1
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Zhou L, Yu CW. Epigenetic modulations in triple-negative breast cancer: Therapeutic implications for tumor microenvironment. Pharmacol Res 2024; 204:107205. [PMID: 38719195 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and lacks HER2 overexpression. This absence of critical molecular targets poses significant challenges for conventional therapies. Immunotherapy, remarkably immune checkpoint blockade, offers promise for TNBC treatment, but its efficacy remains limited. Epigenetic dysregulation, including altered DNA methylation, histone modifications, and imbalances in regulators such as BET proteins, plays a crucial role in TNBC development and resistance to treatment. Hypermethylation of tumor suppressor gene promoters and the imbalance of histone methyltransferases such as EZH2 and histone deacetylases (HDACs) profoundly influence tumor cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis. In addition, epigenetic alterations critically shape the tumor microenvironment (TME), including immune cell composition, cytokine signaling, and immune checkpoint expression, ultimately contributing to immune evasion. Targeting these epigenetic mechanisms with specific inhibitors such as EZH2 and HDAC inhibitors in combination with immunotherapy represents a compelling strategy to remodel the TME, potentially overcoming immune evasion and enhancing therapeutic outcomes in TNBC. This review aims to comprehensively elucidate the current understanding of epigenetic modulation in TNBC, its influence on the TME, and the potential of combining epigenetic therapies with immunotherapy to overcome the challenges posed by this aggressive breast cancer subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Zhou
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chen-Wei Yu
- Department of Statistics and Information Science, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
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2
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Li X, Wang C, Li S, Yin F, Luo H, Zhang Y, Luo Z, Chen Y, Wan S, Kong L, Wang X. Dual target PARP1/EZH2 inhibitors inducing excessive autophagy and producing synthetic lethality for triple-negative breast cancer therapy. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 265:116054. [PMID: 38134746 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Currently available PARP inhibitors are mainly used for the treatment of BRCA-mutated triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), with a narrow application range of approximately 15% of patients. Recent studies have shown that EZH2 inhibitors have an obvious effect on breast cancer xenograft models and can promote the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to PARP inhibitors. Here, a series of new dual-target PARP1/EZH2 inhibitors for wild-BRCA type TNBC were designed and synthesized. SAR studies helped us identify compound 12e, encoded KWLX-12e, with good inhibitory activity against PARP1 (IC50 = 6.89 nM) and EZH2 (IC50 = 27.34 nM). Meanwhile, KWLX-12e showed an optimal cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells (IC50 = 2.84 μM) and BT-549 cells (IC50 = 0.91 μM), with no toxicity on normal breast cell lines. KWLX-12e also exhibited good antitumor activity with the TGI value of 75.94%, more effective than Niraparib plus GSK126 (TGI = 57.24%). Mechanistic studies showed that KWLX-12e achieved synthetic lethality indirectly by inhibiting EZH2 to increase the sensitivity to PARP1, and induced cell death by regulating excessive autophagy. KWLX-12e is expected to be a potential candidate for the treatment of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Shang Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Fucheng Yin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Heng Luo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Yonglei Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Zhongwen Luo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Yifan Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Siyuan Wan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Lingyi Kong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
| | - Xiaobing Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
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3
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Zhang Y, Wu MJ, Lu WC, Li YC, Chang CJ, Yang JY. Metabolic switch regulates lineage plasticity and induces synthetic lethality in triple-negative breast cancer. Cell Metab 2024; 36:193-208.e8. [PMID: 38171333 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is key for cancer development, yet the mechanism that sustains triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell growth despite deficient pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) and tumor glycolysis remains to be determined. Here, we find that deficiency in tumor glycolysis activates a metabolic switch from glycolysis to fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) to fuel TNBC growth. We show that, in TNBC cells, PKM2 directly interacts with histone methyltransferase EZH2 to coordinately mediate epigenetic silencing of a carnitine transporter, SLC16A9. Inhibition of PKM2 leads to impaired EZH2 recruitment to SLC16A9, and in turn de-represses SLC16A9 expression to increase intracellular carnitine influx, programming TNBC cells to an FAO-dependent and luminal-like cell state. Together, these findings reveal a new metabolic switch that drives TNBC from a metabolically heterogeneous-lineage plastic cell state to an FAO-dependent-lineage committed cell state, where dual targeting of EZH2 and FAO induces potent synthetic lethality in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingsheng Zhang
- Department of Medicine and Biological Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
| | - Meng-Ju Wu
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Departments of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Wan-Chi Lu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chuan Li
- Cancer Biology and Precision Therapeutics Center, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan; Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
| | - Chun Ju Chang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan; Cancer Biology and Precision Therapeutics Center, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan.
| | - Jer-Yen Yang
- Cancer Biology and Precision Therapeutics Center, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan; Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan.
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4
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Heilala M, Lehtonen A, Arasalo O, Peura A, Pokki J, Ikkala O, Nonappa, Klefström J, Munne PM. Fibrin Stiffness Regulates Phenotypic Plasticity of Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2301137. [PMID: 37671812 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301137] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM)-regulated phenotypic plasticity is crucial for metastatic progression of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). While ECM faithful cell-based models are available for in situ and invasive tumors, such as cell aggregate cultures in reconstituted basement membrane and in collagenous gels, there are no ECM faithful models for metastatic circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Such models are essential to represent the stage of metastasis where clinical relevance and therapeutic opportunities are significant. Here, CTC-like DU4475 TNBC cells are cultured in mechanically tunable 3D fibrin hydrogels. This is motivated, as in circulation fibrin aids CTC survival by forming a protective coating reducing shear stress and immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity and promotes several stages of late metastatic processes at the interface between circulation and tissue. This work shows that fibrin hydrogels support DU4475 cell growth, resulting in spheroid formation. Furthermore, increasing fibrin stiffness from 57 to 175 Pa leads to highly motile, actin and tubulin containing cellular protrusions, which are associated with specific cell morphology and gene expression patterns that markedly differ from basement membrane or suspension cultures. Thus, mechanically tunable fibrin gels reveal specific matrix-based regulation of TNBC cell phenotype and offer scaffolds for CTC-like cells with better mechano-biological properties than liquid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Heilala
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15100, Aalto, Espoo, FI-00076, Finland
| | - Arttu Lehtonen
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12200, Aalto, Espoo, FI-00076, Finland
| | - Ossi Arasalo
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12200, Aalto, Espoo, FI-00076, Finland
| | - Aino Peura
- Finnish Cancer Institute and FICAN South, Helsinki University Hospital & Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8), Helsinki, 00014, Finland
| | - Juho Pokki
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12200, Aalto, Espoo, FI-00076, Finland
| | - Olli Ikkala
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15100, Aalto, Espoo, FI-00076, Finland
| | - Nonappa
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, P.O. Box 541, Tampere, FI-33720, Finland
| | - Juha Klefström
- Finnish Cancer Institute and FICAN South, Helsinki University Hospital & Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8), Helsinki, 00014, Finland
| | - Pauliina M Munne
- Finnish Cancer Institute and FICAN South, Helsinki University Hospital & Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63 (Haartmaninkatu 8), Helsinki, 00014, Finland
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5
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Zhu S, Zhang M, Liu X, Luo Q, Zhou J, Song M, Feng J, Liu J. Single-cell transcriptomics provide insight into metastasis-related subsets of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2023; 25:126. [PMID: 37858183 PMCID: PMC10588105 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-023-01728-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer metastasis is a complex, multi-step process, with high cellular heterogeneity between primary and metastatic breast cancer, and more complex interactions between metastatic cancer cells and other cells in the tumor microenvironment. High-resolution single-cell transcriptome sequencing technology can visualize the heterogeneity of malignant and non-malignant cells in the tumor microenvironment in real time, especially combined with spatial transcriptome analysis, which can directly compare changes between different stages of metastatic samples. Therefore, this study takes single-cell analysis as the first perspective to deeply explore special or rare cell subpopulations related to breast cancer metastasis, systematically summarizes their functions, molecular features, and corresponding treatment strategies, which will contribute to accurately identify, understand, and target tumor metastasis-related driving events, provide a research basis for the mechanistic study of breast cancer metastasis, and provide new clues for its personalized precision treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikun Zhu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases, Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Mi Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases, Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Xuexue Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases, Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Qing Luo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases, Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiahong Zhou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases, Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Miao Song
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases, Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Jia Feng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases, Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
| | - Jinbo Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Sichuan Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases, Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Diseases Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
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6
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Hong L, Williams NL, Jaffe M, Shields CE, Haynes KA. Synthetic Reader-Actuators Targeted to Polycomb-Silenced Genes Block Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Proliferation and Invasion. GEN BIOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 2:301-316. [PMID: 37928406 PMCID: PMC10623628 DOI: 10.1089/genbio.2023.0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Scientists have used pharmacological inhibitors of polycomb proteins to restore the expression of tumor suppressor genes and stop cancer proliferation and invasion. A major limitation of this approach is that key transcriptional activators, such as TP53 and BAF SWI/SNF, are often mutated in cancer. Poor clinical results for polycomb-targeting therapies in solid cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), could discourage the further development of epigenetic monotherapies. Here, we performed epigenome actuation with a synthetic reader-actuator (SRA) that binds trimethylated histone H3 lysine 27 in polycomb chromatin and modulates core transcriptional activators. In SRA-expressing TNBC BT-549 cells, 122 genes become upregulated ≥2-fold, including the genes involved in cell death, cell cycle arrest, and migration inhibition. The SRA-expressing spheroids showed reduced size in Matrigel and loss of invasion. Therefore, targeting Mediator-recruiting regulators to silenced chromatin can activate tumor suppressors and stimulate anti-cancer phenotypes, and further development of robust gene regulators might benefit TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Hong
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Natecia L. Williams
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Maya Jaffe
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Cara E. Shields
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Karmella A. Haynes
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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7
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Dardis GJ, Wang J, Simon JM, Wang GG, Baldwin AS. An EZH2-NF-κB regulatory axis drives expression of pro-oncogenic gene signatures in triple negative breast cancer. iScience 2023; 26:107115. [PMID: 37416481 PMCID: PMC10319845 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107115] [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: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The histone methyltransferase EZH2 has been studied most extensively in the context of PRC2-dependent gene repression. Accumulating evidence indicates non-canonical functions for EZH2 in cancer contexts including promoting paradoxical gene expression through interactions with transcription factors, including NF-κB in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). We profile EZH2 and NF-κB factor co-localization and positive gene regulation genome-wide, and define a subset of NF-κB targets and genes associated with oncogenic functions in TNBC that is enriched in patient datasets. We demonstrate interaction between EZH2 and RelA requiring the recently identified transactivation domain (TAD) which mediates EZH2 recruitment to, and activation of certain NF-κB-dependent genes, and supports downstream migration and stemness phenotypes in TNBC cells. Interestingly, EZH2-NF-κB positive regulation of genes and stemness does not require PRC2. This study provides new insight into pro-oncogenic regulatory functions for EZH2 in breast cancer through PRC2-independent, and NF-κB-dependent regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle J. Dardis
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jun Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jeremy M. Simon
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Gang Greg Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Albert S. Baldwin
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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8
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Bobbitt JR, Seachrist DD, Keri RA. Chromatin Organization and Transcriptional Programming of Breast Cancer Cell Identity. Endocrinology 2023; 164:bqad100. [PMID: 37394919 PMCID: PMC10370366 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqad100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
The advent of sequencing technologies for assessing chromosome conformations has provided a wealth of information on the organization of the 3-dimensional genome and its role in cancer progression. It is now known that changes in chromatin folding and accessibility can promote aberrant activation or repression of transcriptional programs that can drive tumorigenesis and progression in diverse cancers. This includes breast cancer, which comprises several distinct subtypes defined by their unique transcriptomes that dictate treatment response and patient outcomes. Of these, basal-like breast cancer is an aggressive subtype controlled by a pluripotency-enforcing transcriptome. Meanwhile, the more differentiated luminal subtype of breast cancer is driven by an estrogen receptor-dominated transcriptome that underlies its responsiveness to antihormone therapies and conveys improved patient outcomes. Despite the clear differences in molecular signatures, the genesis of each subtype from normal mammary epithelial cells remains unclear. Recent technical advances have revealed key distinctions in chromatin folding and organization between subtypes that could underlie their transcriptomic and, hence, phenotypic differences. These studies also suggest that proteins controlling particular chromatin states may be useful targets for treating aggressive disease. In this review, we explore the current state of understanding of chromatin architecture in breast cancer subtypes and its potential role in defining their phenotypic characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R Bobbitt
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Darcie D Seachrist
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Ruth A Keri
- Department of Cancer Biology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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9
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Ivanova M, Porta FM, Giugliano F, Frascarelli C, Sajjadi E, Venetis K, Cursano G, Mazzarol G, Guerini-Rocco E, Curigliano G, Criscitiello C, Fusco N. Breast Cancer with Brain Metastasis: Molecular Insights and Clinical Management. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1160. [PMID: 37372340 DOI: 10.3390/genes14061160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy worldwide and the leading cause of cancer-related death among women. Brain metastases are a primary contributor to mortality, as they often go undetected until late stages due to their dormant nature. Moreover, the clinical management of brain metastases is complicated by the relevant issue of blood-brain barrier penetration. The molecular pathways involved in the formation, progression, and colonization of primary breast tumors and subsequent brain metastases are diverse, posing significant hurdles due to the heterogeneous nature of breast cancer subtypes. Despite advancements in primary breast cancer treatments, the prognosis for patients with brain metastases remains poor. In this review, we aim to highlight the biological mechanisms of breast cancer brain metastases by evaluating multi-step genetic pathways and to discuss currently available and emerging treatment strategies to propose a prospective overview of the management of this complex disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariia Ivanova
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Maria Porta
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
- School of Pathology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Giugliano
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Division of Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Frascarelli
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Elham Sajjadi
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Konstantinos Venetis
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Cursano
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Mazzarol
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Guerini-Rocco
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Curigliano
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Division of Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Carmen Criscitiello
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Division of Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Fusco
- Division of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
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10
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Chu YH, Huang YC, Chiu PY, Kuo WH, Pan YR, Kuo YT, Wang RH, Kao YC, Wang YH, Lin YF, Lin KT. Combating breast cancer progression through combination therapy with hypomethylating agent and glucocorticoid. iScience 2023; 26:106597. [PMID: 37128608 PMCID: PMC10148121 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Among breast cancer types, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 15% of all breast cancers with aggressive tumor behavior. By using bioinformatic approaches, we observed that the microRNA-708 promoter is highly methylated in breast carcinomas, and this methylation is linked to a poor prognosis. Moreover, microRNA-708 expression correlates with better clinical outcomes in TNBC patients. Combination treatment with the hypomethylating agent decitabine and synthetic glucocorticoid significantly increased the expression of microRNA-708, reactivated DNMT-suppressed pathways, and decreased the expression of multiple metastasis-promoting genes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and IL-1β, leading to the suppression of breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as reduced tumor growth and distant metastasis in the TNBC xenograft mouse model. Overall, our study reveals a therapeutic opportunity in which a combined regimen of decitabine with glucocorticoid may have therapeutic potential in treating TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hsin Chu
- Institute of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chen Huang
- Institute of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yun Chiu
- Institute of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Hung Kuo
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yan-Ru Pan
- Institute of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Ting Kuo
- Institute of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Rong-Hsuan Wang
- Institute of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chin Kao
- Institute of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsiang Wang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Fan Lin
- Institute of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Ti Lin
- Institute of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Science, College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Corresponding author
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11
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Wedam R, Greer YE, Wisniewski DJ, Weltz S, Kundu M, Voeller D, Lipkowitz S. Targeting Mitochondria with ClpP Agonists as a Novel Therapeutic Opportunity in Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15071936. [PMID: 37046596 PMCID: PMC10093243 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15071936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy worldwide and the leading cause of cancer mortality in women. Despite the recent development of new therapeutics including targeted therapies and immunotherapy, triple-negative breast cancer remains an aggressive form of breast cancer, and thus improved treatments are needed. In recent decades, it has become increasingly clear that breast cancers harbor metabolic plasticity that is controlled by mitochondria. A myriad of studies provide evidence that mitochondria are essential to breast cancer progression. Mitochondria in breast cancers are widely reprogrammed to enhance energy production and biosynthesis of macromolecules required for tumor growth. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding of mitochondrial roles in breast cancers and elucidate why mitochondria are a rational therapeutic target. We will then outline the status of the use of mitochondria-targeting drugs in breast cancers, and highlight ClpP agonists as emerging mitochondria-targeting drugs with a unique mechanism of action. We also illustrate possible drug combination strategies and challenges in the future breast cancer clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohan Wedam
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yoshimi Endo Greer
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - David J Wisniewski
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sarah Weltz
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Manjari Kundu
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Donna Voeller
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Stanley Lipkowitz
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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12
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Chhichholiya Y, Ruthuparna M, Velagaleti H, Munshi A. Brain metastasis in breast cancer: focus on genes and signaling pathways involved, blood-brain barrier and treatment strategies. Clin Transl Oncol 2023; 25:1218-1241. [PMID: 36897508 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-03050-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in women. Despite advancement in early detection and efficient treatment, recurrence and metastasis continue to pose a significant risk to the life of BC patients. Brain metastasis (BM) reported in 17-20 percent of BC patients is considered as a major cause of mortality and morbidity in these patients. BM includes various steps from primary breast tumor to secondary tumor formation. Various steps involved are primary tumor formation, angiogenesis, invasion, extravasation, and brain colonization. Genes involved in different pathways have been reported to be associated with BC cells metastasizing to the brain. ADAM8 gene, EN1 transcription factor, WNT, and VEGF signaling pathway have been associated with primary breast tumor; MMP1, COX2, XCR4, PI3k/Akt, ERK and MAPK pathways in angiogenesis; Noth, CD44, Zo-1, CEMIP, S0X2 and OLIG2 are involved in invasion, extravasation and colonization, respectively. In addition, the blood-brain barrier is also a key factor in BM. Dysregulation of cell junctions, tumor microenvironment and loss of function of microglia leads to BBB disruption ultimately resulting in BM. Various therapeutic strategies are currently used to control the BM in BC. Oncolytic virus therapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, mTOR-PI3k inhibitors and immunotherapy have been developed to target various genes involved in BM in BC. In addition, RNA interference (RNAi) and CRISPR/Cas9 are novel interventions in the field of BCBM where research to validate these and clinical trials are being carried out. Gaining a better knowledge of metastasis biology is critical for establishing better treatment methods and attaining long-term therapeutic efficacies against BC. The current review has been compiled with an aim to evaluate the role of various genes and signaling pathways involved in multiple steps of BM in BC. The therapeutic strategies being used currently and the novel ones being explored to control BM in BC have also been discussed at length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogita Chhichholiya
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Malayil Ruthuparna
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Harini Velagaleti
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Anjana Munshi
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India.
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13
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Ardalan Khales S, Forghanifard MM, Abbaszadegan MR, Hosseini SE. EZH2 deregulates BMP, Hedgehog, and Hippo cell signaling pathways in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Adv Med Sci 2023; 68:21-30. [PMID: 36403545 DOI: 10.1016/j.advms.2022.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cell signaling pathways play central roles in cellular stemness state, and aberrant activation of these cascades is attributed to the severity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In this study, we aimed to determine the potential impact of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) gene on different cell signaling pathways including bone morphogenesis protein (BMP), Hedgehog, and Hippo in ESCC, and to illuminate EZH2-mediated gene regulatory networks in this aggressive malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS EZH2 silencing was performed in two ESCC lines, KYSE-30 and YM-1, followed by gene expression analysis of BMP, Hedgehog, and Hippo signaling using RT-qPCR. EZH2 enforced expression was induced in both cell lines and gene expression of the pathways was evaluated in parallel. The contribution of EZH2 in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell migration were also evaluated. RESULTS EZH2 downregulation decreased expression of the vital components of the Hedgehog and Hippo signaling, while EZH2 upregulation significantly increased its levels in both ESCC cell lines. The expression of BMP target genes was either reduced in EZH2-expressing cells or increased in EZH2-silencing cells. Enforced expression of EZH2 stimulated downregulation of epithelial markers and upregulation of mesenchymal markers in KYSE-30 and YM-1 cells. Significant downregulation of mesenchymal markers was detected following the silencing of EZH2 in the cells. Knocking down EZH2 decreased migration, while enforced expression of EZH2 increased migration in both ESCC lines. CONCLUSIONS These results may support the promoting role of EZH2 in ESCC tumorigenesis through the recruitment of important cell signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Seyed Ebrahim Hosseini
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Zand Institute of Higher Education, Shiraz, Iran
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14
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The Emerging Role of Epigenetics in Metabolism and Endocrinology. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12020256. [PMID: 36829533 PMCID: PMC9953656 DOI: 10.3390/biology12020256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Each cell in a multicellular organism has its own phenotype despite sharing the same genome. Epigenetics is a somatic, heritable pattern of gene expression or cellular phenotype mediated by structural changes in chromatin that occur without altering the DNA sequence. Epigenetic modification is an important factor in determining the level and timing of gene expression in response to endogenous and exogenous stimuli. There is also growing evidence concerning the interaction between epigenetics and metabolism. Accordingly, several enzymes that consume vital metabolites as substrates or cofactors are used during the catalysis of epigenetic modification. Therefore, altered metabolism might lead to diseases and pathogenesis, including endocrine disorders and cancer. In addition, it has been demonstrated that epigenetic modification influences the endocrine system and immune response-related pathways. In this regard, epigenetic modification may impact the levels of hormones that are important in regulating growth, development, reproduction, energy balance, and metabolism. Altering the function of the endocrine system has negative health consequences. Furthermore, endocrine disruptors (EDC) have a significant impact on the endocrine system, causing the abnormal functioning of hormones and their receptors, resulting in various diseases and disorders. Overall, this review focuses on the impact of epigenetics on the endocrine system and its interaction with metabolism.
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15
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Williams NL, Hong L, Jaffe M, Shields CE, Haynes KA. PIC recruitment by synthetic reader-actuators to polycomb-silenced genes blocks triple-negative breast cancer invasion. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.23.525196. [PMID: 36747762 PMCID: PMC9900809 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.23.525196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Scientists have used small molecule inhibitors and genetic knockdown of gene-silencing polycomb repressive complexes (PRC1/2) to determine if restoring the expression of tumor suppressor genes can block proliferation and invasion of cancer cells. A major limitation of this approach is that inhibitors can not restore key transcriptional activators that are mutated in many cancers, such as p53 and members of the BRAF SWI/SNF complex. Furthermore, small molecule inhibitors can alter the activity of, rather than inhibit, the polycomb enzyme EZH2. While chromatin has been shown to play a major role in gene regulation in cancer, poor clinical results for polycomb chromatin-targeting therapies for diseases like triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) could discourage further development of this emerging avenue for treatment. To overcome the limitations of inhibiting polycomb to study epigenetic regulation, we developed an engineered chromatin protein to manipulate transcription. The synthetic reader-actuator (SRA) is a fusion protein that directly binds a target chromatin modification and regulates gene expression. Here, we report the activity of an SRA built from polycomb chromodomain and VP64 modules that bind H3K27me3 and subunits of the Mediator complex, respectively. In SRA-expressing BT-549 cells, we identified 122 upregulated differentially expressed genes (UpDEGs, ≥ 2-fold activation, adjusted p < 0.05). On-target epigenetic regulation was determined by identifying UpDEGs at H3K27me3-enriched, closed chromatin. SRA activity induced activation of genes involved in cell death, cell cycle arrest, and the inhibition of migration and invasion. SRA-expressing BT-549 cells showed reduced spheroid size in Matrigel over time, loss of invasion, and activation of apoptosis. These results show that Mediator-recruiting regulators broadly targeted to silenced chromatin activate silenced tumor suppressor genes and stimulate anti-cancer phenotypes. Therefore further development of gene-activating epigenetic therapies might benefit TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natecia L Williams
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30312 USA
| | - Lauren Hong
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332
| | - Maya Jaffe
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332
| | - Cara E Shields
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30312 USA
| | - Karmella A Haynes
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30312 USA
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16
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Appiah CO, Singh M, May L, Bakshi I, Vaidyanathan A, Dent P, Ginder G, Grant S, Bear H, Landry J. The epigenetic regulation of cancer cell recovery from therapy exposure and its implications as a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing disease recurrence. Adv Cancer Res 2023; 158:337-385. [PMID: 36990536 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The ultimate goal of cancer therapy is the elimination of disease from patients. Most directly, this occurs through therapy-induced cell death. Therapy-induced growth arrest can also be a desirable outcome, if prolonged. Unfortunately, therapy-induced growth arrest is rarely durable and the recovering cell population can contribute to cancer recurrence. Consequently, therapeutic strategies that eliminate residual cancer cells reduce opportunities for recurrence. Recovery can occur through diverse mechanisms including quiescence or diapause, exit from senescence, suppression of apoptosis, cytoprotective autophagy, and reductive divisions resulting from polyploidy. Epigenetic regulation of the genome represents a fundamental regulatory mechanism integral to cancer-specific biology, including the recovery from therapy. Epigenetic pathways are particularly attractive therapeutic targets because they are reversible, without changes in DNA, and are catalyzed by druggable enzymes. Previous use of epigenetic-targeting therapies in combination with cancer therapeutics has not been widely successful because of either unacceptable toxicity or limited efficacy. The use of epigenetic-targeting therapies after a significant interval following initial cancer therapy could potentially reduce the toxicity of combination strategies, and possibly exploit essential epigenetic states following therapy exposure. This review examines the feasibility of targeting epigenetic mechanisms using a sequential approach to eliminate residual therapy-arrested populations, that might possibly prevent recovery and disease recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiana O Appiah
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Manjulata Singh
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Lauren May
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Ishita Bakshi
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Ashish Vaidyanathan
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Paul Dent
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Gordon Ginder
- Department of Internal Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Steven Grant
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; Department of Internal Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Harry Bear
- Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA, United States; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Joseph Landry
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States.
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17
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Hwang IJ, Park J, Seo SB. Non-canonical transcriptional regulation of INHAT subunit SET/TAF-Iβ by EZH2. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 635:136-143. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.10.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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18
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EZH2-H3K27me3 mediated KRT14 upregulation promotes TNBC peritoneal metastasis. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7344. [PMID: 36446780 PMCID: PMC9708848 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35059-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) has a poor prognosis and adverse clinical outcomes among all breast cancer subtypes as there is no available targeted therapy. Overexpression of Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) has been shown to correlate with TNBC's poor prognosis, but the contribution of EZH2 catalytic (H3K27me3) versus non-catalytic EZH2 (NC-EZH2) function in TNBC progression remains elusive. We reveal that selective hyper-activation of functional EZH2 (H3K27me3) over NC-EZH2 alters TNBC metastatic landscape and fosters its peritoneal metastasis, particularly splenic. Instead of H3K27me3-mediated repression of gene expression; here, it promotes KRT14 transcription by attenuating binding of repressor SP1 to its promoter. Further, KRT14 loss significantly reduces TNBC migration, invasion, and peritoneal metastasis. Consistently, human TNBC metastasis displays positive correlation between H3K27me3 and KRT14 levels. Finally, EZH2 knockdown or H3K27me3 inhibition by EPZ6438 reduces TNBC peritoneal metastasis. Altogether, our preclinical findings suggest a rationale for targeting TNBC with EZH2 inhibitors.
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19
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Lau SCM, Pan Y, Velcheti V, Wong KK. Squamous cell lung cancer: Current landscape and future therapeutic options. Cancer Cell 2022; 40:1279-1293. [PMID: 36270277 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2022.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Squamous cell lung cancers (lung squamous cell carcinomas [LUSCs]) are associated with high mortality and a lack of therapies specific to this disease. Although recurrent molecular aberrations are present in LUSCs, efforts to develop targeted therapies against receptor tyrosine kinases, signaling transduction, and cell cycle checkpoints in LUSCs were met with significant challenges. The present therapeutic landscape focuses on epigenetic therapies to modulate the expression of lineage-dependent survival pathways and undruggable oncogenes. Another important therapeutic approach is to exploit metabolic vulnerabilities unique to LUSCs. These novel therapies may synergize with immune checkpoint inhibitors in the right therapeutic context. For example, the recognition that alterations in KEAP1-NFE2L2 in LUSCs affected antitumor immune responses created unique opportunities for targeted, metabolic, and immune combinations. This article provides a perspective on how lessons learned from the past influence the current therapeutic landscape and opportunities for future drug development for LUSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally C M Lau
- Department of Medical Oncology, Laura & Issac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, Smilow Building 10th Floor, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Yuanwang Pan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Laura & Issac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, Smilow Building 10th Floor, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Vamsidhar Velcheti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Laura & Issac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, Smilow Building 10th Floor, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Kwok Kin Wong
- Department of Medical Oncology, Laura & Issac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, Smilow Building 10th Floor, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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20
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Chick BY, Hargreaves DC. Switching under selection: how CoREST controls endocrine therapy resistance in ER + breast cancer. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2022; 29:1040-1042. [PMID: 36344845 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-022-00858-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brent Y Chick
- Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Biological Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Diana C Hargreaves
- Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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21
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Signaling pathways and targeted therapies in lung squamous cell carcinoma: mechanisms and clinical trials. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:353. [PMID: 36198685 PMCID: PMC9535022 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01200-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death across the world. Unlike lung adenocarcinoma, patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) have not benefitted from targeted therapies. Although immunotherapy has significantly improved cancer patients' outcomes, the relatively low response rate and severe adverse events hinder the clinical application of this promising treatment in LSCC. Therefore, it is of vital importance to have a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of LSCC as well as the inner connection among different signaling pathways, which will surely provide opportunities for more effective therapeutic interventions for LSCC. In this review, new insights were given about classical signaling pathways which have been proved in other cancer types but not in LSCC, including PI3K signaling pathway, VEGF/VEGFR signaling, and CDK4/6 pathway. Other signaling pathways which may have therapeutic potentials in LSCC were also discussed, including the FGFR1 pathway, EGFR pathway, and KEAP1/NRF2 pathway. Next, chromosome 3q, which harbors two key squamous differentiation markers SOX2 and TP63 is discussed as well as its related potential therapeutic targets. We also provided some progress of LSCC in epigenetic therapies and immune checkpoints blockade (ICB) therapies. Subsequently, we outlined some combination strategies of ICB therapies and other targeted therapies. Finally, prospects and challenges were given related to the exploration and application of novel therapeutic strategies for LSCC.
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22
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Warrick JI, Knowles MA, Hurst CD, Shuman L, Raman JD, Walter V, Putt J, Dyrskjøt L, Groeneveld C, Castro MAA, Robertson AG, DeGraff DJ. A transcriptional network of cell cycle dysregulation in noninvasive papillary urothelial carcinoma. Sci Rep 2022; 12:16538. [PMID: 36192513 PMCID: PMC9529892 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20927-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cancers display a restricted set of expression profiles, despite diverse mutational drivers. This has led to the hypothesis that select sets of transcription factors act on similar target genes as an integrated network, buffering a tumor’s transcriptional state. Noninvasive papillary urothelial carcinoma (NIPUC) with higher cell cycle activity has higher risk of recurrence and progression. In this paper, we describe a transcriptional network of cell cycle dysregulation in NIPUC, which was delineated using the ARACNe algorithm applied to expression data from a new cohort (n = 81, RNA sequencing), and two previously published cohorts. The transcriptional network comprised 121 transcription factors, including the pluripotency factors SOX2 and SALL4, the sex hormone binding receptors ESR1 and PGR, and multiple homeobox factors. Of these 121 transcription factors, 65 and 56 were more active in tumors with greater and less cell cycle activity, respectively. When clustered by activity of these transcription factors, tumors divided into High Cell Cycle versus Low Cell Cycle groups. Tumors in the High Cell Cycle group demonstrated greater mutational burden and copy number instability. A putative mutational driver of cell cycle dysregulation, such as homozygous loss of CDKN2A, was found in only 50% of High Cell Cycle NIPUC, suggesting a prominent role of transcription factor activity in driving cell cycle dysregulation. Activity of the 121 transcription factors strongly associated with expression of EZH2 and other members of the PRC2 complex, suggesting regulation by this complex influences expression of the transcription factors in this network. Activity of transcription factors in this network also associated with signatures of pluripotency and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), suggesting they play a role in driving evolution to invasive carcinoma. Consistent with this, these transcription factors differed in activity between NIPUC and invasive urothelial carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua I Warrick
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA. .,Department of Urology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA.
| | - Margaret A Knowles
- Divison of Molecular Medicine, Leeds Institute of Molecular Research at St James's, St James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Carolyn D Hurst
- Divison of Molecular Medicine, Leeds Institute of Molecular Research at St James's, St James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Lauren Shuman
- Department of Urology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Jay D Raman
- Department of Urology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Vonn Walter
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Jeffrey Putt
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Lars Dyrskjøt
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Clarice Groeneveld
- Cartes d'Identité des Tumeurs (CIT) Program, Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Équipe Oncologie Moleculaire, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Mauro A A Castro
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Laboratory, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, 81520-260, Brazil
| | | | - David J DeGraff
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA. .,Department of Urology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA.
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23
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Gan Y, Lo Y, Makower D, Kleer C, Lu J, Fineberg S. EZH2 Protein Expression in Estrogen Receptor Positive Invasive Breast Cancer Treated With Neoadjuvant Endocrine Therapy: An Exploratory Study of Association With Tumor Response. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2022; 30:614-622. [PMID: 36048167 PMCID: PMC9577480 DOI: 10.1097/pai.0000000000001055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) can be used to treat estrogen receptor positive (ER+) invasive breast cancer (IBC). Tumors with Ki67>10% after 2 to 4 weeks of NET are considered resistant to endocrine therapy. Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2) is a targetable oncoprotein and overexpression in ER+ IBC has been linked to resistance to endocrine therapy. We examined whether EZH2 expression levels in ER+ IBC could be used to predict response to NET. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively identified 46 patients with localized ER+ HER2/neu negative IBC treated with a minimum of 4 weeks of NET. We quantified EZH2 nuclear expression in pretherapy core biopsies using a score that included intensity and percent of cells staining. Ki67 was evaluated in both pretherapy core biopsies and posttherapy tumor resections and scored according to the guidelines of the International Ki67 Working Groups, with a global weighted score. Ki67≤10% after NET was considered endocrine responsive. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between EZH2 expression and response to NET. RESULTS We found significant associations of tumor grade ( P =0.011), pretherapy Ki67 ( P =0.003), and EZH2 ( P <0.001), with response to NET. On logistic regression adjusted for tumor grade and pretherapy Ki67, increased EZH2 scores were associated with decreased odds of endocrine responsiveness, defined as posttreatment Ki67≤10% (odds ratio=0.976, 95% CI, 0.956 to 0.997; P =0.026). In addition, with EZH2 score in the model, associations of tumor grade and pretreatment Ki67 with posttreatment Ki67≤10% response to NET became not significant. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that EZH2 might be a useful biomarker to predict response to NET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujun Gan
- Department of Pathology, Montefiore Medical Center and The Albert Einstein College of Medicine 111 East 210th Street Bronx NY 10467
- Department of Pathology, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, 2 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon New Hampshire 03756
| | - Yungtai Lo
- Department of Pathology, Montefiore Medical Center and The Albert Einstein College of Medicine 111 East 210th Street Bronx NY 10467
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health Montefiore Medical Center and The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 111 East 210 Street Bronx NY 10467
| | - Della Makower
- Department of Medical Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center and The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 111 East 210 Street Bronx NY 10467
| | - Celina Kleer
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School and The Rogel Cancer Center, 1500 E Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor MI 48109
| | - Jinyu Lu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center and The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 111 East 210 Street Bronx NY 10467
| | - Susan Fineberg
- Department of Pathology, Montefiore Medical Center and The Albert Einstein College of Medicine 111 East 210th Street Bronx NY 10467
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24
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Adibfar S, Masjedi A, Nazer A, Rashidi B, Karpisheh V, Izadi S, Hassannia H, Gholizadeh Navashenaq J, Mohammadi H, Hojjat-Farsangi M, Tarokhian H, Jadidi-Niaragh F. Combined inhibition of EZH2 and CD73 molecules by folic acid-conjugated SPION-TMC nanocarriers loaded with siRNA molecules prevents TNBC progression and restores anti-tumor responses. Life Sci 2022; 309:121008. [PMID: 36179812 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abnormal function or overexpression of CD73 and EZH2 within the tumor microenvironment and tumor cells enhances tumor growth and progression, and in many cases, causes drug resistance. Hence, it seems that silencing the expression of CD73 and EZH2 molecules in breast cancer reduces cancer development and enhances anti-tumor immune responses. METHODS we used siRNA-loaded superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIONs) nanoparticles (NPs) coated with trimethyl chitosan (TMC) and functionalized with folic acid for co-delivery of EZH2/CD73 siRNAs to 4 T1 murine cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS Combination therapy markedly inhibited cancer cells' proliferation, migration, and viability and induced apoptosis in vitro. Moreover, in vivo administration of this combination therapy promoted tumor regression and induced anti-tumor immune responses. DISCUSSION The findings indicated the CD73/EZH2 factors inhibition by SPION-TMC-FA NPs as a promising therapeutic strategy in breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Adibfar
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Ali Masjedi
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich 81675, Germany; Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich 81675, Germany
| | - Atefeh Nazer
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Bentolhoda Rashidi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Vahid Karpisheh
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Sepideh Izadi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hadi Hassannia
- Immunogenetic Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | | | - Hamed Mohammadi
- Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hojjat-Farsangi
- Bioclinicum, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Hanieh Tarokhian
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
| | - Farhad Jadidi-Niaragh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Research Center for Integrative Medicine in Aging, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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25
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Feng J, Meng X. Histone modification and histone modification-targeted anti-cancer drugs in breast cancer: Fundamentals and beyond. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:946811. [PMID: 36188615 PMCID: PMC9522521 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.946811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated epigenetic enzymes and resultant abnormal epigenetic modifications (EMs) have been suggested to be closely related to tumor occurrence and progression. Histone modifications (HMs) can assist in maintaining genome stability, DNA repair, transcription, and chromatin modulation within breast cancer (BC) cells. In addition, HMs are reversible, dynamic processes involving the associations of different enzymes with molecular compounds. Abnormal HMs (e.g. histone methylation and histone acetylation) have been identified to be tightly related to BC occurrence and development, even though their underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. EMs are reversible, and as a result, epigenetic enzymes have aroused wide attention as anti-tumor therapeutic targets. At present, treatments to restore aberrant EMs within BC cells have entered preclinical or clinical trials. In addition, no existing studies have comprehensively analyzed aberrant HMs within BC cells; in addition, HM-targeting BC treatments remain to be further investigated. Histone and non-histone protein methylation is becoming an attractive anti-tumor epigenetic therapeutic target; such methylation-related enzyme inhibitors are under development at present. Consequently, the present work focuses on summarizing relevant studies on HMs related to BC and the possible mechanisms associated with abnormal HMs. Additionally, we also aim to analyze existing therapeutic agents together with those drugs approved and tested through pre-clinical and clinical trials, to assess their roles in HMs. Moreover, epi-drugs that target HMT inhibitors and HDAC inhibitors should be tested in preclinical and clinical studies for the treatment of BC. Epi-drugs that target histone methylation (HMT inhibitors) and histone acetylation (HDAC inhibitors) have now entered clinical trials or are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Therefore, the review covers the difficulties in applying HM-targeting treatments in clinics and proposes feasible approaches for overcoming such difficulties and promoting their use in treating BC cases.
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26
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Heterogeneity of triple negative breast cancer: Current advances in subtyping and treatment implications. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:265. [PMID: 36050786 PMCID: PMC9434975 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02476-1] [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: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractAs the field of translational ‘omics has progressed, refined classifiers at both genomic and proteomic levels have emerged to decipher the heterogeneity of breast cancer in a clinically-applicable way. The integration of ‘omics knowledge at the DNA, RNA and protein levels is further expanding biologic understanding of breast cancer and opportunities for customized treatment, a particularly pressing need in clinically triple negative tumors. For this group of aggressive breast cancers, work from multiple groups has now validated at least four major biologically and clinically distinct omics-based subtypes. While to date most clinical trial designs have considered triple negative breast cancers as a single group, with an expanding arsenal of targeted therapies applicable to distinct biological pathways, survival benefits may be best realized by designing and analyzing clinical trials in the context of major molecular subtypes. While RNA-based classifiers are the most developed, proteomic classifiers proposed for triple negative breast cancer based on new technologies have the potential to more directly identify the most clinically-relevant biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Phospho-proteomic data further identify targetable signalling pathways in a unique subtype-specific manner. Single cell profiling of the tumor microenvironment represents a promising way to allow a better characterization of the heterogeneity of triple negative breast cancer which could be integrated in a spatially resolved context to build an ecosystem-based patient classification. Multi-omic data further allows in silico analysis of genetic and pharmacologic screens to map therapeutic vulnerabilities in a subtype-specific context. This review describes current knowledge about molecular subtyping of triple negative breast cancer, recent advances in omics-based genomics and proteomics diagnostics addressing the diversity of this disease, key advances made through single cell analysis approaches, and developments in treatments including targeted therapeutics being tested in major clinical trials.
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27
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So JY, Ohm J, Lipkowitz S, Yang L. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC): Non-genetic tumor heterogeneity and immune microenvironment: Emerging treatment options. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 237:108253. [PMID: 35872332 PMCID: PMC9378710 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype characterized by extensive intra-tumoral heterogeneity, and frequently develops resistance to therapies. Tumor heterogeneity and lack of biomarkers are thought to be some of the most difficult challenges driving therapeutic resistance and relapse. This review will summarize current therapy for TNBC, studies in treatment resistance and relapse, including data from recent single cell sequencing. We will discuss changes in both the transcriptome and epigenome of TNBC, and we will review mechanisms regulating the immune microenvironment. Lastly, we will provide new perspective in patient stratification, and treatment options targeting transcriptome dysregulation and the immune microenvironment of TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Young So
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Joyce Ohm
- Department of Cancer Genetics and Genomics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Stan Lipkowitz
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Li Yang
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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28
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Tulsyan S, Aftab M, Sisodiya S, Khan A, Chikara A, Tanwar P, Hussain S. Molecular basis of epigenetic regulation in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Front Genet 2022; 13:885635. [PMID: 36092905 PMCID: PMC9449878 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.885635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The global cancer cases and mortality rates are increasing and demand efficient biomarkers for accurate screening, detection, diagnosis, and prognosis. Recent studies have demonstrated that variations in epigenetic mechanisms like aberrant promoter methylation, altered histone modification and mutations in ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling complexes play an important role in the development of carcinogenic events. However, the influence of other epigenetic alterations in various cancers was confirmed with evolving research and the emergence of high throughput technologies. Therefore, alterations in epigenetic marks may have clinical utility as potential biomarkers for early cancer detection and diagnosis. In this review, an outline of the key epigenetic mechanism(s), and their deregulation in cancer etiology have been discussed to decipher the future prospects in cancer therapeutics including precision medicine. Also, this review attempts to highlight the gaps in epigenetic drug development with emphasis on integrative analysis of epigenetic biomarkers to establish minimally non-invasive biomarkers with clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonam Tulsyan
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Diagnostics (Molecular Biology Group), ICMR- National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Noida, India
| | - Mehreen Aftab
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Diagnostics (Molecular Biology Group), ICMR- National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Noida, India
| | - Sandeep Sisodiya
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Diagnostics (Molecular Biology Group), ICMR- National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Noida, India
- Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India
| | - Asiya Khan
- Laboratory Oncology Unit, Dr. B. R. A. Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Atul Chikara
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Diagnostics (Molecular Biology Group), ICMR- National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Noida, India
- Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India
| | - Pranay Tanwar
- Laboratory Oncology Unit, Dr. B. R. A. Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
- *Correspondence: Showket Hussain, ; Pranay Tanwar,
| | - Showket Hussain
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Diagnostics (Molecular Biology Group), ICMR- National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Noida, India
- *Correspondence: Showket Hussain, ; Pranay Tanwar,
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29
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Gonzalez ME, Naimo GD, Anwar T, Paolì A, Tekula SR, Kim S, Medhora N, Leflein SA, Itkin J, Trievel R, Kidwell KM, Chen YC, Mauro L, Yoon E, Andò S, Kleer CG. EZH2 T367 phosphorylation activates p38 signaling through lysine methylation to promote breast cancer progression. iScience 2022; 25:104827. [PMID: 35992062 PMCID: PMC9389258 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are frequently poorly differentiated with high propensity for metastasis. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is the lysine methyltransferase of polycomb repressive complex 2 that mediates transcriptional repression in normal cells and in cancer through H3K27me3. However, H3K27me3-independent non-canonical functions of EZH2 are incompletely understood. We reported that EZH2 phosphorylation at T367 by p38α induces TNBC metastasis in an H3K27me3-independent manner. Here, we show that cytosolic EZH2 methylates p38α at lysine 139 and 165 leading to enhanced p38α stability and that p38 methylation and activation require T367 phosphorylation of EZH2. Dual inhibition of EZH2 methyltransferase and p38 kinase activities downregulates pEZH2-T367, H3K27me3, and p-p38 pathways in vivo and reduces TNBC growth and metastasis. These data uncover a cooperation between EZH2 canonical and non-canonical mechanisms and suggest that inhibition of these pathways may be a potential therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria E. Gonzalez
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Giuseppina Daniela Naimo
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Talha Anwar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Alessandro Paolì
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Shilpa R. Tekula
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Suny Kim
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Natasha Medhora
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Shoshana A. Leflein
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jacob Itkin
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Raymond Trievel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kelley M. Kidwell
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yu-Chih Chen
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Department of Computational and Systems Biology, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Loredana Mauro
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Euisik Yoon
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sebastiano Andò
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Celina G. Kleer
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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30
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Peng W, Tang W, Li JD, He RQ, Luo JY, Chen ZX, Zeng JH, Hu XH, Zhong JC, Li Y, Ma FC, Xie TY, Huang SN, Ge LY. Downregulation of the enhancer of zeste homolog 1 transcriptional factor predicts poor prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer patients. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13708. [PMID: 35846880 PMCID: PMC9285492 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer and lacks effective biomarkers. This study seeks to unravel the expression status and the prospective transcriptional mechanisms of EZH1/EZH2 in TNBC tissue samples. Moreover, another objective of this study is to reveal the prognostic molecular signatures for risk stratification in TNBC patients. Methods To determine the expression status of EZH1/EZH2 in TNBC tissue samples, microarray analysis and immunohistochemistry were performed on in house breast cancer tissue samples. External mRNA expression matrices were used to verify its expression patterns. Furthermore, the prospective transcriptional mechanisms of EZH1/EZH2 in TNBC were explored by performing differential expression analysis, co-expression analysis, and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and univariate Cox regression analysis were utilized to detect the prognostic molecular signatures in TNBC patients. Nomogram and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to predict the risk stratification ability of the prognostic-signatures-based Cox model. Results In-house TMAs (66 TNBC vs. 106 non-TNBC) and external gene microarrays, as well as RNA-seq datasets (1,135 TNBC vs. 6,198 non-TNBC) results, confirmed the downregulation of EZH1 at both the protein and mRNA levels (SMD = -0.59 [-0.80, -0.37]), as is opposite to that of EZH2 (SMD = 0.74 [0.40, 1.08]). The upregulated transcriptional target genes of EZH1 were significantly aggregated in the cell cycle pathway, where CCNA2, CCNB1, MAD2L1, and PKMYT1 were determined as key transcriptional targets. Additionally, the downregulated transcriptional targets of EZH2 were enriched in response to the hormone, where ESR1 was identified as the hub gene. The six-signature-based prognostic model produced an impressive performance in this study, with a training AUC of 0.753, 0.981, and 0.977 at 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival probability, respectively. Conclusion EZH1 downregulation may be a key modulator in the progression of TNBC through negative transcriptional regulation by targeting CCNA2, CCNB1, MAD2L1, and PKMYT1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Peng
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Wei Tang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Jian-Di Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Rong-Quan He
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Jia-Yuan Luo
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Zu-Xuan Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Jiang-Hui Zeng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University/Nanning Second People’s Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiao-Hua Hu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Jin-Cai Zhong
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Fu-Chao Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Tian-Yi Xie
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Su-Ning Huang
- Department of Radiotherapy, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Lian-Ying Ge
- Department of Endoscopy, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi, China
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31
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Li K, Zong D, Sun J, Chen D, Ma M, Jia L. Rewiring of the Endocrine Network in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:830894. [PMID: 35847875 PMCID: PMC9280148 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.830894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The immunohistochemical definition of estrogen/progesterone receptors dictates endocrine feasibility in the treatment course of breast cancer. Characterized by the deficiency of estrogen receptor α, ERα-negative breast cancers are dissociated from any endocrine regimens in the routine clinical setting, triple-negative breast cancer in particular. However, the stereotype was challenged by triple-negative breast cancers’ retained sensitivity and vulnerability to endocrine agents. The interplay of hormone action and the carcinogenic signaling program previously underscored was gradually recognized along with the increasing investigation. In parallel, the overlooked endocrine-responsiveness in ERα-negative breast cancers attracted attention and supplied fresh insight into the therapeutic strategy in an ERα-independent manner. This review elaborates on the genomic and non-genomic steroid hormone actions and endocrine-related signals in triple-negative breast cancers attached to the hormone insensitivity label. We also shed light on the non-canonical mechanism detected in common hormone agents to showcase their pleiotropic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixuan Li
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Oncology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese medicine, Beijing, China
| | | | - Jianrong Sun
- School of Clinical Medicine. Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Danxiang Chen
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Minkai Ma
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Oncology, The Fourth Central Hospital, Baoding, China
| | - Liqun Jia
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Oncology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Liqun Jia,
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32
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Ratz L, Brambillasca C, Bartke L, Huetzen MA, Goergens J, Leidecker O, Jachimowicz RD, van de Ven M, Proost N, Siteur B, de Korte-Grimmerink R, Bouwman P, Pulver EM, de Bruijn R, Isensee J, Hucho T, Pandey G, van Lohuizen M, Mallmann P, Reinhardt HC, Jonkers J, Puppe J. Combined inhibition of EZH2 and ATM is synthetic lethal in BRCA1-deficient breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2022; 24:41. [PMID: 35715861 PMCID: PMC9206299 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-022-01534-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The majority of BRCA1-mutant breast cancers are characterized by a triple-negative phenotype and a basal-like molecular subtype, associated with aggressive clinical behavior. Current treatment options are limited, highlighting the need for the development of novel targeted therapies for this tumor subtype. Methods Our group previously showed that EZH2 is functionally relevant in BRCA1-deficient breast tumors and blocking EZH2 enzymatic activity could be a potent treatment strategy. To validate the role of EZH2 as a therapeutic target and to identify new synergistic drug combinations, we performed a high-throughput drug combination screen in various cell lines derived from BRCA1-deficient and -proficient mouse mammary tumors.
Results We identified the combined inhibition of EZH2 and the proximal DNA damage response kinase ATM as a novel synthetic lethality-based therapy for the treatment of BRCA1-deficient breast tumors. We show that the combined treatment with the EZH2 inhibitor GSK126 and the ATM inhibitor AZD1390 led to reduced colony formation, increased genotoxic stress, and apoptosis-mediated cell death in BRCA1-deficient mammary tumor cells in vitro. These findings were corroborated by in vivo experiments showing that simultaneous inhibition of EZH2 and ATM significantly increased anti-tumor activity in mice bearing BRCA1-deficient mammary tumors.
Conclusion Taken together, we identified a synthetic lethal interaction between EZH2 and ATM and propose this synergistic interaction as a novel molecular combination for the treatment of BRCA1-mutant breast cancer. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13058-022-01534-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Ratz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 34, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Chiara Brambillasca
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leandra Bartke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 34, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Maxim A Huetzen
- Max Planck Research Group Mechanisms of DNA Repair, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany.,Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne and Duesseldorf, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Ageing-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jonas Goergens
- Max Planck Research Group Mechanisms of DNA Repair, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany.,Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne and Duesseldorf, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Ageing-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Orsolya Leidecker
- Max Planck Research Group Mechanisms of DNA Repair, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany.,Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne and Duesseldorf, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Ageing-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ron D Jachimowicz
- Max Planck Research Group Mechanisms of DNA Repair, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany.,Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne and Duesseldorf, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Ageing-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marieke van de Ven
- Oncode Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Ageing, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Natalie Proost
- Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Ageing, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bjørn Siteur
- Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Ageing, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Peter Bouwman
- Oncode Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Emilia M Pulver
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Roebi de Bruijn
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jörg Isensee
- Translational Pain Research, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tim Hucho
- Translational Pain Research, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Gaurav Pandey
- Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Ageing, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Division of Molecular Genetics, Cancer Genomics Centre Netherlands, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten van Lohuizen
- Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Ageing, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Division of Molecular Genetics, Cancer Genomics Centre Netherlands, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Mallmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 34, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hans Christian Reinhardt
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK Partner Site Essen), Essen, Germany
| | - Jos Jonkers
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Ageing, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Julian Puppe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 34, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
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Jiang M, Fang X, Ma L, Liu M, Chen M, Liu J, Yang Y, Wang C. A nucleus-targeting peptide antagonist towards EZH2 displays therapeutic efficacy for lung cancer. Int J Pharm 2022; 622:121894. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Fultang N, Chakraborty M, Peethambaran B. Regulation of cancer stem cells in triple negative breast cancer. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2022; 4:321-342. [PMID: 35582030 PMCID: PMC9019272 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2020.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is the most lethal subtype of breast cancer. Despite the successes of emerging targeted therapies, relapse, recurrence, and therapy failure rates in TNBC significantly outpace other subtypes of breast cancer. Mounting evidence suggests accumulation of therapy resistant Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) populations within TNBCs contributes to poor clinical outcomes. These CSCs are enriched in TNBC compared to non-TNBC breast cancers. The mechanisms underlying CSC accumulation have been well-characterized and discussed in other reviews. In this review, we focus on TNBC-specific mechanisms that allow the expansion and activity of self-renewing CSCs. We highlight cellular signaling pathways and transcription factors, specifically enriched in TNBC over non-TNBC breast cancer, contributing to stemness. We also analyze publicly available single-cell RNA-seq data from basal breast cancer tumors to highlight the potential of emerging bioinformatic approaches in identifying novel drivers of stemness in TNBC and other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman Fultang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Madhuparna Chakraborty
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Bela Peethambaran
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
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35
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EZH2 engages TGFβ signaling to promote breast cancer bone metastasis via integrin β1-FAK activation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2543. [PMID: 35538070 PMCID: PMC9091212 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30105-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bone metastases occur in 50-70% of patients with late-stage breast cancers and effective therapies are needed. The expression of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is correlated with breast cancer metastasis, but its function in bone metastasis hasn't been well-explored. Here we report that EZH2 promotes osteolytic metastasis of breast cancer through regulating transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling. EZH2 induces cancer cell proliferation and osteoclast maturation, whereas EZH2 knockdown decreases bone metastasis incidence and outgrowth in vivo. Mechanistically, EZH2 transcriptionally increases ITGB1, which encodes for integrin β1. Integrin β1 activates focal adhesion kinase (FAK), which phosphorylates TGFβ receptor type I (TGFβRI) at tyrosine 182 to enhance its binding to TGFβ receptor type II (TGFβRII), thereby activating TGFβ signaling. Clinically applicable FAK inhibitors but not EZH2 methyltransferase inhibitors effectively inhibit breast cancer bone metastasis in vivo. Overall, we find that the EZH2-integrin β1-FAK axis cooperates with the TGFβ signaling pathway to promote bone metastasis of breast cancer.
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36
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Fineberg S, Tian X, Makower D, Harigopal M, Lo Y. EZH2 Protein Expression in Triple-negative Breast Cancer Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: An Exploratory Study of Association With Tumor Response and Prognosis. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2022; 30:157-164. [PMID: 35262520 DOI: 10.1097/pai.0000000000000998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neaodjuvant chemotherapy is used to treat high risk triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Residual cancer burden (RCB) is used to predict risk of relapse after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC); however, it cannot predict disease recurrence with certainty. EZH2 is a targetable oncogenic protein overexpressed in TNBC and associated with metastasis and stem cell expansion. We quantified EZH2 protein expression in TNBC before NAC to examine potential utility as a predictive and prognostic biomarker. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively identified 63 patients with localized TNBC treated with NAC. We quantified EZH2 nuclear expression in pretherapy biopsies using a score which included intensity and percent of positive cells at each intensity. EZH2 expression was evaluated as a continuous variable and dichotomized at a score of 210. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine association between EZH2 expression and RCB, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, clinicopathologic features and disease-free survival. RESULTS There was no significant association between EZH2 score and posttreatment RCB class evaluated as a continuous variable (P=0.831) or dichotomized at 210 (P=0.546). On multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for covariates including RCB, EZH2 >210 was associated with development of metastasis (odds ratio=14.35, 95% confidence interval: 2.69-76.66; P=0.002). Logistic regression was run with EZH2 scores as a continuous variable and increased EZH2 score was associated with metastasis (odds ratio=1.10, 95% confidence interval: 1.00-1.03; P=0.047). CONCLUSION In our study of TNBC treated with NAC, high EZH2 expression in pretherapy core biopsies was significantly associated with metastatic recurrence independent of RCB. The potential value of EZH2 as a biomarker to improve stratification of outcome after NAC should be explored further.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Malini Harigopal
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
| | - Yungtai Lo
- Departments of Pathology
- Epidemiology and Population Health Montefiore Medical Center and The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
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Duan D, Shang M, Han Y, Liu J, Liu J, Kong SH, Hou J, Huang B, Lu J, Zhang Y. EZH2-CCF-cGAS Axis Promotes Breast Cancer Metastasis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:1788. [PMID: 35163710 PMCID: PMC8836657 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytoplasmic chromatin fragments (CCF) are recognized by the cytoplasmic DNA sensor cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), which activates the cGAS-STING (cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes) pathway and promotes the production of inflammatory factors and breast cancer metastasis. However, the mechanisms by which CCF are formed in tumor cells and CCF activation cGAS promotes breast cancer metastasis remain unclear. Here, we report that the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) can promote the formation of CCF and activate the cGAS-STING pathway to promote breast cancer metastasis. Further research found that the EZH2-mediated CCF formation depended on high mobility group A1 (HMGA1), while the stability of EZH2 required ubiquitin-specific peptidase 7 (USP7), indicating that the EZH2-HMGA1-USP7 complex regulated CCF formation. Moreover, EZH2 can activate cGAS through CCF, requiring USP7 to deubiquitinate cGAS and stabilize cGAS. In vivo experimental results showed that EZH2 could promote breast cancer metastasis through CCF. Our findings highlight a new target for breast cancer metastasis. Targeting the EZH2-CCF-cGAS axis may be a potential therapeutic strategy for inhibiting breast cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Duan
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (D.D.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (S.H.K.); (J.L.)
| | - Mengjie Shang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (D.D.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (S.H.K.); (J.L.)
| | - Yanxu Han
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (D.D.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (S.H.K.); (J.L.)
| | - Jiayuan Liu
- The Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (J.L.); (J.H.); (B.H.)
| | - Jiwei Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University of Science & Technology, Baotou 014010, China;
| | - Sun Hyok Kong
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (D.D.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (S.H.K.); (J.L.)
| | - Jingyao Hou
- The Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (J.L.); (J.H.); (B.H.)
| | - Baiqu Huang
- The Institute of Genetics and Cytology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (J.L.); (J.H.); (B.H.)
| | - Jun Lu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (D.D.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (S.H.K.); (J.L.)
| | - Yu Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of Ministry of Education (MOE), Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; (D.D.); (M.S.); (Y.H.); (S.H.K.); (J.L.)
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38
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The role of FOXC1/FOXCUT/DANCR axis in triple negative breast cancer: a bioinformatics and experimental approach. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:2821-2829. [PMID: 35066769 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-07093-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most challenging subtype of breast cancer and does not benefit from the existing targeted therapies. In the present study, we used bioinformatics and experimental approaches to assess the genes that are somehow involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway which may explain the invasive features of TNBC. METHOD AND RESULTS We analyzed five GEO datasets consisting of 657 breast tumors by GEO2R online software to achieve common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between TNBC and non-TNBC tumors. The expression of the selected coding and non-coding genes was validated in 100 breast tumors, including fifty TNBC and fifty non-TNBC samples, using quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR). The bioinformatics approach resulted in a final DEG list consisting of ten upregulated and seventeen downregulated genes (logFC ≥|1| and P < 0.05). Co-expression network construction indicated the FOXC1 transcription factor as a central hub node. Considering the notable role of FOXC1 in EMT, the expression levels of FOXC1-related lncRNAs, lnc-FOXCUT and lnc-DANCR, were also evaluated in the studied tumors. The results of qRT-PCR confirmed notable upregulation of FOXC1, lnc-FOXCUT, and lnc-DANCR in TNBC tissues compared to non-TNBC samples (P < 0.0001, P = 0.0005, and P = 0.0008, respectively). Moreover, ROC curve analysis revealed the potential biomarker role of FOXC1 in TNBC samples. CONCLUSION Present study suggested that the deregulation of FOXC1/lnc-FOXCUT/lnc-DANCR axis may contribute to the aggressive features of triple-negative breast tumors. Therefore, this axis may be considered as a new probable therapeutic target in the treatment of TNBC.
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39
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Role of histone demethylases and histone methyltransferases in triple-negative breast cancer: Epigenetic mnemonics. Life Sci 2022; 292:120321. [PMID: 35031259 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly lethal subtype of breast cancer owing to its heterogeneity, high drug resistance, poor prognosis and lack of therapeutic targets. Recent insights into the complexity of TNBC have been explained by epigenetic regulation and its ability to modulate certain oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. This has opened an emerging area in anti-cancer therapy using epigenetic modulating drugs, highlighting the epigenetic reprogramming during tumorigenesis and tumour development. Histone methylation and demethylation are such dynamic epigenetic mechanisms mediated by histone methyltransferases (HMTs) and histone demethylases (HDMs), respectively. The interplay between HMTs and HDMs in histone methylation extrapolates their viability as druggable epigenetic targets in TNBC. In this review, we aim to summarize recent progress in the field of epigenetics focusing on HMTs and HDMs in TNBC development and their potential use in targeted therapy for TNBC management.
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40
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Ramchandani D, Berisa M, Tavarez DA, Li Z, Miele M, Bai Y, Lee SB, Ban Y, Dephoure N, Hendrickson RC, Cloonan SM, Gao D, Cross JR, Vahdat LT, Mittal V. Copper depletion modulates mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to impair triple negative breast cancer metastasis. Nat Commun 2021; 12:7311. [PMID: 34911956 PMCID: PMC8674260 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27559-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Copper serves as a co-factor for a host of metalloenzymes that contribute to malignant progression. The orally bioavailable copper chelating agent tetrathiomolybdate (TM) has been associated with a significant survival benefit in high-risk triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. Despite these promising data, the mechanisms by which copper depletion impacts metastasis are poorly understood and this remains a major barrier to advancing TM to a randomized phase II trial. Here, using two independent TNBC models, we report a discrete subpopulation of highly metastatic SOX2/OCT4+ cells within primary tumors that exhibit elevated intracellular copper levels and a marked sensitivity to TM. Global proteomic and metabolomic profiling identifies TM-mediated inactivation of Complex IV as the primary metabolic defect in the SOX2/OCT4+ cell population. We also identify AMPK/mTORC1 energy sensor as an important downstream pathway and show that AMPK inhibition rescues TM-mediated loss of invasion. Furthermore, loss of the mitochondria-specific copper chaperone, COX17, restricts copper deficiency to mitochondria and phenocopies TM-mediated alterations. These findings identify a copper-metabolism-metastasis axis with potential to enrich patient populations in next-generation therapeutic trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Ramchandani
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Mirela Berisa
- Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Cancer Metabolism Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Diamile A Tavarez
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Zhuoning Li
- Department of Microchemistry and Proteomics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Matthew Miele
- Department of Microchemistry and Proteomics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Yang Bai
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Sharrell B Lee
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Yi Ban
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Noah Dephoure
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Ronald C Hendrickson
- Department of Microchemistry and Proteomics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Suzanne M Cloonan
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- The School of Medicine and Tallaght University Hospital, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Dingcheng Gao
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Justin R Cross
- Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Cancer Metabolism Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Linda T Vahdat
- Department of Medicine, Breast Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
| | - Vivek Mittal
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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41
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Adibfar S, Elveny M, Kashikova HS, Mikhailova MV, Farhangnia P, Vakili-Samiani S, Tarokhian H, Jadidi-Niaragh F. The molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of EZH2 in breast cancer. Life Sci 2021; 286:120047. [PMID: 34653429 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Due to its high occurrence and mortality rate, breast cancer has been studied from various aspects as one of the cancer field's hot topics in the last decade. Epigenetic alterations are spoused to be highly effective in breast cancer development. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is an enzymatic epi-protein that takes part in most vital cell functions by its different action modes. EZH2 is suggested to be dysregulated in specific breast cancer types, particularly in advanced stages. Mounting evidence revealed that EZH2 overexpression or dysfunction affects the pathophysiology of breast cancer. In this review, we discuss biological aspects of the EZH2 molecule with a focus on its newly identified action mechanisms. We also highlight how EZH2 plays an essential role in breast cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and invasion, which emerged as a worthy target for treating breast cancer in different approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Adibfar
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Marischa Elveny
- DS & CI Research Group, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
| | | | | | - Pooya Farhangnia
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy, and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran; Immunology Board for Transplantation and Advanced Cellular Therapeutics (ImmunoTACT), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Sajjad Vakili-Samiani
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hanieh Tarokhian
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
| | - Farhad Jadidi-Niaragh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Integrated Medicine and Aging Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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42
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Mieczkowska IK, Pantelaiou-Prokaki G, Prokakis E, Schmidt GE, Müller-Kirschbaum LC, Werner M, Sen M, Velychko T, Jannasch K, Dullin C, Napp J, Pantel K, Wikman H, Wiese M, Kramm CM, Alves F, Wegwitz F. Decreased PRC2 activity supports the survival of basal-like breast cancer cells to cytotoxic treatments. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:1118. [PMID: 34845197 PMCID: PMC8630036 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04407-y] [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: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer occurring in women but also rarely develops in men. Recent advances in early diagnosis and development of targeted therapies have greatly improved the survival rate of BC patients. However, the basal-like BC subtype (BLBC), largely overlapping with the triple-negative BC subtype (TNBC), lacks such drug targets and conventional cytotoxic chemotherapies often remain the only treatment option. Thus, the development of resistance to cytotoxic therapies has fatal consequences. To assess the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms and their therapeutic potential increasing cytotoxic drug efficiency, we combined high-throughput RNA- and ChIP-sequencing analyses in BLBC cells. Tumor cells surviving chemotherapy upregulated transcriptional programs of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness. To our surprise, the same cells showed a pronounced reduction of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) activity via downregulation of its subunits Ezh2, Suz12, Rbbp7 and Mtf2. Mechanistically, loss of PRC2 activity leads to the de-repression of a set of genes through an epigenetic switch from repressive H3K27me3 to activating H3K27ac mark at regulatory regions. We identified Nfatc1 as an upregulated gene upon loss of PRC2 activity and directly implicated in the transcriptional changes happening upon survival to chemotherapy. Blocking NFATc1 activation reduced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, aggressiveness, and therapy resistance of BLBC cells. Our data demonstrate a previously unknown function of PRC2 maintaining low Nfatc1 expression levels and thereby repressing aggressiveness and therapy resistance in BLBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iga K. Mieczkowska
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Garyfallia Pantelaiou-Prokaki
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.419522.90000 0001 0668 6902Translational Molecular Imaging, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Evangelos Prokakis
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Geske E. Schmidt
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Gastroenterology, GI-Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lukas C. Müller-Kirschbaum
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marcel Werner
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Madhobi Sen
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Taras Velychko
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katharina Jannasch
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Clinic for Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian Dullin
- grid.419522.90000 0001 0668 6902Translational Molecular Imaging, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Clinic for Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Joanna Napp
- grid.419522.90000 0001 0668 6902Translational Molecular Imaging, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Klaus Pantel
- grid.13648.380000 0001 2180 3484Institute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Harriet Wikman
- grid.13648.380000 0001 2180 3484Institute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maria Wiese
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christof M. Kramm
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frauke Alves
- grid.419522.90000 0001 0668 6902Translational Molecular Imaging, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Clinic for Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Florian Wegwitz
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. .,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
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Munne PM, Martikainen L, Räty I, Bertula K, Nonappa, Ruuska J, Ala-Hongisto H, Peura A, Hollmann B, Euro L, Yavuz K, Patrikainen L, Salmela M, Pokki J, Kivento M, Väänänen J, Suomi T, Nevalaita L, Mutka M, Kovanen P, Leidenius M, Meretoja T, Hukkinen K, Monni O, Pouwels J, Sahu B, Mattson J, Joensuu H, Heikkilä P, Elo LL, Metcalfe C, Junttila MR, Ikkala O, Klefström J. Compressive stress-mediated p38 activation required for ERα + phenotype in breast cancer. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6967. [PMID: 34845227 PMCID: PMC8630031 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27220-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is now globally the most frequent cancer and leading cause of women's death. Two thirds of breast cancers express the luminal estrogen receptor-positive (ERα + ) phenotype that is initially responsive to antihormonal therapies, but drug resistance emerges. A major barrier to the understanding of the ERα-pathway biology and therapeutic discoveries is the restricted repertoire of luminal ERα + breast cancer models. The ERα + phenotype is not stable in cultured cells for reasons not fully understood. We examine 400 patient-derived breast epithelial and breast cancer explant cultures (PDECs) grown in various three-dimensional matrix scaffolds, finding that ERα is primarily regulated by the matrix stiffness. Matrix stiffness upregulates the ERα signaling via stress-mediated p38 activation and H3K27me3-mediated epigenetic regulation. The finding that the matrix stiffness is a central cue to the ERα phenotype reveals a mechanobiological component in breast tissue hormonal signaling and enables the development of novel therapeutic interventions. Subject terms: ER-positive (ER + ), breast cancer, ex vivo model, preclinical model, PDEC, stiffness, p38 SAPK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauliina M Munne
- Finnish Cancer Institute, FICAN South Helsinki University Hospital & Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki. Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, PO Box 63 Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lahja Martikainen
- Department of Applied Physics, Molecular Materials Group, Aalto University School of Science, PO Box, 15100, FI-00076, Espoo, Finland
| | - Iiris Räty
- Finnish Cancer Institute, FICAN South Helsinki University Hospital & Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki. Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, PO Box 63 Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kia Bertula
- Department of Applied Physics, Molecular Materials Group, Aalto University School of Science, PO Box, 15100, FI-00076, Espoo, Finland
| | - Nonappa
- Department of Applied Physics, Molecular Materials Group, Aalto University School of Science, PO Box, 15100, FI-00076, Espoo, Finland
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering, Espoo, Finland
| | - Janika Ruuska
- Finnish Cancer Institute, FICAN South Helsinki University Hospital & Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki. Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, PO Box 63 Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hanna Ala-Hongisto
- Finnish Cancer Institute, FICAN South Helsinki University Hospital & Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki. Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, PO Box 63 Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aino Peura
- Finnish Cancer Institute, FICAN South Helsinki University Hospital & Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki. Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, PO Box 63 Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Babette Hollmann
- Finnish Cancer Institute, FICAN South Helsinki University Hospital & Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki. Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, PO Box 63 Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lilya Euro
- Research Program of Stem Cells and Metabolism, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, 00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kerim Yavuz
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Enhancer Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Linda Patrikainen
- Finnish Cancer Institute, FICAN South Helsinki University Hospital & Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki. Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, PO Box 63 Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maria Salmela
- Finnish Cancer Institute, FICAN South Helsinki University Hospital & Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki. Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, PO Box 63 Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juho Pokki
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
| | - Mikko Kivento
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, Oncogenomics Laboratory, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juho Väänänen
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, Oncogenomics Laboratory, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tomi Suomi
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, FI-20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Liina Nevalaita
- Finnish Cancer Institute, FICAN South Helsinki University Hospital & Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki. Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, PO Box 63 Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Minna Mutka
- Department of Pathology, HUSLAB and Haartman Institute, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Panu Kovanen
- Department of Pathology, HUSLAB and Haartman Institute, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marjut Leidenius
- Breast Surgery Unit, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tuomo Meretoja
- Breast Surgery Unit, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Katja Hukkinen
- Department of Mammography, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi Monni
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, Oncogenomics Laboratory, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jeroen Pouwels
- Finnish Cancer Institute, FICAN South Helsinki University Hospital & Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki. Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, PO Box 63 Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Biswajyoti Sahu
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Enhancer Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johanna Mattson
- Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki & Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heikki Joensuu
- Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki & Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Päivi Heikkilä
- Department of Pathology, HUSLAB and Haartman Institute, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Laura L Elo
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, FI-20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Ciara Metcalfe
- Genentech Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | | | - Olli Ikkala
- Department of Applied Physics, Molecular Materials Group, Aalto University School of Science, PO Box, 15100, FI-00076, Espoo, Finland
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering, Espoo, Finland
| | - Juha Klefström
- Finnish Cancer Institute, FICAN South Helsinki University Hospital & Translational Cancer Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Helsinki. Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, PO Box 63 Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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Porras L, Ismail H, Mader S. Positive Regulation of Estrogen Receptor Alpha in Breast Tumorigenesis. Cells 2021; 10:cells10112966. [PMID: 34831189 PMCID: PMC8616513 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα, NR3A1) contributes through its expression in different tissues to a spectrum of physiological processes, including reproductive system development and physiology, bone mass maintenance, as well as cardiovascular and central nervous system functions. It is also one of the main drivers of tumorigenesis in breast and uterine cancer and can be targeted by several types of hormonal therapies. ERα is expressed in a subset of luminal cells corresponding to less than 10% of normal mammary epithelial cells and in over 70% of breast tumors (ER+ tumors), but the basis for its selective expression in normal or cancer tissues remains incompletely understood. The mapping of alternative promoters and regulatory elements has delineated the complex genomic structure of the ESR1 gene and shed light on the mechanistic basis for the tissue-specific regulation of ESR1 expression. However, much remains to be uncovered to better understand how ESR1 expression is regulated in breast cancer. This review recapitulates the current body of knowledge on the structure of the ESR1 gene and the complex mechanisms controlling its expression in breast tumors. In particular, we discuss the impact of genetic alterations, chromatin modifications, and enhanced expression of other luminal transcription regulators on ESR1 expression in tumor cells.
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Baquero J, Tang XH, Scognamiglio T, Gudas LJ. EZH2 Knockout in Oral Cavity Basal Epithelia Causes More Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Carcinogenesis 2021; 42:1485-1495. [PMID: 34614148 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgab091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (oral SCC) is an aggressive disease and despite intensive treatments, 5-year survival rates for patients have remained low in the last 20 years. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), part of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), is highly expressed in human oral SCC samples and cell lines and has been associated with greater epithelia-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and metastasis. Here we developed a tamoxifen-regulated, transgenic mouse line (KcEZH2) in which EZH2 is selectively knocked out (KO) in some tongue epithelial basal stem cells (SCs) in adult mice. EZH2 KO SCs do not show the H3K27me3 mark, as assessed by double-label immunofluorescence. We used this mouse line to assess EZH2 actions during oral tumorigenesis with our immunocompetent 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) model of oral SCC. We report that higher percentages of mice with invasive SCCs and high-grade neoplastic lesions are observed in mice containing EZH2 KO SCs (KcEZH2-2TΔ and KcEZH2-5TΔ mice). Moreover, EZH2 expression does not correlate with the expression of markers of invasive SCCs. Finally, EZH2 KO cells that are E-cadherin+ are present at invasion fronts infiltrating underlying muscle tissue. Our findings indicate that the knockout of EZH2 in basal SCs of tongue epithelia results in more aggressive carcinomas, and this should be considered when targeting EZH2 as a therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Baquero
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiao-Han Tang
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Lorraine J Gudas
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Zhu J, Zhu N, Xu J. miR‑101a‑3p overexpression prevents acetylcholine‑CaCl 2‑induced atrial fibrillation in rats via reduction of atrial tissue fibrosis, involving inhibition of EZH2. Mol Med Rep 2021; 24:740. [PMID: 34435649 PMCID: PMC8404104 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2021.12380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF), a clinically common heart arrhythmia, can result in left ventricular hypofunction, embolism and infarction. MicroRNA (miR)‑101a‑3p is lowly expressed in atrial tissues of patients with AF, but its role in AF remains unknown. In the present study, an AF model in rats was established via intravenous injection of acetylcholine (Ach)‑CaCl2. The downregulation of miR‑101a‑3p and upregulation of enhancer of zeste 2 homolog 2 (EZH2) were observed in AF model rats, indicating the involvement of miR‑101a‑3p and EZH2 in AF development. To study the effect of miR‑101a‑3p on AF in vivo, AF model rats were intramyocardially injected with lentivirus expressing miR‑101a‑3p. Electrocardiogram analysis identified that miR‑101a‑3p overexpression restored disappeared P wave and R‑R interphase changes in Ach‑CaCl2‑induced rats. Overexpression of miR‑101a‑3p also increased the atrial effective refractory period, reduced AF incidence and shortened duration of AF. Histological changes in atrial tissues were observed after H&E and Masson staining, which demonstrated that miR‑101a‑3p reduced atrial remodeling and fibrosis in AF model rats. Moreover, EZH2 expression was downregulated in atrial tissues by miR‑101a‑3p induction. Immunohistochemistry for collagen Ⅰ and collagen III revealed a reduction in atrial collagen synthesis following miR‑101a‑3p overexpression in AF model rats. Additionally, miR‑101a‑3p lowered the expression of pro‑fibrotic biomarkers, including TGF‑β1, connective tissue growth factor, fibronectin and α‑smooth muscle actin. The luciferase reporter assay results also indicated that EZH2 was a target gene of miR‑101a‑3p. Taken together, it was found that miR‑101a‑3p prevented AF in rats possibly via inhibition of collagen synthesis and atrial fibrosis by targeting EZH2, which provided a potential target for preventing AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei, Anhui 230001, P.R. China
| | - Ning Zhu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Jian Xu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei, Anhui 230001, P.R. China
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Tang X, Zhou T, Shen J, Luo M, Yuan H, Pan D, Li F. The expression and potential mechanism of EGFR and EZH2 in breast cancer. Gland Surg 2021; 10:2535-2545. [PMID: 34527565 DOI: 10.21037/gs-21-505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Background The purpose of our research was to investigate the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and zeste gene enhancer homolog 2 (EZH2) in breast cancer, and to explore their potential common pathways. Methods Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to detect the protein and corresponding mRNA expression of EGFR and EZH2 in breast cancer tissues and benign tissues. Then, the relationship between EGFR and EZH2 along with the corresponding clinicopathological parameters were also analyzed. Bioinformatics tools were applied to explore the possible common pathways. Results The results showed that both EGFR and EZH2 protein and mRNA were highly expressed in breast cancer tissues, and there was a positive correlation between EGFR and EZH2. Moreover, we found that increased mRNA expression was correlated with lymph node metastasis and clinical stage (P<0.05). Furthermore, the enrichment results of co-expressed genes indicated that EGFR and EZH2 may work together in the FOXO signaling pathway, affecting the growth and metastasis of breast cancer cells. Conclusions The high expression of both EGFR and EZH2 mRNA in breast cancer was related to lymph node metastasis and clinical staging. The FOXO signaling pathway may be their common signaling pathway that affects tumor cell invasion and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqi Tang
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Gland Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Taosheng Zhou
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Gland Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Jiayue Shen
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Gland Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Ming Luo
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Gland Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Huiming Yuan
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Gland Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Denghua Pan
- Department of Ultrasonography, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Fu Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Gland Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
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48
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Satpathy S, Krug K, Jean Beltran PM, Savage SR, Petralia F, Kumar-Sinha C, Dou Y, Reva B, Kane MH, Avanessian SC, Vasaikar SV, Krek A, Lei JT, Jaehnig EJ, Omelchenko T, Geffen Y, Bergstrom EJ, Stathias V, Christianson KE, Heiman DI, Cieslik MP, Cao S, Song X, Ji J, Liu W, Li K, Wen B, Li Y, Gümüş ZH, Selvan ME, Soundararajan R, Visal TH, Raso MG, Parra ER, Babur Ö, Vats P, Anand S, Schraink T, Cornwell M, Rodrigues FM, Zhu H, Mo CK, Zhang Y, da Veiga Leprevost F, Huang C, Chinnaiyan AM, Wyczalkowski MA, Omenn GS, Newton CJ, Schurer S, Ruggles KV, Fenyö D, Jewell SD, Thiagarajan M, Mesri M, Rodriguez H, Mani SA, Udeshi ND, Getz G, Suh J, Li QK, Hostetter G, Paik PK, Dhanasekaran SM, Govindan R, Ding L, Robles AI, Clauser KR, Nesvizhskii AI, Wang P, Carr SA, Zhang B, Mani DR, Gillette MA. A proteogenomic portrait of lung squamous cell carcinoma. Cell 2021; 184:4348-4371.e40. [PMID: 34358469 PMCID: PMC8475722 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remains a leading cause of cancer death with few therapeutic options. We characterized the proteogenomic landscape of LSCC, providing a deeper exposition of LSCC biology with potential therapeutic implications. We identify NSD3 as an alternative driver in FGFR1-amplified tumors and low-p63 tumors overexpressing the therapeutic target survivin. SOX2 is considered undruggable, but our analyses provide rationale for exploring chromatin modifiers such as LSD1 and EZH2 to target SOX2-overexpressing tumors. Our data support complex regulation of metabolic pathways by crosstalk between post-translational modifications including ubiquitylation. Numerous immune-related proteogenomic observations suggest directions for further investigation. Proteogenomic dissection of CDKN2A mutations argue for more nuanced assessment of RB1 protein expression and phosphorylation before declaring CDK4/6 inhibition unsuccessful. Finally, triangulation between LSCC, LUAD, and HNSCC identified both unique and common therapeutic vulnerabilities. These observations and proteogenomics data resources may guide research into the biology and treatment of LSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shankha Satpathy
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Karsten Krug
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Pierre M Jean Beltran
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Sara R Savage
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Francesca Petralia
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | | | - Yongchao Dou
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Boris Reva
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - M Harry Kane
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Shayan C Avanessian
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Suhas V Vasaikar
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Azra Krek
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Jonathan T Lei
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Eric J Jaehnig
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Yifat Geffen
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Erik J Bergstrom
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Vasileios Stathias
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Karen E Christianson
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - David I Heiman
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Marcin P Cieslik
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Song Cao
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Song
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Jiayi Ji
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Wenke Liu
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Kai Li
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Bo Wen
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yize Li
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Zeynep H Gümüş
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Myvizhi Esai Selvan
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Rama Soundararajan
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Tanvi H Visal
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Maria G Raso
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Edwin Roger Parra
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Özgün Babur
- Computer Science Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
| | - Pankaj Vats
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Shankara Anand
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Tobias Schraink
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - MacIntosh Cornwell
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | | | - Houxiang Zhu
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Chia-Kuei Mo
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Yuping Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Chen Huang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Arul M Chinnaiyan
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Gilbert S Omenn
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Stephan Schurer
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Kelly V Ruggles
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - David Fenyö
- Institute for Systems Genetics and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Scott D Jewell
- Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Mathangi Thiagarajan
- Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Mehdi Mesri
- Office of Cancer Clinical Proteomics Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Henry Rodriguez
- Office of Cancer Clinical Proteomics Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sendurai A Mani
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Namrata D Udeshi
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Gad Getz
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - James Suh
- Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Qing Kay Li
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | | | - Paul K Paik
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | | | - Ramaswamy Govindan
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Li Ding
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ana I Robles
- Office of Cancer Clinical Proteomics Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Karl R Clauser
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Alexey I Nesvizhskii
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Pei Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Steven A Carr
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Bing Zhang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - D R Mani
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Michael A Gillette
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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EZH2i EPZ-6438 and HDACi vorinostat synergize with ONC201/TIC10 to activate integrated stress response, DR5, reduce H3K27 methylation, ClpX and promote apoptosis of multiple tumor types including DIPG. Neoplasia 2021; 23:792-810. [PMID: 34246076 PMCID: PMC8274300 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2021.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
ONC201/TIC10 activates TRAIL signaling through ATF4 and the integrated stress response (ISR). ONC201 demonstrated tumor regressions and disease stability in patients with histone H3K27M-mutated midline-glioma. H3K27M-mutation prevents H3K27-methylation on the mutated allele. EZH2 inhibitors (EZH2i) reduce H3K27 methylation and have anti-tumor effects. We hypothesized ONC201 sensitivity and tumor apoptosis may increase by reducing H3K27-methylation with EZH2i or HDACi as mimics of H3K27M-mutation. EZH2i EPZ-6438 (tazemetostat) or PF-06821497 and HDACi vorinostat were combined with ONC201 to treat multiple cancer cell lines and cell viability and histone modifications were analyzed. We observed synergistic effects towards cell viability in multiple cancers by EPZ-6438 or PF-06821497 plus ONC201 or triple therapy with vorinostat, EPZ-6438, and ONC201. EPZ-6438 and vorinostat synergized with ONC201 to enhance apoptosis. Activation of the ISR and TRAIL-DR5 were observed in cells treated with ONC201 -/+ epigenetic modulators. Knockdown of ATF4 reduced DR5 induction and apoptosis following EZH2i and ONC201 treatment of U251 glioma cells. mRNA expression of dopamine-receptors did not correlate with ONC201 sensitivity in the tumor cell lines tested (N = 12), including changes after epigenetic drugs. Dopamine did not rescue apoptosis by ONC201 in different tumor cell lines (N = 10) including 2 GBM, 3 DIPG and did not prevent DR5 activation or apoptosis. DRD2 agonist sumanirole did not protect brain tumor cells (N = 6 including 4 DIPG cell lines) from ONC201 reduction in viability. Although synergy was observed with ONC201 and vorinostat, there was no significant increase in H3K27 acetylation in cell lines including DIPG as compared to vorinostat alone, and in some cases the acetylation was less than vorinostat alone at 72 H. H3K27 methylation reduction correlated with synergy from combinations of either EPZ-6438 or vorinostat with ONC201 or triple combination. Our findings provide a rationale for combination of ONC201 and epigenetic modulators including triple therapy for in vivo and clinical testing in treatment of human malignancies including brain tumors and DIPG.
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Kaleem M, Perwaiz M, Nur SM, Abdulrahman AO, Ahmad W, Al-Abbasi FA, Kumar V, Kamal MA, Anwar F. Epigenetics of Triple-negative breast cancer via natural compounds. Curr Med Chem 2021; 29:1436-1458. [PMID: 34238140 DOI: 10.2174/0929867328666210707165530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly resistant, lethal, and metastatic sub-division of breast carcinoma, characterized by the deficiency of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). In women, TNBC shows a higher aggressive behavior with poor patient prognosis and a higher recurrence rate during reproductive age. TNBC is defined by the presence of epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition (EMT), which shows a significant role in cancer progression. At the epigenetic level, TNBC is characterized by epigenetic signatures, such as DNA methylation, histone remodeling, and a host of miRNA, MiR-193, LncRNA, HIF-2α, eEF2K, LIN9/NEK2, IMP3, LISCH7/TGF-β1, GD3s and KLK12 mediated regulation. These modifications either are silenced or activate the necessary genes that are prevalent in TNBC. The review is based on epigenetic mediated mechanistic changes in TNBC. Furthermore, Thymoquinone (TQ), Regorafenib, Fangjihuangqi decoction, Saikosaponin A, and Huaier, etc., are potent antitumor natural compounds extensively reported in the literature. Further, the review emphasizes the role of these natural compounds in TNBC and their possible epigenetic targets, which can be utilized as a potential therapeutic strategy in treatment of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Kaleem
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maryam Perwaiz
- Department of Sciences, University of Toronto. Mississauga. Canada
| | - Suza Mohammad Nur
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Wasim Ahmad
- Department of Kuliyate Tib, National Institute of Unani Medicine, Kottigepalya, Bengaluru, India
| | - Fahad A Al-Abbasi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Vikas Kumar
- Natural Product Discovery Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shalom Institute of Health and Allied Sciences. SHUATS, Naini, Prayagraj, India
| | - Mohammad Amjad Kamal
- West China School of Nursing / Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Firoz Anwar
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
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