1
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Mathias KM, Liu Y, Wan L. Dysregulation of transcriptional condensates in human disease: mechanisms, biological functions, and open questions. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 86:102203. [PMID: 38788489 PMCID: PMC11162900 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2024.102203] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Precise gene expression, crucial for normal development and health, depends on the co-ordinated assembly and function of various factors within the crowded nucleus. Recent evidence suggests that this process is in part regulated by mesoscale compartmentalization and concentration of transcriptional components within condensates, offering a new perspective on gene regulation. Dysregulation of transcriptional condensates is increasingly associated with diseases, indicating a potential role in pathogenesis. In this mini-review, we provide a concise overview of the current understanding of the formation and function of transcriptional condensates, with a specific focus on recent advances in their dysregulation and implications in diseases, notably cancer. We also address limitations in the field and highlight open questions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaeli M Mathias
- Department of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Biochemistry Biophysics Chemical Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Computational and Genomic Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yiman Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Liling Wan
- Department of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Center for Computational and Genomic Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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2
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Zhang X, Zhong Y, Liu L, Suo S, Zhao S, Xiao F, Qin J, Tong H, Jin J, Yu W. MN1::ETV6-positive de novo T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is sensitive to venetoclax: A case report. Br J Haematol 2024. [PMID: 38685592 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Zhang
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Hematologic Malignancy, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hematological Disorders, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Yi Zhong
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Hematologic Malignancy, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hematological Disorders, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Lixia Liu
- Acornmed Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Tianjin, PR China
| | - Shanshan Suo
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Hematologic Malignancy, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hematological Disorders, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Shuqi Zhao
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Hematologic Malignancy, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hematological Disorders, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Feng Xiao
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Hematologic Malignancy, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hematological Disorders, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Jiayue Qin
- Acornmed Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Tianjin, PR China
| | - Hongyan Tong
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Hematologic Malignancy, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hematological Disorders, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Jie Jin
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Hematologic Malignancy, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hematological Disorders, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Wenjuan Yu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Hematologic Malignancy, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hematological Disorders, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
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3
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Bernt KM. Menin dependence: UBTF-ITD AML joins the club. Blood 2024; 143:567-569. [PMID: 38358850 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023023041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin M Bernt
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and Abramson Cancer Center
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4
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Martin BJE, Ablondi EF, Goglia C, Mimoso CA, Espinel-Cabrera PR, Adelman K. Global identification of SWI/SNF targets reveals compensation by EP400. Cell 2023; 186:5290-5307.e26. [PMID: 37922899 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes move and evict nucleosomes at gene promoters and enhancers to modulate DNA access. Although SWI/SNF subunits are commonly mutated in disease, therapeutic options are limited by our inability to predict SWI/SNF gene targets and conflicting studies on functional significance. Here, we leverage a fast-acting inhibitor of SWI/SNF remodeling to elucidate direct targets and effects of SWI/SNF. Blocking SWI/SNF activity causes a rapid and global loss of chromatin accessibility and transcription. Whereas repression persists at most enhancers, we uncover a compensatory role for the EP400/TIP60 remodeler, which reestablishes accessibility at most promoters during prolonged loss of SWI/SNF. Indeed, we observe synthetic lethality between EP400 and SWI/SNF in cancer cell lines and human cancer patient data. Our data define a set of molecular genomic features that accurately predict gene sensitivity to SWI/SNF inhibition in diverse cancer cell lines, thereby improving the therapeutic potential of SWI/SNF inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J E Martin
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eileen F Ablondi
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Christine Goglia
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Claudia A Mimoso
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Piero R Espinel-Cabrera
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Karen Adelman
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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5
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Benabdallah NS, Dalal V, Scott RW, Marcous F, Sotiriou A, Kommoss FKF, Pejkovska A, Gaspar L, Wagner L, Sánchez-Rivera FJ, Ta M, Thornton S, Nielsen TO, Underhill TM, Banito A. Aberrant gene activation in synovial sarcoma relies on SSX specificity and increased PRC1.1 stability. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2023; 30:1640-1652. [PMID: 37735617 PMCID: PMC10643139 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01096-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
The SS18-SSX fusion drives oncogenic transformation in synovial sarcoma by bridging SS18, a member of the mSWI/SNF (BAF) complex, to Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) target genes. Here we show that the ability of SS18-SSX to occupy H2AK119ub1-rich regions is an intrinsic property of its SSX C terminus, which can be exploited by fusion to transcriptional regulators beyond SS18. Accordingly, SS18-SSX recruitment occurs in a manner that is independent of the core components and catalytic activity of BAF. Alternative SSX fusions are also recruited to H2AK119ub1-rich chromatin and reproduce the expression signatures of SS18-SSX by engaging with transcriptional activators. Variant Polycomb repressive complex 1.1 (PRC1.1) acts as the main depositor of H2AK119ub1 and is therefore required for SS18-SSX occupancy. Importantly, the SSX C terminus not only depends on H2AK119ub1 for localization, but also further increases it by promoting PRC1.1 complex stability. Consequently, high H2AK119ub1 levels are a feature of murine and human synovial sarcomas. These results uncover a critical role for SSX-C in mediating gene deregulation in synovial sarcoma by providing specificity to chromatin and further enabling oncofusion binding by enhancing PRC1.1 stability and H2AK119ub1 deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nezha S Benabdallah
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma Research Group, Hopp Children's Cancer Center, Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vineet Dalal
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma Research Group, Hopp Children's Cancer Center, Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - R Wilder Scott
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Fady Marcous
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma Research Group, Hopp Children's Cancer Center, Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Afroditi Sotiriou
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma Research Group, Hopp Children's Cancer Center, Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felix K F Kommoss
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma Research Group, Hopp Children's Cancer Center, Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anastasija Pejkovska
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma Research Group, Hopp Children's Cancer Center, Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ludmila Gaspar
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma Research Group, Hopp Children's Cancer Center, Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lena Wagner
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma Research Group, Hopp Children's Cancer Center, Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Francisco J Sánchez-Rivera
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Monica Ta
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shelby Thornton
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Torsten O Nielsen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - T Michael Underhill
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ana Banito
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma Research Group, Hopp Children's Cancer Center, Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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6
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Jevtic Z, Allram M, Grebien F, Schwaller J. Biomolecular Condensates in Myeloid Leukemia: What Do They Tell Us? Hemasphere 2023; 7:e923. [PMID: 37388925 PMCID: PMC10306439 DOI: 10.1097/hs9.0000000000000923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have suggested that several oncogenic and tumor-suppressive proteins carry out their functions in the context of specific membrane-less cellular compartments. As these compartments, generally referred to as onco-condensates, are specific to tumor cells and are tightly linked to disease development, the mechanisms of their formation and maintenance have been intensively studied. Here we review the proposed leukemogenic and tumor-suppressive activities of nuclear biomolecular condensates in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We focus on condensates formed by oncogenic fusion proteins including nucleoporin 98 (NUP98), mixed-lineage leukemia 1 (MLL1, also known as KMT2A), mutated nucleophosmin (NPM1c) and others. We also discuss how altered condensate formation contributes to malignant transformation of hematopoietic cells, as described for promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) in PML::RARA-driven acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and other myeloid malignancies. Finally, we discuss potential strategies for interfering with the molecular mechanisms related to AML-associated biomolecular condensates, as well as current limitations of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zivojin Jevtic
- Department of Biomedicine (DBM), University Children’s Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Allram
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Grebien
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - Juerg Schwaller
- Department of Biomedicine (DBM), University Children’s Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Switzerland
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7
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Dang DD, Rosenblum JS, Shah AH, Zhuang Z, Doucet-O’Hare TT. Epigenetic Regulation in Primary CNS Tumors: An Opportunity to Bridge Old and New WHO Classifications. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2511. [PMID: 37173979 PMCID: PMC10177493 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092511] [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: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Originally approved in 1979, a specific grading classification for central nervous system (CNS) tumors was devised by the World Health Organization (WHO) in an effort to guide cancer treatment and better understand prognosis. These "blue books" have since undergone several iterations based on tumor location, advancements in histopathology, and most recently, diagnostic molecular pathology in its fifth edition. As new research methods have evolved to elucidate complex molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis, a need to update and integrate these findings into the WHO grading scheme has become apparent. Epigenetic tools represent an area of burgeoning interest that encompasses all non-Mendelian inherited genetic features affecting gene expression, including but not limited to chromatin remodeling complexes, DNA methylation, and histone regulating enzymes. The SWItch/Sucrose non-fermenting (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complex is the largest mammalian family of chromatin remodeling proteins and is estimated to be altered in 20-25% of all human malignancies; however, the ways in which it contributes to tumorigenesis are not fully understood. We recently discovered that CNS tumors with SWI/SNF mutations have revealed an oncogenic role for endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), remnants of exogenous retroviruses that integrated into the germline and are inherited like Mendelian genes, several of which retain open reading frames for proteins whose expression putatively contributes to tumor formation. Herein, we analyzed the latest WHO classification scheme for all CNS tumors with documented SWI/SNF mutations and/or aberrant ERV expression, and we summarize this information to highlight potential research opportunities that could be integrated into the grading scheme to better delineate diagnostic criteria and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle D. Dang
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jared S. Rosenblum
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ashish H. Shah
- Section of Virology and Immunotherapy, Department of Neurosurgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Zhengping Zhuang
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Tara T. Doucet-O’Hare
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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8
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Yoshida A, Satomi K, Kobayashi E, Ryo E, Matsushita Y, Narita Y, Ichimura K, Kawai A, Mori T. Soft-tissue sarcoma with MN1-BEND2 fusion: A case report and comparison with astroblastoma. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2022; 61:427-431. [PMID: 35094441 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.23028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
MN1-BEND2 is considered as a defining gene fusion of astroblastoma. Herein, we report the first case of soft-tissue sarcoma with this fusion. The tumor developed in the abdominal wall of an 87-year-old woman, and consisted of a striking storiform growth of low-grade spindle cells admixed with a dense proliferation of oval cells with a higher nuclear atypia and mitotic activity. The sarcoma was immunohistochemically positive for actin but negative for S100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and Olig2. Targeted RNA sequencing identified an in-frame MN1 (exon 1)-BEND2 (exon 11) fusion transcript, which was validated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Sanger sequencing, and MN1 break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization. DNA methylation profiling revealed that the tumor did not match any sarcoma classes based on the DKFZ classifier. Using T-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding analysis, the sarcoma was plotted close to the provisional class "Sarcoma (malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor-like)," despite no phenotypic resemblance. Copy number analysis using methylation data demonstrated losses at 2q, 8p, 9p, 11p, 14q, 19q, and 22q. When compared with a cerebral astroblastoma sample with MN1 (exon 1)-BEND2 (exon 9) fusion, the sarcoma showed no resemblance in histology, immunophenotype, or DNA methylation profile, although they shared copy number loss at 14q, 19q, and 22q. The present report demonstrated that MN1-BEND2 is another example of a pleiotropic fusion gene that is shared among different tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiko Yoshida
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.,Rare Cancer Center, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kaishi Satomi
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Pathology, Kyorin University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eisuke Kobayashi
- Rare Cancer Center, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eijitsu Ryo
- Division of Molecular Pathology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuko Matsushita
- Division of Brain Tumor Translational Research, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Brain Disease Translational Research, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Narita
- Department of Neurooncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichi Ichimura
- Division of Brain Tumor Translational Research, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Brain Disease Translational Research, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Kawai
- Rare Cancer Center, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taisuke Mori
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.,Division of Molecular Pathology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
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9
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Ectopic biomolecular phase transitions: fusion proteins in cancer pathologies. Trends Cell Biol 2022; 32:681-695. [PMID: 35484036 PMCID: PMC9288518 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates are membraneless organelles (MLOs) that are enriched in specific proteins and nucleic acids, compartmentalized to perform biochemical functions. Such condensates are formed by phase separation (PS) enabled by protein domains that allow multivalent interactions. Chromosomal translocation-derived in-frame gene fusions often generate proteins with non-native domain combinations that rewire protein-protein interaction networks. Several recent studies have shown that, for a subset of these fusion proteins, pathogenesis can be driven by the ability of the fusion protein to undergo phase transitions at non-physiological cellular locations to form ectopic condensates. We highlight how such ectopic phase transitions can alter biological processes and posit that dysfunction via protein PS at non-physiological locations represents a generic route to oncogenic transformation.
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10
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Lehman NL, Spassky N, Sak M, Webb A, Zumbar CT, Usubalieva A, Alkhateeb KJ, McElroy JP, Maclean KH, Fadda P, Liu T, Gangalapudi V, Carver J, Abdullaev Z, Timmers C, Parker JR, Pierson CR, Mobley BC, Gokden M, Hattab EM, Parrett T, Cooke RX, Lehman TD, Costinean S, Parwani A, Williams BJ, Jensen RL, Aldape K, Mistry AM. Astroblastomas exhibit radial glia stem cell lineages and differential expression of imprinted and X-inactivation escape genes. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2083. [PMID: 35440587 PMCID: PMC9018799 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29302-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Astroblastomas (ABs) are rare brain tumors of unknown origin. We performed an integrative genetic and epigenetic analysis of AB-like tumors. Here, we show that tumors traceable to neural stem/progenitor cells (radial glia) that emerge during early to later brain development occur in children and young adults, respectively. Tumors with MN1-BEND2 fusion appear to present exclusively in females and exhibit overexpression of genes expressed prior to 25 post-conception weeks (pcw), including genes enriched in early ventricular zone radial glia and ependymal tumors. Other, histologically classic ABs overexpress or harbor mutations of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway genes, outer and truncated radial glia genes, and genes expressed after 25 pcw, including neuronal and astrocyte markers. Findings support that AB-like tumors arise in the context of epigenetic and genetic changes in neural progenitors. Selective gene fusion, variable imprinting and/or chromosome X-inactivation escape resulting in biallelic overexpression may contribute to female predominance of AB molecular subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman L Lehman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- The Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Nathalie Spassky
- Institut de Biologie de l'ENS (IBENS), Inserm, CNRS, École Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Müge Sak
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Amy Webb
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Cory T Zumbar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Aisulu Usubalieva
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Khaled J Alkhateeb
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Joseph P McElroy
- Center for Biostatistics, Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | | | - Paolo Fadda
- Department of Cancer Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Tom Liu
- Solid Tumor Translational Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Vineela Gangalapudi
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jamie Carver
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Zied Abdullaev
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Cynthia Timmers
- Solid Tumor Translational Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - John R Parker
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Christopher R Pierson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Bret C Mobley
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Murat Gokden
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Services, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Eyas M Hattab
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Timothy Parrett
- Department of Pathology and Anatomic Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
| | - Ralph X Cooke
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Trang D Lehman
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Contra Costa County Health System, Martinez, CA, 94553, USA
| | - Stefan Costinean
- Department of Pathology, Banner Gateway Medical Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Tempe, AZ, 85284, USA
| | - Anil Parwani
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Brian J Williams
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Randy L Jensen
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Kenneth Aldape
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Akshitkumar M Mistry
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
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Roosen M, Odé Z, Bunt J, Kool M. The oncogenic fusion landscape in pediatric CNS neoplasms. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 143:427-451. [PMID: 35169893 PMCID: PMC8960661 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-022-02405-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric neoplasms in the central nervous system (CNS) are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children. Recent developments in molecular analyses have greatly contributed to a more accurate diagnosis and risk stratification of CNS tumors. Additionally, sequencing studies have identified various, often entity specific, tumor-driving events. In contrast to adult tumors, which often harbor multiple mutated oncogenic drivers, the number of mutated genes in pediatric cancers is much lower and many tumors can have a single oncogenic driver. Moreover, in children, much more than in adults, fusion proteins play an important role in driving tumorigenesis, and many different fusions have been identified as potential driver events in pediatric CNS neoplasms. However, a comprehensive overview of all the different reported oncogenic fusion proteins in pediatric CNS neoplasms is still lacking. A better understanding of the fusion proteins detected in these tumors and of the molecular mechanisms how these proteins drive tumorigenesis, could improve diagnosis and further benefit translational research into targeted therapies necessary to treat these distinct entities. In this review, we discuss the different oncogenic fusions reported in pediatric CNS neoplasms and their structure to create an overview of the variety of oncogenic fusion proteins to date, the tumor entities they occur in and their proposed mode of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mieke Roosen
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Zelda Odé
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jens Bunt
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel Kool
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center DKFZ and German Cancer Consortium DKTK, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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12
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Montefiori LE, Mullighan CG. Redefining the biological basis of lineage-ambiguous leukemia through genomics: BCL11B deregulation in acute leukemias of ambiguous lineage. Best Pract Res Clin Haematol 2021; 34:101329. [PMID: 34865701 DOI: 10.1016/j.beha.2021.101329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Acute leukemias of ambiguous lineage (ALAL), including mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) and related entities such as early T-cell precursor acute leukemia (ETP-ALL), remain diagnostic and clinical challenges due to limited understanding of pathogenesis, reliance of immunophenotyping to classify disease, and the lack of a rational approach to guide selection of appropriate therapy. Recent studies utilizing genomic sequencing and complementary approaches have provided key insights that are changing the way in which such leukemias are classified, and potentially, treated. Several recurrent genomic alterations define leukemias that straddle immunophenotypic entities, such as ZNF384-rearranged childhood B-ALL and B/myeloid MPAL, and BCL11B-rearranged T/myeloid MPAL, ETP-ALL and AML. In contrast, some cases of MPAL represent canonical ALL/AML entities exhibiting lineage aberrancy. For many cases of ALAL, experimental approaches indicate lineage aberrancy arises from acquisition of a founding genetic alteration into a hematopoietic stem or progenitor cell. Determination of optimal therapeutic approach requires genomic characterization of uniformly treated ALAL patients in prospective studies, but several approaches, including kinase inhibitors and BH3 mimetics may be efficacious in subsets of ALAL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey E Montefiori
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Charles G Mullighan
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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13
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Sasca D, Guezguez B, Kühn MWM. Next generation epigenetic modulators to target myeloid neoplasms. Curr Opin Hematol 2021; 28:356-363. [PMID: 34267079 DOI: 10.1097/moh.0000000000000673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Comprehensive sequencing studies aimed at determining the genetic landscape of myeloid neoplasms have identified epigenetic regulators to be among the most commonly mutated genes. Detailed studies have also revealed a number of epigenetic vulnerabilities. The purpose of this review is to outline these vulnerabilities and to discuss the new generation of drugs that exploit them. RECENT FINDINGS In addition to deoxyribonucleic acid-methylation, novel epigenetic dependencies have recently been discovered in various myeloid neoplasms and many of them can be targeted pharmacologically. These include not only chromatin writers, readers, and erasers but also chromatin movers that shift nucleosomes to allow access for transcription. Inhibitors of protein-protein interactions represent a novel promising class of drugs that allow disassembly of oncogenic multiprotein complexes. SUMMARY An improved understanding of disease-specific epigenetic vulnerabilities has led to the development of second-generation mechanism-based epigenetic drugs against myeloid neoplasms. Many of these drugs have been introduced into clinical trials and synergistic drug combination regimens have been shown to enhance efficacy and potentially prevent drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Sasca
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz
| | - Borhane Guezguez
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael W M Kühn
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz
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Davis RB, Kaur T, Moosa MM, Banerjee PR. FUS oncofusion protein condensates recruit mSWI/SNF chromatin remodeler via heterotypic interactions between prion-like domains. Protein Sci 2021; 30:1454-1466. [PMID: 34018649 PMCID: PMC8197437 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Fusion transcription factors generated by genomic translocations are common drivers of several types of cancers including sarcomas and leukemias. Oncofusions of the FET (FUS, EWSR1, and TAF15) family proteins result from the fusion of the prion-like domain (PLD) of FET proteins to the DNA-binding domain (DBD) of certain transcription regulators and are implicated in aberrant transcriptional programs through interactions with chromatin remodelers. Here, we show that FUS-DDIT3, a FET oncofusion protein, undergoes PLD-mediated phase separation into liquid-like condensates. Nuclear FUS-DDIT3 condensates can recruit essential components of the global transcriptional machinery such as the chromatin remodeler SWI/SNF. The recruitment of mammalian SWI/SNF (mSWI/SNF) is driven by heterotypic PLD-PLD interactions between FUS-DDIT3 and core subunits of SWI/SNF, such as the catalytic component BRG1. Further experiments with single-molecule correlative force-fluorescence microscopy support a model wherein the fusion protein forms condensates on DNA surface and enrich BRG1 to activate transcription by ectopic chromatin remodeling. Similar PLD-driven co-condensation of mSWI/SNF with transcription factors can be employed by other oncogenic fusion proteins with a generic PLD-DBD domain architecture for global transcriptional reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richoo B. Davis
- Department of PhysicsUniversity at BuffaloBuffaloNew YorkUSA
| | - Taranpreet Kaur
- Department of PhysicsUniversity at BuffaloBuffaloNew YorkUSA
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Stonestrom AJ, Levine RL. The BAFfling story of MN1-induced leukemogenesis. Mol Cell 2021; 81:2268-2269. [PMID: 34087176 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Riedel et al. (2021) show that expression of MN1 is capable of blocking myeloid differentiation and initiating leukemia through mechanisms that require Brg1-containing chromatin remodeling complexes. Intriguingly, this process depends on an unstructured polyglutamine repeat region within MN1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J Stonestrom
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA; Department of Medicine, Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Ross L Levine
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA; Department of Medicine, Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA; Center for Epigenetics Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA; Center for Hematologic Malignancies, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA; Molecular Cancer Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
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