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Rios F, Uriostegui-Arcos M, Zurita M. Transcriptional Stress Induces the Generation of DoGs in Cancer Cells. Noncoding RNA 2024; 10:5. [PMID: 38250805 PMCID: PMC10801504 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna10010005] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
A characteristic of the cellular response to stress is the production of RNAs generated from a readthrough transcription of genes, called downstream-of-gene-(DoG)-containing transcripts. Additionally, transcription inhibitor drugs are candidates for fighting cancer. In this work, we report the results of a bioinformatic analysis showing that one of the responses to transcription inhibition is the generation of DoGs in cancer cells. Although some genes that form DoGs were shared between the two cancer lines, there did not appear to be a functional correlation between them. However, our findings show that DoGs are generated as part of the cellular response to transcription inhibition like other types of cellular stress, suggesting that they may be part of the defense against transcriptional stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mario Zurita
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca Morelos 62250, Mexico (M.U.-A.)
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2
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Li ZM, Liu G, Gao Y, Zhao MG. Targeting CDK7 in oncology: The avenue forward. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 240:108229. [PMID: 35700828 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 7 is best characterized for the ability to regulate biological processes, including the cell cycle and gene transcription. Abnormal CDK7 activity is observed in various tumours and represents a driving force for tumourigenesis. Therefore, CDK7 may be an appealing target for cancer treatment. Whereas, the enthusiasm for CDK7-targeted therapeutic strategy is mitigated due to the widely possessed belief that this protein is essential for normal cells. Indeed, the fact confronts the consensus. This is the first review to introduce the role of CDK7 in pan-cancers via a combined analysis of comprehensive gene information and (pre)clinical research results. We also discuss the recent advances in protein structure and summarize the understanding of mechanisms underlying CDK7 function. These endeavours highlight the pivotal roles of CDK7 in tumours and may contribute to the development of effective CDK7 inhibitors within the strategy of structure-based drug discovery for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Mei Li
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Guan Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xinsi Road 1, Xi'an 710038, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Ya Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, PR China.
| | - Ming-Gao Zhao
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, PR China; Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xinsi Road 1, Xi'an 710038, Shaanxi, PR China.
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3
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Attia YM, Salama SA, Shouman SA, Ivan C, Elsayed AM, Amero P, Rodriguez-Aguayo C, Lopez-Berestein G. Targeting CDK7 reverses tamoxifen resistance through regulating stemness in ER+ breast cancer. Pharmacol Rep 2022; 74:366-378. [PMID: 35000145 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-021-00346-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although tamoxifen is the mainstay endocrine therapy for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer patients, the emergence of tamoxifen resistance is still the major challenge that results in treatment failure. Tamoxifen is very effective in halting breast cancer cell proliferation; nonetheless, the ability of tamoxifen to target cancer stem and progenitor cell populations (CSCs), a major key player for the emergence of tamoxifen resistance, has not been adequately investigated yet. Thus, we explored whether targeting CDK7 modulates CSCs subpopulation and tamoxifen resistance in ER+ breast cancer cells. METHODS Mammosphere-formation assay, stem cell biomarkers and tamoxifen sensitivity were analyzed in MCF7 tamoxifen-sensitive cell line and its resistant counterpart, LCC2, following CDK7 targeting by THZ1 or siRNA. RESULTS Analysis of clinically relevant data indicated that expression of stemness factor, SOX2, was positively correlated with CDK7 expression in tamoxifen-treated patients. Moreover, overexpression of the stemness gene, SOX2, was associated with shorter overall survival in those patients. Importantly, the number of CSC populations and the expression of CDK7, P-Ser118-ER-α and c-MYC were significantly higher in LCC2 cells compared with parental MCF-7 cells. Moreover, targeting CDK7 inhibited mammosphere formation, CSC-regulating genes, and CSC biomarkers expression in MCF-7 and LCC2 cells. CONCLUSION Our data indicate, for the first time, that CDK7-targeted therapy in ER+ breast cancer ameliorates tamoxifen resistance, at least in part, by inhibiting cancer stemness. Thus, targeting CDK7 might represent a potential approach for relieving tamoxifen resistance in ER+ breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin M Attia
- Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Kasr Al Eini Street, Fom El Khalig, Cairo, 11796, Egypt. .,Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Salama A Salama
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, 11651, Egypt.
| | - Samia A Shouman
- Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Kasr Al Eini Street, Fom El Khalig, Cairo, 11796, Egypt
| | - Cristina Ivan
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNA, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Abdelrahman M Elsayed
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, 11651, Egypt.,Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Paola Amero
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Cristian Rodriguez-Aguayo
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNA, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Gabriel Lopez-Berestein
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNA, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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4
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Kumar V, Parate S, Thakur G, Lee G, Ro HS, Kim Y, Kim HJ, Kim MO, Lee KW. Identification of CDK7 Inhibitors from Natural Sources Using Pharmacoinformatics and Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1197. [PMID: 34572383 PMCID: PMC8468199 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9091197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) plays a crucial role in regulating the cell cycle and RNA polymerase-based transcription. Overexpression of this kinase is linked with various cancers in humans due to its dual involvement in cell development. Furthermore, emerging evidence has revealed that inhibiting CDK7 has anti-cancer effects, driving the development of novel and more cost-effective inhibitors with enhanced selectivity for CDK7 over other CDKs. In the present investigation, a pharmacophore-based approach was utilized to identify potential hit compounds against CDK7. The generated pharmacophore models were validated and used as 3D queries to screen 55,578 natural drug-like compounds. The obtained compounds were then subjected to molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations to predict their binding mode with CDK7. The molecular dynamics simulation trajectories were subsequently used to calculate binding affinity, revealing four hits-ZINC20392430, SN00112175, SN00004718, and SN00262261-having a better binding affinity towards CDK7 than the reference inhibitors (CT7001 and THZ1). The binding mode analysis displayed hydrogen bond interactions with the hinge region residues Met94 and Glu95, DFG motif residue Asp155, ATP-binding site residues Thr96, Asp97, and Gln141, and quintessential residue outside the kinase domain, Cys312 of CDK7. The in silico selectivity of the hits was further checked by docking with CDK2, the close homolog structure of CDK7. Additionally, the detailed pharmacokinetic properties were predicted, revealing that our hits have better properties than established CDK7 inhibitors CT7001 and THZ1. Hence, we argue that proposed hits may be crucial against CDK7-related malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Kumar
- Department of Bio & Medical Big Data (BK4 Program), Division of Life Sciences, Research Institute of Natural Science (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea;
| | - Shraddha Parate
- Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center (PMBBRC), Division of Applied Life Science, Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea; (S.P.); (G.L.)
| | - Gunjan Thakur
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Animal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University (GNU), Jinju 52828, Korea;
| | - Gihwan Lee
- Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center (PMBBRC), Division of Applied Life Science, Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea; (S.P.); (G.L.)
| | - Hyeon-Su Ro
- Department of Bio & Medical Big Data (BK4 Program), Research Institute of Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University (GNU), Jinju 52828, Korea;
| | - Yongseong Kim
- School of Cosmetics and Food Development, Kyungnam University, Masan 631-701, Korea;
| | - Hong Ja Kim
- Division of Life Sciences and Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Research Institute of Natural Science (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea;
| | - Myeong Ok Kim
- Division of Life Sciences and Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Research Institute of Natural Science (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea;
| | - Keun Woo Lee
- Department of Bio & Medical Big Data (BK4 Program), Division of Life Sciences, Research Institute of Natural Science (RINS), Gyeongsang National University (GNU), 501 Jinju-daero, Jinju 52828, Korea;
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5
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Berico P, Cigrang M, Davidson G, Braun C, Sandoz J, Legras S, Vokshi BH, Slovic N, Peyresaubes F, Gene Robles CM, Egly JM, Compe E, Davidson I, Coin F. CDK7 and MITF repress a transcription program involved in survival and drug tolerance in melanoma. EMBO Rep 2021; 22:e51683. [PMID: 34296805 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202051683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma cell phenotype switching between differentiated melanocytic and undifferentiated mesenchymal-like states drives metastasis and drug resistance. CDK7 is the serine/threonine kinase of the basal transcription factor TFIIH. We show that dedifferentiation of melanocytic-type melanoma cells into mesenchymal-like cells and acquisition of tolerance to targeted therapies is achieved through chronic inhibition of CDK7. In addition to emergence of a mesenchymal-type signature, we identify a GATA6-dependent gene expression program comprising genes such as AMIGO2 or ABCG2 involved in melanoma survival or targeted drug tolerance, respectively. Mechanistically, we show that CDK7 drives expression of the melanocyte lineage transcription factor MITF that in turn binds to an intronic region of GATA6 to repress its expression in melanocytic-type cells. We show that GATA6 expression is activated in MITF-low melanoma cells of patient-derived xenografts. Taken together, our data show how the poorly characterized repressive function of MITF in melanoma participates in a molecular cascade regulating activation of a transcriptional program involved in survival and drug resistance in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Berico
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Equipe Labélisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Max Cigrang
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Equipe Labélisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Guillaume Davidson
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Equipe Labélisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Cathy Braun
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Equipe Labélisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Jeremy Sandoz
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Equipe Labélisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Stephanie Legras
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Equipe Labélisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Bujamin Hektor Vokshi
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Equipe Labélisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Nevena Slovic
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Equipe Labélisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - François Peyresaubes
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Equipe Labélisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Carlos Mario Gene Robles
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Equipe Labélisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Jean-Marc Egly
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Equipe Labélisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Emmanuel Compe
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Equipe Labélisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Irwin Davidson
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Equipe Labélisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Frederic Coin
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Equipe Labélisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Strasbourg, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
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6
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Wu J, Sheng J, Qin H, Cui M, Yang Y, Zhang X. The Application Progress of Patient-Derived Tumor Xenograft Models After Cholangiocarcinoma Surgeries. Front Oncol 2021; 11:628636. [PMID: 34367944 PMCID: PMC8339899 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.628636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Surgical treatment is the only possible cure for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) at present. However, the high recurrence rate of postoperative CCA leads to a very poor prognosis for patients, effective postoperative chemotherapy is hence the key to preventing the recurrence of CCA. The sensitivity of CCA to cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs and targeted drugs varies from person to person, and therefore, the screening of sensitive drugs has become an important topic after CCA surgeries. Patient-Derived tumor Xenograft models (PDX) can stably retain the genetic and pathological characteristics of primary tumors, and better simulate the tumor microenvironment of CCA. The model is also of great significance in screening therapeutic targeted drugs after CCA, analyzing predictive biomarkers, and improving signal pathways in prognosis and basic research. This paper will review the current established methods and applications of the patient-derived tumor xenograft model of cholangiocarcinoma, aiming to provide new ideas for basic research and individualized treatment of cholangiocarcinoma after surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiyao Sheng
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hanjiao Qin
- Department of Radiotherapy, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Mengying Cui
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yongsheng Yang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xuewen Zhang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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7
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Choi YJ, Lee H, Kim DS, Kim DH, Kang MH, Cho YH, Choi CM, Yoo J, Lee KO, Choi EK, Lee JC, Rho JK. Discovery of a novel CDK7 inhibitor YPN-005 in small cell lung cancer. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 907:174298. [PMID: 34224696 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In contrast to non-small cell lung cancer, there has been no significant progress in the development of therapies for the small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in recent decades. Although various targeted agents, including immunotherapies, have recently been developed for testing in clinical trials, novel therapeutic agents are still needed for SCLC. We developed a potent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7), designated YPN-005, and sought to determine whether it showed any anticancer effects in SCLC cells, cisplatin or etoposide-resistant cells, or organoids derived from SCLC patients. In a panel of kinases assay, YPN-005 was highly selective for CDK7 and showed antiproliferative effects in SCLC and cells with acquired resistance to conventional anticancer drugs. Similar to other CDK7 inhibitors, YPN-005 treatment significantly decreased the phosphorylation of the carboxyl-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II. Consistent with the in vitro results, YPN-005 treatment showed a significant inhibition of tumor growth through the suppression of RNA polymerase II phosphorylation. Finally, YPN-005 showed potent anticancer effects in organoids derived from SCLC patients compared to another CDK7 inhibitor, THZ1. Therapeutic targeting of CDK7 in SCLC might be suitable for clinical investigation, and YPN-005 may be a promising therapeutic option for primary SCLC and SCLC with acquired resistance to conventional therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Jung Choi
- Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, South Korea
| | - Hyeonjeong Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Asan Medical Center, AMIST, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, South Korea
| | - Da-Som Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Asan Medical Center, AMIST, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, South Korea
| | - Dong Ha Kim
- Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, South Korea
| | - Myoung-Hee Kang
- Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, South Korea
| | - Yong-Hee Cho
- Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, South Korea
| | - Chang-Min Choi
- Department of Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, South Korea; Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, South Korea
| | - Jakyung Yoo
- R&D Institute, Yungjin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, 109, Suwon 16229, South Korea
| | - Kwang-Ok Lee
- R&D Institute, Yungjin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, 109, Suwon 16229, South Korea
| | - Eun Kyung Choi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, South Korea
| | - Jae Cheol Lee
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, South Korea.
| | - Jin Kyung Rho
- Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, South Korea.
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8
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Ma H, Dean DC, Wei R, Hornicek FJ, Duan Z. Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) is an emerging prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in osteosarcoma. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis 2021; 13:1759720X21995069. [PMID: 34104229 PMCID: PMC8164556 DOI: 10.1177/1759720x21995069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Overexpression of cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) is a well-known pathogenic feature of various malignancies and a sign of a more dismal prognosis. As relatively little is known about CDK7 in osteosarcoma, we elected to evaluate its expression, prognostic value, and function. Methods: We began by analyzing the publicly available data sets on CDK7 expression, including RNA sequencing data from the Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments on Osteosarcoma (TARGET-OS) and the Gene Expression database of Normal and Tumor tissues 2 (GENT2). The correlation between patient tissue CDK7 expression and their clinicopathological features and prognosis was assessed via immunohistochemical staining of a unique tissue microarray constructed from osteosarcoma specimens. Furthermore, we analyzed CDK7 expression in osteosarcoma cell lines and tissues by Western blot. CDK7-specific siRNA and a highly-selective CDK7 inhibitor, BS-181, were applied to determine the function of CDK7 on osteosarcoma cell growth and proliferation. In addition, the effect of CDK7 inhibition on clonogenicity was evaluated using a clonogenic assay, and a 3D cell culture model was used to mimic CDK7 effects in an in vivo environment. Results: Our results demonstrate that higher CDK7 expression significantly correlates with recurrence, metastasis, and shorter overall survival in osteosarcoma patients. Therapeutically, we show that CDK7 knockdown with siRNA or selective inhibition with BS-181 decreases proliferation and induces apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells. Conclusion: This study supports CDK7 overexpression as an independent predictor of poor prognosis and promising therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hangzhan Ma
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Dylan C Dean
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ran Wei
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Francis J Hornicek
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Zhenfeng Duan
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 615 Charles E. Young Dr. South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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9
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Ge H, Yao Y, Jiang Y, Wu X, Wang Y. Pharmacological inhibition of CDK7 by THZ1 impairs tumor growth in p53-mutated HNSCC. Oral Dis 2021; 28:611-620. [PMID: 33503275 DOI: 10.1111/odi.13783] [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: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) has been critically linked to human cancer. However, the roles of CDK7 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain incompletely known. Here, we sought to dissect the functions of CDK7 underlying HNSCC tumorigenesis and explore whether pharmacological inhibition of CDK7 could induce anti-cancer effects. METHODS CDK7 expression was measured in a panel of HNSCC cell lines with p53 mutation and 20 pairs of HNSCC samples and adjacent non-tumor tissues. Genetic targeting and pharmacological inhibition of CDK7 were conducted to dissect the biological roles of CDK7 in p53-mutated HNSCC cells. An HNSCC xenograft model was developed to determine the therapeutic effects of THZ1 in vivo. Potential genes and pathways responsible for therapeutic effects of THZ1 were identified by genome-wide RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics interrogations. RESULTS CDK7 expression was significantly elevated in cancerous cells and samples as compared with their adjacent non-tumor counterparts. Impaired cell proliferation, migration, and invasion as well increased apoptosis were observed in cells upon CDK7 knockdown or THZ1 exposure. THZ1 administration potently inhibited tumor overgrowth in vivo. Mechanistically, hundreds of genes enriched in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cancer-related categories were identified to be potentially mediated the therapeutic effects of THZ1 in HNSCC. CONCLUSION Our findings reveal that CDK7 might serve as a novel putative pro-oncogenic gene underlying HNSCC tumorigenesis and therapeutic targeting of CDK7 might be a promising strategy for p53-mutated HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Ge
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China PRC.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China PRC
| | - Yuan Yao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China PRC.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China PRC
| | - Yue Jiang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China PRC.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China PRC
| | - Xiang Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China PRC.,Department of Oral Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China PRC
| | - Yanling Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Disease, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China PRC.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China PRC
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10
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Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) plays crucial roles in the regulation of cell cycle and transcription that are tightly associated with cancer development and metastasis. The recent identification of the first covalent inhibitor which possesses high specificity against CDK7 prompts intense studies on designing highly selective CDK7 inhibitors and exploring their applications in cancer treatments. This review summarizes the latest biological studies on CDK7 and reviews the development of CDK7 inhibitors in preclinical and clinical evaluations, along with the prospects and potential challenges in this research area. CDK7 is an attractive anticancer target, and the discovery and development of CDK7 inhibitors has received much attention.
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11
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Chen HD, Huang CS, Xu QC, Li F, Huang XT, Wang JQ, Li SJ, Zhao W, Yin XY. Therapeutic Targeting of CDK7 Suppresses Tumor Progression in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma. Int J Biol Sci 2020; 16:1207-1217. [PMID: 32174795 PMCID: PMC7053328 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.39779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a lethal malignancy with high mortality and lack of effective therapeutic targets. Here, we found that expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) was significantly associated with higher tumor grade and worse prognosis in 96 ICC specimens. Depletion of CDK7 significantly inhibited cell growth, induced a G2/M cell cycle arrest, and reduced the migratory and invasive potential in ICC cells. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that ICC cells were highly sensitive to the CDK7 inhibitor THZ1. A low concentration of THZ1 markedly inhibited cell growth, cell cycle, migration, and invasion in ICC cell lines. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis revealed that THZ1 treatment decreased the levels of massive oncogene transcripts, particularly those associated with cell cycle and cell migration. Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis confirmed that transcription of oncogenes involved in cell cycle regulation (AURKA, AURKB, CDC25B, CDK1, CCNA2, and MKI67) and the c-Met pathway (c-Met, AKT1, PTK2, CRK, PDPK1, and ARF6) was selectively repressed by THZ1. In addition, THZ1 exhibited significant anti-tumor activity in a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model of ICC, without causing detectable side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua-Dong Chen
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Chen-Song Huang
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Qiong-Cong Xu
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Fuxi Li
- RNA Biomedical Institute, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.,Key Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xi-Tai Huang
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jie-Qin Wang
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Shi-Jin Li
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- RNA Biomedical Institute, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.,Key Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat-Sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Yin
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
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12
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Singh R, Bhardwaj V, Das P, Purohit R. Natural analogues inhibiting selective cyclin-dependent kinase protein isoforms: a computational perspective. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2019; 38:5126-5135. [PMID: 31760872 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2019.1696709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are known for their vital role in regulating cell cycle progression through protein-kinase interactions. CDKs also help in regulating transcription and development of the central nervous system. Inhibition of CDKs is a very fundamental approach for drug discovery in areas of different types of cancers, Alzheimer's, and HIV infections. The present research focuses on finding a novel, potent, and specific natural inhibitors of CDK isoforms (CDK2, CDK5, CDK7, CDK9). Molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and Molecular Mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MM-PBSA) were carried out to get an in-depth understanding of protein-ligand interactions. Based on our molecular docking results, Ligands-3, 5, 14, and 16 were screened among 17 different Pyrrolone-fused benzosuberene compounds as potent and specific inhibitors without any cross-reactivity against different CDK isoforms. Analysis of MD simulations and MM-PBSA studies, revealed the binding energy profiles of all the selected complexes. Our selected ligands performed better than the standard inhibitor (Roscovitine). Ligands-3 and 14 show specificity for CDK7 and Ligands-5 and 16 were specific against CDK9. These ligands are expected to possess lower risk of side effects due to their natural origin. Moreover, the backbone structure of these ligands could also be exploited to develop specific inhibitors against other CDK isoforms.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Singh
- Structural Bioinformatics Lab, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, HP, India.,Biotechnology Division, CSIR-IHBT, Palampur, HP, India
| | - Vijay Bhardwaj
- Structural Bioinformatics Lab, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, HP, India.,Biotechnology Division, CSIR-IHBT, Palampur, HP, India
| | - Pralay Das
- Natural Product Chemistry and Process Development, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, HP, India.,Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-IHBT Campus, Palampur, HP, India
| | - Rituraj Purohit
- Structural Bioinformatics Lab, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, HP, India.,Biotechnology Division, CSIR-IHBT, Palampur, HP, India.,Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-IHBT Campus, Palampur, HP, India
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13
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Suppression of Angiogenesis by Targeting Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 7 in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells and Renal Cell Carcinoma: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study. Cells 2019; 8:cells8111469. [PMID: 31752390 PMCID: PMC6912535 DOI: 10.3390/cells8111469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells rely on aberrant transcription for growth and survival. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play critical roles in regulating gene transcription by modulating the activity of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). THZ1, a selective covalent inhibitor of CDK7, has antitumor effects in several human cancers. In this study, we investigated the role and therapeutic potential of CDK7 in regulating the angiogenic activity of endothelial cells and human renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Our results revealed that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a critical activator of angiogenesis, upregulated the expression of CDK7 and RNAPII, and the phosphorylation of RNAPII at serine 5 and 7 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), indicating the transcriptional activity of CDK7 may be involved in VEGF-activated angiogenic activity of endothelium. Furthermore, through suppressing CDK7 activity, THZ1 suppressed VEGF-activated proliferation and migration, as well as enhanced apoptosis of HUVECs. Moreover, THZ1 inhibited VEGF-activated capillary tube formation and CDK7 knockdown consistently diminished tube formation in HUVECs. Additionally, THZ1 reduced VEGF expression in human RCC cells (786-O and Caki-2), and THZ1 treatment inhibited tumor growth, vascularity, and angiogenic marker (CD31) expression in RCC xenografts. Our results demonstrated that CDK7-mediated transcription was involved in the angiogenic activity of endothelium and human RCC. THZ1 suppressed VEGF-mediated VEGFR2 downstream activation of angiogenesis, providing a new perspective for antitumor therapy in RCC patients.
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14
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Kujan O, Huang G, Ravindran A, Vijayan M, Farah CS. The role of cyclin-dependent kinases in oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma. J Oral Pathol Med 2019; 48:560-565. [PMID: 31172620 DOI: 10.1111/jop.12903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a major global health problem with a relatively low-moderate 5-year survival rate. OSCC is often preceded by lesions and conditions known as oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) that have an increased risk of malignant transformation. Despite advances in diagnostic technology and cancer research, the prognosis of OSCC remains poor as it is frequently detected a late stage. Understanding the molecular pathways involved in oral carcinogenesis provides a platform to identify biomarkers that may allow the early detection of OSCC and accurate prediction of the malignant potential of OPMDs. In addition, specific molecular inhibitors can be developed to target these important pathways and allow advanced therapeutic management to improve the prognosis of this malignancy. A common feature across a number of different cancers is the dysfunction of cell cycle moderator proteins known as cyclin-dependent kinases. This review summarises the current literature regarding the role of cyclin-dependent kinases in oral carcinogenesis with a particular focus on cyclin-dependent kinases 4 (CDK4) and 6 (CDK6). This is of particular relevance as CDK4 and CDK6 inhibitors have shown some promising results in other cancer types and are interesting potential treatments for OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Kujan
- UWA Dental School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Gareth Huang
- UWA Dental School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Ashwati Ravindran
- UWA Dental School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Monisha Vijayan
- UWA Dental School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Camile S Farah
- UWA Dental School, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.,Australian Centre for Oral Oncology Research & Education, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
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15
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Ning J, Ma X, Long C, Mao Y, Kuang X, Huang Z, Fan Y, Zhang H, Xia Q, Wang R, Liang Y, Lin S, Zhang Q, Shen H. Anti-tumor Drug THZ1 Suppresses TGFβ2-mediated EMT in Lens Epithelial Cells via Notch and TGFβ/Smad Signaling Pathway. J Cancer 2019; 10:3778-3788. [PMID: 31333795 PMCID: PMC6636287 DOI: 10.7150/jca.30359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Selective covalent CDK7 inhibitor THZ1 is a promising potential anti-tumor drug in many kinds of cancers. Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is highly related to cancer initiation, development, invasion and metastasis and other pathogenesis processes. We treated cancer cell line Hela229 and three retinoblastoma cell lines so-RB50, WERI-Rb-1, Y79 with gradient concentration of THZ1, and found that THZ1 could inhibit cell viability and EMT, suggesting that THZ1 may be a promising drug for human cervical cancer and retinoblastoma treatment. Our results verified the role of THZ1 in EMT for the first time, however, the mechanism needs further study. Here we report that THZ1 suppresses the TGFβ2 induced EMT in human SRA01/04 lens epithelial cells (LECs), rabbit primary lens epithelial cells, and whole rat lens culture semi-in vivo model. RNA-sequencing and KEGG analysis revealed that the THZ1 inhibits EMT by down-regulating phosphorylate Smad2 and Notch signaling pathway. On the other hand, we found that THZ1 could strongly inhibit LECs proliferation through G2/M phase arrest as well as attenuating of MAPK, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Our results uncovered the function and underlying mechanism of THZ1 in regulation of EMT, which provides a new perspective of the anti-tumor effect by THZ1 and may offer a novel treatment for PCO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Ning
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Xinqi Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Chongde Long
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yuxiang Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Xielan Kuang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China.,Biobank of Eye, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Zixin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yuting Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Han Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Qing Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Renchun Wang
- The Second Clinical Medicine School of Lanzhou University, No.199, West Donggang Road, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, China
| | - Yu Liang
- Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Shuibin Lin
- Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Qingjiong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Huangxuan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China.,Biobank of Eye, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
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16
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Antitumor effects of a covalent cyclin-dependent kinase 7 inhibitor in colorectal cancer. Anticancer Drugs 2019; 30:466-474. [DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000000749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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17
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Zhong S, Zhang Y, Yin X, Di W. CDK7 inhibitor suppresses tumor progression through blocking the cell cycle at the G2/M phase and inhibiting transcriptional activity in cervical cancer. Onco Targets Ther 2019; 12:2137-2147. [PMID: 30962695 PMCID: PMC6434917 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s195655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The disordered cell cycle and dysregulated expression of numerous oncogenes involved in tumor-relevant processes are highly related to the tumorigenesis of cervical cancer. Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) constitutes the indispensable catalytic subunit of CDK-activating kinase (CAK), which is required for both cell cycle transition and transcriptional regulation. However, research regarding the antitumor effects of CDK7 inhibition in cervical cancer remains unclear. Purpose Our study aims to explore the antineoplastic effects of the CDK7 inhibitor THZ1 in cervical cancer cells and to find a potential agent for cervical cancer treatment. Methods The CRISPR-Cas9 system was used to knock down CDK7. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to detect the cell viability after CDK7 depletion and THZ1 treatment. Western blot was employed to detect protein expression. The expression levels of mRNA were assayed through qRT-PCR. Flow cytometry analysis was used to assay the apoptotic cells and cell cycle distribution. Gene expression microarray analysis was used to identify the differential expression of the genes. Subcutaneous xenograft mouse model was performed to test the antineoplastic effects of THZ1 in vivo. Results We revealed that the genetic depletion of CDK7 using the CRISPR-Cas9 system exhibited great cell growth inhibition in cervical cancer cell lines, consistent with the effects of CDK7 blocking using THZ1. Cervical cancer cells were highly sensitive to THZ1 treatment, and a low concentration of THZ1 could induce substantial cell apoptosis. THZ1 specifically perturbed the phosphorylation of cell cycle regulator CDK1 and decreased the expression of cyclin B1, leading to a cell cycle blockage at the G2/M phase and inducing cell growth inhibition. The gene expression microarray analysis showed that massive oncogene transcripts, especially those associated with tumorigenesis, were preferential suppressed after THZ1 treatment. The qRT-PCR confirmed that several essential oncogenes in tumorigenesis (c-MYC, hTERT, RAD51, and BCL-2) and HPV viral oncogenes (E6 and E7) were preferentially repressed by THZ1. Moreover, THZ1 exhibited substantial antineoplastic effects against cervical cancer in vivo without inducing obvious side effects. Conclusion These findings indicated that the CDK7 inhibitor THZ1 is a potential option in cervical cancer treatment owing to its ability to inhibit cell cycle progression and transcriptional activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Zhong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, People's Republic of China, .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, People's Republic of China,
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, People's Republic of China, .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, People's Republic of China,
| | - Xia Yin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, People's Republic of China, .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, People's Republic of China,
| | - Wen Di
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, People's Republic of China, .,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, People's Republic of China, .,State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, People's Republic of China,
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18
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Lu P, Geng J, Zhang L, Wang Y, Niu N, Fang Y, Liu F, Shi J, Zhang ZG, Sun YW, Wang LW, Tang Y, Xue J. THZ1 reveals CDK7-dependent transcriptional addictions in pancreatic cancer. Oncogene 2019; 38:3932-3945. [PMID: 30692639 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-019-0701-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Revised: 10/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy with high mortality. Lack of effective treatment makes novel therapeutic discovery an urgent demand in PDAC research. By screening an epigenetic-related compound library, we identified THZ1, a covalent inhibitor of CDK7, as a promising candidate. Multiple long-established and patient-derived PDAC cell lines (PDC) were used to validate the efficacy of THZ1 in vitro. In addition, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and animal models of PDAC were utilized for examining THZ1 efficacy in vivo. Furthermore, RNA-Seq analyse was performed to reveal the molecular mechanism of THZ1 treatment. Finally, PDAC cell lines with primary or acquired resistance to THZ1 were investigated to explore the potential mechanism of THZ1 susceptibility. CDK7 inhibition was identified as a selective and potent therapeutic strategy for PDAC progression in multiple preclinical models. Mechanistic analyses revealed that CDK7 inhibition led to a pronounced downregulation of gene transcription, with a preferential repression of mitotic cell cycle and NF-κB signaling-related transcripts. MYC transcriptional was found to be involved in susceptibility of PDAC cells to CDK7 inhibition. In conclusion, Identification of CDK7-dependent transcriptional addiction in PDACs provides a potent therapeutic strategy that targets highly aggressive pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Stem Cell Research Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Stem Cell Research Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ningning Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Stem Cell Research Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Fang
- Research Institute of Pancreatic Disease, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Juanjuan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Stem Cell Research Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Gang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong-Wei Sun
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li-Wei Wang
- Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yujie Tang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of National Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jing Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Stem Cell Research Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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19
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Fisher RP. Cdk7: a kinase at the core of transcription and in the crosshairs of cancer drug discovery. Transcription 2018; 10:47-56. [PMID: 30488763 DOI: 10.1080/21541264.2018.1553483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription cycle of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is regulated by a set of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Cdk7, associated with the transcription initiation factor TFIIH, is both an effector CDK that phosphorylates Pol II and other targets within the transcriptional machinery, and a CDK-activating kinase (CAK) for at least one other essential CDK involved in transcription. Recent studies have illuminated Cdk7 functions that are executed throughout the Pol II transcription cycle, from promoter clearance and promoter-proximal pausing, to co-transcriptional chromatin modification in gene bodies, to mRNA 3´-end formation and termination. Cdk7 has also emerged as a target of small-molecule inhibitors that show promise in the treatment of cancer and inflammation. The challenges now are to identify the relevant targets of Cdk7 at each step of the transcription cycle, and to understand how heightened dependence on an essential CDK emerges in cancer, and might be exploited therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert P Fisher
- a Department of Oncological Sciences , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York , NY , USA
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20
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Zeng M, Kwiatkowski NP, Zhang T, Nabet B, Xu M, Liang Y, Quan C, Wang J, Hao M, Palakurthi S, Zhou S, Zeng Q, Kirschmeier PT, Meghani K, Leggett AL, Qi J, Shapiro GI, Liu JF, Matulonis UA, Lin CY, Konstantinopoulos PA, Gray NS. Targeting MYC dependency in ovarian cancer through inhibition of CDK7 and CDK12/13. eLife 2018; 7:39030. [PMID: 30422115 PMCID: PMC6251623 DOI: 10.7554/elife.39030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
High-grade serous ovarian cancer is characterized by extensive copy number alterations, among which the amplification of MYC oncogene occurs in nearly half of tumors. We demonstrate that ovarian cancer cells highly depend on MYC for maintaining their oncogenic growth, indicating MYC as a therapeutic target for this difficult-to-treat malignancy. However, targeting MYC directly has proven difficult. We screen small molecules targeting transcriptional and epigenetic regulation, and find that THZ1 - a chemical inhibiting CDK7, CDK12, and CDK13 - markedly downregulates MYC. Notably, abolishing MYC expression cannot be achieved by targeting CDK7 alone, but requires the combined inhibition of CDK7, CDK12, and CDK13. In 11 patient-derived xenografts models derived from heavily pre-treated ovarian cancer patients, administration of THZ1 induces significant tumor growth inhibition with concurrent abrogation of MYC expression. Our study indicates that targeting these transcriptional CDKs with agents such as THZ1 may be an effective approach for MYC-dependent ovarian malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Zeng
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Nicholas P Kwiatkowski
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Tinghu Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Behnam Nabet
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Mousheng Xu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Yanke Liang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Chunshan Quan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Jinhua Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Mingfeng Hao
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Sangeetha Palakurthi
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States
| | - Shan Zhou
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States
| | - Qing Zeng
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States
| | - Paul T Kirschmeier
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States
| | - Khyati Meghani
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States
| | - Alan L Leggett
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Jun Qi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Geoffrey I Shapiro
- Early Drug Development Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States
| | - Joyce F Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States
| | - Ursula A Matulonis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States
| | - Charles Y Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, United States
| | | | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
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21
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Ma X, Kuang X, Xia Q, Huang Z, Fan Y, Ning J, Wen J, Zhang H, Yan J, Zhang Q, Shen H, Long C. Covalent CDK7 Inhibitor THZ1 Inhibits Myogenic Differentiation. J Cancer 2018; 9:3149-3155. [PMID: 30210638 PMCID: PMC6134829 DOI: 10.7150/jca.25395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Covalent CDK7 inhibitor THZ1 is a newly discovered anti-tumor drug.THZ1 affects the function of transcription factor TFIIH by inhibiting CDK7, which in turn affects RNA polymerase II, and ultimately affects transcription initiation. Study found that THZ1 could inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of several tumor cell lines. However, there is no report of the potential side effect of THZ1 in normal tissues. In the course of cancer, the muscle consumption of cachexia needs to be supplemented by the differentiation of muscle cells. However, the effect of THZ1 on myogenic differentiation remains unclear. Our study in this article found that THZ1 could both inhibit the differentiation of C2C12 cells and mouse primary myoblasts, also repressing the expression of differentiation-related transcription factors and muscle structural proteins, such as and myogenin, myh3 and MCK. Moreover, THZ1 could inhibit C2C12 cell proliferation and migration, increase its oxidative stress and promote its apoptosis. Our data indicates that THZ1 inhibits myogenic differentiation, suggesting that therapies based on THZ1 might have potential side effects on muscle functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinqi Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Xielan Kuang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China.,Biobank of Eye, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Qing Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Zixin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yuting Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Jie Ning
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Jiajie Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Han Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Jianhua Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Qingjiong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Huangxuan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China.,Biobank of Eye, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Chongde Long
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
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22
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Phosphoproteomics of Primary Cells Reveals Druggable Kinase Signatures in Ovarian Cancer. Cell Rep 2017; 18:3242-3256. [PMID: 28355574 PMCID: PMC5382236 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Revised: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of the molecular determinants of cancer is still inadequate because of cancer heterogeneity. Here, using epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) as a model system, we analyzed a minute amount of patient-derived epithelial cells from either healthy or cancerous tissues by single-shot mass-spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, we demonstrated that primary cells recapitulate tissue complexity and represent a valuable source of differentially expressed proteins and phosphorylation sites that discriminate cancer from healthy cells. Furthermore, we uncovered kinase signatures associated with EOC. In particular, CDK7 targets were characterized in both EOC primary cells and ovarian cancer cell lines. We showed that CDK7 controls cell proliferation and that pharmacological inhibition of CDK7 selectively represses EOC cell proliferation. Our approach defines the molecular landscape of EOC, paving the way for efficient therapeutic approaches for patients. Finally, we highlight the potential of phosphoproteomics to identify clinically relevant and druggable pathways in cancer. We analyze ex-vivo-cultured primary cells using phosphoproteomics We investigate epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and healthy tissue We uncover expression of cancer-specific proteins and kinase signatures The kinase CDK7 phosphorylates POLR2A and regulates EOC cell proliferation
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23
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Naseh G, Mohammadifard M, Mohammadifard M. Upregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 7 and matrix metalloproteinase-14 expression contribute to metastatic properties of gastric cancer. IUBMB Life 2016; 68:799-805. [PMID: 27562173 DOI: 10.1002/iub.1543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the protein and mRNA expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-14 (MMP14) and CDK7 in gastric cancer (GC) tissues. Upregulation of MMP14 mRNA level was observed in GC tissues when compared with the matched normal tissues (mean ± SD: 3.92 ± 1.15 vs. 1.35 ± 0.81, P < 0.001). This study indicated that mRNA levels of CDK7 were statistically overexpressed in GC when compared with matched normal tissues (4.12 ± 0.84 vs. 1.43 ± 0.71, P < 0.001). The protein levels of MMP14 were found to be increased in GC (60.41%; P < 0.001). The expression of CDK7 was higher in GC tissues than matched normal tissues (70.83; P < 0.001). We found that high MMP14 expression was related to advanced TNM stage (P = 0.004), tumor grade (P = 0.002), and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.015), but no association with other clinical variables (P > 0.05). In addition, high expression of CDK7 was significantly linked to advanced TNM stage (P = 0.001), pathological grade (P = 0.012), and presence of lymph node metastasis (P = 0.009), while no correlation between CDK7 expression and other clinical variables, such as age and gender, distance metastasis. The patients with high expression of MMP14 and CDK7 exhibited worse survival time than those with higher levels. Cox multivariate regression analysis clearly showed that high expression of MMP14 and CDK7 was independent prognostic factors for overall survival in patients with GC. Taken together, these results indicated the overexpression of above markers in the progression and the tumorigenesis of GC and overall patient survival. © 2016 IUBMB Life, 68(10):799-805, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghodratolah Naseh
- Department of Surgery, Imam Reza Hospital, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Mahyar Mohammadifard
- Department of Radiology, Imam Reza Hospital, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
| | - Mahtab Mohammadifard
- Department of Pathology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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24
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Upregulation of CDK7 in gastric cancer cell promotes tumor cell proliferation and predicts poor prognosis. Exp Mol Pathol 2016; 100:514-21. [PMID: 27155449 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2016.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
CDK7 has been known as a component of CDK activating kinase (CAK) complex, the complex was composed of CDK7, Cyclin H and RING finger protein Mat1 that contribute to cell cycle progression by phosphorylating other CDKs. In addition, the complex is also an essential component of general transcription factor TFIIH which controls transcription via activating RNA polymerase II by serines 5 and 7 phosphorylation of the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of its largest subunit. However, the role of CDK7 in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer has not been identified. Our study showed that CDK7 was significantly upregulated and positively correlated with tumor grade, infiltration depth, lymph node, Ki-67, and predicted poor prognosis in 173 gastric cancer specimens by immunohistochemistrical analyses. Furthermore, in vitro results indicated that CDK7 promoted proliferation of gastric cancer cells by CCK8, clone formation analyses and flow cytometric analyses, while CDK7 knockdown led to decreased cell proliferation. Our study will provide a theoretical basis for the study of CDK7 in gastric cancer.
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25
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Law ME, Corsino PE, Narayan S, Law BK. Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitors as Anticancer Therapeutics. Mol Pharmacol 2015; 88:846-52. [PMID: 26018905 DOI: 10.1124/mol.115.099325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) have been considered promising drug targets for a number of years, but most CDK inhibitors have failed rigorous clinical testing. Recent studies demonstrating clear anticancer efficacy and reduced toxicity of CDK4/6 inhibitors such as palbociclib and multi-CDK inhibitors such as dinaciclib have rejuvenated the field. Favorable results with palbociclib and its recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval demonstrate that CDK inhibitors with narrow selectivity profiles can have clinical utility for therapy based on individual tumor genetics. A brief overview of results obtained with ATP-competitive inhibitors such as palbociclib and dinaciclib is presented, followed by a compilation of new avenues that have been pursued toward the development of novel, non-ATP-competitive CDK inhibitors. These creative ways to develop CDK inhibitors are presented along with crystal structures of these agents complexed with CDK2 to highlight differences in their binding sites and mechanisms of action. The recent successes of CDK inhibitors in the clinic, combined with the potential for structure-based routes to the development of non-ATP-competitive CDK inhibitors, and evidence that CDK inhibitors may have use in suppressing chromosomal instability and in synthetic lethal drug combinations inspire optimism that CDK inhibitors will become important weapons in the fight against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Law
- Departments of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (M.E.L., P.E.C., B.K.L.), Anatomy and Cell Biology (S.N.), and the University of Florida Health Cancer Center (M.E.L., P.E.C., S.N., B.K.L.), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Patrick E Corsino
- Departments of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (M.E.L., P.E.C., B.K.L.), Anatomy and Cell Biology (S.N.), and the University of Florida Health Cancer Center (M.E.L., P.E.C., S.N., B.K.L.), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Satya Narayan
- Departments of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (M.E.L., P.E.C., B.K.L.), Anatomy and Cell Biology (S.N.), and the University of Florida Health Cancer Center (M.E.L., P.E.C., S.N., B.K.L.), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Brian K Law
- Departments of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (M.E.L., P.E.C., B.K.L.), Anatomy and Cell Biology (S.N.), and the University of Florida Health Cancer Center (M.E.L., P.E.C., S.N., B.K.L.), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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