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Foda BM, Misek SA, Gallo KA, Neubig RR. Inhibition of the Rho/MRTF pathway improves the response of BRAF-resistant melanoma to PD1/PDL1 blockade. Int J Cancer 2024; 155:1303-1315. [PMID: 38898604 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.35056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Metastatic cutaneous melanoma is a fatal skin cancer. Resistance to targeted and immune therapies limits the benefits of current treatments. Identifying and adding anti-resistance agents to current treatment protocols can potentially improve clinical responses. Myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF) is a transcriptional coactivator whose activity is indirectly regulated by actin and the Rho family of GTPases. We previously demonstrated that development of BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) resistance frequently activates the Rho/MRTF pathway in human and mouse BRAFV600E melanomas. In clinical trials, pretreatment with BRAFi reduces the benefit of immune therapies. We aimed to test the efficacy of concurrent treatment with our MRTF pathway inhibitor CCG-257081 and anti-PD1 in vivo and to examine its effects on the melanoma immune microenvironment. Because MRTF pathway activation upregulates the expression of immune checkpoint inhibitor genes/proteins, we asked whether CCG-257081 can improve the response to immune checkpoint blockade. CCG-257081 reduced the expression of PDL1 in BRAFi-resistant melanoma cells and decreased surface PDL1 levels on both BRAFi-sensitive and -resistant melanoma cells. Using our recently described murine vemurafenib-resistant melanoma model, we found that CCG-257081, in combination with anti-PD1 immune therapy, reduced tumor growth and increased survival. Moreover, anti-PD1/CCG-257081 co-treatment increased infiltration of CD8+ T cells and B cells into the tumor microenvironment and reduced tumor-associated macrophages. Here, we propose CCG-257081 as an anti-resistance and immune therapy-enhancing anti-melanoma agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bardees M Foda
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Molecular Genetics and Enzymology Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Egypt
| | - Sean A Misek
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kathleen A Gallo
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Richard R Neubig
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Nicholas V. Perricone, M.D. Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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2
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Amarillo D, Flaherty KT, Sullivan RJ. Targeted Therapy Innovations for Melanoma. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2024; 38:973-995. [PMID: 38971651 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2024.05.006] [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] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Melanoma, a malignant tumor of melanocytes, poses a significant clinical challenge due to its aggressive nature and high potential for metastasis. The advent of targeted therapy has revolutionized the treatment landscape of melanoma, particularly for tumors harboring specific genetic alterations such as BRAF V600E mutations. Despite the initial success of targeted agents, resistance inevitably arises, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic strategies. This review explores the latest advances in targeted therapy for melanoma, focusing on new molecular targets, combination therapies, and strategies to overcome resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dahiana Amarillo
- Oncóloga Médica, Departamento Básico de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Keith T Flaherty
- Mass General Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Ryan J Sullivan
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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3
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Chhabra Y, Fane ME, Pramod S, Hüser L, Zabransky DJ, Wang V, Dixit A, Zhao R, Kumah E, Brezka ML, Truskowski K, Nandi A, Marino-Bravante GE, Carey AE, Gour N, Maranto DA, Rocha MR, Harper EI, Ruiz J, Lipson EJ, Jaffee EM, Bibee K, Sunshine JC, Ji H, Weeraratna AT. Sex-dependent effects in the aged melanoma tumor microenvironment influence invasion and resistance to targeted therapy. Cell 2024:S0092-8674(24)00904-8. [PMID: 39243764 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
There is documented sex disparity in cutaneous melanoma incidence and mortality, increasing disproportionately with age and in the male sex. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. While biological sex differences and inherent immune response variability have been assessed in tumor cells, the role of the tumor-surrounding microenvironment, contextually in aging, has been overlooked. Here, we show that skin fibroblasts undergo age-mediated, sex-dependent changes in their proliferation, senescence, ROS levels, and stress response. We find that aged male fibroblasts selectively drive an invasive, therapy-resistant phenotype in melanoma cells and promote metastasis in aged male mice by increasing AXL expression. Intrinsic aging in male fibroblasts mediated by EZH2 decline increases BMP2 secretion, which in turn drives the slower-cycling, highly invasive, and therapy-resistant melanoma cell phenotype, characteristic of the aged male TME. Inhibition of BMP2 activity blocks the emergence of invasive phenotypes and sensitizes melanoma cells to BRAF/MEK inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yash Chhabra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA.
| | - Mitchell E Fane
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Sneha Pramod
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Laura Hüser
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Daniel J Zabransky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Vania Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Agrani Dixit
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ruzhang Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Edwin Kumah
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Megan L Brezka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Kevin Truskowski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Asmita Nandi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Gloria E Marino-Bravante
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Alexis E Carey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Naina Gour
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Devon A Maranto
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Murilo R Rocha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Elizabeth I Harper
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Justin Ruiz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Evan J Lipson
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Jaffee
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; The Cancer Convergence Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Kristin Bibee
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Joel C Sunshine
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Hongkai Ji
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ashani T Weeraratna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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4
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Lim SY, Lin Y, Lee JH, Pedersen B, Stewart A, Scolyer RA, Long GV, Yang JYH, Rizos H. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals melanoma cell state-dependent heterogeneity of response to MAPK inhibitors. EBioMedicine 2024; 107:105308. [PMID: 39216232 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105308] [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: 08/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanoma is a heterogeneous cancer influenced by the plasticity of melanoma cells and their dynamic adaptations to microenvironmental cues. Melanoma cells transition between well-defined transcriptional cell states that impact treatment response and resistance. METHODS In this study, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing to interrogate the molecular features of immunotherapy-naive and immunotherapy-resistant melanoma tumours in response to ex vivo BRAF/MEK inhibitor treatment. FINDINGS We confirm the presence of four distinct melanoma cell states - melanocytic, transitory, neural-crest like and undifferentiated, and identify enrichment of neural crest-like and undifferentiated melanoma cells in immunotherapy-resistant tumours. Furthermore, we introduce an integrated computational approach to identify subsets of responding and nonresponding melanoma cells within the transcriptional cell states. INTERPRETATION Nonresponding melanoma cells are identified in all transcriptional cell states and are predisposed to BRAF/MEK inhibitor resistance due to pro-inflammatory IL6 and TNFɑ signalling. Our study provides a framework to study treatment response within distinct melanoma cell states and indicate that tumour-intrinsic pro-inflammatory signalling contributes to BRAF/MEK inhibitor resistance. FUNDING This work was supported by Macquarie University, Melanoma Institute Australia, and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC; grant 2012860, 2028055).
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Yin Lim
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Australia.
| | - Yingxin Lin
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Sydney, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Jenny H Lee
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Australia; Department of Neurosurgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Bernadette Pedersen
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Australia
| | - Ashleigh Stewart
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Australia
| | - Richard A Scolyer
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia; Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Georgina V Long
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia; Royal North Shore and Mater Hospitals, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Jean Y H Yang
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Sydney, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Helen Rizos
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Australia
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5
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Le J, Meng Y, Wang Y, Li D, Zeng F, Xiong Y, Chen X, Deng G. Molecular and therapeutic landscape of ferroptosis in skin diseases. Chin Med J (Engl) 2024; 137:1777-1789. [PMID: 38973265 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000003164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Regulated cell death (RCD) is a critical physiological process essential in maintaining skin homeostasis. Among the various forms of RCD, ferroptosis stands out due to its distinct features of iron accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and involvement of various inhibitory antioxidant systems. In recent years, an expanding body of research has solidly linked ferroptosis to the emergence of skin disorders. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying ferroptosis in skin diseases is crucial for advancing therapy and prevention strategies. This review commences with a succinct elucidation of the mechanisms that underpin ferroptosis, embarks on a thorough exploration of ferroptosis's role across a spectrum of skin conditions, encompassing melanoma, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), vitiligo, and dermatological ailments precipitated by ultraviolet (UV) exposure, and scrutinizes the potential therapeutic benefits of pharmacological interventions aimed at modulating ferroptosis for the amelioration of skin diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayuan Le
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Furong Laboratory, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Yu Meng
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Furong Laboratory, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Furong Laboratory, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Daishi Li
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Furong Laboratory, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Furong Zeng
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Yixiao Xiong
- Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Furong Laboratory, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Guangtong Deng
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Furong Laboratory, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
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6
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Carey AE, Weeraratna AT. Entering the TiME machine: How age-related changes in the tumor immune microenvironment impact melanoma progression and therapy response. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 262:108698. [PMID: 39098769 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2024.108698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer in the United States, with its incidence rates rising in older populations. As the immune system undergoes age-related changes, these alterations can significantly influence tumor progression and the effectiveness of cancer treatments. Recent advancements in understanding immune checkpoint molecules have paved the way for the development of innovative immunotherapies targeting solid tumors. However, the aging tumor microenvironment can play a crucial role in modulating the response to these immunotherapeutic approaches. This review seeks to examine the intricate relationship between age-related changes in the immune system and their impact on the efficacy of immunotherapies, particularly in the context of melanoma. By exploring this complex interplay, we hope to elucidate potential strategies to optimize treatment outcomes for older patients with melanoma, and draw parallels to other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis E Carey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ashani T Weeraratna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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7
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Lu Y, Travnickova J, Badonyi M, Rambow F, Coates A, Khan Z, Marques J, Murphy LC, Garcia-Martinez P, Marais R, Louphrasitthiphol P, Chan AHY, Schofield CJ, von Kriegsheim A, Marsh JA, Pavet V, Sansom OJ, Illingworth RS, Patton EE. ALDH1A3-acetaldehyde metabolism potentiates transcriptional heterogeneity in melanoma. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114406. [PMID: 38963759 PMCID: PMC11290356 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114406] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer cellular heterogeneity and therapy resistance arise substantially from metabolic and transcriptional adaptations, but how these are interconnected is poorly understood. Here, we show that, in melanoma, the cancer stem cell marker aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A3 (ALDH1A3) forms an enzymatic partnership with acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) synthetase 2 (ACSS2) in the nucleus to couple high glucose metabolic flux with acetyl-histone H3 modification of neural crest (NC) lineage and glucose metabolism genes. Importantly, we show that acetaldehyde is a metabolite source for acetyl-histone H3 modification in an ALDH1A3-dependent manner, providing a physiologic function for this highly volatile and toxic metabolite. In a zebrafish melanoma residual disease model, an ALDH1-high subpopulation emerges following BRAF inhibitor treatment, and targeting these with an ALDH1 suicide inhibitor, nifuroxazide, delays or prevents BRAF inhibitor drug-resistant relapse. Our work reveals that the ALDH1A3-ACSS2 couple directly coordinates nuclear acetaldehyde-acetyl-CoA metabolism with specific chromatin-based gene regulation and represents a potential therapeutic vulnerability in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Lu
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Edinburgh Cancer Research, CRUK Scotland Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Jana Travnickova
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Edinburgh Cancer Research, CRUK Scotland Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Mihaly Badonyi
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Florian Rambow
- Department of Applied Computational Cancer Research, Institute for AI in Medicine (IKIM), University Hospital Essen, 45131 Essen, Germany; University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Andrea Coates
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Edinburgh Cancer Research, CRUK Scotland Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Zaid Khan
- Edinburgh Cancer Research, CRUK Scotland Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Jair Marques
- Edinburgh Cancer Research, CRUK Scotland Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Laura C Murphy
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Pablo Garcia-Martinez
- Insitute of Genetics and Cancer, The Univeristy of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Richard Marais
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park SK10 4TG, UK; Oncodrug Ltd, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Pakavarin Louphrasitthiphol
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Alex H Y Chan
- Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 5JJ, UK
| | - Christopher J Schofield
- Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 5JJ, UK
| | - Alex von Kriegsheim
- Edinburgh Cancer Research, CRUK Scotland Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Joseph A Marsh
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Valeria Pavet
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park SK10 4TG, UK; Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, CRUK Scotland Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
| | - Owen J Sansom
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, CRUK Scotland Centre, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden Glasgow G61 1BD, UK; School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 0ZD, UK
| | - Robert S Illingworth
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - E Elizabeth Patton
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Edinburgh Cancer Research, CRUK Scotland Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XR, UK.
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8
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Park BS, Jeon H, Kim Y, Kwon H, Choi GE, Chi SG, Park HM, Lee H, Kim T. Polyamine and EIF5A hypusination downstream of c-Myc confers targeted therapy resistance in BRAF mutant melanoma. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:136. [PMID: 38965534 PMCID: PMC11223307 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02031-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND BRAF inhibitors are widely employed in the treatment of melanoma with the BRAF V600E mutation. However, the development of resistance compromises their therapeutic efficacy. Diverse genomic and transcriptomic alterations are found in BRAF inhibitor resistant melanoma, posing a pressing need for convergent, druggable target that reverse therapy resistant tumor with different resistance mechanisms. METHODS CRISPR-Cas9 screens were performed to identify novel target gene whose inhibition selectively targets A375VR, a BRAF V600E mutant cell line with acquired resistance to vemurafenib. Various in vitro and in vivo assays, including cell competition assay, water soluble tetrazolium (WST) assay, live-dead assay and xenograft assay were performed to confirm synergistic cell death. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analyses quantified polyamine biosynthesis and changes in proteome in vemurafenib resistant melanoma. EIF5A hypusination dependent protein translation and subsequent changes in mitochondrial biogenesis and activity were assayed by O-propargyl-puromycin labeling assay, mitotracker, mitoSOX labeling and seahorse assay. Bioinformatics analyses were used to identify the association of polyamine biosynthesis with BRAF inhibitor resistance and poor prognosis in melanoma patient cohorts. RESULTS We elucidate the role of polyamine biosynthesis and its regulatory mechanisms in promoting BRAF inhibitor resistance. Leveraging CRISPR-Cas9 screens, we identify AMD1 (S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase 1), a critical enzyme for polyamine biosynthesis, as a druggable target whose inhibition reduces vemurafenib resistance. Metabolomic and proteomic analyses reveal that polyamine biosynthesis is upregulated in vemurafenib-resistant cancer, resulting in enhanced EIF5A hypusination, translation of mitochondrial proteins and oxidative phosphorylation. We also identify that sustained c-Myc levels in vemurafenib-resistant cancer are responsible for elevated polyamine biosynthesis. Inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis or c-Myc reversed vemurafenib resistance both in vitro cell line models and in vivo in a xenograft model. Polyamine biosynthesis signature is associated with poor prognosis and shorter progression free survival after BRAF/MAPK inhibitor treatment in melanoma cohorts, highlighting the clinical relevance of our findings. CONCLUSIONS Our findings delineate the molecular mechanisms involving polyamine-EIF5A hypusination-mitochondrial respiration pathway conferring BRAF inhibitor resistance in melanoma. These targets will serve as effective therapeutic targets that can maximize the therapeutic efficacy of existing BRAF inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung-Sun Park
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5 Hwarangro-14-Gil, SeongbukGu, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, 145 AnamRo, SeongbukGu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Heeju Jeon
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5 Hwarangro-14-Gil, SeongbukGu, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, 145 AnamRo, SeongbukGu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeonseo Kim
- Center for Advanced Biomolecular Recognition, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5 Hwarangro- 14-Gil, SeongbukGu, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Haejin Kwon
- Advanced Analysis and Data Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5 Hwarangro-14-Gil, SeongbukGu, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Ga-Eun Choi
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5 Hwarangro-14-Gil, SeongbukGu, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Gil Chi
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, 145 AnamRo, SeongbukGu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Mee Park
- Advanced Analysis and Data Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5 Hwarangro-14-Gil, SeongbukGu, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunbeom Lee
- Center for Advanced Biomolecular Recognition, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5 Hwarangro- 14-Gil, SeongbukGu, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Tackhoon Kim
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 5 Hwarangro-14-Gil, SeongbukGu, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, 145 AnamRo, SeongbukGu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
- Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, Korea University of Science and Technology, 217 GajeongRo YuseongGu, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea.
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9
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Rousset P, Nardin C, Maubec E, Heidelberger V, Picard A, Troin L, Gerard E, Kramkimel N, Steff-Naud M, Quéreux G, Gaudy-Marqueste C, Lesage C, Mignard C, Jeudy G, Jouary T, Saint-Jean M, Baroudjian B, Archier E, Mortier L, Lebbe C, Montaudié H. Real-world outcomes of combined lenvatinib and anti-PD-1 in advanced melanoma: the Lenvamel study, a multicenter retrospective study of the French Group of Skin Cancers (Groupe de Cancérologie Cutanée). Oncologist 2024:oyae145. [PMID: 38956747 DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyae145] [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: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently, treatment options for patients with advanced melanoma who experience failed immunotherapy or targeted therapy are lacking. Recent studies suggest the antitumor activity of combined pembrolizumab and lenvatinib in patients with advanced melanoma progressing on immunotherapy. Herein, we report the clinical outcomes of combined lenvatinib and a programmed cell death protein-1 inhibitor (PD-1) in this population. MATERIALS AND METHODS This French multicenter real-world study was conducted between September 2020 and July 2023. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR) according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (version 1.1). Secondary variables were treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and duration of response (DOR). RESULTS Of the 67 patients included (median age, 69 years; median follow-up, 5.0 months), 85% had stage IV-M1c or M1d disease. The overall ORR was 28.4% (95% CI, 18%-41%), including 3 complete (4.5%) and 16 partial (23.9%) responses. Median DOR was 3.1 (interquartile range, 1.3-4.3) months. Median PFS and OS were 3.1 (95% CI, 2.5-3.7) and 9.8 (95% CI, 5.6-13.9) months, respectively. Grades 3-5 TRAEs occurred in 16 (24%) patients; common TRAEs were fatigue (43.3%), nausea/vomiting (26.8%), diarrhea (20.9%), and hypertension (20.9%). No treatment-related deaths occurred. CONCLUSION Our real-world study demonstrates an interesting response rate and acceptable safety profile in a population with poor prognostic factors. Our data support this treatment option for refractory melanoma, as it is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration or European Medicines Agency, and highlight the need for new strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perrine Rousset
- Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Nice, Nice, France
| | - Charlée Nardin
- Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Besançon, Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Eve Maubec
- AP-HP, Dermatology Department, Avicenne Hospital, Bobigny, France
| | | | - Alexandra Picard
- Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Nice, Nice, France
| | - Laura Troin
- Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Nice, Nice, France
| | - Emilie Gerard
- Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Nora Kramkimel
- AP-HP, Dermatology Department, Cochin Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Maud Steff-Naud
- Dermatology Department, CHI Aulnay-Sous-Bois, Aulnay-Sous-Bois, France
| | - Gaëlle Quéreux
- Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Nantes, Nantes, France
| | | | - Candice Lesage
- Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Claire Mignard
- Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Rouen, Rouen, France
| | - Géraldine Jeudy
- Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Dijon, Dijon, France
| | - Thomas Jouary
- Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Pau, Pau, France
| | - Mélanie Saint-Jean
- Oncology Department, Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest, Saint-Herblain, France
| | - Barouyr Baroudjian
- AP-HP, Oncodermatology Department, Saint-Louis Hospital, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Elodie Archier
- AP-HM, Dermatology Department, Hôpital Saint-Joseph, Marseille, France
| | | | - Céleste Lebbe
- AP-HP, Oncodermatology Department, Saint-Louis Hospital, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Henri Montaudié
- Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Nice, Nice, France
- INSERM U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
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10
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França GS, Baron M, King BR, Bossowski JP, Bjornberg A, Pour M, Rao A, Patel AS, Misirlioglu S, Barkley D, Tang KH, Dolgalev I, Liberman DA, Avital G, Kuperwaser F, Chiodin M, Levine DA, Papagiannakopoulos T, Marusyk A, Lionnet T, Yanai I. Cellular adaptation to cancer therapy along a resistance continuum. Nature 2024; 631:876-883. [PMID: 38987605 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07690-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Advancements in precision oncology over the past decades have led to new therapeutic interventions, but the efficacy of such treatments is generally limited by an adaptive process that fosters drug resistance1. In addition to genetic mutations2, recent research has identified a role for non-genetic plasticity in transient drug tolerance3 and the acquisition of stable resistance4,5. However, the dynamics of cell-state transitions that occur in the adaptation to cancer therapies remain unknown and require a systems-level longitudinal framework. Here we demonstrate that resistance develops through trajectories of cell-state transitions accompanied by a progressive increase in cell fitness, which we denote as the 'resistance continuum'. This cellular adaptation involves a stepwise assembly of gene expression programmes and epigenetically reinforced cell states underpinned by phenotypic plasticity, adaptation to stress and metabolic reprogramming. Our results support the notion that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or stemness programmes-often considered a proxy for phenotypic plasticity-enable adaptation, rather than a full resistance mechanism. Through systematic genetic perturbations, we identify the acquisition of metabolic dependencies, exposing vulnerabilities that can potentially be exploited therapeutically. The concept of the resistance continuum highlights the dynamic nature of cellular adaptation and calls for complementary therapies directed at the mechanisms underlying adaptive cell-state transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo S França
- Institute for Computational Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Institute for Systems Genetics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maayan Baron
- Institute for Computational Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Benjamin R King
- Institute for Systems Genetics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
| | - Jozef P Bossowski
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alicia Bjornberg
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Maayan Pour
- Institute for Computational Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Institute for Systems Genetics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anjali Rao
- Institute for Computational Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ayushi S Patel
- Institute for Computational Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Institute for Systems Genetics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Selim Misirlioglu
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dalia Barkley
- Institute for Computational Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kwan Ho Tang
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Translational Medicine, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Igor Dolgalev
- Applied Bioinformatics Laboratories, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deborah A Liberman
- Institute for Computational Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Institute for Systems Genetics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gal Avital
- Institute for Computational Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Felicia Kuperwaser
- Institute for Computational Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Institute for Systems Genetics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marta Chiodin
- Institute for Computational Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Douglas A Levine
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Merck & Co., Rahway, NJ, USA
| | - Thales Papagiannakopoulos
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
| | - Andriy Marusyk
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Timothée Lionnet
- Institute for Systems Genetics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Itai Yanai
- Institute for Computational Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Institute for Systems Genetics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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11
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Zemek RM, Anagnostou V, Pires da Silva I, Long GV, Lesterhuis WJ. Exploiting temporal aspects of cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:480-497. [PMID: 38886574 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-024-00699-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Many mechanisms underlying an effective immunotherapy-induced antitumour response are transient and critically time dependent. This is equally true for several immunological events in the tumour microenvironment induced by other cancer treatments. Immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) has proven to be very effective in the treatment of some cancers, but unfortunately, with many cancer types, most patients do not experience a benefit. To improve outcomes, a multitude of clinical trials are testing combinations of ICT with various other treatment modalities. Ideally, those combination treatments should take time-dependent immunological events into account. Recent studies have started to map the dynamic cellular and molecular changes that occur during treatment with ICT, in the tumour and systemically. Here, we overlay the dynamic ICT response with the therapeutic response following surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapies. We propose that by combining treatments in a time-conscious manner, we may optimally exploit the interactions between the individual therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael M Zemek
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Valsamo Anagnostou
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Inês Pires da Silva
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine & Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre Westmead, Blacktown Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Georgina V Long
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine & Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Royal North Shore and Mater Hospitals, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Willem Joost Lesterhuis
- Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
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12
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Li C, Hong W, Reuben A, Wang L, Maitra A, Zhang J, Cheng C. TimiGP-Response: the pan-cancer immune landscape associated with response to immunotherapy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.21.600089. [PMID: 38979334 PMCID: PMC11230183 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.21.600089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) significantly influences the response to immunotherapy, yet this complex relationship remains elusive. To address this issue, we developed TimiGP-Response (TIME Illustration based on Gene Pairing designed for immunotherapy Response), a computational framework leveraging single-cell and bulk transcriptomic data, along with response information, to construct cell-cell interaction networks associated with responders and estimate the role of immune cells in treatment response. This framework was showcased in triple-negative breast cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the PD-1:PD-L1 interaction, and orthogonally validated with imaging mass cytometry. As a result, we identified CD8+ GZMB+ T cells associated with responders and its interaction with regulatory T cells emerged as a potential feature for selecting patients who may benefit from these therapies. Subsequently, we analyzed 3,410 patients with seven cancer types (melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, metastatic urothelial carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, and esophageal cancer) treated with various immunotherapies and combination therapies, as well as several chemo- and targeted therapies as controls. Using TimiGP-Response, we depicted the pan-cancer immune landscape associated with immunotherapy response at different resolutions. At the TIME level, CD8 T cells and CD4 memory T cells were associated with responders, while anti-inflammatory (M2) macrophages and mast cells were linked to non-responders across most cancer types and datasets. Given that T cells are the primary targets of these immunotherapies and our TIME analysis highlights their importance in response to treatment, we portrayed the pan-caner landscape on 40 T cell subtypes. Notably, CD8+ and CD4+ GZMK+ effector memory T cells emerged as crucial across all cancer types and treatments, while IL-17-producing CD8+ T cells were top candidates associated with immunotherapy non-responders. In summary, this study provides a computational method to study the association between TIME and response across the pan-cancer immune landscape, offering resources and insights into immune cell interactions and their impact on treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyang Li
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Wei Hong
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Alexandre Reuben
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Linghua Wang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Anirban Maitra
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Sheikh Ahmed Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jianjun Zhang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Lung Cancer Genomics Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Lung Cancer Interception Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Chao Cheng
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- The Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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13
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Dalle S, Verronese E, N’Kodia A, Bardin C, Rodriguez C, Andrieu T, Eberhardt A, Chemin G, Hasan U, Le-Bouar M, Caramel J, Amini-Adle M, Bendriss-Vermare N, Dubois B, Caux C, Ménétrier-Caux C. Modulation of blood T cell polyfunctionality and HVEM/BTLA expression are critical determinants of clinical outcome in anti-PD1-treated metastatic melanoma patients. Oncoimmunology 2024; 13:2372118. [PMID: 38939518 PMCID: PMC11210932 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2024.2372118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The need for reliable biomarkers to predict clinical benefit from anti-PD1 treatment in metastatic melanoma (MM) patients remains unmet. Several parameters have been considered in the tumor environment or the blood, but none has yet achieved sufficient accuracy for routine clinical practice. Whole blood samples from MM patients receiving second-line anti-PD1 treatment (NCT02626065), collected longitudinally, were analyzed by flow cytometry to assess the immune cell subsets absolute numbers, the expression of immune checkpoints or ligands on T cells and the functionality of innate immune cells and T cells. Clinical response was assessed according to Progression-Free Survival (PFS) status at one-year following initiation of anti-PD1 (responders: PFS > 1 year; non-responders: PFS ≤ 1 year). At baseline, several phenotypic and functional alterations in blood immune cells were observed in MM patients compared to healthy donors, but only the proportion of polyfunctional memory CD4+ T cells was associated with response to anti-PD1. Under treatment, a decreased frequency of HVEM on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells after 3 months of treatment identified responding patients, whereas its receptor BTLA was not modulated. Both reduced proportion of CD69-expressing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and increased number of polyfunctional blood memory T cells after 3 months of treatment were associated with response to anti-PD1. Of upmost importance, the combination of changes of all these markers accurately discriminated between responding and non-responding patients. These results suggest that drugs targeting HVEM/BTLA pathway may be of interest to improve anti-PD1 efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Dalle
- Department of Dermatology, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM 1052 - CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Estelle Verronese
- Lyon Immunotherapy for Cancer Laboratory (LICL), Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Axelle N’Kodia
- Lyon Immunotherapy for Cancer Laboratory (LICL), Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Christine Bardin
- Lyon Immunotherapy for Cancer Laboratory (LICL), Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Céline Rodriguez
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM 1052 - CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
- Lyon Immunotherapy for Cancer Laboratory (LICL), Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Thibault Andrieu
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM 1052 - CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
- Lyon Immunotherapy for Cancer Laboratory (LICL), Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Anais Eberhardt
- Department of Dermatology, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM 1052 - CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Gabriel Chemin
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM 1052 - CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Uzma Hasan
- Lyon Immunotherapy for Cancer Laboratory (LICL), Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Myrtille Le-Bouar
- Department of Dermatology, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France
| | - Julie Caramel
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM 1052 - CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Mona Amini-Adle
- Department of Dermatology, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon 1 University, Lyon, France
| | - Nathalie Bendriss-Vermare
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM 1052 - CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
- Lyon Immunotherapy for Cancer Laboratory (LICL), Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Bertrand Dubois
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM 1052 - CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
- Lyon Immunotherapy for Cancer Laboratory (LICL), Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Christophe Caux
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM 1052 - CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
- Lyon Immunotherapy for Cancer Laboratory (LICL), Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Christine Ménétrier-Caux
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM 1052 - CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
- Lyon Immunotherapy for Cancer Laboratory (LICL), Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
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14
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Di Leo L, Pagliuca C, Kishk A, Rizza S, Tsiavou C, Pecorari C, Dahl C, Pacheco MP, Tholstrup R, Brewer JR, Berico P, Hernando E, Cecconi F, Ballotti R, Bertolotto C, Filomeni G, Gjerstorff MF, Sauter T, Lovat P, Guldberg P, De Zio D. AMBRA1 levels predict resistance to MAPK inhibitors in melanoma. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2400566121. [PMID: 38870061 PMCID: PMC11194594 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2400566121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Intrinsic and acquired resistance to mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors (MAPKi) in melanoma remains a major therapeutic challenge. Here, we show that the clinical development of resistance to MAPKi is associated with reduced tumor expression of the melanoma suppressor Autophagy and Beclin 1 Regulator 1 (AMBRA1) and that lower expression levels of AMBRA1 predict a poor response to MAPKi treatment. Functional analyses show that loss of AMBRA1 induces phenotype switching and orchestrates an extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-independent resistance mechanism by activating focal adhesion kinase 1 (FAK1). In both in vitro and in vivo settings, melanomas with low AMBRA1 expression exhibit intrinsic resistance to MAPKi therapy but higher sensitivity to FAK1 inhibition. Finally, we show that the rapid development of resistance in initially MAPKi-sensitive melanomas can be attributed to preexisting subclones characterized by low AMBRA1 expression and that cotreatment with MAPKi and FAK1 inhibitors (FAKi) effectively prevents the development of resistance in these tumors. In summary, our findings underscore the value of AMBRA1 expression for predicting melanoma response to MAPKi and supporting the therapeutic efficacy of FAKi to overcome MAPKi-induced resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Di Leo
- Melanoma Research Team, Center for Autophagy, Recycling and Disease, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen2100, Denmark
| | - Chiara Pagliuca
- Melanoma Research Team, Center for Autophagy, Recycling and Disease, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen2100, Denmark
| | - Ali Kishk
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux4365, Luxembourg
| | - Salvatore Rizza
- Redox Biology Group, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen2100, Denmark
| | - Christina Tsiavou
- Melanoma Research Team, Center for Autophagy, Recycling and Disease, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen2100, Denmark
| | - Chiara Pecorari
- Redox Biology Group, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen2100, Denmark
| | - Christina Dahl
- Molecular Diagnostics Group, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen2100, Denmark
| | - Maria Pires Pacheco
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux4365, Luxembourg
| | - Rikke Tholstrup
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense5230, Denmark
| | - Jonathan Richard Brewer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense5230, Denmark
| | - Pietro Berico
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY10016
| | - Eva Hernando
- Department of Pathology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY10016
| | - Francesco Cecconi
- Cell Stress and Survival, Center for Autophagy, Recycling and Disease, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen2100, Denmark
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del “Sacro Cuore”, Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli—Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome00136, Italy
| | - Robert Ballotti
- Université Côte d’Azur, Nice06200, France
- Inserm, Biology and Pathologies of melanocytes, team1, Equipe labellisée Ligue 2020, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Nice06200, France
| | - Corine Bertolotto
- Université Côte d’Azur, Nice06200, France
- Inserm, Biology and Pathologies of melanocytes, team1, Equipe labellisée Ligue 2020, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Nice06200, France
| | - Giuseppe Filomeni
- Redox Biology Group, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen2100, Denmark
| | - Morten Frier Gjerstorff
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense5230, Denmark
- Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense5000, Denmark
| | - Thomas Sauter
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux4365, Luxembourg
| | - Penny Lovat
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon TyneNE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Per Guldberg
- Molecular Diagnostics Group, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen2100, Denmark
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense5230, Denmark
| | - Daniela De Zio
- Melanoma Research Team, Center for Autophagy, Recycling and Disease, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen2100, Denmark
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense5230, Denmark
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15
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Bos MK, Kraan J, Starmans MPA, Helmijr JCA, Verschoor N, De Jonge MJA, Joosse A, van der Veldt AAM, Te Boekhorst PAW, Martens JWM, Sleijfer S, Wilting SM. Comprehensive characterization of circulating tumor cells and cell-free DNA in patients with metastatic melanoma. Mol Oncol 2024. [PMID: 38790134 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13650] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Advances in therapeutic approaches for melanoma urge the need for biomarkers that can identify patients at risk for recurrence and to guide treatment. The potential use of liquid biopsies in identifying biomarkers is increasingly being recognized. Here, we present a head-to-head comparison of several techniques to analyze circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in 20 patients with metastatic melanoma. In this study, we investigated whether diagnostic leukapheresis (DLA) combined with multimarker flow cytometry (FCM) increased the detection of CTCs in blood compared to the CellSearch platform. Additionally, we characterized cfDNA at the level of somatic mutations, extent of aneuploidy and genome-wide DNA methylation. Both CTCs and cfDNA measures were compared to tumor markers and extracranial tumor burden on radiological imaging. Compared to the CellSearch method applied on peripheral blood, DLA combined with FCM increased the proportion of patients with detectable CTCs from 35% to 70% (P = 0.06). However, the median percentage of cells that could be recovered by the DLA procedure was 29%. Alternatively, cfDNA mutation and methylation analysis detected tumor load in the majority of patients (90% and 93% of samples successfully analyzed, respectively). The aneuploidy score was positive in 35% of all patients. From all tumor measurements in blood, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were significantly correlated to variant allele frequency (P = 0.004). Furthermore, the presence of CTCs in DLA was associated with tumor burden (P < 0.001), whereas the presence of CTCs in peripheral blood was associated with number of lesions on radiological imaging (P < 0.001). In conclusion, DLA tended to increase the proportion of patients with detectable CTCs but was also associated with low recovery. Both cfDNA and CTCs were correlated with clinical parameters such as LDH levels and extracranial tumor burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manouk K Bos
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jaco Kraan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn P A Starmans
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jean C A Helmijr
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Noortje Verschoor
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maja J A De Jonge
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arjen Joosse
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Astrid A M van der Veldt
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter A W Te Boekhorst
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - John W M Martens
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Sleijfer
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Saskia M Wilting
- Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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16
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Isaak AJ, Clements GR, Buenaventura RGM, Merlino G, Yu Y. Development of Personalized Strategies for Precisely Battling Malignant Melanoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5023. [PMID: 38732242 PMCID: PMC11084485 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25095023] [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: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the most severe and fatal form of skin cancer, resulting from multiple gene mutations with high intra-tumor and inter-tumor molecular heterogeneity. Treatment options for patients whose disease has progressed beyond the ability for surgical resection rely on currently accepted standard therapies, notably immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies. Acquired resistance to these therapies and treatment-associated toxicity necessitate exploring novel strategies, especially those that can be personalized for specific patients and/or populations. Here, we review the current landscape and progress of standard therapies and explore what personalized oncology techniques may entail in the scope of melanoma. Our purpose is to provide an up-to-date summary of the tools at our disposal that work to circumvent the common barriers faced when battling melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Yanlin Yu
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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17
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Masuda M, Nakagawa R, Kondo T. Harnessing the potential of reverse-phase protein array technology: Advancing precision oncology strategies. Cancer Sci 2024; 115:1378-1387. [PMID: 38409909 PMCID: PMC11093203 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16123] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The last few decades have seen remarkable strides in the field of cancer therapy. Precision oncology coupled with comprehensive genomic profiling has become routine clinical practice for solid tumors, the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors has transformed the landscape of oncology treatment, and the number of cancer drug approvals has continued to increase. Nevertheless, the application of genomics-driven precision oncology has thus far benefited only 10%-20% of cancer patients, leaving the majority without matched treatment options. This limitation underscores the need to explore alternative avenues with regard to selecting patients for targeted therapies. In contrast with genomics-based approaches, proteomics-based strategies offer a more precise understanding of the intricate biological processes driving cancer pathogenesis. This perspective underscores the importance of integrating complementary proteomic analyses into the next phase of precision oncology to establish robust biomarker-drug associations and surmount challenges related to drug resistance. One promising technology in this regard is the reverse-phase protein array (RPPA), which excels in quantitatively detecting protein modifications, even with limited amounts of sample. Its cost-effectiveness and rapid turnaround time further bolster its appeal for application in clinical settings. Here, we review the current status of genomics-driven precision oncology, as well as its limitations, with an emphasis on drug resistance. Subsequently, we explore the application of RPPA technology as a catalyst for advancing precision oncology. Through illustrative examples drawn from clinical trials, we demonstrate its utility for unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying drug responses and resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Masuda
- Department of ProteomicsNational Cancer Center Research InstituteTokyoJapan
| | - Riko Nakagawa
- Department of ProteomicsNational Cancer Center Research InstituteTokyoJapan
| | - Tadashi Kondo
- Division of Rare Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Center Research InstituteTokyoJapan
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18
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Aya F, Lanuza-Gracia P, González-Pérez A, Bonnal S, Mancini E, López-Bigas N, Arance A, Valcárcel J. Genomic deletions explain the generation of alternative BRAF isoforms conferring resistance to MAPK inhibitors in melanoma. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114048. [PMID: 38614086 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114048] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Resistance to MAPK inhibitors (MAPKi), the main cause of relapse in BRAF-mutant melanoma, is associated with the production of alternative BRAF mRNA isoforms (altBRAFs) in up to 30% of patients receiving BRAF inhibitor monotherapy. These altBRAFs have been described as being generated by alternative pre-mRNA splicing, and splicing modulation has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy to overcome resistance. In contrast, we report that altBRAFs are generated through genomic deletions. Using different in vitro models of altBRAF-mediated melanoma resistance, we demonstrate the production of altBRAFs exclusively from the BRAF V600E allele, correlating with corresponding genomic deletions. Genomic deletions are also detected in tumor samples from melanoma and breast cancer patients expressing altBRAFs. Along with the identification of altBRAFs in BRAF wild-type and in MAPKi-naive melanoma samples, our results represent a major shift in our understanding of mechanisms leading to the generation of BRAF transcripts variants associated with resistance in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Aya
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Investigacions Biomedicas August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pablo Lanuza-Gracia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Abel González-Pérez
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sophie Bonnal
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Estefania Mancini
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria López-Bigas
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Arance
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Investigacions Biomedicas August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Valcárcel
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
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19
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Fateeva A, Eddy K, Chen S. Current State of Melanoma Therapy and Next Steps: Battling Therapeutic Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1571. [PMID: 38672652 PMCID: PMC11049326 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16081571] [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: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the most aggressive and deadly form of skin cancer due to its high propensity to metastasize to distant organs. Significant progress has been made in the last few decades in melanoma therapeutics, most notably in targeted therapy and immunotherapy. These approaches have greatly improved treatment response outcomes; however, they remain limited in their abilities to hinder disease progression due, in part, to the onset of acquired resistance. In parallel, intrinsic resistance to therapy remains an issue to be resolved. In this review, we summarize currently available therapeutic options for melanoma treatment and focus on possible mechanisms that drive therapeutic resistance. A better understanding of therapy resistance will provide improved rational strategies to overcome these obstacles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Fateeva
- Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (A.F.); (K.E.)
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Kevinn Eddy
- Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (A.F.); (K.E.)
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Suzie Chen
- Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (A.F.); (K.E.)
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ 07018, USA
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20
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Hornsteiner F, Vierthaler J, Strandt H, Resag A, Fu Z, Ausserhofer M, Tripp CH, Dieckmann S, Kanduth M, Farrand K, Bregar S, Nemati N, Hermann-Kleiter N, Seretis A, Morla S, Mullins D, Finotello F, Trajanoski Z, Wollmann G, Ronchese F, Schmitz M, Hermans IF, Stoitzner P. Tumor-targeted therapy with BRAF-inhibitor recruits activated dendritic cells to promote tumor immunity in melanoma. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008606. [PMID: 38631706 PMCID: PMC11029477 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008606] [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] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor-targeted therapy causes impressive tumor regression, but the emergence of resistance limits long-term survival benefits in patients. Little information is available on the role of the myeloid cell network, especially dendritic cells (DC) during tumor-targeted therapy. METHODS Here, we investigated therapy-mediated immunological alterations in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and tumor-draining lymph nodes (LN) in the D4M.3A preclinical melanoma mouse model (harboring the V-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF)V600E mutation) by using high-dimensional multicolor flow cytometry in combination with multiplex immunohistochemistry. This was complemented with RNA sequencing and cytokine quantification to characterize the immune status of the tumors. The importance of T cells during tumor-targeted therapy was investigated by depleting CD4+ or CD8+ T cells in tumor-bearing mice. Tumor antigen-specific T-cell responses were characterized by performing in vivo T-cell proliferation assays and the contribution of conventional type 1 DC (cDC1) to T-cell immunity during tumor-targeted therapy was assessed using Batf3-/- mice lacking cDC1. RESULTS Our findings reveal that BRAF-inhibitor therapy increased tumor immunogenicity, reflected by an upregulation of genes associated with immune activation. The T cell-inflamed TME contained higher numbers of activated cDC1 and cDC2 but also inflammatory CCR2-expressing monocytes. At the same time, tumor-targeted therapy enhanced the frequency of migratory, activated DC subsets in tumor-draining LN. Even more, we identified a cDC2 population expressing the Fc gamma receptor I (FcγRI)/CD64 in tumors and LN that displayed high levels of CD40 and CCR7 indicating involvement in T cell-mediated tumor immunity. The importance of cDC2 is underlined by just a partial loss of therapy response in a cDC1-deficient mouse model. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were essential for therapy response as their respective depletion impaired therapy success. On resistance development, the tumors reverted to an immunologically inert state with a loss of DC and inflammatory monocytes together with the accumulation of regulatory T cells. Moreover, tumor antigen-specific CD8+ T cells were compromised in proliferation and interferon-γ-production. CONCLUSION Our results give novel insights into the remodeling of the myeloid landscape by tumor-targeted therapy. We demonstrate that the transient immunogenic tumor milieu contains more activated DC. This knowledge has important implications for the development of future combinatorial therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Hornsteiner
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Janine Vierthaler
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Helen Strandt
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Antonia Resag
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Zhe Fu
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Markus Ausserhofer
- Department of Molecular Biology, Digital Science Center (DiSC), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christoph H Tripp
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sophie Dieckmann
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Markus Kanduth
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Kathryn Farrand
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Sarah Bregar
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Niloofar Nemati
- Biocenter, Institute of Bioinformatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Natascha Hermann-Kleiter
- Institute of Cell Genetics, Department for Genetics and Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Athanasios Seretis
- Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sudhir Morla
- Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - David Mullins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Francesca Finotello
- Department of Molecular Biology, Digital Science Center (DiSC), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Zlatko Trajanoski
- Biocenter, Institute of Bioinformatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Guido Wollmann
- Institute of Virology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Franca Ronchese
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Marc Schmitz
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ian F Hermans
- Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Patrizia Stoitzner
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Hanrahan AJ, Chen Z, Rosen N, Solit DB. BRAF - a tumour-agnostic drug target with lineage-specific dependencies. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2024; 21:224-247. [PMID: 38278874 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-023-00852-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
In June 2022, the FDA granted Accelerated Approval to the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib in combination with the MEK inhibitor trametinib for the treatment of adult and paediatric patients (≥6 years of age) with unresectable or metastatic BRAFV600E-mutant solid tumours, except for BRAFV600E-mutant colorectal cancers. The histology-agnostic approval of dabrafenib plus trametinib marks the culmination of two decades of research into the landscape of BRAF mutations in human cancers, the biochemical mechanisms underlying BRAF-mediated tumorigenesis, and the clinical development of selective RAF and MEK inhibitors. Although the majority of patients with BRAFV600E-mutant tumours derive clinical benefit from BRAF inhibitor-based combinations, resistance to treatment develops in most. In this Review, we describe the biochemical basis for oncogenic BRAF-induced activation of MAPK signalling and pan-cancer and lineage-specific mechanisms of intrinsic, adaptive and acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors. We also discuss novel RAF inhibitors and drug combinations designed to delay the emergence of treatment resistance and/or expand the population of patients with BRAF-mutant cancers who benefit from molecularly targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aphrothiti J Hanrahan
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ziyu Chen
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics & Systems Biology, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Neal Rosen
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - David B Solit
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
- Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Center for Molecular Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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22
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Yan C, Zhao L, Zhang X, Chu Z, Zhou T, Zhang Y, Geng S, Guo K. Cold atmospheric plasma sensitizes melanoma cells to targeted therapy agents in vitro. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2024; 17:e202300356. [PMID: 38041219 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202300356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has been reported to kill melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo. BRAF and MEK inhibitors are targeted therapy agents for advanced melanoma patients with BRAF mutations. However, low overall survival and relapse-free survival are still tough challenges due to drug resistance. In this study, we confirmed that CAP alleviated innate drug resistance and promoted the anti-tumor effect of targeted therapy in A875 and WM115 melanoma cells in vitro. Further, we revealed that CAP altered the expression of various molecules concerning MAPK and PI3K-AKT pathways in A875 cells. This study demonstrates that CAP promises to work as adjuvant treatment with targeted therapy to overcome drug resistance for malignant tumors in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Yan
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lihong Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xinyue Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhaowei Chu
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tong Zhou
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yanbin Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Songmei Geng
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Center for Dermatology Disease, Precision Medical Institute, Xi'an, China
| | - Kun Guo
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Center for Dermatology Disease, Precision Medical Institute, Xi'an, China
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23
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Flower CT, Liu C, Chuang HY, Ye X, Cheng H, Heath JR, Wei W, White FM. Signaling and transcriptional dynamics underlying early adaptation to oncogenic BRAF inhibition. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.19.581004. [PMID: 39071317 PMCID: PMC11275845 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.19.581004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
A major contributor to poor sensitivity to anti-cancer kinase inhibitor therapy is drug-induced cellular adaptation, whereby remodeling of signaling and gene regulatory networks permits a drug-tolerant phenotype. Here, we resolve the scale and kinetics of critical subcellular events following oncogenic kinase inhibition and preceding cell cycle re-entry, using mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics and RNA sequencing to capture molecular snapshots within the first minutes, hours, and days of BRAF kinase inhibitor exposure in a human BRAF -mutant melanoma model of adaptive therapy resistance. By enriching specific phospho-motifs associated with mitogenic kinase activity, we monitored the dynamics of thousands of growth- and survival-related protein phosphorylation events under oncogenic BRAF inhibition and drug removal. We observed early and sustained inhibition of the BRAF-ERK axis, gradual downregulation of canonical cell cycle-dependent signals, and three distinct and reversible phase transitions toward quiescence. Statistical inference of kinetically-defined signaling and transcriptional modules revealed a concerted response to oncogenic BRAF inhibition and a dominant compensatory induction of SRC family kinase (SFK) signaling, which we found to be at least partially driven by accumulation of reactive oxygen species via impaired redox homeostasis. This induction sensitized cells to co-treatment with an SFK inhibitor across a panel of patient-derived melanoma cell lines and in an orthotopic mouse xenograft model, underscoring the translational potential for measuring the early temporal dynamics of signaling and transcriptional networks under therapeutic challenge.
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24
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Sun C, España S, Richarz N, Solé-Blanch C, Boada A, Martinez-Cardús A, Chu A, Liu Z, Manzano JL. Targeted therapy or immunotherapy in BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma: a Spanish center's decade of experience. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1322116. [PMID: 38450188 PMCID: PMC10915752 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1322116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Targeted therapies and immunotherapy are currently considered the mainstay first-line treatment for advanced BRAF-mutated melanoma. However, the impact of treatment (targeted therapy and immunotherapy) and the prognostic factors are still not clear. Material and methods Medical records of 140 patients diagnosed with advanced melanoma between 2011 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed to extract demographic, BRAF status, treatment, performance status, and survival data. ORR, PFS, and OS were compared between patients diagnosed with advanced melanoma and treated with first-line IT or BRAF/MEKi. The prognostic factors were assessed using Cox regression models. Results In all patients and those treated with immunotherapy, we did not find any effect of BRAF status on ORR, PFS, or OS. In patients with BRAF-mutated melanoma, ORR was 43.8% vs. 70% (P=0.04), PFS was 19.2 vs. 11.5 months (p=0.22), and OS was 33.4 vs. 16.4 months for the immunotherapy and targeted therapy groups, respectively (P=0.04). ECOG, presence of brain metastases, and high LDH level from initiation of first-line treatment were all associated with differences in PFS and OS. Conclusion Patients with advanced BRAF-mutated melanoma treated with first-line immunotherapy had a significantly longer PFS and OS than those treated with first-line BRAF/MEKi; however, first-line BRAF/MEKi treatment had a significantly higher ORR than first-line immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Sofia España
- Medical Oncology Department, Institut Catala d´Oncologia Badalona, Universitari Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona-Applied Research Group in Oncology (B-ARGO), Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Nina Richarz
- Dermatology Department, Universitari Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Carme Solé-Blanch
- Badalona-Applied Research Group in Oncology (BARGO), Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Aram Boada
- Dermatology Department, Universitari Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Autonoma University of Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - Anna Martinez-Cardús
- Badalona-Applied Research Group in Oncology (BARGO), Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Alan Chu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zongwen Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jose Luis Manzano
- Medical Oncology Department, Institut Catala d´Oncologia Badalona, Universitari Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona-Applied Research Group in Oncology (B-ARGO), Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
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Runel G, Lopez-Ramirez N, Barbollat-Boutrand L, Cario M, Durand S, Grimont M, Schartl M, Dalle S, Caramel J, Chlasta J, Masse I. Cancer Cell Biomechanical Properties Accompany Tspan8-Dependent Cutaneous Melanoma Invasion. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:694. [PMID: 38398085 PMCID: PMC10887418 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The intrinsic biomechanical properties of cancer cells remain poorly understood. To decipher whether cell stiffness modulation could increase melanoma cells' invasive capacity, we performed both in vitro and in vivo experiments exploring cell stiffness by atomic force microscopy (AFM). We correlated stiffness properties with cell morphology adaptation and the molecular mechanisms underlying epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT)-like phenotype switching. We found that melanoma cell stiffness reduction was systematically associated with the acquisition of invasive properties in cutaneous melanoma cell lines, human skin reconstructs, and Medaka fish developing spontaneous MAP-kinase-induced melanomas. We observed a systematic correlation of stiffness modulation with cell morphological changes towards mesenchymal characteristic gains. We accordingly found that inducing melanoma EMT switching by overexpressing the ZEB1 transcription factor, a major regulator of melanoma cell plasticity, was sufficient to decrease cell stiffness and transcriptionally induce tetraspanin-8-mediated dermal invasion. Moreover, ZEB1 expression correlated with Tspan8 expression in patient melanoma lesions. Our data suggest that intrinsic cell stiffness could be a highly relevant marker for human cutaneous melanoma development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaël Runel
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
- BioMeca, 60F, Bioserra 2, Av. Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Noémie Lopez-Ramirez
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
| | - Laetitia Barbollat-Boutrand
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
| | - Muriel Cario
- National Reference Center for Rare Skin Disease, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, INSERM 1035, 33000 Bordeaux, France
- AquiDerm, University Bordeaux, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Simon Durand
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
| | - Maxime Grimont
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
| | - Manfred Schartl
- Developmental Biochemistry, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
| | - Stéphane Dalle
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
- Dermatology Department, Hôpital Universitaire Lyon Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69495 Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Julie Caramel
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
| | - Julien Chlasta
- BioMeca, 60F, Bioserra 2, Av. Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Ingrid Masse
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, CNRS UMR5286, Inserm U1052, University of Lyon, University Lyon 1, 69000 Lyon, France; (G.R.); (N.L.-R.)
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Wu M, Hanly A, Gibson F, Fisher R, Rogers S, Park K, Zuger A, Kuang K, Kalin JH, Nocco S, Cole M, Xiao A, Agus F, Labadorf A, Beck S, Collard M, Cole PA, Alani RM. The CoREST repressor complex mediates phenotype switching and therapy resistance in melanoma. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e171063. [PMID: 38300709 PMCID: PMC10940100 DOI: 10.1172/jci171063] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Virtually all patients with BRAF-mutant melanoma develop resistance to MAPK inhibitors largely through nonmutational events. Although the epigenetic landscape is shown to be altered in therapy-resistant melanomas and other cancers, a specific targetable epigenetic mechanism has not been validated. Here, we evaluated the corepressor for element 1-silencing transcription factor (CoREST) epigenetic repressor complex and the recently developed bivalent inhibitor corin within the context of melanoma phenotype plasticity and therapeutic resistance. We found that CoREST was a critical mediator of the major distinct melanoma phenotypes and that corin treatment of melanoma cells led to phenotype reprogramming. Global assessment of transcript and chromatin changes conferred by corin revealed specific effects on histone marks connected to epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated (EMT-associated) transcription factors and the dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs). Remarkably, treatment of BRAF inhibitor-resistant (BRAFi-R) melanomas with corin promoted resensitization to BRAFi therapy. DUSP1 was consistently downregulated in BRAFi-R melanomas, which was reversed by corin treatment and associated with inhibition of p38 MAPK activity and resensitization to BRAFi therapies. Moreover, this activity was recapitulated by the p38 MAPK inhibitor BIRB 796. These findings identify the CoREST repressor complex as a central mediator of melanoma phenotype plasticity and resistance to targeted therapy and suggest that CoREST inhibitors may prove beneficial for patients with BRAFi-resistant melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muzhou Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ailish Hanly
- Department of Dermatology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Frederick Gibson
- Department of Dermatology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robert Fisher
- Department of Dermatology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Samantha Rogers
- Department of Dermatology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kihyun Park
- Department of Dermatology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Angelina Zuger
- Department of Dermatology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kevin Kuang
- Department of Dermatology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jay H. Kalin
- Division of Genetics, Departments of Medicine and Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sarah Nocco
- Department of Dermatology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew Cole
- Department of Dermatology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Amy Xiao
- Department of Dermatology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Filisia Agus
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Adam Labadorf
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Samuel Beck
- Department of Dermatology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marianne Collard
- Department of Dermatology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Philip A. Cole
- Division of Genetics, Departments of Medicine and Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rhoda M. Alani
- Department of Dermatology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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27
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Kookli K, Soleimani KT, Amr EF, Ehymayed HM, Zabibah RS, Daminova SB, Saadh MJ, Alsaikhan F, Adil M, Ali MS, Mohtashami S, Akhavan-Sigari R. Role of microRNA-146a in cancer development by regulating apoptosis. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 254:155050. [PMID: 38199132 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.155050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Despite great advances in diagnostic and treatment options for cancer, like chemotherapy surgery, and radiation therapy it continues to remain a major global health concern. Further research is necessary to find new biomarkers and possible treatment methods for cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), tiny non-coding RNAs found naturally in the body, can influence the activity of several target genes. These genes are often disturbed in diseases like cancer, which perturbs functions like differentiation, cell division, cell cycle, apoptosis and proliferation. MiR-146a is a commonly and widely used miRNA that is often overexpressed in malignant tumors. The expression of miR-146a has been correlated with many pathological and physiological changes in cancer cells, such as the regulation of various cell death paths. It's been established that the control of cell death pathways has a huge influence on cancer progression. To improve our understanding of the interrelationship between miRNAs and cancer cell apoptosis, it's necessary to explore the impact of miRNAs through the alteration in their expression levels. Research has demonstrated that the appearance and spread of cancer can be mitigated by moderating the expression of certain miRNA - a commencement of treatment that presents a hopeful approach in managing cancer. Consequently, it is essential to explore the implications of miR-146a with respect to inducing different forms of tumor cell death, and evaluate its potential to serve as a target for improved chemotherapy outcomes. Through this review, we provide an outline of miR-146a's biogenesis and function, as well as its significant involvement in apoptosis. As well, we investigate the effects of exosomal miR-146a on the promotion of apoptosis in cancer cells and look into how it could possibly help combat chemotherapeutic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keihan Kookli
- International Campus, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Eman Fathy Amr
- College of Nursing, National University of Science and Technology, Dhi Qar, Iraq
| | | | - Rahman S Zabibah
- Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Medical Technology, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
| | - Shakhnoza B Daminova
- Department of Prevention of Dental Diseases, Tashkent State Dental Institute, Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Department of Scientific affairs, Tashkent Medical Pediatric Institute, Bogishamol Street 223, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Mohamed J Saadh
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Middle East University, Amman 11831, Jordan
| | - Fahad Alsaikhan
- College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia; School of Pharmacy, Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
| | | | | | - Saghar Mohtashami
- University of California Los Angeles, School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Reza Akhavan-Sigari
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Tuebingen, Germany; Department of Health Care Management and Clinical Research, Collegium Humanum Warsaw Management University Warsaw, Poland
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28
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Xiao H, Shiu J, Chen CF, Wu J, Zhou P, Telang SS, Ruiz-Vega R, Nie Q, Lander AD, Ganesan AK. Uncovering Minimal Pathways in Melanoma Initiation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.08.570336. [PMID: 38106189 PMCID: PMC10723457 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.08.570336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous melanomas are clinically and histologically heterogeneous. Most display activating mutations in Braf or Nras and complete loss of function of one or more tumor suppressor genes. Mouse models that replicate such mutations produce fast-growing, pigmented tumors. However, mice that combine Braf activation with only heterozygous loss of Pten also produce tumors and, as we show here, in an Albino background this occurs even with Braf activation alone. Such tumors arise rarely, grow slowly, and express low levels of pigmentation genes. The timing of their appearance was consistent with a single step stochastic event, but no evidence could be found that it required de novo mutation, suggesting instead the involvement of an epigenetic transition. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis revealed such tumors to be heterogeneous, including a minor cell type we term LNM ( L ow-pigment, N eural- and extracellular M atrix-signature) that displays gene expression resembling "neural crest"-like cell subsets detected in the fast-growing tumors of more heavily-mutated mice, as well as in human biopsy and xenograft samples. We provide evidence that LNM cells pre-exist in normal skin, are expanded by Braf activation, can transition into malignant cells, and persist with malignant cells through multiple rounds of transplantation. We discuss the possibility that LNM cells not only serve as a pre-malignant state in the production of some melanomas, but also as an important intermediate in the development of drug resistance.
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Abstract
Evidence implicating Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their ephrin ligands (that together make up the 'Eph system') in cancer development and progression has been accumulating since the discovery of the first Eph receptor approximately 35 years ago. Advances in the past decade and a half have considerably increased the understanding of Eph receptor-ephrin signalling mechanisms in cancer and have uncovered intriguing new roles in cancer progression and drug resistance. This Review focuses mainly on these more recent developments. I provide an update on the different mechanisms of Eph receptor-ephrin-mediated cell-cell communication and cell autonomous signalling, as well as on the interplay of the Eph system with other signalling systems. I further discuss recent advances in elucidating how the Eph system controls tumour expansion, invasiveness and metastasis, supports cancer stem cells, and drives therapy resistance. In addition to functioning within cancer cells, the Eph system also mediates the reciprocal communication between cancer cells and cells of the tumour microenvironment. The involvement of the Eph system in tumour angiogenesis is well established, but recent findings also demonstrate roles in immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts and the extracellular matrix. Lastly, I discuss strategies under evaluation for therapeutic targeting of Eph receptors-ephrins in cancer and conclude with an outlook on promising future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena B Pasquale
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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30
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Chai K, Wang C, Zhou J, Mu W, Gao M, Fan Z, Lv G. Quenching thirst with poison? Paradoxical effect of anticancer drugs. Pharmacol Res 2023; 198:106987. [PMID: 37949332 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Anticancer drugs have been developed with expectations to provide long-term or at least short-term survival benefits for patients with cancer. Unfortunately, drug therapy tends to provoke malignant biological and clinical behaviours of cancer cells relating not only to the evolution of resistance to specific drugs but also to the enhancement of their proliferation and metastasis abilities. Thus, drug therapy is suspected to impair long-term survival in treated patients under certain circumstances. The paradoxical therapeutic effects could be described as 'quenching thirst with poison', where temporary relief is sought regardless of the consequences. Understanding the underlying mechanisms by which tumours react on drug-induced stress to maintain viability is crucial to develop rational targeting approaches which may optimize survival in patients with cancer. In this review, we describe the paradoxical adverse effects of anticancer drugs, in particular how cancer cells complete resistance evolution, enhance proliferation, escape from immune surveillance and metastasize efficiently when encountered with drug therapy. We also describe an integrative therapeutic framework that may diminish such paradoxical effects, consisting of four main strategies: (1) targeting endogenous stress response pathways, (2) targeting new identities of cancer cells, (3) adaptive therapy- exploiting subclonal competition of cancer cells, and (4) targeting tumour microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyuan Chai
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Chuanlei Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jianpeng Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Wentao Mu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Menghan Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Zhongqi Fan
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Guoyue Lv
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery Center, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
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31
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Castaldo V, Minopoli M, Di Modugno F, Sacconi A, Liguoro D, Frigerio R, Ortolano A, Di Martile M, Gesualdi L, Madonna G, Capone M, Cirombella R, Catizone A, Del Bufalo D, Vecchione A, Carriero MV, Ascierto PA, Mancini R, Fattore L, Ciliberto G. Upregulated expression of miR-4443 and miR-4488 in drug resistant melanomas promotes migratory and invasive phenotypes through downregulation of intermediate filament nestin. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:317. [PMID: 38008717 PMCID: PMC10680267 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02878-9] [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: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND BRAF-mutant melanoma patients benefit from the combinatorial treatments with BRAF and MEK inhibitors. However, acquired drug resistance strongly limits the efficacy of these targeted therapies in time. Recently, many findings have underscored the involvement of microRNAs as main drivers of drug resistance. In this context, we previously identified a subset of oncomiRs strongly up-regulated in drug-resistant melanomas. In this work, we shed light on the molecular role of two as yet poorly characterized oncomiRs, miR-4443 and miR-4488. METHODS Invasion and migration have been determined by wound healing, transwell migration/invasion assays and Real Time Cell Analysis (RTCA) technology. miR-4488 and miR-4443 have been measured by qRT-PCR. Nestin levels have been tested by western blot, confocal immunofluorescence, immunohistochemical and flow cytometry analyses. RESULTS We demonstrate that the two oncomiRs are responsible for the enhanced migratory and invasive phenotypes, that are a hallmark of drug resistant melanoma cells. Moreover, miR-4443 and miR-4488 promote an aberrant cytoskeletal reorganization witnessed by the increased number of stress fibers and cellular protrusions-like cancer cell invadopodia. Mechanistically, we identified the intermediate filament nestin as a molecular target of both oncomiRs. Finally, we have shown that nestin levels are able to predict response to treatments in melanoma patients. CONCLUSIONS Altogether these findings have profound translational implications in the attempt i) to develop miRNA-targeting therapies to mitigate the metastatic phenotypes of BRAF-mutant melanomas and ii) to identify novel biomarkers able to guide clinical decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittorio Castaldo
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic- Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Minopoli
- Preclinical Models of Tumor Progression Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Modugno
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Sacconi
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Liguoro
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Rachele Frigerio
- SAFU Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Arianna Ortolano
- SAFU Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Di Martile
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Gesualdi
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic- Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Madonna
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Mariaelena Capone
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberto Cirombella
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Department Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00118, Rome, Italy
| | - Angiolina Catizone
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic- Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Vecchione
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Department Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00118, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Vincenza Carriero
- Preclinical Models of Tumor Progression Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Antonio Ascierto
- Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Development Therapeutics, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS 'Fondazione G. Pascale', 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Rita Mancini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Department Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00118, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Fattore
- SAFU Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Scientific Directorate, IRCSS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
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Zhu EY, Schillo JL, Murray SD, Riordan JD, Dupuy AJ. Understanding cancer drug resistance with Sleeping Beauty functional genomic screens: Application to MAPK inhibition in cutaneous melanoma. iScience 2023; 26:107805. [PMID: 37860756 PMCID: PMC10582486 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Combined BRAF and MEK inhibition is an effective treatment for BRAF-mutant cutaneous melanoma. However, most patients progress on this treatment due to drug resistance. Here, we applied the Sleeping Beauty transposon system to understand how melanoma evades MAPK inhibition. We found that the specific drug resistance mechanisms differed across melanomas in our genetic screens of five cutaneous melanoma cell lines. While drivers that reactivated MAPK were highly conserved, many others were cell-line specific. One such driver, VAV1, activated a de-differentiated transcriptional program like that of hyperactive RAC1, RAC1P29S. To target this mechanism, we showed that an inhibitor of SRC, saracatinib, blunts the VAV1-induced transcriptional reprogramming. Overall, we highlighted the importance of accounting for melanoma heterogeneity in treating cutaneous melanoma with MAPK inhibitors. Moreover, we demonstrated the utility of the Sleeping Beauty transposon system in understanding cancer drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliot Y. Zhu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Jacob L. Schillo
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Sarina D. Murray
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Jesse D. Riordan
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Adam J. Dupuy
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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Huang F, Cai F, Dahabieh MS, Gunawardena K, Talebi A, Dehairs J, El-Turk F, Park JY, Li M, Goncalves C, Gagnon N, Su J, LaPierre JH, Gaub P, Joyal JS, Mitchell JJ, Swinnen JV, Miller WH, del Rincón SV. Peroxisome disruption alters lipid metabolism and potentiates antitumor response with MAPK-targeted therapy in melanoma. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e166644. [PMID: 37616051 PMCID: PMC10575734 DOI: 10.1172/jci166644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanomas reprogram their metabolism to rapidly adapt to therapy-induced stress conditions, allowing them to persist and ultimately develop resistance. We report that a subpopulation of melanoma cells tolerate MAPK pathway inhibitors (MAPKis) through a concerted metabolic reprogramming mediated by peroxisomes and UDP-glucose ceramide glycosyltransferase (UGCG). Compromising peroxisome biogenesis, by repressing PEX3 expression, potentiated the proapoptotic effects of MAPKis via an induction of ceramides, an effect limited by UGCG-mediated ceramide metabolism. Cotargeting PEX3 and UGCG selectively eliminated a subset of metabolically active, drug-tolerant CD36+ melanoma persister cells, thereby sensitizing melanoma to MAPKis and delaying resistance. Increased levels of peroxisomal genes and UGCG were found in patient-derived MAPKi-relapsed melanomas, and simultaneously inhibiting PEX3 and UGCG restored MAPKi sensitivity in multiple models of therapy resistance. Finally, combination therapy consisting of a newly identified inhibitor of the PEX3-PEX19 interaction, a UGCG inhibitor, and MAPKis demonstrated potent antitumor activity in preclinical melanoma models, thus representing a promising approach for melanoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Huang
- Lady Davis Institute
- Department of Experimental Medicine, and
| | - Feiyang Cai
- Lady Davis Institute
- Department of Experimental Medicine, and
| | | | | | - Ali Talebi
- Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jonas Dehairs
- Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Farah El-Turk
- McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jae Yeon Park
- McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mengqi Li
- Lady Davis Institute
- Department of Experimental Medicine, and
| | | | | | | | | | - Perrine Gaub
- Centre de Recherche, CHU St. Justine, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | | | - Johannes V. Swinnen
- Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wilson H. Miller
- Lady Davis Institute
- Department of Experimental Medicine, and
- Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sonia V. del Rincón
- Lady Davis Institute
- Department of Experimental Medicine, and
- Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Chen W, Park JI. Tumor Cell Resistance to the Inhibition of BRAF and MEK1/2. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14837. [PMID: 37834284 PMCID: PMC10573597 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BRAF is one of the most frequently mutated oncogenes, with an overall frequency of about 50%. Targeting BRAF and its effector mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2) is now a key therapeutic strategy for BRAF-mutant tumors, and therapies based on dual BRAF/MEK inhibition showed significant efficacy in a broad spectrum of BRAF tumors. Nonetheless, BRAF/MEK inhibition therapy is not always effective for BRAF tumor suppression, and significant challenges remain to improve its clinical outcomes. First, certain BRAF tumors have an intrinsic ability to rapidly adapt to the presence of BRAF and MEK1/2 inhibitors by bypassing drug effects via rewired signaling, metabolic, and regulatory networks. Second, almost all tumors initially responsive to BRAF and MEK1/2 inhibitors eventually acquire therapy resistance via an additional genetic or epigenetic alteration(s). Overcoming these challenges requires identifying the molecular mechanism underlying tumor cell resistance to BRAF and MEK inhibitors and analyzing their specificity in different BRAF tumors. This review aims to update this information.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jong-In Park
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
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35
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Miebach L, Melo‐Zainzinger G, Freund E, Clemen R, Cecchini AL, Bekeschus S. Medical Gas Plasma Technology Combines with Antimelanoma Therapies and Promotes Immune-Checkpoint Therapy Responses. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2303183. [PMID: 37541287 PMCID: PMC10558686 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Strategies to improve activity and selectivity are major goals in oncological drug development. Medical gas plasma therapy has been subject to intense research in dermatooncology recently. Based on partial gas ionization, this approach is exceptional in generating a variety of reactive oxygen species simultaneously that can be applied locally at the tumor side. It is hypothesized that combined gas plasma treatment can potentiate drug responses in the treatment of melanoma. Using a plasma jet approved as medical device in Europe, a systematic screening of 46 mitochondria-targeted drugs identifies five agents synergizing in vitro and in vivo. Increased intratumoral leucocyte infiltration points to immunomodulatory aspects of the treatment, motivating to investigate responses to immune checkpoint blockade in combination with plasma. Tumor growth is monitored based on bioluminescent imaging, and single-cell suspensions are retrieved from each tumor to characterize tumor-infiltrating leucocytes using multicolor flow cytometry. Gene expression profiling is done using a validated NanoString panel targeting 770 genes specifically designed for immuno-oncological research. Cell type abundancies are characterized from bulk RNA samples using the CIBERSORT computational framework. Collectively, the results indicate that local application of medical gas plasma technology synergizes with mitochondria-targeted drugs and anti-PD1 checkpoint therapy in treating melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Miebach
- Department of General, Thoracic, Vascular, and Visceral SurgeryGreifswald University Medical Center17475GreifswaldGermany
- ZIK plasmatisLeibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP)17489GreifswaldGermany
| | - Gabriella Melo‐Zainzinger
- ZIK plasmatisLeibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP)17489GreifswaldGermany
- Cancer Research UnitBoehringer IngelheimVienna1121Austria
| | - Eric Freund
- Department of General, Thoracic, Vascular, and Visceral SurgeryGreifswald University Medical Center17475GreifswaldGermany
- ZIK plasmatisLeibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP)17489GreifswaldGermany
- Department of NeurosurgeryWien University Medical CenterVienna1090Austria
| | - Ramona Clemen
- ZIK plasmatisLeibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP)17489GreifswaldGermany
| | | | - Sander Bekeschus
- ZIK plasmatisLeibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP)17489GreifswaldGermany
- Clinic for Dermatology and VenerologyRostock University Medical Center18057RostockGermany
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Song X, Lan Y, Zheng X, Zhu Q, Liao X, Liu K, Zhang W, Peng Q, Zhu Y, Zhao L, Chen X, Shu Y, Yang K, Hu J. Targeting drug-tolerant cells: A promising strategy for overcoming acquired drug resistance in cancer cells. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e342. [PMID: 37638338 PMCID: PMC10449058 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance remains the greatest challenge in improving outcomes for cancer patients who receive chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Surmounting evidence suggests that a subpopulation of cancer cells could escape intense selective drug treatment by entering a drug-tolerant state without genetic variations. These drug-tolerant cells (DTCs) are characterized with a slow proliferation rate and a reversible phenotype. They reside in the tumor region and may serve as a reservoir for resistant phenotypes. The survival of DTCs is regulated by epigenetic modifications, transcriptional regulation, mRNA translation remodeling, metabolic changes, antiapoptosis, interactions with the tumor microenvironment, and activation of signaling pathways. Thus, targeting the regulators of DTCs opens a new avenue for the treatment of therapy-resistant tumors. In this review, we first provide an overview of common characteristics of DTCs and the regulating networks in DTCs development. We also discuss the potential therapeutic opportunities to target DTCs. Last, we discuss the current challenges and prospects of the DTC-targeting approach to overcome acquired drug resistance. Reviewing the latest developments in DTC research could be essential in discovering of methods to eliminate DTCs, which may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing drug resistance in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohai Song
- Department of General SurgeryGastric Cancer CenterLaboratory of Gastric CancerState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Yang Lan
- Department of General SurgeryGastric Cancer CenterLaboratory of Gastric CancerState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Xiuli Zheng
- Department of RadiologyHuaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC) and Critical Care MedicinePrecision Medicine Center, Frontiers Science Center for Disease‐Related Molecular Network, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Qianyu Zhu
- Department of General SurgeryGastric Cancer CenterLaboratory of Gastric CancerState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Xuliang Liao
- Department of General SurgeryGastric Cancer CenterLaboratory of Gastric CancerState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Kai Liu
- Department of General SurgeryGastric Cancer CenterLaboratory of Gastric CancerState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Weihan Zhang
- Department of General SurgeryGastric Cancer CenterLaboratory of Gastric CancerState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - QiangBo Peng
- Department of General SurgeryGastric Cancer CenterLaboratory of Gastric CancerState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Yunfeng Zhu
- Department of General SurgeryGastric Cancer CenterLaboratory of Gastric CancerState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Linyong Zhao
- Department of General SurgeryGastric Cancer CenterLaboratory of Gastric CancerState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Xiaolong Chen
- Department of General SurgeryGastric Cancer CenterLaboratory of Gastric CancerState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Yang Shu
- Department of General SurgeryGastric Cancer CenterLaboratory of Gastric CancerState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Kun Yang
- Department of General SurgeryGastric Cancer CenterLaboratory of Gastric CancerState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Jiankun Hu
- Department of General SurgeryGastric Cancer CenterLaboratory of Gastric CancerState Key Laboratory of BiotherapyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
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37
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Hartman ML, Koziej P, Kluszczyńska K, Czyz M. Pro-Apoptotic Activity of MCL-1 Inhibitor in Trametinib-Resistant Melanoma Cells Depends on Their Phenotypes and Is Modulated by Reversible Alterations Induced by Trametinib Withdrawal. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4799. [PMID: 37835493 PMCID: PMC10571954 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although BRAFV600/MEK inhibitors improved the treatment of melanoma patients, resistance is acquired almost inevitably. METHODS Trametinib withdrawal/rechallenge and MCL-1 inhibition in trametinib-resistance models displaying distinct p-ERK1/2 levels were investigated. RESULTS Trametinib withdrawal/rechallenge caused reversible changes in ERK1/2 activity impacting the balance between pro-survival and pro-apoptotic proteins. Reversible alterations were found in MCL-1 levels and MCL-1 inhibitors, BIM and NOXA. Taking advantage of melanoma cell dependency on MCL-1 for survival, we used S63845. While it was designed to inhibit MCL-1 activity, we showed that it also significantly reduced NOXA levels. S63845-induced apoptosis was detected as the enhancement of Annexin V-positivity, caspase-3/7 activation and histone H2AX phosphorylation. Percentages of Annexin V-positive cells were increased most efficiently in trametinib-resistant melanoma cells displaying the p-ERK1/2low/MCL-1low/BIMhigh/NOXAlow phenotype with EC50 values at concentrations as low as 0.1 μM. Higher ERK1/2 activity associated with increased MCL-1 level and reduced BIM level limited pro-apoptotic activity of S63845 further influenced by a NOXA level. CONCLUSIONS Our study supports the notion that the efficiency of an agent designed to target a single protein can largely depend on the phenotype of cancer cells. Thus, it is important to define appropriate phenotype determinants to stratify the patients for the novel therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Małgorzata Czyz
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (M.L.H.); (P.K.); (K.K.)
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Louphrasitthiphol P, Loffreda A, Pogenberg V, Picaud S, Schepsky A, Friedrichsen H, Zeng Z, Lashgari A, Thomas B, Patton EE, Wilmanns M, Filippakopoulos P, Lambert JP, Steingrímsson E, Mazza D, Goding CR. Acetylation reprograms MITF target selectivity and residence time. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6051. [PMID: 37770430 PMCID: PMC10539308 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41793-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of transcription factors to discriminate between different classes of binding sites associated with specific biological functions underpins effective gene regulation in development and homeostasis. How this is achieved is poorly understood. The microphthalmia-associated transcription factor MITF is a lineage-survival oncogene that plays a crucial role in melanocyte development and melanoma. MITF suppresses invasion, reprograms metabolism and promotes both proliferation and differentiation. How MITF distinguishes between differentiation and proliferation-associated targets is unknown. Here we show that compared to many transcription factors MITF exhibits a very long residence time which is reduced by p300/CBP-mediated MITF acetylation at K206. While K206 acetylation also decreases genome-wide MITF DNA-binding affinity, it preferentially directs DNA binding away from differentiation-associated CATGTG motifs toward CACGTG elements. The results reveal an acetylation-mediated switch that suppresses differentiation and provides a mechanistic explanation of why a human K206Q MITF mutation is associated with Waardenburg syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pakavarin Louphrasitthiphol
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, UK
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Alessia Loffreda
- Experimental Imaging Center, Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Vivian Pogenberg
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Signal Transduction, University Hamburg Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Picaud
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, UK
| | - Alexander Schepsky
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, UK
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, BioMedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Hans Friedrichsen
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, UK
| | - Zhiqiang Zeng
- MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, MRC Human Genetics Unit & Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Anahita Lashgari
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada; Endocrinology - Nephrology Axis, CHU de Québec - Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Benjamin Thomas
- Central Proteomics Facility, Sir William Dunn Pathology School, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - E Elizabeth Patton
- MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, MRC Human Genetics Unit & Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Matthias Wilmanns
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit, Hamburg, Germany
- University Hamburg Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Panagis Filippakopoulos
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, UK
| | - Jean-Philippe Lambert
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research Center, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada; Endocrinology - Nephrology Axis, CHU de Québec - Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Eiríkur Steingrímsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, BioMedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Davide Mazza
- Experimental Imaging Center, Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
- Università Vita-Salulte San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Colin R Goding
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, UK.
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Ta N, Jiang X, Zhang Y, Wang H. Ferroptosis as a promising therapeutic strategy for melanoma. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1252567. [PMID: 37795022 PMCID: PMC10546212 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1252567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma (MM) is the most common and deadliest type of skin cancer and is associated with high mortality rates across all races and ethnicities. Although present treatment options combined with surgery provide short-term clinical benefit in patients and early diagnosis of non-metastatic MM significantly increases the probability of survival, no efficacious treatments are available for MM. The etiology and pathogenesis of MM are complex. Acquired drug resistance is associated with a pool prognosis in patients with advanced-stage MM. Thus, these patients require new therapeutic strategies to improve their treatment response and prognosis. Multiple studies have revealed that ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic form of regulated cell death (RCD) characterized by iron dependant lipid peroxidation, can prevent the development of MM. Recent studies have indicated that targeting ferroptosis is a promising treatment strategy for MM. This review article summarizes the core mechanisms underlying the development of ferroptosis in MM cells and its potential role as a therapeutic target in MM. We emphasize the emerging types of small molecules inducing ferroptosis pathways by boosting the antitumor activity of BRAFi and immunotherapy and uncover their beneficial effects to treat MM. We also summarize the application of nanosensitizer-mediated unique dynamic therapeutic strategies and ferroptosis-based nanodrug targeting strategies as therapeutic options for MM. This review suggests that pharmacological induction of ferroptosis may be a potential therapeutic target for MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Ta
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Chifeng University, Chifeng, China
| | - Xiaodong Jiang
- Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Chifeng University Health Science Center, Chifeng, China
| | - Yongchun Zhang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Chifeng University, Chifeng, China
| | - Hongquan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
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40
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Fröhlich LM, Niessner H, Sauer B, Kämereit S, Chatziioannou E, Riel S, Sinnberg T, Schittek B. PARP Inhibitors Effectively Reduce MAPK Inhibitor Resistant Melanoma Cell Growth and Synergize with MAPK Inhibitors through a Synthetic Lethal Interaction In Vitro and In Vivo. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:1743-1755. [PMID: 37674529 PMCID: PMC10478790 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
The efficacy of targeting the MAPK signaling pathway in patients with melanoma is limited by the rapid development of resistance mechanisms that result in disease relapse. In this article, we focus on targeting the DNA repair pathway as an antimelanoma therapy, especially in MAPK inhibitor resistant melanoma cells using PARP inhibitors. We found that MAPK inhibitor resistant melanoma cells are particularly sensitive to PARP inhibitor treatment due to a lower basal expression of the DNA damage sensor ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM). As a consequence, MAPK inhibitor resistant melanoma cells have decreased homologous recombination repair activity leading to a reduced repair of double-strand breaks caused by the PARP inhibitors. We validated the clinical relevance of our findings by ATM expression analysis in biopsies from patients with melanoma before and after development of resistance to MAPK inhibitors. Furthermore, we show that inhibition of the MAPK pathway induces a homologous recombination repair deficient phenotype in melanoma cells irrespective of their MAPK inhibitor sensitivity status. MAPK inhibition results in a synthetic lethal interaction of a combinatorial treatment with PARP inhibitors, which significantly reduces melanoma cell growth in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, this study shows that PARP inhibitor treatment is a valuable therapy option for patients with melanoma, either as a single treatment or as a combination with MAPK inhibitors depending on ATM expression. Significance We show that MAPK inhibitor resistant melanoma cells exhibit low ATM expression increasing their sensitivity toward PARP inhibitors and that a combination of MAPK/PARP inhibitors act synthetically lethal in melanoma cells. Our study shows that PARP inhibitor treatment is a valuable therapy option for patients with melanoma, either as a single treatment or as a combination with MAPK inhibitors depending on ATM expression, which could serve as a novel biomarker for treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Marie Fröhlich
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Heike Niessner
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Birgit Sauer
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sofie Kämereit
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Eftychia Chatziioannou
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Simon Riel
- Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Sinnberg
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Birgit Schittek
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies,” University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Haist M, Stege H, Rogall F, Tan Y, von Wasielewski I, Klespe KC, Meier F, Mohr P, Kähler KC, Weichenthal M, Hauschild A, Schadendorf D, Ugurel S, Lodde G, Zimmer L, Gutzmer R, Debus D, Schilling B, Kreuter A, Ulrich J, Meiss F, Herbst R, Forschner A, Leiter U, Pfoehler C, Kaatz M, Ziller F, Hassel JC, Tronnier M, Sachse M, Dippel E, Terheyden P, Berking C, Heppt MV, Kiecker F, Haferkamp S, Gebhardt C, Simon JC, Grabbe S, Loquai C. Treatment management for BRAF-mutant melanoma patients with tumor recurrence on adjuvant therapy: a multicenter study from the prospective skin cancer registry ADOREG. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e007630. [PMID: 37730278 PMCID: PMC10510881 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-007630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adjuvant therapy with immune-checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) or BRAF/MEK-directed targeted therapy (TT) improves recurrence-free survival (RFS) for patients with advanced, BRAFV600-mutant (BRAFmut) resected melanoma. However, 40% of these patients will develop distant metastases (DM) within 5 years, which require systemic therapy. Little data exist to guide the choice of upfront adjuvant therapy or treatment management upon DM. This study evaluated the efficacy of subsequent treatments following tumor recurrence upon upfront adjuvant therapy. METHODS For this multicenter cohort study, we identified 515 BRAFmut patients with resected stage III melanoma who were treated with PD-1 inhibitors (anti-PD1) or TT in the adjuvant setting. Disease characteristics, treatment regimens, details on tumor recurrence, subsequent treatment management, and survival outcomes were collected within the prospective, real-world skin cancer registry ADOReg. Primary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS) following DM and best tumor response to first-line (1L) treatments. RESULTS Among 515 eligible patients, 273 patients received adjuvant anti-PD1 and 242 adjuvant TT. At a median follow-up of 21 months, 54.6% of anti-PD1 patients and 36.4% of TT patients recurred, while 39.6% (anti-PD1) and 29.3% (TT) developed DM. Risk of recurrence was significantly reduced in patients treated with TT compared with anti-PD1 (adjusted HR 0.52; 95% CI 0.40 to 0.68, p<0.001). Likewise, median RFS was significantly longer in TT-treated patients (31 vs 17 months, p<0.001). Patients who received TT as second adjuvant treatment upon locoregional recurrence had a longer RFS2 as compared with adjuvant CPI (41 vs 6 months, p=0.009). Patients who recurred at distant sites following adjuvant TT showed favorable response rates (42.9%) after switching to 1L ipilimumab+nivolumab (ipi+nivo). Patients with DM during adjuvant anti-PD1 achieved response rates of 58.7% after switching to 1L TT and 35.3% for 1L ipi+nivo. Overall, median PFS was significantly longer in patients who switched treatments for stage IV disease (median PFS 9 vs 5 months, p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS BRAFmut melanoma patients who developed DM upon upfront adjuvant therapy achieve favorable tumor control and prolonged PFS after switching treatment modalities in the first-line setting of stage IV disease. Patients with locoregional recurrence benefit from complete resection of recurrence followed by a second adjuvant treatment with TT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Haist
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Henner Stege
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Friederike Rogall
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Yuqi Tan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Imke von Wasielewski
- Skin Cancer Center Hannover, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kai Christian Klespe
- Skin Cancer Center Hannover, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Friedegund Meier
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
- Skin Cancer Center, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Dresden, Germany
| | - Peter Mohr
- Department of Dermatology, Elbe Kliniken Buxtehude, Buxtehude, Germany
| | - Katharina C Kähler
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Cancer Center, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein - Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Michael Weichenthal
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Cancer Center, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein - Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Axel Hauschild
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Cancer Center, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein - Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Dirk Schadendorf
- Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University Hospital Essen and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
| | - Selma Ugurel
- Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University Hospital Essen and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
| | - Georg Lodde
- Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University Hospital Essen and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
| | - Lisa Zimmer
- Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University Hospital Essen and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen, Germany
| | - Ralf Gutzmer
- Department of Dermatology, Muelenkreiskliniken Minden and Ruhr University Bochum, Minden, Germany
| | - Dirk Debus
- Department of Dermatology, Nuremberg Hospital, Nurnberg, Germany
| | - Bastian Schilling
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Kreuter
- Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Helios St. Elisabeth Klinik Oberhausen, University Witten-Herdecke, Oberhausen, Germany
| | - Jens Ulrich
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Harzklinikum Dorothea Christiane Erxleben GmbH, Quedlinburg, Germany
| | - Frank Meiss
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rudolf Herbst
- Department of Dermatology, HELIOS Hospital Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany
| | - Andrea Forschner
- Center for Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, Eberhard-Karls University of Tübingen, Tubingen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Leiter
- Center for Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, Eberhard-Karls University of Tübingen, Tubingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Pfoehler
- Department of Dermatology, Saarland University Hospital and Saarland University Faculty of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Martin Kaatz
- Department of Dermatology, DRK Hospital Chemnitz-Rabenstein, Rabenstein, Germany
| | - Fabian Ziller
- Department of Dermatology, DRK Hospital Chemnitz-Rabenstein, Chemnitz, Germany
| | - Jessica C Hassel
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Tronnier
- Department of Dermatology, HELIOS Hospital Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Germany
| | - Michael Sachse
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Bremerhaven Reinkenheide, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Edgar Dippel
- Department of Dermatology, Ludwigshafen City Hospital, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Patrick Terheyden
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venerology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein Lübeck Campus, Lubeck, Germany
| | - Carola Berking
- Department of Dermatology, Uniklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Uniklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus V Heppt
- Department of Dermatology, Uniklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Uniklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Felix Kiecker
- Department of Dermatology, Vivantes Hospital Neukölln, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Haferkamp
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christoffer Gebhardt
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Stephan Grabbe
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Carmen Loquai
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, Gesundheit-Nord Hospital, Bremen, Germany
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Kasago IS, Chatila WK, Lezcano CM, Febres-Aldana CA, Schultz N, Vanderbilt C, Dogan S, Bartlett EK, D'Angelo SP, Tap WD, Singer S, Ladanyi M, Shoushtari AN, Busam KJ, Hameed M. Undifferentiated and Dedifferentiated Metastatic Melanomas Masquerading as Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Mutational Signature Analysis and Immunotherapy Response. Mod Pathol 2023; 36:100165. [PMID: 36990277 PMCID: PMC10698871 DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2023.100165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The distinction between undifferentiated melanoma (UM) or dedifferentiated melanoma (DM) from undifferentiated or unclassifiable sarcoma can be difficult and requires the careful correlation of clinical, pathologic, and genomic findings. In this study, we examined the utility of mutational signatures to identify patients with UM/DM with particular attention as to whether this distinction matters for treatment because the survival of patients with metastatic melanoma has dramatically improved with immunologic therapy, whereas durable responses are less frequent in sarcomas. We identified 19 cases of UM/DM that were initially reported as unclassified or undifferentiated malignant neoplasm or sarcoma and submitted for targeted next-generation sequencing analysis. These cases were confirmed as UM/DM by harboring melanoma driver mutations, UV signature, and high tumor mutation burden. One case of DM showed melanoma in situ. Meanwhile, 18 cases represented metastatic UM/DM. Eleven patients had a prior history of melanoma. Thirteen of 19 (68%) of the tumors were immunohistochemically completely negative for 4 melanocytic markers (S100, SOX10, HMB45, and MELAN-A). All cases harbored a dominant UV signature. Frequent driver mutations involved BRAF (26%), NRAS (32%), and NF1 (42%). In contrast, the control cohort of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas (UPS) of deep soft tissue exhibited a dominant aging signature in 46.6% (7/15) without evidence of UV signature. The median tumor mutation burden for DM/UM vs UPS was 31.5 vs 7.0 mutations/Mb (P < .001). A favorable response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy was observed in 66.6% (12/18) of patients with UM/DM. Eight patients exhibited a complete response and were alive with no evidence of disease at the last follow-up (median 45.5 months). Our findings support the usefulness of the UV signature in discriminating DM/UM vs UPS. Furthermore, we present evidence suggesting that patients with DM/UM and UV signatures can benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israel S Kasago
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Walid K Chatila
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Cecilia M Lezcano
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Nikolaus Schultz
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Chad Vanderbilt
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Snjezana Dogan
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Edmund K Bartlett
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Sandra P D'Angelo
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - William D Tap
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Samuel Singer
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Marc Ladanyi
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Klaus J Busam
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Meera Hameed
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
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Sigaud R, Albert TK, Hess C, Hielscher T, Winkler N, Kocher D, Walter C, Münter D, Selt F, Usta D, Ecker J, Brentrup A, Hasselblatt M, Thomas C, Varghese J, Capper D, Thomale UW, Hernáiz Driever P, Simon M, Horn S, Herz NA, Koch A, Sahm F, Hamelmann S, Faria-Andrade A, Jabado N, Schuhmann MU, Schouten-van Meeteren AYN, Hoving E, Brummer T, van Tilburg CM, Pfister SM, Witt O, Jones DTW, Kerl K, Milde T. MAPK inhibitor sensitivity scores predict sensitivity driven by the immune infiltration in pediatric low-grade gliomas. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4533. [PMID: 37500667 PMCID: PMC10374577 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40235-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric low-grade gliomas (pLGG) show heterogeneous responses to MAPK inhibitors (MAPKi) in clinical trials. Thus, more complex stratification biomarkers are needed to identify patients likely to benefit from MAPKi therapy. Here, we identify MAPK-related genes enriched in MAPKi-sensitive cell lines using the GDSC dataset and apply them to calculate class-specific MAPKi sensitivity scores (MSSs) via single-sample gene set enrichment analysis. The MSSs discriminate MAPKi-sensitive and non-sensitive cells in the GDSC dataset and significantly correlate with response to MAPKi in an independent PDX dataset. The MSSs discern gliomas with varying MAPK alterations and are higher in pLGG compared to other pediatric CNS tumors. Heterogenous MSSs within pLGGs with the same MAPK alteration identify proportions of potentially sensitive patients. The MEKi MSS predicts treatment response in a small set of pLGG patients treated with trametinib. High MSSs correlate with a higher immune cell infiltration, with high expression in the microglia compartment in single-cell RNA sequencing data, while low MSSs correlate with low immune infiltration and increased neuronal score. The MSSs represent predictive tools for the stratification of pLGG patients and should be prospectively validated in clinical trials. Our data supports a role for microglia in the response to MAPKi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Sigaud
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Thomas K Albert
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Caroline Hess
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biochemistry, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Hielscher
- Division of Biostatistics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nadine Winkler
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniela Kocher
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carolin Walter
- Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Daniel Münter
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Florian Selt
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Diren Usta
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jonas Ecker
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Angela Brentrup
- Neurosurgery Dept., University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Martin Hasselblatt
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian Thomas
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Julian Varghese
- Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - David Capper
- Berlin Institute of Health, Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Straße 2, 10178, Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Neuropathology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrich W Thomale
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pablo Hernáiz Driever
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, German HIT-LOGGIC-Registry for pLGG in children and adolescents, Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michèle Simon
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, German HIT-LOGGIC-Registry for pLGG in children and adolescents, Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Svea Horn
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, German HIT-LOGGIC-Registry for pLGG in children and adolescents, Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nina Annika Herz
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, German HIT-LOGGIC-Registry for pLGG in children and adolescents, Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Arend Koch
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Neuropathology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Felix Sahm
- Department of Neuropathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuropathology, German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Hamelmann
- Department of Neuropathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuropathology, German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Nada Jabado
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C7, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, and The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Martin U Schuhmann
- Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Eelco Hoving
- Princess Màxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tilman Brummer
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research (IMMZ), Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany, Centre for Biological Signaling Studies BIOSS, University of Freiburg and German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Freiburg, Germany, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cornelis M van Tilburg
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Olaf Witt
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David T W Jones
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Glioma Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kornelius Kerl
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Till Milde
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Fröhlich F, Ramelyte E, Turko P, Dzung A, Freiberger SN, Mangana J, Levesque MP, Dummer R. Clock-like Mutation Signature May Be Prognostic for Worse Survival Than Signatures of UV Damage in Cutaneous Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3818. [PMID: 37568633 PMCID: PMC10418148 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15153818] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Novel treatment modalities comprising immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies have revolutionized treatment of metastatic melanoma. Still, some patients suffer from rapid progression and decease within months after a diagnosis of stage IV melanoma. We aimed to assess whether genomic alterations may predict survival after the development of stage IV disease, irrespective of received therapy. We analyzed tumor samples of 79 patients with stage IV melanoma using a custom next-generation gene-sequencing panel, MelArray, designed to detect alterations in 190 melanoma-relevant genes. We classified the patients: first, as short survivors (survival ≤6 months after stage IV disease, n = 22) and long survivors (survival >6 months, n = 57); second, by using a cut-off of one year; and third, by comparing the longest surviving 20 patients to the shortest surviving 20. Among analyzed genes, no individual gene alterations, or combinations of alterations, could be dichotomously associated with survival. However, the cohort's mutational profiles closely matched three known mutational signatures curated by the Catalog of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC): UV signature COSMIC_7 (cosine-similarity 0.932), clock-like signature COSMIC_5 (cosine-similarity 0.829), and COSMIC_30 (cosine-similarity 0.726). Patients with UV signature had longer survival compared to patients with clock-like and COSMIC 30 (p < 0.0001). Subgroup dichotomization at 6 months showed that 75% of patients with UV signature survived longer than 6 months, and about 75% of patients with clock-like signature survived less than 6 months after development of stage IV disease. In our cohort, clock-like COSMIC_5 mutational signature predicted poor survival while a UV signature COSMIC_7 predicted longer survival. The prognostic value of mutational signatures should be evaluated in prospective studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabienne Fröhlich
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (F.F.); (E.R.); (P.T.); (A.D.); (J.M.); (M.P.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Egle Ramelyte
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (F.F.); (E.R.); (P.T.); (A.D.); (J.M.); (M.P.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Turko
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (F.F.); (E.R.); (P.T.); (A.D.); (J.M.); (M.P.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Dzung
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (F.F.); (E.R.); (P.T.); (A.D.); (J.M.); (M.P.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sandra N. Freiberger
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Joanna Mangana
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (F.F.); (E.R.); (P.T.); (A.D.); (J.M.); (M.P.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mitchell P. Levesque
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (F.F.); (E.R.); (P.T.); (A.D.); (J.M.); (M.P.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Reinhard Dummer
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland; (F.F.); (E.R.); (P.T.); (A.D.); (J.M.); (M.P.L.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
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45
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Kim D, An L, Moon J, Maymi VI, McGurk AI, Rudd BD, Fowell DJ, White AC. Ccr2+ Monocyte-Derived Macrophages Influence Trajectories of Acquired Therapy Resistance in Braf-Mutant Melanoma. Cancer Res 2023; 83:2328-2344. [PMID: 37195124 PMCID: PMC10478295 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-2841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Therapies targeting oncogene addiction have had a tremendous impact on tumor growth and patient outcome, but drug resistance continues to be problematic. One approach to deal with the challenge of resistance entails extending anticancer treatments beyond targeting cancer cells by additionally altering the tumor microenvironment. Understanding how the tumor microenvironment contributes to the evolution of diverse resistance pathways could aid in the design of sequential treatments that can elicit and take advantage of a predictable resistance trajectory. Tumor-associated macrophages often support neoplastic growth and are frequently the most abundant immune cell found in tumors. Here, we used clinically relevant in vivo Braf-mutant melanoma models with fluorescent markers to track the stage-specific changes in macrophages under targeted therapy with Braf/Mek inhibitors and assessed the dynamic evolution of the macrophage population generated by therapy pressure-induced stress. During the onset of a drug-tolerant persister state, Ccr2+ monocyte-derived macrophage infiltration rose, suggesting that macrophage influx at this point could facilitate the onset of stable drug resistance that melanoma cells show after several weeks of treatment. Comparison of melanomas that develop in a Ccr2-proficient or -deficient microenvironment demonstrated that lack of melanoma infiltrating Ccr2+ macrophages delayed onset of resistance and shifted melanoma cell evolution towards unstable resistance. Unstable resistance was characterized by sensitivity to targeted therapy when factors from the microenvironment were lost. Importantly, this phenotype was reversed by coculturing melanoma cells with Ccr2+ macrophages. Overall, this study demonstrates that the development of resistance may be directed by altering the tumor microenvironment to improve treatment timing and the probability of relapse. SIGNIFICANCE Ccr2+ melanoma macrophages that are active in tumors during the drug-tolerant persister state following targeted therapy-induced regression are key contributors directing melanoma cell reprogramming toward specific therapeutic resistance trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dahihm Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Luye An
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Jiwon Moon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Viviana I Maymi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Alexander I McGurk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Brian D Rudd
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Deborah J Fowell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Andrew C White
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
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46
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Ding L, Sun L, Bu MT, Zhang Y, Scott LN, Prins RM, Su MA, Lechner MG, Hugo W. Antigen presentation by clonally diverse CXCR5+ B cells to CD4 and CD8 T cells is associated with durable response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1176994. [PMID: 37435085 PMCID: PMC10330698 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1176994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Increased T cell infiltration and interferon gamma (IFNγ) pathway activation are seen in tumors of melanoma patients who respond to ICI (immune checkpoint inhibitor) or MAPK pathway inhibitor (MAPKi) therapies. Yet, the rate of durable tumor control after ICI is almost twice that of MAPKi, suggesting that additional mechanisms may be present in patients responding to ICI therapy that are beneficial for anti-tumor immunity. Methods We used transcriptional analysis and clinical outcomes from patients treated with ICI or MAPKi therapies to delineate immune mechanisms driving tumor response. Results We discovered response to ICI is associated with CXCL13-driven recruitment of CXCR5+ B cells with significantly higher clonal diversity than MAPKi. Our in vitro data indicate that CXCL13 production was increased in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by anti-PD1, but not MAPKi, treatment. Higher B cell infiltration and B cell receptor (BCR) diversity allows presentation of diverse tumor antigens by B cells, resulting in activation of follicular helper CD4 T cells (Tfh) and tumor reactive CD8 T cells after ICI therapy. Higher BCR diversity and IFNγ pathway score post-ICI are associated with significantly longer patient survival compared to those with either one or none. Conclusions Response to ICI, but not to MAPKi, depends on the recruitment of CXCR5+ B cells into the tumor microenvironment and their productive tumor antigen presentation to follicular helper and cytotoxic, tumor reactive T cells. Our study highlights the potential of CXCL13 and B cell based strategies to enhance the rate of durable response in melanoma patients treated with ICI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizhong Ding
- Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Lu Sun
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Melissa T. Bu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Yanjun Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Lauren N. Scott
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Robert M. Prins
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Maureen A. Su
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Melissa G. Lechner
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Willy Hugo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Spain L, Coulton A, Lobon I, Rowan A, Schnidrig D, Shepherd ST, Shum B, Byrne F, Goicoechea M, Piperni E, Au L, Edmonds K, Carlyle E, Hunter N, Renn A, Messiou C, Hughes P, Nobbs J, Foijer F, van den Bos H, Wardenaar R, Spierings DC, Spencer C, Schmitt AM, Tippu Z, Lingard K, Grostate L, Peat K, Kelly K, Sarker S, Vaughan S, Mangwende M, Terry L, Kelly D, Biano J, Murra A, Korteweg J, Lewis C, O'Flaherty M, Cattin AL, Emmerich M, Gerard CL, Pallikonda HA, Lynch J, Mason R, Rogiers A, Xu H, Huebner A, McGranahan N, Al Bakir M, Murai J, Naceur-Lombardelli C, Borg E, Mitchison M, Moore DA, Falzon M, Proctor I, Stamp GW, Nye EL, Young K, Furness AJ, Pickering L, Stewart R, Mahadeva U, Green A, Larkin J, Litchfield K, Swanton C, Jamal-Hanjani M, Turajlic S. Late-Stage Metastatic Melanoma Emerges through a Diversity of Evolutionary Pathways. Cancer Discov 2023; 13:1364-1385. [PMID: 36977461 PMCID: PMC10236155 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-22-1427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the evolutionary pathways to metastasis and resistance to immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in melanoma is critical for improving outcomes. Here, we present the most comprehensive intrapatient metastatic melanoma dataset assembled to date as part of the Posthumous Evaluation of Advanced Cancer Environment (PEACE) research autopsy program, including 222 exome sequencing, 493 panel-sequenced, 161 RNA sequencing, and 22 single-cell whole-genome sequencing samples from 14 ICI-treated patients. We observed frequent whole-genome doubling and widespread loss of heterozygosity, often involving antigen-presentation machinery. We found KIT extrachromosomal DNA may have contributed to the lack of response to KIT inhibitors of a KIT-driven melanoma. At the lesion-level, MYC amplifications were enriched in ICI nonresponders. Single-cell sequencing revealed polyclonal seeding of metastases originating from clones with different ploidy in one patient. Finally, we observed that brain metastases that diverged early in molecular evolution emerge late in disease. Overall, our study illustrates the diverse evolutionary landscape of advanced melanoma. SIGNIFICANCE Despite treatment advances, melanoma remains a deadly disease at stage IV. Through research autopsy and dense sampling of metastases combined with extensive multiomic profiling, our study elucidates the many mechanisms that melanomas use to evade treatment and the immune system, whether through mutations, widespread copy-number alterations, or extrachromosomal DNA. See related commentary by Shain, p. 1294. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1275.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavinia Spain
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alexander Coulton
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Tumour Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance (TIGI) Lab, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Irene Lobon
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Rowan
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Desiree Schnidrig
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Scott T.C. Shepherd
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Shum
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Byrne
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Goicoechea
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elisa Piperni
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lewis Au
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kim Edmonds
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Nikki Hunter
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Christina Messiou
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- The Institute of Cancer Research, Kensington and Chelsea, United Kingdom
| | - Peta Hughes
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jaime Nobbs
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Floris Foijer
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Hilda van den Bos
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Rene Wardenaar
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Diana C.J. Spierings
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte Spencer
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Zayd Tippu
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Kema Peat
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sarah Sarker
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Lauren Terry
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Denise Kelly
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Aida Murra
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Anne-Laure Cattin
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Max Emmerich
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- St. John's Institute of Dermatology, Guy's and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Camille L. Gerard
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Precision Oncology Center, Oncology Department, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Joanna Lynch
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Mason
- Gold Coast University Hospital, Queensland, Australia
| | - Aljosja Rogiers
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hang Xu
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ariana Huebner
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas McGranahan
- Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maise Al Bakir
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jun Murai
- Tumour Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance (TIGI) Lab, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Drug Discovery Technology Laboratories, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Elaine Borg
- University College London Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - David A. Moore
- Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mary Falzon
- University College London Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Proctor
- University College London Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Emma L. Nye
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Young
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J.S. Furness
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- The Institute of Cancer Research, Kensington and Chelsea, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ruby Stewart
- Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ula Mahadeva
- Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Green
- Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - James Larkin
- Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Litchfield
- Tumour Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance (TIGI) Lab, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Charles Swanton
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mariam Jamal-Hanjani
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Medical Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Samra Turajlic
- Cancer Dynamics Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Skin and Renal Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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Haist M, Stege H, Kuske M, Bauer J, Klumpp A, Grabbe S, Bros M. Combination of immune-checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies for melanoma therapy: The more, the better? Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:481-505. [PMID: 37022618 PMCID: PMC10348973 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10097-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
The approval of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) and mitogen activated protein kinase inhibitors (MAPKi) in recent years significantly improved the treatment management and survival of patients with advanced malignant melanoma. CPI aim to counter-act receptor-mediated inhibitory effects of tumor cells and immunomodulatory cell types on effector T cells, whereas MAPKi are intended to inhibit tumor cell survival. In agreement with these complementary modes of action preclinical data indicated that the combined application of CPI and MAPKi or their optimal sequencing might provide additional clinical benefit. In this review the rationale and preclinical evidence that support the combined application of MAPKi and CPI either in concurrent or consecutive regimens are presented. Further, we will discuss the results from clinical trials investigating the sequential or combined application of MAPKi and CPI for advanced melanoma patients and their implications for clinical practice. Finally, we outline mechanisms of MAPKi and CPI cross-resistance which limit the efficacy of currently available treatments, as well as combination regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Haist
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Henner Stege
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael Kuske
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Julia Bauer
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Annika Klumpp
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Stephan Grabbe
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Matthias Bros
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany
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Wiecek AJ, Cutty SJ, Kornai D, Parreno-Centeno M, Gourmet LE, Tagliazucchi GM, Jacobson DH, Zhang P, Xiong L, Bond GL, Barr AR, Secrier M. Genomic hallmarks and therapeutic implications of G0 cell cycle arrest in cancer. Genome Biol 2023; 24:128. [PMID: 37221612 PMCID: PMC10204193 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-02963-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Therapy resistance in cancer is often driven by a subpopulation of cells that are temporarily arrested in a non-proliferative G0 state, which is difficult to capture and whose mutational drivers remain largely unknown. RESULTS We develop methodology to robustly identify this state from transcriptomic signals and characterise its prevalence and genomic constraints in solid primary tumours. We show that G0 arrest preferentially emerges in the context of more stable, less mutated genomes which maintain TP53 integrity and lack the hallmarks of DNA damage repair deficiency, while presenting increased APOBEC mutagenesis. We employ machine learning to uncover novel genomic dependencies of this process and validate the role of the centrosomal gene CEP89 as a modulator of proliferation and G0 arrest capacity. Lastly, we demonstrate that G0 arrest underlies unfavourable responses to various therapies exploiting cell cycle, kinase signalling and epigenetic mechanisms in single-cell data. CONCLUSIONS We propose a G0 arrest transcriptional signature that is linked with therapeutic resistance and can be used to further study and clinically track this state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna J. Wiecek
- UCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Stephen J. Cutty
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Daniel Kornai
- UCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mario Parreno-Centeno
- UCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lucie E. Gourmet
- UCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Daniel H. Jacobson
- UCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
- UCL Cancer Institute, Paul O’Gorman Building, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ping Zhang
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lingyun Xiong
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Gareth L. Bond
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Alexis R. Barr
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Cell Cycle Control Team, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), London, UK
| | - Maria Secrier
- UCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
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50
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Luo J, Deng L, Zou H, Guo Y, Tong T, Huang M, Ling G, Li P. New insights into the ambivalent role of YAP/TAZ in human cancers. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:130. [PMID: 37211598 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02704-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Hippo signaling was first identified in Drosophila as a key controller of organ size by regulating cell proliferation and anti-apoptosis. Subsequent studies have shown that this pathway is highly conserved in mammals, and its dysregulation is implicated in multiple events of cancer development and progression. Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) (hereafter YAP/TAZ) are the downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway. YAP/TAZ overexpression or activation is sufficient to induce tumor initiation and progression, as well as recurrence and therapeutic resistance. However, there is growing evidence that YAP/TAZ also exert a tumor-suppressive function in a context-dependent manner. Therefore, caution should be taken when targeting Hippo signaling in clinical trials in the future. In this review article, we will first give an overview of YAP/TAZ and their oncogenic roles in various cancers and then systematically summarize the tumor-suppressive functions of YAP/TAZ in different contexts. Based on these findings, we will further discuss the clinical implications of YAP/TAZ-based tumor targeted therapy and potential future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Luo
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Deng
- Department of General Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Hailin Zou
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yibo Guo
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Tongyu Tong
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Urology, Pelvic Floor Disorders Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingli Huang
- Department of General Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Gengqiang Ling
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Li
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
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