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Collins VJ, Ludwig KR, Nelson AE, Rajan SS, Yeung C, Vulikh K, Isanogle KA, Mendoza A, Difilippantonio S, Karim BO, Caplen NJ, Heske CM. Enhancing Standard of Care Chemotherapy Efficacy Using DNA-Dependent Protein Kinase (DNA-PK) Inhibition in Preclinical Models of Ewing Sarcoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2024; 23:1109-1123. [PMID: 38657228 PMCID: PMC11293986 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0641] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Disruption of DNA damage repair via impaired homologous recombination is characteristic of Ewing sarcoma (EWS) cells. We hypothesize that this disruption results in increased reliance on nonhomologous end joining to repair DNA damage. In this study, we investigated if pharmacologic inhibition of the enzyme responsible for nonhomologous end joining, the DNA-PK holoenzyme, alters the response of EWS cells to genotoxic standard of care chemotherapy. We used analyses of cell viability and proliferation to investigate the effects of clinical DNA-PK inhibitors (DNA-PKi) in combination with six therapeutic or experimental agents for EWS. We performed calculations of synergy using the Loewe additivity model. Immunoblotting evaluated treatment effects on DNA-PK, DNA damage, and apoptosis. Flow cytometric analyses evaluated effects on cell cycle and fate. We used orthotopic xenograft models to interrogate tolerability, drug mechanism, and efficacy in vivo. DNA-PKi demonstrated on-target activity, reducing phosphorylated DNA-PK levels in EWS cells. DNA-PKi sensitized EWS cell lines to agents that function as topoisomerase 2 (TOP2) poisons and enhanced the DNA damage induced by TOP2 poisons. Nanomolar concentrations of single-agent TOP2 poisons induced G2M arrest and little apoptotic response while adding DNA-PKi-mediated apoptosis. In vivo, the combination of AZD7648 and etoposide had limited tolerability but resulted in enhanced DNA damage, apoptosis, and EWS tumor shrinkage. The combination of DNA-PKi with standard of care TOP2 poisons in EWS models is synergistic, enhances DNA damage and cell death, and may form the basis of a promising future therapeutic strategy for EWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor J. Collins
- Translational Sarcoma Biology Section, Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Katelyn R. Ludwig
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ariana E. Nelson
- Translational Sarcoma Biology Section, Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Soumya Sundara Rajan
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Choh Yeung
- Translational Sarcoma Biology Section, Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ksenia Vulikh
- Molecular Histopathology Lab, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Kristine A. Isanogle
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Arnulfo Mendoza
- Translational Sarcoma Biology Section, Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Simone Difilippantonio
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Baktiar O. Karim
- Molecular Histopathology Lab, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Natasha J. Caplen
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Christine M. Heske
- Translational Sarcoma Biology Section, Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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Luna R, Gómez-González B, Aguilera A. RNA biogenesis and RNA metabolism factors as R-loop suppressors: a hidden role in genome integrity. Genes Dev 2024; 38:504-527. [PMID: 38986581 PMCID: PMC11293400 DOI: 10.1101/gad.351853.124] [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] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Genome integrity relies on the accuracy of DNA metabolism, but as appreciated for more than four decades, transcription enhances mutation and recombination frequencies. More recent research provided evidence for a previously unforeseen link between RNA and DNA metabolism, which is often related to the accumulation of DNA-RNA hybrids and R-loops. In addition to physiological roles, R-loops interfere with DNA replication and repair, providing a molecular scenario for the origin of genome instability. Here, we review current knowledge on the multiple RNA factors that prevent or resolve R-loops and consequent transcription-replication conflicts and thus act as modulators of genome dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Luna
- Andalusian Center of Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER), Universidad de Sevilla-Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 41092 Seville, Spain
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Belén Gómez-González
- Andalusian Center of Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER), Universidad de Sevilla-Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 41092 Seville, Spain
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Andrés Aguilera
- Andalusian Center of Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER), Universidad de Sevilla-Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 41092 Seville, Spain;
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain
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Petrescu DI, Yustein JT, Dasgupta A. Preclinical models for the study of pediatric solid tumors: focus on bone sarcomas. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1388484. [PMID: 39091911 PMCID: PMC11291195 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1388484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Sarcomas comprise between 10-15% of all pediatric malignancies. Osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma are the two most common pediatric bone tumors diagnosed in children and young adults. These tumors are commonly treated with surgery and/or radiation therapy and combination chemotherapy. However, there is a strong need for the development and utilization of targeted therapeutic methods to improve patient outcomes. Towards accomplishing this goal, pre-clinical models for these unique malignancies are of particular importance to design and test experimental therapeutic strategies prior to being introduced to patients due to their origination site and propensity to metastasize. Pre-clinical models offer several advantages for the study of pediatric sarcomas with unique benefits and shortcomings dependent on the type of model. This review addresses the types of pre-clinical models available for the study of pediatric solid tumors, with special attention to the bone sarcomas osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Isabel Petrescu
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jason T. Yustein
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Atreyi Dasgupta
- The Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, Houston, TX, United States
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Li X, Zou L. BRCAness, DNA gaps, and gain and loss of PARP inhibitor-induced synthetic lethality. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e181062. [PMID: 39007266 PMCID: PMC11245158 DOI: 10.1172/jci181062] [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: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the tumor-suppressor genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 resulting in BRCA1/2 deficiency are frequently identified in breast, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, and other cancers. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPis) selectively kill BRCA1/2-deficient cancer cells by inducing synthetic lethality, providing an effective biomarker-guided strategy for targeted cancer therapy. However, a substantial fraction of cancer patients carrying BRCA1/2 mutations do not respond to PARPis, and most patients develop resistance to PARPis over time, highlighting a major obstacle to PARPi therapy in the clinic. Recent studies have revealed that changes of specific functional defects of BRCA1/2-deficient cells, particularly their defects in suppressing and protecting single-stranded DNA gaps, contribute to the gain or loss of PARPi-induced synthetic lethality. These findings not only shed light on the mechanism of action of PARPis, but also lead to revised models that explain how PARPis selectively kill BRCA-deficient cancer cells. Furthermore, new mechanistic principles of PARPi sensitivity and resistance have emerged from these studies, generating potentially useful guidelines for predicting the PARPi response and design therapies for overcoming PARPi resistance. In this Review, we will discuss these recent studies and put them in context with the classic views of PARPi-induced synthetic lethality, aiming to stimulate the development of new therapeutic strategies to overcome PARPi resistance and improve PARPi therapy.
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Chen Y, Zhang W, Xu X, Xu B, Yang Y, Yu H, Li K, Liu M, Qi L, Jiao X. Gene signatures of copper metabolism related genes may predict prognosis and immunity status in Ewing's sarcoma. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1388868. [PMID: 39050579 PMCID: PMC11267503 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1388868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Cuproptosis is copper-induced cell death. Copper metabolism related genes (CMRGs) were demonstrated that used to assess the prognosis out of tumors. In the study, CMRGs were tested for their effect on TME cell infiltration in Ewing's sarcoma (ES). Methods The GEO and ICGC databases provided the mRNA expression profiles and clinical features for downloading. In the GSE17674 dataset, 22prognostic-related copper metabolism related genes (PR-CMRGs) was identified by using univariate regression analysis. Subsequently, in order to compare the survival rates of groups with high and low expression of these PR-CMRGs,Kaplan-Meier analysis was implemented. Additionally, correlations among them were examined. The study employed functional enrichment analysis to investigate probable underlying pathways, while GSVA was applied to evaluate enriched pathways in the ES (Expression Set). Through an unsupervised clustering algorithm, samples were classified into two clusters, revealing significant differences in survival rates and levels of immune infiltration. Results Using Lasso and step regression methods, five genes (TFRC, SORD, SLC11A2, FKBP4, and AANAT) were selected as risk signatures. According to the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the high-risk group had considerably lower survival rates than the low-risk group(p=6.013e-09). The area under the curve (AUC) values for the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were 0.876, 0.883, and 0.979 for 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The risk model was further validated in additional datasets, namely GSE63155, GSE63156, and the ICGC datasets. To aid in outcome prediction, a nomogram was developed that incorporated risk levels and clinical features. This nomogram's performance was effectively validated through calibration curves.Additionally, the study evaluated the variations in immune infiltration across different risk groups, as well as high-expression and low-expression groups. Importantly, several drugs were identified that displayed sensitivity, offering potential therapeutic options for ES. Conclusion The findings above strongly indicate that CMRGs play crucial roles in predicting prognosis and immune status in ES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqin Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Wencan Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiao Xu
- Sterile Supply Department, The First People Hospital of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Biteng Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yuxuan Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Haozhi Yu
- Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ke Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Mingshan Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Lei Qi
- Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiejia Jiao
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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Strauss SJ, Berlanga P, McCabe MG. Emerging therapies in Ewing sarcoma. Curr Opin Oncol 2024; 36:297-304. [PMID: 38775200 PMCID: PMC11155282 DOI: 10.1097/cco.0000000000001048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW There is an unmet need to improve outcomes for patients for Ewing sarcoma, a rare, aggressive sarcoma with a peak incidence in adolescents and young adults (AYA). Current therapy at diagnosis involves multiagent chemotherapy and local therapy, but despite intensification of treatment, those with metastases at diagnosis and recurrent disease have poor outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS Improved understanding of Ewing sarcoma biology has identified novel targets with promising activity in Ewing sarcoma patients, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors that are now undergoing evaluation as combination and maintenance therapy. Other emerging therapies include those that target the EWSR1::FLI1 fusion oncoprotein, and act on DNA damage, cell cycle and apoptotic pathways. Immunotherapeutic approaches, particularly CAR-T-cell therapy directed at GD2, also hold promise. Recent collaborative clinical trials that have defined an international standard of care for patients with newly diagnosed Ewing sarcoma and novel platform studies with adaptive designs offer unique opportunities to investigate these therapies inclusive of all ages. SUMMARY Close international collaboration between clinicians and biologists will allow us to prioritize promising emerging therapies and develop biomarkers to facilitate their incorporation into standard of care and more rapidly translate into benefit for Ewing sarcoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra J. Strauss
- Department of Oncology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pablo Berlanga
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Oncology, Gustave-Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Martin G. McCabe
- Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Fan Z, Dong S, Wang N, Khawar MB, Wang J, Sun H. Unlocking epigenetics for precision treatment of Ewing's sarcoma. Chin J Cancer Res 2024; 36:322-340. [PMID: 38988487 PMCID: PMC11230886 DOI: 10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2024.03.08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ewing's sarcoma (EWS) is a highly aggressive malignant bone tumor primarily affecting adolescents and young adults. Despite the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy in some cases, the cure rate for patients with metastatic and recurrent disease remains low. Therefore, there is an urgent need for innovative therapeutic approaches to address the challenges associated with EWS treatment. Epigenetic regulation, a crucial factor in physiological processes, plays a significant role in controlling cell proliferation, maintaining gene integrity, and regulating transcription. Recent studies highlight the importance of abnormal epigenetic regulation in the initiation and progression of EWS. A comprehensive understanding of the intricate interactions between EWS and aberrant epigenetic regulation is essential for advancing clinical drug development. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of both epigenetic targets implicated in EWS, integrating various therapeutic modalities to offer innovative perspectives for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of EWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhehao Fan
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Experimental & Translational Non-Coding RNA Research, Yangzhou 225001, China
| | - Shuangshuang Dong
- Department of Pathology, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University/Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Experimental & Translational Non-Coding RNA Research, Yangzhou 225001, China
| | - Muhammad Babar Khawar
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Experimental & Translational Non-Coding RNA Research, Yangzhou 225001, China
| | - Jingcheng Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China
| | - Haibo Sun
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Experimental & Translational Non-Coding RNA Research, Yangzhou 225001, China
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Yu L, Deng Y, Wang X, Santos C, Davis IJ, Earp HS, Liu P. Co-targeting JAK1/STAT6/GAS6/TAM signaling improves chemotherapy efficacy in Ewing sarcoma. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5292. [PMID: 38906855 PMCID: PMC11192891 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49667-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is a pediatric bone and soft tissue tumor treated with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Despite intensive multimodality therapy, ~50% patients eventually relapse and die of the disease due to chemoresistance. Here, using phospho-profiling, we find Ewing sarcoma cells treated with chemotherapeutic agents activate TAM (TYRO3, AXL, MERTK) kinases to augment Akt and ERK signaling facilitating chemoresistance. Mechanistically, chemotherapy-induced JAK1-SQ phosphorylation releases JAK1 pseudokinase domain inhibition allowing for JAK1 activation. This alternative JAK1 activation mechanism leads to STAT6 nuclear translocation triggering transcription and secretion of the TAM kinase ligand GAS6 with autocrine/paracrine consequences. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of either JAK1 by filgotinib or TAM kinases by UNC2025 sensitizes Ewing sarcoma to chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo. Excitingly, the TAM kinase inhibitor MRX-2843 currently in human clinical trials to treat AML and advanced solid tumors, enhances chemotherapy efficacy to further suppress Ewing sarcoma tumor growth in vivo. Our findings reveal an Ewing sarcoma chemoresistance mechanism with an immediate translational value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Yu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yu Deng
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Charlene Santos
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Ian J Davis
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - H Shelton Earp
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Pengda Liu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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Rask GC, Taslim C, Bayanjargal A, Cannon MV, Selich-Anderson J, Crow JC, Duncan A, Theisen ER. Seclidemstat blocks the transcriptional function of multiple FET-fusion oncoproteins. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.19.594897. [PMID: 38826330 PMCID: PMC11142045 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.19.594897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Genes encoding the RNA-binding proteins FUS, EWSR1, and TAF15 (FET proteins) are involved in chromosomal translocations in rare sarcomas. FET-rearranged sarcomas are often aggressive malignancies affecting patients of all ages. New therapies are needed. These translocations fuse the 5' portion of the FET gene with a 3' partner gene encoding a transcription factor (TF). The resulting fusion proteins are oncogenic TFs with a FET protein low complexity domain (LCD) and a DNA binding domain. FET fusion proteins have proven stubbornly difficult to target directly and promising strategies target critical co-regulators. One candidate is lysine specific demethylase 1 (LSD1). LSD1 is recruited by multiple FET fusions, including EWSR1::FLI1. LSD1 promotes EWSR1::FLI1 activity and treatment with the noncompetitive inhibitor SP-2509 blocks EWSR1::FLI1 transcriptional function. A similar molecule, seclidemstat (SP-2577), is currently in clinical trials for FET-rearranged sarcomas (NCT03600649). However, whether seclidemstat has pharmacological activity against FET fusions has not been demonstrated. Here, we evaluate the in vitro potency of seclidemstat against multiple FET-rearranged sarcoma cell lines, including Ewing sarcoma, desmoplastic small round cell tumor, clear cell sarcoma, and myxoid liposarcoma. We also define the transcriptomic effects of seclidemstat treatment and evaluated the activity of seclidemstat against FET fusion transcriptional regulation. Seclidemstat showed potent activity in cell viability assays across FET-rearranged sarcomas and disrupted the transcriptional function of all tested fusions. Though epigenetic and targeted inhibitors are unlikely to be effective as a single agents in the clinic, these data suggest seclidemstat remains a promising new treatment strategy for patients with FET-rearranged sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galen C. Rask
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
| | - Cenny Taslim
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
| | - Ariunaa Bayanjargal
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Matthew V. Cannon
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
| | - Julia Selich-Anderson
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
| | - Jesse C. Crow
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
| | | | - Emily R. Theisen
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
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Lay MA, Thompson VF, Adelakun AD, Schwartz JC. Ewing Sarcoma Related protein 1 recognizes R-loops by binding DNA forks. Biopolymers 2024; 115:e23576. [PMID: 38511874 PMCID: PMC11127786 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
EWSR1 (Ewing Sarcoma Related protein 1) is an RNA binding protein that is ubiquitously expressed across cell lines and involved in multiple parts of RNA processing, such as transcription, splicing, and mRNA transport. EWSR1 has also been implicated in cellular mechanisms to control formation of R-loops, a three-stranded nucleic acid structure consisting of a DNA:RNA hybrid and a displaced single-stranded DNA strand. Unscheduled R-loops result in genomic and transcription stress. Loss of function of EWSR1 functions commonly found in Ewing Sarcoma correlates with high abundance of R-loops. In this study, we investigated the mechanism for EWSR1 to recognize an R-loop structure specifically. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), we detected the high affinity binding of EWSR1 to substrates representing components found in R-loops. EWSR1 specificity could be isolated to the DNA fork region, which transitions between double- and single-stranded DNA. Our data suggests that the Zinc-finger domain (ZnF) with flanking arginine and glycine rich (RGG) domains provide high affinity binding, while the RNA recognition motif (RRM) with its RGG domains offer improved specificity. This model offers a rational for EWSR1 specificity to encompass a wide range in contexts due to the DNA forks always found with R-loops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A Lay
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Valery F Thompson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Ajibola D Adelakun
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Jacob C Schwartz
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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Kyriazoglou A, Moutafi M, Zografos E, Konteles V, Sofianidis G, Mahaira L, Papakosta A, Tourkantoni N, Patereli A, Stefanaki K, Tzotzola V, Mpaka M, Polychronopoulou S, Dimitriadis E, Kattamis A. Expression of DNA Repair Genes in Ewing Sarcoma. CANCER DIAGNOSIS & PROGNOSIS 2024; 4:231-238. [PMID: 38707718 PMCID: PMC11062174 DOI: 10.21873/cdp.10313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Background/Aim Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive mesenchymal malignancy commonly affecting children and young adolescents. The molecular basis of this neoplasia is well reported with the formation of the EWSR1/FLI1 fusion gene being the most common genetic finding. However, this fusion gene has not been targeted therapeutically nor is being used as a prognostic marker. Its relevance regarding the molecular steps leading to Ewing sarcoma genesis are yet to be defined. The generation of the oncogenic EWSR1/FLI1 fusion gene, can be attributed to the simultaneous introduction of two DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The scope of this study is to detect any association between DNA repair deficiency and the clinicopathological aspects of Ewing's sarcoma disease. Patients and Methods We have conducted an expression analysis of 35 patients diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma concerning the genes involved in non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR) repair pathways. We have analyzed the expression levels of 6 genes involved in NHEJ (XRCC4, XRCC5, XRCC6, POLλ, POLμ) and 9 genes involved in HR (RAD51, RAD52, RAD54, BRCA1, BRCA2, FANCC, FANCD, DNTM1, BRIT1) using real time PCR. Age, sex, location of primary tumor, tumor size, KI67, mitotic count, invasion of adjacent tissues and treatment were the clinicopathological parameters included in the statistical analysis. Results Our results show that both these DNA repair pathways are deregulated in Ewing sarcoma. In addition, low expression of the xrcc4 gene has been associated with better overall survival probability (p=0.032). Conclusion Our results, even though retrospective and in a small number of patients, highlight the importance of DSBs repair and propose a potential therapeutic target for this type of sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Kyriazoglou
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Oncology Unit, University Hospital Attikon, Athens, Greece
| | - Myrto Moutafi
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Oncology Unit, University Hospital Attikon, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Zografos
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Georgios Sofianidis
- Motor Control and Learning Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Louisa Mahaira
- Department of Genetics, Aghios Savvas Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Natalia Tourkantoni
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
- 'Aghia Sofia' Children's Hospital ERN-PaedCan Center, Athens, Greece
| | - Amalia Patereli
- Department of Pathology, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Kalliopi Stefanaki
- Department of Pathology, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Tzotzola
- 'Aghia Sofia' Children's Hospital ERN-PaedCan Center, Athens, Greece
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Margarita Mpaka
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Panagiotis and Aglaia Kyriakou Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Sofia Polychronopoulou
- 'Aghia Sofia' Children's Hospital ERN-PaedCan Center, Athens, Greece
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Antonis Kattamis
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
- 'Aghia Sofia' Children's Hospital ERN-PaedCan Center, Athens, Greece
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12
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Zhao SJ, Prior D, Heske CM, Vasquez JC. Therapeutic Targeting of DNA Repair Pathways in Pediatric Extracranial Solid Tumors: Current State and Implications for Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1648. [PMID: 38730598 PMCID: PMC11083679 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16091648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA damage is fundamental to tumorigenesis, and the inability to repair DNA damage is a hallmark of many human cancers. DNA is repaired via the DNA damage repair (DDR) apparatus, which includes five major pathways. DDR deficiencies in cancers give rise to potential therapeutic targets, as cancers harboring DDR deficiencies become increasingly dependent on alternative DDR pathways for survival. In this review, we summarize the DDR apparatus, and examine the current state of research efforts focused on identifying vulnerabilities in DDR pathways that can be therapeutically exploited in pediatric extracranial solid tumors. We assess the potential for synergistic combinations of different DDR inhibitors as well as combinations of DDR inhibitors with chemotherapy. Lastly, we discuss the immunomodulatory implications of targeting DDR pathways and the potential for using DDR inhibitors to enhance tumor immunogenicity, with the goal of improving the response to immune checkpoint blockade in pediatric solid tumors. We review the ongoing and future research into DDR in pediatric tumors and the subsequent pediatric clinical trials that will be critical to further elucidate the efficacy of the approaches targeting DDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia J. Zhao
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; (S.J.Z.); (D.P.)
| | - Daniel Prior
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; (S.J.Z.); (D.P.)
| | - Christine M. Heske
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Juan C. Vasquez
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; (S.J.Z.); (D.P.)
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13
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Marino GB, Clarke DJB, Deng EZ, Ma’ayan A. RummaGEO: Automatic Mining of Human and Mouse Gene Sets from GEO. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.09.588712. [PMID: 38645198 PMCID: PMC11030343 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.09.588712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) is a major open biomedical research repository for transcriptomics and other omics datasets. It currently contains millions of gene expression samples from tens of thousands of studies collected by many biomedical research laboratories from around the world. While users of the GEO repository can search the metadata describing studies for locating relevant datasets, there are currently no methods or resources that facilitate global search of GEO at the data level. To address this shortcoming, we developed RummaGEO, a webserver application that enables gene expression signature search of a large collection of human and mouse RNA-seq studies deposited into GEO. To develop the search engine, we performed offline automatic identification of sample conditions from the uniformly aligned GEO studies available from ARCHS4. We then computed differential expression signatures to extract gene sets from these studies. In total, RummaGEO currently contains 135,264 human and 158,062 mouse gene sets extracted from 23,395 GEO studies. Next, we analyzed the contents of the RummaGEO database to identify statistical patterns and perform various global analyses. The contents of the RummaGEO database are provided as a web-server search engine with signature search, PubMed search, and metadata search functionalities. Overall, RummaGEO provides an unprecedented resource for the biomedical research community enabling hypothesis generation for many future studies. The RummaGEO search engine is available from: https://rummageo.com/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo B. Marino
- Mount Sinai Center for Bioinformatics, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York 10029, NY USA
| | - Daniel J. B. Clarke
- Mount Sinai Center for Bioinformatics, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York 10029, NY USA
| | - Eden Z. Deng
- Mount Sinai Center for Bioinformatics, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York 10029, NY USA
| | - Avi Ma’ayan
- Mount Sinai Center for Bioinformatics, Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York 10029, NY USA
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14
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Pusch FF, Dorado García H, Xu R, Gürgen D, Bei Y, Brückner L, Röefzaad C, von Stebut J, Bardinet V, Chamorro Gonzalez R, Eggert A, Schulte JH, Hundsdörfer P, Seifert G, Haase K, Schäfer BW, Wachtel M, Kühl AA, Ortiz MV, Wengner AM, Scheer M, Henssen AG. Elimusertib has Antitumor Activity in Preclinical Patient-Derived Pediatric Solid Tumor Models. Mol Cancer Ther 2024; 23:507-519. [PMID: 38159110 PMCID: PMC10985474 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0094] [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: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The small-molecule inhibitor of ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR), elimusertib, is currently being tested clinically in various cancer entities in adults and children. Its preclinical antitumor activity in pediatric malignancies, however, is largely unknown. We here assessed the preclinical activity of elimusertib in 38 cell lines and 32 patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models derived from common pediatric solid tumor entities. Detailed in vitro and in vivo molecular characterization of the treated models enabled the evaluation of response biomarkers. Pronounced objective response rates were observed for elimusertib monotherapy in PDX, when treated with a regimen currently used in clinical trials. Strikingly, elimusertib showed stronger antitumor effects than some standard-of-care chemotherapies, particularly in alveolar rhabdomysarcoma PDX. Thus, elimusertib has strong preclinical antitumor activity in pediatric solid tumor models, which may translate to clinically meaningful responses in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian F. Pusch
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the MDC and Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heathcliff Dorado García
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the MDC and Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robin Xu
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the MDC and Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dennis Gürgen
- Experimental Pharmacology and Oncology (EPO), Berlin, Germany
| | - Yi Bei
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the MDC and Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lotte Brückner
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the MDC and Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (BIMSB/BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Röefzaad
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the MDC and Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jennifer von Stebut
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the MDC and Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Victor Bardinet
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the MDC and Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rocío Chamorro Gonzalez
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the MDC and Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Angelika Eggert
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes H. Schulte
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Patrick Hundsdörfer
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Helios Klinikum Berlin-Buch, Berlin, Germany
| | - Georg Seifert
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kerstin Haase
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the MDC and Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Anja A. Kühl
- iPATH.Berlin—Core Unit Immunopathology for Experimental Models, Charité Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael V. Ortiz
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, New York
| | | | - Monika Scheer
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anton G. Henssen
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the MDC and Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin (BIMSB/BIH), Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Berlin, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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15
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Ruzanov P, Evdokimova V, Pachva MC, Minkovich A, Zhang Z, Langman S, Gassmann H, Thiel U, Orlic-Milacic M, Zaidi SH, Peltekova V, Heisler LE, Sharma M, Cox ME, McKee TD, Zaidi M, Lapouble E, McPherson JD, Delattre O, Radvanyi L, Burdach SE, Stein LD, Sorensen PH. Oncogenic ETS fusions promote DNA damage and proinflammatory responses via pericentromeric RNAs in extracellular vesicles. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e169470. [PMID: 38530366 PMCID: PMC11060741 DOI: 10.1172/jci169470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Aberrant expression of the E26 transformation-specific (ETS) transcription factors characterizes numerous human malignancies. Many of these proteins, including EWS:FLI1 and EWS:ERG fusions in Ewing sarcoma (EwS) and TMPRSS2:ERG in prostate cancer (PCa), drive oncogenic programs via binding to GGAA repeats. We report here that both EWS:FLI1 and ERG bind and transcriptionally activate GGAA-rich pericentromeric heterochromatin. The respective pathogen-like HSAT2 and HSAT3 RNAs, together with LINE, SINE, ERV, and other repeat transcripts, are expressed in EwS and PCa tumors, secreted in extracellular vesicles (EVs), and are highly elevated in plasma of patients with EwS with metastatic disease. High human satellite 2 and 3 (HSAT2,3) levels in EWS:FLI1- or ERG-expressing cells and tumors were associated with induction of G2/M checkpoint, mitotic spindle, and DNA damage programs. These programs were also activated in EwS EV-treated fibroblasts, coincident with accumulation of HSAT2,3 RNAs, proinflammatory responses, mitotic defects, and senescence. Mechanistically, HSAT2,3-enriched cancer EVs induced cGAS-TBK1 innate immune signaling and formation of cytosolic granules positive for double-strand RNAs, RNA-DNA, and cGAS. Hence, aberrantly expressed ETS proteins derepress pericentromeric heterochromatin, yielding pathogenic RNAs that transmit genotoxic stress and inflammation to local and distant sites. Monitoring HSAT2,3 plasma levels and preventing their dissemination may thus improve therapeutic strategies and blood-based diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Ruzanov
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Manideep C. Pachva
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre and
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alon Minkovich
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zhenbo Zhang
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sofya Langman
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre and
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hendrik Gassmann
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Cancer Research Center, Kinderklinik München Schwabing, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Uwe Thiel
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Cancer Research Center, Kinderklinik München Schwabing, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Syed H. Zaidi
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vanya Peltekova
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Manju Sharma
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael E. Cox
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Trevor D. McKee
- STTARR Innovation Centre, Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Pathomics Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark Zaidi
- Pathomics Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eve Lapouble
- Unité Génétique Somatique (UGS), Institut Curie, Centre Hospitalier Paris, France
| | - John D. McPherson
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Olivier Delattre
- Unité Génétique Somatique (UGS), Institut Curie, Centre Hospitalier Paris, France
- Diversity and Plasticity of Childhood tumors, INSERM U830, Institut Curie Research Center, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Laszlo Radvanyi
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stefan E.G. Burdach
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre and
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Cancer Research Center, Kinderklinik München Schwabing, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- CCC München Comprehensive Cancer Center, DKTK German Cancer Consortium, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Translation Pediatric Cancer Research Action, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lincoln D. Stein
- Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Poul H. Sorensen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre and
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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16
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Sundara Rajan S, Ebegboni VJ, Pichling P, Ludwig KR, Jones TL, Chari R, Tran A, Kruhlak MJ, Loncarek J, Caplen NJ. Endogenous EWSR1 Exists in Two Visual Modalities That Reflect Its Associations with Nucleic Acids and Concentration at Sites of Active Transcription. Mol Cell Biol 2024; 44:103-122. [PMID: 38506112 PMCID: PMC10986767 DOI: 10.1080/10985549.2024.2315425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
EWSR1 is a member of the FET family of nucleic acid binding proteins that includes FUS and TAF15. Here, we report the systematic analysis of endogenous EWSR1's cellular organization in human cells. We demonstrate that EWSR1, which contains low complexity and nucleic acid binding domains, is present in cells in faster and slower-recovering fractions, indicative of a protein undergoing both rapid exchange and longer-term interactions. The employment of complementary high-resolution imaging approaches shows EWSR1 exists in two visual modalities, a distributed state which is present throughout the nucleoplasm, and a concentrated state consistent with the formation of foci. Both EWSR1 visual modalities localize with nascent RNA. EWSR1 foci concentrate in regions of euchromatin, adjacent to protein markers of transcriptional activation, and significantly colocalize with phosphorylated RNA polymerase II. Our results contribute to bridging the gap between our understanding of the biophysical and biochemical properties of FET proteins, including EWSR1, their functions as transcriptional regulators, and the participation of these proteins in tumorigenesis and neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumya Sundara Rajan
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Vernon J. Ebegboni
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Patricio Pichling
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Katelyn R. Ludwig
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Tamara L. Jones
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Raj Chari
- Genome Modification Core, Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Andy Tran
- CCR Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael J. Kruhlak
- CCR Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jadranka Loncarek
- Centrosome Biology Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Natasha J. Caplen
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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17
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Murayama T, Nakayama J, Jiang X, Miyata K, Morris AD, Cai KQ, Prasad RM, Ma X, Efimov A, Belani N, Gerstein ER, Tan Y, Zhou Y, Kim W, Maruyama R, Campbell KS, Chen L, Yang Y, Balachandran S, Cañadas I. Targeting DHX9 Triggers Tumor-Intrinsic Interferon Response and Replication Stress in Small Cell Lung Cancer. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:468-491. [PMID: 38189443 PMCID: PMC10905673 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-0486] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Activating innate immunity in cancer cells through cytoplasmic nucleic acid sensing pathways, a phenomenon known as "viral mimicry," has emerged as an effective strategy to convert immunologically "cold" tumors into "hot." Through a curated CRISPR-based screen of RNA helicases, we identified DExD/H-box helicase 9 (DHX9) as a potent repressor of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in small cell lung cancers (SCLC). Depletion of DHX9 induced accumulation of cytoplasmic dsRNA and triggered tumor-intrinsic innate immunity. Intriguingly, ablating DHX9 also induced aberrant accumulation of R-loops, which resulted in an increase of DNA damage-derived cytoplasmic DNA and replication stress in SCLCs. In vivo, DHX9 deletion promoted a decrease in tumor growth while inducing a more immunogenic tumor microenvironment, invigorating responsiveness to immune-checkpoint blockade. These findings suggest that DHX9 is a crucial repressor of tumor-intrinsic innate immunity and replication stress, representing a promising target for SCLC and other "cold" tumors in which genomic instability contributes to pathology. SIGNIFICANCE One promising strategy to trigger an immune response within tumors and enhance immunotherapy efficacy is by inducing endogenous "virus-mimetic" nucleic acid accumulation. Here, we identify DHX9 as a viral-mimicry-inducing factor involved in the suppression of double-stranded RNAs and R-loops and propose DHX9 as a novel target to enhance antitumor immunity. See related commentary by Chiappinelli, p. 389. This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 384.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiko Murayama
- Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for Immunology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jun Nakayama
- Laboratory of Integrative Oncology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Oncogenesis and Growth Regulation, Research Institute, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
| | - Xinpei Jiang
- Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for Immunology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Biomedical Science Graduate Program, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Kenichi Miyata
- Project for Cancer Epigenomics, Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
- Cancer Cell Communication Project, NEXT-Ganken Program, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Alexander D. Morris
- Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Kathy Q. Cai
- Histopathology Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Rahul M. Prasad
- Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Xueying Ma
- Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for Immunology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Andrey Efimov
- Bio Imaging Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Neel Belani
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Emily R. Gerstein
- Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yinfei Tan
- Genomics Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yan Zhou
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - William Kim
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California
- Center for Novel Therapeutics, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California
- Department of Medicine, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Reo Maruyama
- Project for Cancer Epigenomics, Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
- Cancer Cell Diversity Project, NEXT-Ganken Program, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kerry S. Campbell
- Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for Immunology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Lu Chen
- Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yibin Yang
- Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for Immunology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Siddharth Balachandran
- Center for Immunology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Israel Cañadas
- Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for Immunology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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18
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Zhang J, Chen F, Tang M, Xu W, Tian Y, Liu Z, Shu Y, Yang H, Zhu Q, Lu X, Peng B, Liu X, Xu X, Gullerova M, Zhu WG. The ARID1A-METTL3-m6A axis ensures effective RNase H1-mediated resolution of R-loops and genome stability. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113779. [PMID: 38358891 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
R-loops are three-stranded structures that can pose threats to genome stability. RNase H1 precisely recognizes R-loops to drive their resolution within the genome, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, we report that ARID1A recognizes R-loops with high affinity in an ATM-dependent manner. ARID1A recruits METTL3 and METTL14 to the R-loop, leading to the m6A methylation of R-loop RNA. This m6A modification facilitates the recruitment of RNase H1 to the R-loop, driving its resolution and promoting DNA end resection at DSBs, thereby ensuring genome stability. Depletion of ARID1A, METTL3, or METTL14 leads to R-loop accumulation and reduced cell survival upon exposure to cytotoxic agents. Therefore, ARID1A, METTL3, and METTL14 function in a coordinated, temporal order at DSB sites to recruit RNase H1 and to ensure efficient R-loop resolution. Given the association of high ARID1A levels with resistance to genotoxic therapies in patients, these findings open avenues for exploring potential therapeutic strategies for cancers with ARID1A abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- International Cancer Center, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Genome Instability and Human Disease Prevention, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Feng Chen
- International Cancer Center, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Genome Instability and Human Disease Prevention, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ming Tang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Wenchao Xu
- International Cancer Center, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Genome Instability and Human Disease Prevention, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yuan Tian
- International Cancer Center, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Genome Instability and Human Disease Prevention, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhichao Liu
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Yuxin Shu
- International Cancer Center, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Genome Instability and Human Disease Prevention, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Hui Yang
- International Cancer Center, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Genome Instability and Human Disease Prevention, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Qian Zhu
- International Cancer Center, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Genome Instability and Human Disease Prevention, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xiaopeng Lu
- International Cancer Center, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Genome Instability and Human Disease Prevention, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Bin Peng
- International Cancer Center, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Genome Instability and Human Disease Prevention, Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xiangyu Liu
- International Cancer Center, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Genome Instability and Human Disease Prevention, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xingzhi Xu
- International Cancer Center, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Genome Instability and Human Disease Prevention, Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Monika Gullerova
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Wei-Guo Zhu
- International Cancer Center, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Genome Instability and Human Disease Prevention, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China; Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241002, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Peking University Health Science Centre, Beijing 100191, China.
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19
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Alahmari AA, Chaubey AH, Jonnakuti VS, Tisdale AA, Schwarz CD, Cornwell AC, Maraszek KE, Paterson EJ, Kim M, Venkat S, Gomez EC, Wang J, Gurova KV, Yalamanchili HK, Feigin ME. CPSF3 inhibition blocks pancreatic cancer cell proliferation through disruption of core histone mRNA processing. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 30:281-297. [PMID: 38191171 PMCID: PMC10870380 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079931.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal disease with limited effective treatment options, potentiating the importance of uncovering novel drug targets. Here, we target cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 3 (CPSF3), the 3' endonuclease that catalyzes mRNA cleavage during polyadenylation and histone mRNA processing. We find that CPSF3 is highly expressed in PDAC and is associated with poor prognosis. CPSF3 knockdown blocks PDAC cell proliferation and colony formation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Chemical inhibition of CPSF3 by the small molecule JTE-607 also attenuates PDAC cell proliferation and colony formation, while it has no effect on cell proliferation of nontransformed immortalized control pancreatic cells. Mechanistically, JTE-607 induces transcriptional readthrough in replication-dependent histones, reduces core histone expression, destabilizes chromatin structure, and arrests cells in the S-phase of the cell cycle. Therefore, CPSF3 represents a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulrahman A Alahmari
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aditi H Chaubey
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | - Venkata S Jonnakuti
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Program in Quantitative and Computational Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Arwen A Tisdale
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | - Carla D Schwarz
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | - Abigail C Cornwell
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | - Kathryn E Maraszek
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | - Emily J Paterson
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | - Minsuh Kim
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | - Swati Venkat
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | - Eduardo Cortes Gomez
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | - Jianmin Wang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | - Katerina V Gurova
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
| | - Hari Krishna Yalamanchili
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Michael E Feigin
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA
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20
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Randolph ME, Afifi M, Gorthi A, Weil R, Wilky BA, Weinreb J, Ciero P, Hoeve NT, van Diest PJ, Raman V, Bishop AJ, Loeb DM. RNA helicase DDX3 regulates RAD51 localization and DNA damage repair in Ewing sarcoma. iScience 2024; 27:108925. [PMID: 38323009 PMCID: PMC10844834 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that RNA helicase DDX3X (DDX3) can be a therapeutic target in Ewing sarcoma (EWS), but its role in EWS biology remains unclear. The present work demonstrates that DDX3 plays a unique role in DNA damage repair (DDR). We show that DDX3 interacts with several proteins involved in homologous recombination, including RAD51, RECQL1, RPA32, and XRCC2. In particular, DDX3 colocalizes with RAD51 and RNA:DNA hybrid structures in the cytoplasm of EWS cells. Inhibition of DDX3 RNA helicase activity increases cytoplasmic RNA:DNA hybrids, sequestering RAD51 in the cytoplasm, which impairs nuclear translocation of RAD51 to sites of double-stranded DNA breaks, thus increasing sensitivity of EWS to radiation treatment, both in vitro and in vivo. This discovery lays the foundation for exploring new therapeutic approaches directed at manipulating DDR protein localization in solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E. Randolph
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Marwa Afifi
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Aparna Gorthi
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute and Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Rachel Weil
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Breelyn A. Wilky
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joshua Weinreb
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Paul Ciero
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Natalie ter Hoeve
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Paul J. van Diest
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Venu Raman
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alexander J.R. Bishop
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute and Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - David M. Loeb
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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21
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De Feo A, Manfredi M, Mancarella C, Maqueda JJ, De Giorgis V, Pignochino Y, Sciandra M, Cristalli C, Donadelli M, Scotlandi K. CD99 Modulates the Proteomic Landscape of Ewing Sarcoma Cells and Related Extracellular Vesicles. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1588. [PMID: 38338867 PMCID: PMC10855178 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031588] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is an aggressive pediatric bone tumor characterized by unmet clinical needs and an incompletely understood epigenetic heterogeneity. Here, we considered CD99, a major surface molecule hallmark of EWS malignancy. Fluctuations in CD99 expression strongly impair cell dissemination, differentiation, and death. CD99 is also loaded within extracellular vesicles (EVs), and the delivery of CD99-positive or CD99-negative EVs dynamically exerts oncogenic or oncosuppressive functions to recipient cells, respectively. We undertook mass spectrometry and functional annotation analysis to investigate the consequences of CD99 silencing on the proteomic landscape of EWS cells and related EVs. Our data demonstrate that (i) the decrease in CD99 leads to major changes in the proteomic profile of EWS cells and EVs; (ii) intracellular and extracellular compartments display two distinct signatures of differentially expressed proteins; (iii) proteomic changes converge to the modulation of cell migration and immune-modulation biological processes; and (iv) CD99-silenced cells and related EVs are characterized by a migration-suppressive, pro-immunostimulatory proteomic profile. Overall, our data provide a novel source of CD99-associated protein biomarkers to be considered for further validation as mediators of EWS malignancy and as EWS disease liquid biopsy markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra De Feo
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.F.); (C.M.); (J.J.M.); (M.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Marcello Manfredi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.M.); (V.D.G.)
| | - Caterina Mancarella
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.F.); (C.M.); (J.J.M.); (M.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Joaquín J. Maqueda
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.F.); (C.M.); (J.J.M.); (M.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Veronica De Giorgis
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.M.); (V.D.G.)
| | - Ymera Pignochino
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043 Turin, Italy;
- Sarcoma Unit, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Turin, Italy
| | - Marika Sciandra
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.F.); (C.M.); (J.J.M.); (M.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Camilla Cristalli
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.F.); (C.M.); (J.J.M.); (M.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Massimo Donadelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Katia Scotlandi
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.F.); (C.M.); (J.J.M.); (M.S.); (C.C.)
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22
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Lay MA, Thompson VF, Adelakun AD, Schwartz JC. Ewing Sarcoma Related protein 1 recognizes R-loops by binding DNA forks. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.20.576463. [PMID: 38293191 PMCID: PMC10827230 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.20.576463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
EWSR1 (Ewing Sarcoma Related protein 1) is an RNA binding protein that is ubiquitously expressed across cell lines and involved in multiple parts of RNA processing, such as transcription, splicing, and mRNA transport. EWSR1 has also been implicated in cellular mechanisms to control formation of R-loops, a three-stranded nucleic acid structure consisting of a DNA:RNA hybrid and a displaced single-stranded DNA strand. Unscheduled R-loops result in genomic and transcription stress. Loss of function of EWSR1 functions commonly found in Ewing Sarcoma correlates with high abundance of R-loops. In this study, we investigated the mechanism for EWSR1 to recognize an R-loop structure specifically. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), we detected the high affinity binding of EWSR1 to substrates representing components found in R-loops. EWSR1 specificity could be isolated to the DNA fork region, which transitions between double- and single-stranded DNA. Our data suggests that the Zinc-finger domain (ZnF) with flanking arginine and glycine rich (RGG) domains provide high affinity binding, while the RNA recognition motif (RRM) with its RGG domains offer improved specificity. This model offers a rational for EWSR1 specificity to encompass a wide range in contexts due to the DNA forks always found with R-loops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A Lay
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Valery F Thompson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Ajibola D Adelakun
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Jacob C Schwartz
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
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23
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Graca Marques J, Pavlovic B, Ngo QA, Pedot G, Roemmele M, Volken L, Kisele S, Perbet R, Wachtel M, Schäfer BW. The Chromatin Remodeler CHD4 Sustains Ewing Sarcoma Cell Survival by Controlling Global Chromatin Architecture. Cancer Res 2024; 84:241-257. [PMID: 37963210 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-3950] [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: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive cancer with a defective response to DNA damage leading to an enhanced sensitivity to genotoxic agents. Mechanistically, Ewing sarcoma is driven by the fusion transcription factor EWS-FLI1, which reprograms the tumor cell epigenome. The nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex is an important regulator of chromatin function, controlling both gene expression and DNA damage repair, and has been associated with EWS-FLI1 activity. Here, a NuRD-focused CRISPR/Cas9 inactivation screen identified the helicase CHD4 as essential for Ewing sarcoma cell proliferation. CHD4 silencing induced tumor cell death by apoptosis and abolished colony formation. Although CHD4 and NuRD colocalized with EWS-FLI1 at enhancers and super-enhancers, CHD4 promoted Ewing sarcoma cell survival not by modulating EWS-FLI1 activity and its oncogenic gene expression program but by regulating chromatin structure. CHD4 depletion led to a global increase in DNA accessibility and induction of spontaneous DNA damage, resulting in an increased susceptibility to DNA-damaging agents. CHD4 loss delayed tumor growth in vivo, increased overall survival, and combination with PARP inhibition by olaparib treatment further suppressed tumor growth. Collectively, these findings highlight the NuRD subunit CHD4 as a therapeutic target in Ewing sarcoma that can potentiate the antitumor activity of genotoxic agents. SIGNIFICANCE CRISPR/Cas9 screening in Ewing sarcoma identifies a dependency on CHD4, which is crucial for the maintenance of chromatin architecture to suppress DNA damage and a promising therapeutic target for DNA damage repair-deficient malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Graca Marques
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Blaz Pavlovic
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Quy A Ngo
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gloria Pedot
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michaela Roemmele
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Larissa Volken
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Samanta Kisele
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Romain Perbet
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marco Wachtel
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Beat W Schäfer
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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24
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Miller HE, Montemayor D, Levy S, Sharma K, Frost B, Bishop AJR. RLSuite: An Integrative R-Loop Bioinformatics Framework. JOURNAL OF BIOINFORMATICS AND SYSTEMS BIOLOGY : OPEN ACCESS 2023; 6:364-378. [PMID: 38292828 PMCID: PMC10827345 DOI: 10.26502/jbsb.5107071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
We recently described the development of a database of 810 R-loop mapping datasets and used this data to conduct a meta-analysis of R-loops. R-loops are three-stranded nucleic acid structures containing RNA:DNA hybrids and we were able to verify that 30% of expressed genes have an associated R-loop in a location conserved manner.. Moreover, intergenic R-loops map to enhancers, super enhancers and with TAD domain boundaries. This work demonstrated that R-loop mapping via high-throughput sequencing can reveal novel insight into R-loop biology, however the analysis and quality control of these data is a non-trivial task for which few bioinformatic tools exist. Herein we describe RLSuite, an integrative R-loop bioinformatics framework for pre-processing, quality control, and downstream analysis of R-loop mapping data. RLSuite enables users to compare their data to hundreds of public datasets and generate a user-friendly analysis report for sharing with non-bioinformatician colleagues. Taken together, RLSuite is a novel analysis framework that should greatly benefit the emerging R-loop bioinformatics community in a rapidly expanding aspect of epigenetic control that is still poorly understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- H E Miller
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Bioinformatics Research Network, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - D Montemayor
- Department of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Center for Precision Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - S Levy
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Bioinformatics Research Network, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity & Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - K Sharma
- Department of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Center for Precision Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - B Frost
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity & Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - A J R Bishop
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- May's Cancer Center, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
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25
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Adibi A, Tokat ÜM, Özgü E, Aydın E, Demiray İ, Demiray M. PARP inhibitor combinations with high-dose vitamin C in the treatment of Ewing sarcoma: two case reports and mechanistic overview. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2023; 15:17588359231213841. [PMID: 38107827 PMCID: PMC10725144 DOI: 10.1177/17588359231213841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Ewing's sarcoma (ES) is a bone and soft tissue tumor that mainly occurs at a young age. The underlying cause of Ewing's sarcoma is the formation of fusion proteins between FET family genes and ETS family genes. Tumors with FET/ETS fusion genes can have defects in the DNA damage response and are sensitive to PARP inhibitors (PARPi). However, several studies have shown that PARPi alone is not sufficient to induce a meaningful antitumor response and that combinations of DNA-damaging agents with PARPi are required to achieve efficacy. Accordingly, preclinical studies have reported dramatic responses to PARPi treatment in combination with DNA-damaging agents such as temozolomide or irinotecan. Similarly, it has been previously reported that by generating reactive oxygen species, high-dose intravenous vitamin C (IVC) can induce DNA damage. This suggests that the combination of IVC with PARPi may increase genotoxic stress and enhance the antitumor response. In addition, unlike chemotherapeutic agents, IVC induces DNA damage selectively in cancer cells, and the side effects are significantly milder than those of chemotherapy. As ETS fusion-positive ES is deficient in faithful DNA repair, partly due to the interaction between ETS fusion products and PARP1, a PARPi plus IVC seems to be a logical and effective combination for the treatment of ETS fusion-positive ES. This paper reports significant responses to IVC (1-1.5 g/kg) in combination with PARPi (olaparib 300 mg BID or talazoparib 1 mg/day) in two patients with metastatic Ewing's sarcoma. The observations highlight an unmet therapeutic need for patients with advanced metastatic ES. The combination of PARPi with a selective DNA-damaging agent was effective in these cases. This case experience suggests that IVC may be incorporated into PARPi-based therapeutic strategies. Further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of this combination in the treatment of Ewing sarcoma with ETS fusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashkan Adibi
- Center of Precision Oncology, Medicana International Hospitals, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Department of Basic Oncology, Division of Cancer Genetics, Institute of Oncology, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Ünal Metin Tokat
- Center of Precision Oncology, Medicana International Hospitals, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Eylül Özgü
- Center of Precision Oncology, Medicana International Hospitals, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Esranur Aydın
- Center of Precision Oncology, Medicana International Hospitals, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - İrem Demiray
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, College of Science, Koç University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Mutlu Demiray
- Center of Precision Oncology, Medicana International Hospitals, Küçükbakkalköy, Vedat Günyol Cd. No: 24, Atasehir, Istanbul 34750, Türkiye
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26
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Gómez-González B, Aguilera A. Break-induced RNA-DNA hybrids (BIRDHs) in homologous recombination: friend or foe? EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e57801. [PMID: 37818834 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202357801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the most harmful DNA lesions, with a strong impact on cell proliferation and genome integrity. Depending on cell cycle stage, DSBs are preferentially repaired by non-homologous end joining or homologous recombination (HR). In recent years, numerous reports have revealed that DSBs enhance DNA-RNA hybrid formation around the break site. We call these hybrids "break-induced RNA-DNA hybrids" (BIRDHs) to differentiate them from sporadic R-loops consisting of DNA-RNA hybrids and a displaced single-strand DNA occurring co-transcriptionally in intact DNA. Here, we review and discuss the most relevant data about BIRDHs, with a focus on two main questions raised: (i) whether BIRDHs form by de novo transcription after a DSB or by a pre-existing nascent RNA in DNA regions undergoing transcription and (ii) whether they have a positive role in HR or are just obstacles to HR accidentally generated as an intrinsic risk of transcription. We aim to provide a comprehensive view of the exciting and yet unresolved questions about the source and impact of BIRDHs in the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belén Gómez-González
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa CABIMER, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Andrés Aguilera
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa CABIMER, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC, Seville, Spain
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27
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Neil E, Paredes R, Pooley O, Rubin B, Kouskoff V. The oncogenic fusion protein TAZ::CAMTA1 promotes genomic instability and senescence through hypertranscription. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1174. [PMID: 37980390 PMCID: PMC10657451 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05540-4] [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: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
TAZ::CAMTA1 is a fusion protein found in over 90% of Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma (EHE), a rare vascular sarcoma with an unpredictable disease course. To date, how TAZ::CAMTA1 initiates tumour formation remains unexplained. To study the oncogenic mechanism leading to EHE initiation, we developed a model system whereby TAZ::CAMTA1 expression is induced by doxycycline in primary endothelial cells. Using this model, we establish that upon TAZ::CAMTA1 expression endothelial cells rapidly enter a hypertranscription state, triggering considerable DNA damage. As a result, TC-expressing cells become trapped in S phase. Additionally, TAZ::CAMTA1-expressing endothelial cells have impaired homologous recombination, as shown by reduced BRCA1 and RAD51 foci formation. Consequently, the DNA damage remains unrepaired and TAZ::CAMTA1-expressing cells enter senescence. Knockout of Cdkn2a, the most common secondary mutation found in EHE, allows senescence bypass and uncontrolled growth. Together, this provides a mechanistic explanation for the clinical course of EHE and offers novel insight into therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Neil
- Developmental Hematopoiesis Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, the University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Roberto Paredes
- Developmental Hematopoiesis Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, the University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Oscar Pooley
- Developmental Hematopoiesis Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, the University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Brian Rubin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Valerie Kouskoff
- Developmental Hematopoiesis Group, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, the University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
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28
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Yang S, Winstone L, Mondal S, Wu Y. Helicases in R-loop Formation and Resolution. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105307. [PMID: 37778731 PMCID: PMC10641170 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
With the development and wide usage of CRISPR technology, the presence of R-loop structures, which consist of an RNA-DNA hybrid and a displaced single-strand (ss) DNA, has become well accepted. R-loop structures have been implicated in a variety of circumstances and play critical roles in the metabolism of nucleic acid and relevant biological processes, including transcription, DNA repair, and telomere maintenance. Helicases are enzymes that use an ATP-driven motor force to unwind double-strand (ds) DNA, dsRNA, or RNA-DNA hybrids. Additionally, certain helicases have strand-annealing activity. Thus, helicases possess unique positions for R-loop biogenesis: they utilize their strand-annealing activity to promote the hybridization of RNA to DNA, leading to the formation of R-loops; conversely, they utilize their unwinding activity to separate RNA-DNA hybrids and resolve R-loops. Indeed, numerous helicases such as senataxin (SETX), Aquarius (AQR), WRN, BLM, RTEL1, PIF1, FANCM, ATRX (alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation, X-linked), CasDinG, and several DEAD/H-box proteins are reported to resolve R-loops; while other helicases, such as Cas3 and UPF1, are reported to stimulate R-loop formation. Moreover, helicases like DDX1, DDX17, and DHX9 have been identified in both R-loop formation and resolution. In this review, we will summarize the latest understandings regarding the roles of helicases in R-loop metabolism. Additionally, we will highlight challenges associated with drug discovery in the context of targeting these R-loop helicases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizhuo Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Lacey Winstone
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Sohaumn Mondal
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Yuliang Wu
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
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29
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Duardo RC, Guerra F, Pepe S, Capranico G. Non-B DNA structures as a booster of genome instability. Biochimie 2023; 214:176-192. [PMID: 37429410 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Non-canonical secondary structures (NCSs) are alternative nucleic acid structures that differ from the canonical B-DNA conformation. NCSs often occur in repetitive DNA sequences and can adopt different conformations depending on the sequence. The majority of these structures form in the context of physiological processes, such as transcription-associated R-loops, G4s, as well as hairpins and slipped-strand DNA, whose formation can be dependent on DNA replication. It is therefore not surprising that NCSs play important roles in the regulation of key biological processes. In the last years, increasing published data have supported their biological role thanks to genome-wide studies and the development of bioinformatic prediction tools. Data have also highlighted the pathological role of these secondary structures. Indeed, the alteration or stabilization of NCSs can cause the impairment of transcription and DNA replication, modification in chromatin structure and DNA damage. These events lead to a wide range of recombination events, deletions, mutations and chromosomal aberrations, well-known hallmarks of genome instability which are strongly associated with human diseases. In this review, we summarize molecular processes through which NCSs trigger genome instability, with a focus on G-quadruplex, i-motif, R-loop, Z-DNA, hairpin, cruciform and multi-stranded structures known as triplexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée C Duardo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Federico Guerra
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Simona Pepe
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Capranico
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
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30
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Mallard HJ, Wan S, Nidhi P, Hanscom-Trofy YD, Mohapatra B, Woods NT, Lopez-Guerrero JA, Llombart-Bosch A, Machado I, Scotlandi K, Kreiling NF, Perry MC, Mirza S, Coulter DW, Band V, Band H, Ghosal G. USP1 Expression Driven by EWS::FLI1 Transcription Factor Stabilizes Survivin and Mitigates Replication Stress in Ewing Sarcoma. Mol Cancer Res 2023; 21:1186-1204. [PMID: 37478161 PMCID: PMC10618738 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-23-0323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we identify USP1 as a transcriptional target of EWS::FLI1 and demonstrate the requisite function of USP1 in Ewing sarcoma (EWS) cell survival in response to endogenous replication stress. EWS::FLI1 oncogenic transcription factor drives most EWS, a pediatric bone cancer. EWS cells display elevated levels of R-loops and replication stress. The mechanism by which EWS cells override activation of apoptosis or cellular senescence in response to increased replication stress is not known. We show that USP1 is overexpressed in EWS and EWS::FLI1 regulates USP1 transcript levels. USP1 knockdown or inhibition arrests EWS cell growth and induces cell death by apoptosis. Mechanistically, USP1 regulates Survivin (BIRC5/API4) protein stability and the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3/7 in response to endogenous replication stress. Notably, USP1 inhibition sensitizes cells to doxorubicin and etoposide treatment. Together, our study demonstrates that USP1 is regulated by EWS::FLI1, the USP1-Survivin axis promotes EWS cell survival, and USP1 inhibition sensitizes cells to standard of care chemotherapy. IMPLICATIONS High USP1 and replication stress levels driven by EWS::FLI1 transcription factor in EWS are vulnerabilities that can be exploited to improve existing treatment avenues and overcome drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halle J. Mallard
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Shibiao Wan
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Prakriti Nidhi
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Yvan D. Hanscom-Trofy
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Bhopal Mohapatra
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Nicholas T. Woods
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | | | - Antonio Llombart-Bosch
- Department of Pathology, Instituto Valenciano de Oncología and Patologika Laboratory, Hospital QuironSalud, Valencia, Spain
| | - Isidro Machado
- Department of Pathology, Instituto Valenciano de Oncología and Patologika Laboratory, Hospital QuironSalud, Valencia, Spain
| | - Katia Scotlandi
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Natasha F. Kreiling
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Megan C. Perry
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Sameer Mirza
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Donald W. Coulter
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Vimla Band
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Hamid Band
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Gargi Ghosal
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
- Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
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31
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Bayona-Feliu A, Herrera-Moyano E, Badra-Fajardo N, Galván-Femenía I, Soler-Oliva ME, Aguilera A. The chromatin network helps prevent cancer-associated mutagenesis at transcription-replication conflicts. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6890. [PMID: 37898641 PMCID: PMC10613258 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42653-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome instability is a feature of cancer cells, transcription being an important source of DNA damage. This is in large part associated with R-loops, which hamper replication, especially at head-on transcription-replication conflicts (TRCs). Here we show that TRCs trigger a DNA Damage Response (DDR) involving the chromatin network to prevent genome instability. Depletion of the key chromatin factors INO80, SMARCA5 and MTA2 results in TRCs, fork stalling and R-loop-mediated DNA damage which mostly accumulates at S/G2, while histone H3 Ser10 phosphorylation, a mark of chromatin compaction, is enriched at TRCs. Strikingly, TRC regions show increased mutagenesis in cancer cells with signatures of homologous recombination deficiency, transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER) and of the AID/APOBEC cytidine deaminases, being predominant at head-on collisions. Thus, our results support that the chromatin network prevents R-loops and TRCs from genomic instability and mutagenic signatures frequently associated with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleix Bayona-Feliu
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa CABIMER, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41092, Seville, Spain.
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012, Seville, Spain.
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Emilia Herrera-Moyano
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa CABIMER, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41092, Seville, Spain
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Nibal Badra-Fajardo
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa CABIMER, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Iván Galván-Femenía
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Eugenia Soler-Oliva
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa CABIMER, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41092, Seville, Spain
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Andrés Aguilera
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa CABIMER, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41092, Seville, Spain.
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012, Seville, Spain.
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32
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Li F, Zafar A, Luo L, Denning AM, Gu J, Bennett A, Yuan F, Zhang Y. R-Loops in Genome Instability and Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4986. [PMID: 37894353 PMCID: PMC10605827 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15204986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
R-loops are unique, three-stranded nucleic acid structures that primarily form when an RNA molecule displaces one DNA strand and anneals to the complementary DNA strand in a double-stranded DNA molecule. R-loop formation can occur during natural processes, such as transcription, in which the nascent RNA molecule remains hybridized with the template DNA strand, while the non-template DNA strand is displaced. However, R-loops can also arise due to many non-natural processes, including DNA damage, dysregulation of RNA degradation pathways, and defects in RNA processing. Despite their prevalence throughout the whole genome, R-loops are predominantly found in actively transcribed gene regions, enabling R-loops to serve seemingly controversial roles. On one hand, the pathological accumulation of R-loops contributes to genome instability, a hallmark of cancer development that plays a role in tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and therapeutic resistance. On the other hand, R-loops play critical roles in regulating essential processes, such as gene expression, chromatin organization, class-switch recombination, mitochondrial DNA replication, and DNA repair. In this review, we summarize discoveries related to the formation, suppression, and removal of R-loops and their influence on genome instability, DNA repair, and oncogenic events. We have also discussed therapeutical opportunities by targeting pathological R-loops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Li
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Alyan Zafar
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Liang Luo
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Ariana Maria Denning
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Jun Gu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Ansley Bennett
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Fenghua Yuan
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Yanbin Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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33
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Liu J, Shi J, Feng Q, Fan W, Liu C. An immunoassay-like recognition mechanism-based lateral flow strategy for rapid microRNA analysis. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:11851-11854. [PMID: 37718643 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc03788f] [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: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
A rapid lateral flow assay (LFA) is developed for the colorimetric and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) dual-mode detection of microRNA (miRNA) based on the robust immunoassay-like (immuno-like) recognition mechanism of S9.6 antibody to DNA/miRNA duplexes. Different from the traditional target-mediated sandwich-type hybridization-based LFA methods, the formation of S9.6 antibody/miRNA/DNA complexes is more rapid and stable, achieving 40 times higher sensitivity with only 10 min assaying time. Furthermore, taking benefit of the versatility of the immuno-like recognition mode, the multiplexed detection of miRNAs can be realized with the SERS signal readout, providing a versatile LFA design towards sensitive, specific, and multiplexed miRNA analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, Shaanxi Province, P. R. China.
| | - Jingjing Shi
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, Shaanxi Province, P. R. China.
| | - Qinya Feng
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, Shaanxi Province, P. R. China.
| | - Wenjiao Fan
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, Shaanxi Province, P. R. China.
| | - Chenghui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science of Shaanxi Province, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, Shaanxi Province, P. R. China.
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34
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Meng Y, Yang Y, Hu M, Zhang Z, Zhou X. Artificial intelligence-based radiomics in bone tumors: Technical advances and clinical application. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 95:75-87. [PMID: 37499847 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Radiomics is the extraction of predefined mathematic features from medical images for predicting variables of clinical interest. Recent research has demonstrated that radiomics can be processed by artificial intelligence algorithms to reveal complex patterns and trends for diagnosis, and prediction of prognosis and response to treatment modalities in various types of cancer. Artificial intelligence tools can utilize radiological images to solve next-generation issues in clinical decision making. Bone tumors can be classified as primary and secondary (metastatic) tumors. Osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma are the dominating primary tumors of bone. The development of bone tumor model systems and relevant research, and the assessment of novel treatment methods are ongoing to improve clinical outcomes, notably for patients with metastases. Artificial intelligence and radiomics have been utilized in almost full spectrum of clinical care of bone tumors. Radiomics models have achieved excellent performance in the diagnosis and grading of bone tumors. Furthermore, the models enable to predict overall survival, metastases, and recurrence. Radiomics features have exhibited promise in assisting therapeutic planning and evaluation, especially neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This review provides an overview of the evolution and opportunities for artificial intelligence in imaging, with a focus on hand-crafted features and deep learning-based radiomics approaches. We summarize the current application of artificial intelligence-based radiomics both in primary and metastatic bone tumors, and discuss the limitations and future opportunities of artificial intelligence-based radiomics in this field. In the era of personalized medicine, our in-depth understanding of emerging artificial intelligence-based radiomics approaches will bring innovative solutions to bone tumors and achieve clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichen Meng
- Department of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200003, PR China
| | - Yue Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200003, PR China
| | - Miao Hu
- Department of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200003, PR China
| | - Zheng Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200003, PR China.
| | - Xuhui Zhou
- Department of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200003, PR China.
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35
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McCann JL, Cristini A, Law EK, Lee SY, Tellier M, Carpenter MA, Beghè C, Kim JJ, Sanchez A, Jarvis MC, Stefanovska B, Temiz NA, Bergstrom EN, Salamango DJ, Brown MR, Murphy S, Alexandrov LB, Miller KM, Gromak N, Harris RS. APOBEC3B regulates R-loops and promotes transcription-associated mutagenesis in cancer. Nat Genet 2023; 55:1721-1734. [PMID: 37735199 PMCID: PMC10562255 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01504-w] [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: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
The single-stranded DNA cytosine-to-uracil deaminase APOBEC3B is an antiviral protein implicated in cancer. However, its substrates in cells are not fully delineated. Here APOBEC3B proteomics reveal interactions with a surprising number of R-loop factors. Biochemical experiments show APOBEC3B binding to R-loops in cells and in vitro. Genetic experiments demonstrate R-loop increases in cells lacking APOBEC3B and decreases in cells overexpressing APOBEC3B. Genome-wide analyses show major changes in the overall landscape of physiological and stimulus-induced R-loops with thousands of differentially altered regions, as well as binding of APOBEC3B to many of these sites. APOBEC3 mutagenesis impacts genes overexpressed in tumors and splice factor mutant tumors preferentially, and APOBEC3-attributed kataegis are enriched in RTCW motifs consistent with APOBEC3B deamination. Taken together with the fact that APOBEC3B binds single-stranded DNA and RNA and preferentially deaminates DNA, these results support a mechanism in which APOBEC3B regulates R-loops and contributes to R-loop mutagenesis in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L McCann
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Agnese Cristini
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Emily K Law
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Seo Yun Lee
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Department of Life Science and Multidisciplinary Genome Institute, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Michael Tellier
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Michael A Carpenter
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology Department, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Chiara Beghè
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jae Jin Kim
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Department of Life Science and Multidisciplinary Genome Institute, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Anthony Sanchez
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Matthew C Jarvis
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Bojana Stefanovska
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology Department, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Nuri A Temiz
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Institute for Health Informatics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Erik N Bergstrom
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Daniel J Salamango
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Margaret R Brown
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Shona Murphy
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ludmil B Alexandrov
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kyle M Miller
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Livestrong Cancer Institutes, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Natalia Gromak
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Reuben S Harris
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
- Biochemistry and Structural Biology Department, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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Thompson VF, Wieland DR, Mendoza-Leon V, Janis HI, Lay MA, Harrell LM, Schwartz JC. Binding of the nuclear ribonucleoprotein family member FUS to RNA prevents R-loop RNA:DNA hybrid structures. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105237. [PMID: 37690693 PMCID: PMC10556777 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The protein FUS (FUSed in sarcoma) is a metazoan RNA-binding protein that influences RNA production by all three nuclear polymerases. FUS also binds nascent transcripts, RNA processing factors, RNA polymerases, and transcription machinery. Here, we explored the role of FUS binding interactions for activity during transcription. In vitro run-off transcription assays revealed FUS-enhanced RNA produced by a non-eukaryote polymerase. The activity also reduced the formation of R-loops between RNA products and their DNA template. Analysis by domain mutation and deletion indicated RNA-binding was required for activity. We interpret that FUS binds and sequesters nascent transcripts to prevent R-loops from forming with nearby DNA. DRIP-seq analysis showed that a knockdown of FUS increased R-loop enrichment near expressed genes. Prevention of R-loops by FUS binding to nascent transcripts has the potential to affect transcription by any RNA polymerase, highlighting the broad impact FUS can have on RNA metabolism in cells and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valery F Thompson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA; University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Daniel R Wieland
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Vivian Mendoza-Leon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Helen I Janis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Michelle A Lay
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA; University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Arizona, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Lucas M Harrell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Jacob C Schwartz
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA; University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
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37
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Dupuy M, Lamoureux F, Mullard M, Postec A, Regnier L, Baud’huin M, Georges S, Brounais-Le Royer B, Ory B, Rédini F, Verrecchia F. Ewing sarcoma from molecular biology to the clinic. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1248753. [PMID: 37752913 PMCID: PMC10518617 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1248753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In Europe, with an incidence of 7.5 cases per million, Ewing sarcoma (ES) is the second most common primary malignant bone tumor in children, adolescents and young adults, after osteosarcoma. Since the 1980s, conventional treatment has been based on the use of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapeutic agents combined with surgical resection of the tumor when possible. These treatments have increased the patient survival rate to 70% for localized forms, which drops drastically to less than 30% when patients are resistant to chemotherapy or when pulmonary metastases are present at diagnosis. However, the lack of improvement in these survival rates over the last decades points to the urgent need for new therapies. Genetically, ES is characterized by a chromosomal translocation between a member of the FET family and a member of the ETS family. In 85% of cases, the chromosomal translocation found is (11; 22) (q24; q12), between the EWS RNA-binding protein and the FLI1 transcription factor, leading to the EWS-FLI1 fusion protein. This chimeric protein acts as an oncogenic factor playing a crucial role in the development of ES. This review provides a non-exhaustive overview of ES from a clinical and biological point of view, describing its main clinical, cellular and molecular aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryne Dupuy
- Nantes Université, Inserm UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, CRCI2NA, Université d'Angers, Nantes, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Franck Verrecchia
- Nantes Université, Inserm UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, CRCI2NA, Université d'Angers, Nantes, France
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38
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Ramos L, Truong S, Zhai B, Joshi J, Ghaidi F, Lizardo MM, Shyp T, Kung SH, Rezakhanlou AM, Oo HZ, Adomat H, Le Bihan S, Collins C, Bacha J, Brown D, Langlands J, Shen W, Lallous N, Sorensen PH, Daugaard M. A Bifunctional PARP-HDAC Inhibitor with Activity in Ewing Sarcoma. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:3541-3553. [PMID: 37279093 PMCID: PMC10472104 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-3897] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition has been shown to induce pharmacologic "BRCAness" in cancer cells with proficient DNA repair activity. This provides a rationale for exploring combination treatments with HDAC and PARP inhibition in cancer types that are insensitive to single-agent PARP inhibitors (PARPi). Here, we report the concept and characterization of a novel bifunctional PARPi (kt-3283) with dual activity toward PARP1/2 and HDAC enzymes in Ewing sarcoma cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Inhibition of PARP1/2 and HDAC was measured using PARP1/2, HDAC activity, and PAR formation assays. Cytotoxicity was assessed by IncuCyte live cell imaging, CellTiter-Glo, and spheroid assays. Cell-cycle profiles were determined using propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. DNA damage was examined by γH2AX expression and comet assay. Inhibition of metastatic potential by kt-3283 was evaluated via ex vivo pulmonary metastasis assay (PuMA). RESULTS Compared with FDA-approved PARP (olaparib) and HDAC (vorinostat) inhibitors, kt-3283 displayed enhanced cytotoxicity in Ewing sarcoma models. The kt-3283-induced cytotoxicity was associated with strong S and G2-M cell-cycle arrest in nanomolar concentration range and elevated DNA damage as assessed by γH2AX tracking and comet assays. In three-dimensional spheroid models of Ewing sarcoma, kt-3283 showed efficacy in lower concentrations than olaparib and vorinostat, and kt-3283 inhibited colonization of Ewing sarcoma cells in the ex vivo PuMA model. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate the preclinical justification for studying the benefit of dual PARP and HDAC inhibition in the treatment of Ewing sarcoma in a clinical trial and provides proof-of-concept for a bifunctional single-molecule therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Ramos
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Rakovina Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarah Truong
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Rakovina Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Beibei Zhai
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Rakovina Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jay Joshi
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Rakovina Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Fariba Ghaidi
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Rakovina Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Taras Shyp
- BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Sonia H.Y. Kung
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Htoo Zarni Oo
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hans Adomat
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Colin Collins
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Bacha
- Rakovina Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dennis Brown
- Rakovina Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - John Langlands
- Rakovina Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Wang Shen
- Rakovina Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nada Lallous
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Poul H. Sorensen
- BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Mads Daugaard
- Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Rakovina Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Li J, Xiao Z, Wang D, Jia L, Nie S, Zeng X, Hu W. The screening, identification, design and clinical application of tumor-specific neoantigens for TCR-T cells. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:141. [PMID: 37649123 PMCID: PMC10466891 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01844-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in neoantigen research have accelerated the development of tumor immunotherapies, including adoptive cell therapies (ACTs), cancer vaccines and antibody-based therapies, particularly for solid tumors. With the development of next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics technology, the rapid identification and prediction of tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) has become possible. Compared with tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), highly immunogenic TSAs provide new targets for personalized tumor immunotherapy and can be used as prospective indicators for predicting tumor patient survival, prognosis, and immune checkpoint blockade response. Here, the identification and characterization of neoantigens and the clinical application of neoantigen-based TCR-T immunotherapy strategies are summarized, and the current status, inherent challenges, and clinical translational potential of these strategies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangping Li
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhiwen Xiao
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510655, People's Republic of China
| | - Donghui Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Jia
- International Health Medicine Innovation Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Shihong Nie
- Department of Radiation Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Cancer Center, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingda Zeng
- Department of Parasitology of Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, People's Republic of China
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40
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Rajan SS, Ebegboni VJ, Pichling P, Ludwig KR, Jones TL, Chari R, Tran A, Kruhlak MJ, Loncarek J, Caplen NJ. EWSR1's visual modalities are defined by its association with nucleic acids and RNA polymerase II. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.16.553246. [PMID: 37645932 PMCID: PMC10462028 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.16.553246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
We report systematic analysis of endogenous EWSR1's cellular organization. We demonstrate that EWSR1, which contains low complexity and nucleic acid binding domains, is present in cells in faster and slower-recovering fractions, indicative of a protein undergoing both rapid exchange and longer-term interactions. The employment of complementary high-resolution imaging approaches shows EWSR1 exists in in two visual modalities, a distributed state which is present throughout the nucleoplasm, and a concentrated state consistent with the formation of foci. Both EWSR1 visual modalities localize with nascent RNA. EWSR1 foci concentrate in regions of euchromatin, adjacent to protein markers of transcriptional activation, and significantly colocalize with phosphorylated RNA polymerase II. Interestingly, EWSR1 and FUS, another FET protein, exhibit distinct spatial organizations. Our results contribute to bridging the gap between our understanding of the biophysical and biochemical properties of FET proteins, including EWSR1, their functions as transcriptional regulators, and the participation of these proteins in tumorigenesis and neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumya Sundara Rajan
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health MD 20892, USA
| | - Vernon J. Ebegboni
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health MD 20892, USA
| | - Patricio Pichling
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health MD 20892, USA
| | - Katelyn R. Ludwig
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health MD 20892, USA
| | - Tamara L. Jones
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health MD 20892, USA
| | - Raj Chari
- Genome Modification Core, Laboratory Animal Sciences Program at the Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Andy Tran
- CCR Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Michael J. Kruhlak
- CCR Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jadranka Loncarek
- Centrosome Biology Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702 USA
| | - Natasha J. Caplen
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health MD 20892, USA
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41
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Gong H, Xue B, Ru J, Pei G, Li Y. Targeted Therapy for EWS-FLI1 in Ewing Sarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4035. [PMID: 37627063 PMCID: PMC10452796 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15164035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is a rare and predominantly pediatric malignancy of bone and soft tissue in children and adolescents. Although international collaborations have greatly improved the prognosis of most EwS, the occurrence of macrometastases or relapse remains challenging. The prototypic oncogene EWS-FLI1 acts as an aberrant transcription factor that drives the cellular transformation of EwS. In addition to its involvement in RNA splicing and the DNA damage response, this chimeric protein directly binds to GGAA repeats, thereby modifying the transcriptional profile of EwS. Direct pharmacological targeting of EWS-FLI1 is difficult because of its intrinsically disordered structure. However, targeting the EWS-FLI1 protein complex or downstream pathways provides additional therapeutic options. This review describes the EWS-FLI1 protein partners and downstream pathways, as well as the related target therapies for the treatment of EwS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helong Gong
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110004, China;
| | - Busheng Xue
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China;
| | - Jinlong Ru
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Centre Munich, German Research Centre for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany;
| | - Guoqing Pei
- Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China;
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110004, China;
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42
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Dermawan JK, Rubin BP. The spectrum and significance of secondary (co-occurring) genetic alterations in sarcomas: the hallmarks of sarcomagenesis. J Pathol 2023; 260:637-648. [PMID: 37345731 DOI: 10.1002/path.6140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Bone and soft tissue tumors are generally classified into complex karyotype sarcomas versus those with recurrent genetic alterations, often in the form of gene fusions. In this review, we provide an overview of important co-occurring genomic alterations, organized by biological mechanisms and covering a spectrum of genomic alteration types: mutations (single-nucleotide variations or indels) in oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, copy number alterations, transcriptomic signatures, genomic complexity indices (e.g. CINSARC), and complex genomic structural variants. We discuss the biological and prognostic roles of these so-called secondary or co-occurring alterations, arguing that recognition and detection of these alterations may be significant for our understanding and management of mesenchymal tumors. On a related note, we also discuss major recurrent alterations in so-called complex karyotype sarcomas. These secondary alterations are essential to sarcomagenesis via a variety of mechanisms, such as inactivation of tumor suppressors, activation of proliferative signal transduction, telomere maintenance, and aberrant regulation of epigenomic/chromatin remodeling players. The use of comprehensive genomic profiling, including targeted next-generation sequencing panels or whole-exome sequencing, may be incorporated into clinical workflows to offer more comprehensive, potentially clinically actionable information. © 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine K Dermawan
- Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Brian P Rubin
- Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
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43
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Slotkin EK, Ortiz MV, Glade Bender JL. Pediatric DDR inhibitor combinations: Are WEE1 there yet? Cancer 2023; 129:2132-2134. [PMID: 37081596 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
A phase 2 study of the WEE1 inhibitor adavosertib in combination with irinotecan in children demonstrates an intriguing positive signal of efficacy in neuroblastoma, a pediatric tumor characterized by replication stress. Further pediatric development of adavosertib and related compounds targeting DNA damage response will be challenged by appropriate patient selection, fit‐for‐filing trial design, and ongoing access to agents, likely to be predicated on success in adult malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K Slotkin
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michael V Ortiz
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Julia L Glade Bender
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
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44
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Kitagawa R, Niikura Y, Becker A, Houghton PJ, Kitagawa K. EWSR1 maintains centromere identity. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112568. [PMID: 37243594 PMCID: PMC10758295 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The centromere is essential for ensuring high-fidelity transmission of chromosomes. CENP-A, the centromeric histone H3 variant, is thought to be the epigenetic mark of centromere identity. CENP-A deposition at the centromere is crucial for proper centromere function and inheritance. Despite its importance, the precise mechanism responsible for maintenance of centromere position remains obscure. Here, we report a mechanism to maintain centromere identity. We demonstrate that CENP-A interacts with EWSR1 (Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1) and EWSR1-FLI1 (the oncogenic fusion protein in Ewing sarcoma). EWSR1 is required for maintaining CENP-A at the centromere in interphase cells. EWSR1 and EWSR1-FLI1 bind CENP-A through the SYGQ2 region within the prion-like domain, important for phase separation. EWSR1 binds to R-loops through its RNA-recognition motif in vitro. Both the domain and motif are required for maintaining CENP-A at the centromere. Therefore, we conclude that EWSR1 guards CENP-A in centromeric chromatins by binding to centromeric RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Risa Kitagawa
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Mays Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3000, USA
| | - Yohei Niikura
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Mays Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3000, USA
| | - Argentina Becker
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Mays Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3000, USA
| | - Peter J Houghton
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Mays Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3000, USA
| | - Katsumi Kitagawa
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Mays Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3000, USA.
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Pearson ADJ, Federico S, Gatz SA, Ortiz M, Lesa G, Scobie N, Gounaris I, Weiner SL, Weigel B, Unger TJ, Stewart E, Smith M, Slotkin EK, Reaman G, Pappo A, Nysom K, Norga K, McDonough J, Marshall LV, Ludwinski D, Ligas F, Karres D, Kool M, Horner TJ, Henssen A, Heenen D, Hawkins DS, Gore L, Bender JG, Galluzzo S, Fox E, de Rojas T, Davies BR, Chakrabarti J, Carmichael J, Bradford D, Blanc P, Bernardi R, Benchetrit S, Akindele K, Vassal G. Paediatric Strategy Forum for medicinal product development of DNA damage response pathway inhibitors in children and adolescents with cancer: ACCELERATE in collaboration with the European Medicines Agency with participation of the Food and Drug Administration. Eur J Cancer 2023; 190:112950. [PMID: 37441939 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2023.112950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
DNA damage response inhibitors have a potentially important therapeutic role in paediatric cancers; however, their optimal use, including patient selection and combination strategy, remains unknown. Moreover, there is an imbalance between the number of drugs with diverse mechanisms of action and the limited number of paediatric patients available to be enrolled in early-phase trials, so prioritisation and a strategy are essential. While PARP inhibitors targeting homologous recombination-deficient tumours have been used primarily in the treatment of adult cancers with BRCA1/2 mutations, BRCA1/2 mutations occur infrequently in childhood tumours, and therefore, a specific response hypothesis is required. Combinations with targeted radiotherapy, ATR inhibitors, or antibody drug conjugates with DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor-related warheads warrant evaluation. Additional monotherapy trials of PARP inhibitors with the same mechanism of action are not recommended. PARP1-specific inhibitors and PARP inhibitors with very good central nervous system penetration also deserve evaluation. ATR, ATM, DNA-PK, CHK1, WEE1, DNA polymerase theta and PKMYT1 inhibitors are early in paediatric development. There should be an overall coordinated strategy for their development. Therefore, an academia/industry consensus of the relevant biomarkers will be established and a focused meeting on ATR inhibitors (as proof of principle) held. CHK1 inhibitors have demonstrated activity in desmoplastic small round cell tumours and have a potential role in the treatment of other paediatric malignancies, such as neuroblastoma and Ewing sarcoma. Access to CHK1 inhibitors for paediatric clinical trials is a high priority. The three key elements in evaluating these inhibitors in children are (1) innovative trial design (design driven by a clear hypothesis with the intent to further investigate responders and non-responders with detailed retrospective molecular analyses to generate a revised or new hypothesis); (2) biomarker selection and (3) rational combination therapy, which is limited by overlapping toxicity. To maximally benefit children with cancer, investigators should work collaboratively to learn the lessons from the past and apply them to future studies. Plans should be based on the relevant biology, with a focus on simultaneous and parallel research in preclinical and clinical settings, and an overall integrated and collaborative strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D J Pearson
- ACCELERATE, c/o BLSI, Clos Chapelle-aux-Champs 30, Bte 1.30.30 BE-1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Sara Federico
- St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Susanne A Gatz
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Michael Ortiz
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Giovanni Lesa
- Paediatric Medicines Office, Scientific Evidence Generation Department, Human Division, European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Ioannis Gounaris
- Merck Serono Ltd (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Feltham, UK
| | | | | | - T J Unger
- Repare Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Gregory Reaman
- US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Springs, MD, USA
| | - Alberto Pappo
- St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - Koen Norga
- Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium; Paediatric Committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joe McDonough
- The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Lynley V Marshall
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Hospital, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, UK
| | | | - Franca Ligas
- Paediatric Medicines Office, Scientific Evidence Generation Department, Human Division, European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dominik Karres
- Paediatric Medicines Office, Scientific Evidence Generation Department, Human Division, European Medicines Agency (EMA), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel Kool
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Douglas S Hawkins
- Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA; Children's Oncology Group, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lia Gore
- Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA; University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | | | - Elizabeth Fox
- St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Teresa de Rojas
- ACCELERATE, c/o BLSI, Clos Chapelle-aux-Champs 30, Bte 1.30.30 BE-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | - Juliet Carmichael
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Hospital, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, UK
| | - Diana Bradford
- US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Springs, MD, USA
| | | | - Ronald Bernardi
- Genentech, a Member of the Roche Group, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sylvie Benchetrit
- National Agency for the Safety of Medicine and Health Products, Paris, France
| | | | - Gilles Vassal
- ACCELERATE, c/o BLSI, Clos Chapelle-aux-Champs 30, Bte 1.30.30 BE-1200 Brussels, Belgium; Gustave Roussy Cancer Centre, Paris, France
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Randolph ME, Afifi M, Gorthi A, Weil R, Wilky BA, Weinreb J, Ciero P, ter Hoeve N, van Diest PJ, Raman V, Bishop AJR, Loeb DM. RNA Helicase DDX3 Regulates RAD51 Localization and DNA Damage Repair in Ewing Sarcoma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.10.544474. [PMID: 37333164 PMCID: PMC10274875 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.10.544474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that RNA helicase DDX3X (DDX3) can be a therapeutic target in Ewing sarcoma (EWS), but its role in EWS biology remains unclear. The present work demonstrates that DDX3 plays a unique role in DNA damage repair (DDR). We show that DDX3 interacts with several proteins involved in homologous recombination, including RAD51, RECQL1, RPA32, and XRCC2. In particular, DDX3 colocalizes with RAD51 and RNA:DNA hybrid structures in the cytoplasm of EWS cells. Inhibition of DDX3 RNA helicase activity increases cytoplasmic RNA:DNA hybrids, sequestering RAD51 in the cytoplasm, which impairs nuclear translocation of RAD51 to sites of double-stranded DNA breaks thus increasing sensitivity of EWS to radiation treatment, both in vitro and in vivo. This discovery lays the foundation for exploring new therapeutic approaches directed at manipulating DDR protein localization in solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E. Randolph
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Marwa Afifi
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Aparna Gorthi
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute and Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Rachel Weil
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Breelyn A. Wilky
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Joshua Weinreb
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Paul Ciero
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Natalie ter Hoeve
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J. van Diest
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Venu Raman
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Alexander J. R. Bishop
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute and Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - David M. Loeb
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
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47
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Neil E, Kouskoff V. Current Model Systems for Investigating Epithelioid Haemangioendothelioma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15113005. [PMID: 37296967 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15113005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelioid haemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare sarcoma of the vascular endothelium with an unpredictable disease course. EHE tumours can remain indolent for long period of time but may suddenly evolve into an aggressive disease with widespread metastases and a poor prognosis. Two mutually exclusive chromosomal translocations define EHE tumours, each involving one of the transcription co-factors TAZ and YAP. The TAZ-CAMTA1 fusion protein results from a t(1;3) translocation and is present in 90% of EHE tumours. The remaining 10% of EHE cases harbour a t(X;11) translocation, resulting in the YAP1-TFE3 (YT) fusion protein. Until recently, the lack of representative EHE models made it challenging to study the mechanisms by which these fusion proteins promote tumorigenesis. Here, we describe and compare the recently developed experimental approaches that are currently available for studying this cancer. After summarising the key findings obtained with each experimental approach, we discuss the advantages and limitations of these different model systems. Our survey of the current literature shows how each experimental approach can be utilised in different ways to improve our understanding of EHE initiation and progression. Ultimately, this should lead to better treatment options for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Neil
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Valerie Kouskoff
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
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Menon S, Breese MR, Lin YP, Allegakoen H, Perati S, Heslin A, Horlbeck MA, Weissman J, Sweet-Cordero EA, Bivona TG, Tulpule A. FET fusion oncoproteins disrupt physiologic DNA repair networks in cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.30.538578. [PMID: 37205599 PMCID: PMC10187251 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.30.538578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
While oncogenes promote cancer cell growth, unrestrained proliferation represents a significant stressor to cellular homeostasis networks such as the DNA damage response (DDR). To enable oncogene tolerance, many cancers disable tumor suppressive DDR signaling through genetic loss of DDR pathways and downstream effectors (e.g., ATM or p53 tumor suppressor mutations). Whether and how oncogenes can help "self-tolerize" by creating analogous functional deficiencies in physiologic DDR networks is not known. Here we focus on Ewing sarcoma, a FET fusion oncoprotein (EWS-FLI1) driven pediatric bone tumor, as a model for the class of FET rearranged cancers. Native FET protein family members are among the earliest factors recruited to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) during the DDR, though the function of both native FET proteins and FET fusion oncoproteins in DNA repair remains to be defined. Using preclinical mechanistic studies of the DDR and clinical genomic datasets from patient tumors, we discover that the EWS-FLI1 fusion oncoprotein is recruited to DNA DSBs and interferes with native FET (EWS) protein function in activating the DNA damage sensor ATM. As a consequence of FET fusion-mediated interference with the DDR, we establish functional ATM deficiency as the principal DNA repair defect in Ewing sarcoma and the compensatory ATR signaling axis as a collateral dependency and therapeutic target in multiple FET rearranged cancers. More generally, we find that aberrant recruitment of a fusion oncoprotein to sites of DNA damage can disrupt physiologic DSB repair, revealing a mechanism for how growth-promoting oncogenes can also create a functional deficiency within tumor suppressive DDR networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruti Menon
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10021
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 444 East 68th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10065
| | - Marcus R. Breese
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Yone Phar Lin
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Hannah Allegakoen
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Shruthi Perati
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Ann Heslin
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Max A. Horlbeck
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115
| | - Jonathan Weissman
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave, 68-132, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | | | - Trever G. Bivona
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158
| | - Asmin Tulpule
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10021
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 444 East 68th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10065
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49
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Selig EE, Bhura R, White MR, Akula S, Hoffman RD, Tovar CN, Xu X, Booth RE, Libich DS. Biochemical and biophysical characterization of the nucleic acid binding properties of the RNA/DNA binding protein EWS. Biopolymers 2023; 114:e23536. [PMID: 36929870 PMCID: PMC10233817 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
EWS is a member of the FET family of RNA/DNA binding proteins that regulate crucial phases of nucleic acid metabolism. EWS comprises an N-terminal low-complexity domain (LCD) and a C-terminal RNA-binding domain (RBD). The RBD is further divided into three RG-rich regions, which flank an RNA-recognition motif (RRM) and a zinc finger (ZnF) domain. Recently, EWS was shown to regulate R-loops in Ewing sarcoma, a pediatric bone and soft-tissue cancer in which a chromosomal translocation fuses the N-terminal LCD of EWS to the C-terminal DNA binding domain of the transcription factor FLI1. Though EWS was shown to directly bind R-loops, the binding mechanism was not elucidated. In the current study, the RBD of EWS was divided into several constructs, which were subsequently assayed for binding to various nucleic acid structures expected to form at R-loops, including RNA stem-loops, DNA G-quadruplexes, and RNA:DNA hybrids. EWS interacted with all three nucleic acid structures with varying affinities and multiple domains contributed to binding each substrate. The RRM and RG2 region appear to bind nucleic acids promiscuously while the ZnF displayed more selectivity for single-stranded structures. With these results, the structural underpinnings of EWS recognition and binding of R-loops and other nucleic acid structures is better understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E Selig
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA
| | - Roohi Bhura
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 78209, USA
| | - Matthew R White
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 78209, USA
| | - Shivani Akula
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 78209, USA
| | - Renee D Hoffman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 78209, USA
| | - Carmel N Tovar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 78209, USA
| | - Xiaoping Xu
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA
| | - Rachell E Booth
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 78209, USA
| | - David S Libich
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA
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50
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Wood GE, Graves LA, Rubin EM, Reed DR, Riedel RF, Strauss SJ. Bad to the Bone: Emerging Approaches to Aggressive Bone Sarcomas. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2023; 43:e390306. [PMID: 37220319 DOI: 10.1200/edbk_390306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Bone sarcomas are rare heterogeneous tumors that affect patients of all ages including children, adolescent young adults, and older adults. They include many aggressive subtypes and patient groups with poor outcomes, poor access to clinical trials, and lack of defined standard therapeutic strategies. Conventional chondrosarcoma remains a surgical disease, with no defined role for cytotoxic therapy and no approved targeted systemic therapies. Here, we discuss promising novel targets and strategies undergoing evaluation in clinical trials. Multiagent chemotherapy has greatly improved outcomes for patients with Ewing sarcoma (ES) and osteosarcoma, but management of those with high-risk or recurrent disease remains challenging and controversial. We describe the impact of international collaborative trials, such as the rEECur study, that aim to define optimal treatment strategies for those with recurrent, refractory ES, and evidence for high-dose chemotherapy with stem-cell support. We also discuss current and emerging strategies for other small round cell sarcomas, such as CIC-rearranged, BCOR-rearranged tumors, and the evaluation of emerging novel therapeutics and trial designs that may offer a new paradigm to improve survival in these aggressive tumors with notoriously bad (to the bone) outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina E Wood
- Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laurie A Graves
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Elyssa M Rubin
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA
| | - Damon R Reed
- Department of Individualized Cancer Management, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | - Richard F Riedel
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC
| | - Sandra J Strauss
- Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
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