1
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Zhang J, Shi Y, Ding K, Yu W, He J, Sun B. DCAF1 interacts with PARD3 to promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression and metastasis by activating the Akt signaling pathway. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:136. [PMID: 38711082 PMCID: PMC11071249 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03055-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal malignancy with poor prognosis due to lack of effective clinical interference. DCAF1 plays a vital role in regulating cell growth and proliferation, and is involved in the progression of various malignancies. However, the function of DCAF1 in HCC development and the underlying mechanism are still unknown. This study aimed to explore the effect of DCAF1 in HCC and the corresponding molecular mechanism. METHODS Quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot and immunostaining were used to determine DCAF1 expression in tumor tissues and cell lines. Subsequently, in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to explore the function of DCAF1 in tumor growth and metastasis in HCC. Coimmunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry and RNA sequencing were performed to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms. RESULTS In this study, we found that DCAF1 was observably upregulated and associated with poor prognosis in HCC. Knockdown of DCAF1 inhibited tumor proliferation and metastasis and promoted tumor apoptosis, whereas overexpressing DCAF1 yielded opposite effects. Mechanistically, DCAF1 could activate the Akt signaling pathway by binding to PARD3 and enhancing its expression. We also found that the combined application of DCAF1 knockdown and Akt inhibitor could significantly suppress subcutaneous xenograft tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS Our study illustrates that DCAF1 plays a crucial role in HCC development and the DCAF1/PARD3/Akt axis presents a potentially effective therapeutic strategy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyao Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Graduate School, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210008, China
| | - Yuze Shi
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210008, China
| | - Ke Ding
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210008, China
| | - Weiwei Yu
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210008, China
| | - Jianbo He
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210008, China
| | - Beicheng Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Graduate School, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210008, China.
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230022, China.
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2
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Zhao G, Forn-Cuní G, Scheers M, Lindenbergh PP, Yin J, van Loosen Q, Passarini L, Chen L, Snaar-Jagalska BE. Simultaneous targeting of AMPK and mTOR is a novel therapeutic strategy against prostate cancer. Cancer Lett 2024; 587:216657. [PMID: 38336289 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Metastatic colonization by circulating cancer cells is a highly inefficient process. To colonize distant organs, disseminating cancer cells must overcome many obstacles in foreign microenvironments, and only a small fraction of them survives this process. How these disseminating cancer cells cope with stress and initiate metastatic process is not fully understood. In this study, we report that the metastatic onset of prostate cancer cells is associated with the dynamic conversion of metabolism signaling pathways governed by the energy sensors AMPK and mTOR. While in circulation in blood flow, the disseminating cancer cells display decreased mTOR and increased AMPK activities that protect them from stress-induced death. However, after metastatic onset, the mTOR-AMPK activities are reversed, enabling mTOR-dependent tumor growth. Suppression of this dynamic conversion by co-targeting of AMPK and mTOR signaling significantly suppresses prostate cancer cell and tumor organoid growth in vitro and experimental metastasis in vivo, suggesting that this can be a therapeutic approach against metastasizing prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gangyin Zhao
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Gabriel Forn-Cuní
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marvin Scheers
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jie Yin
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Quint van Loosen
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Leonardo Passarini
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Lanpeng Chen
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - B Ewa Snaar-Jagalska
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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3
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Hussain MS, Altamimi ASA, Afzal M, Almalki WH, Kazmi I, Alzarea SI, Saleem S, Prasher P, Oliver B, Singh SK, MacLoughlin R, Dua K, Gupta G. From carcinogenesis to therapeutic avenues: lncRNAs and mTOR crosstalk in lung cancer. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 253:155015. [PMID: 38103364 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.155015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to have a crucial function in the modulation of the activity of genes, impacting a variety of homeostatic processes involving growth, survival, movement, and genomic consistency. Certain lncRNAs' aberrant expression has been linked to carcinogenesis, tumor growth, and therapeutic resistance. They are beneficial for the management of malignancies since they can function as cancer-causing or cancer-suppressing genes and behave as screening or prognosis indicators. The modulation of the tumor microenvironment, metabolic modification, and spread have all been linked to lncRNAs in lung cancer. Recent research has indicated that lncRNAs may interact with various mTOR signalling systems to control expression in lung cancer. Furthermore, the route can affect how lncRNAs are expressed. Emphasizing the function of lncRNAs as crucial participants in the mTOR pathway, the current review intends to examine the interactions between the mTOR cascade and the advancement of lung cancer. The article will shed light on the roles and processes of a few lncRNAs associated with the development of lung cancer, as well as their therapeutic prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Sadique Hussain
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jaipur National University, Jagatpura, 302017 Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Abdulmalik S A Altamimi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Afzal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy Program, Batterjee Medical College, P.O. Box 6231, Jeddah 21442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Waleed Hassan Almalki
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Imran Kazmi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, 21589, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sami I Alzarea
- ōDepartment of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, 72341, Sakaka, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shakir Saleem
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Parteek Prasher
- Department of Chemistry, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Energy Acres, Dehradun 248007, India
| | - Brian Oliver
- Faculty of Science, School of Life Sciences, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia; Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Macquarie university, Sydney, NSW, 2137
| | - Sachin Kumar Singh
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab 144411, India; Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Ronan MacLoughlin
- School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Leinster D02 YN77, Ireland; School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College, Dublin, Leinster D02 PN40, Ireland; Research and Development, Science and Emerging Technologies, Aerogen Ltd., Galway Business Park, H91 HE94 Galway, Ireland
| | - Kamal Dua
- Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Gaurav Gupta
- Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, India; School of Pharmacy, Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun 248007, India; School of Pharmacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jagatpura, Mahal Road, Jaipur, India.
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4
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Huang X, You L, Nepovimova E, Psotka M, Malinak D, Valko M, Sivak L, Korabecny J, Heger Z, Adam V, Wu Q, Kuca K. Inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase-related protein kinase family (PIKK). J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2023; 38:2237209. [PMID: 37489050 PMCID: PMC10392309 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2023.2237209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase-related protein kinases (PIKK) are two structurally related families of kinases that play vital roles in cell growth and DNA damage repair. Dysfunction of PIKK members and aberrant stimulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway are linked to a plethora of diseases including cancer. In recent decades, numerous inhibitors related to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling have made great strides in cancer treatment, like copanlisib and sirolimus. Notably, most of the PIKK inhibitors (such as VX-970 and M3814) related to DNA damage response have also shown good efficacy in clinical trials. However, these drugs still require a suitable combination therapy to overcome drug resistance or improve antitumor activity. Based on the aforementioned facts, we summarised the efficacy of PIKK, PI3K, and AKT inhibitors in the therapy of human malignancies and the resistance mechanisms of targeted therapy, in order to provide deeper insights into cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqin Huang
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Li You
- College of Physical Education and Health, Chongqing College of International Business and Economics, Chongqing, China
| | - Eugenie Nepovimova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Psotka
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - David Malinak
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Marian Valko
- Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ladislav Sivak
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Korabecny
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Zbynek Heger
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Adam
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Qinghua Wu
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Kamil Kuca
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
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5
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Bhin J, Yemelyanenko J, Chao X, Klarenbeek S, Opdam M, Malka Y, Hoekman L, Kruger D, Bleijerveld O, Brambillasca CS, Sprengers J, Siteur B, Annunziato S, van Haren MJ, Martin NI, van de Ven M, Peters D, Agami R, Linn SC, Boven E, Altelaar M, Jonkers J, Zingg D, Wessels LF. MYC is a clinically significant driver of mTOR inhibitor resistance in breast cancer. J Exp Med 2023; 220:e20211743. [PMID: 37642941 PMCID: PMC10465700 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20211743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeting the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway is a promising therapeutic strategy for breast cancer treatment. However, low response rates and development of resistance to PI3K-AKT-mTOR inhibitors remain major clinical challenges. Here, we show that MYC activation drives resistance to mTOR inhibitors (mTORi) in breast cancer. Multiomic profiling of mouse invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) tumors revealed recurrent Myc amplifications in tumors that acquired resistance to the mTORi AZD8055. MYC activation was associated with biological processes linked to mTORi response and counteracted mTORi-induced translation inhibition by promoting translation of ribosomal proteins. In vitro and in vivo induction of MYC conferred mTORi resistance in mouse and human breast cancer models. Conversely, AZD8055-resistant ILC cells depended on MYC, as demonstrated by the synergistic effects of mTORi and MYCi combination treatment. Notably, MYC status was significantly associated with poor response to everolimus therapy in metastatic breast cancer patients. Thus, MYC is a clinically relevant driver of mTORi resistance that may stratify breast cancer patients for mTOR-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhyuk Bhin
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Biomedical System Informatics, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Julia Yemelyanenko
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Xue Chao
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd Klarenbeek
- Experimental Animal Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mark Opdam
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Yuval Malka
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Division of Oncogenomics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Liesbeth Hoekman
- Proteomics Facility, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dinja Kruger
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam/Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Onno Bleijerveld
- Proteomics Facility, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Chiara S. Brambillasca
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Justin Sprengers
- Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Aging, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Bjørn Siteur
- Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Aging, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Stefano Annunziato
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Matthijs J. van Haren
- Biological Chemistry Group, Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Nathaniel I. Martin
- Biological Chemistry Group, Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Marieke van de Ven
- Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Aging, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dennis Peters
- Core Facility Molecular Pathology and Biobanking, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Reuven Agami
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Division of Oncogenomics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sabine C. Linn
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Epie Boven
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam/Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Maarten Altelaar
- Proteomics Facility, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Netherlands Proteomics Centre, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jos Jonkers
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Daniel Zingg
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Lodewyk F.A. Wessels
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
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6
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Pencik J, Philippe C, Schlederer M, Atas E, Pecoraro M, Grund-Gröschke S, Li WJ, Tracz A, Heidegger I, Lagger S, Trachtová K, Oberhuber M, Heitzer E, Aksoy O, Neubauer HA, Wingelhofer B, Orlova A, Witzeneder N, Dillinger T, Redl E, Greiner G, D'Andrea D, Östman JR, Tangermann S, Hermanova I, Schäfer G, Sternberg F, Pohl EE, Sternberg C, Varady A, Horvath J, Stoiber D, Malcolm TI, Turner SD, Parkes EE, Hantusch B, Egger G, Rose-John S, Poli V, Jain S, Armstrong CWD, Hoermann G, Goffin V, Aberger F, Moriggl R, Carracedo A, McKinney C, Kennedy RD, Klocker H, Speicher MR, Tang DG, Moazzami AA, Heery DM, Hacker M, Kenner L. STAT3/LKB1 controls metastatic prostate cancer by regulating mTORC1/CREB pathway. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:133. [PMID: 37573301 PMCID: PMC10422794 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01825-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a common and fatal type of cancer in men. Metastatic PCa (mPCa) is a major factor contributing to its lethality, although the mechanisms remain poorly understood. PTEN is one of the most frequently deleted genes in mPCa. Here we show a frequent genomic co-deletion of PTEN and STAT3 in liquid biopsies of patients with mPCa. Loss of Stat3 in a Pten-null mouse prostate model leads to a reduction of LKB1/pAMPK with simultaneous activation of mTOR/CREB, resulting in metastatic disease. However, constitutive activation of Stat3 led to high LKB1/pAMPK levels and suppressed mTORC1/CREB pathway, preventing mPCa development. Metformin, one of the most widely prescribed therapeutics against type 2 diabetes, inhibits mTORC1 in liver and requires LKB1 to mediate glucose homeostasis. We find that metformin treatment of STAT3/AR-expressing PCa xenografts resulted in significantly reduced tumor growth accompanied by diminished mTORC1/CREB, AR and PSA levels. PCa xenografts with deletion of STAT3/AR nearly completely abrogated mTORC1/CREB inhibition mediated by metformin. Moreover, metformin treatment of PCa patients with high Gleason grade and type 2 diabetes resulted in undetectable mTORC1 levels and upregulated STAT3 expression. Furthermore, PCa patients with high CREB expression have worse clinical outcomes and a significantly increased risk of PCa relapse and metastatic recurrence. In summary, we have shown that STAT3 controls mPCa via LKB1/pAMPK/mTORC1/CREB signaling, which we have identified as a promising novel downstream target for the treatment of lethal mPCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Pencik
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
- Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine, 8010, Graz, Austria.
- Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Cecile Philippe
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michaela Schlederer
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Emine Atas
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matteo Pecoraro
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, 6500, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Grund-Gröschke
- Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Wen Jess Li
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
- Experimental Therapeutics Graduate Program, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Amanda Tracz
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
| | - Isabel Heidegger
- Department of Urology, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sabine Lagger
- Unit for Pathology of Laboratory Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karolína Trachtová
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, 60177, Brno, Czech Republic
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Applied Metabolomics (CDL-AM), Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Ellen Heitzer
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical University of Graz, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Osman Aksoy
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Department for Basic and Translational Oncology and Hematology, Division Molecular Oncology and Hematology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3500, Krems, Austria
| | - Heidi A Neubauer
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bettina Wingelhofer
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Orlova
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nadine Witzeneder
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Dillinger
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisa Redl
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg Greiner
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - David D'Andrea
- Department of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johnny R Östman
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Simone Tangermann
- Unit for Pathology of Laboratory Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ivana Hermanova
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20850, Derio, Spain
| | - Georg Schäfer
- Department of Pathology, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Felix Sternberg
- Institute of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Biophysics, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elena E Pohl
- Institute of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Biophysics, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christina Sternberg
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Unit for Pathology of Laboratory Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
- Biochemical Institute, University of Kiel, 24098, Kiel, Germany
| | - Adam Varady
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jaqueline Horvath
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dagmar Stoiber
- Institute of Pharmacology, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Division Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3500, Krems, Austria
| | - Tim I Malcolm
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB20QQ, UK
| | - Suzanne D Turner
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB20QQ, UK
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eileen E Parkes
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX37DQ, UK
| | - Brigitte Hantusch
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerda Egger
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute Applied Diagnostics, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Valeria Poli
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, 10126, Turin, Italy
| | - Suneil Jain
- Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT71NN, UK
| | - Chris W D Armstrong
- Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT71NN, UK
| | | | - Vincent Goffin
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM UMR-S1151, CNRS UMR-S8253, Institut Necker Enfants Malades, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Fritz Aberger
- Department of Biosciences and Medical Biology, Cancer Cluster Salzburg, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Richard Moriggl
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Arkaitz Carracedo
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20850, Derio, Spain
| | - Cathal McKinney
- Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT71NN, UK
- Almac Diagnostics, Craigavon, BT63 5QD, UK
| | - Richard D Kennedy
- Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT71NN, UK
- Almac Diagnostics, Craigavon, BT63 5QD, UK
| | - Helmut Klocker
- Department of Urology, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michael R Speicher
- Institute of Human Genetics, Medical University of Graz, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Dean G Tang
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
- Experimental Therapeutics Graduate Program, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Ali A Moazzami
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - David M Heery
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Marcus Hacker
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Kenner
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
- Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine, 8010, Graz, Austria.
- Unit for Pathology of Laboratory Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Applied Metabolomics (CDL-AM), Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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7
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Das P, Pal S, Das N, Chakraborty K, Chatterjee K, Mal S, Choudhuri T. Endogenous PTEN acts as the key determinant for mTOR inhibitor sensitivity by inducing the stress-sensitized PTEN-mediated death axis in KSHV-associated malignant cells. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1062462. [PMID: 37602330 PMCID: PMC10433768 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1062462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
As a part of viral cancer evolution, KSHV-infected human endothelial cells exert a unique transcriptional program via upregulated mTORC1 signaling. This event makes them sensitive to mTOR inhibitors. Master transcriptional regulator PTEN acts as the prime regulator of mTOR and determining factor for mTOR inhibitory drug resistance and sensitivity. PTEN is post-translationally modified in KSHV-associated cell lines and infected tissues. Our current study is an attempt to understand the functional role of upstream modulator PTEN in determining the sensitivity of mTOR inhibitors against KSHV-infected cells in an in vitro stress-responsive model. Our analysis shows that, despite phosphorylation, endogenous levels of intact PTEN in different KSHV-infected cells compared to normal and non-infected cells are quite high. Genetic overexpression of intact PTEN showed functional integrity of this gene in the infected cells in terms of induction of a synchronized cell death process via cell cycle regulation and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. PTEN overexpression enhanced the mTOR inhibitory drug activity, the silencing of which hampers the process against KSHV-infected cells. Additionally, we have shown that endogenous PTEN acts as a stress balancer molecule inside KSHV-infected cells and can induce stress-sensitized death program post mTOR inhibitor treatment, lined up in the ATM-chk2-p53 axis. Moreover, autophagic regulation was found as a major regulator in mTOR inhibitor-induced PTEN-mediated death axis from our study. The current work critically intersected the PTEN-mediated stress balancing mechanism where autophagy has been utilized as a part of the KSHV stress management system and is specifically fitted and switched toward autophagy-mediated apoptosis directing toward a therapeutic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tathagata Choudhuri
- Department of Biotechnology, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India
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8
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Zhang J, Li X, Zhou Y, Lin M, Zhang Q, Wang Y. FNBP1 Facilitates Cervical Cancer Cell Survival by the Constitutive Activation of FAK/PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling. Cells 2023; 12:1964. [PMID: 37566043 PMCID: PMC10417648 DOI: 10.3390/cells12151964] [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: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer is the most prevalent gynecological tumor among women worldwide. Although the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer have been declining thanks to the wide-scale implementation of cytological screening, it remains a major challenge in clinical treatment. High viability is one of the leading causes of the chemotherapeutic resistance in cervical cancers. Formin-binding protein 1 (FNBP1) could stimulate F-actin polymerization beneath the curved plasma membrane in the cell migration and endocytosis, which had previously been well defined. Here, FNBP1 was also demonstrated to play a crucial role in cervical cancer cell survival, and the knockdown of which could result in the attenuation of FAK/PI3K/AKT signaling followed by significant apoptotic accumulation and proliferative inhibition. In addition, the epidermal growth factor (hrEGF) abrogated all the biological effects mediated by the silencing of FNBP1 except for the cell adhesion decrease. These findings indicated that FNBP1 plays a key role in maintaining the activity of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) by promoting cell adhesion. The activated FAK positively regulated downstream PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, which is responsible for cell survival. Promisingly, FNBP1 might be a potential target against cervical cancer in combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- Basic Medical School, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
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9
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Cao Y, Ye Q, Ma M, She QB. Enhanced bypass of PD-L1 translation reduces the therapeutic response to mTOR kinase inhibitors. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112764. [PMID: 37405918 PMCID: PMC10491412 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased PD-L1 expression in cancer cells is known to enhance immunosuppression, but the mechanism underlying PD-L1 upregulation is incompletely characterized. We show that PD-L1 expression is upregulated through internal ribosomal entry site (IRES)-mediated translation upon mTORC1 inhibition. We identify an IRES element in the PD-L1 5'-UTR that permits cap-independent translation and promotes continuous production of PD-L1 protein despite effective inhibition of mTORC1. eIF4A is found to be a key PD-L1 IRES-binding protein that enhances PD-L1 IRES activity and protein production in tumor cells treated with mTOR kinase inhibitors (mTORkis). Notably, treatment with mTORkis in vivo elevates PD-L1 levels and reduces the number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in immunogenic tumors, but anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy restores antitumor immunity and enhances the therapeutic efficacy of mTORkis. These findings report a molecular mechanism for regulating PD-L1 expression through bypassing mTORC1-mediated cap-dependent translation and provide a rationale for targeting PD-L1 immune checkpoint to improve mTOR-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Cao
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Qing Ye
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Murong Ma
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Qing-Bai She
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.
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10
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Majeed ST, Majeed R, Malik AA, Andrabi KI. MTORC2 is a physiological hydrophobic motif kinase of S6 Kinase 1. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2023; 1870:119449. [PMID: 36858209 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2023.119449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1), a major downstream effector molecule of mTORC1, regulates cell growth and proliferation by modulating protein translation and ribosome biogenesis. We have recently identified eIF4E as an intermediate in transducing signals from mTORC1 to S6K1 and further demonstrated that the role of mTORC1 is restricted to inducing eIF4E phosphorylation and interaction with S6K1. This interaction relieves S6K1 auto-inhibition and facilitates its hydrophobic motif (HM) phosphorylation and activation as a consequence. These observations underscore a possible involvement of mTORC1 independent kinase in mediating HM phosphorylation. Here, we report mTORC2 as an in-vivo/physiological HM kinase of S6K1. We show that rapamycin-resistant S6K1 truncation mutant ∆NH∆CT continues to display HM phosphorylation with selective sensitivity toward Torin-1. We also show that HM phosphorylation of wildtype S6K1and ∆NH∆CT depends on the presence of mTORC2 regulatory subunit-rictor. Furthermore, truncation mutagenesis and molecular docking analysis reveal the involvement of a conserved 19 amino acid stretch of S6K1 in mediating interaction with rictor. We finally show that deletion of the 19 amino acid region from wildtype S6K1 results in loss of interaction with rictor, with a resultant loss of HM phosphorylation regardless of the presence of functional TOS motif. Our data demonstrate that mTORC2 acts as a physiological HM kinase that can activate S6K1 after its auto-inhibition is overcome by mTORC1. We, therefore, propose a novel mechanism for S6K1 regulation where mTOR complexes 1 and 2 act in tandem to activate the enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheikh Tahir Majeed
- Growth Factor Signaling Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India; Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, India
| | - Rabiya Majeed
- Growth Factor Signaling Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India; Department of Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
| | - Aijaz A Malik
- Centre of Excellence in Computational Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi
- Growth Factor Signaling Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.
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11
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Jonchere B, Williams J, Zindy F, Liu J, Robinson S, Farmer DM, Min J, Yang L, Stripay JL, Wang Y, Freeman BB, Yu J, Shelat AA, Rankovic Z, Roussel MF. Combination of Ribociclib with BET-Bromodomain and PI3K/mTOR Inhibitors for Medulloblastoma Treatment In Vitro and In Vivo. Mol Cancer Ther 2023; 22:37-51. [PMID: 36318650 PMCID: PMC9808370 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Despite improvement in the treatment of medulloblastoma over the last years, numerous patients with MYC- and MYCN-driven tumors still fail current therapies. Medulloblastomas have an intact retinoblastoma protein RB, suggesting that CDK4/6 inhibition might represent a therapeutic strategy for which drug combination remains understudied. We conducted high-throughput drug combination screens in a Group3 (G3) medulloblastoma line using the CDK4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) ribociclib at IC20, referred to as an anchor, and 87 oncology drugs approved by FDA or in clinical trials. Bromodomain and extra terminal (BET) and PI3K/mTOR inhibitors potentiated ribociclib inhibition of proliferation in an established cell line and freshly dissociated tumor cells from intracranial xenografts of G3 and Sonic hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastomas in vitro. A reverse combination screen using the BET inhibitor JQ1 as anchor, revealed CDK4/6i as the most potentiating drugs. In vivo, ribociclib showed single-agent activity in medulloblastoma models whereas JQ1 failed to show efficacy due to high clearance and insufficient free brain concentration. Despite in vitro synergy, combination of ribociclib with the PI3K/mTOR inhibitor paxalisib did not significantly improve the survival of G3 and SHH medulloblastoma-bearing mice compared with ribociclib alone. Molecular analysis of ribociclib and paxalisib-treated tumors revealed that E2F targets and PI3K/AKT/MTORC1 signaling genes were depleted, as expected. Importantly, in one untreated G3MB model HD-MB03, the PI3K/AKT/MTORC1 gene set was enriched in vitro compared with in vivo suggesting that the pathway displayed increased activity in vitro. Our data illustrate the difficulty in translating in vitro findings in vivo. See related article in Mol Cancer Ther (2022) 21(8):1306-1317.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Jonchere
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Justin Williams
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Frederique Zindy
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Jingjing Liu
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Sarah Robinson
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Dana M. Farmer
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Jaeki Min
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology Chemical Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology Chemical Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Jennifer L. Stripay
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Yingzhe Wang
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology Preclinical PK Shared Resource, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Burgess B. Freeman
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology Preclinical PK Shared Resource, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Jiyang Yu
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Anang A. Shelat
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology Chemical Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Zoran Rankovic
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology Chemical Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Martine F. Roussel
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
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12
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Schaffrin-Nabe D, Schuster S, Tannapfel A, Voigtmann R. Case Report: Extensive Tumor Profiling in Primary Neuroendocrine Breast Cancer Cases as a Role Model for Personalized Treatment in Rare and Aggressive Cancer Types. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:841441. [PMID: 35721079 PMCID: PMC9203716 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.841441] [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: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine breast cancer (NEBC) is a rare entity accounting for <0.1% of all breast carcinomas and <0.1% of all neuroendocrine carcinomas. In most cases treatment strategies in NEBC are empirical in absence of prospective trial data on NEBC cohorts. Herein, we present two case reports diagnosed with anaplastic and small cell NEBC. After initial therapies failed, comprehensive tumor profiling was applied, leading to individualized treatment options for both patients. In both patients, targetable alterations of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway were found, including a PIK3CA mutation itself and an STK11 mutation that negatively regulates the mTOR complex. The epicrisis of the two patients exemplifies how to manage rare and difficult to treat cancers and how new diagnostic tools contribute to medical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dörthe Schaffrin-Nabe
- Praxis für Hämatologie und Onkologie, Bochum, Germany
- *Correspondence: Dörthe Schaffrin-Nabe
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13
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Abstract
The mechanistic target of the rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is the central regulator of cell growth and proliferation by integrating growth factor and nutrient availability. Under healthy physiological conditions, this process is tightly coordinated and essential to maintain whole-body homeostasis. Not surprisingly, dysregulated mTOR signaling underpins several diseases with increasing incidence worldwide, including obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Consequently, there is significant clinical interest in developing therapeutic strategies that effectively target this pathway. The transition of mTOR inhibitors from the bench to bedside, however, has largely been marked with challenges and shortcomings, such as the development of therapy resistance and adverse side effects in patients. In this review, we discuss the current status of first-, second-, and third-generation mTOR inhibitors as a cancer therapy in both preclinical and clinical settings, with a particular emphasis on the mechanisms of drug resistance. We focus especially on the emerging role of diet as an important environmental determinant of therapy response, and posit a conceptual framework that links nutrient availability and whole-body metabolic states such as obesity with many of the previously defined processes that drive resistance to mTOR-targeted therapies. Given the role of mTOR as a central integrator of cell metabolism and function, we propose that modulating nutrient inputs through dietary interventions may influence the signaling dynamics of this pathway and compensatory nodes. In doing so, new opportunities for exploiting diet/drug synergies are highlighted that may unlock the therapeutic potential of mTOR inhibitors as a cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikos Koundouros
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021,USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Correspondence: Nikos Koundouros, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, 413 East 69th Street, New York, NY, 10021 USA.
| | - John Blenis
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021,USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Correspondence: John Blenis, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, 413 East 69th Street, New York, NY, 10021 USA.
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14
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Xia Q, Li W, Ali S, Xu M, Li Y, Li S, Meng X, Liu L, Dong L. Smurf1 silencing restores PTEN expression that ameliorates progression of human glioblastoma and sensitizes tumor cells to mTORC1/C2 inhibitor Torin1. iScience 2021; 24:103528. [PMID: 34917902 PMCID: PMC8666673 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Amplification of ubiquitin E3 ligase Smurf1 promotes degradation of PTEN leading to hyperactivation of the Akt/mTORC1 pathway. However, inhibitors of this pathway have not hitherto yielded promising results in clinical studies because of strong drug resistance. Here, we investigated Smurf1 expression in various glioblastoma (GB) cell lines and patient tissues. The therapeutic efficacy of Smurf1 silencing and Torin1 treatment was assessed in GB cells and orthotopic mouse model. We found Smurf1 loss elevates PTEN levels that interrupt the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway activity. Cotreatment with Smurf1 silencing and mTORC1/C2 inhibitor Torin1 remarkably decreased phosphorylation of Akt, and mTORC1 downstream targets 4EBP1 and S6K resulting in synergistic inhibitory effects. Smurf1 knockdown in orthotopic GB mouse model impaired tumor growth and enhanced cytotoxicity of Torin1. Together, these findings suggest a rational combination of Smurf1 inhibition and Torin1 as a promising new avenue to circumvent PI3K/Akt pathway-driven tumor progression and drug resistance. Smurf1 ubiquitylates and degrades PTEN, leading to upregulating oncogenic pathways Loss of Smurf1 resensitizes tumor cells to mTOR inhibitor Torin1 in PTEN-wild type GB Smurf1 depletion with Torin1 has enhanced efficacy by inhibiting pho-4EBP1 and pho-S6K Smurf1 suppression with Torin1 is toxic to Rapamycin resistant GB cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Xia
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Wenxuan Li
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Sakhawat Ali
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Mengchuan Xu
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yang Li
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Shengzhen Li
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xinyi Meng
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Liqun Liu
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Lei Dong
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
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15
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Li S, Qin C, Chen Y, Wei D, Tan Z, Meng J. Implications of cell division cycle associated 4 on the Wilm's tumor cells viability via AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Ren Fail 2021; 43:1470-1478. [PMID: 34723730 PMCID: PMC8567894 DOI: 10.1080/0886022x.2021.1994994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The aim of present report was to elucidate the effect of cell division cycle associated 4 (CDCA4) on the proliferation and apoptosis of Wilm’s tumor cells, and to further evaluate its underlying mechanism. Methods The expression profiles of CDCA4 and clinical information of Wilm’s tumor patients were obtained from public Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) database portal. Real-time qPCR and western blot analyses were utilized to determine the expression levels of CDCA4. Gain- and loss-of-function of CDCA4 assays were conducted with transfection technology to investigate the biological role of CDCA4 in Wilm’s tumor cells. Cell counting kit 8 and flow cytometer assays were employed to examine the effect of CDCA4 on the cells proliferation and apoptosis. Protein expression levels of indicated markers in each group of Wilm’s tumor cells were measured by western blot. Results The transcriptional expression of CDCA4 was drastically upregulated in Wilm’s tumor tissues according to the public TARGET database and in Wilm’s tumor cells. The cells viability was remarkably reduced whereas the cells apoptosis was increased in CDCA4-knockdown group compared with negative control group. However, CDCA4-overexpression group promoted the cells proliferation and suppressed the cells apoptosis. Furthermore, the protein expression levels of p-AKT, p-mTOR, and Cyclin D1 were significantly reduced after depletion of CDCA4, whereas overexpression of CDCA4 dramatically elevated these markers’ expression levels. Conclusions CDCA4 is highly expressed in Wilm’s tumor and promoted the proliferation whereas inhibited the apoptosis of Wilm’s tumor cells through activating the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suqing Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Guigang City People's Hospital, the Eight Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guigang, P.R. China
| | - Cong Qin
- Department of Pediatrics, Guigang City People's Hospital, the Eight Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guigang, P.R. China
| | - Yike Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Guigang City People's Hospital, the Eight Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guigang, P.R. China
| | - Dan Wei
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, P.R. China
| | - Zhijun Tan
- Department of Pediatrics, Guigang City People's Hospital, the Eight Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guigang, P.R. China
| | - Jiadong Meng
- Department of Pediatrics, Guigang City People's Hospital, the Eight Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guigang, P.R. China
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16
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Moloney PB, Cavalleri GL, Delanty N. Epilepsy in the mTORopathies: opportunities for precision medicine. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab222. [PMID: 34632383 PMCID: PMC8495134 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanistic target of rapamycin signalling pathway serves as a ubiquitous regulator of cell metabolism, growth, proliferation and survival. The main cellular activity of the mechanistic target of rapamycin cascade funnels through mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1, which is inhibited by rapamycin, a macrolide compound produced by the bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus. Pathogenic variants in genes encoding upstream regulators of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 cause epilepsies and neurodevelopmental disorders. Tuberous sclerosis complex is a multisystem disorder caused by mutations in mechanistic target of rapamycin regulators TSC1 or TSC2, with prominent neurological manifestations including epilepsy, focal cortical dysplasia and neuropsychiatric disorders. Focal cortical dysplasia type II results from somatic brain mutations in mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway activators MTOR, AKT3, PIK3CA and RHEB and is a major cause of drug-resistant epilepsy. DEPDC5, NPRL2 and NPRL3 code for subunits of the GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activity towards Rags 1 complex (GATOR1), the principal amino acid-sensing regulator of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1. Germline pathogenic variants in GATOR1 genes cause non-lesional focal epilepsies and epilepsies associated with malformations of cortical development. Collectively, the mTORopathies are characterized by excessive mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway activation and drug-resistant epilepsy. In the first large-scale precision medicine trial in a genetically mediated epilepsy, everolimus (a synthetic analogue of rapamycin) was effective at reducing seizure frequency in people with tuberous sclerosis complex. Rapamycin reduced seizures in rodent models of DEPDC5-related epilepsy and focal cortical dysplasia type II. This review outlines a personalized medicine approach to the management of epilepsies in the mTORopathies. We advocate for early diagnostic sequencing of mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway genes in drug-resistant epilepsy, as identification of a pathogenic variant may point to an occult dysplasia in apparently non-lesional epilepsy or may uncover important prognostic information including, an increased risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy in the GATORopathies or favourable epilepsy surgery outcomes in focal cortical dysplasia type II due to somatic brain mutations. Lastly, we discuss the potential therapeutic application of mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitors for drug-resistant seizures in GATOR1-related epilepsies and focal cortical dysplasia type II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick B Moloney
- FutureNeuro, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, D02 VN51, Ireland
| | - Gianpiero L Cavalleri
- FutureNeuro, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, D02 VN51, Ireland
| | - Norman Delanty
- FutureNeuro, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, D02 VN51, Ireland
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17
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Tong M, Wong TL, Zhao H, Zheng Y, Xie YN, Li CH, Zhou L, Che N, Yun JP, Man K, Lee TKW, Cai Z, Ma S. Loss of tyrosine catabolic enzyme HPD promotes glutamine anaplerosis through mTOR signaling in liver cancer. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109617. [PMID: 34433044 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver plays central roles in coordinating different metabolic processes, such as the catabolism of amino acids. In this study, we identify a loss of tyrosine catabolism and a concomitant increase in serum tyrosine levels during liver cancer development. Liver cells with disordered tyrosine catabolism, as exemplified by the suppression of a tyrosine catabolic enzyme 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPD), display augmented tumorigenic and proliferative potentials. Metabolomics profiling and isotope tracing reveal the metabolic reliance of HPD-silenced cells on glutamine, coupled with increased tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites and their associated amino acid pools. Mechanistically, HPD silencing reduces ketone bodies, which regulate the proliferative and metabolic phenotypes via the AMPK/mTOR/p70S6 kinase pathway and mTOR-dependent glutaminase (GLS) activation. Collectively, our results demonstrate a metabolic link between tyrosine and glutamine metabolism, which could be exploited as a potentially promising anticancer therapy for liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Tong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Tin-Lok Wong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hongzhi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu-Nong Xie
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Cheuk-Hin Li
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lei Zhou
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Noélia Che
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jing-Ping Yun
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kwan Man
- The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China; Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Terence Kin-Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zongwei Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Stephanie Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
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Rascio F, Spadaccino F, Rocchetti MT, Castellano G, Stallone G, Netti GS, Ranieri E. The Pathogenic Role of PI3K/AKT Pathway in Cancer Onset and Drug Resistance: An Updated Review. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3949. [PMID: 34439105 PMCID: PMC8394096 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13163949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The PI3K/AKT pathway is one of the most frequently over-activated intracellular pathways in several human cancers. This pathway, acting on different downstream target proteins, contributes to the carcinogenesis, proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of tumour cells. A multi-level impairment, involving mutation and genetic alteration, aberrant regulation of miRNAs sequences, and abnormal phosphorylation of cascade factors, has been found in multiple cancer types. The deregulation of this pathway counteracts common therapeutic strategies and contributes to multidrug resistance. In this review, we underline the involvement of this pathway in patho-physiological cell survival mechanisms, emphasizing its key role in the development of drug resistance. We also provide an overview of the potential inhibition strategies currently available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Rascio
- Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Advanced Research Center on Kidney Aging (A.R.K.A.), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (G.C.); (G.S.)
| | - Federica Spadaccino
- Clinical Pathology Unit, Advanced Research Center on Kidney Aging (A.R.K.A.), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (F.S.); (G.S.N.); (E.R.)
| | - Maria Teresa Rocchetti
- Cell Biology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Castellano
- Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Advanced Research Center on Kidney Aging (A.R.K.A.), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (G.C.); (G.S.)
| | - Giovanni Stallone
- Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Advanced Research Center on Kidney Aging (A.R.K.A.), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (G.C.); (G.S.)
| | - Giuseppe Stefano Netti
- Clinical Pathology Unit, Advanced Research Center on Kidney Aging (A.R.K.A.), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (F.S.); (G.S.N.); (E.R.)
| | - Elena Ranieri
- Clinical Pathology Unit, Advanced Research Center on Kidney Aging (A.R.K.A.), Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (F.S.); (G.S.N.); (E.R.)
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19
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Sun CY, Li YZ, Cao D, Zhou YF, Zhang MY, Wang HY. Rapamycin and trametinib: a rational combination for treatment of NSCLC. Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17:3211-3223. [PMID: 34421360 PMCID: PMC8375233 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.62752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is one of the most commonly activated pathways in human cancers, including lung cancer. Targeting mTOR with molecule inhibitors is considered as a useful therapeutic strategy. However, the results obtained from the clinical trials with the inhibitors so far have not met the original expectations, largely because of the drug resistance. Thus, combined or multiple drug therapy can bring about more favorable clinical outcomes. Here, we found that activation of ERK pathway was responsible for rapamycin drug resistance in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Accordingly, rapamycin-resistant NSCLC cells were more sensitive to ERK inhibitor (ERKi), trametinib, and in turn, trametinib-resistant NSCLC cells were also susceptible to rapamycin. Combining rapamycin with trametinib led to a potent synergistic antitumor efficacy, which induced G1-phase cycle arrest and apoptosis. In addition, rapamycin synergized with another ERKi, MEK162, and in turn, trametinib synergized with other mTORi, Torin1 and OSI-027. Mechanistically, rapamycin in combination with trametinib resulted in a greater decrease of phosphorylation of AKT, ERK, mTOR and 4EBP1. In xenograft mouse model, co-administration of rapamycin and trametinib caused a substantial suppression in tumor growth without obvious drug toxicity. Overall, our study identifies a reasonable combined strategy for treatment of NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Yue Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou, China 510060
| | - Yi-Zhuo Li
- Department of Medical Imaging, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou, China 510060
| | - Di Cao
- Department of Medical Imaging, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou, China 510060
| | - Yu-Feng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou, China 510060
| | - Mei-Yin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou, China 510060
| | - Hui-Yun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou, China 510060
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20
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Kaur K, Anant A, Asati V. Structural Aspects of mTOR Inhibitors: In Progress to Search Potential Compounds. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 22:1037-1055. [PMID: 34288843 DOI: 10.2174/1871520621666210720121403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) is a catalytic subunit composed of two multi-protein complexes that indicate mTORC1, mTORC2. It plays a crucial role in various fundamental cell processes like cell proliferation, metabolism, survival, cell growth, etc. Various first line mTOR inhibitors such as Rapamycin, Temsirolimus, Everolimus, Ridaforolimus, Umirolimus, Zotarolimus have been used popularly. Whereas, several mTOR inhibitors such as Gedatolisib (PF-05212384) are under phase 2 clinical trials studies for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. The mTOR inhibitors bearing heterocyclic moieties such as quinazoline, thiophene, morpholine, imidazole, pyrazine, furan, quinoline are under investigation against various cancer cell lines (U87MG, PC-3, MCF-7, A549, MDA-231). In this review, we summarized updated research related to mTOR inhibitors, their structure-activity relationship which may help scientists for the development of potent inhibitors against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamalpreet Kaur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Ghal Kalan, Moga-142001, Punjab, India
| | - Arjun Anant
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Ghal Kalan, Moga-142001, Punjab, India
| | - Vivek Asati
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Ghal Kalan, Moga-142001, Punjab, India
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21
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Qiu HY, Wang PF, Zhang M. A patent review of mTOR inhibitors for cancer therapy (2011-2020). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2021; 31:965-975. [PMID: 34098816 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2021.1940137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase is a central component in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and plays a crucial role in tumor biology, making it one appealing therapeutic target. In the past decade, the mTORi (mTOR inhibitor) development field has made great progress, with more agents entering key trials and the proposal of third-generation mTORi concept. Yet to achieve significant clinical success, combined efforts from multiple disciplines are ever needed. AREAS COVERED This review focuses on the progress of mTORi development with anticancer potential from the perspective of the patent literature proposed between 2011 and 2020. EXPERT OPINION The highly complex regulatory mechanism network of mTOR proposes huge challenges to the development of clinically efficient mTORis. While in-depth biological research and fundamental medchemistry research are of importance to provide guidelines for improving mTORis, new technologies to pre-diagnose applicable populations is another key to provide precise personal cancer treatment. New mTOR agents are ever needed to tackle the common problems of side effects and drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Yue Qiu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng-Fei Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Zhang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
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22
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Yin S, Liu L, Gan W. The Roles of Post-Translational Modifications on mTOR Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041784. [PMID: 33670113 PMCID: PMC7916890 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a master regulator of cell growth, proliferation, and metabolism by integrating various environmental inputs including growth factors, nutrients, and energy, among others. mTOR signaling has been demonstrated to control almost all fundamental cellular processes, such as nucleotide, protein and lipid synthesis, autophagy, and apoptosis. Over the past fifteen years, mapping the network of the mTOR pathway has dramatically advanced our understanding of its upstream and downstream signaling. Dysregulation of the mTOR pathway is frequently associated with a variety of human diseases, such as cancers, metabolic diseases, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. Besides genetic alterations, aberrancies in post-translational modifications (PTMs) of the mTOR components are the major causes of the aberrant mTOR signaling in a number of pathologies. In this review, we summarize current understanding of PTMs-mediated regulation of mTOR signaling, and also update the progress on targeting the mTOR pathway and PTM-related enzymes for treatment of human diseases.
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Popova NV, Jücker M. The Role of mTOR Signaling as a Therapeutic Target in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041743. [PMID: 33572326 PMCID: PMC7916160 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this review was to summarize current available information about the role of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling in cancer as a potential target for new therapy options. The mTOR and PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 (mTOR complex 1) signaling are critical for the regulation of many fundamental cell processes including protein synthesis, cell growth, metabolism, survival, catabolism, and autophagy, and deregulated mTOR signaling is implicated in cancer, metabolic dysregulation, and the aging process. In this review, we summarize the information about the structure and function of the mTOR pathway and discuss the mechanisms of its deregulation in human cancers including genetic alterations of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway components. We also present recent data regarding the PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors in clinical studies and the treatment of cancer, as well the attendant problems of resistance and adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadezhda V. Popova
- Laboratory of Receptor Cell Biology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Manfred Jücker
- Institute of Biochemistry and Signal Transduction, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(0)-40-7410-56339
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Sun SY. Searching for the real function of mTOR signaling in the regulation of PD-L1 expression. Transl Oncol 2020; 13:100847. [PMID: 32854033 PMCID: PMC7451686 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2020.100847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), via forming two important complexes: mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and complex 2 (mTORC2), plays an important role in the regulation of immunity in addition to exerting many other biological funcions. Beyond its regulatory effects on immune cells, the mTOR axis also regulates the expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in cancer cells; accordingly, inhibition of mTOR alters PD-L1 levels in different cancer cell types. However, the currently published studies on mTOR inhibition-induced PD-L1 alteration have generated conflicting results. This review will focus on summarizing current findings in this regard and discussing possible reasons for the discrepancies and their potential implications for PD-L1 modulation in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Yong Sun
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University of School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States of America.
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Jiang Y, Gou X, Wei Z, Tan J, Yu H, Zhou X, Li X. Bioinformatics profiling integrating a three immune-related long non-coding RNA signature as a prognostic model for clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Cancer Cell Int 2020; 20:166. [PMID: 32435157 PMCID: PMC7222502 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-01242-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common aggressive malignant tumors in urogenital system, and the clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common subtype of renal carcinoma. Immune related long non-coding RNAs (IRlncRs) plentiful in immune cells and immune microenvironment (IME) are potential in evaluating prognosis and assessing the effects of immunotherapy. A completed and meaningful IRlncRs analysis based on abundant ccRCC gene samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) will provide insight in this field. Methods Based on the TCGA dataset, we integrated the expression profiles of IRlncRs and overall survival (OS) in the 611 ccRCC patients. The immune score of each sample was calculated based on the expression level of immune-related genes and used to identify the most meaningful IRlncRs. Survival-related IRlncRs (sIRlncRs) was estimated by calculating the algorithm of difference and COX regression analysis in ccRCC patients. Based on the median immune-related risk score (IRRS) developed from the screened sIRlncRs, the high-risk and low-risk components were distinguished. Functional annotation was detected by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and principal component analysis (PCA), and the immune composition and purity of the tumor was evaluated by microenvironment cell population records. The expression levels of three sIRlncRs were verified in various tissues and cell lines. Results A total of 39 IRlncRs were collected by Pearson correlation analyses among immune score and the lncRNA expression. A total of 7 sIRlncRs were significantly associated with the clinical outcomes of ccRCC patients. Three sIRlncRs (ATP1A1-AS1, IL10RB-DT and MELTF-AS1) with the most significant prognostic values were enrolled to build the IRRS model in which the OS of in the high-risk group was shorter than that in the low-risk group. The IRRS was identified as an independent prognosis factor and correlated with the OS. The high-risk group and low-risk group illustrated different distributions in PCA and different immune status in GSEA. Besides, we found the more significant expression in certain ccRCC cell lines and tumor tissues of ccRCC patients compared with the HK-2 and adjacent tissues respectively. Additionally, the expression levels of lncR-MELTF-AS1 and IL10RB-DT were remarkably enhanced along the more advanced T-stages, but the lncR-ATP1A1-AS1 showed the inverse gradient. Conclusion Our results demonstrate some sIRlncRs with remark clinical relevance show the latent monitoring and prognosis values for ccRCC patients and may provide new insight in immunological researches and treatment strategies of ccRCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanbin Jiang
- 1Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016 China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics, Chongqing, China.,Department of Urology, Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin Gou
- 1Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016 China
| | - Zongjie Wei
- 1Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016 China
| | - Jianyu Tan
- 1Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016 China
| | - Haitao Yu
- 1Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016 China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- 1Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016 China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinyuan Li
- 1Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016 China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics, Chongqing, China
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