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Clavería-Cabello A, Herranz JM, Latasa MU, Arechederra M, Uriarte I, Pineda-Lucena A, Prosper F, Berraondo P, Alonso C, Sangro B, García Marin JJ, Martinez-Chantar ML, Ciordia S, Corrales FJ, Francalanci P, Alaggio R, Zucman-Rossi J, Indersie E, Cairo S, Domingo-Sàbat M, Zanatto L, Sancho-Bru P, Armengol C, Berasain C, Fernandez-Barrena MG, Avila MA. Identification and experimental validation of druggable epigenetic targets in hepatoblastoma. J Hepatol 2023; 79:989-1005. [PMID: 37302584 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most frequent childhood liver cancer. Patients with aggressive tumors have limited therapeutic options; therefore, a better understanding of HB pathogenesis is needed to improve treatment. HBs have a very low mutational burden; however, epigenetic alterations are increasingly recognized. We aimed to identify epigenetic regulators consistently dysregulated in HB and to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of their targeting in clinically relevant models. METHODS We performed a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of 180 epigenetic genes. Data from fetal, pediatric, adult, peritumoral (n = 72) and tumoral (n = 91) tissues were integrated. Selected epigenetic drugs were tested in HB cells. The most relevant epigenetic target identified was validated in primary HB cells, HB organoids, a patient-derived xenograft model, and a genetic mouse model. Transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic mechanistic analyses were performed. RESULTS Altered expression of genes regulating DNA methylation and histone modifications was consistently observed in association with molecular and clinical features of poor prognosis. The histone methyltransferase G9a was markedly upregulated in tumors with epigenetic and transcriptomic traits of increased malignancy. Pharmacological targeting of G9a significantly inhibited growth of HB cells, organoids and patient-derived xenografts. Development of HB induced by oncogenic forms of β-catenin and YAP1 was ablated in mice with hepatocyte-specific deletion of G9a. We observed that HBs undergo significant transcriptional rewiring in genes involved in amino acid metabolism and ribosomal biogenesis. G9a inhibition counteracted these pro-tumorigenic adaptations. Mechanistically, G9a targeting potently repressed the expression of c-MYC and ATF4, master regulators of HB metabolic reprogramming. CONCLUSIONS HBs display a profound dysregulation of the epigenetic machinery. Pharmacological targeting of key epigenetic effectors exposes metabolic vulnerabilities that can be leveraged to improve the treatment of these patients. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS In spite of recent advances in the management of hepatoblastoma (HB), treatment resistance and drug toxicity are still major concerns. This systematic study reveals the remarkable dysregulation in the expression of epigenetic genes in HB tissues. Through pharmacological and genetic experimental approaches, we demonstrate that the histone-lysine-methyltransferase G9a is an excellent drug target in HB, which can also be harnessed to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy. Furthermore, our study highlights the profound pro-tumorigenic metabolic rewiring of HB cells orchestrated by G9a in coordination with the c-MYC oncogene. From a broader perspective, our findings suggest that anti-G9a therapies may also be effective in other c-MYC-dependent tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jose Maria Herranz
- Hepatology Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Ujue Latasa
- Hepatology Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Arechederra
- Hepatology Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Iker Uriarte
- Hepatology Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Felipe Prosper
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain; Oncohematology Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Pedro Berraondo
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, CIMA, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERonc, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Bruno Sangro
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain; Hepatology Unit, CCUN, Navarra University Clinic, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Jose Juan García Marin
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Experimental Hepatology and Drug Targeting (HEVEFARM), University of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Maria Luz Martinez-Chantar
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Liver Disease Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CICbioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, Spain
| | - Sergio Ciordia
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, CNB-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando José Corrales
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Functional Proteomics Laboratory, CNB-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paola Francalanci
- Pathology Unit, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Alaggio
- Pathology Unit, Children's Hospital Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Jessica Zucman-Rossi
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, INSERM, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
| | | | - Stefano Cairo
- XenTech, Evry-Courcouronnes, France; Champions Oncology, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Montserrat Domingo-Sàbat
- Childhood Liver Oncology Group, Program of Predictive and Personalized Medicine of Cancer (PMPCC), Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Laura Zanatto
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pau Sancho-Bru
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carolina Armengol
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Childhood Liver Oncology Group, Program of Predictive and Personalized Medicine of Cancer (PMPCC), Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Spain
| | - Carmen Berasain
- Hepatology Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Maite García Fernandez-Barrena
- Hepatology Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain.
| | - Matias Antonio Avila
- Hepatology Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain.
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2
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Wang H, Lu J, Stevens T, Roberts A, Mandel J, Avula R, Ma B, Wu Y, Wang J, Land CV, Finkel T, Vockley JE, Airik M, Airik R, Muzumdar R, Gong Z, Torbenson MS, Prochownik EV. Premature aging and reduced cancer incidence associated with near-complete body-wide Myc inactivation. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112830. [PMID: 37481724 PMCID: PMC10591215 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
MYC proto-oncogene dysregulation alters metabolism, translation, and other functions in ways that support tumor induction and maintenance. Although Myc+/- mice are healthier and longer-lived than control mice, the long-term ramifications of more complete Myc loss remain unknown. We now describe the chronic consequences of body-wide Myc inactivation initiated postnatally. "MycKO" mice acquire numerous features of premature aging, including altered body composition and habitus, metabolic dysfunction, hepatic steatosis, and dysregulation of gene sets involved in functions that normally deteriorate with aging. Yet, MycKO mice have extended lifespans that correlate with a 3- to 4-fold lower lifetime cancer incidence. Aging tissues from normal mice and humans also downregulate Myc and gradually alter many of the same Myc target gene sets seen in MycKO mice. Normal aging and its associated cancer predisposition are thus highly linked via Myc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huabo Wang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Jie Lu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Taylor Stevens
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Alexander Roberts
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Jordan Mandel
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Raghunandan Avula
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA; The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Bingwei Ma
- Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yijen Wu
- Department of Developmental Biology, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jinglin Wang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA; Central South University, Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
| | - Clinton Van't Land
- Division of Medical Genetics, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Toren Finkel
- Division of Cardiology, The Department of Internal Medicine and the UPMC Aging Institute, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Jerry E Vockley
- Division of Medical Genetics, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Merlin Airik
- Division of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Rannar Airik
- Division of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Radhika Muzumdar
- Division of Endocrinology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Zhenwei Gong
- Division of Endocrinology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Michel S Torbenson
- Division of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Edward V Prochownik
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Hillman Cancer Center of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
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3
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Fang J, Singh S, Cheng C, Natarajan S, Sheppard H, Abu-Zaid A, Durbin AD, Lee HW, Wu Q, Steele J, Connelly JP, Jin H, Chen W, Fan Y, Pruett-Miller SM, Rehg JE, Koo SC, Santiago T, Emmons J, Cairo S, Wang R, Glazer ES, Murphy AJ, Chen T, Davidoff AM, Armengol C, Easton J, Chen X, Yang J. Genome-wide mapping of cancer dependency genes and genetic modifiers of chemotherapy in high-risk hepatoblastoma. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4003. [PMID: 37414763 PMCID: PMC10326052 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39717-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A lack of relevant genetic models and cell lines hampers our understanding of hepatoblastoma pathogenesis and the development of new therapies for this neoplasm. Here, we report an improved MYC-driven hepatoblastoma-like murine model that recapitulates the pathological features of embryonal type of hepatoblastoma, with transcriptomics resembling the high-risk gene signatures of the human disease. Single-cell RNA-sequencing and spatial transcriptomics identify distinct subpopulations of hepatoblastoma cells. After deriving cell lines from the mouse model, we map cancer dependency genes using CRISPR-Cas9 screening and identify druggable targets shared with human hepatoblastoma (e.g., CDK7, CDK9, PRMT1, PRMT5). Our screen also reveals oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in hepatoblastoma that engage multiple, druggable cancer signaling pathways. Chemotherapy is critical for human hepatoblastoma treatment. A genetic mapping of doxorubicin response by CRISPR-Cas9 screening identifies modifiers whose loss-of-function synergizes with (e.g., PRKDC) or antagonizes (e.g., apoptosis genes) the effect of chemotherapy. The combination of PRKDC inhibition and doxorubicin-based chemotherapy greatly enhances therapeutic efficacy. These studies provide a set of resources including disease models suitable for identifying and validating potential therapeutic targets in human high-risk hepatoblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Fang
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Shivendra Singh
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Changde Cheng
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sivaraman Natarajan
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Heather Sheppard
- Comparative Pathology Core, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Ahmed Abu-Zaid
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Adam D Durbin
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Ha Won Lee
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Qiong Wu
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jacob Steele
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering (CAGE), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jon P Connelly
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering (CAGE), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hongjian Jin
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Wenan Chen
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yiping Fan
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Shondra M Pruett-Miller
- Center for Advanced Genome Engineering (CAGE), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jerold E Rehg
- Comparative Pathology Core, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Selene C Koo
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Teresa Santiago
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Joseph Emmons
- VPC Diagnostic Laboratory, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Stefano Cairo
- Champions Oncology, 1330 Piccard dr, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Ruoning Wang
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disease, Hematology/Oncology & BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Evan S Glazer
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 910 Madison Ave., Suite 325, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Andrew J Murphy
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 910 Madison Ave., Suite 325, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Taosheng Chen
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Andrew M Davidoff
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 910 Madison Ave., Suite 325, Memphis, TN, USA
- St Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Carolina Armengol
- Childhood Liver Oncology Group, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Translational Program in Cancer Research (CARE), Badalona, Spain
- CIBER, Hepatic and Digestive Diseases, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERehd, Madrid, Spain
| | - John Easton
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
- St Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
- St Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
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4
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Mo S, Shen X, Wang Y, Liu Y, Sugasawa T, Yang Z, Gu W, Nakajima T. Systematic single-cell dissecting reveals heterogeneous oncofetal reprogramming in the tumor microenvironment of gastric cancer. Hum Cell 2023; 36:689-701. [PMID: 36662371 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-00856-z] [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: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Oncofetal reprogramming of the tumor microenvironment is clinically relevant. This study used the non-negative matrix factorial (NMF) algorithm for single-cell RNA sequencing data of gastric cancer (GC) based on embryonic stem genes. Pseudotime analysis, cell-cell interaction analysis, and SCENIC analysis revealed that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), tumor-associated endothelial cells (TECs), and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have different oncofetal reprogramming that affects cell function, enhances intercellular communication, and activates multiple transcription factors in these cells. Furthermore, based on the signatures of the newly defined oncofetal cell subtypes and expression profiles of large cohorts in GC patients, we determined that GJA1 + TEC-C2, IFITM1 + CAF-C3, PODXL + TEC-C1, SFRP2 + CAF-C2, and SRSF7 + CAF-C1 are crucial prognostic factors for GC patients and predictors of immune checkpoint blockade in GC. Cell subtypes were validated by immunohistochemical methods. Our novel, profound, and systematic analysis of the oncofetal reprogramming of GC may facilitate the development of improved drugs for treating GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaocong Mo
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
| | - Xin Shen
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Yulin Wang
- Department of Nephrology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - YunPeng Liu
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan
| | - Takehito Sugasawa
- Laboratory of Clinical Examination and Sports Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8577, Japan
| | - ZongCheng Yang
- Department of Stomatology, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230001, Anhui, China
| | - Wenchao Gu
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan. .,Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan.
| | - Takahito Nakajima
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan
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5
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Wang H, Stevens T, Lu J, Airik M, Airik R, Prochownik EV. Disruption of Multiple Overlapping Functions Following Stepwise Inactivation of the Extended Myc Network. Cells 2022; 11:cells11244087. [PMID: 36552851 PMCID: PMC9777503 DOI: 10.3390/cells11244087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Myc, a member of the "Myc Network" of bHLH-ZIP transcription factors, supervises proliferation, metabolism, and translation. It also engages in crosstalk with the related "Mlx Network" to co-regulate overlapping genes and functions. We investigated the consequences of stepwise conditional inactivation of Myc and Mlx in primary and SV40 T-antigen-immortalized murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Myc-knockout (MycKO) and Myc × Mlx "double KO" (DKO)-but not MlxKO-primary MEFs showed rapid growth arrest and displayed features of accelerated aging and senescence. However, DKO MEFs soon resumed proliferating, indicating that durable growth arrest requires an intact Mlx network. All three KO MEF groups deregulated multiple genes and functions pertaining to aging, senescence, and DNA damage recognition/repair. Immortalized KO MEFs proliferated in Myc's absence while demonstrating variable degrees of widespread genomic instability and sensitivity to genotoxic agents. Finally, compared to primary MycKO MEFs, DKO MEFs selectively downregulated numerous gene sets associated with the p53 and retinoblastoma (Rb) pathways and G2/M arrest. Thus, the reversal of primary MycKO MEF growth arrest by either Mlx loss or SV40 T-antigen immortalization appears to involve inactivation of the p53 and/or Rb pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huabo Wang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Taylor Stevens
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Jie Lu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Merlin Airik
- Division of Nephrology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Rannar Airik
- Division of Nephrology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Edward V. Prochownik
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
- The Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- The UPMC Hillman Comprehensive Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 25232, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-412-692-6795
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6
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Gong W, Han Z, Fang F, Chen L. Yap Expression Is Closely Related to Tumor Angiogenesis and Poor Prognosis in Hepatoblastoma. Fetal Pediatr Pathol 2022; 41:929-939. [PMID: 34978260 DOI: 10.1080/15513815.2021.2020384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Background: Hepatoblastoma (HB) is malignant embryonal tumor typically arising in infants and young children. Yes-associated protein (YAP) is aberrantly activated in various tumors; however, the role of YAP in hepatoblastoma is still unexplored. Methods: We assessed YAP expression in hepatoblastoma using immunohistochemistry. The relationships to clinicopathology and survival were analyzed. Results: Positive rate of YAP expression was higher in hepatoblastoma than in adjacent tissues. YAP overexpression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and vascular invasion. Both epithelial and mixed histological types expressed YAP, but high expression was more frequent in MT. YAP expression correlated with VEGF expression, high microvascular density and low overall survival. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that YAP was an independent prognostic factor for survival in children with hepatoblastoma. Conclusion: In hepatoblastoma, YAP may promote VEGF induced angiogenesis and metastases, with resulting poorer prognosis, representing a potential adverse prognostic marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenchen Gong
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhiqiang Han
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Department of Anesthesiology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Feng Fang
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary Cancer, Liver Cancer Research Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Lu Chen
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary Cancer, Liver Cancer Research Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
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7
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Kitamura H, Takeda H, Motohashi H. Genetic, Metabolic and Immunological Features of Cancers with NRF2 Addiction. FEBS Lett 2022; 596:1981-1993. [PMID: 35899372 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (NRF2) is a master transcription factor that coordinately regulates the expression of many cytoprotective genes and plays a central role in defense mechanisms against oxidative and electrophilic insults. Although increased NRF2 activity is principally beneficial for our health, NRF2 activation in cancer cells is detrimental. Many human cancers exhibit persistent NRF2 activation and such cancer cells rely on NRF2 for most of their malignant characteristics, such as therapeutic resistance and aggressive tumorigenesis, and thus fall into NRF2 addiction. The persistent activation of NRF2 confers great advantages on cancer cells, whereas it is not tolerated by normal cells, suggesting that certain requirements are necessary for a cell to exploit NRF2 and evolve into malignant a cancer cell. In this review, recent reports and data on the genetic, metabolic and immunological features of NRF2-activated cancer cells are summarized, and prerequisites for NRF2 addiction in cancer cells and their therapeutic applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kitamura
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Haruna Takeda
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hozumi Motohashi
- Department of Gene Expression Regulation, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
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8
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Wu PV, Rangaswami A. Current Approaches in Hepatoblastoma-New Biological Insights to Inform Therapy. Curr Oncol Rep 2022; 24:1209-1218. [PMID: 35438389 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-022-01230-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW As the most common pediatric primary liver cancer with rising incidence, hepatoblastoma remains challenging to treat. Here, we review the current understanding of the biology of hepatoblastoma and discuss how recent advances may lead to new treatment modalities. RECENT FINDINGS Standard chemotherapy regimens including cisplatin, in addition to surgery, have led to high cure rates among patients with low stage hepatoblastoma; however, metastatic and relapsed disease continue to have poor outcomes. Recent genomics and functional studies in cell lines and mouse models have established a central role for the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in tumorigenesis. Targeted agents and immunotherapy approaches are emerging as potential treatment avenues. With recent gains in knowledge of the genomic and transcriptomic landscape of hepatoblastoma, new therapeutic mechanisms can now be explored to improve outcomes for metastatic and relapsed hepatoblastoma and to reduce the toxicity of current treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng V Wu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplantation & Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1000 Welch Rd. Suite 300, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA
| | - Arun Rangaswami
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, 550 16th St., 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
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Wang H, Lu J, Alencastro F, Roberts A, Fiedor J, Carroll P, Eisenman RN, Ranganathan S, Torbenson M, Duncan AW, Prochownik EV. Coordinated Cross-Talk Between the Myc and Mlx Networks in Liver Regeneration and Neoplasia. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 13:1785-1804. [PMID: 35259493 PMCID: PMC9046243 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The c-Myc (Myc) Basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper (bHLH-ZIP) transcription factor is deregulated in most cancers. In association with Max, Myc controls target genes that supervise metabolism, ribosome biogenesis, translation, and proliferation. This Myc network crosstalks with the Mlx network, which consists of the Myc-like proteins MondoA and ChREBP, and Max-like Mlx. Together, this extended Myc network regulates both common and distinct gene targets. Here, we studied the consequence of Myc and/or Mlx ablation in the liver, particularly those pertaining to hepatocyte proliferation, metabolism, and spontaneous tumorigenesis. METHODS We examined the ability of hepatocytes lacking Mlx (MlxKO) or Myc+Mlx (double KO [DKO]) to repopulate the liver over an extended period of time in a murine model of type I tyrosinemia. We also compared this and other relevant behaviors, phenotypes, and transcriptomes of the livers with those from previously characterized MycKO, ChrebpKO, and MycKO × ChrebpKO mice. RESULTS Hepatocyte regenerative potential deteriorated as the Extended Myc Network was progressively dismantled. Genes and pathways dysregulated in MlxKO and DKO hepatocytes included those pertaining to translation, mitochondrial function, and hepatic steatosis resembling nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The Myc and Mlx Networks were shown to crosstalk, with the latter playing a disproportionate role in target gene regulation. All cohorts also developed steatosis and molecular evidence of early steatohepatitis. Finally, MlxKO and DKO mice showed extensive hepatic adenomatosis. CONCLUSIONS In addition to showing cooperation between the Myc and Mlx Networks, this study showed the latter to be more important in maintaining proliferative, metabolic, and translational homeostasis, while concurrently serving as a suppressor of benign tumorigenesis. GEO accession numbers: GSE181371, GSE130178, and GSE114634.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huabo Wang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jie Lu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Frances Alencastro
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Alexander Roberts
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Julia Fiedor
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Patrick Carroll
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Robert N Eisenman
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Michael Torbenson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, The Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Andrew W Duncan
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Edward V Prochownik
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Hillman Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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Normal and Neoplastic Growth Suppression by the Extended Myc Network. Cells 2022; 11:cells11040747. [PMID: 35203395 PMCID: PMC8870482 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the first discovered and most prominent cellular oncogenes is MYC, which encodes a bHLH-ZIP transcription factor (Myc) that both activates and suppresses numerous genes involved in proliferation, energy production, metabolism and translation. Myc belongs to a small group of bHLH-ZIP transcriptional regulators (the Myc Network) that includes its obligate heterodimerization partner Max and six "Mxd proteins" (Mxd1-4, Mnt and Mga), each of which heterodimerizes with Max and largely opposes Myc's functions. More recently, a second group of bHLH-ZIP proteins (the Mlx Network) has emerged that bears many parallels with the Myc Network. It is comprised of the Myc-like factors ChREBP and MondoA, which, in association with the Max-like member Mlx, regulate smaller and more functionally restricted repertoires of target genes, some of which are shared with Myc. Opposing ChREBP and MondoA are heterodimers comprised of Mlx and Mxd1, Mxd4 and Mnt, which also structurally and operationally link the two Networks. We discuss here the functions of these "Extended Myc Network" members, with particular emphasis on their roles in suppressing normal and neoplastic growth. These roles are complex due to the temporal- and tissue-restricted expression of Extended Myc Network proteins in normal cells, their regulation of both common and unique target genes and, in some cases, their functional redundancy.
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Prochownik EV. Reconciling the Biological and Transcriptional Variability of Hepatoblastoma with Its Mutational Uniformity. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13091996. [PMID: 33919162 PMCID: PMC8122429 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13091996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hepatoblastoma (HB), the most common form of childhood liver cancer, is associated with dual mutation and/or dysregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin and Hippo pathways in ~50% of cases. However, this mutational simplicity cannot explain HB’s biological and histologic diversity. This discussion focuses upon recent work showing that specific β-catenin mutants are key determinants of this HB variability as well as their metabolic and transcriptional signatures. Dysregulation of the anti-oxidant NFE2L2 pathway also contributes to tumorigenesis by being directly transforming in association with either of the other two factors. The transcriptional overlap of tumors generated by pairs of factors identifies crucial targets that likely mediate HB tumorigenesis, behavior and appearance. Abstract Hepatoblastoma (HB), the most common childhood liver cancer, is associated with seven distinct histologic subtypes and variable degrees of clinical aggressiveness and presentation. Yet it is among the least genomically altered tumors known, with about half of HBs showing mutation and/or dysregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin and Hippo pathways. This raises the question of how this mutational simplicity can generate such biological and histologic complexity. Recent work shows that the identity of the underlying β-catenin mutation is a major contributor. Mutation or over-expression of the NFE2L2/NRF2 transcription factor, previously thought only to promote anti-oxidant responses, has also recently been shown to accelerate the growth of HBs generated by mutations in the Wnt/β-catenin and Hippo pathways while imparting novel features such as the tumor-associated cysts and necrosis. Moreover, patient-associated NFE2L2 mutations are overtly transforming when co-expressed with either mutant β-catenin or a Hippo pathway effector. The finding that tumorigenesis can be driven by any two arms of the β-catenin/Hippo/NFE2L2 axis has permitted the identification of a small subset of coordinately regulated tumor-specific transcripts, some of whose levels correlate with inferior long-term outcomes in HB and other cancers. Collectively, these findings begin to provide for more refined and molecularly based classification, survival algorithms and design of chemotherapeutic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward V. Prochownik
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA;
- The Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
- The University of Pittsburgh Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
- The University of Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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Help for Sick Kids: New Insights Into Hepatoblastoma. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 12:350-351. [PMID: 33775655 PMCID: PMC8257457 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2021.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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