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Behrooz AB, Shojaei S. Mechanistic insights into mesenchymal-amoeboid transition as an intelligent cellular adaptation in cancer metastasis and resistance. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167332. [PMID: 38960056 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Malignant cell plasticity is an important hallmark of tumor biology and crucial for metastasis and resistance. Cell plasticity lets cancer cells adapt to and escape the therapeutic strategies, which is the leading cause of cancer patient mortality. Epithelial cells acquire mobility via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), whereas mesenchymal cells enhance their migratory ability and clonogenic potential by acquiring amoeboid characteristics through mesenchymal-amoeboid transition (MAT). Tumor formation, progression, and metastasis depend on the tumor microenvironment (TME), a complex ecosystem within and around a tumor. Through increased migration and metastasis of cancer cells, the TME also contributes to malignancy. This review underscores the distinction between invasion pattern morphological manifestations and the diverse structures found within the TME. Furthermore, the mechanisms by which amoeboid-associated characteristics promote resistance and metastasis and how these mechanisms may represent therapeutic opportunities are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Barzegar Behrooz
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Sciences, University of Manitoba, Max Rady College of Medicine, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Electrophysiology Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahla Shojaei
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Sciences, University of Manitoba, Max Rady College of Medicine, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
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2
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Veiga RN, de Azevedo ALK, de Oliveira JC, Gradia DF. Targeting EphA2: a promising strategy to overcome chemoresistance and drug resistance in cancer. J Mol Med (Berl) 2024; 102:479-493. [PMID: 38393661 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-024-02431-x] [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: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular A2 (EphA2) is a vital member of the Eph tyrosine kinase receptor family and has been associated with developmental processes. However, it is often overexpressed in tumors and correlates with cancer progression and worse prognosis due to the activation of its noncanonical signaling pathway. Throughout cancer treatment, the emergence of drug-resistant tumor cells is relatively common. Since the early 2000s, researchers have focused on understanding the role of EphA2 in promoting drug resistance in different types of cancer, as well as finding efficient and secure EphA2 inhibitors. In this review, the current knowledge regarding induced resistance by EphA2 in cancer treatment is summarized, and the types of cancer that lead to the most cancer-related deaths are highlighted. Some EphA2 inhibitors were also investigated. Regardless of whether the cancer treatment has reached a drug-resistance stage in EphA2-overexpressing tumors, once EphA2 is involved in cancer progression and aggressiveness, targeting EphA2 is a promising therapeutic strategy, especially in combination with other target-drugs for synergistic effect. For that reason, monoclonal antibodies against EphA2 and inhibitors of this receptor should be investigated for efficacy and drug toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Nasser Veiga
- Laboratory of Human Cytogenetics and Oncogenetics, Postgraduate Program in Genetics. Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal Do Paraná, Rua Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos, 100, Jardim das AméricasCuritiba, CEP, 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Luiz Korte de Azevedo
- Laboratory of Human Cytogenetics and Oncogenetics, Postgraduate Program in Genetics. Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal Do Paraná, Rua Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos, 100, Jardim das AméricasCuritiba, CEP, 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Jaqueline Carvalho de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Human Cytogenetics and Oncogenetics, Postgraduate Program in Genetics. Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal Do Paraná, Rua Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos, 100, Jardim das AméricasCuritiba, CEP, 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Daniela Fiori Gradia
- Laboratory of Human Cytogenetics and Oncogenetics, Postgraduate Program in Genetics. Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal Do Paraná, Rua Coronel Francisco Heráclito Dos Santos, 100, Jardim das AméricasCuritiba, CEP, 81531-980, Brazil.
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3
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Pasquale EB. Eph receptors and ephrins in cancer progression. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:5-27. [PMID: 37996538 PMCID: PMC11015936 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00634-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Evidence implicating Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their ephrin ligands (that together make up the 'Eph system') in cancer development and progression has been accumulating since the discovery of the first Eph receptor approximately 35 years ago. Advances in the past decade and a half have considerably increased the understanding of Eph receptor-ephrin signalling mechanisms in cancer and have uncovered intriguing new roles in cancer progression and drug resistance. This Review focuses mainly on these more recent developments. I provide an update on the different mechanisms of Eph receptor-ephrin-mediated cell-cell communication and cell autonomous signalling, as well as on the interplay of the Eph system with other signalling systems. I further discuss recent advances in elucidating how the Eph system controls tumour expansion, invasiveness and metastasis, supports cancer stem cells, and drives therapy resistance. In addition to functioning within cancer cells, the Eph system also mediates the reciprocal communication between cancer cells and cells of the tumour microenvironment. The involvement of the Eph system in tumour angiogenesis is well established, but recent findings also demonstrate roles in immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts and the extracellular matrix. Lastly, I discuss strategies under evaluation for therapeutic targeting of Eph receptors-ephrins in cancer and conclude with an outlook on promising future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena B Pasquale
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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4
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Shi X, Lingerak R, Herting CJ, Ge Y, Kim S, Toth P, Wang W, Brown BP, Meiler J, Sossey-Alaoui K, Buck M, Himanen J, Hambardzumyan D, Nikolov DB, Smith AW, Wang B. Time-resolved live-cell spectroscopy reveals EphA2 multimeric assembly. Science 2023; 382:1042-1050. [PMID: 37972196 PMCID: PMC11114627 DOI: 10.1126/science.adg5314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that initiates both ligand-dependent tumor-suppressive and ligand-independent oncogenic signaling. We used time-resolved, live-cell fluorescence spectroscopy to show that the ligand-free EphA2 assembles into multimers driven by two types of intermolecular interactions in the ectodomain. The first type entails extended symmetric interactions required for ligand-induced receptor clustering and tumor-suppressive signaling that inhibits activity of the oncogenic extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and protein kinase B (AKT) protein kinases and suppresses cell migration. The second type is an asymmetric interaction between the amino terminus and the membrane proximal domain of the neighboring receptors, which supports oncogenic signaling and promotes migration in vitro and tumor invasiveness in vivo. Our results identify the molecular interactions that drive the formation of the EphA2 multimeric signaling clusters and reveal the pivotal role of EphA2 assembly in dictating its opposing functions in oncogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun Shi
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA
- Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Ryan Lingerak
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Cameron J. Herting
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Yifan Ge
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Soyeon Kim
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA
- Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Paul Toth
- Department of Chemistry, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Wei Wang
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA
| | - Benjamin P. Brown
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Jens Meiler
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Khalid Sossey-Alaoui
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA
| | - Matthias Buck
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Juha Himanen
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Dolores Hambardzumyan
- Departments Oncological Sciences and Neurosurgery, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Dimitar B. Nikolov
- Structural Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Adam W. Smith
- Department of Chemistry, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Bingcheng Wang
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Medicine, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA
- Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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5
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Feng Y, Luo S, Fan D, Guo X, Ma S. The role of vascular endothelial cells in tumor metastasis. Acta Histochem 2023; 125:152070. [PMID: 37348328 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2023.152070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial cells (VECs) are an integral component of the inner lining of blood vessels, and their functions are essential for the proper functioning of the vascular system. The tight junctions formed by VECs act as a significant barrier to the intravasation and extravasation of tumor cells (TCs). In addition to that, the proliferation, activation, and migration of VECs play a vital role in the growth of new blood vessels, a process known as tumor angiogenesis, which is closely related to the malignant progression of tumors. However, during tumor progression, VECs undergo endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), which further promotes tumor progression. Furthermore, VECs act as the first line of defense against effector immune cells and help prevent immune cells from infiltrating into tumor tissues. VECs also secrete various cytokines that can contribute to regulating the stemness of tumor stem cells. Thus, it has been increasingly recognized that dysfunction of VECs is one of the key driving forces behind tumor metastasis, and therapeutic strategies targeting VECs have the potential to be an effective means of antitumor therapy. This review aims to present a comprehensive overview of the role and mechanisms of VECs in regulating tumor progression and metastasis, providing insights into the possibilities for the development of novel antitumor therapies that target VECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Feng
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Hubei Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei, China
| | - Shan Luo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China
| | - Dandan Fan
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China
| | - Xingrong Guo
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Hubei Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China.
| | - Shinan Ma
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Hubei Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, China.
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6
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Zhao Q, Zheng Y, Zhao D, Zhao L, Geng L, Ma S, Cai Y, Liu C, Yan Y, Belmonte JCI, Wang S, Zhang W, Liu GH, Qu J. Single-cell profiling reveals a potent role of quercetin in promoting hair regeneration. Protein Cell 2023; 14:398-415. [PMID: 37285263 PMCID: PMC10246722 DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwac062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Hair loss affects millions of people at some time in their life, and safe and efficient treatments for hair loss are a significant unmet medical need. We report that topical delivery of quercetin (Que) stimulates resting hair follicles to grow with rapid follicular keratinocyte proliferation and replenishes perifollicular microvasculature in mice. We construct dynamic single-cell transcriptome landscape over the course of hair regrowth and find that Que treatment stimulates the differentiation trajectory in the hair follicles and induces an angiogenic signature in dermal endothelial cells by activating HIF-1α in endothelial cells. Skin administration of a HIF-1α agonist partially recapitulates the pro-angiogenesis and hair-growing effects of Que. Together, these findings provide a molecular understanding for the efficacy of Que in hair regrowth, which underscores the translational potential of targeting the hair follicle niche as a strategy for regenerative medicine, and suggest a route of pharmacological intervention that may promote hair regrowth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Liyun Zhao
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- Aging Translational Medicine Center, International Center for Aging and Cancer, Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Lingling Geng
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- Aging Translational Medicine Center, International Center for Aging and Cancer, Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center, Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Shuai Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yusheng Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chengyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yupeng Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
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7
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Waller V, Tschanz F, Winkler R, Pruschy M. The role of EphA2 in ADAM17- and ionizing radiation-enhanced lung cancer cell migration. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1117326. [PMID: 36998455 PMCID: PMC10043294 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1117326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
PurposeIonizing radiation (IR) enhances the migratory capacity of cancer cells. Here we investigate in non-small-cell-lung-cancer (NSCLC) cells a novel link between IR-enhanced ADAM17 activity and the non-canonical pathway of EphA2 in the cellular stress response to irradiation.MethodsCancer cell migration in dependence of IR, EphA2, and paracrine signaling mediated by ADAM17 was determined using transwell migration assays. Changes of EphA2 pS897 and mRNA expression levels upon different ADAM17-directed treatment strategies, including the small molecular inhibitor TMI-005, the monoclonal antibody MEDI3622, and shRNAs, were mechanistically investigated. ADAM17-mediated release and cleavage of the EphA2 ligand ephrin-A1 was measured using ELISA and an acellular cleavage assay.ResultsIrradiation with 5 Gy enhanced tumor cell migration of NSCLC NCI-H358 cells in dependence of EphA2. At the same time, IR increased growth factor-induced EphA2 S897 phosphorylation via auto- and paracrine signaling. Genetic and pharmaceutical downregulation of ADAM17 activity abrogated growth factor (e.g. amphiregulin) release, which reduced MAPK pathway-mediated EphA2 S897 phosphorylation in an auto- and paracrine way (non-canonical EphA2-pathway) in NCI-H358 and A549 cells. These signaling processes were associated with reduced cell migration towards conditioned media derived from ADAM17-deficient cells. Interestingly, ADAM17 inhibition with the small molecular inhibitor TMI-005 led to the internalization and proteasomal degradation of EphA2, which was rescued by amphiregulin or MG-132 treatment. In addition, ADAM17 inhibition also abrogated ephrin-A1 cleavage and thereby interfered with the canonical EphA2-pathway.ConclusionWe identified ADAM17 and the receptor tyrosine kinase EphA2 as two important drivers for (IR-) induced NSCLC cell migration and described a unique interrelation between ADAM17 and EphA2. We demonstrated that ADAM17 influences both, EphA2 (pS897) and its GPI-anchored ligand ephrin-A1. Using different cellular and molecular readouts, we generated a comprehensive picture of how ADAM17 and IR influence the EphA2 canonical and non-canonical pathway in NSCLC cells.
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Ventura E, Ducci G, Benot Dominguez R, Ruggiero V, Belfiore A, Sacco E, Vanoni M, Iozzo RV, Giordano A, Morrione A. Progranulin Oncogenic Network in Solid Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15061706. [PMID: 36980592 PMCID: PMC10046331 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Progranulin is a pleiotropic growth factor with important physiological roles in embryogenesis and maintenance of adult tissue homeostasis. While-progranulin deficiency is associated with a broad range of pathological conditions affecting the brain, such as frontotemporal dementia and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, progranulin upregulation characterizes many tumors, including brain tumors, multiple myeloma, leiomyosarcoma, mesothelioma and epithelial cancers such as ovarian, liver, breast, bladder, adrenal, prostate and kidney carcinomas. The increase of progranulin levels in tumors might have diagnostic and prognostic significance. In cancer, progranulin has a pro-tumorigenic role by promoting cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasiveness, anchorage-independent growth and resistance to chemotherapy. In addition, progranulin regulates the tumor microenvironment, affects the function of cancer-associated fibroblasts, and modulates tumor immune surveillance. However, the molecular mechanisms of progranulin oncogenic function are not fully elucidated. In bladder cancer, progranulin action relies on the activation of its functional signaling receptor EphA2. Notably, more recent data suggest that progranulin can also modulate a functional crosstalk between multiple receptor-tyrosine kinases, demonstrating a more complex and context-dependent role of progranulin in cancer. Here, we will review what is currently known about the function of progranulin in tumors, with a focus on its molecular mechanisms of action and regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Ventura
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Correspondence: (E.V.); (A.M.); Tel.: +1-215-204-2450 (A.M.)
| | - Giacomo Ducci
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
- SYSBIO (Centre of Systems Biology), ISBE (Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe), 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Reyes Benot Dominguez
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Valentina Ruggiero
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Master Program in Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Antonino Belfiore
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Endocrinology Unit, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Hospital, 95122 Catania, Italy
| | - Elena Sacco
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
- SYSBIO (Centre of Systems Biology), ISBE (Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe), 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Vanoni
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
- SYSBIO (Centre of Systems Biology), ISBE (Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe), 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Renato V. Iozzo
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Translational Cellular Oncology Program, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Antonio Giordano
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Andrea Morrione
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Correspondence: (E.V.); (A.M.); Tel.: +1-215-204-2450 (A.M.)
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Hu R, Li Y, Guo Y, Li X, Du S, Liao M, Hou H, Sun H, Zhao S, Su J, Chen X, Yin M. BRD4 inhibitor suppresses melanoma metastasis via the SPINK6/EGFR-EphA2 pathway. Pharmacol Res 2023; 187:106609. [PMID: 36516883 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BET inhibition or BRD4 depletion is a promising and attractive therapy for metastatic melanoma; however, the mechanism is still unclear. Here, we indicated that BET inhibition suppressed melanoma metastasis both in vitro and in vivo and identified a new mechanism by which BET inhibitors suppress melanoma metastasis by blocking the direct interaction of BRD4 and the SPINK6 enhancer. Moreover, we demonstrated that SPINK6 activated the EGFR/EphA2 complex in melanoma and the downstream ERK1/2 and AKT pathways. Thus, these results identified the SPINK6/EGFR-EphA2 axis as a new oncogenic pathway in melanoma metastasis and support the further development of BRD4 inhibitors for the treatment of metastatic melanoma in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Hu
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Yao Li
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Ying Guo
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Songtao Du
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Mengting Liao
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; Health Management of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Huihui Hou
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Hongyin Sun
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Shuang Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Juan Su
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
| | - Mingzhu Yin
- Department of Dermatology, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China; National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China.
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10
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Ventura E, Xie C, Buraschi S, Belfiore A, Iozzo RV, Giordano A, Morrione A. Complexity of progranulin mechanisms of action in mesothelioma. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2022; 41:333. [PMID: 36471440 PMCID: PMC9720952 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02546-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mesothelioma is an aggressive disease with limited therapeutic options. The growth factor progranulin plays a critical role in several cancer models, where it regulates tumor initiation and progression. Recent data from our laboratories have demonstrated that progranulin and its receptor, EphA2, constitute an oncogenic pathway in bladder cancer by promoting motility, invasion and in vivo tumor formation. Progranulin and EphA2 are expressed in mesothelioma cells but their mechanisms of action are not well defined. In addition, there are no data establishing whether the progranulin/EphA2 axis is tumorigenic for mesothelioma cells. METHODS The expression of progranulin in various mesothelioma cell lines derived from all major mesothelioma subtypes was examined by western blots on cell lysates, conditioned media and ELISA assays. The biological roles of progranulin, EphA2, EGFR, RYK and FAK were assessed in vitro by immunoblots, human phospho-RTK antibody arrays, pharmacological (specific inhibitors) and genetic (siRNAs, shRNAs, CRISPR/Cas9) approaches, motility, invasion and adhesion assays. In vivo tumorigenesis was determined by xenograft models. Focal adhesion turnover was evaluated biochemically using focal adhesion assembly/disassembly assays and immunofluorescence analysis with focal adhesion-specific markers. RESULTS In the present study we show that progranulin is upregulated in various mesothelioma cell lines covering all mesothelioma subtypes and is an important regulator of motility, invasion, adhesion and in vivo tumor formation. However, our results indicate that EphA2 is not the major functional receptor for progranulin in mesothelioma cells, where progranulin activates a complex signaling network including EGFR and RYK. We further characterized progranulin mechanisms of action and demonstrated that progranulin, by modulating FAK activity, regulates the kinetic of focal adhesion disassembly, a critical step for cell motility. CONCLUSION Collectively, our results highlight the complexity of progranulin oncogenic signaling in mesothelioma, where progranulin modulate functional cross-talks between multiple RTKs, thereby suggesting the need for combinatorial therapeutic approaches to improve treatments of this aggressive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Ventura
- grid.264727.20000 0001 2248 3398Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122 USA
| | - Christopher Xie
- grid.412726.40000 0004 0442 8581Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Translational Cellular Oncology Program, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
| | - Simone Buraschi
- grid.412726.40000 0004 0442 8581Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Translational Cellular Oncology Program, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
| | - Antonino Belfiore
- grid.8158.40000 0004 1757 1969Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Endocrinology Unit, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Hospital, 95122 Catania, Italy
| | - Renato V. Iozzo
- grid.412726.40000 0004 0442 8581Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Translational Cellular Oncology Program, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107 USA
| | - Antonio Giordano
- grid.264727.20000 0001 2248 3398Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122 USA ,grid.9024.f0000 0004 1757 4641Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Andrea Morrione
- grid.264727.20000 0001 2248 3398Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122 USA
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11
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Hunting for Novel Routes in Anticancer Drug Discovery: Peptides against Sam-Sam Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810397. [PMID: 36142306 PMCID: PMC9499636 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the diverse protein binding modules, Sam (Sterile alpha motif) domains attract attention due to their versatility. They are present in different organisms and play many functions in physiological and pathological processes by binding multiple partners. The EphA2 receptor contains a Sam domain at the C-terminus (EphA2-Sam) that is able to engage protein regulators of receptor stability (including the lipid phosphatase Ship2 and the adaptor Odin). Ship2 and Odin are recruited by EphA2-Sam through heterotypic Sam-Sam interactions. Ship2 decreases EphA2 endocytosis and consequent degradation, producing chiefly pro-oncogenic outcomes in a cellular milieu. Odin, through its Sam domains, contributes to receptor stability by possibly interfering with ubiquitination. As EphA2 is upregulated in many types of tumors, peptide inhibitors of Sam-Sam interactions by hindering receptor stability could function as anticancer therapeutics. This review describes EphA2-Sam and its interactome from a structural and functional perspective. The diverse design strategies that have thus far been employed to obtain peptides targeting EphA2-mediated Sam-Sam interactions are summarized as well. The generated peptides represent good initial lead compounds, but surely many efforts need to be devoted in the close future to improve interaction affinities towards Sam domains and consequently validate their anticancer properties.
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12
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Wolff DW, Deng Z, Bianchi-Smiraglia A, Foley CE, Han Z, Wang X, Shen S, Rosenberg MM, Moparthy S, Yun DH, Chen J, Baker BK, Roll MV, Magiera AJ, Li J, Hurley E, Feltri ML, Cox AO, Lee J, Furdui CM, Liu L, Bshara W, LaConte LE, Kandel ES, Pasquale EB, Qu J, Hedstrom L, Nikiforov MA. Phosphorylation of guanosine monophosphate reductase triggers a GTP-dependent switch from pro- to anti-oncogenic function of EPHA4. Cell Chem Biol 2022; 29:970-984.e6. [PMID: 35148834 PMCID: PMC9620470 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2022.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Signal transduction pathways post-translationally regulating nucleotide metabolism remain largely unknown. Guanosine monophosphate reductase (GMPR) is a nucleotide metabolism enzyme that decreases GTP pools by converting GMP to IMP. We observed that phosphorylation of GMPR at Tyr267 is critical for its activity and found that this phosphorylation by ephrin receptor tyrosine kinase EPHA4 decreases GTP pools in cell protrusions and levels of GTP-bound RAC1. EPHs possess oncogenic and tumor-suppressor activities, although the mechanisms underlying switches between these two modes are poorly understood. We demonstrated that GMPR plays a key role in EPHA4-mediated RAC1 suppression. This supersedes GMPR-independent activation of RAC1 by EPHA4, resulting in a negative overall effect on melanoma cell invasion and tumorigenicity. Accordingly, EPHA4 levels increase during melanoma progression and inversely correlate with GMPR levels in individual melanoma tumors. Therefore, phosphorylation of GMPR at Tyr267 is a metabolic signal transduction switch controlling GTP biosynthesis and transformed phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W. Wolff
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA,Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Zhiyong Deng
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Anna Bianchi-Smiraglia
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Colleen E. Foley
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Zhannan Han
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA,Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Xingyou Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Shichen Shen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | | | - Sudha Moparthy
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Dong Hyun Yun
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Jialin Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA,Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Brian K. Baker
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Matthew V. Roll
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA,Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Andrew J. Magiera
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
| | - Edward Hurley
- Department of Biochemistry and Neurology, Hunter James Kelly Research Institute, University at Buffalo, Buffalo NY, USA
| | - Maria Laura Feltri
- Department of Biochemistry and Neurology, Hunter James Kelly Research Institute, University at Buffalo, Buffalo NY, USA
| | - Anderson O. Cox
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC, USA
| | - Jingyun Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC, USA
| | - Cristina M. Furdui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC, USA
| | - Liang Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Wiam Bshara
- Department of Pathology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo NY 14203, USA
| | - Leslie E.W. LaConte
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA
| | - Eugene S. Kandel
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Elena B. Pasquale
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Jun Qu
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Lizbeth Hedstrom
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453, USA,Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Mikhail A. Nikiforov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA,Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC 27157, USA,Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA,Corresponding author and lead contact: Mikhail A. Nikiforov,
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13
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Barreno A, Orgaz JL. Cytoskeletal Remodelling as an Achilles’ Heel for Therapy Resistance in Melanoma. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030518. [PMID: 35159327 PMCID: PMC8834185 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer with a poor prognosis when diagnosed late. MAPK-targeted therapies and immune checkpoint blockers benefit a subset of melanoma patients; however, acquired therapy resistance inevitably arises within a year. In addition, some patients display intrinsic (primary) resistance and never respond to therapy. There is mounting evidence that resistant cells adapt to therapy through the rewiring of cytoskeleton regulators, leading to a profound remodelling of the actomyosin cytoskeleton. Importantly, this renders therapy-resistant cells highly dependent on cytoskeletal signalling pathways for sustaining their survival under drug pressure, which becomes a vulnerability that can be exploited therapeutically. Here, we discuss the current knowledge on cytoskeletal pathways involved in mainly targeted therapy resistance and future avenues, as well as potential clinical interventions.
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14
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Regulation of the EphA2 receptor intracellular region by phosphomimetic negative charges in the kinase-SAM linker. Nat Commun 2021; 12:7047. [PMID: 34857764 PMCID: PMC8639986 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27343-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Eph receptor tyrosine kinases play a key role in cell-cell communication. Lack of structural information on the entire multi-domain intracellular region of any Eph receptor has hindered understanding of their signaling mechanisms. Here, we use integrative structural biology to investigate the structure and dynamics of the EphA2 intracellular region. EphA2 promotes cancer malignancy through a poorly understood non-canonical form of signaling involving serine/threonine phosphorylation of the linker connecting its kinase and SAM domains. We show that accumulation of multiple linker negative charges, mimicking phosphorylation, induces cooperative changes in the EphA2 intracellular region from more closed to more extended conformations and perturbs the EphA2 juxtamembrane segment and kinase domain. In cells, linker negative charges promote EphA2 oligomerization. We also identify multiple kinases catalyzing linker phosphorylation. Our findings suggest multiple effects of linker phosphorylation on EphA2 signaling and imply that coordination of different kinases is necessary to promote EphA2 non-canonical signaling. Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their ephrin ligands mediate cell-cell communication. Here, the authors assess the structure and dynamics of the EphA2 intracellular region and uncover complex effects of phosphorylation within the linker region between EphA2 kinase and SAM domains.
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15
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Marco S, Neilson M, Moore M, Perez-Garcia A, Hall H, Mitchell L, Lilla S, Blanco GR, Hedley A, Zanivan S, Norman JC. Nuclear-capture of endosomes depletes nuclear G-actin to promote SRF/MRTF activation and cancer cell invasion. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6829. [PMID: 34819513 PMCID: PMC8613289 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26839-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Signals are relayed from receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) at the cell surface to effector systems in the cytoplasm and nucleus, and coordination of this process is important for the execution of migratory phenotypes, such as cell scattering and invasion. The endosomal system influences how RTK signalling is coded, but the ways in which it transmits these signals to the nucleus to influence gene expression are not yet clear. Here we show that hepatocyte growth factor, an activator of MET (an RTK), promotes Rab17- and clathrin-dependent endocytosis of EphA2, another RTK, followed by centripetal transport of EphA2-positive endosomes. EphA2 then mediates physical capture of endosomes on the outer surface of the nucleus; a process involving interaction between the nuclear import machinery and a nuclear localisation sequence in EphA2's cytodomain. Nuclear capture of EphA2 promotes RhoG-dependent phosphorylation of the actin-binding protein, cofilin to oppose nuclear import of G-actin. The resulting depletion of nuclear G-actin drives transcription of Myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF)/serum-response factor (SRF)-target genes to implement cell scattering and the invasive behaviour of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Marco
- CRUK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, G61 1BD, Scotland, UK
| | | | | | - Arantxa Perez-Garcia
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1QH, Scotland, UK
| | - Holly Hall
- CRUK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, G61 1BD, Scotland, UK
| | | | - Sergio Lilla
- CRUK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, G61 1BD, Scotland, UK
| | | | - Ann Hedley
- CRUK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, G61 1BD, Scotland, UK
| | - Sara Zanivan
- CRUK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, G61 1BD, Scotland, UK
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1QH, Scotland, UK
| | - Jim C Norman
- CRUK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, G61 1BD, Scotland, UK.
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1QH, Scotland, UK.
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16
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Motwani J, Eccles MR. Genetic and Genomic Pathways of Melanoma Development, Invasion and Metastasis. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1543. [PMID: 34680938 PMCID: PMC8535311 DOI: 10.3390/genes12101543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that accounts for 80% of skin cancer deaths. Recent studies have suggested that melanoma invasiveness is attributed to phenotype switching, which is a reversible type of cell behaviour with similarities to epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Phenotype switching in melanoma is reported to be independent of genetic alterations, whereas changes in gene transcription, and epigenetic alterations have been associated with invasiveness in melanoma cell lines. Here, we review mutational, transcriptional, and epigenomic alterations that contribute to tumour heterogeneity in melanoma, and their potential to drive melanoma invasion and metastasis. We also discuss three models that are hypothesized to contribute towards aspects of tumour heterogeneity and tumour progression in melanoma, namely the clonal evolution model, the cancer stem cell model, and the phenotype switching model. We discuss the merits and disadvantages of each model in explaining tumour heterogeneity in melanoma, as a precursor to invasion and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Motwani
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand;
| | - Michael R. Eccles
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand;
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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17
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Fukushima H, Iwata Y, Saito K, Sugiura K. Successful rechallenge therapy for BRAF/MEK inhibitor-resistant multiple brain metastases of melanoma. J Dermatol 2021; 48:1291-1295. [PMID: 34018641 DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.15969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Combination therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors (BRAFi/MEKi) have dramatically improved prognosis among patients with BRAF-mutant metastatic melanoma compared with traditional treatment, such as chemotherapy. However, resistance to these targeted agents occurs invariably, thereby limiting their clinical efficacy. Recently, it has been reported that the ligand-independent phosphorylation of erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor A2 (EphA2) at Ser-897 signaling is a driver of BRAF inhibitor resistance in melanoma. A melanoma patient with multiple metastases was treated with dabrafenib plus trametinib therapy and maintained complete remission for more than 2 years. As brain metastasis occurred, we had switched to nivolumab plus ipilimumab therapy. However, new lesions were observed after four cycles of nivolumab plus ipilimumab therapy, she was rechallenged with encorafenib plus binimetinib therapy, and she maintained progression-free status for more than 7 months. We performed immunohistochemical staining of EphA2, phospho-EphA2 (p-EphA2; Ser-897), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) of melanoma cells before and/or after dabrafenib and trametinib therapy. Immunohistochemical examination showed higher expression of EphA2, p-EphA2, and EGFR in the melanoma cells after dabrafenib plus trametinib therapy as compared with that before therapy. Our results may indicate that EphA2, p-EphA2, and EGFR can be critical factors for resistance and reversible response of BRAFi/MEKi in metastases of melanoma. Our case presents a possible treatment that can help overcome BRAFi/MEKi resistance and improve prognosis of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidehiko Fukushima
- Department of Dermatology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Yohei Iwata
- Department of Dermatology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Kenta Saito
- Department of Dermatology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Kazumitsu Sugiura
- Department of Dermatology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan
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18
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Cioce M, Fazio VM. EphA2 and EGFR: Friends in Life, Partners in Crime. Can EphA2 Be a Predictive Biomarker of Response to Anti-EGFR Agents? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040700. [PMID: 33572284 PMCID: PMC7915460 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Eph receptors represent the largest group among Receptor Tyrosine kinase (RTK) families. The Eph/ephrin signaling axis plays center stage during development, and the deep perturbation of signaling consequent to its dysregulation in cancer reveals the multiplicity and complexity underlying its function. In the last decades, they have emerged as key players in solid tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC); however, what causes EphA2 to switch between tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting function is still an active theater of investigation. This review summarizes the recent advances in understanding EphA2 function in cancer, with detail on the molecular determinants of the oncogene-tumor suppressor switch function of EphA2. We describe tumor context-specific examples of EphA2 signaling and the emerging role EphA2 plays in supporting cancer-stem-cell-like populations and overcoming therapy-induced stress. In such a frame, we detail the interaction of the EphA2 and EGFR pathway in solid tumors, including colorectal cancer. We discuss the contribution of the EphA2 oncogenic signaling to the resistance to EGFR blocking agents, including cetuximab and TKIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Cioce
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (V.M.F.)
| | - Vito Michele Fazio
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Laboratory of Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.C.); (V.M.F.)
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Phadke M, Ozgun A, Eroglu Z, Smalley KSM. Melanoma brain metastases: Biological basis and novel therapeutic strategies. Exp Dermatol 2021; 31:31-42. [PMID: 33455008 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The development of brain metastases is the deadliest complication of advanced melanoma and has long been associated with a dismal prognosis. The recent years have seen incredible progress in the development of therapies for melanoma brain metastases (MBM), with both targeted therapies (the BRAF-MEK inhibitor combination) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (the anti-CTLA-4, anti-PD-1 combination) showing impressive levels of activity. Despite this, durations of response for these therapies remain lower at intracranial sites of metastasis compared to extracranial metastases and it has been suggested that there are unique features of the brain microenvironment that contribute to therapeutic escape. In this review, we outline the latest research into the biology and pathophysiology of melanoma brain metastasis development and progression. We then discuss the current status of clinical trial that are open to patients with MBM and end by describing the ongoing challenges for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manali Phadke
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Alpaslan Ozgun
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Zeynep Eroglu
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.,The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
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