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Hu L, Liu D, Zheng D, Lu J, Yuan X, Li Y, Shi F, Shi X, He QY, Li Q, Zhang CZ. Pan-Cancer Proteomics Analysis Reveals Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein as a Potential Regulator of Programmed Death-Ligand 1. J Proteome Res 2024. [PMID: 38661673 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.4c00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a key mediator of immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. The expression of PD-L1 in cancer cells is useful for the clinical determination of an immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). However, the regulatory mechanism of the PD-L1 abundance remains incompletely understood. Here, we integrated the proteomics of 52 patients with solid tumors and examined immune cell infiltration to reveal PD-L1-related regulatory modules. Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) was identified as a potential regulator of PD-L1 transcription. In two independent cohorts containing 164 cancer patients, WASP expression was significantly associated with PD-L1. High WASP expression contributed to immunosuppressive cell composition, including cells positive for immune checkpoints (PD1, CTLA4, TIGIT, and TIM3), FoxP3+ Treg cells, and CD163+ tumor-associated macrophages. Overexpression of WASP increased, whereas knockdown of WASP decreased the protein level of PD-L1 in cancer cells without alteration of PD-L1 protein stability. The WASP-mediated cell migration and invasion were markedly attenuated by the silence of PD-L1. Collectively, our data suggest that WASP is a potential regulator of PD-L1 and the WASP/PD-L1 axis is responsible for cell migration and an immunosuppressive microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liling Hu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Danya Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Dandan Zheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jiangli Lu
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Xiaoyi Yuan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yuying Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Fujin Shi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xinyu Shi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Qing-Yu He
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Qiuli Li
- Department of Head and Neck, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Chris Zhiyi Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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2
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Chen YK, Kanouni T, Arnold LD, Cox JM, Gardiner E, Grandinetti K, Jiang P, Kaldor SW, Lee C, Li C, Martin ES, Miller N, Murphy EA, Timple N, Tyhonas JS, Vassar A, Wang TS, Williams R, Yuan D, Kania RS. The Discovery of Exarafenib (KIN-2787): Overcoming the Challenges of Pan-RAF Kinase Inhibition. J Med Chem 2024; 67:1747-1757. [PMID: 38230963 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01830] [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: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
RAF, a core signaling component of the MAPK kinase cascade, is often mutated in various cancers, including melanoma, lung, and colorectal cancers. The approved inhibitors were focused on targeting the BRAFV600E mutation that results in constitutive activation of kinase signaling through the monomeric protein (Class I). However, these inhibitors also paradoxically activate kinase signaling of RAF dimers, resulting in increased MAPK signaling in normal tissues. Recently, significant attention has turned to targeting RAF alterations that activate dimeric signaling (class II and III BRAF and NRAS). However, the discovery of a potent and selective inhibitor with biopharmaceutical properties suitable to sustain robust target inhibition in the clinical setting has proven challenging. Herein, we report the discovery of exarafenib (15), a highly potent and selective inhibitor that intercepts the RAF protein in the dimer compatible αC-helix-IN conformation and demonstrates anti-tumor efficacy in preclinical models with BRAF class I, II, and III and NRAS alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young K Chen
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Toufike Kanouni
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Lee D Arnold
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Jason M Cox
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Elisabeth Gardiner
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Kathryn Grandinetti
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Ping Jiang
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Stephen W Kaldor
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Catherine Lee
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Chun Li
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Eric S Martin
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Nichol Miller
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Eric A Murphy
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Noel Timple
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - John S Tyhonas
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Angie Vassar
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Tim S Wang
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Richard Williams
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Ding Yuan
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
| | - Robert S Kania
- Kinnate Biopharma, 12830 El Camino Real, Suite 150, San Diego, California 92130, United States
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3
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Huang C, Zhang K, Guo Y, Shen C, Liu X, Huang H, Dou X, Yu B. The crucial roles of m 6A RNA modifications in cutaneous cancers: Implications in pathogenesis, metastasis, drug resistance, and targeted therapies. Genes Dis 2023; 10:2320-2330. [PMID: 37554186 PMCID: PMC10404882 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant internal modification on RNA. It is a dynamical and reversible process, which is regulated by m6A methyltransferase and m6A demethylase. The m6A modified RNA can be specifically recognized by the m6A reader, leading to RNA splicing, maturation, degradation or translation. The abnormality of m6A RNA modification is closely related to a variety of biological processes, especially the occurrence and development of tumors. Recent studies have shown that m6A RNA modification is involved in the pathogenesis of skin cancers. However, the precise molecular mechanisms of m6A-mediated cutaneous tumorigenesis have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this review will summarize the biological characteristics of m6A modification, its regulatory role and mechanism in skin cancers, and the recent research progress of m6A-related molecular drugs, aiming to provide new ideas for clinical diagnosis and targeted therapy of cutaneous cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Huang
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Research Institute of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, China
| | - Kaoyuan Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Research Institute of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, China
| | - Yang Guo
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Research Institute of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, China
| | - Changbing Shen
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Research Institute of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, China
| | - Xiaoming Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Research Institute of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, China
| | - Haiyan Huang
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Research Institute of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, China
| | - Xia Dou
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Research Institute of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, China
| | - Bo Yu
- Department of Dermatology, Skin Research Institute of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, China
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4
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Das A, Ghose A, Naicker K, Sanchez E, Chargari C, Rassy E, Boussios S. Advances in adoptive T-cell therapy for metastatic melanoma. Curr Res Transl Med 2023; 71:103404. [PMID: 37478776 DOI: 10.1016/j.retram.2023.103404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) is a fast developing, niche area of immunotherapy (IO), which is revolutionising the therapeutic landscape of solid tumour oncology, especially metastatic melanoma (MM). Identifying tumour antigens (TAs) as potential targets, the ACT response is mediated by either Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) or genetically modified T cells with specific receptors - T cell receptors (TCRs) or chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) or more prospectively, natural killer (NK) cells. Clinical trials involving ACT in MM from 2006 to present have shown promising results. Yet it is not without its drawbacks which include significant auto-immune toxicity and need for pre-conditioning lymphodepletion. Although immune-modulation is underway using various combination therapies in the hope of enhancing efficacy and reducing toxicity. Our review article explores the role of ACT in MM, including the various modalities - their safety, efficacy, risks and their development in the trial and the real world setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparimita Das
- Department of Medical Oncology, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Windmill Road, ME7 5NY, Gillingham, Kent, United Kingdom; Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Chennai, India
| | - Aruni Ghose
- Department of Medical Oncology, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Windmill Road, ME7 5NY, Gillingham, Kent, United Kingdom; Department of Medical Oncology, Barts Cancer Centre, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom; Department of Medical Oncology, Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Naicker
- Department of Medical Oncology, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Windmill Road, ME7 5NY, Gillingham, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - Elisabet Sanchez
- Department of Medical Oncology, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Windmill Road, ME7 5NY, Gillingham, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - Cyrus Chargari
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Pitié Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Elie Rassy
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gustave Roussy Institut, 94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Stergios Boussios
- Department of Medical Oncology, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Windmill Road, ME7 5NY, Gillingham, Kent, United Kingdom; Kent and Medway Medical School, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom; Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, SE1 9RT, London, United Kingdom; AELIA Organization, 9th Km Thessaloniki, Thermi 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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5
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Barresi E, Baldanzi C, Roncetti M, Roggia M, Baglini E, Lepori I, Vitiello M, Salerno S, Tedeschi L, Da Settimo F, Cosconati S, Poliseno L, Taliani S. A cyanine-based NIR fluorescent Vemurafenib analog to probe BRAF V600E in cancer cells. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 256:115446. [PMID: 37182332 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115446] [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: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BRAF represents one of the most frequently mutated protein kinase genes and BRAFV600E mutation may be found in many types of cancer, including hairy cell leukemia (HCL), anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), colorectal cancer and melanoma. Herein, a fluorescent probe, based on the structure of the highly specific BRAFV600E inhibitor Vemurafenib (Vem, 1) and featuring the NIR fluorophore cyanine-5 (Cy5), was straightforwardly synthesized and characterized (Vem-L-Cy5, 3), showing promising spectroscopic properties. Biological validation in BRAFV600E-mutated cancer cells evidenced the ability of 3 to penetrate inside the cells, specifically binding to its elective target BRAFV600E with high affinity, and inhibiting MEK phosphorylation and cell growth with a potency comparable to that of native Vem 1. Taken together, these data highlight Vem-L-Cy5 3 as a useful tool to probe BRAFV600E mutation in cancer cells, and suitable to acquire precious insights for future developments of more informed BRAF inhibitors-centered therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Barresi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy; Center for Instrument Sharing of the University of Pisa (CISUP), University of Pisa, Lungarno Pacinotti 43/44, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Caterina Baldanzi
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy; Oncogenomics Unit, Core Research Laboratory, ISPRO, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marta Roncetti
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy; Oncogenomics Unit, Core Research Laboratory, ISPRO, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy; University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Michele Roggia
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Emma Baglini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Irene Lepori
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy; Oncogenomics Unit, Core Research Laboratory, ISPRO, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy; Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Marianna Vitiello
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy; Oncogenomics Unit, Core Research Laboratory, ISPRO, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Salerno
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy; Center for Instrument Sharing of the University of Pisa (CISUP), University of Pisa, Lungarno Pacinotti 43/44, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lorena Tedeschi
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Federico Da Settimo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy; Center for Instrument Sharing of the University of Pisa (CISUP), University of Pisa, Lungarno Pacinotti 43/44, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sandro Cosconati
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy
| | - Laura Poliseno
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy; Oncogenomics Unit, Core Research Laboratory, ISPRO, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Sabrina Taliani
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy; Center for Instrument Sharing of the University of Pisa (CISUP), University of Pisa, Lungarno Pacinotti 43/44, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
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6
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Khaled ML, Tarhini AA, Forsyth PA, Smalley I, Piña Y. Leptomeningeal Disease (LMD) in Patients with Melanoma Metastases. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15061884. [PMID: 36980770 PMCID: PMC10047692 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061884] [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: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) is a devastating complication caused by seeding malignant cells to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the leptomeningeal membrane. LMD is diagnosed in 5-15% of patients with systemic malignancy. Management of LMD is challenging due to the biological and metabolic tumor microenvironment of LMD being largely unknown. Patients with LMD can present with a wide variety of signs and/or symptoms that could be multifocal and include headache, nausea, vomiting, diplopia, and weakness, among others. The median survival time for patients with LMD is measured in weeks and up to 3-6 months with aggressive management, and death usually occurs due to progressive neurologic dysfunction. In melanoma, LMD is associated with a suppressive immune microenvironment characterized by a high number of apoptotic and exhausted CD4+ T-cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and a low number of CD8+ T-cells. Proteomics analysis revealed enrichment of complement cascade, which may disrupt the blood-CSF barrier. Clinical management of melanoma LMD consists primarily of radiation therapy, BRAF/MEK inhibitors as targeted therapy, and immunotherapy with anti-PD-1, anti-CTLA-4, and anti-LAG-3 immune checkpoint inhibitors. This review summarizes the biology and anatomic features of melanoma LMD, as well as the current therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Lotfy Khaled
- Metabolism and Physiology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 12613, Egypt
| | - Ahmad A Tarhini
- Departments of Cutaneous Oncology and Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Peter A Forsyth
- Neuro-Oncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Inna Smalley
- Metabolism and Physiology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Yolanda Piña
- Neuro-Oncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
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7
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Lang M, Longerich T, Anamaterou C. Targeted therapy with vemurafenib in BRAF(V600E)-mutated anaplastic thyroid cancer. Thyroid Res 2023; 16:5. [PMID: 36855200 PMCID: PMC9976495 DOI: 10.1186/s13044-023-00147-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies, representing less than 5% of all thyroid carcinomas. Τhe median survival is limited to months due to the resistance of ATC to surgery, radioiodine therapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This review will cover novel agents involving several cellular signaling pathways including the BRAF pathway. The BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib improves survival among patients with metastatic melanoma, hairy-cell leukemia and intracranial neoplasms with BRAF gene mutations. The frequency of a BRAF (V600E) mutation in ATC is about 25%. CASE PRESENTATION We report the first case of a marked partial response to adjuvant first line monotherapy with vemurafenib in BRAF V600E-mutated ATC. The 78-year-old man showed a sustained response for 7 months, thereafter scans revealed progressive disease and the patient died 10 months after first diagnosis. This case report is accompanied by a comprehensive review of current strategies and tools for ATC treatment. CONCLUSIONS This case and the review of current data confirm the benefit of BRAF inhibition in BRAF-mutated ATC, limited by acquired resistance to targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Lang
- Department of General-, Visceral- and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Thomas Longerich
- grid.5253.10000 0001 0328 4908Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Chrysanthi Anamaterou
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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Levati L, Bassi C, Mastroeni S, Lupini L, Antonini Cappellini GC, Bonmassar L, Alvino E, Caporali S, Lacal PM, Narducci MG, Molineris I, De Galitiis F, Negrini M, Russo G, D’Atri S. Circulating miR-1246 and miR-485-3p as Promising Biomarkers of Clinical Response and Outcome in Melanoma Patients Treated with Targeted Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153706. [PMID: 35954369 PMCID: PMC9367338 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153706] [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: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the significant improvements in advanced melanoma therapy, there is still a pressing need for biomarkers that can predict patient response and prognosis, and therefore support rational treatment decisions. Here, we investigated whether circulating miRNAs could be biomarkers of clinical outcomes in patients treated with targeted therapy. Using next-generation sequencing, we profiled plasma miRNAs at baseline and at progression in patients treated with BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) or BRAFi + MEKi. Selected miRNAs associated with response to therapy were subjected to validation by real-time quantitative RT-PCR . Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC), Kaplan–Meier and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed on the validated miR-1246 and miR-485-3p baseline levels. The median baseline levels of miR-1246 and miR-485-3p were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in the group of patients not responding to therapy (NRs) as compared with the group of responding patients (Rs). In Rs, a trend toward an increase in miR-1246 and a decrease in miR-485-3p was observed at progression. Baseline miR-1246 level and the miR-1246/miR-485-3p ratio showed a good ability to discriminate between Rs and NRs. Poorer PFS and OS were observed in patients with unfavorable levels of at least one miRNA. In multivariate analysis, a low level of miR-485-3p and a high miR-1246/miR-485-3p ratio remained independent negative prognostic factors for PFS, while a high miR-1246/miR-485-3p ratio was associated with an increased risk of mortality, although statistical significance was not reached. Evaluation of miR-1246 and miR-485-3p baseline plasma levels might help clinicians to identify melanoma patients most likely to be unresponsive to targeted therapy or at higher risk for short-term PFS and mortality, thus improving their management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauretta Levati
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy; (L.L.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (P.M.L.); (M.G.N.); (G.R.)
| | - Cristian Bassi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (C.B.); (L.L.); (M.N.)
- LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Simona Mastroeni
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy;
| | - Laura Lupini
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (C.B.); (L.L.); (M.N.)
| | - Gian Carlo Antonini Cappellini
- Department of Oncology and Dermatological Oncology, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy; (G.C.A.C.); (F.D.G.)
| | - Laura Bonmassar
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy; (L.L.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (P.M.L.); (M.G.N.); (G.R.)
| | - Ester Alvino
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Council of Research, Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Simona Caporali
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy; (L.L.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (P.M.L.); (M.G.N.); (G.R.)
| | - Pedro Miguel Lacal
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy; (L.L.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (P.M.L.); (M.G.N.); (G.R.)
| | - Maria Grazia Narducci
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy; (L.L.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (P.M.L.); (M.G.N.); (G.R.)
| | - Ivan Molineris
- Department of Life Science and System Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Turin, Italy;
| | - Federica De Galitiis
- Department of Oncology and Dermatological Oncology, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy; (G.C.A.C.); (F.D.G.)
| | - Massimo Negrini
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (C.B.); (L.L.); (M.N.)
- LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giandomenico Russo
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy; (L.L.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (P.M.L.); (M.G.N.); (G.R.)
| | - Stefania D’Atri
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy; (L.L.); (L.B.); (S.C.); (P.M.L.); (M.G.N.); (G.R.)
- Correspondence:
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9
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Sesquiterpene Lactone Deoxyelephantopin Isolated from Elephantopus scaber and Its Derivative DETD-35 Suppress BRAF V600E Mutant Melanoma Lung Metastasis in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063226. [PMID: 33810045 PMCID: PMC8004649 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a highly metastatic disease with an increasing rate of incidence worldwide. It is treatment refractory and has poor clinical prognosis; therefore, the development of new therapeutic agents for metastatic melanoma are urgently required. In this study, we created a lung-seeking A375LM5IF4g/Luc BRAFV600E mutant melanoma cell clone and investigated the bioefficacy of a plant sesquiterpene lactone deoxyelephantopin (DET) and its novel semi-synthetic derivative, DETD-35, in suppressing metastatic A375LM5IF4g/Luc melanoma growth in vitro and in a xenograft mouse model. DET and DETD-35 treatment inhibited A375LM5IF4g/Luc cell proliferation, and induced G2/M cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, A375LM5IF4g/Luc exhibited clonogenic, metastatic and invasive abilities, and several A375LM5IF4g/Luc metastasis markers, N-cadherin, MMP2, vimentin and integrin α4 were significantly suppressed by treatment with either compound. Interestingly, DET- and DETD-35-induced Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation and glutathione (GSH) depletion were found to be upstream events important for the in vitro activities, because exogenous GSH supplementation blunted DET and DETD-35 effects on A375LM5IF4g/Luc cells. DET and DETD-35 also induced mitochondrial DNA mutation, superoxide production, mitochondrial bioenergetics dysfunction, and mitochondrial protein deregulation. Most importantly, DET and DETD-35 inhibited lung metastasis of A375LM5IF4g/Luc in NOD/SCID mice through inhibiting pulmonary vascular permeability and melanoma cell (Mel-A+) proliferation, angiogenesis (VEGF+, CD31+) and EMT (N-cadherin) in the tumor microenvironment in the lungs. These findings indicate that DET and DETD-35 may be useful in the intervention of lung metastatic BRAFV600E mutant melanoma.
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10
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Alicea GM, Rebecca VW. Emerging strategies to treat rare and intractable subtypes of melanoma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2021; 34:44-58. [PMID: 32274887 PMCID: PMC7544642 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, possessing a diverse landscape of subtypes with distinct molecular signatures and levels of aggressiveness. Although immense progress has been achieved therapeutically for patients with the most common forms of this disease, little is known of how to effectively treat patients with rarer subtypes of melanoma. These subtypes include acral lentiginous (the rarest form of cutaneous melanoma; AL), uveal, and mucosal melanomas, which display variations in distribution across (a) the world, (b) patient age-groups, and (c) anatomic sites. Unfortunately, patients with these relatively rare subtypes of melanoma typically respond worse to therapies approved for the more common, non-AL cutaneous melanoma and do not have effective alternatives, and thus consequently have worse overall survival rates. Achieving durable therapeutic responses in these high-risk melanoma subtypes represents one of the greatest challenges of the field. This review aims to collate and highlight effective preclinical and/or clinical strategies against these rare forms of melanoma.
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11
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Pisarevsky E, Blau R, Epshtein Y, Ben-Shushan D, Eldar-Boock A, Tiram G, Koshrovski-Michael S, Scomparin A, Pozzi S, Krivitsky A, Shenbach-Koltin G, Yeini E, Fridrich L, White R, Satchi-Fainaro R. Rational Design of Polyglutamic Acid Delivering an Optimized Combination of Drugs Targeting Mutated BRAF and MEK in Melanoma. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2020; 3:2000028. [PMID: 35754977 PMCID: PMC9223483 DOI: 10.1002/adtp.202000028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Targeted therapies against cancer can relieve symptoms and induce remission, however, they often present limited duration of disease control, cause side effects and often induce acquired resistance. Therefore, there is a great motivation to develop a unique delivery system, targeted to the tumor, in which we can combine several active entities, increase the therapeutic index by reducing systemic exposure, and enhance their synergistic activity. To meet these goals, we chose the biocompatible and biodegradable poly(α,L-glutamic acid) (PGA) as a nanocarrier that facilitates extravasation-dependent tumor targeting delivery. The RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway when aberrantly activated in melanoma, can lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation, induced invasion, and reduced apoptosis. Here, we selected two drugs targeting this pathway; a MEK1/2 inhibitor (selumetinib; SLM) and a modified BRAF inhibitor (modified dabrafenib; mDBF), that exhibited synergism in vitro. We synthesized and characterized our nanomedicine of PGA conjugated to SLM and mDBF (PGA-SLM-mDBF). PGA-SLM-mDBF inhibited the proliferation of melanoma cells and decreased their migratory and sprouting abilities without inducing a hemolytic effect. Moreover, the polymer-2-drugs conjugate exhibited superior anti-tumor activity in comparison with the two separate polymer-drug conjugates in vitro and with free drugs in a mouse model of primary melanoma and prolonged survival at a lower dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgeni Pisarevsky
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Rachel Blau
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Yana Epshtein
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Dikla Ben-Shushan
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Anat Eldar-Boock
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Galia Tiram
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Shani Koshrovski-Michael
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Anna Scomparin
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Sabina Pozzi
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Adva Krivitsky
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Gal Shenbach-Koltin
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Eilam Yeini
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Lidar Fridrich
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Richard White
- Cancer Biology & Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ronit Satchi-Fainaro
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
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12
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Krattinger R, Ramelyte E, Dornbierer J, Dummer R. Is single versus combination therapy problematic in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma? Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2020; 14:9-23. [PMID: 31364890 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2019.1650641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: The development of immunotherapies and targeted therapies has changed the treatment approach in resectable, nonresectable, and metastatic melanoma. Because of their different pharmacological profiles, immunotherapies and/or targeted therapies have been studied in various combinations. Areas covered: We reviewed PubMed for most important clinical trials investigating efficacy and tolerability of combinatorial and single-agent approaches for the treatment of melanoma that were published up to June 2019. We discuss the most promising therapy approaches and highlight challenges of melanoma treatment. Expert opinion: Combinatorial approaches seem to be very promising in the treatment of resectable and advanced melanoma. Currently, dual immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) with nivolumab and ipilimumab offers the best first-line treatment option for patients with BRAF-wt and -mutated, advanced melanoma. It is therapy of choice in younger patients with good ECOG performance status and poor prognostic features, whereas ICI monotherapy should be preferred in elderly patients with advanced melanoma. Benefit-risk ratio, patient's QoL and expectations, as well as treatment costs have to be considered in the choice of treatment. However, to elucidate mechanisms of resistance, biomarkers of response and to better define personalized strategies in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma, larger clinical trials comparing combined versus sequential therapies are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Krattinger
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich , Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Egle Ramelyte
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich , Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Joëlle Dornbierer
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich , Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Reinhard Dummer
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich , Zurich, Switzerland
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13
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Rebecca VW, Herlyn M. Nongenetic Mechanisms of Drug Resistance in Melanoma. ANNUAL REVIEW OF CANCER BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cancerbio-030419-033533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Resistance to targeted and immune-based therapies limits cures in patients with metastatic melanoma. A growing number of reports have identified nongenetic primary resistance mechanisms including intrinsic microenvironment- and lineage plasticity–mediated processes serving critical functions in the persistence of disease throughout therapy. There is a temporally shifting spectrum of cellular identities fluidly occupied by therapy-persisting melanoma cells responsible for driving therapeutic resistance and metastasis. The key epigenetic, metabolic, and phenotypic reprogramming events requisite for the manifestation and maintenance of so-called persister melanoma populations remain poorly understood and underscore the need to comprehensively investigate actionable vulnerabilities. Here we attempt to integrate the field's observations on nongenetic mechanisms of drug resistance in melanoma. We postulate that the future design of therapeutic strategies specifically addressing therapy-persisting subpopulations of melanoma will improve the curative potential of therapy for patients with metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito W. Rebecca
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Meenhard Herlyn
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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14
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Li QS, Shen BN, Xu HJ, Ruan BF. Promising Strategies for Overcoming BRAF Inhibitor Resistance Based on Known Resistance Mechanisms. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2020; 20:1415-1430. [PMID: 32321411 DOI: 10.2174/1871520620666200422073622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Almost 50% of metastatic melanomas harbor BRAF mutations. Since 2011, BRAF inhibitors have exhibited striking clinical benefits in BRAF-mutant melanoma patients. Unfortunately, their therapeutic effects are often temporary. The resistance mechanisms vary and can be broadly classified as MAPK reactivation-dependent and -independent. Elucidation of these resistance mechanisms provides new insights into strategies for overcoming resistance. Indeed, several alternative treatment strategies, including changes in the mode of administration, combinations of BRAF and MEK inhibitors, and immunotherapy have been verified as beneficial to BRAF inhibitor-resistant melanoma patients. Prospect In this review, we discuss promising strategies for overcoming drug resistance and highlighting the prospects for discovering strategies to counteract BRAF inhibitor resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Shan Li
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Regulation for Major Diseases of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - Bang-Nian Shen
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Regulation for Major Diseases of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - Hua-Jian Xu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Regulation for Major Diseases of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - Ban-Feng Ruan
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Regulation for Major Diseases of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230601, China
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15
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Pandiaraja J. Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma and Targeted Therapy Based on the Biomarkers. Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.4103/ijmpo.ijmpo_204_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractMalignant melanoma is the most aggressive form of cutaneous malignancy. It accounts for more than 75% of cancer-related deaths among cutaneous malignancies. It accounts for <5% of cutaneous malignancy. Numerous biomarkers are used in malignant melanoma with varying clinical applications, including diagnostic purposes, prognosis, therapeutic purpose, and targeted therapy against melanoma. Systemic chemotherapy in malignant melanoma has little benefit compared to immunotherapy and targeted therapy. The observed overall survival with systemic chemotherapy is much less compared with targeted therapy in advanced or metastatic melanoma. Various targeted therapies are currently used in melanoma treatment including BRAF inhibitors such as vemurafenib and dabrafenib; MEK inhibitors such as trametinib; anti-CTLA-4 antibodies such as ipilimumab; and anti-programmed cell death 1 antibodies such as nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and pidilizumab. This study discusses the role of biomarkers and targeted therapies based on the biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayabal Pandiaraja
- Department of General Surgery, Care Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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16
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Yang X, Liang R, Liu C, Liu JA, Cheung MPL, Liu X, Man OY, Guan XY, Lung HL, Cheung M. SOX9 is a dose-dependent metastatic fate determinant in melanoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2019; 38:17. [PMID: 30642390 PMCID: PMC6330758 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-018-0998-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In this research, we aimed to resolve contradictory results whether SOX9 plays a positive or negative role in melanoma progression and determine whether SOX9 and its closely related member SOX10 share the same or distinct targets in mediating their functions in melanoma. Methods Immunofluorescence, TCGA database and qPCR were used to analyze the correlation between the expression patterns and levels of SOX9, SOX10 and NEDD9 in melanoma patient samples. AlamarBlue, transwell invasion and colony formation assays in melanoma cell lines were conducted to investigate the epistatic relationship between SOX10 and NEDD9, as well as the effects of graded SOX9 expression levels. Lung metastasis was determined by tail vein injection assay. Live cell imaging was conducted to monitor dynamics of melanoma migratory behavior. RHOA and RAC1 activation assays measured the activity of Rho GTPases. Results High SOX9 expression was predominantly detected in patients with distant melanoma metastases whereas SOX10 was present in the different stages of melanoma. Both SOX9 and SOX10 exhibited distinct but overlapping expression patterns with metastatic marker NEDD9. Accordingly, SOX10 was required for NEDD9 expression, which partly mediated its oncogenic functions in melanoma cells. Compensatory upregulation of SOX9 expression in SOX10-inhibited melanoma cells reduced growth and migratory capacity, partly due to elevated expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 and lack of NEDD9 induction. Conversely, opposite phenomenon was observed when SOX9 expression was further elevated to a range of high SOX9 expression levels in metastatic melanoma specimens, and that high levels of SOX9 can restore melanoma progression in the absence of SOX10 both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, overexpression of SOX9 can also promote invasiveness of the parental melanoma cells by modulating the expression of various matrix metalloproteinases. SOX10 or high SOX9 expression regulates melanoma mesenchymal migration through the NEDD9-mediated focal adhesion dynamics and Rho GTPase signaling. Conclusions These results unravel NEDD9 as a common target for SOX10 or high SOX9 to partly mediate their oncogenic events, and most importantly, reconcile previous discrepancies that suboptimal level of SOX9 expression is anti-metastatic whereas high level of SOX9 is metastatic in a heterogeneous population of melanoma. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-018-0998-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xintao Yang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Rui Liang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chunxi Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jessica Aijia Liu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - May Pui Lai Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xuelai Liu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - On Ying Man
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xin-Yuan Guan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hong Lok Lung
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Martin Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China.
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17
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Chen P, Chen F, Zhou B. The risk of dermatological toxicities of combined BRAF and MEK inhibition versus BRAF inhibition alone in melanoma patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cutan Ocul Toxicol 2018; 38:105-111. [PMID: 30501438 DOI: 10.1080/15569527.2018.1553180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the risk of dermatological toxicities of combined BRAF and MEK inhibition versus BRAF inhibition alone in melanoma patients. METHODS We considered relevant prospective randomized phase I, II, and III trials of melanoma patients on the combined BRAF and MEK inhibition versus BRAF inhibition, describing events of rash, photosensitivity reaction (PR), hyperkeratosis (HK), alopecia, cutaneous squamous-cell carcinom(cSCC), skin papilloma(SP), pruritus, and hand-foot syndrome(HFS), as eligible for inclusion. RESULTS Eight trials comprising 3163 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The relative risks(RRs) of developing all-grade rash with combined BRAF and MEK inhibition versus BRAF inhibition was 1.59 (95%CI, 1.35-1.86, p < 0.00001), HK 0.33(95%CI, 0.16-0.66, p = 0.002), SP 0.09(95%CI, 0.04-0.24, p < 0.00001), alopecia 0.30(95%CI, 0.19-0.48, p < 0.00001), cSCC 0.23(95%CI, 0.17-0.31, p < 0.00001), HFS 0.18(95%CI, 0.13-0.26, p < 0.00001) and PR 0.40(95%CI, 0.26-0.61, p < 0.0001), while the RRs of high-grade dermatological toxicities from all included trials were: rash 0.54(95%CI, 0.20-1.43, p = 0.21), HK 0.18(95%CI, 0.06-0.53, p = 0.002), SP 0.14(95%CI, 0.02-1.16, p = 0.07), alopecia 0.72(95%CI, 0.14-3.62, p = 0.69), cSCC 0.23(95%CI, 0.17-0.33, p < 0.00001), HFS 0.40(95%CI, 0.08-2.06, p = 0.27), and PR 0.14(95%CI, 0.04-0.51, p = 0.003), respectly. CONCLUSION Our analysis of data has demonstrated that combined BRAF and MEK inhibitor-based treatment is associated with an increased risk of all-grade rash and a decreased risk of all-grade and high-grade HK, SP, alopecia, cSCC, HFS, and PR compared with single BRAF inhibitor alone in melanoma patients. Appropriate prevention and management are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Chen
- a Department of Pharmacy , Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University , Wuhan , Hubei , P.R. China
| | - Fucaho Chen
- b Department of Pharmacy , Dongfeng Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine , Shiyan , Hubei , P.R. China
| | - Benhong Zhou
- a Department of Pharmacy , Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University , Wuhan , Hubei , P.R. China.,c School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Wuhan University , Wuhan , Hubei , P.R. China
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18
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Chen P, Chen F, Zhou B. Systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence of dermatological toxicities associated with vemurafenib treatment in patients with melanoma. Clin Exp Dermatol 2018; 44:243-251. [PMID: 30280426 DOI: 10.1111/ced.13751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- P. Chen
- Department of Pharmacy; Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University; Wuhan China
| | - F. Chen
- Department of Pharmacy; Dongfeng Hospital; Hubei University of Medicine; Shiyan China
| | - B. Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy; Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University; Wuhan China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Wuhan University; Wuhan China
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19
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Makino E, Gutmann V, Kosnopfel C, Niessner H, Forschner A, Garbe C, Sinnberg T, Schittek B. Melanoma cells resistant towards MAPK inhibitors exhibit reduced TAp73 expression mediating enhanced sensitivity to platinum-based drugs. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:930. [PMID: 30206212 PMCID: PMC6133963 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-0952-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The efficacy of targeted MAPK signalling pathway inhibitors (MAPKi) in metastatic melanoma therapy is limited by the development of resistance mechanisms that results in disease relapse. This situation still requires treatment alternatives for melanoma patients with acquired resistance to targeted therapy. We found that melanoma cells, which developed resistance towards MAPKi show an enhanced susceptibility to platinum-based drugs, such as cisplatin and carboplatin. We found that this enhanced susceptibility inversely correlates with the expression level of the p53 family member TAp73. We show that the lower expression of the TAp73 isoform in MAPKi-resistant melanoma cells enhances accumulation of DNA double-strand breaks upon cisplatin and carboplatin treatment by reducing the efficiency of nucleotide excision repair. These data suggest that a subgroup of melanoma patients with acquired resistance to MAPKi treatment and low TAp73 expression can benefit from chemotherapy with platinum-based drugs as a second-line therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Makino
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Vanessa Gutmann
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Corinna Kosnopfel
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Heike Niessner
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andrea Forschner
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Claus Garbe
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Sinnberg
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Birgit Schittek
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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20
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Wei X, Mao L, Chi Z, Sheng X, Cui C, Kong Y, Dai J, Wang X, Li S, Tang B, Lian B, Yan X, Bai X, Zhou L, Guo J, Si L. Efficacy Evaluation of Imatinib for the Treatment of Melanoma: Evidence From a Retrospective Study. Oncol Res 2018; 27:495-501. [PMID: 30075827 PMCID: PMC7848371 DOI: 10.3727/096504018x15331163433914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. Current studies show that imatinib treatment is a promising approach in treating advanced melanoma patients harboring c-Kit mutations or amplifications. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical medical records of 78 patients with metastatic melanoma harboring c-Kit mutations or amplifications. These patients were treated with imatinib at a dose of 400 mg/day continuously unless intolerable toxicities or disease progression occurred. Endpoints for exploration included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and disease of control rate (DCR). The median OS and PFS of all patients were 13.1 and 4.2 months, respectively. ORR and DCR were 21.8% and 60.3%, respectively. The survival time of patients who achieved partial response or stable disease was significantly superior to those with disease progression. Cox regression analysis showed that patients with M1c stage, subtype of cutaneous melanoma, or elevated LDH level (>upper limit of normal) had higher hazard ratios for overall survival. Our study, combined with those studies targeting patients with a c-Kit alteration, validates the role of imatinib as an important and promising therapeutic agent in the treatment of patients with advanced melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Wei
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Lili Mao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Zhihong Chi
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Xinan Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Chuanliang Cui
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yan Kong
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jie Dai
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Siming Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Bixia Tang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Bin Lian
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Xieqiao Yan
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Xue Bai
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Li Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jun Guo
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Lu Si
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, P.R. China
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21
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Kidger AM, Sipthorp J, Cook SJ. ERK1/2 inhibitors: New weapons to inhibit the RAS-regulated RAF-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 187:45-60. [PMID: 29454854 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The RAS-regulated RAF-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signalling pathway is de-regulated in a variety of cancers due to mutations in receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), negative regulators of RAS (such as NF1) and core pathway components themselves (RAS, BRAF, CRAF, MEK1 or MEK2). This has driven the development of a variety of pharmaceutical agents to inhibit RAF-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signalling in cancer and both RAF and MEK inhibitors are now approved and used in the clinic. There is now much interest in targeting at the level of ERK1/2 for a variety of reasons. First, since the pathway is linear from RAF-to-MEK-to-ERK then ERK1/2 are validated as targets per se. Second, innate resistance to RAF or MEK inhibitors involves relief of negative feedback and pathway re-activation with all signalling going through ERK1/2, validating the use of ERK inhibitors with RAF or MEK inhibitors as an up-front combination. Third, long-term acquired resistance to RAF or MEK inhibitors involves a variety of mechanisms (KRAS or BRAF amplification, MEK mutation, etc.) which re-instate ERK activity, validating the use of ERK inhibitors to forestall acquired resistance to RAF or MEK inhibitors. The first potent highly selective ERK1/2 inhibitors have now been developed and are entering clinical trials. They have one of three discrete mechanisms of action - catalytic, "dual mechanism" or covalent - which could have profound consequences for how cells respond and adapt. In this review we describe the validation of ERK1/2 as anti-cancer drug targets, consider the mechanism of action of new ERK1/2 inhibitors and how this may impact on their efficacy, anticipate factors that will determine how tumour cells respond and adapt to ERK1/2 inhibitors and consider ERK1/2 inhibitor drug combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Kidger
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, England, United Kingdom.
| | - James Sipthorp
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, England, United Kingdom
| | - Simon J Cook
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, England, United Kingdom.
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22
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Bronte E, Bronte G, Novo G, Rinaldi G, Bronte F, Passiglia F, Russo A. Cardiotoxicity mechanisms of the combination of BRAF-inhibitors and MEK-inhibitors. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 192:65-73. [PMID: 29964124 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Many new drugs have appeared in last years in the oncological treatment scenario. Each drug carries an important set of adverse events, not less, cardiovascular adverse events. This aspect is even more important considering the increasing use of combination therapies with two drugs, or three drugs as in some ongoing clinical trials. Besides it represents a growing problem for Cardiologists, that face it in every day clinical practice and that will face it probably more and more in the coming years. This work reviews the mechanism of action of BRAF-inhibitors and MEK-inhibitors used together, the pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to cardiovascular toxicity. Particularly, it focuses on hypertension and ejection fraction reduction development. Then, it follows the examination of published data for each combination therapy. A Literature research was carried out using Pubmed selecting review articles, original studies and clinical trials, but mainly focusing on phase 3 studies. This work aims to summarize the knowledge about BRAF-inhibitor and MEK-inhibitor treatment and its cardiovascular toxicity to make it usable and give the basic tools to Cardiologists and Oncologists for a better management of cancer patient undergoing this treatment. Besides a deeper knowledge of the cardiovascular adverse events linked to this treatment and the magnitude of their expression and frequency can lead to a targeted cardiological treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Bronte
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Bronte
- Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Novo
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Gaetana Rinaldi
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Bronte
- U.O.C. di Gastroenterologia, Ospedali Riuniti Villa Sofia-Cervello, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Passiglia
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Russo
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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23
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Manzini C, Venè R, Cossu I, Gualco M, Zupo S, Dono M, Spagnolo F, Queirolo P, Moretta L, Mingari MC, Pietra G. Cytokines can counteract the inhibitory effect of MEK-i on NK-cell function. Oncotarget 2018; 7:60858-60871. [PMID: 27563819 PMCID: PMC5308621 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncogene-targeted therapies based on mutated BRAF- and/or MEK-specific inhibitors have been developed for melanoma treatment. Although these drugs induce tumor regression in a high percentage of patients, clinical responses are frequently limited in time and tumors often recur. Recent studies suggested that the combination of BRAF/MEK inhibition with immunotherapy could represent a promising strategy for the cure of melanoma. NK cells are suitable effectors for tumor immunotherapy. Here we show that PLX4032 (a mutant BRAFV600 inhibitor) had no effect on the functional properties of NK cells cultured in the presence of IL-2 or IL-15. In contrast, PD0325901 (a MEK inhibitor) induced the down-regulation of the main activating NK receptors and inhibited NK cell function. Importantly, PD0325901 did not affect the anti-tumor activity of NK cells that had been exposed to a combination of IL-15 and IL-18. In addition, both PLX4032 and PD0325901 did not exert any inhibitory effect on in vitro IL-2 or IL-15 pre-activated NK cells. Our data may provide a rationale for future clinical protocols that combine IL-15/IL-18 cytokine administration with MEK inhibitors. In addition, they suggest that oncogene-targeting drugs are compatible with NK-based adoptive therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roberta Venè
- Oncologia Molecolare e Angiogenesi, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - Irene Cossu
- IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marina Gualco
- Anatomia Patologica, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simonetta Zupo
- Diagnostica Molecolare, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - Mariella Dono
- Diagnostica Molecolare, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Paola Queirolo
- Oncologia Medica 2, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Mingari
- Immunologia, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy.,Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gabriella Pietra
- Immunologia, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy.,Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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24
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Efficacy and safety of BRAF inhibition alone versus combined BRAF and MEK inhibition in melanoma: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Oncotarget 2018; 8:32258-32269. [PMID: 28416755 PMCID: PMC5458282 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent clinical studies have shown that combination therapy of BRAF and MEK inhibition provides more survival benefit than BRAF inhibition monotherapy. However, the adverse events due to BRAF and MEK inhibitors impact the physical comfort and social life of patients. Thus, in this study we have undertaken a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to compare the efficacy and adverse events risk between monotherapy and combination therapy. We identified the relevant studies by searching PubMed, EMBASE and Google scholar databases, between the year January 2000 and May 2016. Based on the heterogeneity, the fixed- or random-effects models were employed to analyze the efficacy and the incidence rate of adverse events. In addition, the subgroup analyses were conducted to overcome the effects of heterogeneity. Finally, our study included five RCTs, involving 1730 patients for this meta-analysis. The fixed-effects model demonstrated that combination therapy of BRAF and MEK inhibition provided more survival benefit in terms of ORR, PFS and OS (P < 0.00001). But, the combination therapy also significantly increased the incidences of pyrexia, chills, vomiting, chorioretinopathy, retinal detachment, hypertension, night sweats, increased aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase levels (P < 0.05) as compared to monotherapy. But, based on the significantly better survival outcomes, the combined BRAF and MEK inhibition will obviously be the mainstay therapy for the BRAF V600-mutant melanoma. However, a set of adverse events should be paid attention when physicians consider combination therapy.
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25
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Brugnara S, Sicher M, Bonandini EM, Donner D, Chierichetti F, Barbareschi M, Girardelli CR, Caffo O. Treatment with combined dabrafenib and trametinib in BRAFV600E-mutated metastatic malignant melanoma: a case of long-term complete response after treatment cessation. Drugs Context 2018; 7:212515. [PMID: 29483930 PMCID: PMC5819728 DOI: 10.7573/dic.212515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we report the case of a patient, diagnosed with BRAFV600E-mutated metastatic malignant melanoma M1a, who achieved a complete metabolic response after 7 months of treatment with the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib. After 31 months, the treatment was interrupted for patient’s decision. To date October 2017, 18 months after the interruption of the treatment with the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib, follow-up Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans are still documenting complete metabolic response.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Orazio Caffo
- Oncology Unit, S. Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy
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26
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Dietrich P, Kuphal S, Spruss T, Hellerbrand C, Bosserhoff AK. Wild-type KRAS is a novel therapeutic target for melanoma contributing to primary and acquired resistance to BRAF inhibition. Oncogene 2018; 37:897-911. [PMID: 29059159 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Malignant melanoma reveals rapidly increasing incidence and mortality rates worldwide. By now, BRAF inhibition is the standard therapy for advanced melanoma in patients carrying BRAF mutations. However, only approximately 50% of melanoma patients harbor therapeutically attackable BRAF mutations, and overall survival after treatment with BRAF inhibitors is modest. KRAS (Kirsten Rat sarcoma) proteins are acting upstream of BRAF and have a major role in human cancer. Recent approaches awaken the hope to use KRAS inhibition (KRASi) as a clinical tool. In this study, we identified wild-type KRAS as a novel therapeutic target in melanoma. KRASi functions synergistically with BRAF inhibition to reduce melanoma proliferation and to induce apoptosis independently of BRAF mutational status. Moreover, acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors in melanoma is dependent on dynamic regulation of KRAS expression with subsequent AKT and extracellular-signal regulated kinase activation and can be overcome by KRASi. This suggests KRASi as novel approach in melanoma-alone or in combination with other therapeutic regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Dietrich
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil-Fischer-Zentrum, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - S Kuphal
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil-Fischer-Zentrum, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - T Spruss
- Institute of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - C Hellerbrand
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil-Fischer-Zentrum, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen, Germany
| | - A K Bosserhoff
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil-Fischer-Zentrum, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen, Germany
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27
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Nihal M, Wood GS. c-CBL regulates melanoma proliferation, migration, invasion and the FAK-SRC-GRB2 nexus. Oncotarget 2018; 7:53869-53880. [PMID: 27472394 PMCID: PMC5288227 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most aggressive and lethal forms of skin cancer. Despite recent improvements in targeted therapies, many patients with advanced disease fail to achieve lasting tumor regression. Therefore, it is important to develop novel druggable targets that can be exploited to improve clinical outcome. Here, we studied the role of Casitas B-lineage lymphoma (c-CBL), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, in human melanoma. Employing quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis in a panel of human melanoma cell lines (A375, G361, Hs-294T, SK-Mel-2, SK-Mel-28 and 451Lu), we found that c-CBL is strongly expressed in human melanoma cells at the mRNA and protein levels. Further, we determined c-CBL levels in clinical samples of melanomas and benign melanocytic nevi, using quantitative Nuance multispectral imaging. Compared to benign nevi, melanomas showed an overlapping range of c-CBL immunoreactivity. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of c-CBL resulted in decreased proliferation, clonogenic survival and migration of melanoma cells. Furthermore, it also resulted in decreased cellular invasion in a 3D spheroid assay system. C-CBL and FAK are regulated by SRC, and FAK binds SRC and GRB2. C-CBL E3 ligase domain regulates receptor tyrosine kinase internalization through ubiquitination and its ring finger domain stabilizes the FAK-SRC-actin cytoskeleton thereby promoting cellular motility. C-CBL knockdown was associated with decreased protein and/or mRNA levels of SRC, FAK and GRB2. Taken together, we have provided evidence that c-CBL plays a role in melanoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion as well as inhibition of the FAK-GRB2-SRC nexus. Our findings indicate that additional studies are warranted to further dissect the role of c-CBL in melanoma and determine the therapeutic potential of its inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minakshi Nihal
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Gary S Wood
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Wm. S. Middleton VA Medical Centre, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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28
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Abstract
Drug resistance inevitably limits the efficacy of all targeted therapies including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Understanding the biological underpinnings of TKI resistance is key to the successful development of future therapeutic strategies. Traditionally, mechanisms of TKI resistance have been viewed under a dichotomous lens. Tumor cells are TKI-sensitive or TKI-refractory, exhibit intrinsic or acquired resistance, and accumulate alterations within or outside the target to promote their survival. Such classifications facilitate our comprehension of an otherwise complex biology, but are likely an oversimplification. Recent studies underscore the multifaceted, genetically heterogeneous nature of TKI resistance, which evolves dynamically with changes in therapy. In this Review, we provide a broad framework for understanding the diverse mechanisms of resistance at play in oncogene-driven lung cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J Lin
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, 32 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Alice T Shaw
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, 32 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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29
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Caporali S, Alvino E, Lacal PM, Ruffini F, Levati L, Bonmassar L, Scoppola A, Marchetti P, Mastroeni S, Antonini Cappellini GC, D'Atri S. Targeting the PTTG1 oncogene impairs proliferation and invasiveness of melanoma cells sensitive or with acquired resistance to the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib. Oncotarget 2017; 8:113472-113493. [PMID: 29371923 PMCID: PMC5768340 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The pituitary tumor transforming gene 1 (PTTG1) is implicated in tumor growth, metastasis and drug resistance. Here, we investigated the involvement of PTTG1 in melanoma cell proliferation, invasiveness and response to the BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) dabrafenib. We also preliminary assessed the potential value of circulating PTTG1 protein to monitor melanoma patient response to BRAFi or to dabrafenib plus trametinib. Dabrafenib-resistant cell lines (A375R and SK-Mel28R) were more invasive than their drug-sensitive counterparts (A375 and SK-Mel28), but expressed comparable PTTG1 levels. Dabrafenib abrogated PTTG1 expression and impaired invasion of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in A375 and SK-Mel28 cells. In contrast, it affected neither PTTG1 expression in A375R and SK-Mel28R cells, nor ECM invasion in the latter cells, while further stimulated A375R cell invasiveness. Assessment of proliferation and ECM invasion in control and PTTG1-silenced A375 and SK-Mel28 cells, exposed or not to dabrafenib, demonstrated that the inhibitory effects of this drug were, at least in part, dependent on its ability to down-regulate PTTG1 expression. PTTG1-silencing also impaired proliferation and invasiveness of A375R and SK-Mel28R cells, and counteracted dabrafenib-induced stimulation of ECM invasion in A375R cells. Further experiments performed in A375R cells indicated that PTTG1-silencing impaired cell invasiveness through inhibition of MMP-9 and that PTTG1 expression and ECM invasion could be also reduced by the CDK4/6 inhibitor LEE011. PTTG1 targeting might, therefore, represent a useful strategy to impair proliferation and metastasis of melanomas resistant to BRAFi. Circulating PTTG1 also appeared to deserve further investigation as biomarker to monitor patient response to targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Caporali
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Ester Alvino
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Council of Research, Rome, Italy
| | - Pedro Miguel Lacal
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Ruffini
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Lauretta Levati
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Bonmassar
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Scoppola
- Department of Oncology and Dermatological Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Marchetti
- Department of Oncology and Dermatological Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,UOC Oncologia, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Mastroeni
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Stefania D'Atri
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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30
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Development and Validation of a Simultaneous Quantification Method of 14 Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Human Plasma Using LC-MS/MS. Ther Drug Monit 2017; 39:43-54. [PMID: 27861317 DOI: 10.1097/ftd.0000000000000357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A sensitive liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method for the analysis in a small volume of plasma of 14 tyrosine kinase inhibitors currently used (imatinib, dasatinib, ibrutinib, ponatinib, trametinib, sunitinib, cobimetinib, dabrafenib, erlotinib, lapatinib, nilotinib, bosutinib, sorafenib, and vemurafenib) has been developed and validated. This multianalyte liquid chromatography coupled with MS/MS assay is of interest for anticancer drug combination therapy. METHODS After a simple protein precipitation of plasma samples, the chromatographic separation was performed using an ultra performance liquid chromatography system coupled with MS/MS in a positive ionization mode. The mobile phase consisted of a gradient elution of 10 mmol/L formate ammonium buffer containing 0.1% (vol/vol) formic acid (phase A) and acetonitrile with 0.1% (vol/vol) formic acid (phase B) at a flow rate of 300 μL/min. RESULTS The analysis time was 5.0 minutes per run, and all analytes and internal standard eluted within 1.45-1.79 minutes. The calibration curves were linear over the range from 1 to 500 ng/mL for bosutinib, cobimetinib, dasatinib, ibrutinib, and trametinib, from 5 to 500 ng/mL for ponatinib and sunitinib; from 50 to 2500 ng/mL for lapatinib; from 750 to 100,000 ng/mL for vemurafenib, and from 10 to 2500 ng/mL for dabrafenib, erlotinib, imatinib, nilotinib, and sorafenib, with coefficients of correlation above 0.99 for all analytes. The intra- and interday imprecisions were below 14.36%. CONCLUSIONS This method was successfully applied to therapeutic drug monitoring in clinical practice.
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31
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Chen P, Chen F, Zhou B. Therapeutic efficacy and safety of combined BRAF and MEK inhibition in patients with malignant melanoma: a meta-analysis. Onco Targets Ther 2017; 10:5391-5403. [PMID: 29180872 PMCID: PMC5692200 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s147438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Recent clinical studies have shown that initial therapy with combined BRAF and mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) inhibition is more effective in metastatic melanoma than single-agent BRAF inhibitors. However, the response rates with single-agent BRAF are low. Thus, the objective of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to compare the efficacy and adverse events risk between mono-therapy and combination therapy. Materials and methods Searches were made in PubMed and EMBASE electronic databases and conference abstracts published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology from 2000 to 2017. Outcomes included overall response, progression-free survival, and overall survival, as well as the incidence rate of adverse events. Results Eight trials comprising 2,664 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Patients with combined therapies showed superior results compared to those with BRAF inhibitors alone for the following: overall response rate (combined relative risk [RR] =1.34, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.24–1.45, P<0.00001), progression-free survival (combined hazards ratio [HR] =0.58, 95% CI: 0.52–0.64, P<0.00001), and overall survival rate (combined HR =0.70, 95% CI: 0.62–0.80, P<0.00001). Patients with combination therapies had higher incidence of adverse events including pyrexia (combined RR =2.00, 95% CI: 1.40–2.84), nausea (combined RR =1.41, 95% CI: 1.03–1.94), diarrhea (combined RR =1.50, 95% CI: 1.08–2.06), and vomiting (combined RR =1.87, 95% CI: 01.52–2.31) compared to those with BRAF inhibitors alone. Conclusion These data suggested that the combined BRAF and MEK inhibition was associated with a significant improvement in overall response, progression-free survival, and overall survival, but increased the incidence of adverse events among the patients with BRAF V600-mutated metastatic melanoma. Further large-scale, high-quality, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials are needed to confirm this conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei
| | - Fuchao Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Dongfeng Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei
| | - Benhong Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
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32
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Current Development Status of MEK Inhibitors. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22101551. [PMID: 28954413 PMCID: PMC6151813 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22101551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The current development status of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitors, including the preclinical data and clinical study progress, has been summarized in this review. Different MEK inhibitors, possessing specific physicochemical properties and bioactivity characteristics, may provide different options for patients seeking treatment for cancer. Moreover, the combination of the MEK inhibitors with other therapies-such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy-may be a promising approach for clinical use.
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33
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Germann UA, Furey BF, Markland W, Hoover RR, Aronov AM, Roix JJ, Hale M, Boucher DM, Sorrell DA, Martinez-Botella G, Fitzgibbon M, Shapiro P, Wick MJ, Samadani R, Meshaw K, Groover A, DeCrescenzo G, Namchuk M, Emery CM, Saha S, Welsch DJ. Targeting the MAPK Signaling Pathway in Cancer: Promising Preclinical Activity with the Novel Selective ERK1/2 Inhibitor BVD-523 (Ulixertinib). Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 16:2351-2363. [PMID: 28939558 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-0456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant activation of signaling through the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK (MAPK) pathway is implicated in numerous cancers, making it an attractive therapeutic target. Although BRAF and MEK-targeted combination therapy has demonstrated significant benefit beyond single-agent options, the majority of patients develop resistance and disease progression after approximately 12 months. Reactivation of ERK signaling is a common driver of resistance in this setting. Here we report the discovery of BVD-523 (ulixertinib), a novel, reversible, ATP-competitive ERK1/2 inhibitor with high potency and ERK1/2 selectivity. In vitro BVD-523 treatment resulted in reduced proliferation and enhanced caspase activity in sensitive cells. Interestingly, BVD-523 inhibited phosphorylation of target substrates despite increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2. In in vivo xenograft studies, BVD-523 showed dose-dependent growth inhibition and tumor regression. BVD-523 yielded synergistic antiproliferative effects in a BRAFV600E-mutant melanoma cell line xenograft model when used in combination with BRAF inhibition. Antitumor activity was also demonstrated in in vitro and in vivo models of acquired resistance to single-agent and combination BRAF/MEK-targeted therapy. On the basis of these promising results, these studies demonstrate BVD-523 holds promise as a treatment for ERK-dependent cancers, including those whose tumors have acquired resistance to other treatments targeting upstream nodes of the MAPK pathway. Assessment of BVD-523 in clinical trials is underway (NCT01781429, NCT02296242, and NCT02608229). Mol Cancer Ther; 16(11); 2351-63. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Alex M Aronov
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - Michael Hale
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | | | | | | | - Paul Shapiro
- University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Ramin Samadani
- University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kathryn Meshaw
- Charles River Discovery Services, Morrisville, North Carolina
| | - Anna Groover
- BioMed Valley Discoveries, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri
| | | | - Mark Namchuk
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - Saurabh Saha
- BioMed Valley Discoveries, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri
| | - Dean J Welsch
- BioMed Valley Discoveries, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Activating NRAS mutations occur in approximately 15-20% of melanomas and are the second most common oncogenic driver mutation in this disease, after BRAF mutations. There is an unmet medical need for new targeted therapy opportunities in metastatic patients whose tumors harbor an NRAS mutation. Binimetinib, a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor, has shown clinical activity in this group of patients. Areas covered: The purpose of this paper was to review the safety, activity and efficacy of the MEK inhibitor binimetinib for the treatment of NRAS-mutant melanoma, as well as to discuss future therapeutic perspectives such as multiple pathways, targeted therapy, and combinations with immunotherapy. Expert commentary: Only a modest progression-free survival (PFS) benefit was observed in NRAS-mutated patients who received binimetinib compared with dacarbazine in a randomized phase 3 clinical trial, with no improvement in overall survival. Nevertheless, binimetinib represents another promising treatment option for advanced melanoma and the first molecularly targeted therapy for the NRAS-mutant population. Binimetinib may also have a role in treating NRAS-mutated melanoma patients after failure of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Queirolo
- a Department of Medical Oncology , Ospedale Policlinico San Martino , Genova , Italy
| | - Francesco Spagnolo
- a Department of Medical Oncology , Ospedale Policlinico San Martino , Genova , Italy
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Shah A, Delgado-Goni T, Casals Galobart T, Wantuch S, Jamin Y, Leach MO, Robinson SP, Bamber J, Beloueche-Babari M. Detecting human melanoma cell re-differentiation following BRAF or heat shock protein 90 inhibition using photoacoustic and magnetic resonance imaging. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8215. [PMID: 28811486 PMCID: PMC5557970 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07864-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapies specific to the BRAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway have shown great promise in the treatment of malignant melanoma in the last few years, with these drugs now commonly used in clinic. Melanoma cells treated using these agents are known to exhibit increased levels of melanin pigment and tyrosinase activity. In this study we assessed the potential of non-invasive imaging approaches (photoacoustic imaging (PAI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) to detect melanin induction in SKMEL28 human melanoma cells, following inhibition of Hsp90 and BRAF signaling using 17-AAG and vemurafenib, respectively. We confirmed, using western blot and spectrophotometry, that Hsp90 or BRAF inhibitor-induced melanoma cell differentiation resulted in an upregulation of tyrosinase and melanin expression levels, in comparison to control cells. This post-treatment increase in cellular pigmentation induced a significant increase in PAI signals that are spectrally identifiable and shortening of the MRI relaxation times T 1 and [Formula: see text]. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the potential of MRI and PAI for detecting the downstream cellular changes induced by Hsp90 and BRAF-MEK-targeted therapies in melanoma cells with potential significance for in vivo imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anant Shah
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Imaging Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, London, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
- Joint Department of Physics, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, London, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
| | - Teresa Delgado-Goni
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Imaging Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, London, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
| | - Teresa Casals Galobart
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Imaging Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, London, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
| | - Slawomir Wantuch
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Imaging Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, London, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
| | - Yann Jamin
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Imaging Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, London, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
| | - Martin O Leach
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Imaging Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, London, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
| | - Simon P Robinson
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Imaging Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, London, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
| | - Jeffrey Bamber
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Imaging Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, London, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
- Joint Department of Physics, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, London, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom
| | - Mounia Beloueche-Babari
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Imaging Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, London, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom.
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Queirolo P, Dozin B, Morabito A, Banelli B, Piccioli P, Fava C, Leo C, Carosio R, Laurent S, Fontana V, Ferrucci PF, Martinoli C, Cocorocchio E, Battaglia A, Ascierto PA, Capone M, Simeone E, De Galitiis F, Pagani E, Antonini Cappellini GC, Marchetti P, Guida M, Tommasi S, Mandalà M, Merelli B, Quaglino P, Fava P, Guidoboni M, Romani M, Spagnolo F, Pistillo MP. Association of CTLA-4 Gene Variants with Response to Therapy and Long-term Survival in Metastatic Melanoma Patients Treated with Ipilimumab: An Italian Melanoma Intergroup Study. Front Immunol 2017; 8:386. [PMID: 28446908 PMCID: PMC5388686 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ipilimumab (IPI) blocks CTLA-4 immune checkpoint resulting in T cell activation and enhanced antitumor immunity. IPI improves overall survival (OS) in 22% of patients with metastatic melanoma (MM). We investigated the association of CTLA-4 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) with best overall response (BOR) to IPI and OS in a cohort of 173 MM patients. Patients were genotyped for six CTLA-4 SNVs (−1661A>G, −1577G>A, −658C>T, −319C>T, +49A>G, and CT60G>A). We assessed the association between SNVs and BOR through multinomial logistic regression (MLR) and the prognostic effect of SNVs on OS through Kaplan–Meier method. Both −1577G>A and CT60G>A SNVs were found significantly associated with BOR. In particular, the proportion of responders was higher in G/G genotype while that of stable patients was higher in A/A genotype. The frequency of patients experiencing progression was similar in all genotypes. MLR evidenced a strong downward trend in the probability of responsiveness/progression, in comparison to disease stability, as a function of the allele A “dose” (0, 1, or 2) in both SNVs with reductions of about 70% (G/A vs G/G) and about 95% (A/A vs G/G). Moreover, −1577G/G and CT60G/G genotypes were associated with long-term OS, the surviving patients being at 3 years 29.8 and 30.8%, respectively, as compared to 12.9 and 14.4% of surviving patients carrying −1577G/A and CT60G/A, respectively. MM patients carrying −1577G/G or CT60G/G genotypes may benefit from IPI treatment in terms of BOR and long-term OS. These CTLA-4 SNVs may serve as potential biomarkers predictive of favorable outcome in this subset of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Queirolo
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST-Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - Beatrice Dozin
- Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST-Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - Anna Morabito
- Unit of Tumor Epigenetics, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST-Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - Barbara Banelli
- Unit of Tumor Epigenetics, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST-Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy.,Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Patrizia Piccioli
- Unit of Cellular Biology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST-Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - Cristiana Fava
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST-Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - Claudio Leo
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST-Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - Roberta Carosio
- Unit of Tumor Epigenetics, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST-Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - Stefania Laurent
- Intergruppo Melanoma Italiano (IMI) and Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Fontana
- Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST-Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Martinoli
- Oncology of Melanoma Unit, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Angelo Battaglia
- Oncology of Melanoma Unit, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo A Ascierto
- Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapy Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione 'G. Pascale', Naples, Italy
| | - Mariaelena Capone
- Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapy Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione 'G. Pascale', Naples, Italy
| | - Ester Simeone
- Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapy Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione 'G. Pascale', Naples, Italy
| | - Federica De Galitiis
- Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata IDI-IRCCS, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Pagani
- Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata IDI-IRCCS, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Marchetti
- Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata IDI-IRCCS, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Medical Oncology, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Guida
- Department of Medical Oncology and Molecular Genetics Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy
| | - Stefania Tommasi
- Department of Medical Oncology and Molecular Genetics Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy
| | - Mario Mandalà
- Unit of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology and Hematology, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Barbara Merelli
- Unit of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology and Hematology, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Pietro Quaglino
- Dermatologic Clinic, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Paolo Fava
- Dermatologic Clinic, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Romani
- Unit of Tumor Epigenetics, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST-Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - Francesco Spagnolo
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST-Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Pistillo
- Unit of Tumor Epigenetics, IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST-Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
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Abl kinase regulation by BRAF/ERK and cooperation with Akt in melanoma. Oncogene 2017; 36:4585-4596. [PMID: 28368422 PMCID: PMC5552414 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Revised: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The melanoma incidence continues to increase, and the disease remains incurable for many due to its metastatic nature and high rate of therapeutic resistance. In particular, melanomas harboring BRAFV600E and PTEN mutations often are resistant to current therapies, including BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Abl kinases (Abl/Arg) are activated in melanomas and drive progression; however, their mechanism of activation has not been established. Here we elucidate a novel link between BRAFV600E/ERK signaling and Abl kinases. We demonstrate that BRAFV600E/ERK play a critical role in binding, phosphorylating and regulating Abl localization and Abl/Arg activation by Src family kinases. Importantly, Abl/Arg activation downstream of BRAFV600E has functional and biological significance, driving proliferation, invasion, as well as switch in epithelial-mesenchymal-transition transcription factor expression, which is known to be critical for melanoma cells to shift between differentiated and invasive states. Finally, we describe findings of high translational significance by demonstrating that Abl/Arg cooperate with PI3K/Akt/PTEN, a parallel pathway that is associated with intrinsic resistance to BRAFi and immunotherapy, as Abl/Arg and Akt inhibitors cooperate to prevent viability, cell cycle progression and in vivo growth of melanomas harboring mutant BRAF/PTEN. Thus, these data not only provide mechanistic insight into Abl/Arg regulation during melanoma development, but also pave the way for the development of new strategies for treating patients with melanomas harboring mutant BRAF/PTEN, which often are refractory to current therapies.
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Queirolo P, Spagnolo F. BRAF plus MEK-targeted drugs: a new standard of treatment for BRAF-mutant advanced melanoma. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2017; 36:35-42. [DOI: 10.1007/s10555-017-9660-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies for metastatic melanoma: A network meta-analysis. Cancer Treat Rev 2017; 54:34-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2017.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 01/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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40
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Pautu V, Leonetti D, Lepeltier E, Clere N, Passirani C. Nanomedicine as a potent strategy in melanoma tumor microenvironment. Pharmacol Res 2017; 126:31-53. [PMID: 28223185 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2017.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Revised: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma originated from melanocytes is the most aggressive type of skin cancer. Despite considerable progresses in clinical treatment with the discovery of BRAF or MEK inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies, the durability of response to treatment is often limited to the development of acquired resistance and systemic toxicity. The limited success of conventional treatment highlights the importance of understanding the role of melanoma tumor microenvironment in tumor developement and drug resistance. Nanoparticles represent a promising strategy for the development of new cancer treatments able to improve the bioavailability of drugs and increase their penetration by targeting specifically tumors cells and/or tumor environment. In this review, we will discuss the main influence of tumor microenvironment in melanoma growth and treatment outcome. Furthermore, third generation loaded nanotechnologies represent an exciting tool for detection, treatment, and escape from possible mechanism of resistance mediated by tumor microenvironment, and will be highlighted in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Pautu
- MINT, UNIV Angers, INSERM, CNRS, Université Bretagne Loire, IBS-CHU, 4 rue Larrey, F-49933 Angers, France
| | | | - Elise Lepeltier
- MINT, UNIV Angers, INSERM, CNRS, Université Bretagne Loire, IBS-CHU, 4 rue Larrey, F-49933 Angers, France
| | - Nicolas Clere
- MINT, UNIV Angers, INSERM, CNRS, Université Bretagne Loire, IBS-CHU, 4 rue Larrey, F-49933 Angers, France
| | - Catherine Passirani
- MINT, UNIV Angers, INSERM, CNRS, Université Bretagne Loire, IBS-CHU, 4 rue Larrey, F-49933 Angers, France.
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Combined Therapy with Dabrafenib and Trametinib in BRAF-Mutated Metastatic Melanoma in a Real-Life Setting: The INT Milan Experience. TUMORI JOURNAL 2016; 102:501-507. [DOI: 10.5301/tj.5000539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Combination therapy with dabrafenib and trametinib is safer and more effective than BRAF inhibitor-based monotherapy for metastatic melanoma. Methods We retrospectively analyzed BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma patients treated at our institution with daily oral dabrafenib 300 mg and trametinib 2 mg from November 2013 to April 2016. This clinical record included both untreated and previously treated stage IV melanomas. Physical examination and laboratory examinations were performed monthly and disease re-evaluations were performed every 3 months. Results A total of 48 patients (24 male, 24 female) with BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma received dabrafenib and trametinib; median age was 48 years (range 23-75). Median follow-up was 362.5 days (range 72-879). Best overall response rate consisted of 6.2% (3 patients) complete response, 64.6% (31) partial response, and 25% ( 12 ) stable disease; median time to best response was 11 weeks (range 5.7-125.5). Progression of disease was seen in 19 patients (39.6%), with median time to progression (TTP) of 26 weeks (range 8-54). A total of 15 patients (31.2%) died due to progression of disease. Median progression-free survival and median overall survival were not reached. To date, 30 patients (62.5%) are still under treatment. A total of 27 (56.2%) patients had at least one adverse event (AE); grade 3-4 AEs were seen in 4 cases (8.3%). The main toxicities were fever (25%), skin rash (14.6%), arthralgias (10.4%), and aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase increase (8.3%). Treatment dose was reduced in 7 subjects (14.6%), with only one case of discontinuation due to AE. Conclusions Our data, using combined targeted therapy, are in line with the scientific literature in terms of both safety and effectiveness in a real-life setting.
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Combined vemurafenib and fotemustine in patients with BRAF V600 melanoma progressing on vemurafenib. Oncotarget 2016; 9:12408-12417. [PMID: 29552321 PMCID: PMC5844757 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib achieves high response rate and an improvement in survival in patients with BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma. However, median progression-free survival is only 6.9 months in the phase 3 study. Retrospective analyses suggest that treatment with BRAF inhibitors beyond initial progression might be associated with improved overall survival. We aimed to prospectively investigate the activity of prolonged treatment with vemurafenib and the addition of fotemustine in patients with systemic progression on prior single-agent BRAF inhibitor. Patients and Methods In this two-centres, single-arm Phase 2 trial, we enrolled patients with systemic progressive disease during single-agent vemurafenib treatment. Participants received vemurafenib 960 mg twice daily or dose administered at time of disease progression with vemurafenib previous treatment and fotemustine 100 mg/m2 intravenously every three weeks. The primary endpoint was PFS. Results Thirty-one patients were enrolled in the study; 16 patients had brain metastases at baseline. Median PFS was 3.9 months and 19 patients (61.3%) achieved disease control (1 CR, 4 PR, 14 SD). For patients achieving disease control, median duration of treatment was 6 months. Median OS was 5.8 months from enrolment and 15.4 months from start of previous vemurafenib. Five patients (16.1%) had a G3-4 AE, the most common being thrombocytopenia, which occurred in 3 patients. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01983124. Conclusion The combination of vemurafenib plus fotemustine has clinical activity and an acceptable safety profile in BRAF-refractory patients.
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Kim A, Cohen MS. The discovery of vemurafenib for the treatment of BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2016; 11:907-16. [PMID: 27327499 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2016.1201057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the era of precision medicine and sophisticated modern genetics, the discovery of the BRAF(V600) inhibitor, vemurafenib, quickly became the model for targeted therapy in melanomas. As early as 2002, the majority of metastatic melanomas were described to harbor the BRAF(V600) mutation, setting the stage for an explosion of interest for targeting this protein as a novel therapeutic strategy. The highly selective BRAF(V600) inhibitor, vemurafenib, was identified initially through a large-scale drug screen. AREAS COVERED Here we examine vemurafenib's journey from discovery to clinical use in metastatic melanoma. Topics covered include preclinical data, single agent Phase 1,2 and 3 clinical trials, resistance issues and mechanisms, adverse effects including the development of squamous cell cancers, and combination trials. EXPERT OPINION Due to its tolerance, low toxicity profile, rapid tumor response, and improved outcomes in melanoma patients with BRAF(V600) mutations, vemurafenib was advanced rapidly through clinical trials to receive FDA approval in 2011. While its efficacy is well documented, durability has become an issue for most patients who experience therapeutic resistance in approximately 6-8 months. In addition, a concerning toxicity observed in patients taking the drug include development of localized cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). It is hypothesized that drug resistance and SCC development result from a similar paradoxical activation of protein signaling pathways, specifically MAPK. Identification of these mechanisms has led to additional treatment strategies involving new combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Kim
- a Department of Surgery , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA
| | - Mark S Cohen
- a Department of Surgery , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA
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Buscà R, Pouysségur J, Lenormand P. ERK1 and ERK2 Map Kinases: Specific Roles or Functional Redundancy? Front Cell Dev Biol 2016; 4:53. [PMID: 27376062 PMCID: PMC4897767 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2016.00053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The MAP kinase signaling cascade Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK has been involved in a large variety of cellular and physiological processes that are crucial for life. Many pathological situations have been associated to this pathway. More than one isoform has been described at each level of the cascade. In this review we devoted our attention to ERK1 and ERK2, which are the effector kinases of the pathway. Whether ERK1 and ERK2 specify functional differences or are in contrast functionally redundant, constitutes an ongoing debate despite the huge amount of studies performed to date. In this review we compiled data on ERK1 vs. ERK2 gene structures, protein sequences, expression levels, structural and molecular mechanisms of activation and substrate recognition. We have also attempted to perform a rigorous analysis of studies regarding the individual roles of ERK1 and ERK2 by the means of morpholinos, siRNA, and shRNA silencing as well as gene disruption or gene replacement in mice. Finally, we comment on a recent study of gene and protein evolution of ERK isoforms as a distinct approach to address the same question. Our review permits the evaluation of the relevance of published studies in the field especially when measurements of global ERK activation are taken into account. Our analysis favors the hypothesis of ERK1 and ERK2 exhibiting functional redundancy and points to the concept of the global ERK quantity, and not isoform specificity, as being the essential determinant to achieve ERK function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roser Buscà
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR7284, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre A. Lacassagne, Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing of Nice, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis Nice, France
| | - Jacques Pouysségur
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR7284, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre A. Lacassagne, Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing of Nice, University of Nice-Sophia AntipolisNice, France; Centre Scientifique de MonacoMonaco, Monaco
| | - Philippe Lenormand
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR7284, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre A. Lacassagne, Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing of Nice, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis Nice, France
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Rambow F, Bechadergue A, Luciani F, Gros G, Domingues M, Bonaventure J, Meurice G, Marine JC, Larue L. Regulation of Melanoma Progression through the TCF4/miR-125b/NEDD9 Cascade. J Invest Dermatol 2016; 136:1229-1237. [PMID: 26968260 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2016.02.803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Revised: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma progression from a primary lesion to a distant metastasis is a complex process associated with genetic alterations, epigenetic modifications, and phenotypic switches. Elucidation of these phenomena may indicate how to interfere with this fatal disease. The role of microRNAs as key negative regulators of gene expression, controlling all cellular processes including cell migration and invasion, is now being recognized. Here, we used in silico analysis of microRNA expression profiles of primary and metastatic melanomas and functional experiments to show that microRNA-125b (miR-125b) is a determinant candidate of melanoma progression: (i) miR-125b is more strongly expressed in aggressive metastatic than primary melanomas, (ii) there is an inverse correlation between the amount of miR-125b and overall patient survival, (iii) invasion/migration potentials in vitro are inversely correlated with the amount of miR-125b in a series of human melanoma cell lines, and (iv) inhibition of miR-125b reduces migratory and invasive potentials without affecting cell proliferation in vitro. Furthermore, we show that neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated protein 9 (i.e., NEDD9) is a direct target of miR-125b and is involved in modulating melanoma cell migration and invasion. Also, transcription factor 4, associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition and invasion, induces the transcription of miR-125b-1. In conclusion, the transcription factor 4/miR-125b/NEDD9 cascade promotes melanoma cell migration/invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Rambow
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM U1021, Normal and Pathological Development of Melanocytes, Orsay, France; Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR 3347, Orsay, France; Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Orsay, France
| | - Audrey Bechadergue
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM U1021, Normal and Pathological Development of Melanocytes, Orsay, France; Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR 3347, Orsay, France; Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Orsay, France
| | - Flavie Luciani
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Center for Human Genetics, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gwendoline Gros
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM U1021, Normal and Pathological Development of Melanocytes, Orsay, France; Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR 3347, Orsay, France; Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Orsay, France
| | - Melanie Domingues
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM U1021, Normal and Pathological Development of Melanocytes, Orsay, France; Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR 3347, Orsay, France; Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Orsay, France
| | - Jacky Bonaventure
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM U1021, Normal and Pathological Development of Melanocytes, Orsay, France; Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR 3347, Orsay, France; Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Orsay, France
| | - Guillaume Meurice
- Plateforme de Bioinformatique, UMS AMMICA, Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Marine
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Center for Human Genetics, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lionel Larue
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, INSERM U1021, Normal and Pathological Development of Melanocytes, Orsay, France; Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS UMR 3347, Orsay, France; Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Orsay, France.
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Mi Y, Mu C, Wolfram J, Deng Z, Hu TY, Liu X, Blanco E, Shen H, Ferrari M. A Micro/Nano Composite for Combination Treatment of Melanoma Lung Metastasis. Adv Healthc Mater 2016; 5:936-46. [PMID: 26890862 PMCID: PMC4837059 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201500910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Revised: 12/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The successful treatment of malignant disease generally requires the use of multiple therapeutic agents that are coordinated in a spatiotemporal manner to enable synergy. Here, a porous silicon-based micro/nano composite (MNC) that is capable of simultaneously delivering chemotherapeutic agents and small interfering RNA (siRNA) to the lungs following intravenous injection is designed. The pores of the silicon microparticles are loaded with B-Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase (BRAF) siRNA-containing liposomes, while the surface is conjugated with docetaxel-encapsulated polymeric nanoparticles. The synergistic antitumor effect of the MNC is demonstrated in vitro in melanoma cells and in vivo using a mouse model for melanoma lung metastasis. The MNC displays superior therapeutic efficacy and increased accumulation in metastatic melanoma lesions in the lungs in comparison to combination therapy with liposomes and polymers. The results indicate that the MNC can be used as an effective delivery vehicle for simultaneous enrichment of multiple therapeutic agents in the lungs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Mi
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Chaofeng Mu
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Joy Wolfram
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Zaian Deng
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Tony Ye Hu
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Xuewu Liu
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Elvin Blanco
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Haifa Shen
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Mauro Ferrari
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
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Spagnolo F, Picasso V, Spano L, Tanda E, Venzano C, Queirolo P. Update on Metastatic Uveal Melanoma: Progress and Challenges. BioDrugs 2016; 30:161-72. [DOI: 10.1007/s40259-016-0167-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Slimano F, Roessle C, Blanc C, De Maleissye MF, Bauler S. [Updates on prevention and treatment of melanoma: Pharmacist involvements and challenges]. ANNALES PHARMACEUTIQUES FRANÇAISES 2016; 74:335-49. [PMID: 26968263 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharma.2016.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is a skin cancer that represents an actual public health problem. Its incidence is increasing every year. Environmental risk factors have been clearly identified. Early diagnosis of a suspicious skin lesion should be possible by any health professionals because the prognosis is correlated with the evolution of the disease and the presence of metastases. The advent of new therapies in metastatic forms with the development of immunotherapies and kinases inhibitors has significantly changed the management of this disease. New therapies are available in retail pharmacies and involve health professionals out of the hospital. This article is intended for community and hospital pharmacists and summarizes recommendations for primary and secondary prevention. It updates on new targeted therapies. It wants to give advices to the community pharmacists about the effective use of those treatments for melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Slimano
- Département de pharmacie clinique, Gustave-Roussy cancer campus, 114, rue Édouard-Vaillant, 94805 Villejuif, France; Laboratoire de pharmacologie et pharmacocinétique, UFR de pharmacie, université de Reims-Champagne-Ardenne, 51, rue Cognacq-Jay, 51100 Reims, France; Unité MEDyC, UMR CNRS/URCA, université de Reims-Champagne-Ardenne, 51, rue Cognacq-Jay, 51100 Reims, France.
| | - C Roessle
- Département de pharmacie clinique, Gustave-Roussy cancer campus, 114, rue Édouard-Vaillant, 94805 Villejuif, France
| | - C Blanc
- Service de pharmacie, hôpital Ambroise-Paré, 9, avenue Charles-de-Gaulle, 92104 Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - M-F De Maleissye
- Service de dermatologie, hôpital Ambroise-Paré, 9, avenue Charles-de-Gaulle, 92104 Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - S Bauler
- Service de pharmacie, hôpital Ambroise-Paré, 9, avenue Charles-de-Gaulle, 92104 Boulogne-Billancourt, France
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Spagnolo F, Picasso V, Lambertini M, Ottaviano V, Dozin B, Queirolo P. Survival of patients with metastatic melanoma and brain metastases in the era of MAP-kinase inhibitors and immunologic checkpoint blockade antibodies: A systematic review. Cancer Treat Rev 2016; 45:38-45. [PMID: 26975020 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2016.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Revised: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of brain metastases (BM) in melanoma patients is common and associated with poor prognosis. MAP-kinase inhibitors and immunologic checkpoint blockade antibodies led to improved survival of metastatic melanoma patients; however, patients with BM are under-represented or excluded from the majority of clinical trials and the impact of new drugs on their survival is less clear. With the present systematic review, we aimed to analyze outcomes of patients with melanoma BM treated with the new drugs, both in the setting of phase I-II-III clinical trials and in the "real world". METHODS An electronic search was performed to identify studies reporting survival outcomes of patients with melanoma BM treated with MAP-kinase inhibitors and/or immunologic checkpoint blockade antibodies, regardless of study design. RESULTS Twenty-two studies were included for a total of 2153 patients. Median OS was 7.9 months in phase I-II-III trials and 7.7 months in "real world" studies. In clinical trials, median OS was 7.0 months for patients treated with immunotherapy and 7.9 months for patients treated with BRAF inhibitors. In "real world" studies, median OS was 4.3 months and 7.7 months for patients treated with immunotherapy and BRAF inhibitors, respectively. Evidence of clinical activity exists for both immunotherapy and MAP-kinase inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS MAP-kinase inhibitors and immunologic checkpoint blockade antibodies have clinical activity and may achieve improved OS in patients with metastatic melanoma and BM. These results support the inclusion of patients with BM in investigations of new agents and new treatment regimens for metastatic melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Spagnolo
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, IRCCS AOU San Martino, IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy.
| | - Virginia Picasso
- Department of Medical Oncology, U.O. Oncologia Medica 2, IRCCS AOU San Martino, IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - Matteo Lambertini
- Department of Medical Oncology, U.O. Oncologia Medica 2, IRCCS AOU San Martino, IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Ottaviano
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St George's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Beatrice Dozin
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, IRCCS AOU San Martino, IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - Paola Queirolo
- Department of Medical Oncology, U.O. Oncologia Medica 2, IRCCS AOU San Martino, IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
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50
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Chen J, Jiang CC, Jin L, Zhang XD. Regulation of PD-L1: a novel role of pro-survival signalling in cancer. Ann Oncol 2015; 27:409-16. [PMID: 26681673 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdv615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 561] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Evasion of immune system is a hallmark of cancer, which enables cancer cells to escape the attack from immune cells. Cancer cells can express many immune inhibitory signalling proteins to cause immune cell dysfunction and apoptosis. One of these inhibitory molecules is programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1), which binds to programmed death-1 (PD-1) expressed on T-cells, B-cells, dendritic cells and natural killer T-cells to suppress anti-cancer immunity. Therefore, anti-PD-L1 and anti-PD-1 antibodies have been used for the treatment of cancer, showing promising outcomes. However, only a proportion of patients respond to the treatments. Further understanding of the regulation of PD-L1 expression could be helpful for the improvement of anti-PD-L1 and anti-PD-1 treatments. Studies have shown that PD-L1 expression is regulated by signalling pathways, transcriptional factors and epigenetic factors. In this review, we summarise the recent progress of the regulation of PD-L1 expression in cancer cells and propose a regulatory model for unified explanation. Both PI3K and MAPK pathways are involved in PD-L1 regulation but the downstream molecules that control PD-L1 and cell proliferation may differ. Transcriptional factors hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and signal transducer and activation of transcription-3 act on the promoter of PD-L1 to regulate its expression. In addition, microRNAs including miR-570, miR-513, miR-197, miR-34a and miR-200 negatively regulate PD-L1. Clinically, it could increase treatment efficacy of targeted therapy by choosing those molecules that control both PD-L1 expression and cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Chen
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane
| | - C C Jiang
- School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - L Jin
- School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - X D Zhang
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle
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