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Burrow TA, Koneru B, Macha SJ, Sun W, Barr FG, Triche TJ, Reynolds CP. Prevalence of alternative lengthening of telomeres in pediatric sarcomas determined by the telomeric DNA C-circle assay. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1399442. [PMID: 39224814 PMCID: PMC11366626 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1399442] [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: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) occurs in sarcomas and ALT cancers share common mechanisms of therapy resistance or sensitivity. Telomeric DNA C-circles are self-primed circular telomeric repeats detected with a PCR assay that provide a sensitive and specific biomarker exclusive to ALT cancers. We have previously shown that 23% of high-risk neuroblastomas are of the ALT phenotype. Here, we investigate the frequency of ALT in Ewing's family sarcoma (EFS), rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), and osteosarcoma (OS) by analyzing DNA from fresh frozen primary tumor samples utilizing the real-time PCR C-circle Assay (CCA). Methods We reviewed prior publications on ALT detection in pediatric sarcomas. DNA was extracted from fresh frozen primary tumors, fluorometrically quantified, C-circles were selectively enriched by isothermal rolling cycle amplification and detected by real-time PCR. Results The sample cohort consisted of DNA from 95 EFS, 191 RMS, and 87 OS primary tumors. One EFS and 4 RMS samples were inevaluable. Using C-circle positive (CC+) cutoffs previously defined for high-risk neuroblastoma, we observed 0 of 94 EFS, 5 of 187 RMS, and 62 of 87 OS CC+ tumors. Conclusions Utilizing the ALT-specific CCA we observed ALT in 0% of EFS, 2.7% of RMS, and 71% of OS. These data are comparable to prior studies in EFS and OS using less specific ALT markers. The CCA can provide a robust and sensitive means of identifying ALT in sarcomas and has potential as a companion diagnostic for ALT targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor A. Burrow
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Cancer Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
- Department of Translational Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Balakrishna Koneru
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Cancer Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Shawn J. Macha
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Cancer Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Wenyue Sun
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Frederic G. Barr
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Timothy J. Triche
- Children’s Hospital Los Angles, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - C. Patrick Reynolds
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Cancer Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
- Department of Translational Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Lubbock, TX, United States
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2
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Tsiakanikas P, Athanasopoulou K, Darioti IA, Agiassoti VT, Theocharis S, Scorilas A, Adamopoulos PG. Beyond the Chromosome: Recent Developments in Decoding the Significance of Extrachromosomal Circular DNA (eccDNA) in Human Malignancies. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:922. [PMID: 39202666 PMCID: PMC11355349 DOI: 10.3390/life14080922] [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: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) is a form of a circular double-stranded DNA that exists independently of conventional chromosomes. eccDNA exhibits a broad and random distribution across eukaryotic cells and has been associated with tumor-related properties due to its ability to harbor the complete gene information of oncogenes. The complex and multifaceted mechanisms underlying eccDNA formation include pathways such as DNA damage repair, breakage-fusion-bridge (BFB) mechanisms, chromothripsis, and cell apoptosis. Of note, eccDNA plays a pivotal role in tumor development, genetic heterogeneity, and therapeutic resistance. The high copy number and transcriptional activity of oncogenes carried by eccDNA contribute to the accelerated growth of tumors. Notably, the amplification of oncogenes on eccDNA is implicated in the malignant progression of cancer cells. The improvement of high-throughput sequencing techniques has greatly enhanced our knowledge of eccDNA by allowing for a detailed examination of its genetic structures and functions. However, we still lack a comprehensive and efficient annotation for eccDNA, while challenges persist in the study and understanding of the functional role of eccDNA, emphasizing the need for the development of robust methodologies. The potential clinical applications of eccDNA, such as its role as a measurable biomarker or therapeutic target in diseases, particularly within the spectrum of human malignancies, is a promising field for future research. In conclusion, eccDNA represents a quite dynamic and multifunctional genetic entity with far-reaching implications in cancer pathogenesis and beyond. Further research is essential to unravel the molecular pathways of eccDNA formation, elucidate its functional roles, and explore its clinical applications. Addressing these aspects is crucial for advancing our understanding of genomic instability and developing novel strategies for tailored therapeutics, especially in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Tsiakanikas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15701 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantina Athanasopoulou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15701 Athens, Greece
| | - Ioanna A. Darioti
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15701 Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Taxiarchoula Agiassoti
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece; (V.T.A.)
| | - Stamatis Theocharis
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece; (V.T.A.)
| | - Andreas Scorilas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15701 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis G. Adamopoulos
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15701 Athens, Greece
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3
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Graham MK, Xu B, Davis C, Meeker AK, Heaphy CM, Yegnasubramanian S, Dyer MA, Zeineldin M. The TERT Promoter is Polycomb-Repressed in Neuroblastoma Cells with Long Telomeres. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:1533-1547. [PMID: 38837897 PMCID: PMC11188873 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-22-0287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Acquiring a telomere maintenance mechanism is a hallmark of high-risk neuroblastoma and commonly occurs by expressing telomerase (TERT). Telomerase-negative neuroblastoma has long telomeres and utilizes the telomerase-independent alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism. Conversely, no discernable telomere maintenance mechanism is detected in a fraction of neuroblastoma with long telomeres. Here, we show, unlike most cancers, DNA of the TERT promoter is broadly hypomethylated in neuroblastoma. In telomerase-positive neuroblastoma cells, the hypomethylated DNA promoter is approximately 1.5 kb. The TERT locus shows active chromatin marks with low enrichment for the repressive mark, H3K27me3. MYCN, a commonly amplified oncogene in neuroblstoma, binds to the promoter and induces TERT expression. Strikingly, in neuroblastoma with long telomeres, the hypomethylated region spans the entire TERT locus, including multiple nearby genes with enrichment for the repressive H3K27me3 chromatin mark. Furthermore, subtelomeric regions showed enrichment of repressive chromatin marks in neuroblastomas with long telomeres relative to those with short telomeres. These repressive marks were even more evident at the genic loci, suggesting a telomere position effect (TPE). Inhibiting H3K27 methylation by three different EZH2 inhibitors induced the expression of TERT in cell lines with long telomeres and H3K27me3 marks in the promoter region. EZH2 inhibition facilitated MYCN binding to the TERT promoter in neuroblastoma cells with long telomeres. Taken together, these data suggest that epigenetic regulation of TERT expression differs in neuroblastoma depending on the telomere maintenance status, and H3K27 methylation is important in repressing TERT expression in neuroblastoma with long telomeres. SIGNIFICANCE The epigenetic landscape of the TERT locus is unique in neuroblastoma. The DNA at the TERT locus, unlike other cancer cells and similar to normal cells, are hypomethylated in telomerase-positive neuroblastoma cells. The TERT locus is repressed by polycomb repressive complex-2 complex in neuroblastoma cells that have long telomeres and do not express TERT. Long telomeres in neuroblastoma cells are also associated with repressive chromatin states at the chromosomal termini, suggesting TPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mindy K. Graham
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Urology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Beisi Xu
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Christine Davis
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Alan K. Meeker
- Department of Urology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Christopher M. Heaphy
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Srinivasan Yegnasubramanian
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Michael A. Dyer
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Maged Zeineldin
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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4
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Vercouillie N, Ren Z, Terras E, Lammens T. Long Non-Coding RNAs in Neuroblastoma: Pathogenesis, Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5690. [PMID: 38891878 PMCID: PMC11171840 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115690] [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: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is the most common malignant extracranial solid tumor of childhood. Recent studies involving the application of advanced high-throughput "omics" techniques have revealed numerous genomic alterations, including aberrant coding-gene transcript levels and dysfunctional pathways, that drive the onset, growth, progression, and treatment resistance of neuroblastoma. Research conducted in the past decade has shown that long non-coding RNAs, once thought to be transcriptomic noise, play key roles in cancer development. With the recent and continuing increase in the amount of evidence for the underlying roles of long non-coding RNAs in neuroblastoma, the potential clinical implications of these RNAs cannot be ignored. In this review, we discuss their biological mechanisms of action in the context of the central driving mechanisms of neuroblastoma, focusing on potential contributions to the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of this disease. We also aim to provide a clear, integrated picture of future research opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Vercouillie
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.); (Z.R.); (E.T.)
| | - Zhiyao Ren
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.); (Z.R.); (E.T.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eva Terras
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.); (Z.R.); (E.T.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tim Lammens
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.); (Z.R.); (E.T.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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5
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Djos A, Thombare K, Vaid R, Gaarder J, Umapathy G, Reinsbach SE, Georgantzi K, Stenman J, Carén H, Ek T, Mondal T, Kogner P, Martinsson T, Fransson S. Telomere Maintenance Mechanisms in a Cohort of High-Risk Neuroblastoma Tumors and Its Relation to Genomic Variants in the TERT and ATRX Genes. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5732. [PMID: 38136279 PMCID: PMC10741428 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells are hallmarked by their capacity to undergo unlimited cell divisions, commonly accomplished either by mechanisms that activate TERT or through the alternative lengthening of telomeres pathway. Neuroblastoma is a heterogeneous pediatric cancer, and the aim of this study was to characterize telomere maintenance mechanisms in a high-risk neuroblastoma cohort. All tumor samples were profiled with SNP microarrays and, when material was available, subjected to whole genome sequencing (WGS). Telomere length was estimated from WGS data, samples were assayed for the ALT biomarker c-circles, and selected samples were subjected to methylation array analysis. Samples with ATRX aberration in this study were positive for c-circles, whereas samples with either MYCN amplification or TERT re-arrangement were negative for c-circles. Both ATRX aberrations and TERT re-arrangement were enriched in 11q-deleted samples. An association between older age at diagnosis and 1q-deletion was found in the ALT-positive group. TERT was frequently placed in juxtaposition to a previously established gene in neuroblastoma tumorigenesis or cancer in general. Given the importance of high-risk neuroblastoma, means for mitigating active telomere maintenance must be therapeutically explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Djos
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden; (A.D.); (K.T.); (R.V.); (J.G.); (G.U.); (T.M.); (T.M.)
| | - Ketan Thombare
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden; (A.D.); (K.T.); (R.V.); (J.G.); (G.U.); (T.M.); (T.M.)
| | - Roshan Vaid
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden; (A.D.); (K.T.); (R.V.); (J.G.); (G.U.); (T.M.); (T.M.)
| | - Jennie Gaarder
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden; (A.D.); (K.T.); (R.V.); (J.G.); (G.U.); (T.M.); (T.M.)
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Genomics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 41345 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ganesh Umapathy
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden; (A.D.); (K.T.); (R.V.); (J.G.); (G.U.); (T.M.); (T.M.)
| | - Susanne E. Reinsbach
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden;
| | - Kleopatra Georgantzi
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; (K.G.); (J.S.); (P.K.)
| | - Jakob Stenman
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; (K.G.); (J.S.); (P.K.)
| | - Helena Carén
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden;
| | - Torben Ek
- Children’s Cancer Center, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 41650 Gothenburg, Sweden;
| | - Tanmoy Mondal
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden; (A.D.); (K.T.); (R.V.); (J.G.); (G.U.); (T.M.); (T.M.)
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 41345 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Per Kogner
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; (K.G.); (J.S.); (P.K.)
| | - Tommy Martinsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden; (A.D.); (K.T.); (R.V.); (J.G.); (G.U.); (T.M.); (T.M.)
| | - Susanne Fransson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden; (A.D.); (K.T.); (R.V.); (J.G.); (G.U.); (T.M.); (T.M.)
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Genomics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 41345 Gothenburg, Sweden
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6
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Loe TK, Lazzerini Denchi E, Tricola GM, Azeroglu B. ALTercations at telomeres: stress, recombination and extrachromosomal affairs. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:1935-1946. [PMID: 37767563 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230265] [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: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 15% of human cancers depend on the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway to maintain telomeres and proliferate. Telomeres that are elongated using ALT display unique features raising the exciting prospect of tailored cancer therapies. ALT-mediated telomere elongation shares several features with recombination-based DNA repair. Strikingly, cells that use the ALT pathway display abnormal levels of replication stress at telomeres and accumulate abundant extrachromosomal telomeric DNA. In this review, we examine recent findings that shed light on the ALT mechanisms and the strategies currently available to suppress this telomere elongation mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor K Loe
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, U.S.A
| | - Eros Lazzerini Denchi
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, U.S.A
| | - Gianna M Tricola
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, U.S.A
| | - Benura Azeroglu
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, U.S.A
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7
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van Gerven MR, Schild L, van Arkel J, Koopmans B, Broeils LA, Meijs LAM, van Oosterhout R, van Noesel MM, Koster J, van Hooff SR, Molenaar JJ, van den Boogaard ML. Two opposing gene expression patterns within ATRX aberrant neuroblastoma. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289084. [PMID: 37540673 PMCID: PMC10403137 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. A subgroup of high-risk patients is characterized by aberrations in the chromatin remodeller ATRX that is encoded by 35 exons. In contrast to other pediatric cancer where ATRX point mutations are most frequent, multi-exon deletions (MEDs) are the most frequent type of ATRX aberrations in neuroblastoma. 75% of these MEDs are predicted to produce in-frame fusion proteins, suggesting a potential gain-of-function effect compared to nonsense mutations. For neuroblastoma there are only a few patient-derived ATRX aberrant models. Therefore, we created isogenic ATRX aberrant models using CRISPR-Cas9 in several neuroblastoma cell lines and one tumoroid and performed total RNA-sequencing on these and the patient-derived models. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed decreased expression of genes related to both ribosome biogenesis and several metabolic processes in our isogenic ATRX exon 2-10 MED model systems, the patient-derived MED models and in tumor data containing two patients with an ATRX exon 2-10 MED. In sharp contrast, these same processes showed an increased expression in our isogenic ATRX knock-out and exon 2-13 MED models. Our validations confirmed a role of ATRX in the regulation of ribosome homeostasis. The two distinct molecular expression patterns within ATRX aberrant neuroblastomas that we identified imply that there might be a need for distinct treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R van Gerven
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Linda Schild
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jennemiek van Arkel
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bianca Koopmans
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Luuk A Broeils
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Loes A M Meijs
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Romy van Oosterhout
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Max M van Noesel
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Cancer and Imaging, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Koster
- Department of Oncogenomics, University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, North-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Sander R van Hooff
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan J Molenaar
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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8
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Umaru B, Sengupta S, Senthil Kumar S, Drissi R. Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres in Pediatric High-Grade Glioma and Therapeutic Implications. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3070. [PMID: 37370681 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs), including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), are highly aggressive tumors with dismal prognoses despite multimodal therapy including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. To achieve cellular immortality cancer cells must overcome replicative senescence and apoptosis by activating telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMMs) through the reactivation of telomerase activity or using alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT) pathways. Although the ALT phenotype is more prevalent in pHGGs compared to adult HGGs, the molecular pathway and the prognostic significance of ALT activation are not well understood in pHGGs. Here, we report the heterogeneity of TMM in pHGGs and their association with genetic alterations. Additionally, we show that sensitivity to the protein kinase ataxia telangiectasia- and RAD3-related protein (ATR) inhibitor and the ATR downstream target CHK1 is not specific to pHGG ALT-positive cells. Together, these findings underscore the need for novel therapeutic strategies to target ALT in pHGG tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banlanjo Umaru
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Satarupa Sengupta
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Shiva Senthil Kumar
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Rachid Drissi
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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9
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Carson LM, Flynn RL. Highlighting vulnerabilities in the alternative lengthening of telomeres pathway. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2023; 70:102380. [PMID: 37149932 PMCID: PMC10247456 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2023.102380] [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: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway is a telomere elongation mechanism found in a small but often aggressive subset of cancers. Dependent on break-induced replication, telomere extension in ALT-positive cells relies on a baseline level of DNA replication stress to initiate elongation events. This results in an elevated level of DNA damage and presents a possible vulnerability to be exploited in the development of ALT-targeted cancer therapies. Currently, there are no treatment options that target the ALT mechanism or that are specific for ALT-positive tumors. Here, we review recent developments and promising directions in the development of ALT-targeted therapeutics, many of which involve tipping the balance towards inhibition or exacerbation of ALT activity to selectively target these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Carson
- Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, and Medicine, Cancer Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Rachel L Flynn
- Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, and Medicine, Cancer Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
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10
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Jahangiri L. Metastasis in Neuroblastoma and Its Link to Autophagy. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13030818. [PMID: 36983973 PMCID: PMC10056181 DOI: 10.3390/life13030818] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a paediatric malignancy originating from the neural crest that commonly occurs in the abdomen and adrenal gland, leading to cancer-related deaths in children. Distant metastasis can be encountered at diagnosis in greater than half of these neuroblastoma patients. Autophagy, a self-degradative process, plays a key role in stress-related responses and the survival of cells and has been studied in neuroblastoma. Accordingly, in the early stages of metastasis, autophagy may suppress cancer cell invasion and migration, while its role may be reversed in later stages, and it may facilitate metastasis by enhancing cancer cell survival. To that end, a body of literature has revealed the mechanistic link between autophagy and metastasis in neuroblastoma in multiple steps of the metastatic cascade, including cancer cell invasion and migration, anoikis resistance, cancer cell dormancy, micrometastasis, and metastatic outbreak. This review aims to take a step forward and discuss the significance of multiple molecular players and compounds that may link autophagy to metastasis and map their function to various metastatic steps in neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Jahangiri
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Site, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
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11
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Falcinelli M, Dell'Omo G, Grassi E, Mariella E, Leto SM, Scardellato S, Lorenzato A, Arena S, Bertotti A, Trusolino L, Bardelli A, d'Adda di Fagagna F. Colorectal cancer patient-derived organoids and cell lines harboring ATRX and/or DAXX mutations lack Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT). Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:96. [PMID: 36759506 PMCID: PMC9911751 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05640-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Telomere maintenance is necessary to maintain cancer cell unlimited viability. However, the mechanisms maintaining telomere length in colorectal cancer (CRC) have not been extensively investigated. Telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMM) include the re-expression of telomerase or alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). ALT is genetically associated with somatic alterations in alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation X-linked (ATRX) and death domain-associated protein (DAXX) genes. Cells displaying ALT present distinctive features including C-circles made of telomeric DNA, long and heterogenous telomeric tracts, and telomeric DNA co-localized with promyelocytic leukemia (PML) bodies forming so-called ALT-associated PML bodies (APBs). Here, we identified mutations in ATRX and/or DAXX genes in an extensive collection of CRC samples including 119 patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and 232 established CRC cell lines. C-circles measured in CRC PDOs and cell lines showed low levels overall. We also observed that CRC PDOs and cell lines did not display a significant accumulation of APBs or long telomeres with no appreciable differences between wild-type and mutated ATRX/DAXX samples. Overall, our extensive analyses indicate that CRC is not prone to engage ALT, even when carrying genetic lesions in ATRX and/or DAXX, and support the notion that ATRX/DAXX genomic footprints are not reliable predictors of ALT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Falcinelli
- IFOM ETS, The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Dell'Omo
- IFOM ETS, The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Grassi
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 1060 Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO IRCCs, 10060 Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Elisa Mariella
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 1060 Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO IRCCs, 10060 Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | | | | | - Annalisa Lorenzato
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 1060 Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO IRCCs, 10060 Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Sabrina Arena
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 1060 Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO IRCCs, 10060 Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Andrea Bertotti
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 1060 Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO IRCCs, 10060 Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Livio Trusolino
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 1060 Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO IRCCs, 10060 Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Alberto Bardelli
- IFOM ETS, The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 1060 Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO IRCCs, 10060 Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Fabrizio d'Adda di Fagagna
- IFOM ETS, The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy.
- Institute of Molecular Genetics IGM-CNR "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Pavia, Italy.
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12
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Inandiklioglu N, Tas A, Agbektas T, Tuncbilek Z, Raheem KY, Cinar G, Silig Y. Anticancer activity, hTERT expression and telomere length analysis in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell lines applied to docetaxel. J Mol Struct 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.134346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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13
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Yasir S, Thompson S, Chen ZE, Knudson R, Knutson D, Kloft-Nelson S, Graham RP, Jain D, Simon SM, Wu TT, Torbenson M. Alternative lengthening of telomeres in primary hepatic neoplasms. Hum Pathol 2023; 131:79-86. [PMID: 36370823 PMCID: PMC10756352 DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2022.11.003] [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: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) phenotype is characterized by ultra-bright telomeres on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and is a marker of a unique mechanism of telomere maintenance in tumors. ALT does not occur in normal tissues. ALT has been described in hepatocellular carcinoma (5-10%) and in primary hepatic angiosarcomas (75%). To study the frequency of ALT in other primary hepatic tumors, a wide range of primary hepatic neoplasms were retrieved. The tumors included the following: intrahepatic and hilar cholangiocarcinomas (N = 110), hepatic adenomas (N = 35), hepatocellular carcinomas (N = 30), fibrolamellar carcinomas (n = 11), combined cholangiocarcinoma-hepatocellular carcinomas (N = 8), carcinosarcoma (N = 10), hepatoblastomas (N = 5), hemangiomas (N = 4), angiosarcomas (N = 8), epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas (N = 10), calcified nested stromal epithelial tumor (N = 2), embryonal sarcoma (N = 2), rhabdoid tumor (N = 1), bile duct adenoma (N = 1), and angiomyolipoma (N = 1). For epithelial tumors, ALT-FISH was positive in one carcinosarcoma (10% of cases), one cholangiocarcinoma (1% of cases), and one combined hepatocellular carcinoma-cholangiocarcinoma (13% of cases). In the hepatocellular carcinoma component of both the carcinosarcoma and the combined hepatocellular carcinoma-cholangiocarcinoma, the tumor cells showed patchy marked nuclear pleomorphism akin to that described previously for chromophobe hepatocellular carcinoma, which are typically ALT FISH positive. The ALT-positive cholangiocarcinoma also showed patchy, striking nuclear pleomorphism. For soft tissue tumors, ALT was positive in two angiosarcomas (N = 2; 25% of cases). In summary, this study shows that ALT-FISH is positive in rare carcinosarcomas, cholangiocarcinomas, and combined cholangiocarcinoma-hepatocellular carcinoma. ALT is not a significant mechanism of telomere maintenance in hepatocellular adenomas or fibrolamellar carcinomas and was negative in all other tested primary hepatic neoplasms. ALT-FISH is also positive in a subset of primary hepatic angiosarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saba Yasir
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Scott Thompson
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Zongming Eric Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Ryan Knudson
- Medical Genome Facility, Cytogenetics Core Laboratory, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Darlene Knutson
- Medical Genome Facility, Cytogenetics Core Laboratory, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Sara Kloft-Nelson
- Medical Genome Facility, Cytogenetics Core Laboratory, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Rondell P Graham
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | | | - Sanford M Simon
- Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, NY, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Tsung-Teh Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Michael Torbenson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
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Wang J, Dai M, Xing X, Wang X, Qin X, Huang T, Fang Z, Fan Y, Xu D. Genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic signatures for telomerase complex components: a pan-cancer analysis. Mol Oncol 2022; 17:150-172. [PMID: 36239411 PMCID: PMC9812836 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase activation is required for malignant transformation. Recent advances in high-throughput technologies have enabled the generation of complex datasets, thus providing alternative approaches to exploring telomerase biology more comprehensively, which has proven to be challenging due to the need for laborious assays required to test for telomerase activity. To solve these issues, several groups have analyzed TCGA pan-cancer tumor datasets by investigating telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), the catalytic subunit for telomerase activity, or its surrogates. However, telomerase is a multiunit complex containing not only TERT, but also numerus cofactors required for telomerase function. Here we determined genomic and molecular alterations of 10 well-characterized telomerase components in the TCGA and CCLE datasets. We calculated a telomerase score (TS) based on their expression profiles and clustered tumors into low, high, and intermediate subtypes. To validate the in silico analysis result, we used immunoblotting and telomerase assays. High TS subtypes were significantly associated with stemness, proliferation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, hyperactivation of oncogenic signaling pathways, shorter patient survival, and infiltration of dysfunctional T-cells or poor response to immunotherapy. Copy number alterations in 10 telomerase components were widespread and associated with the level of their expression. Surprisingly, primary tumors and cancer cell lines frequently displayed a homozygous deletion of the TCAB1 gene, encoding a telomerase protein essential for telomerase trafficking, assembling, and function, as previously reported. However, tumors or cells carrying a TCAB1 deletion still exhibited telomerase activity comparable to or even higher than their wildtype counterparts. Collectively, applying telomerase component-based TS in complex datasets provided a robust tool for telomerase analyses. Our findings also reveal a tight connection between telomerase and other oncogenic signaling pathways; TCAB1 may acts as a dispensable telomerase component. Moreover, TS may serve as a useful biomarker to predict patient outcomes and response to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Department of Urologic Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Mingkai Dai
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular MedicineKarolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital SolnaStockholmSweden
| | - Xiangling Xing
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular MedicineKarolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital SolnaStockholmSweden
| | - Xing Wang
- Department of Urology SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Wannan Medical collegeWuhuChina
| | - Xin Qin
- Department of UrologyQilu Hospital of Shandong UniversityJinanChina
| | - Tao Huang
- Department of Urologic Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina,Department of Urology SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Wannan Medical collegeWuhuChina
| | - Zhiqing Fang
- Department of UrologyQilu Hospital of Shandong UniversityJinanChina
| | - Yidong Fan
- Department of UrologyQilu Hospital of Shandong UniversityJinanChina
| | - Dawei Xu
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular MedicineKarolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital SolnaStockholmSweden
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Jahangiri L, Ishola T. Exosomes in Neuroblastoma Biology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:1714. [PMID: 36362869 PMCID: PMC9694311 DOI: 10.3390/life12111714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is an extracranial solid tumour of the developing sympathetic nervous system accounting for circa 15% of deaths due to cancer in paediatric patients. The clinical course of this cancer may be variable, ranging from aggressive progression to regression, while the amplification of MYCN in this cancer is linked to poor patient prognosis. Extracellular vesicles are a double membrane encapsulating various cellular components including proteins and nucleic acids and comprise exosomes, apoptotic bodies, and microvesicles. The former can act as mediators between cancer, stromal and immune cells and thereby influence the tumour microenvironment by the delivery of their molecular cargo. In this study, the contribution of extracellular vesicles including exosomes to the biology, prognosis, diagnosis and treatment of neuroblastoma was catalogued, summarised and discussed. The understanding of these processes may facilitate the in-depth dissection of the complexity of neuroblastoma biology, mechanisms of regression or progression, and potential diagnostic and treatment options for this paediatric cancer which will ultimately improve the quality of life of neuroblastoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Jahangiri
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Addenbrookes Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
- School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Site, Nottingham NG11 8NS, UK
| | - Tala Ishola
- Department of Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B15 3TN, UK
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Extrachromosomal circular DNA: biogenesis, structure, functions and diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:342. [PMID: 36184613 PMCID: PMC9527254 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01176-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA), ranging in size from tens to millions of base pairs, is independent of conventional chromosomes. Recently, eccDNAs have been considered an unanticipated major source of somatic rearrangements, contributing to genomic remodeling through chimeric circularization and reintegration of circular DNA into the linear genome. In addition, the origin of eccDNA is considered to be associated with essential chromatin-related events, including the formation of super-enhancers and DNA repair machineries. Moreover, our understanding of the properties and functions of eccDNA has continuously and greatly expanded. Emerging investigations demonstrate that eccDNAs serve as multifunctional molecules in various organisms during diversified biological processes, such as epigenetic remodeling, telomere trimming, and the regulation of canonical signaling pathways. Importantly, its special distribution potentiates eccDNA as a measurable biomarker in many diseases, especially cancers. The loss of eccDNA homeostasis facilitates tumor initiation, malignant progression, and heterogeneous evolution in many cancers. An in-depth understanding of eccDNA provides novel insights for precision cancer treatment. In this review, we summarized the discovery history of eccDNA, discussed the biogenesis, characteristics, and functions of eccDNA. Moreover, we emphasized the role of eccDNA during tumor pathogenesis and malignant evolution. Therapeutically, we summarized potential clinical applications that target aberrant eccDNA in multiple diseases.
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Meeser A, Bartenhagen C, Werr L, Hellmann AM, Kahlert Y, Hemstedt N, Nürnberg P, Altmüller J, Ackermann S, Hero B, Simon T, Peifer M, Fischer M, Rosswog C. Reliable assessment of telomere maintenance mechanisms in neuroblastoma. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:160. [PMID: 36153564 PMCID: PMC9508734 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00896-2] [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: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMM) are a hallmark of high-risk neuroblastoma, and are conferred by activation of telomerase or alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). However, detection of TMM is not yet part of the clinical routine, and consensus on TMM detection, especially on ALT assessment, remains to be achieved. METHODS Whole genome sequencing (WGS) data of 68 primary neuroblastoma samples were analyzed. Telomere length was calculated from WGS data or by telomere restriction fragment analysis (n = 39). ALT was assessed by C-circle assay (CCA, n = 67) and detection of ALT-associated PML nuclear bodies (APB) by combined fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence staining (n = 68). RNA sequencing was performed (n = 64) to determine expression of TERT and telomeric long non-coding RNA (TERRA). Telomerase activity was examined by telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP, n = 15). RESULTS Tumors were considered as telomerase-positive if they harbored a TERT rearrangement, MYCN amplification or high TERT expression (45.6%, 31/68), and ALT-positive if they were positive for APB and CCA (19.1%, 13/68). If all these markers were absent, tumors were considered TMM-negative (25.0%, 17/68). According to these criteria, the majority of samples were classified unambiguously (89.7%, 61/68). Assessment of additional ALT-associated parameters clarified the TMM status of the remaining seven cases with high likelihood: ALT-positive tumors had higher TERRA expression, longer telomeres, more telomere insertions, a characteristic pattern of telomere variant repeats, and were associated with ATRX mutations. CONCLUSIONS We here propose a workflow to reliably detect TMM in neuroblastoma. We show that unambiguous classification is feasible following a stepwise approach that determines both, activation of telomerase and ALT. The workflow proposed in this study can be used in clinical routine and provides a framework to systematically and reliably determine telomere maintenance mechanisms for risk stratification and treatment allocation of neuroblastoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Meeser
- Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology, University Children's Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Christoph Bartenhagen
- Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology, University Children's Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Lisa Werr
- Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology, University Children's Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Anna-Maria Hellmann
- Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology, University Children's Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Yvonne Kahlert
- Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology, University Children's Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Nadine Hemstedt
- Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology, University Children's Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Peter Nürnberg
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Center for Genomics (CCG), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Janine Altmüller
- Cologne Center for Genomics (CCG), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Core Facility Genomics, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra Ackermann
- Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology, University Children's Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Barbara Hero
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Thorsten Simon
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Martin Peifer
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Translational Genomics, Center of Integrated Oncology Cologne-Bonn, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Matthias Fischer
- Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology, University Children's Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Carolina Rosswog
- Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology, University Children's Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
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Macha SJ, Koneru B, Burrow TA, Zhu C, Savitski D, Rahman RL, Ronaghan CA, Nance J, McCoy K, Eslinger C, Reynolds CP. Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres in Cancer Confers a Vulnerability to Reactivation of p53 Function. Cancer Res 2022; 82:3345-3358. [PMID: 35947641 PMCID: PMC9566554 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-0125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A subset of cancers across multiple histologies with predominantly poor outcomes use the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism to maintain telomere length, which can be identified with robust biomarkers. ALT has been reported to be prevalent in high-risk neuroblastoma and certain sarcomas, and ALT cancers are a major clinical challenge that lack targeted therapeutic approaches. Here, we found ALT in a variety of pediatric and adult cancer histologies, including carcinomas. Patient-derived ALT cancer cell lines from neuroblastomas, sarcomas, and carcinomas were hypersensitive to the p53 reactivator eprenetapopt (APR-246) relative to telomerase-positive (TA+) models. Constitutive telomere damage signaling in ALT cells activated ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase to phosphorylate p53, which resulted in selective ALT sensitivity to APR-246. Treatment with APR-246 combined with irinotecan achieved complete responses in mice xenografted with ALT neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and breast cancer and delayed tumor growth in ALT colon cancer xenografts, while the combination had limited efficacy in TA+ tumor models. A large number of adult and pediatric cancers present with the ALT phenotype, which confers a uniquely high sensitivity to reactivation of p53. These data support clinical evaluation of a combinatorial approach using APR-246 and irinotecan in ALT patients with cancer. SIGNIFICANCE This work demonstrates that constitutive activation of ATM in chemotherapy-refractory ALT cancer cells renders them hypersensitive to reactivation of p53 function by APR-246, indicating a potential strategy to overcome therapeutic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn J. Macha
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Department of Cell Biology & Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Balakrishna Koneru
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Trevor A. Burrow
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Charles Zhu
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Dzmitry Savitski
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Rakhshanda L. Rahman
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Catherine A. Ronaghan
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Jonas Nance
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Kristyn McCoy
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Cody Eslinger
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - C. Patrick Reynolds
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Department of Cell Biology & Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Corresponding author. C. Patrick Reynolds, MD PhD, Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; 3601 4th Street, Mail Stop 9445, Lubbock, Texas, USA. 79430-6450,
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Gao J, Pickett HA. Targeting telomeres: advances in telomere maintenance mechanism-specific cancer therapies. Nat Rev Cancer 2022; 22:515-532. [PMID: 35790854 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00490-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells establish replicative immortality by activating a telomere-maintenance mechanism (TMM), be it telomerase or the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway. Targeting telomere maintenance represents an intriguing opportunity to treat the vast majority of all cancer types. Whilst telomerase inhibitors have historically been heralded as promising anticancer agents, the reality has been more challenging, and there are currently no therapeutic options for cancer types that use ALT despite their aggressive nature and poor prognosis. In this Review, we discuss the mechanistic differences between telomere maintenance by telomerase and ALT, the current methods used to detect each mechanism, the utility of these tests for clinical diagnosis, and recent developments in the therapeutic strategies being employed to target both telomerase and ALT. We present notable developments in repurposing established therapeutic agents and new avenues that are emerging to target cancer types according to which TMM they employ. These opportunities extend beyond inhibition of telomere maintenance, by finding and exploiting inherent weaknesses in the telomeres themselves to trigger rapid cellular effects that lead to cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixuan Gao
- Telomere Length Regulation Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Hilda A Pickett
- Telomere Length Regulation Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
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20
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Yu EY, Cheung NKV, Lue NF. Connecting telomere maintenance and regulation to the developmental origin and differentiation states of neuroblastoma tumor cells. J Hematol Oncol 2022; 15:117. [PMID: 36030273 PMCID: PMC9420296 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-022-01337-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A cardinal feature that distinguishes clinically high-risk neuroblastoma from low-risk tumors is telomere maintenance. Specifically, neuroblastoma tumors with either active telomerase or alternative lengthening of telomeres exhibit aggressive growth characteristics that lead to poor outcomes, whereas tumors without telomere maintenance can be managed with observation or minimal treatment. Even though the need for cancer cells to maintain telomere DNA-in order to sustain cell proliferation-is well established, recent studies suggest that the neural crest origin of neuroblastoma may enforce unique relationships between telomeres and tumor malignancy. Specifically in neuroblastoma, telomere structure and telomerase activity are correlated with the adrenergic/mesenchymal differentiation states, and manipulating telomerase activity can trigger tumor cell differentiation. Both findings may reflect features of normal neural crest development. This review summarizes recent advances in the characterization of telomere structure and telomere maintenance mechanisms in neuroblastoma and discusses the findings in the context of relevant literature on telomeres during embryonic and neural development. Understanding the canonical and non-canonical roles of telomere maintenance in neuroblastoma could reveal vulnerabilities for telomere-directed therapies with potential applications to other pediatric malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Young Yu
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, W. R. Hearst Microbiology Research Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Nai-Kong V Cheung
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Neal F Lue
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, W. R. Hearst Microbiology Research Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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21
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Kim S, Chowdhury T, Yu HJ, Kahng JY, Lee CE, Choi SA, Kim KM, Kang H, Lee JH, Lee ST, Won JK, Kim KH, Kim MS, Lee JY, Kim JW, Kim YH, Kim TM, Choi SH, Phi JH, Shin YK, Ku JL, Lee S, Yun H, Lee H, Kim D, Kim K, Hur JK, Park SH, Kim SK, Park CK. The telomere maintenance mechanism spectrum and its dynamics in gliomas. Genome Med 2022; 14:88. [PMID: 35953846 PMCID: PMC9367055 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-022-01095-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The activation of the telomere maintenance mechanism (TMM) is one of the critical drivers of cancer cell immortality. In gliomas, TERT expression and TERT promoter mutation are considered to reliably indicate telomerase activation, while ATRX mutation and/or loss indicates an alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). However, these relationships have not been extensively validated in tumor tissues. METHODS Telomerase repeated amplification protocol (TRAP) and C-circle assays were used to profile and characterize the TMM cross-sectionally (n = 412) and temporally (n = 133) across glioma samples. WES, RNA-seq, and NanoString analyses were performed to identify and validate the genetic characteristics of the TMM groups. RESULTS We show through the direct measurement of telomerase activity and ALT in a large set of glioma samples that the TMM in glioma cannot be defined solely by the combination of telomerase activity and ALT, regardless of TERT expression, TERT promoter mutation, and ATRX loss. Moreover, we observed that a considerable proportion of gliomas lacked both telomerase activity and ALT. This telomerase activation-negative and ALT negative group exhibited evidence of slow growth potential. By analyzing a set of longitudinal samples from a separate cohort of glioma patients, we discovered that the TMM is not fixed and can change with glioma progression. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that the TMM is dynamic and reflects the plasticity and oncogenicity of tumor cells. Direct measurement of telomerase enzyme activity and evidence of ALT should be considered when defining TMM. An accurate understanding of the TMM in glioma is expected to provide important information for establishing cancer management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sojin Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Tamrin Chowdhury
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeon Jong Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee Ye Kahng
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Chae Eun Lee
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Ah Choi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Min Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Kang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Joo Ho Lee
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon-Tae Lee
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Kyung Won
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hyun Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Sung Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Yeoun Lee
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Wook Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Hwy Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Min Kim
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hong Choi
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hoon Phi
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Kyoung Shin
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Korean Cell Line Bank, Laboratory of Cell Biology, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Ja-Lok Ku
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Korean Cell Line Bank, Laboratory of Cell Biology, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungyoung Lee
- Department of Genomic Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Hongseok Yun
- Department of Genomic Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwajin Lee
- Biomedical Knowledge Engineering Laboratory and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Dokyoung Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoungmi Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Department of Physiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Junho K Hur
- Department of Genetics, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Korea
| | - Sung-Hye Park
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Ki Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience Center, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Chul-Kee Park
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
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22
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Tomasin R, Bruni-Cardoso A. The role of cellular quiescence in cancer - beyond a quiet passenger. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:276213. [PMID: 35929545 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Quiescence, the ability to temporarily halt proliferation, is a conserved process that initially allowed survival of unicellular organisms during inhospitable times and later contributed to the rise of multicellular organisms, becoming key for cell differentiation, size control and tissue homeostasis. In this Review, we explore the concept of cancer as a disease that involves abnormal regulation of cellular quiescence at every step, from malignant transformation to metastatic outgrowth. Indeed, disrupted quiescence regulation can be linked to each of the so-called 'hallmarks of cancer'. As we argue here, quiescence induction contributes to immune evasion and resistance against cell death. In contrast, loss of quiescence underlies sustained proliferative signalling, evasion of growth suppressors, pro-tumorigenic inflammation, angiogenesis and genomic instability. Finally, both acquisition and loss of quiescence are involved in replicative immortality, metastasis and deregulated cellular energetics. We believe that a viewpoint that considers quiescence abnormalities that occur during oncogenesis might change the way we ask fundamental questions and the experimental approaches we take, potentially contributing to novel discoveries that might help to alter the course of cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeka Tomasin
- e-signal Lab, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Ave Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Bruni-Cardoso
- e-signal Lab, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Ave Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
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23
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Bird N, Scobie N, Palmer A, Ludwinski D. To transplant, or not to transplant? That is the question. A patient advocate evaluation of autologous stem cell transplant in neuroblastoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2022; 69:e29663. [PMID: 35373890 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) has been a mainstay of high-risk neuroblastoma treatment for several decades, demonstrating improvements in event-free survival but with risks of serious or even life-threatening acute toxicities, severe long-term adverse health effects for survivors, and ongoing contention regarding overall survival benefit. The merits of ASCT in the modern era of immunotherapy are a source of debate among parents, advocates, and some physicians. Here we examine evidence for and against ASCT, explore parent attitudes and their turmoil over decision-making, and strongly encourage international research consortia to develop a coordinated strategy to accelerate progress toward a future that avoids the routine use of ASCT in high-risk neuroblastoma.
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24
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van Gerven MR, Bozsaky E, Matser YAH, Vosseberg J, Taschner-Mandl S, Koster J, Tytgat GAM, Molenaar JJ, van den Boogaard M. The mutational spectrum of ATRX aberrations in neuroblastoma and the associated patient and tumor characteristics. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:2167-2178. [PMID: 35384159 PMCID: PMC9207354 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. The chromatin remodeler ATRX is frequently mutated in high‐risk patients with a poor prognosis. Although many studies have reported ATRX aberrations and the associated clinical characteristics in neuroblastoma, a comprehensive overview is currently lacking. In this study, we extensively characterize the mutational spectrum of ATRX aberrations in neuroblastoma tumors reported in previous studies and present an overview of patient and tumor characteristics. We collected the data of a total of 127 neuroblastoma patients and three cell lines with ATRX aberrations originating from 20 papers. We subdivide the ATRX aberrations into nonsense, missense, and multiexon deletions (MEDs) and show that 68% of them are MEDs. Of these MEDs, 75% are predicted to be in‐frame. Furthermore, we identify a missense mutational hotspot region in the helicase domain. We also confirm that all three ATRX mutation types are more often identified in patients diagnosed at an older age, but still approximately 40% of the patients are aged 5 years or younger at diagnosis. Surprisingly, we found that 11q deletions are enriched in neuroblastomas with ATRX deletions compared to a reference cohort, but not in neuroblastomas with ATRX point mutations. Taken together, our data emphasizes a distinct ATRX mutation spectrum in neuroblastoma, which should be considered when studying molecular phenotypes and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eva Bozsaky
- Tumor biology group, St Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yvette A H Matser
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Julian Vosseberg
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jan Koster
- Department of Oncogenomics, Amsterdam UMC, location AMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jan J Molenaar
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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25
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Vertecchi E, Rizzo A, Salvati E. Telomere Targeting Approaches in Cancer: Beyond Length Maintenance. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073784. [PMID: 35409143 PMCID: PMC8998427 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are crucial structures that preserve genome stability. Their progressive erosion over numerous DNA duplications determines the senescence of cells and organisms. As telomere length homeostasis is critical for cancer development, nowadays, telomere maintenance mechanisms are established targets in cancer treatment. Besides telomere elongation, telomere dysfunction impinges on intracellular signaling pathways, in particular DNA damage signaling and repair, affecting cancer cell survival and proliferation. This review summarizes and discusses recent findings in anticancer drug development targeting different “telosome” components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Vertecchi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy, c/o Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 4, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Angela Rizzo
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy;
| | - Erica Salvati
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy, c/o Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 4, 00185 Rome, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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26
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Apiratikul N, Sriklung K, Dolsophon K, Thamvapee P, Watanapokasin R, Yingyongnarongkul B, Niyomtham N, Bremner JB, Watanavetch P, Samosorn S. Enhancing Anticancer Potency of a 13-Substituted Berberine Derivative with Cationic Liposomes. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2022; 70:420-426. [PMID: 35342147 DOI: 10.1248/cpb.c21-01049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cationic liposomal formulations of the telomeric G-quadruplex stabilizing ligand, 13-(2-naphthylmethoxy)berberine bromide (1), have been developed with the purpose of delivering 1 into the nucleus of cancer cells for potential telomere targeting. Berberine derivative 1 was encapsulated in various cationic lipids 2-4 by the thin film evaporation method; these lipids are cationic after amine protonation. The most appropriate liposomal berberine formulation was that of 1 and the cholesterol derived cationic lipid 4 in a weight ratio of 1:20 with 76.5% encapsulation efficiency of 1. Cellular uptake studies in the HeLa and HT-29 cancer cells line showed that the liposomal berberine derivative uptake in the cells was higher and more stable than for berberine derivative 1 alone while free 1 was completely decomposed in the cells within 60 min exposure to the cells. Anticancer activity of the liposomal berberine derivative 1 based on 4 was greater than that for the free berberine derivative 1 in the MCF-7, HeLa and HT-29 cell line by 2.3-, 4.9- and 5.3-fold, respectively, and also, interestingly, superior to the anticancer drug doxorubicin against the HT29 cancer cell line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuttapon Apiratikul
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Srinakharinwirot University
| | - Kanlayanee Sriklung
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University
| | - Kulvadee Dolsophon
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Srinakharinwirot University
| | | | | | - Boonek Yingyongnarongkul
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaenng University
| | | | - John B Bremner
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong
| | - Petcharat Watanavetch
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Srinakharinwirot University
| | - Siritron Samosorn
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Srinakharinwirot University
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27
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Genetic and Histopathological Heterogeneity of Neuroblastoma and Precision Therapeutic Approaches for Extremely Unfavorable Histology Subgroups. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12010079. [PMID: 35053227 PMCID: PMC8773700 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Peripheral neuroblastic tumors (neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma and ganglioneuroma) are heterogeneous and their diverse and wide range of clinical behaviors (spontaneous regression, tumor maturation and aggressive progression) are closely associated with genetic/molecular properties of the individual tumors. The International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification, a biologically relevant and prognostically significant morphology classification distinguishing the favorable histology (FH) and unfavorable histology (UH) groups in this disease, predicts survival probabilities of the patients with the highest hazard ratio. The recent advance of neuroblastoma research with precision medicine approaches demonstrates that tumors in the UH group are also heterogeneous and four distinct subgroups—MYC, TERT, ALT and null—are identified. Among them, the first three subgroups are collectively named extremely unfavorable histology (EUH) tumors because of their highly aggressive clinical behavior. As indicated by their names, these EUH tumors are individually defined by their potential targets detected molecularly and immunohistochemically, such as MYC-family protein overexpression, TERT overexpression and ATRX (or DAXX) loss. In the latter half on this paper, the current status of therapeutic targeting of these EUH tumors is discussed for the future development of effective treatments of the patients.
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28
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Akter J, Katai Y, Sultana P, Takenobu H, Haruta M, Sugino RP, Mukae K, Satoh S, Wada T, Ohira M, Ando K, Kamijo T. Loss of p53 suppresses replication stress-induced DNA damage in ATRX-deficient neuroblastoma. Oncogenesis 2021; 10:73. [PMID: 34743173 PMCID: PMC8572175 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-021-00363-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic aberrations are present in the ATRX gene in older high-risk neuroblastoma (NB) patients with very poor clinical outcomes. Its loss-of-function (LoF) facilitates the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway in tumor cells and is strongly linked to replication stress (RS) and DNA damage through G-quadruplex (G4) DNA secondary structures. However, limited information is available on ATRX alteration-related NB tumorigenesis. We herein knocked out (KO) ATRX in MYCN-amplified (NGP) and MYCN single copy (SK-N-AS) NB cells with wild-type (wt) and truncated TP53 at the C terminus, respectively, using CRISPR/Cas9 technologies. The loss of ATRX increased DNA damage and G4 formation related to RS in TP53 wt isogenic ATRX KO NGP cells, but not in SK-N-AS clones. A gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed that the gene sets related to DNA double-strand break repair, negative cell cycle regulation, the G2M checkpoint, and p53 pathway activation were enriched in NGP clones. The accumulation of DNA damage activated the ATM/CHK2/p53 pathway, leading to cell cycle arrest in NGP clones. Interestingly, ATRX loss did not induce RS related to DNA damage response (DDR) in TP53-truncated SK-N-AS cells. p53 inactivation abrogated cell cycle arrest and reduced G4 accumulation in NGP clones. The loss of p53 also induced G4 DNA helicases or Fanconi anemia group D2 protein (FANCD2) with ATRX deficiency, suggesting that ATRX maintained genome integrity and p53 deficiency attenuated RS-induced DNA damage in NB cells featuring inactivated ATRX by regulating DNA repair mechanisms and replication fork stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesmin Akter
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yutaka Katai
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Parvin Sultana
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan.,Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Department of Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hisanori Takenobu
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Masayuki Haruta
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Ryuichi P Sugino
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kyosuke Mukae
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Shunpei Satoh
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Tomoko Wada
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Miki Ohira
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kiyohiro Ando
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Takehiko Kamijo
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan. .,Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Department of Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan.
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29
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Chen YY, Dagg R, Zhang Y, Lee JHY, Lu R, Martin La Rotta N, Sampl S, Korkut-Demirbaş M, Holzmann K, Lau LMS, Reddel RR, Henson JD. The C-Circle Biomarker Is Secreted by Alternative-Lengthening-of-Telomeres Positive Cancer Cells inside Exosomes and Provides a Blood-Based Diagnostic for ALT Activity. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13215369. [PMID: 34771533 PMCID: PMC8582556 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary A clinical test for alternative-lengthening-of-telomeres (ALT) could assist with cancer diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression. ALT-targeted anticancer treatments are being developed; however, there is no appropriate companion ALT diagnostic. The C-Circle biomarker is the only known ALT specific molecule and the C-Circle Assay the only quantitative ALT assay that is amenable to clinical use. We show here that C-Circles are secreted by ALT+ cancer cell lines inside the exosomes and are protected from nucleases. We also show that secreted C-Circles, like intracellular C-Circles, are an ALT-specific biomarker, and in high-risk neuroblastoma, the blood-based C-Circle Assay has the potential to be an accurate diagnostic for ALT cancer activity. Therefore, the secretion of C-Circles by ALT+ cancer cells in the exosomes provides a stable blood-based biomarker and, potentially, a clinical diagnostic for ALT activity, which is required for the development of ALT-targeted therapies as well as for the diagnosis and monitoring of ALT+ cancer. Abstract C-Circles, self-primed telomeric C-strand templates for rolling circle amplification, are the only known alternative-lengthening-of-telomeres (ALT)-specific molecule. However, little is known about the biology of C-Circles and if they may be clinically useful. Here we show that C-Circles are secreted by ALT+ cancer cells inside exosomes, and that a blood-based C-Circle Assay (CCA) can provide an accurate diagnostic for ALT activity. Extracellular vesicles were isolated by differential centrifugation from the growth media of lung adenocarcinoma, glioblastoma, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, and soft tissue sarcoma cell lines, and C-Circles were detected in the exosome fraction from all eleven ALT+ cancer cell lines and not in any extracellular fraction from the eight matching telomerase positive cancer cell lines or the normal fibroblast strain. The existence of C-Circles in ALT+ exosomes was confirmed with exosomes isolated by iodixanol gradient separation and CD81-immunoprecipitation, and C-Circles in the exosomes were protected from nucleases. On average, 0.4% of the total ALT+ intracellular C-Circles were secreted in the exosomes every 24 h. Comparing the serum-based and tumor-based CCAs in 35 high risk neuroblastoma patients divided randomly into ALT+ threshold derivation and validation groups, we found the serum-based CCA to have 100% sensitivity (6/6), 70% specificity (7/10), and 81% concordance (13/16). We conclude that the secretion of C-Circles by ALT+ cancer cells in the exosomes provides a stable blood-based biomarker and a potential clinical diagnostic for ALT activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Yin Chen
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of NSW, UNSW, Sydney 2052, Australia; (Y.-Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (R.L.); (N.M.L.R.)
| | - Rebecca Dagg
- Children’s Cancer Research Unit, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead 2145, Australia; (R.D.); (L.M.S.L.)
| | - Yuchen Zhang
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of NSW, UNSW, Sydney 2052, Australia; (Y.-Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (R.L.); (N.M.L.R.)
| | - Joyce H. Y. Lee
- Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead 2145, Australia; (J.H.Y.L.); (R.R.R.)
| | - Robert Lu
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of NSW, UNSW, Sydney 2052, Australia; (Y.-Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (R.L.); (N.M.L.R.)
| | - Nancy Martin La Rotta
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of NSW, UNSW, Sydney 2052, Australia; (Y.-Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (R.L.); (N.M.L.R.)
| | - Sandra Sampl
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (S.S.); (M.K.-D.); (K.H.)
| | - Medina Korkut-Demirbaş
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (S.S.); (M.K.-D.); (K.H.)
| | - Klaus Holzmann
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (S.S.); (M.K.-D.); (K.H.)
| | - Loretta M. S. Lau
- Children’s Cancer Research Unit, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead 2145, Australia; (R.D.); (L.M.S.L.)
| | - Roger R. Reddel
- Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead 2145, Australia; (J.H.Y.L.); (R.R.R.)
| | - Jeremy D. Henson
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of NSW, UNSW, Sydney 2052, Australia; (Y.-Y.C.); (Y.Z.); (R.L.); (N.M.L.R.)
- Correspondence:
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30
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Sung JY, Cheong JH. Pan-Cancer Analysis of Clinical Relevance via Telomere Maintenance Mechanism. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222011101. [PMID: 34681758 PMCID: PMC8538844 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222011101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the telomere maintenance mechanism (TMM) in immortal cancer cells is vital for TMM-targeted therapies in clinical settings. In this study, we classified four telomere maintenance mechanisms into telomerase, ALT, telomerase + ALT, and non-defined telomere maintenance mechanism (NDTMM) across 31 cancer types using 10,704 transcriptomic datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Our results demonstrated that approximately 50% of the total cohort displayed ALT activity with high telomerase activity in most cancer types. We confirmed significant patient prognoses according to distinct TMMs in six cancer types: adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), PAAD, HNSC, SARC, GBM, and metastatic cancer. Patients with metastasis had a poor prognosis in the ALT group (p < 0.006) subjected to RAS protein signal transduction. Glioblastoma patients had poor prognosis in NDTMM (p < 0.0043) and showed high levels of myeloid leukocyte activation. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (p < 0.04) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (p < 0.046) patients had a good prognosis in the ALT group with high immune cell activation. Furthermore, we showed that master transcriptional regulators might affect the selection of the TMM pathway and explained why different telomere maintenance mechanisms exist. Furthermore, they can be used to segregate patients and predict responders to different TMM-targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Yong Sung
- Department of Biomedical Systems Informatics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea;
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Jae-Ho Cheong
- Department of Biomedical Systems Informatics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea;
- Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
- Yonsei Biomedical Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
- Department of Research & Development, VeraVerse Inc., Seoul 03722, Korea
- Correspondence:
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31
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Stainczyk SA, Westermann F. Neuroblastoma-Telomere maintenance, deregulated signaling transduction and beyond. Int J Cancer 2021; 150:903-915. [PMID: 34636058 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The childhood malignancy neuroblastoma belongs to the group of embryonal tumors and originates from progenitor cells of the sympathoadrenal lineage. Treatment options for children with high-risk and relapsed disease are still very limited. In recent years, an ever-growing molecular diversity was identified using (epi)-genetic profiling of neuroblastoma tumors, indicating that molecularly targeted therapies could be a promising therapeutic option. In this review article, we summarize the various molecular subtypes and genetic events associated with neuroblastoma and describe recent advances in targeted therapies. We lay a strong emphasis on the importance of telomere maintenance mechanisms for understanding tumor progression and risk classification of neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine A Stainczyk
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Neuroblastoma Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Westermann
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Neuroblastoma Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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32
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Analysis of Telomere Maintenance Related Genes Reveals NOP10 as a New Metastatic-Risk Marker in Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194758. [PMID: 34638246 PMCID: PMC8507560 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Telomere maintenance involving TERT and ATRX genes has been recently described in metastatic pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, reinforcing the importance of immortalization mechanisms in the progression of these tumors. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze additional telomere-related genes to uncover potential new markers capable of identifying metastatic-risk patients more accurately. After analyzing 29 telomere-related genes, we were able to validate the predictive value of TERT and ATRX in mPPGL progression. In addition, we were able to identify NOP10 as a novel prognostic risk marker of mPPGLs, which also facilitates telomerase-dependent telomere length maintenance in these tumors. Interestingly, NOP10 overexpression assessment by IHC could be easily included within the current battery of markers for stratifying PPGL patients to fine-tune their clinical diagnoses. Abstract One of the main problems we face with PPGL is the lack of molecular markers capable of predicting the development of metastases in patients. Telomere-related genes, such as TERT and ATRX, have been recently described in PPGL, supporting the association between the activation of immortalization mechanisms and disease progression. However, the contribution of other genes involving telomere preservation machinery has not been previously investigated. In this work, we aimed to analyze the prognostic value of a comprehensive set of genes involved in telomere maintenance. For this study, we collected 165 PPGL samples (97 non-metastatic/63 metastatic), genetically characterized, in which the expression of 29 genes of interest was studied by NGS. Three of the 29 genes studied, TERT, ATRX and NOP10, showed differential expression between metastatic and non-metastatic cases, and alterations in these genes were associated with a shorter time to progression, independent of SDHB-status. We studied telomere length by Q-FISH in patient samples and in an in vitro model. NOP10 overexpressing tumors displayed an intermediate-length telomere phenotype without ALT, and in vitro results suggest that NOP10 has a role in telomerase-dependent telomere maintenance. We also propose the implementation of NOP10 IHC to better stratify PPGL patients.
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33
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VE-822, a novel DNA Holliday junction stabilizer, inhibits homologous recombination repair and triggers DNA damage response in osteogenic sarcomas. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 193:114767. [PMID: 34537248 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Homologous recombination repair (HRR) is crucial for genomic stability of cancer cells and is an attractive target in cancer therapy. Holliday junction (HJ) is a four-way DNA intermediate that performs an essential role in homology-directed repair. However, few studies about regulatory mechanisms of HJs have been reported. In this study, to better understand the biological effects of HJs, VE-822 was identified as an effective DNA HJ stabilizer to promote the assembly of HJs both in vitro and in cells. This compound could inhibit the HRR level, activate DNA-PKCS to trigger DNA damage response (DDR) and induce telomeric DNA damage via stabilizing DNA HJs. Furthermore, VE-822 was demonstrated to sensitize the osteosarcoma cells to doxorubicin (Dox) by enhancing DNA damage and cellular apoptosis. This work thus reports one novel HJ stabilizer, and provide a potential anticancer strategy through the modulation of DNA HJs.
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34
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Koneru B, Farooqi A, Nguyen TH, Chen WH, Hindle A, Eslinger C, Makena MR, Burrow TA, Wilson J, Smith A, Pilla Reddy V, Cadogan E, Durant ST, Reynolds CP. ALT neuroblastoma chemoresistance due to telomere dysfunction-induced ATM activation is reversible with ATM inhibitor AZD0156. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:eabd5750. [PMID: 34408079 PMCID: PMC9208664 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abd5750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Cancers overcome replicative immortality by activating either telomerase or an alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism. ALT occurs in ~25% of high-risk neuroblastomas, and progression in patients with ALT neuroblastoma during or after front-line therapy is frequent and often fatal. Temozolomide + irinotecan is commonly used as salvage therapy for neuroblastoma. Patient-derived cell lines and xenografts established from patients with relapsed ALT neuroblastoma demonstrated de novo resistance to temozolomide + irinotecan [SN-38 in vitro, P < 0.05; in vivo mouse event-free survival (EFS), P < 0.0001] vs. telomerase-positive neuroblastomas. We observed that ALT neuroblastoma cells manifested constitutive ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) activation due to spontaneous telomere dysfunction which was not observed in telomerase-positive neuroblastoma cells. We demonstrated that induction of telomere dysfunction resulted in ATM activation that, in turn, conferred resistance to temozolomide + SN-38 (4.2-fold change in IC50, P < 0.001). ATM knockdown (shRNA) or inhibition using a clinical-stage small-molecule inhibitor (AZD0156) reversed resistance to temozolomide + irinotecan in ALT neuroblastoma cell lines in vitro (P < 0.001) and in four ALT xenografts in vivo (EFS, P < 0.0001). AZD0156 showed modest to no enhancement of temozolomide + irinotecan activity in telomerase-positive neuroblastoma cell lines and xenografts. Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related (ATR) inhibition using AZD6738 did not enhance temozolomide + SN-38 activity in ALT neuroblastoma cells. Thus, ALT neuroblastoma chemotherapy resistance occurs via ATM activation and is reversible with ATM inhibitor AZD0156. Combining AZD0156 with temozolomide + irinotecan warrants clinical testing for neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balakrishna Koneru
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Ahsan Farooqi
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Thinh H Nguyen
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Wan Hsi Chen
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Ashly Hindle
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Cody Eslinger
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Monish Ram Makena
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Trevor A Burrow
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Joanne Wilson
- Early Oncology, R&D AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB10 1XL, UK
| | - Aaron Smith
- Early Oncology, R&D AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB10 1XL, UK
| | - Venkatesh Pilla Reddy
- Clinical Pharmacology and Quantitative Pharmacology, Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge SG8 6EE, UK
| | | | | | - C Patrick Reynolds
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
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35
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Akter J, Kamijo T. How Do Telomere Abnormalities Regulate the Biology of Neuroblastoma? Biomolecules 2021; 11:1112. [PMID: 34439779 PMCID: PMC8392161 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere maintenance plays important roles in genome stability and cell proliferation. Tumor cells acquire replicative immortality by activating a telomere-maintenance mechanism (TMM), either telomerase, a reverse transcriptase, or the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism. Recent advances in the genetic and molecular characterization of TMM revealed that telomerase activation and ALT define distinct neuroblastoma (NB) subgroups with adverse outcomes, and represent promising therapeutic targets in high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB), an aggressive childhood solid tumor that accounts for 15% of all pediatric-cancer deaths. Patients with HRNB frequently present with widely metastatic disease, with tumors harboring recurrent genetic aberrations (MYCN amplification, TERT rearrangements, and ATRX mutations), which are mutually exclusive and capable of promoting TMM. This review provides recent insights into our understanding of TMM in NB tumors, and highlights emerging therapeutic strategies as potential treatments for telomerase- and ALT-positive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesmin Akter
- Saitama Cancer Center, Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama 362-0806, Japan;
| | - Takehiko Kamijo
- Saitama Cancer Center, Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama 362-0806, Japan;
- Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Department of Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama 362-0806, Japan
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36
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MacKenzie D, Watters AK, To JT, Young MW, Muratori J, Wilkoff MH, Abraham RG, Plummer MM, Zhang D. ALT Positivity in Human Cancers: Prevalence and Clinical Insights. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2384. [PMID: 34069193 PMCID: PMC8156225 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Many exciting advances in cancer-related telomere biology have been made in the past decade. Of these recent advances, great progress has also been made with respect to the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway. Along with a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of this unique telomere maintenance pathway, many studies have also evaluated ALT activity in various cancer subtypes. We first briefly review and assess a variety of commonly used ALT biomarkers. Then, we provide both an update on ALT-positive (ALT+) tumor prevalence as well as a systematic clinical assessment of the presently studied ALT+ malignancies. Additionally, we discuss the pathogenetic alterations in ALT+ cancers, for example, the mutation status of ATRX and DAXX, and their correlations with the activation of the ALT pathway. Finally, we highlight important ALT+ clinical associations within each cancer subtype and subdivisions within, as well as their prognoses. We hope this alternative perspective will allow scientists, clinicians, and drug developers to have greater insight into the ALT cancers so that together, we may develop more efficacious treatments and improved management strategies to meet the urgent needs of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Maria M. Plummer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA; (D.M.J.); (A.K.W.); (J.T.T.); (M.W.Y.); (J.M.); (M.H.W.); (R.G.A.)
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA; (D.M.J.); (A.K.W.); (J.T.T.); (M.W.Y.); (J.M.); (M.H.W.); (R.G.A.)
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37
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Nersisyan L, Simonyan A, Binder H, Arakelyan A. Telomere Maintenance Pathway Activity Analysis Enables Tissue- and Gene-Level Inferences. Front Genet 2021; 12:662464. [PMID: 33897770 PMCID: PMC8058386 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.662464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere maintenance is one of the mechanisms ensuring indefinite divisions of cancer and stem cells. Good understanding of telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMM) is important for studying cancers and designing therapies. However, molecular factors triggering selective activation of either the telomerase dependent (TEL) or the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway are poorly understood. In addition, more accurate and easy-to-use methodologies are required for TMM phenotyping. In this study, we have performed literature based reconstruction of signaling pathways for the ALT and TEL TMMs. Gene expression data were used for computational assessment of TMM pathway activities and compared with experimental assays for TEL and ALT. Explicit consideration of pathway topology makes bioinformatics analysis more informative compared to computational methods based on simple summary measures of gene expression. Application to healthy human tissues showed high ALT and TEL pathway activities in testis, and identified genes and pathways that may trigger TMM activation. Our approach offers a novel option for systematic investigation of TMM activation patterns across cancers and healthy tissues for dissecting pathway-based molecular markers with diagnostic impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilit Nersisyan
- Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia.,Pathverse, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Arman Simonyan
- Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Hans Binder
- Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arsen Arakelyan
- Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia.,Pathverse, Yerevan, Armenia
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38
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Idilli AI, Pazzi C, dal Pozzolo F, Roccuzzo M, Mione MC. Rad21 Haploinsufficiency Prevents ALT-Associated Phenotypes in Zebrafish Brain Tumors. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E1442. [PMID: 33266037 PMCID: PMC7760354 DOI: 10.3390/genes11121442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cohesin is a protein complex consisting of four core subunits responsible for sister chromatid cohesion in mitosis and meiosis, and for 3D genome organization and gene expression through the establishment of long distance interactions regulating transcriptional activity in the interphase. Both roles are important for telomere integrity, but the role of cohesin in telomere maintenance mechanisms in highly replicating cancer cells in vivo is poorly studied. Here we used a zebrafish model of brain tumor, which uses alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) as primary telomere maintenance mechanism to test whether haploinsufficiency for Rad21, a member of the cohesin ring, affects ALT development. We found that a reduction in Rad21 levels prevents ALT-associated phenotypes in zebrafish brain tumors and triggers an increase in tert expression. Despite the rescue of ALT phenotypes, tumor cells in rad21+/- fish exhibit an increase in DNA damage foci, probably due to a reduction in double-strand breaks repair efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurora Irene Idilli
- Experimental Cancer Biology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (A.I.I.); (C.P.); (F.d.P.)
| | - Cecilia Pazzi
- Experimental Cancer Biology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (A.I.I.); (C.P.); (F.d.P.)
| | - Francesca dal Pozzolo
- Experimental Cancer Biology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (A.I.I.); (C.P.); (F.d.P.)
| | - Michela Roccuzzo
- Advanced Imaging Facility, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy;
| | - Maria Caterina Mione
- Experimental Cancer Biology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (A.I.I.); (C.P.); (F.d.P.)
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39
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Goncalves T, Zoumpoulidou G, Alvarez-Mendoza C, Mancusi C, Collopy LC, Strauss SJ, Mittnacht S, Tomita K. Selective Elimination of Osteosarcoma Cell Lines with Short Telomeres by Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-Related Inhibitors. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2020; 3:1253-1264. [PMID: 33344901 PMCID: PMC7737214 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
![]()
To
avoid replicative senescence or telomere-induced apoptosis,
cancers employ telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMMs) involving either
the upregulation of telomerase or the acquisition of recombination-based
alternative telomere lengthening (ALT). The choice of TMM may differentially
influence cancer evolution and be exploitable in targeted therapies.
Here, we examine TMMs in a panel of 17 osteosarcoma-derived cell lines,
defining three separate groups according to TMM and the length of
telomeres maintained. Eight were ALT-positive, including the previously
uncharacterized lines, KPD and LM7. While ALT-positive lines all showed
excessive telomere length, ALT-negative cell lines fell into two groups
according to their telomere length: HOS-MNNG, OHSN, SJSA-1, HAL, 143b,
and HOS displayed subnormally short telomere length, while MG-63,
MHM, and HuO-3N1 displayed long telomeres. Hence, we further subcategorized
ALT-negative TMM into long-telomere (LT) and short-telomere (ST) maintenance groups.
Importantly, subnormally short telomeres were significantly associated
with hypersensitivity to three different therapeutics targeting the
protein kinase ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) (AZD-6738/Ceralasertib,
VE-822/Berzoserib, and BAY-1895344) compared to long telomeres maintained
via ALT or telomerase. Within 24 h of ATR inhibition, cells with short
but not long telomeres displayed chromosome bridges and underwent
cell death, indicating a selective dependency on ATR for chromosome
stability. Collectively, our work provides a resource to identify
links between the mode of telomere maintenance and drug sensitivity
in osteosarcoma and indicates that telomere length predicts ATR inhibitor
sensitivity in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Goncalves
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.,Chromosome Maintenance Group, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
| | - Georgia Zoumpoulidou
- Cancer Cell Signalling, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
| | - Carlos Alvarez-Mendoza
- Cancer Cell Signalling, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
| | - Caterina Mancusi
- Cancer Cell Signalling, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
| | - Laura C Collopy
- Chromosome Maintenance Group, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra J Strauss
- Department of Oncology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom.,London Sarcoma Service, University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
| | - Sibylle Mittnacht
- Cancer Cell Signalling, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
| | - Kazunori Tomita
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.,Chromosome Maintenance Group, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
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40
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Yan Y, Guo G, Huang J, Gao M, Zhu Q, Zeng S, Gong Z, Xu Z. Current understanding of extrachromosomal circular DNA in cancer pathogenesis and therapeutic resistance. J Hematol Oncol 2020; 13:124. [PMID: 32928268 PMCID: PMC7491193 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-020-00960-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Extrachromosomal circular DNA was recently found to be particularly abundant in multiple human cancer cells, although its frequency varies among different tumor types. Elevated levels of extrachromosomal circular DNA have been considered an effective biomarker of cancer pathogenesis. Multiple reports have demonstrated that the amplification of oncogenes and therapeutic resistance genes located on extrachromosomal DNA is a frequent event that drives intratumoral genetic heterogeneity and provides a potential evolutionary advantage. This review highlights the current understanding of the extrachromosomal circular DNA present in the tissues and circulation of patients with advanced cancers and provides a detailed discussion of their substantial roles in tumor regulation. Confirming the presence of cancer-related extrachromosomal circular DNA would provide a putative testing strategy for the precision diagnosis and treatment of human malignancies in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanliang Yan
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.,Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Guijie Guo
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Jinzhou Huang
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Ming Gao
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Qian Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Shuangshuang Zeng
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Zhicheng Gong
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Zhijie Xu
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
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Menshawy NE, Ashwah SE, Ebrahim MA. Short Dysfunctional Telomere Is Highly Predictive of Dismal Outcome in MDS but Not in AML Patients. Int J Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Res 2020; 14:188-199. [PMID: 33024526 PMCID: PMC7521393 DOI: 10.18502/ijhoscr.v14i3.3728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: A trigger for initiation the clonal hematopoietic stem cells disorders could be short telomere length probably due to chromosomal instability. The relationship between relative telomere length (RTL) and the two linked hematological stem cell disorders, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is still unclear. Materials and Methods: We evaluated the role of RTL in MDS (n=96) and AML (n=130) at the time of diagnosis using a real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. The median value of RTL (1) was set as the cutoff for statistical comparison. Overall survival (OS) is defined as the time from diagnosis to death or last follow-up. Results: RTL was significantly longer in both MDS and AML cases versus control (p<0.0001) and was significantly longer in MDS versus AML cases (p =0.03). RTL correlated negatively with age in MDS (p <0.0001) but not in AML cases. RTL was also significantly shorter in MDS cases with pancytopenia and poor risk cytogenetics (p < 0.0001 for each) and short RTL was significantly associated with inferior survival (p = 0.007), while RTL showed no significant impact on OS in AML cases. Moreover, short RTL retained independent prognostic value in multivariate analysis (HR= 3.42 [95% CI, 8.97-19.35], p = 0.004). Conclusion: RTL showed an association with both AML and MDS; however, short RTL was an independent poor prognostic factor in MDS patients only.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia El Menshawy
- Clinical Pathology, Hematology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Shaimaa El Ashwah
- Clinical Hematology Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A Ebrahim
- Medical Oncology Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
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42
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Koneru B, Lopez G, Farooqi A, Conkrite KL, Nguyen TH, Macha SJ, Modi A, Rokita JL, Urias E, Hindle A, Davidson H, Mccoy K, Nance J, Yazdani V, Irwin MS, Yang S, Wheeler DA, Maris JM, Diskin SJ, Reynolds CP. Telomere Maintenance Mechanisms Define Clinical Outcome in High-Risk Neuroblastoma. Cancer Res 2020; 80:2663-2675. [PMID: 32291317 PMCID: PMC7313726 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-3068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a childhood cancer with heterogeneous clinical outcomes. To comprehensively assess the impact of telomere maintenance mechanism (TMM) on clinical outcomes in high-risk neuroblastoma, we integrated the C-circle assay [a marker for alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT)], TERT mRNA expression by RNA-sequencing, whole-genome/exome sequencing, and clinical covariates in 134 neuroblastoma patient samples at diagnosis. In addition, we assessed TMM in neuroblastoma cell lines (n = 104) and patient-derived xenografts (n = 28). ALT was identified in 23.4% of high-risk neuroblastoma tumors and genomic alterations in ATRX were detected in 60% of ALT tumors; 40% of ALT tumors lacked genomic alterations in known ALT-associated genes. Patients with high-risk neuroblastoma were classified into three subgroups (TERT-high, ALT+, and TERT-low/non-ALT) based on presence of C-circles and TERT mRNA expression (above or below median TERT expression). Event-free survival was similar among TERT-high, ALT+, or TERT-low/non-ALT patients. However, overall survival (OS) for TERT-low/non-ALT patients was significantly higher relative to TERT-high or ALT patients (log-rank test; P < 0.01) independent of current clinical and molecular prognostic markers. Consistent with the observed higher OS in patients with TERT-low/non-ALT tumors, continuous shortening of telomeres and decreasing viability occurred in low TERT-expressing, non-ALT patient-derived high-risk neuroblastoma cell lines. These findings demonstrate that assaying TMM with TERT mRNA expression and C-circles provides precise stratification of high-risk neuroblastoma into three subgroups with substantially different OS: a previously undescribed TERT-low/non-ALT cohort with superior OS (even after relapse) and two cohorts of patients with poor survival that have distinct molecular therapeutic targets. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings assess telomere maintenance mechanisms with TERT mRNA and the ALT DNA biomarker C-circles to stratify neuroblastoma into three groups, with distinct overall survival independent of currently used clinical risk classifiers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balakrishna Koneru
- Cancer Center and Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Texas
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
| | - Gonzalo Lopez
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Bioinformatics and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ahsan Farooqi
- Cancer Center and Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Texas
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
| | - Karina L Conkrite
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Bioinformatics and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Thinh H Nguyen
- Cancer Center and Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Texas
| | - Shawn J Macha
- Cancer Center and Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Texas
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
| | - Apexa Modi
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Bioinformatics and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jo Lynne Rokita
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Bioinformatics and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for Data-Driven Discovery in Biomedicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Eduardo Urias
- Cancer Center and Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Texas
| | - Ashly Hindle
- Cancer Center and Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Texas
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
| | - Heather Davidson
- Cancer Center and Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Texas
| | - Kristyn Mccoy
- Cancer Center and Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Texas
| | - Jonas Nance
- Cancer Center and Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Texas
| | - Vanda Yazdani
- Cancer Center and Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Texas
| | - Meredith S Irwin
- Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shengping Yang
- Cancer Center and Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Texas
| | - David A Wheeler
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - John M Maris
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sharon J Diskin
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Bioinformatics and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - C Patrick Reynolds
- Cancer Center and Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Texas.
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
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43
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George SL, Parmar V, Lorenzi F, Marshall LV, Jamin Y, Poon E, Angelini P, Chesler L. Novel therapeutic strategies targeting telomere maintenance mechanisms in high-risk neuroblastoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2020; 39:78. [PMID: 32375866 PMCID: PMC7201617 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-020-01582-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of high-risk neuroblastomas can be divided into three distinct molecular subgroups defined by the presence of MYCN amplification, upstream TERT rearrangements or alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). The common defining feature of all three subgroups is altered telomere maintenance; MYCN amplification and upstream TERT rearrangements drive high levels of telomerase expression whereas ALT is a telomerase independent telomere maintenance mechanism. As all three telomere maintenance mechanisms are independently associated with poor outcomes, the development of strategies to selectively target either telomerase expressing or ALT cells holds great promise as a therapeutic approach that is applicable to the majority of children with aggressive disease.Here we summarise the biology of telomere maintenance and the molecular drivers of aggressive neuroblastoma before describing the most promising therapeutic strategies to target both telomerase expressing and ALT cancers. For telomerase-expressing neuroblastoma the most promising targeted agent to date is 6-thio-2'-deoxyguanosine, however clinical development of this agent is required. In osteosarcoma cell lines with ALT, selective sensitivity to ATR inhibition has been reported. However, we present data showing that in fact ALT neuroblastoma cells are more resistant to the clinical ATR inhibitor AZD6738 compared to other neuroblastoma subtypes. More recently a number of additional candidate compounds have been shown to show selectivity for ALT cancers, such as Tetra-Pt (bpy), a compound targeting the telomeric G-quadruplex and pifithrin-α, a putative p53 inhibitor. Further pre-clinical evaluation of these compounds in neuroblastoma models is warranted.In summary, telomere maintenance targeting strategies offer a significant opportunity to develop effective new therapies, applicable to a large proportion of children with high-risk neuroblastoma. In parallel to clinical development, more pre-clinical research specifically for neuroblastoma is urgently needed, if we are to improve survival for this common poor outcome tumour of childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- S L George
- Paediatric Tumour Biology, Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
- Children and Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
| | - V Parmar
- Children and Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - F Lorenzi
- Paediatric Tumour Biology, Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - L V Marshall
- Paediatric Tumour Biology, Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Children and Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Y Jamin
- Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - E Poon
- Paediatric Tumour Biology, Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - P Angelini
- Children and Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - L Chesler
- Paediatric Tumour Biology, Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Children and Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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44
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Loe TK, Li JSZ, Zhang Y, Azeroglu B, Boddy MN, Denchi EL. Telomere length heterogeneity in ALT cells is maintained by PML-dependent localization of the BTR complex to telomeres. Genes Dev 2020; 34:650-662. [PMID: 32217664 PMCID: PMC7197349 DOI: 10.1101/gad.333963.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In this study, Loe et al. sought to understand ALT-associated PML bodies (APBs) and their function in the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway, a telomerase-independent mechanism of telomere extension that some cancer cells that use. Using CRISPR/Cas9 to delete PML and APB components from ALT-positive cells, they found that PML is required for the ALT mechanism, and that this necessity stems from APBs’ role in localizing the BLM–TOP3A–RMI (BTR) complex to ALT telomere ends, suggesting that BTR localization to telomeres is sufficient to sustain ALT activity. Telomeres consist of TTAGGG repeats bound by protein complexes that serve to protect the natural end of linear chromosomes. Most cells maintain telomere repeat lengths by using the enzyme telomerase, although there are some cancer cells that use a telomerase-independent mechanism of telomere extension, termed alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). Cells that use ALT are characterized, in part, by the presence of specialized PML nuclear bodies called ALT-associated PML bodies (APBs). APBs localize to and cluster telomeric ends together with telomeric and DNA damage factors, which led to the proposal that these bodies act as a platform on which ALT can occur. However, the necessity of APBs and their function in the ALT pathway has remained unclear. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to delete PML and APB components from ALT-positive cells to cleanly define the function of APBs in ALT. We found that PML is required for the ALT mechanism, and that this necessity stems from APBs’ role in localizing the BLM–TOP3A–RMI (BTR) complex to ALT telomere ends. Strikingly, recruitment of the BTR complex to telomeres in a PML-independent manner bypasses the need for PML in the ALT pathway, suggesting that BTR localization to telomeres is sufficient to sustain ALT activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor K Loe
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Julia Su Zhou Li
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Yuxiang Zhang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Benura Azeroglu
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Michael Nicholas Boddy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Eros Lazzerini Denchi
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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Mechanisms that drive telomere maintenance and recombination in human cancers. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2020; 60:25-30. [PMID: 32119936 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2020.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Telomere maintenance is essential for the continued proliferation of mitotically active cells. Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) is a recombination-dependent pathway of telomere maintenance analogous to break-induced replication (BIR) [1] that becomes activated in approximately 10-15% of human cancers. ALT is prevalent in tumours of mesenchymal or neuroepithelial origin, and typically confers a poor prognosis. The aggressiveness and lack of effective strategies to treat these cancers make the ALT pathway a compelling potential therapeutic target to prevent tumour formation and/or the appearance of secondary malignancies after conventional chemotherapy [2]. While the precise initiator of ALT during tumourigenesis remains elusive, substantial progress has been made in interrogating the underlying homology-directed repair mechanisms that converge at telomeres to enable telomere length maintenance. Here, we describe recent advances in our understanding of the ALT mechanism and highlight potential therapeutic targets that may offer future promise in the treatment of ALT cancers.
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46
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Claude E, Decottignies A. Telomere maintenance mechanisms in cancer: telomerase, ALT or lack thereof. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2020; 60:1-8. [PMID: 32114293 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2020.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells acquire replicative immortality by activating a telomere maintenance mechanism (TMM), either the telomerase or the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) mechanism. ALT is frequently activated in tumors derived from mesenchymal cells, which are more frequent in childhood cancers. Recent studies showed that, occasionally, cancer cells can arise without any TMM activation. Here, we discuss the challenge in assessing which TMM is activated in tumors. We also evaluate the prevalence of ALT mechanism in pediatric cancers and review the associated survival prognosis in different tumor types. Finally, we discuss about possible anti-TMM therapies for new emerging cancer treatments.
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47
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Sommer A, Royle NJ. ALT: A Multi-Faceted Phenomenon. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E133. [PMID: 32012790 PMCID: PMC7073516 DOI: 10.3390/genes11020133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the hallmarks of cancer cells is their indefinite replicative potential, made possible by the activation of a telomere maintenance mechanism (TMM). The majority of cancers reactivate the reverse transcriptase, telomerase, to maintain their telomere length but a minority (10% to 15%) utilize an alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway. Here, we review the phenotypes and molecular markers specific to ALT, and investigate the significance of telomere mutations and sequence variation in ALT cell lines. We also look at the recent advancements in understanding the different mechanisms behind ALT telomere elongation and finally, the progress made in identifying potential ALT-targeted therapies, including those already in use for the treatment of both hematological and solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicola J. Royle
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK;
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48
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The nuclear pore complex prevents sister chromatid recombination during replicative senescence. Nat Commun 2020; 11:160. [PMID: 31919430 PMCID: PMC6952416 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13979-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC) has emerged as an important hub for processing various types of DNA damage. Here, we uncover that fusing a DNA binding domain to the NPC basket protein Nup1 reduces telomere relocalization to nuclear pores early after telomerase inactivation. This Nup1 modification also impairs the relocalization to the NPC of expanded CAG/CTG triplet repeats. Strikingly, telomerase negative cells bypass senescence when expressing this Nup1 modification by maintaining a minimal telomere length compatible with proliferation through rampant unequal exchanges between sister chromatids. We further report that a Nup1 mutant lacking 36 C-terminal residues recapitulates the phenotypes of the Nup1-LexA fusion indicating a direct role of Nup1 in the relocation of stalled forks to NPCs and restriction of error-prone recombination between repeated sequences. Our results reveal a new mode of telomere maintenance that could shed light on how 20% of cancer cells are maintained without telomerase or ALT. The Nuclear Pore Complex has been linked to DNA damage processing. Here the authors reveal that the Nup1 C-terminus is critical for the relocalization of eroded telomeres to nuclear pores and that modification of Nup1 promotes sister chromatid recombination and unleashes a new telomere maintenance mechanism.
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FANCM suppresses DNA replication stress at ALT telomeres by disrupting TERRA R-loops. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19110. [PMID: 31836759 PMCID: PMC6911001 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55537-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells maintain their telomeres by either re-activating telomerase or adopting the homologous recombination (HR)-based Alternative Lengthening of Telomere (ALT) pathway. Among the many prominent features of ALT cells, C-circles (CC) formation is considered to be the most specific and quantifiable biomarker of ALT. However, the molecular mechanism behind the initiation and maintenance of CC formation in ALT cells is still largely unknown. We reported previously that depletion of the FANCM complex (FANCM-FAAP24-MHF1&2) in ALT cells induced pronounced replication stress, which primarily takes place at their telomeres. Here, we characterized the changes in ALT associated phenotypes in cells deficient of the FANCM complex. We found that depletion of FAAP24 or FANCM, but not MHF1&2, induces a dramatic increase of CC formation. Most importantly, we identified multiple DNA damage response (DDR) and DNA repair pathways that stimulate the dramatic increase of CC formation in FANCM deficient cells, including the dissolvase complex (BLM-TOP3A-RMI1/2, or BTR), DNA damage checkpoint kinases (ATR and Chk1), HR proteins (BRCA2, PALB2, and Rad51), as well as proteins involved in Break-Induced Replication (BIR) (POLD1 and POLD3). In addition, FANCD2, another Fanconi Anemia (FA) protein, is also required for CC formation, likely through promoting the recruitment of BLM to the replication stressed ALT telomeres. Finally, we demonstrated that TERRA R-loops accumulate at telomeres in FANCM deficient ALT cells and downregulation of which attenuates the ALT-associated PML bodies (APBs), replication stress and CC formation. Taken together, our data suggest that FANCM prevents replisomes from stalling/collapsing at ALT telomeres by disrupting TERRA R-loops.
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Aref S, Al Saeed A, El Menshawy N, Abdalla D, El Ashery M. Prognostic relevance of telomere length and telomerase reverse transcriptase variant (rs2242652) on the multiple myeloma patients. J Clin Lab Anal 2019; 34:e23133. [PMID: 31814184 PMCID: PMC7171320 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.23133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The search for enhancement of multiple myeloma prognostic tools is an area of current research. This study aimed to assess the clinicopathological impact of telomere length and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) polymorphic variant, rs2242652, on multiple myeloma (MM) patients. METHODS Fifty MM patients and 50 healthy controls were included. Relative telomere length (RTL) and rs2242652 genotype polymorphic variants of TERT were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The MM patients' group was categorized into stage I (n = 16); stage II (n = 12), and stage III (n = 22). RESULTS The median telomere length was significantly longer in MM patients' group (0.78) as compared to controls (0.43) (P = .001). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that MM patients with RTL < 0.5 had significant poor response for induction remission therapy with odds ratio 26.45. On the other hand, TERT genotyping analysis of rs2242652 revealed insignificant difference between cases and controls (P = .234), regarding to induction remission response. Survival analysis using Kaplan-Meier curve revealed that patients with shorter telomere length and those with TERT genotype GA had shorter overall survival. CONCLUSION Telomere length and TERT rs2242652 genotype polymorphism could be used for refining risk stratification of MM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salah Aref
- Hematology Unit, Mansoura University Oncology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Alshaimaa Al Saeed
- Hematology Unit, Mansoura University Oncology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Nadia El Menshawy
- Hematology Unit, Mansoura University Oncology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Doaa Abdalla
- Hematology Unit, Mansoura University Oncology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
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