PMC11045757 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47102-0] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemical discovery efforts commonly target individual protein domains. Many proteins, including the EP300/CBP histone acetyltransferases (HATs), contain several targetable domains. EP300/CBP are critical gene-regulatory targets in cancer, with existing high potency inhibitors of either the catalytic HAT domain or protein-binding bromodomain (BRD). A domain-specific inhibitory approach to multidomain-containing proteins may identify exceptional-responding tumor types, thereby expanding a therapeutic index. Here, we discover that targeting EP300/CBP using the domain-specific inhibitors, A485 (HAT) or CCS1477 (BRD) have different effects in select tumor types. Group 3 medulloblastoma (G3MB) cells are especially sensitive to BRD, compared with HAT inhibition. Structurally, these effects are mediated by the difluorophenyl group in the catalytic core of CCS1477. Mechanistically, bromodomain inhibition causes rapid disruption of genetic dependency networks that are required for G3MB growth. These studies provide a domain-specific structural foundation for drug discovery efforts targeting EP300/CBP and identify a selective role for the EP300/CBP bromodomain in maintaining genetic dependency networks in G3MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noha A M Shendy
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Melissa Bikowitz
- Drug Discovery Department, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Logan H Sigua
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Audrey Mercier
- Tumor Cell Biology Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yousef Khashana
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Stephanie Nance
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Qi Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ian M Delahunty
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sarah Robinson
- Tumor Cell Biology Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Vanshita Goel
- Tumor Cell Biology Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Matthew G Rees
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Tingjian Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mustafa Kocak
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Yingzhe Wang
- Preclinical Pharmacokinetics Shared Resource, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Burgess B Freeman
- Preclinical Pharmacokinetics Shared Resource, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Brent A Orr
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Brian J Abraham
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Martine F Roussel
- Tumor Cell Biology Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Ernst Schonbrunn
- Drug Discovery Department, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - Jun Qi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Adam D Durbin
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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8
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Gao J, Zhao Y, Wang Z, Liu F, Chen X, Mo J, Jiang Y, Liu Y, Tian P, Li Y, Deng K, Qi X, Han D, Liu Z, Yang Z, Chen Y, Tang Y, Li C, Liu H, Li J, Jiang T. Single-cell transcriptomic sequencing identifies subcutaneous patient-derived xenograft recapitulated medulloblastoma. Animal Model Exp Med 2024. [PMID: 38477441 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12399] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medulloblastoma (MB) is one of the most common malignant brain tumors that mainly affect children. Various approaches have been used to model MB to facilitate investigating tumorigenesis. This study aims to compare the recapitulation of MB between subcutaneous patient-derived xenograft (sPDX), intracranial patient-derived xenograft (iPDX), and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) at the single-cell level. METHODS We obtained primary human sonic hedgehog (SHH) and group 3 (G3) MB samples from six patients. For each patient specimen, we developed two sPDX and iPDX models, respectively. Three Patch+/- GEMM models were also included for sequencing. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed to compare gene expression profiles, cellular composition, and functional pathway enrichment. Bulk RNA-seq deconvolution was performed to compare cellular composition across models and human samples. RESULTS Our results showed that the sPDX tumor model demonstrated the highest correlation to the overall transcriptomic profiles of primary human tumors at the single-cell level within the SHH and G3 subgroups, followed by the GEMM model and iPDX. The GEMM tumor model was able to recapitulate all subpopulations of tumor microenvironment (TME) cells that can be clustered in human SHH tumors, including a higher proportion of tumor-associated astrocytes and immune cells, and an additional cluster of vascular endothelia when compared to human SHH tumors. CONCLUSIONS This study was the first to compare experimental models for MB at the single-cell level, providing value insights into model selection for different research purposes. sPDX and iPDX are suitable for drug testing and personalized therapy screenings, whereas GEMM models are valuable for investigating the interaction between tumor and TME cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Gao
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang, Weifang, China
| | - Yahui Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ziwei Wang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- BGI-Wuhan, Wuhan, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Radiotherapy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuan Chen
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jialin Mo
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifei Jiang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yongqiang Liu
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resources Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peiyi Tian
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanong Li
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Radiotherapy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Kaiwen Deng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Radiotherapy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xueling Qi
- Department of NeuroPathology, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Dongming Han
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zijia Liu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengtao Yang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yixi Chen
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yujie Tang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunde Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hailong Liu
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Radiotherapy, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Chinese Institute for Medical Research, Beijing, China
| | | | - Tao Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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9
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Sheng H, Li H, Zeng H, Zhang B, Lu Y, Liu X, Xu Z, Zhang J, Zhang L. Heterogeneity and tumoral origin of medulloblastoma in the single-cell era. Oncogene 2024; 43:839-850. [PMID: 38355808 PMCID: PMC10942862 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-02967-9] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is one of the most common malignant pediatric brain tumors derived from posterior fossa. The current treatment includes maximal safe surgical resection, radiotherapy, whole cranio-spinal radiation and adjuvant with chemotherapy. However, it can only limitedly prolong the survival time with severe side effects and relapse. Defining the intratumoral heterogeneity, cellular origin and identifying the interaction network within tumor microenvironment are helpful for understanding the mechanisms of medulloblastoma tumorigenesis and relapse. Due to technological limitations, the mechanisms of cellular heterogeneity and tumor origin have not been fully understood. Recently, the emergence of single-cell technology has provided a powerful tool for achieving the goal of understanding the mechanisms of tumorigenesis. Several studies have demonstrated the intratumoral heterogeneity and tumor origin for each subtype of medulloblastoma utilizing the single-cell RNA-seq, which has not been uncovered before using conventional technologies. In this review, we present an overview of the current progress in understanding of cellular heterogeneity and tumor origin of medulloblastoma and discuss novel findings in the age of single-cell technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Sheng
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Haotai Li
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Han Zeng
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yu Lu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xixi Liu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhongwen Xu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Liguo Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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10
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Mishra DK, Popovski D, Morris SM, Bondoc A, Senthil Kumar S, Girard EJ, Rutka J, Fouladi M, Huang A, Olson JM, Drissi R. Preclinical pediatric brain tumor models for immunotherapy: Hurdles and a way forward. Neuro Oncol 2024; 26:226-235. [PMID: 37713135 PMCID: PMC10836771 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noad170] [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] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain tumors are the most common solid tumor in children and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Over the last few years, improvements have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of children with Central Nervous System tumors. Unfortunately, for many patients with high-grade tumors, the overall prognosis remains poor. Lower survival rates are partly attributed to the lack of efficacious therapies. The advent and success of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in adults have sparked interest in investigating the utility of these therapies alone or in combination with other drug treatments in pediatric patients. However, to achieve improved clinical outcomes, the establishment and selection of relevant and robust preclinical pediatric high-grade brain tumor models is imperative. Here, we review the information that influenced our model selection as we embarked on an international collaborative study to test ICIs in combination with epigenetic modifying agents to enhance adaptive immunity to treat pediatric brain tumors. We also share challenges that we faced and potential solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Kumar Mishra
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Dean Popovski
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, Division of Haematology/Oncology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Onatario, Canada
| | - Shelli M Morris
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Andrew Bondoc
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, Division of Haematology/Oncology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Onatario, Canada
| | - Shiva Senthil Kumar
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Emily J Girard
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - James Rutka
- Division of Neurosurgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maryam Fouladi
- Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Annie Huang
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, Division of Haematology/Oncology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Onatario, Canada
| | - James M Olson
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Rachid Drissi
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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11
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Dhar SS, Brown C, Rizvi A, Reed L, Kotla S, Zod C, Abraham J, Abe JI, Rajaram V, Chen K, Lee M. Heterozygous Kmt2d loss diminishes enhancers to render medulloblastoma cells vulnerable to combinatory inhibition of lysine demethylation and oxidative phosphorylation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.29.564587. [PMID: 37961118 PMCID: PMC10634931 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.29.564587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methyltransferase KMT2D (also called MLL4) is one of the most frequently mutated epigenetic modifiers in medulloblastoma (MB) and other types of cancer. Notably, heterozygous loss of KMT2D is prevalent in MB and other cancer types. However, what role heterozygous KMT2D loss plays in tumorigenesis has not been well characterized. Here, we show that heterozygous Kmt2d loss highly promotes MB driven by heterozygous loss of the MB suppressor gene Ptch in mice. Heterozygous Kmt2d loss upregulated tumor-promoting programs, including oxidative phosphorylation and G-protein-coupled receptor signaling, in Ptch-mutant-driven MB genesis. Mechanistically, both downregulation of the transcription-repressive tumor suppressor gene NCOR2 by heterozygous Kmt2d loss and upregulation of the oncogene MycN by heterozygous Ptch loss increased the expression of tumor-promoting genes. Moreover, heterozygous Kmt2d loss extensively diminished enhancer signals (e.g., H3K27ac) and H3K4me3 signature, including those for tumor suppressor genes (e.g., Ncor2). Combinatory pharmacological inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation and the H3K4 demethylase LSD1 drastically reduced tumorigenicity of MB cells bearing heterozygous Kmt2d loss. These findings reveal the mechanistic basis underlying the MB-promoting effect of heterozygous KMT2D loss, provide a rationale for a therapeutic strategy for treatment of KMT2D-deficient MB, and have mechanistic implications for the molecular pathogenesis of other types of cancer bearing heterozygous KMT2D loss.
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12
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Göbel C, Godbole S, Schoof M, Holdhof D, Kresbach C, Loose C, Neumann J, Schüller U. MYC overexpression and SMARCA4 loss cooperate to drive medulloblastoma formation in mice. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:174. [PMID: 37919824 PMCID: PMC10621315 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01654-2] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Group 3 medulloblastoma is one of the most aggressive types of childhood brain tumors. Roughly 30% of cases carry genetic alterations in MYC, SMARCA4, or both genes combined. While overexpression of MYC has previously been shown to drive medulloblastoma formation in mice, the functional significance of SMARCA4 mutations and their suitability as a therapeutic target remain largely unclear. To address this issue, we combined overexpression of MYC with a loss of SMARCA4 in granule cell precursors. Both alterations did not increase proliferation of granule cell precursors in vitro. However, combined MYC overexpression and SMARCA4 loss successfully induced tumor formation in vivo after orthotopic transplantation in recipient mice. Resulting tumors displayed anaplastic histology and exclusively consisted of SMARCA4-negative cells although a mixture of recombined and non-recombined cells was injected. These observations provide first evidence for a tumor-promoting role of a SMARCA4 deficiency in the development of medulloblastoma. In comparing the transcriptome of tumors to the cells of origin and an established Sonic Hedgehog medulloblastoma model, we gathered first hints on deregulated gene expression that could be specifically involved in SMARCA4/MYC driven tumorigenesis. Finally, an integration of RNA sequencing and DNA methylation data of murine tumors with human samples revealed a high resemblance to human Group 3 medulloblastoma on the molecular level. Altogether, the development of SMARCA4-deficient medulloblastomas in mice paves the way to deciphering the role of frequently occurring SMARCA4 alterations in Group 3 medulloblastoma with the perspective to explore targeted therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Göbel
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, Building N63 (LIV), Hamburg, D-20251, Germany
| | - Shweta Godbole
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology, Falkenried 94, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
| | - Melanie Schoof
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, Building N63 (LIV), Hamburg, D-20251, Germany
| | - Dörthe Holdhof
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, Building N63 (LIV), Hamburg, D-20251, Germany
| | - Catena Kresbach
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, Building N63 (LIV), Hamburg, D-20251, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
| | - Carolin Loose
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, Building N63 (LIV), Hamburg, D-20251, Germany
| | - Julia Neumann
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology, Falkenried 94, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schüller
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany.
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, Building N63 (LIV), Hamburg, D-20251, Germany.
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, Hamburg, 20251, Germany.
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13
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Sanghrajka RM, Koche R, Medrano H, El Nagar S, Stephen DN, Lao Z, Bayin NS, Ge K, Joyner AL. KMT2D suppresses Sonic hedgehog-driven medulloblastoma progression and metastasis. iScience 2023; 26:107831. [PMID: 37822508 PMCID: PMC10562805 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The major cause of treatment failure and mortality among medulloblastoma patients is metastasis intracranially or along the spinal cord. The molecular mechanisms driving tumor metastasis in Sonic hedgehog-driven medulloblastoma (SHH-MB) patients, however, remain largely unknown. In this study we define a tumor suppressive role of KMT2D (MLL2), a gene frequently mutated in the most metastatic β-subtype. Strikingly, genetic mouse models of SHH-MB demonstrate that heterozygous loss of Kmt2d in conjunction with activation of the SHH pathway causes highly penetrant disease with decreased survival, increased hindbrain invasion and spinal cord metastasis. Loss of Kmt2d attenuates neural differentiation and shifts the transcriptional/chromatin landscape of primary and metastatic tumors toward a decrease in differentiation genes and tumor suppressors and an increase in genes/pathways implicated in advanced stage cancer and metastasis (TGFβ, Notch, Atoh1, Sox2, and Myc). Thus, secondary heterozygous KMT2D mutations likely have prognostic value for identifying SHH-MB patients prone to develop metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reeti Mayur Sanghrajka
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard Koche
- Center for Epigenetics Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hector Medrano
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Salsabiel El Nagar
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel N. Stephen
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zhimin Lao
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - N. Sumru Bayin
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kai Ge
- Adipocyte Biology and Gene Regulation Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alexandra L. Joyner
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, USA
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14
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Ciobanu-Caraus O, Czech T, Peyrl A, Haberler C, Kasprian G, Furtner J, Kool M, Sill M, Frischer JM, Cho A, Slavc I, Rössler K, Gojo J, Dorfer C. The Site of Origin of Medulloblastoma: Surgical Observations Correlated to Molecular Groups. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4877. [PMID: 37835571 PMCID: PMC10571892 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194877] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental gene expression data from medulloblastoma (MB) suggest that WNT-MB originates from the region of the embryonic lower rhombic lip (LRL), whereas SHH-MB and non-WNT/non-SHH MB arise from cerebellar precursor matrix regions. This study aimed to analyze detailed intraoperative data with regard to the site of origin (STO) and compare these findings with the hypothesized regions of origin associated with the molecular group. A review of the institutional database identified 58 out of 72 pediatric patients who were operated for an MB at our department between 1996 and 2020 that had a detailed operative report and a surgical video as well as clinical and genetic classification data available for analysis. The STO was assessed based on intraoperative findings. Using the intraoperatively defined STO, "correct" prediction of molecular groups was feasible in 20% of WNT-MB, 60% of SHH-MB and 71% of non-WNT/non-SHH MB. The positive predictive values of the neurosurgical inspection to detect the molecular group were 0.21 (95% CI 0.08-0.48) for WNT-MB, 0.86 (95% CI 0.49-0.97) for SHH-MB and 0.73 (95% CI 0.57-0.85) for non-WNT/non-SHH MB. The present study demonstrated a limited predictive value of the intraoperatively observed STO for the prediction of the molecular group of MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Ciobanu-Caraus
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (T.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Thomas Czech
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (T.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Andreas Peyrl
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (I.S.)
- Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christine Haberler
- Division of Neuropathology and Neurochemistry, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gregor Kasprian
- Department of Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (G.K.); (J.F.)
| | - Julia Furtner
- Department of Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (G.K.); (J.F.)
| | - Marcel Kool
- Hopp Children’s Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Sill
- Hopp Children’s Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Josa M. Frischer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (T.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Anna Cho
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (T.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Irene Slavc
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (I.S.)
- Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Karl Rössler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (T.C.); (A.C.)
- Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes Gojo
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (I.S.)
- Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Dorfer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (T.C.); (A.C.)
- Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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15
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Wang Q, Xin X, Dai Q, Sun M, Chen J, Mostafavi E, Shen Y, Li X. Medulloblastoma targeted therapy: From signaling pathways heterogeneity and current treatment dilemma to the recent advances in development of therapeutic strategies. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 250:108527. [PMID: 37703952 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108527] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is a major pediatric malignant brain tumor that arises in the cerebellum. MB tumors exhibit highly heterogeneous driven by diverse genetic alterations and could be divided into four major subgroups based on their different biological drivers and molecular features (Wnt, Sonic hedgehog (Shh), group 3, and group 4 MB). Even though the therapeutic strategies for each MB subtype integrate their pathogenesis and were developed to focus on their specific target sites, the unexpected drug non-selective cytotoxicity, low drug accumulation in the brain, and complexed MB tumor microenvironment still be huge obstacles to achieving satisfied MB therapeutic efficiency. This review discussed the current advances in modern MB therapeutic strategy development. Through the recent advances in knowledge of the origin, molecular pathogenesis of MB subtypes and their current therapeutic barriers, we particularly reviewed the current development in advanced MB therapeutic strategy committed to overcome MB treatment obstacles, focusing on novel signaling pathway targeted therapeutic agents and their combination discovery, advanced drug delivery systems design, and MB immunotherapy strategy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyue Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Xiaofei Xin
- Center for Research Development and Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Excipients and Generic Drugs, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Qihao Dai
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Mengjuan Sun
- Center for Research Development and Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Excipients and Generic Drugs, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jinhua Chen
- Center for Research Development and Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Excipients and Generic Drugs, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Ebrahim Mostafavi
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Yan Shen
- Center for Research Development and Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Excipients and Generic Drugs, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Xueming Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China.
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16
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Hedberg J, Studebaker A, Smith L, Chen CY, Westfall JJ, Cam M, Gross A, Hernandez-Aguirre I, Martin A, Kim D, Dhital R, Kim Y, Roberts RD, Cripe TP, Mardis ER, Cassady KA, Leonard J, Miller KE. Oncolytic virus-driven immune remodeling revealed in mouse medulloblastomas at single cell resolution. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2023; 30:39-55. [PMID: 37583388 PMCID: PMC10424001 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2023.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses, modified for tumor-restricted infection, are a promising cancer immunotherapeutic, yet much remains to be understood about factors driving their activity and outcome in the tumor microenvironment. Here, we report that oncolytic herpes simplex virus C134, previously found to exert T cell-dependent efficacy in mouse models of glioblastoma, exerts T cell-independent efficacy in mouse models of medulloblastoma, indicating this oncolytic virus uses different mechanisms in different tumors. We investigated C134's behavior in mouse medulloblastomas, using single cell RNA sequencing to map C134-induced gene expression changes across cell types, timepoints, and medulloblastoma subgroup models at whole-transcriptome resolution. Our work details substantial oncolytic virus-induced transcriptional remodeling of medulloblastoma-infiltrating immune cells, 10 subpopulations of monocytes and macrophages collectively demonstrating M1-like responses to C134, and suggests C134 be investigated as a potential new therapy for medulloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Hedberg
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
- The Center for Childhood Cancer, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
| | - Adam Studebaker
- The Center for Childhood Cancer, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
| | - Luke Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Chun-Yu Chen
- The Center for Childhood Cancer, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
| | - Jesse J. Westfall
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
| | - Maren Cam
- The Center for Childhood Cancer, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
| | - Amy Gross
- The Center for Childhood Cancer, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
| | - Ilse Hernandez-Aguirre
- The Center for Childhood Cancer, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
| | - Alexia Martin
- The Center for Childhood Cancer, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
| | - Doyeon Kim
- The Center for Childhood Cancer, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
| | - Ravi Dhital
- The Center for Childhood Cancer, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
| | - Yeaseul Kim
- The Center for Childhood Cancer, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
| | - Ryan D. Roberts
- The Center for Childhood Cancer, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Timothy P. Cripe
- The Center for Childhood Cancer, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Elaine R. Mardis
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Kevin A. Cassady
- The Center for Childhood Cancer, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jeffrey Leonard
- The Center for Childhood Cancer, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Katherine E. Miller
- The Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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17
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Hartley R, Phoenix TN. MYC Promotes Aggressive Growth and Metastasis of a WNT-Medulloblastoma Mouse Model. Dev Neurosci 2023; 46:167-178. [PMID: 37544301 DOI: 10.1159/000533270] [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: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB), the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor, comprises four molecularly and clinically distinct subgroups (termed WNT, SHH, group 3, and group 4). Prognosis varies based on genetic and pathological features associated with each molecular subgroup. WNT-MB, considered low-risk, is rarely metastatic and contains activating mutations in CTNNB1; group 3-MB (GRP3-MB), commonly classified as high-risk, is frequently metastatic and can contain genomic alterations, resulting in elevated MYC expression. Here, we compare model systems of low-risk WNT-MB and high-risk GRP3-MB to identify tumor and microenvironment interactions that could contribute to features associated with prognosis. Compared to GRP3-MB, we find that WNT-MB is enriched in gene sets related to extracellular matrix (ECM) regulation and cellular adhesion. Exogenous expression of MycT58A in a murine WNT-MB model significantly accelerates growth and results in metastatic disease. In addition to decreased ECM regulation and cell adhesion pathways, we also identified immune system interactions among the top downregulated signaling pathways following MycT58A expression. Taken together, our data provide evidence that increased Myc signaling can promote the growth and metastasis in a murine model of WNT-MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Hartley
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Timothy N Phoenix
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Research in Patient Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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18
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Mainwaring OJ, Weishaupt H, Zhao M, Rosén G, Borgenvik A, Breinschmid L, Verbaan AD, Richardson S, Thompson D, Clifford SC, Hill RM, Annusver K, Sundström A, Holmberg KO, Kasper M, Hutter S, Swartling FJ. ARF suppression by MYC but not MYCN confers increased malignancy of aggressive pediatric brain tumors. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1221. [PMID: 36869047 PMCID: PMC9984535 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36847-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma, the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor, often harbors MYC amplifications. Compared to high-grade gliomas, MYC-amplified medulloblastomas often show increased photoreceptor activity and arise in the presence of a functional ARF/p53 suppressor pathway. Here, we generate an immunocompetent transgenic mouse model with regulatable MYC that develop clonal tumors that molecularly resemble photoreceptor-positive Group 3 medulloblastoma. Compared to MYCN-expressing brain tumors driven from the same promoter, pronounced ARF silencing is present in our MYC-expressing model and in human medulloblastoma. While partial Arf suppression causes increased malignancy in MYCN-expressing tumors, complete Arf depletion promotes photoreceptor-negative high-grade glioma formation. Computational models and clinical data further identify drugs targeting MYC-driven tumors with a suppressed but functional ARF pathway. We show that the HSP90 inhibitor, Onalespib, significantly targets MYC-driven but not MYCN-driven tumors in an ARF-dependent manner. The treatment increases cell death in synergy with cisplatin and demonstrates potential for targeting MYC-driven medulloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver J Mainwaring
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Holger Weishaupt
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Miao Zhao
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gabriela Rosén
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Borgenvik
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Laura Breinschmid
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Annemieke D Verbaan
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Stacey Richardson
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Dean Thompson
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Steven C Clifford
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Rebecca M Hill
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Karl Annusver
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders Sundström
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karl O Holmberg
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Kasper
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sonja Hutter
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fredrik J Swartling
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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19
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Duan J, Wang Y. Modeling nervous system tumors with human stem cells and organoids. CELL REGENERATION (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 12:4. [PMID: 36854987 PMCID: PMC9975125 DOI: 10.1186/s13619-022-00150-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Nervous system cancers are the 10th leading cause of death worldwide, many of which are difficult to diagnose and exhibit varying degrees of treatment resistance. The limitations of existing cancer models, such as patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and genetically engineered mouse (GEM) models, call for the development of novel preclinical cancer models to more faithfully mimic the patient's cancer and offer additional insights. Recent advances in human stem cell biology, organoid, and genome-editing techniques allow us to model nervous system tumors in three types of next-generation tumor models: cell-of-origin models, tumor organoids, and 3D multicellular coculture models. In this review, we introduced and compared different human stem cell/organoid-derived models, and comprehensively summarized and discussed the recently developed models for various primary tumors in the central and peripheral nervous systems, including glioblastoma (GBM), H3K27M-mutant Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG) and H3G34R-mutant High-grade Glioma (HGG), Low-grade Glioma (LGG), Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2), Medulloblastoma (MB), Atypical Teratoid/rhabdoid Tumor (AT/RT), and meningioma. We further compared these models with PDX and GEM models, and discussed the opportunities and challenges of precision nervous cancer modeling with human stem cells and organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Duan
- grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022Department of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and National Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and National Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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20
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Luo Z, Xin D, Liao Y, Berry K, Ogurek S, Zhang F, Zhang L, Zhao C, Rao R, Dong X, Li H, Yu J, Lin Y, Huang G, Xu L, Xin M, Nishinakamura R, Yu J, Kool M, Pfister SM, Roussel MF, Zhou W, Weiss WA, Andreassen P, Lu QR. Loss of phosphatase CTDNEP1 potentiates aggressive medulloblastoma by triggering MYC amplification and genomic instability. Nat Commun 2023; 14:762. [PMID: 36765089 PMCID: PMC9918503 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36400-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
MYC-driven medulloblastomas are highly aggressive childhood brain tumors, however, the molecular and genetic events triggering MYC amplification and malignant transformation remain elusive. Here we report that mutations in CTDNEP1, a CTD nuclear-envelope-phosphatase, are the most significantly enriched recurrent alterations in MYC-driven medulloblastomas, and define high-risk subsets with poorer prognosis. Ctdnep1 ablation promotes the transformation of murine cerebellar progenitors into Myc-amplified medulloblastomas, resembling their human counterparts. CTDNEP1 deficiency stabilizes and activates MYC activity by elevating MYC serine-62 phosphorylation, and triggers chromosomal instability to induce p53 loss and Myc amplifications. Further, phosphoproteomics reveals that CTDNEP1 post-translationally modulates the activities of key regulators for chromosome segregation and mitotic checkpoint regulators including topoisomerase TOP2A and checkpoint kinase CHEK1. Co-targeting MYC and CHEK1 activities synergistically inhibits CTDNEP1-deficient MYC-amplified tumor growth and prolongs animal survival. Together, our studies demonstrate that CTDNEP1 is a tumor suppressor in highly aggressive MYC-driven medulloblastomas by controlling MYC activity and mitotic fidelity, pointing to a CTDNEP1-dependent targetable therapeutic vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaili Luo
- Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Dazhuan Xin
- Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Yunfei Liao
- Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Kalen Berry
- Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Sean Ogurek
- Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Feng Zhang
- Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Liguo Zhang
- Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Chuntao Zhao
- Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Rohit Rao
- Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Xinran Dong
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Children's Hospital, Fudan University and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Hao Li
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Children's Hospital, Fudan University and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Jianzhong Yu
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Children's Hospital, Fudan University and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Yifeng Lin
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Children's Hospital, Fudan University and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Guoying Huang
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Children's Hospital, Fudan University and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China
| | - Lingli Xu
- Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Mei Xin
- Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Ryuichi Nishinakamura
- Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Jiyang Yu
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Marcel Kool
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ); Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ); Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martine F Roussel
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Wenhao Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Children's Hospital, Fudan University and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201102, China.
| | - William A Weiss
- Department of Neurology, Pediatrics, and Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Paul Andreassen
- Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Q Richard Lu
- Brain Tumor Center, Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
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21
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Laurenge A, Huillard E, Bielle F, Idbaih A. Cell of Origin of Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1394:85-101. [PMID: 36587383 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-14732-6_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
A better understanding of cellular and molecular biology of primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors is a critical step toward the design of innovative treatments. In addition to improving knowledge, identification of the cell of origin in tumors allows for sharp and efficient targeting of specific tumor cells promoting and driving oncogenic processes. The World Health Organization identifies approximately 150 primary brain tumor subtypes with various ontogeny and clinical outcomes. Identification of the cell of origin of each tumor type with its lineage and differentiation level is challenging. In the current chapter, we report the suspected cell of origin of various CNS primary tumors including gliomas, glioneuronal tumors, medulloblastoma, meningioma, atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor, germinomas, and lymphoma. Most of them have been pinpointed through transgenic mouse models and analysis of molecular signatures of tumors. Identification of the cell or cells of origin in primary brain tumors will undoubtedly open new therapeutic avenues, including the reactivation of differentiation programs for therapeutic perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Laurenge
- AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière-Charles Foix, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau-Paris Brain Institute, ICM, Service de Neurologie 2-Mazarin, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Huillard
- INSERM, CNRS, APHP, Institut du Cerveau-Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Franck Bielle
- AP-HP, SIRIC CURAMUS, Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière-Charles Foix, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de La Moelle Épinière, ICM, Service de Neuropathologie Escourolle, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Ahmed Idbaih
- AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière-Charles Foix, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau-Paris Brain Institute, ICM, Service de Neurologie 2-Mazarin, 75013, Paris, France.
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22
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Deng H, Guo X, Feng N, Luo Y, Liu B, Liu S, Wu JI, Shi X. Targeting H3K27me3 demethylase to inhibit Shh signaling and cholesterol metabolism in medulloblastoma growth. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1057147. [DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1057147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously we uncovered the epigenetic regulation of medulloblastoma that low levels of H3K27me3 are required for Shh target gene expression and medulloblastoma growth. Since Jmjd3, an H3K27me3 demethylase, is responsible for maintaining low H3K27me3 at Shh target genes, targeting Jmjd3 could be an efficient way to inhibit Shh signaling and medulloblastoma growth. Here we show that the small molecule GSK-J4, an inhibitor of Jmjd3, significantly inhibited the expression of Shh target genes in Shh responsive cell models and primary cerebellar granule neuron precursors. GSK-J4 also significantly reduced the growth of primary Shh medulloblastoma cultures. Treating human medulloblastoma cell line DaoY by GSK-J4 led to cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase with decreased cells in S-phase. Tumor cell proliferation was significantly inhibited by GSK-J4 treatment. Gene expression analyses showed that GSK-J4 additionally constrained the expression of key genes in cholesterol biosynthesis. Our results highlight the possibility that targeting H3K27me3 demethylase Jmjd3 with GSK-J4 to inhibit Shh signaling and cholesterol metabolism is a potential application to treat Shh medulloblastoma.
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23
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Lazow MA, Palmer JD, Fouladi M, Salloum R. Medulloblastoma in the Modern Era: Review of Contemporary Trials, Molecular Advances, and Updates in Management. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:1733-1751. [PMID: 35859223 PMCID: PMC9723091 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01273-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Critical discoveries over the past two decades have transformed our understanding of medulloblastoma from a single entity into a clinically and biologically heterogeneous disease composed of at least four molecularly distinct subgroups with prognostically and therapeutically relevant genomic signatures. Contemporary clinical trials also have provided valuable insight guiding appropriate treatment strategies. Despite therapeutic and biological advances, medulloblastoma patients across the age spectrum experience tumor- and treatment-related morbidity and mortality. Using an updated risk stratification approach integrating both clinical and molecular features, ongoing research seeks to (1) cautiously reduce therapy and mitigate toxicity in low-average risk patients, and (2) thoughtfully intensify treatment with incorporation of novel, biologically guided agents for patients with high-risk disease. Herein, we review important historical and contemporary studies, discuss management updates, and summarize current knowledge of the biological landscape across unique pediatric, infant, young adult, and relapsed medulloblastoma populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margot A Lazow
- Pediatric Brain Tumor Program, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Joshua D Palmer
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
- The James Cancer Centre, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Maryam Fouladi
- Pediatric Brain Tumor Program, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ralph Salloum
- Pediatric Brain Tumor Program, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA.
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
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24
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Smith KS, Bihannic L, Gudenas BL, Haldipur P, Tao R, Gao Q, Li Y, Aldinger KA, Iskusnykh IY, Chizhikov VV, Scoggins M, Zhang S, Edwards A, Deng M, Glass IA, Overman LM, Millman J, Sjoboen AH, Hadley J, Golser J, Mankad K, Sheppard H, Onar-Thomas A, Gajjar A, Robinson GW, Hovestadt V, Orr BA, Patay Z, Millen KJ, Northcott PA. Unified rhombic lip origins of group 3 and group 4 medulloblastoma. Nature 2022; 609:1012-1020. [PMID: 36131015 PMCID: PMC9748853 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05208-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma, a malignant childhood cerebellar tumour, segregates molecularly into biologically distinct subgroups, suggesting that a personalized approach to therapy would be beneficial1. Mouse modelling and cross-species genomics have provided increasing evidence of discrete, subgroup-specific developmental origins2. However, the anatomical and cellular complexity of developing human tissues3-particularly within the rhombic lip germinal zone, which produces all glutamatergic neuronal lineages before internalization into the cerebellar nodulus-makes it difficult to validate previous inferences that were derived from studies in mice. Here we use multi-omics to resolve the origins of medulloblastoma subgroups in the developing human cerebellum. Molecular signatures encoded within a human rhombic-lip-derived lineage trajectory aligned with photoreceptor and unipolar brush cell expression profiles that are maintained in group 3 and group 4 medulloblastoma, suggesting a convergent basis. A systematic diagnostic-imaging review of a prospective institutional cohort localized the putative anatomical origins of group 3 and group 4 tumours to the nodulus. Our results connect the molecular and phenotypic features of clinically challenging medulloblastoma subgroups to their unified beginnings in the rhombic lip in the early stages of human development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle S Smith
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Laure Bihannic
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Brian L Gudenas
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Parthiv Haldipur
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ran Tao
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Qingsong Gao
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yiran Li
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kimberly A Aldinger
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Igor Y Iskusnykh
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Victor V Chizhikov
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Matthew Scoggins
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Silu Zhang
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Angela Edwards
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Mei Deng
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ian A Glass
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lynne M Overman
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Jake Millman
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alexandria H Sjoboen
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jennifer Hadley
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Joseph Golser
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kshitij Mankad
- Department of Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
| | - Heather Sheppard
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Arzu Onar-Thomas
- Department of Biostatistics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Amar Gajjar
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Giles W Robinson
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Volker Hovestadt
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brent A Orr
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Zoltán Patay
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kathleen J Millen
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Paul A Northcott
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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25
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Bočkaj I, Martini TEI, Smit MJ, Armandari I, Bakker B, Wardenaar R, Meeuwsen-de Boer TGJ, Bakker PL, Spierings DCJ, Hoving EW, Guryev V, Foijer F, Bruggeman SWM. Chromosomal Instability Characterizes Pediatric Medulloblastoma but Is Not Tolerated in the Developing Cerebellum. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179852. [PMID: 36077248 PMCID: PMC9456393 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is a pediatric brain malignancy that consists of four transcriptional subgroups. Structural and numerical aneuploidy are common in all subgroups, although they are particularly profound in Group 3 and Group 4 medulloblastoma and in a subtype of SHH medulloblastoma termed SHHα. This suggests that chromosomal instability (CIN), the process leading to aneuploidy, is an important player in medulloblastoma pathophysiology. However, it is not known if there is ongoing CIN in medulloblastoma or if CIN affects the developing cerebellum and promotes tumor formation. To investigate this, we performed karyotyping of single medulloblastoma cells and demonstrated the presence of distinct tumor cell clones harboring unique copy number alterations, which is suggestive of ongoing CIN. We also found enrichment for processes related to DNA replication, repair, and mitosis in both SHH medulloblastoma and in the highly proliferative compartment of the presumed tumor cell lineage-of-origin, the latter also being sensitive to genotoxic stress. However, when challenging these tumor cells-of-origin with genetic lesions inducing CIN using transgenic mouse modeling, we found no evidence for large chromosomal aberrations in the cerebellum or for medulloblastoma formation. We therefore conclude that without a background of specific genetic mutations, CIN is not tolerated in the developing cerebellum in vivo and, thus, by itself is not sufficient to initiate medulloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Bočkaj
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tosca E. I. Martini
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marlinde J. Smit
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Inna Armandari
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bjorn Bakker
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - René Wardenaar
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tiny G. J. Meeuwsen-de Boer
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Petra L. Bakker
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Diana C. J. Spierings
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Eelco W. Hoving
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 EA Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Victor Guryev
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Floris Foijer
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (F.F.); (S.W.M.B.)
| | - Sophia W. M. Bruggeman
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (F.F.); (S.W.M.B.)
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26
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Martín-Rubio P, Espiau-Romera P, Royo-García A, Caja L, Sancho P. Metabolic determinants of stemness in medulloblastoma. World J Stem Cells 2022; 14:587-598. [PMID: 36157911 PMCID: PMC9453267 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v14.i8.587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastomas (MBs) are the most prevalent brain tumours in children. They are classified as grade IV, the highest in malignancy, with about 30% metastatic tumours at the time of diagnosis. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subset of tumour cells that can initiate and support tumour growth. In MB, CSCs contribute to tumour initiation, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Metabolic differences among the different MB groups have started to emerge. Sonic hedgehog tumours show enriched lipid and nucleic acid metabolism pathways, whereas Group 3 MBs upregulate glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glutamine anabolism, and glutathione-mediated anti-oxidant pathways. Such differences impact the clinical behaviour of MB tumours and can be exploited therapeutically. In this review, we summarise the existing knowledge about metabolic rewiring in MB, with a particular focus on MB-CSCs. Finally, we highlight some of the emerging metabolism-based therapeutic strategies for MB.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alba Royo-García
- Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza 50009, Spain
| | - Laia Caja
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-751, Sweden
| | - Patricia Sancho
- Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, IIS Aragón, Zaragoza 50009, Spain
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27
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Pribnow A, Jonchere B, Liu J, Smith KS, Campagne O, Xu K, Robinson S, Patel Y, Onar-Thomas A, Wu G, Stewart CF, Northcott PA, Yu J, Robinson GW, Roussel MF. Combination of Ribociclib and Gemcitabine for the Treatment of Medulloblastoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2022; 21:1306-1317. [PMID: 35709750 PMCID: PMC9578677 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Group3 (G3) medulloblastoma (MB) is one of the deadliest forms of the disease for which novel treatment is desperately needed. Here we evaluate ribociclib, a highly selective CDK4/6 inhibitor, with gemcitabine in mouse and human G3MBs. Ribociclib central nervous system (CNS) penetration was assessed by in vivo microdialysis and by IHC and gene expression studies and found to be CNS-penetrant. Tumors from mice treated with short term oral ribociclib displayed inhibited RB phosphorylation, downregulated E2F target genes, and decreased proliferation. Survival studies to determine the efficacy of ribociclib and gemcitabine combination were performed on mice intracranially implanted with luciferase-labeled mouse and human G3MBs. Treatment of mice with the combination of ribociclib and gemcitabine was well tolerated, slowed tumor progression and metastatic spread, and increased survival. Expression-based gene activity and cell state analysis investigated the effects of the combination after short- and long-term treatments. Molecular analysis of treated versus untreated tumors showed a significant decrease in the activity and expression of genes involved in cell-cycle progression and DNA damage response, and an increase in the activity and expression of genes implicated in neuronal identity and neuronal differentiation. Our findings in both mouse and human patient-derived orthotopic xenograft models suggest that ribociclib and gemcitabine combination therapy warrants further investigation as a treatment strategy for children with G3MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Pribnow
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105
| | - Barbara Jonchere
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105
| | - Jingjing Liu
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105
| | - Kyle S. Smith
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105
| | - Olivia Campagne
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105
| | - Ke Xu
- Department of Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105
| | - Sarah Robinson
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105
| | - Yogesh Patel
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105
| | - Arzu Onar-Thomas
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105
| | - Gang Wu
- Department of Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105
| | - Clinton F. Stewart
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105
| | - Paul A. Northcott
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105
| | - Jiyang Yu
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105
| | - Giles W. Robinson
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105
| | - Martine F. Roussel
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105,Corresponding author: Martine F. Roussel, PhD. Department of Tumor Cell Biology, MS#350, 262, Danny thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, Phone: 901-595-3481; FAX: 901-595-2384; . Tel: 901-595-3481
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28
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Youn YH, Hou S, Wu CC, Kawauchi D, Orr BA, Robinson GW, Finkelstein D, Taketo MM, Gilbertson RJ, Roussel MF, Han YG. Primary cilia control translation and the cell cycle in medulloblastoma. Genes Dev 2022; 36:737-751. [PMID: 35798383 PMCID: PMC9296008 DOI: 10.1101/gad.349596.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The primary cilium, a signaling organelle projecting from the surface of a cell, controls cellular physiology and behavior. The presence or absence of primary cilia is a distinctive feature of a given tumor type; however, whether and how the primary cilium contributes to tumorigenesis are unknown for most tumors. Medulloblastoma (MB) is a common pediatric brain cancer comprising four groups: SHH, WNT, group 3 (G3), and group 4 (G4). From 111 cases of MB, we show that primary cilia are abundant in SHH and WNT MBs but rare in G3 and G4 MBs. Using WNT and G3 MB mouse models, we show that primary cilia promote WNT MB by facilitating translation of mRNA encoding β-catenin, a major oncoprotein driving WNT MB, whereas cilium loss promotes G3 MB by disrupting cell cycle control and destabilizing the genome. Our findings reveal tumor type-specific ciliary functions and underlying molecular mechanisms. Moreover, we expand the function of primary cilia to translation control and reveal a molecular mechanism by which cilia regulate cell cycle progression, thereby providing new frameworks for studying cilium function in normal and pathologic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Ha Youn
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Shirui Hou
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Chang-Chih Wu
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Daisuke Kawauchi
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan
| | - Brent A Orr
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Giles W Robinson
- Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - David Finkelstein
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Makoto M Taketo
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Richard J Gilbertson
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge CB2 0RE, England
| | - Martine F Roussel
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Young-Goo Han
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
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29
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Antonica F, Aiello G, Soldano A, Abballe L, Miele E, Tiberi L. Modeling Brain Tumors: A Perspective Overview of in vivo and Organoid Models. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:818696. [PMID: 35706426 PMCID: PMC9190727 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.818696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain tumors are a large and heterogeneous group of neoplasms that affect the central nervous system and include some of the deadliest cancers. Almost all the conventional and new treatments fail to hinder tumoral growth of the most malignant brain tumors. This is due to multiple factors, such as intra-tumor heterogeneity, the microenvironmental properties of the human brain, and the lack of reliable models to test new therapies. Therefore, creating faithful models for each tumor and discovering tailored treatments pose great challenges in the fight against brain cancer. Over the years, different types of models have been generated, and, in this review, we investigated the advantages and disadvantages of the models currently used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Antonica
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Disorders and Cancer, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Aiello
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Disorders and Cancer, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Alessia Soldano
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Luana Abballe
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Evelina Miele
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Tiberi
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Disorders and Cancer, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- *Correspondence: Luca Tiberi,
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30
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Wang W, Shiraishi R, Kawauchi D. Sonic Hedgehog Signaling in Cerebellar Development and Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:864035. [PMID: 35573667 PMCID: PMC9100414 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.864035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway regulates the development of the central nervous system in vertebrates. Aberrant regulation of SHH signaling pathways often causes neurodevelopmental diseases and brain tumors. In the cerebellum, SHH secreted by Purkinje cells is a potent mitogen for granule cell progenitors, which are the most abundant cell type in the mature brain. While a reduction in SHH signaling induces cerebellar structural abnormalities, such as hypoplasia in various genetic disorders, the constitutive activation of SHH signaling often induces medulloblastoma (MB), one of the most common pediatric malignant brain tumors. Based on the existing literature on canonical and non-canonical SHH signaling pathways, emerging basic and clinical studies are exploring novel therapeutic approaches for MB by targeting SHH signaling at distinct molecular levels. In this review, we discuss the present consensus on SHH signaling mechanisms, their roles in cerebellar development and tumorigenesis, and the recent advances in clinical trials for MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanchen Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryo Shiraishi
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan
- Department of NCNP Brain Physiology and Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kawauchi
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan
- *Correspondence: Daisuke Kawauchi,
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31
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Gabriel NN, Balaji K, Jayachandran K, Inkman M, Zhang J, Dahiya S, Goldstein M. Loss of H3K27 trimethylation promotes radiotherapy resistance in medulloblastoma and induces an actionable vulnerability to BET inhibition. Cancer Res 2022; 82:2019-2030. [PMID: 35315927 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-0871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma has been categorized into four subgroups based on genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptional profiling. Radiation is used for treating medulloblastoma regardless of the subgroup. A better understanding of the molecular pathways determining radiotherapy response could help improve medulloblastoma treatment. Here, we investigated the role of the EZH2-dependent histone H3K27 trimethylation in radiotherapy response in medulloblastoma. The tumors in 47.2% of group 3 and 4 medulloblastoma patients displayed H3K27me3 deficiency. Loss of H3K27me3 was associated with a radioresistant phenotype, high relapse rates, and poor overall survival. In H3K27me3-deficient medulloblastoma cells, an epigenetic switch from H3K27me3 to H3K27ac occurred at specific genomic loci, altering the transcriptional profile. The resulting upregulation of EPHA2 stimulated excessive activation of the pro-survival AKT signaling pathway, leading to radiotherapy resistance. BET inhibition overcame radiation resistance in H3K27me3-deficient medulloblastoma cells by suppressing H3K27ac levels, blunting EPHA2 overexpression, and mitigating excessive AKT signaling. Additionally, BET inhibition sensitized medulloblastoma cells to radiation by enhancing the apoptotic response through suppression of Bcl-xL and upregulation of Bim. This work demonstrates a novel mechanism of radiation resistance in medulloblastoma and identifies an epigenetic marker predictive of radiotherapy response. Based on these findings, we propose an epigenetically guided treatment approach targeting radiotherapy resistance in medulloblastoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishanth N Gabriel
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Kumaresh Balaji
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Kay Jayachandran
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Matthew Inkman
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Jin Zhang
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
| | - Sonika Dahiya
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, United States
| | - Michael Goldstein
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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32
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Danilenko M, Zaka M, Keeling C, Crosier S, Lyman S, Finetti M, Williamson D, Hussain R, Coxhead J, Zhou P, Hill RM, Hicks D, Rand V, Joshi A, Schwalbe EC, Bailey S, Clifford SC. Single-cell DNA sequencing identifies risk-associated clonal complexity and evolutionary trajectories in childhood medulloblastoma development. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 144:565-578. [PMID: 35831448 PMCID: PMC9381458 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-022-02464-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
We reconstructed the natural history and temporal evolution of the most common childhood brain malignancy, medulloblastoma, by single-cell whole-genome sequencing (sc-WGS) of tumours representing its major molecular sub-classes and clinical risk groups. Favourable-risk disease sub-types assessed (MBWNT and infant desmoplastic/nodular MBSHH) typically comprised a single clone with no evidence of further evolution. In contrast, highest risk sub-classes (MYC-amplified MBGroup3 and TP53-mutated MBSHH) were most clonally diverse and displayed gradual evolutionary trajectories. Clinically adopted biomarkers (e.g. chromosome 6/17 aberrations; CTNNB1/TP53 mutations) were typically early-clonal/initiating events, exploitable as targets for early-disease detection; in analyses of spatially distinct tumour regions, a single biopsy was sufficient to assess their status. Importantly, sc-WGS revealed novel events which arise later and/or sub-clonally and more commonly display spatial diversity; their clinical significance and role in disease evolution post-diagnosis now require establishment. These findings reveal diverse modes of tumour initiation and evolution in the major medulloblastoma sub-classes, with pathogenic relevance and clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Danilenko
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Masood Zaka
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington, UK
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
| | - Claire Keeling
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Stephen Crosier
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Stephanie Lyman
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Martina Finetti
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Daniel Williamson
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Rafiqul Hussain
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Jonathan Coxhead
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Peixun Zhou
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington, UK
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
| | - Rebecca M Hill
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Debbie Hicks
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Vikki Rand
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington, UK
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
| | - Abhijit Joshi
- Department of Neuropathology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle University Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Edward C Schwalbe
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Simon Bailey
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Steven C Clifford
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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Ray S, Chaturvedi NK, Bhakat KK, Rizzino A, Mahapatra S. Subgroup-Specific Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Predictive Markers Influencing Pediatric Medulloblastoma Treatment. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 12:diagnostics12010061. [PMID: 35054230 PMCID: PMC8774967 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12010061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant central nervous system tumor in pediatric patients. Mainstay of therapy remains surgical resection followed by craniospinal radiation and chemotherapy, although limitations to this therapy are applied in the youngest patients. Clinically, tumors are divided into average and high-risk status on the basis of age, metastasis at diagnosis, and extent of surgical resection. However, technological advances in high-throughput screening have facilitated the analysis of large transcriptomic datasets that have been used to generate the current classification system, dividing patients into four primary subgroups, i.e., WNT (wingless), SHH (sonic hedgehog), and the non-SHH/WNT subgroups 3 and 4. Each subgroup can further be subdivided on the basis of a combination of cytogenetic and epigenetic events, some in distinct signaling pathways, that activate specific phenotypes impacting patient prognosis. Here, we delve deeper into the genetic basis for each subgroup by reviewing the extent of cytogenetic events in key genes that trigger neoplastic transformation or that exhibit oncogenic properties. Each of these discussions is further centered on how these genetic aberrations can be exploited to generate novel targeted therapeutics for each subgroup along with a discussion on challenges that are currently faced in generating said therapies. Our future hope is that through better understanding of subgroup-specific cytogenetic events, the field may improve diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment to improve overall quality of life for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sutapa Ray
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 601 S Saddle Creek Road, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (S.R.); (N.K.C.)
- Fred and Pamela Buffet Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; (K.K.B.); (A.R.)
| | - Nagendra K. Chaturvedi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 601 S Saddle Creek Road, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (S.R.); (N.K.C.)
- Fred and Pamela Buffet Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; (K.K.B.); (A.R.)
| | - Kishor K. Bhakat
- Fred and Pamela Buffet Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; (K.K.B.); (A.R.)
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Angie Rizzino
- Fred and Pamela Buffet Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; (K.K.B.); (A.R.)
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Disease, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Sidharth Mahapatra
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 601 S Saddle Creek Road, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (S.R.); (N.K.C.)
- Fred and Pamela Buffet Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; (K.K.B.); (A.R.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(402)-599-7754
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Conti V, Cominelli M, Pieri V, Gallotti AL, Pagano I, Zanella M, Mazzoleni S, Pivetta F, Patanè M, Scotti GM, Piras IS, Pollo B, Falini A, Zippo A, Castellano A, Maestro R, Poliani PL, Galli R. mTORC1 promotes malignant large cell/anaplastic histology and is a targetable vulnerability in SHH-TP53 mutant medulloblastoma. JCI Insight 2021; 6:e153462. [PMID: 34673573 PMCID: PMC8675203 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.153462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB), one of the most malignant brain tumors of childhood, comprises distinct molecular subgroups, with p53 mutant sonic hedgehog-activated (SHH-activated) MB patients having a very severe outcome that is associated with unfavorable histological large cell/anaplastic (LC/A) features. To identify the molecular underpinnings of this phenotype, we analyzed a large cohort of MB developing in p53-deficient Ptch+/- SHH mice that, unexpectedly, showed LC/A traits that correlated with mTORC1 hyperactivation. Mechanistically, mTORC1 hyperactivation was mediated by a decrease in the p53-dependent expression of mTORC1 negative regulator Tsc2. Ectopic mTORC1 activation in mouse MB cancer stem cells (CSCs) promoted the in vivo acquisition of LC/A features and increased malignancy; accordingly, mTORC1 inhibition in p53-mutant Ptch+/- SHH MB and CSC-derived MB resulted in reduced tumor burden and aggressiveness. Most remarkably, mTORC1 hyperactivation was detected only in p53-mutant SHH MB patient samples, and treatment with rapamycin of a human preclinical model phenocopying this subgroup decreased tumor growth and malignancy. Thus, mTORC1 may act as a specific druggable target for this subset of SHH MB, resulting in the implementation of a stringent risk stratification and in the potentially rapid translation of this precision medicine approach into the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Conti
- Neural Stem Cell Biology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Manuela Cominelli
- Pathology Unit, Molecular and Translational Medicine Department, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Pieri
- Neural Stem Cell Biology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Functional Neuroradiology Unit, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto L. Gallotti
- Neural Stem Cell Biology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Pagano
- Neural Stem Cell Biology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Zanella
- Neural Stem Cell Biology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Flavia Pivetta
- Unit of Experimental Oncology 1, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO), Aviano National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Monica Patanè
- Neuropathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico “C. Besta,” Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia M. Scotti
- Center for Omics Sciences, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Ignazio S. Piras
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Bianca Pollo
- Neuropathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico “C. Besta,” Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Falini
- Functional Neuroradiology Unit, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessio Zippo
- Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare (INGM), Milan, Italy
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biology & Epigenetics, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Antonella Castellano
- Functional Neuroradiology Unit, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Maestro
- Unit of Experimental Oncology 1, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO), Aviano National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Pietro L. Poliani
- Pathology Unit, Molecular and Translational Medicine Department, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Rossella Galli
- Neural Stem Cell Biology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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Patterson DG, Kania AK, Price MJ, Rose JR, Scharer CD, Boss JM. An IRF4-MYC-mTORC1 Integrated Pathway Controls Cell Growth and the Proliferative Capacity of Activated B Cells during B Cell Differentiation In Vivo. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 207:1798-1811. [PMID: 34470852 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cell division is an essential component of B cell differentiation to Ab-secreting plasma cells, with critical reprogramming occurring during the initial stages of B cell activation. However, a complete understanding of the factors that coordinate early reprogramming events in vivo remain to be determined. In this study, we examined the initial reprogramming by IRF4 in activated B cells using an adoptive transfer system and mice with a B cell-specific deletion of IRF4. IRF4-deficient B cells responding to influenza, 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetyl-Ficoll, and LPS divided but stalled during the proliferative response. Gene expression profiling of IRF4-deficient B cells at discrete divisions revealed IRF4 was critical for inducing MYC target genes, oxidative phosphorylation, and glycolysis. Moreover, IRF4-deficient B cells maintained an inflammatory gene expression signature. Complementary chromatin accessibility analyses established a hierarchy of IRF4 activity and identified networks of dysregulated transcription factor families in IRF4-deficient B cells, including E-box binding bHLH family members. Indeed, B cells lacking IRF4 failed to fully induce Myc after stimulation and displayed aberrant cell cycle distribution. Furthermore, IRF4-deficient B cells showed reduced mTORC1 activity and failed to initiate the B cell activation unfolded protein response and grow in cell size. Myc overexpression in IRF4-deficient cells was sufficient to overcome the cell growth defect. Together, these data reveal an IRF4-MYC-mTORC1 relationship critical for controlling cell growth and the proliferative response during B cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dillon G Patterson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; and.,The Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Anna K Kania
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; and.,The Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Madeline J Price
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; and.,The Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - James R Rose
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; and.,The Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Christopher D Scharer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; and.,The Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Jeremy M Boss
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; and .,The Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
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Targeting cancer stem cells in medulloblastoma by inhibiting AMBRA1 dual function in autophagy and STAT3 signalling. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 142:537-564. [PMID: 34302498 PMCID: PMC8357694 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02347-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is a childhood malignant brain tumour comprising four main subgroups characterized by different genetic alterations and rate of mortality. Among MB subgroups, patients with enhanced levels of the c-MYC oncogene (MBGroup3) have the poorest prognosis. Here we identify a previously unrecognized role of the pro-autophagy factor AMBRA1 in regulating MB. We demonstrate that AMBRA1 expression depends on c-MYC levels and correlates with Group 3 patient poor prognosis; also, knockdown of AMBRA1 reduces MB stem potential, growth and migration of MBGroup3 stem cells. At a molecular level, AMBRA1 mediates these effects by suppressing SOCS3, an inhibitor of STAT3 activation. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of autophagy profoundly affects both stem and invasion potential of MBGroup3 stem cells, and a combined anti-autophagy and anti-STAT3 approach impacts the MBGroup3 outcome. Taken together, our data support the c-MYC/AMBRA1/STAT3 axis as a strong oncogenic signalling pathway with significance for both patient stratification strategies and targeted treatments of MBGroup3.
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37
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CREB signaling activity correlates with differentiation and survival in medulloblastoma. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16077. [PMID: 34373489 PMCID: PMC8352923 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95381-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
While there has been significant progress in the molecular characterization of the childhood brain cancer medulloblastoma, the tumor proteome remains less explored. However, it is important to obtain a complete understanding of medulloblastoma protein biology, since interactions between proteins represent potential new drug targets. Using previously generated phosphoprotein signaling-profiles of a large cohort of primary medulloblastoma, we discovered that phosphorylation of transcription factor CREB strongly correlates with medulloblastoma survival and associates with a differentiation phenotype. We further found that during normal cerebellar development, phosphorylated CREB was selectively expressed in differentiating cerebellar granule neuron progenitor (CGNP) cells. In line, we observed increased differentiation in CGNPs treated with Forskolin, Bmp6 and Bmp12 (Gdf7), which induce CREB phosphorylation. Lastly, we demonstrated that inducing CREB activation via PKA-mediated CREB signaling, but not Bmp/MEK/ERK mediated signalling, enhances medulloblastoma cell sensitivity to chemotherapy.
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38
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Schwinn S, Mokhtari Z, Thusek S, Schneider T, Sirén AL, Tiemeyer N, Caruana I, Miele E, Schlegel PG, Beilhack A, Wölfl M. Cytotoxic effects and tolerability of gemcitabine and axitinib in a xenograft model for c-myc amplified medulloblastoma. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14062. [PMID: 34234256 PMCID: PMC8263612 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93586-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common high-grade brain tumor in childhood. Medulloblastomas with c-myc amplification, classified as group 3, are the most aggressive among the four disease subtypes resulting in a 5-year overall survival of just above 50%. Despite current intensive therapy regimens, patients suffering from group 3 medulloblastoma urgently require new therapeutic options. Using a recently established c-myc amplified human medulloblastoma cell line, we performed an in-vitro-drug screen with single and combinatorial drugs that are either already clinically approved or agents in the advanced stage of clinical development. Candidate drugs were identified in vitro and then evaluated in vivo. Tumor growth was closely monitored by BLI. Vessel development was assessed by 3D light-sheet-fluorescence-microscopy. We identified the combination of gemcitabine and axitinib to be highly cytotoxic, requiring only low picomolar concentrations when used in combination. In the orthotopic model, gemcitabine and axitinib showed efficacy in terms of tumor control and survival. In both models, gemcitabine and axitinib were better tolerated than the standard regimen comprising of cisplatin and etoposide phosphate. 3D light-sheet-fluorescence-microscopy of intact tumors revealed thinning and rarefication of tumor vessels, providing one explanation for reduced tumor growth. Thus, the combination of the two drugs gemcitabine and axitinib has favorable effects on preventing tumor progression in an orthotopic group 3 medulloblastoma xenograft model while exhibiting a favorable toxicity profile. The combination merits further exploration as a new approach to treat high-risk group 3 medulloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Schwinn
- Children's Hospital, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Würzburg University Hospital, 31, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.,Department of Medicine, II, Würzburg University Hospital, Zinklesweg 10, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Zeinab Mokhtari
- Department of Medicine, II, Würzburg University Hospital, Zinklesweg 10, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sina Thusek
- Department of Medicine, II, Würzburg University Hospital, Zinklesweg 10, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Theresa Schneider
- Department of Medicine, II, Würzburg University Hospital, Zinklesweg 10, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Anna-Leena Sirén
- Department of Neurosurgery, Würzburg University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nicola Tiemeyer
- Children's Hospital, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Würzburg University Hospital, 31, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ignazio Caruana
- Children's Hospital, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Würzburg University Hospital, 31, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Evelina Miele
- Department of Pediatric Onco-Hematology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paul G Schlegel
- Children's Hospital, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Würzburg University Hospital, 31, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.,Comprehensive Cancer Center Main-Franken, Würzburg University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Beilhack
- Department of Medicine, II, Würzburg University Hospital, Zinklesweg 10, 97078, Würzburg, Germany. .,Comprehensive Cancer Center Main-Franken, Würzburg University Hospital, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Matthias Wölfl
- Children's Hospital, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Würzburg University Hospital, 31, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.
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39
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Lhermitte B, Blandin AF, Coca A, Guerin E, Durand A, Entz-Werlé N. Signaling pathway deregulation and molecular alterations across pediatric medulloblastomas. Neurochirurgie 2021; 67:39-45. [PMID: 29776650 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuchi.2018.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Revised: 01/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastomas (MBs) account for 15% of brain tumors in children under the age of 15. To date, the overall 5-year survival rate for all children is only around 60%. Recent advances in cancer genomics have led to a fundamental change in medulloblastoma classification and is evolving along with the genomic discoveries, allowing to regularly reclassify this disease. The previous molecular classification defined 4 groups (WNT-activated MB, SHH-activated MB and the groups 3 and 4 characterized partially by NMYC and MYC driven MBs). This stratification moved forward recently to better define these groups and their correlation to outcome. This new stratification into 7 novel subgroups was helpful to lay foundations and complementary data on the understanding regarding molecular pathways and gene mutations underlying medulloblastoma biology. This review was aimed at answering the recent key questions on MB genomics and go further in the relevance of those genes in MB development as well as in their targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Lhermitte
- Laboratoire de Pathologie, CHU Hautepierre, 1, avenue Molière, 67098 Strasbourg, France
| | - A F Blandin
- EA3430, Progression tumorale et microenvironnement, approches translationnelles et épidémiologie, université de Strasbourg, 3, avenue Molière, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - A Coca
- Service de Neurochirurgie, CHU Hautepierre, 1, avenue Molière, 67098 Strasbourg, France
| | - E Guerin
- Laboratoire de biologie moléculaire et plateforme régionale d'oncobiologie d'Alsace, CHU Hautepierre, 1, avenue Molière, 67098 Strasbourg, France
| | - A Durand
- EA3430, Progression tumorale et microenvironnement, approches translationnelles et épidémiologie, université de Strasbourg, 3, avenue Molière, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - N Entz-Werlé
- EA3430, Progression tumorale et microenvironnement, approches translationnelles et épidémiologie, université de Strasbourg, 3, avenue Molière, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Service de pédiatrie onco-hématologie, CHU Hautepierre, 1, avenue Molière, 67098 Strasbourg, France.
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40
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Shiraishi R, Kawauchi D. Epigenetic regulation in medulloblastoma pathogenesis revealed by genetically engineered mouse models. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:2948-2957. [PMID: 34050694 PMCID: PMC8353939 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant cerebellar tumor in children. Recent technological advances in multilayered ’omics data analysis have revealed 4 molecular subgroups of medulloblastoma (Wingless/int, Sonic hedgehog, Group3, and Group4). (Epi)genomic and transcriptomic profiling on human primary medulloblastomas has shown distinct oncogenic drivers and cellular origin(s) across the subgroups. Despite tremendous efforts to identify the molecular signals driving tumorigenesis, few of the identified targets were druggable; therefore, a further understanding of the etiology of tumors is required to establish effective molecular‐targeted therapies. Chromatin regulators are frequently mutated in medulloblastoma, prompting us to investigate epigenetic changes and the accompanying activation of oncogenic signaling during tumorigenesis. For this purpose, we have used germline and non‐germline genetically engineered mice to model human medulloblastoma and to conduct useful, molecularly targeted, preclinical studies. This review discusses the biological implications of chromatin regulator mutations during medulloblastoma pathogenesis, based on recent in vivo animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Shiraishi
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan.,Department of NCNP Brain Physiology and Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kawauchi
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan
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41
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Ballabio C, Gianesello M, Lago C, Okonechnikov K, Anderle M, Aiello G, Antonica F, Zhang T, Gianno F, Giangaspero F, Hassan BA, Pfister SM, Tiberi L. Notch1 switches progenitor competence in inducing medulloblastoma. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/26/eabd2781. [PMID: 34162555 PMCID: PMC8221631 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd2781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The identity of the cell of origin is a key determinant of cancer subtype, progression, and prognosis. Group 3 medulloblastoma (MB) is a malignant childhood brain cancer with poor prognosis and few candidates as putative cell of origin. We overexpressed the group 3 MB genetic drivers MYC and Gfi1 in different candidate cells of origin in the postnatal mouse cerebellum. We found that S100b+ cells are competent to initiate group 3 MB, and we observed that S100b+ cells have higher levels of Notch1 pathway activity compared to Math1+ cells. We found that additional activation of Notch1 in Math1+ and Sox2+ cells was sufficient to induce group 3 MB upon MYC/Gfi1 expression. Together, our data suggest that the Notch1 pathway plays a critical role in group 3 MB initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Ballabio
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Matteo Gianesello
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Chiara Lago
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Konstantin Okonechnikov
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center and German Cancer Consortium, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marica Anderle
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Aiello
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Francesco Antonica
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Paris Brain Institute-Institut du Cerveau, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 8, Paris, France
| | - Francesca Gianno
- Dept. of Radiologic, Oncologic and Anatomo Pathological Sciences, University Sapienza of Rome, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy
| | - Felice Giangaspero
- Dept. of Radiologic, Oncologic and Anatomo Pathological Sciences, University Sapienza of Rome, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy
| | - Bassem A Hassan
- Paris Brain Institute-Institut du Cerveau, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 8, Paris, France
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center and German Cancer Consortium, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Luca Tiberi
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy.
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42
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Notch Signaling between Cerebellar Granule Cell Progenitors. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0468-20.2021. [PMID: 33762301 PMCID: PMC8121261 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0468-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebellar granule cells (GCs) are cells which comprise over 50% of the neurons in the entire nervous system. GCs enable the cerebellum to properly regulate motor coordination, learning, and consolidation, in addition to cognition, emotion and language. During GC development, maternal GC progenitors (GCPs) divide to produce not only postmitotic GCs but also sister GCPs. However, the molecular machinery for regulating the proportional production of distinct sister cell types from seemingly uniform GCPs is not yet fully understood. Here we report that Notch signaling creates a distinction between GCPs and leads to their proportional differentiation in mice. Among Notch-related molecules, Notch1, Notch2, Jag1, and Hes1 are prominently expressed in GCPs. In vivo monitoring of Hes1-promoter activities showed the presence of two types of GCPs, Notch-signaling ON and OFF, in the external granule layer (EGL). Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and in silico analyses indicate that ON-GCPs have more proliferative and immature properties, while OFF-GCPs have opposite characteristics. Overexpression as well as knock-down (KD) experiments using in vivo electroporation showed that NOTCH2 and HES1 are involved cell-autonomously to suppress GCP differentiation by inhibiting NEUROD1 expression. In contrast, JAG1-expressing cells non-autonomously upregulated Notch signaling activities via NOTCH2-HES1 in surrounding GCPs, eventually suppressing their differentiation. These findings suggest that Notch signaling results in the proportional generation of two types of cells, immature and differentiating GCPs, which contributes to the well-organized differentiation of GCs.
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Amoozgar Z, Kloepper J, Ren J, Tay RE, Kazer SW, Kiner E, Krishnan S, Posada JM, Ghosh M, Mamessier E, Wong C, Ferraro GB, Batista A, Wang N, Badeaux M, Roberge S, Xu L, Huang P, Shalek AK, Fukumura D, Kim HJ, Jain RK. Targeting Treg cells with GITR activation alleviates resistance to immunotherapy in murine glioblastomas. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2582. [PMID: 33976133 PMCID: PMC8113440 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22885-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) have failed in all phase III glioblastoma (GBM) trials. Here, we show that regulatory T (Treg) cells play a key role in GBM resistance to ICBs in experimental gliomas. Targeting glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related receptor (GITR) in Treg cells using an agonistic antibody (αGITR) promotes CD4 Treg cell differentiation into CD4 effector T cells, alleviates Treg cell-mediated suppression of anti-tumor immune response, and induces potent anti-tumor effector cells in GBM. The reprogrammed GBM-infiltrating Treg cells express genes associated with a Th1 response signature, produce IFNγ, and acquire cytotoxic activity against GBM tumor cells while losing their suppressive function. αGITR and αPD1 antibodies increase survival benefit in three experimental GBM models, with a fraction of cohorts exhibiting complete tumor eradication and immune memory upon tumor re-challenge. Moreover, αGITR and αPD1 synergize with the standard of care treatment for newly-diagnosed GBM, enhancing the cure rates in these GBM models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohreh Amoozgar
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonas Kloepper
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jun Ren
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rong En Tay
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samuel W Kazer
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, and Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT & Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Evgeny Kiner
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shanmugarajan Krishnan
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jessica M Posada
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mitrajit Ghosh
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emilie Mamessier
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christina Wong
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gino B Ferraro
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ana Batista
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nancy Wang
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark Badeaux
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sylvie Roberge
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lei Xu
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peigen Huang
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alex K Shalek
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, and Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT & Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dai Fukumura
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hye-Jung Kim
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Rakesh K Jain
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), Boston, MA, USA.
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44
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Cheng Y, Liao S, Xu G, Hu J, Guo D, Du F, Contreras A, Cai KQ, Peri S, Wang Y, Corney DC, Noronha AM, Chau LQ, Zhou G, Wiest DL, Bellacosa A, Wechsler-Reya RJ, Zhao Y, Yang ZJ. NeuroD1 Dictates Tumor Cell Differentiation in Medulloblastoma. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107782. [PMID: 32579914 PMCID: PMC7357167 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells are characterized by unlimited proliferation and perturbed differentiation. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we demonstrate that tumor cells in medulloblastoma (MB) retain their capacity to differentiate in a similar way as their normal originating cells, cerebellar granule neuron precursors. Once they differentiate, MB cells permanently lose their proliferative capacity and tumorigenic potential. Differentiated MB cells highly express NeuroD1, a helix-loop-helix transcription factor, and forced expression of NeuroD1 promotes the differentiation of MB cells. The expression of NeuroD1 in bulk MB cells is repressed by trimethylation of histone 3 lysine-27 (H3K27me3). Inhibition of the histone lysine methyltransferase EZH2 prevents H3K27 trimethylation, resulting in increased NeuroD1 expression and enhanced differentiation in MB cells, which consequently reduces tumor growth. These studies reveal the mechanisms underlying MB cell differentiation and provide rationales to treat MB (potentially other malignancies) by stimulating tumor cell differentiation. Cheng et al. demonstrate that medulloblastoma cells retain the capacity to undergo differentiation. The differentiation of tumor cells is regulated by NeuroD1 expression, which is repressed by H3K27me3 in tumor cells. EZH2 inhibitors suppress medulloblastoma growth by stimulating tumor cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Cheng
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shengyou Liao
- Bioinformatics Research Group, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Xu
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jian Hu
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Duancheng Guo
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Fang Du
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alejandra Contreras
- Blood Cell Development and Function, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kathy Q Cai
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Suraj Peri
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Research Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yuan Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - David C Corney
- Genomics and Molecular Genetics, GENEWIZ Co., South Plainfield, NJ, USA
| | | | - Lianne Q Chau
- Tumor Initiation& Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ginger Zhou
- Genomics and Molecular Genetics, GENEWIZ Co., South Plainfield, NJ, USA
| | - David L Wiest
- Blood Cell Development and Function, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alfonso Bellacosa
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert J Wechsler-Reya
- Tumor Initiation& Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yi Zhao
- Bioinformatics Research Group, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zeng-Jie Yang
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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45
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Li Z, Langhans SA. In Vivo and Ex Vivo Pediatric Brain Tumor Models: An Overview. Front Oncol 2021; 11:620831. [PMID: 33869004 PMCID: PMC8047472 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.620831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
After leukemia, tumors of the brain and spine are the second most common form of cancer in children. Despite advances in treatment, brain tumors remain a leading cause of death in pediatric cancer patients and survivors often suffer from life-long consequences of side effects of therapy. The 5-year survival rates, however, vary widely by tumor type, ranging from over 90% in more benign tumors to as low as 20% in the most aggressive forms such as glioblastoma. Even within historically defined tumor types such as medulloblastoma, molecular analysis identified biologically heterogeneous subgroups each with different genetic alterations, age of onset and prognosis. Besides molecularly driven patient stratification to tailor disease risk to therapy intensity, such a diversity demonstrates the need for more precise and disease-relevant pediatric brain cancer models for research and drug development. Here we give an overview of currently available in vitro and in vivo pediatric brain tumor models and discuss the opportunities that new technologies such as 3D cultures and organoids that can bridge limitations posed by the simplicity of monolayer cultures and the complexity of in vivo models, bring to accommodate better precision in drug development for pediatric brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sigrid A. Langhans
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, United States
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46
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Hupfer A, Brichkina A, Adhikary T, Lauth M. The mammalian Hedgehog pathway is modulated by ANP32 proteins. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 553:78-84. [PMID: 33761414 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Transcriptional profiling has so far delineated four major MB subgroups of which one is driven by uncontrolled Hedgehog (Hh) signaling (SHH-MB). This pathway is amenable to drug targeting, yet clinically approved compounds exclusively target the transmembrane component Smoothened (SMO). Unfortunately, drug resistance against SMO inhibitors is encountered frequently, making the identification of novel Hh pathway components mandatory, which could serve as novel drug targets in the future. Here, we have used MB as a tool to delineate novel modulators of Hh signaling and have identified the Acidic Nuclear Phosphoprotein 32 (ANP32) family of proteins as novel regulators. The expression of all three family members (ANP32A, ANP32B, ANP32E) is increased in Hh-induced MB and their expression level is negatively associated with overall survival in SHH-MB patients. Mechanistically, we could find that ANP32 proteins function as positive modulators of mammalian Hh signaling upstream of GLI transcription factors. These findings add hitherto unknown regulators to the mammalian Hh signaling cascade and might spur future translational efforts to combat Hh-driven malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Hupfer
- Philipps University Marburg, Center for Tumor- and Immune Biology (ZTI), Clinics of Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Metabolism and Infectiology, Germany
| | - Anna Brichkina
- Philipps University Marburg, Center for Tumor- and Immune Biology (ZTI), Clinics of Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Metabolism and Infectiology, Germany
| | - Till Adhikary
- Philipps University Marburg, Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology (ZTI), Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Tumor Research, Germany
| | - Matthias Lauth
- Philipps University Marburg, Center for Tumor- and Immune Biology (ZTI), Clinics of Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Metabolism and Infectiology, Germany.
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47
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Xue Y, Fu Y, Zhao F, Gui G, Li Y, Rivero-Hinojosa S, Liu G, Li Y, Xia S, Eberhart CG, Ying M. Frondoside A Inhibits an MYC-Driven Medulloblastoma Model Derived from Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:1199-1209. [PMID: 33722850 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor. MYC-driven MBs, commonly found in the group 3 MB, are aggressive and metastatic with the worst prognosis. Modeling MYC-driven MB is the foundation of therapeutic development. Here, we applied a synthetic mRNA-driven strategy to generate neuronal precursors from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These neuronal precursors were transformed by the MYC oncogene combined with p53 loss of function to establish an MYC-driven MB model recapitulating the histologic and transcriptomic hallmarks of group 3 MB. We further show that the marine compound Frondoside A (FA) effectively inhibits this MYC-driven MB model without affecting isogenic neuronal precursors with undetectable MYC expression. Consistent results from a panel of MB models support that MYC levels are positively correlated with FA's antitumor potency. Next, we show that FA suppresses MYC expression and its downstream gene targets in MB cells, suggesting a potential mechanism underlying FA's inhibitory effects on MYC-driven cancers. In orthotopic xenografts of MYC-driven MB, intratumoral FA administration potently induces cytotoxicity in tumor xenografts, significantly extends the survival of tumor-bearing animals, and enhances the recruitment of microglia/macrophages and cytotoxic T lymphocytes to tumors. Moreover, we show that MYC levels also predict FA potency in glioblastoma and non-small cell lung cancer cells. Taken together, this study provides an efficient human iPSC-based strategy for personalizable cancer modeling, widely applicable to mechanistic studies (e.g., genetic predisposition to cancer) and drug discovery. Our preclinical results justify the clinical translation of FA in treating MYC-driven MB and other human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingchao Xue
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yi Fu
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Fenghong Zhao
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Gege Gui
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yuguo Li
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Samuel Rivero-Hinojosa
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Guanshu Liu
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yunqing Li
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Shuli Xia
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Charles G Eberhart
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mingyao Ying
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland. .,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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48
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Werbowetski-Ogilvie TE. From sorting to sequencing in the molecular era: the evolution of the cancer stem cell model in medulloblastoma. FEBS J 2021; 289:1765-1778. [PMID: 33714236 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The cancer stem cell (CSC) model posits that tumors contain subpopulations that display defining features of normal stem cells including self-renewal capacity and differentiation. Tumor cells exhibiting these features are now considered to be responsible for tumor propagation and drug resistance in a wide variety of cancers. Therefore, the identification of robust CSC markers and characterization of CSC-specific molecular signatures may lead to the identification of novel therapeutics that selectively abolish this clinically relevant cell population while preserving normal tissue. Brain tumor researchers have been at the forefront of the CSC field. From initial in vitro cell sorting experiments to the sophisticated bioinformatic technologies that now exquisitely resolve primary brain tumors at a single-cell level, recent glioma and medulloblastoma (MB) studies have integrated developmental state with genomic and transcriptome data to identify the spectrum of cell types that may drive tumor progression. This review will examine the last two decades of CSC studies in the field. Seminal discoveries, emerging controversies, and outstanding questions will be covered with a particular focus on MB, the most common malignant primary brain tumor in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamra E Werbowetski-Ogilvie
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Program, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Research Institute in Oncology and Hematology, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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49
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Panagopoulos D, Karydakis P, Giakoumettis D, Themistocleous M. The 100 most cited papers about medulloblastomas. INTERDISCIPLINARY NEUROSURGERY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.inat.2020.100855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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50
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Medulloblastoma drugs in development: Current leads, trials and drawbacks. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 215:113268. [PMID: 33636537 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Current treatment for MB includes surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Despite significant progress in its management, a portion of children relapse and tumor recurrence carries a poor prognosis. Based on their molecular and clinical characteristics, MB patients are clinically classified into four groups: Wnt, Hh, Group 3, and Group 4. With our increased understanding of relevant molecular pathways disrupted in MB, the development of targeted therapies for MB has also increased. Targeted drugs have shown unique privileges over traditional cytotoxic therapies in balancing efficacy and toxicity, with many of them approved and widely used clinically. The aim of this review is to present the recent progress on targeted chemotherapies for the treatment of all classes of MB.
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