1
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Edwards DW, Kroepfl GM, Jackson JM, Chen S, Hudson-Price L, Srinivasa G, Kannan K, Liu Q, Michalek JE, Keller C. Developmental and therapeutic implications of IL4ra expression for rhabdomyosarcoma. Transgenic Res 2024:10.1007/s11248-024-00390-0. [PMID: 38851650 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-024-00390-0] [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: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a solid tumor whose metastatic progression can be accelerated through interleukin-4 receptor alpha (Il4ra) mediated interaction with normal muscle stem cells (satellite cells). To understand the function of Il4ra in this tumor initiation phase of RMS, we conditionally deleted Il4ra in genetically-engineered RMS mouse models. Nullizygosity of Il4ra altered the latency, site and/or stage distribution of RMS tumors compared to IL4RA intact models. Primary tumor cell cultures taken from the genetically-engineered models then used in orthotopic allografts further defined the interaction of satellite cells and RMS tumor cells in the context of tumor initiation: in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS), satellite cell co-injection was necessary for Il4ra null tumor cells engraftment, whereas in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS), satellite cell co-injection decreased latency of engraftment of Il4ra wildtype tumor cells but not Il4ra null tumor cells. When refocusing on Il4ra wildtype tumors by single cell sequencing and cytokine studies, we have uncovered a putative signaling interplay of Il4 from T-lymphocytes being received by Il4ra + rhabdomyosarcoma tumor cells, which in turn express Ccl2, the ligand for Ccr2 and Ccr5. Taken together, these results suggest that mutations imposed during tumor initiation have different effects than genetic or therapeutic intervention imposed once tumors are already formed. We also propose that CCL2 and its cognate receptors CCR2 and/or CCR5 are potential therapeutic targets in Il4ra mediated RMS progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Edwards
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 9025 NE Von Neumann Drive Ste 110, Hillsboro, OR, 97006, USA
| | - Gabrielle M Kroepfl
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 9025 NE Von Neumann Drive Ste 110, Hillsboro, OR, 97006, USA
| | - Jacob M Jackson
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 9025 NE Von Neumann Drive Ste 110, Hillsboro, OR, 97006, USA
| | - Sonja Chen
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
| | - Lisa Hudson-Price
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 9025 NE Von Neumann Drive Ste 110, Hillsboro, OR, 97006, USA
| | | | | | - Qianqian Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Joel E Michalek
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Charles Keller
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 9025 NE Von Neumann Drive Ste 110, Hillsboro, OR, 97006, USA.
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2
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Chauhan S, Sen S, Irshad K, Kashyap S, Pushker N, Meel R, Sharma MC. Receptor tyrosine kinase gene expression profiling of orbital rhabdomyosarcoma unveils MET as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target. Hum Cell 2024; 37:297-309. [PMID: 37914903 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-00993-5] [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: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) serve as molecular targets for the development of novel personalized therapies in many malignancies. In the present study, expression pattern of receptor tyrosine kinases and its clinical significance in orbital RMS has been explored. Eighteen patients with histopathologically confirmed orbital RMS formed part of this study. Comprehensive q-PCR gene expression profiles of 19 RTKs were generated in the cases and controls. The patients were followed up for 59.53 ± 20.93 years. Clustering and statistical analysis tools were applied to identify the significant combination of RTKs associated with orbital rhabdomyosarcoma patients. mRNA overexpression of RTKs which included MET, AXL, EGFR was seen in 60-80% of cases; EGFR3, IGFR2, FGFR1, RET, PDGFR1, VEGFR2, PDGFR2 in 30-60% of cases; and EGFR4, FGFR3,VEGFR3 and ROS,IGFR1, EGFR1, FGFR2, VEGFR1 in 10-30% of cases. Immunoexpression of MET was seen in 89% of cases. A significant association was seen between MET mRNA and its protein expression. In all the cases MET gene expression was associated with worst overall survival (P = 0.03).There was a significant correlation of MET mRNA expression with RET, ROS, AXL, FGFR1, FGFR3, PDGFR1, IGFR1, VEGFR2, and EGFR3 genes. Association between MET gene and collective expression of RTKs was further evaluated by semi-supervised gene cluster analysis and Principal component analysis, which showed well-separated tumor clusters. MET gene overexpression could be a useful biomarker for identifying high risk orbital rhabdomyosarcoma patients. Well-separated tumor clusters confirmed the association between MET gene and collective expression of RTK genes. Therefore, the therapeutic potential of multi-kinase inhibitors targeting MET and the 9 other significant RTKs needs to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheetal Chauhan
- Ocular Pathology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, Room No. 725, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Seema Sen
- Ocular Pathology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, Room No. 725, New Delhi, 110029, India.
| | - Khushboo Irshad
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Seema Kashyap
- Ocular Pathology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, Room No. 725, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Neelam Pushker
- Ophthalmoplasty Services, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India
| | - Rachna Meel
- Ophthalmoplasty Services, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India
| | - Mehar Chand Sharma
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
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3
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Casanova M, Bautista F, Campbell-Hewson Q, Makin G, Marshall LV, Verschuur AC, Cañete Nieto A, Corradini N, Ploeger BA, Brennan BJ, Mueller U, Zebger-Gong H, Chung JW, Geoerger B. Regorafenib plus Vincristine and Irinotecan in Pediatric Patients with Recurrent/Refractory Solid Tumors: An Innovative Therapy for Children with Cancer Study. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:4341-4351. [PMID: 37606641 PMCID: PMC10618645 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-0257] [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: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This phase Ib study defined the safety, MTD, and recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of regorafenib combined with vincristine and irinotecan (VI). Secondary objectives were evaluation of antitumor activity and pharmacokinetics (PK) of regorafenib and irinotecan. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients aged 6 months to <18 years with relapsed/refractory solid malignancies [≥50% with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS)] received regorafenib (starting dose 72 mg/m2/day) concomitantly or sequentially with vincristine 1.5 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, and irinotecan 50 mg/m2 on days 1-5 (21-day cycle). Adverse events (AE) and tumor response were assessed. PK (regorafenib and irinotecan) were evaluated using a population PK model. RESULTS We enrolled 21 patients [median age, 10 years; 12, RMS; 5, Ewing sarcoma (EWS)]. The MTD/RP2D of regorafenib in the sequential schedule was 82 mg/m2. The concomitant dosing schedule was discontinued because of dose-limiting toxicities in 2 of 2 patients treated. Most common grade 3/4 (>30% of patients) AEs were neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia. The overall response rate was 48% and disease control rate [complete response (CR)/partial response/stable disease/non-CR/non-progressive disease] was 86%. Median progression-free survival was 7.0 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.9-14.8] and median overall survival was 8.7 months (95% CI, 5.5-16.3). When combined with VI, regorafenib PK was similar to single-agent PK in children and adults (treated with regorafenib 160 mg/day). CONCLUSIONS Regorafenib can be combined sequentially with standard dose VI in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory solid tumors with appropriate dose modifications. Clinical activity was observed in patients with RMS and EWS (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02085148).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Casanova
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Francisco Bautista
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Guy Makin
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester and Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Lynley V. Marshall
- Paediatric and Adolescent Oncology Drug Development Team, The Royal Marsden Hospital and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Arnauld C. Verschuur
- Department of Pediatric Haematology-Oncology, La Timone Children's Hospital, AP-HM, Marseille, France
| | - Adela Cañete Nieto
- Unidad de Oncología Pediátrica, Hospital Universitario y Politecnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Nadège Corradini
- Hematology and Oncology Pediatric Institute, Léon Bérard Center, Lyon, France
| | - Bart A. Ploeger
- Pharmacometrics/Modelling and Simulation, Bayer AG, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Udo Mueller
- Department of Statistics, ClinStat GmbH, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hong Zebger-Gong
- Medical Affairs and Pharmacovigilance, Bayer AG, Berlin, Germany
| | - John W. Chung
- Clinical Development Oncology, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Whippany, New Jersey
| | - Birgit Geoerger
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Center, INSERM U1015, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
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4
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Nakazawa K, Shaw T, Song YK, Kouassi-Brou M, Molotkova A, Tiwari PB, Chou HC, Wen X, Wei JS, Deniz E, Toretsky JA, Keller C, Barr FG, Khan J, Üren A. Piperacetazine Directly Binds to the PAX3::FOXO1 Fusion Protein and Inhibits Its Transcriptional Activity. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:2030-2043. [PMID: 37732905 PMCID: PMC10557868 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
The tumor-specific chromosomal translocation product, PAX3::FOXO1, is an aberrant fusion protein that plays a key role for oncogenesis in the alveolar subtype of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). PAX3::FOXO1 represents a validated molecular target for alveolar RMS and successful inhibition of its oncogenic activity is likely to have significant clinical applications. Even though several PAX3::FOXO1 function-based screening studies have been successfully completed, a directly binding small-molecule inhibitor of PAX3::FOXO1 has not been reported. Therefore, we screened small-molecule libraries to identify compounds that were capable of directly binding to PAX3::FOXO1 protein using surface plasmon resonance technology. Compounds that directly bound to PAX3::FOXO1 were further evaluated in secondary transcriptional activation assays. We discovered that piperacetazine can directly bind to PAX3::FOXO1 protein and inhibit fusion protein-derived transcription in multiple alveolar RMS cell lines. Piperacetazine inhibited anchorage-independent growth of fusion-positive alveolar RMS cells but not embryonal RMS cells. On the basis of our findings, piperacetazine is a molecular scaffold upon which derivatives could be developed as specific inhibitors of PAX3::FOXO1. These novel inhibitors could potentially be evaluated in future clinical trials for recurrent or metastatic alveolar RMS as novel targeted therapy options. SIGNIFICANCE RMS is a malignant soft-tissue tumor mainly affecting the pediatric population. A subgroup of RMS with worse prognosis harbors a unique chromosomal translocation creating an oncogenic fusion protein, PAX3::FOXO1. We identified piperacetazine as a direct inhibitor of PAX3::FOXO1, which may provide a scaffold for designing RMS-specific targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kay Nakazawa
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Taryn Shaw
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Young K. Song
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Marilyn Kouassi-Brou
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Anna Molotkova
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Purushottam B. Tiwari
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Hsien-Chao Chou
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Xinyu Wen
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jun S. Wei
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Emre Deniz
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Jeffrey A. Toretsky
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Charles Keller
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Hillsboro, Oregon
| | - Frederic G. Barr
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Aykut Üren
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
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5
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Nayeem MJ, Yamamura A, Hayashi H, Muramatsu H, Nakamura K, Sassa N, Sato M. Imatinib mesylate inhibits androgen-independent PC-3 cell viability, proliferation, migration, and tumor growth by targeting platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α. Life Sci 2022; 288:120171. [PMID: 34822800 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
AIM The abnormal expression of oncogenic tyrosine kinase receptors such as platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) has been reported in cancer progression. However, the role of PDGFRs in the human androgen-independent prostate cancer PC-3 cell line is not well understood. Thus, this study examined the role of PDGFRs in androgen-independent PC-3 cells. MAIN METHODS PDGFR mRNA and protein expression was determined by quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively. The effects of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib (imatinib mesylate) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were determined by a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, bromodeoxyuridine assay, and Transwell migration assay. The in vivo effect of imatinib was analyzed using a tumor formation assay in nude mice. KEY FINDINGS PDGFRα was upregulated in androgen-independent PC-3 cells compared with normal prostate epithelial cells. PDGF-BB induced the phosphorylation of PDGFRα and downstream signaling molecules, including Akt, in a dose-dependent manner. Imatinib reduced the phosphorylation of the PDGFRα/Akt axis. Imatinib also suppressed the viability, proliferation, migration, and tumor growth of PC-3 cells. PDGFRα knockdown by siRNA decreased the viability and migration of PC-3 cells. SIGNIFICANCE These results demonstrated the distinct contribution of PDGFRα signaling to the proliferation and migration of PC-3 cells and suggested the potential for PDGFRα as a therapeutic target for metastatic and androgen-independent prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aya Yamamura
- Department of Physiology, Aichi Medical University, Japan
| | - Hisaki Hayashi
- Department of Physiology, Aichi Medical University, Japan
| | | | | | - Naoto Sassa
- Department of Urology, Aichi Medical University, Japan
| | - Motohiko Sato
- Department of Physiology, Aichi Medical University, Japan.
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6
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Yan C, Yang Q, Zhang S, Millar DG, Alpert EJ, Do D, Veloso A, Brunson DC, Drapkin BJ, Stanzione M, Scarfò I, Moore JC, Iyer S, Qin Q, Wei Y, McCarthy KM, Rawls JF, Dyson NJ, Cobbold M, Maus MV, Langenau DM. Single-cell imaging of T cell immunotherapy responses in vivo. J Exp Med 2021; 218:e20210314. [PMID: 34415995 PMCID: PMC8383813 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20210314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell immunotherapies have revolutionized treatment for a subset of cancers. Yet, a major hurdle has been the lack of facile and predicative preclinical animal models that permit dynamic visualization of T cell immune responses at single-cell resolution in vivo. Here, optically clear immunocompromised zebrafish were engrafted with fluorescent-labeled human cancers along with chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cells, bispecific T cell engagers (BiTEs), and antibody peptide epitope conjugates (APECs), allowing real-time single-cell visualization of T cell-based immunotherapies in vivo. This work uncovered important differences in the kinetics of T cell infiltration, tumor cell engagement, and killing between these immunotherapies and established early endpoint analysis to predict therapy responses. We also established EGFR-targeted immunotherapies as a powerful approach to kill rhabdomyosarcoma muscle cancers, providing strong preclinical rationale for assessing a wider array of T cell immunotherapies in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Yan
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
| | - Qiqi Yang
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
| | - Songfa Zhang
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
| | - David G. Millar
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
| | - Eric J. Alpert
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
| | - Daniel Do
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
| | - Alexandra Veloso
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
| | - Dalton C. Brunson
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
| | - Benjamin J. Drapkin
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
| | - Marcello Stanzione
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
| | - Irene Scarfò
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
| | - John C. Moore
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
| | - Sowmya Iyer
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
| | - Qian Qin
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
| | - Yun Wei
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
| | - Karin M. McCarthy
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
| | - John F. Rawls
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | - Nick J. Dyson
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
| | - Mark Cobbold
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
- Early Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD
| | - Marcela V. Maus
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
| | - David M. Langenau
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA
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7
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Lian X, Bond JS, Bharathy N, Boudko SP, Pokidysheva E, Shern JF, Lathara M, Sasaki T, Settelmeyer T, Cleary MM, Bajwa A, Srinivasa G, Hartley CP, Bächinger HP, Mansoor A, Gultekin SH, Berlow NE, Keller C. Defining the Extracellular Matrix of Rhabdomyosarcoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:601957. [PMID: 33708626 PMCID: PMC7942227 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.601957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma of childhood with a propensity to metastasize. Current treatment for patients with RMS includes conventional systemic chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical resection; nevertheless, little to no improvement in long term survival has been achieved in decades-underlining the need for target discovery and new therapeutic approaches to targeting tumor cells or the tumor microenvironment. To evaluate cross-species sarcoma extracellular matrix production, we have used murine models which feature knowledge of the myogenic cell-of-origin. With focus on the RMS/undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) continuum, we have constructed tissue microarrays of 48 murine and four human sarcomas to analyze expression of seven different collagens, fibrillins, and collagen-modifying proteins, with cross-correlation to RNA deep sequencing. We have uncovered that RMS produces increased expression of type XVIII collagen alpha 1 (COL18A1), which is clinically associated with decreased long-term survival. We have also identified significantly increased RNA expression of COL4A1, FBN2, PLOD1, and PLOD2 in human RMS relative to normal skeletal muscle. These results complement recent studies investigating whether soft tissue sarcomas utilize collagens, fibrillins, and collagen-modifying enzymes to alter the structural integrity of surrounding host extracellular matrix/collagen quaternary structure resulting in improved ability to improve the ability to invade regionally and metastasize, for which therapeutic targeting is possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Lian
- Pediatric Cancer Biology, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - J. Steffan Bond
- Department of Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Narendra Bharathy
- Pediatric Cancer Biology, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Sergei P. Boudko
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Elena Pokidysheva
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Jack F. Shern
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Melvin Lathara
- Bioinformatics, Omics Data Automation, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Takako Sasaki
- Department of Matrix Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan
| | - Teagan Settelmeyer
- Pediatric Cancer Biology, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Megan M. Cleary
- Pediatric Cancer Biology, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Ayeza Bajwa
- Pediatric Cancer Biology, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | | | | | - Hans Peter Bächinger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shriners Hospital for Children, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Atiya Mansoor
- Department of Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Sakir H. Gultekin
- Department of Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Noah E. Berlow
- Pediatric Cancer Biology, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Charles Keller
- Pediatric Cancer Biology, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, United States
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8
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Mascarenhas L, Ogawa C, Laetsch TW, Weigel BJ, Bishop MW, Krystal J, Borinstein SC, Slotkin EK, Muscal JA, Hingorani P, Levy DE, Mo G, Shahir A, Wright J, DuBois SG. Phase 1 trial of olaratumab monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory solid and central nervous system tumors. Cancer Med 2021; 10:843-856. [PMID: 33474828 PMCID: PMC7897905 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Olaratumab is a monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα) and blocks receptor activation. We conducted a phase 1 trial to evaluate the safety of olaratumab and determine a recommended dose in combination with three different chemotherapy regimens in children. Patients <18 years with relapsed/refractory solid or central nervous system tumors were enrolled to two dose levels of olaratumab. Patients received olaratumab monotherapy at 15 mg/kg (Part A) or 20 mg/kg (Part B) on Days 1 and 8 of the first 21-day cycle, followed by olaratumab combined with standard fixed doses of chemotherapy with doxorubicin, vincristine/irinotecan, or high-dose ifosfamide by investigator choice for subsequent 21-day cycles. In Part C, patients received olaratumab 20 mg/kg plus assigned chemotherapy for all cycles. Parts A-C enrolled 68 patients across three chemotherapy treatment arms; olaratumab in combination with doxorubicin (N = 16), vincristine/irinotecan (N = 26), or ifosfamide (N = 26). Three dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) occurred during olaratumab monotherapy (at 15 mg/kg, grade [G] 4 alanine aminotransferase [ALT]; at 20 mg/kg, G3 lung infection and G3 gamma-glutamyl transferase). One DLT occurred during vincristine/irinotecan with olaratumab 20 mg/kg therapy (G3 ALT). Treatment-emergent adverse events ≥G3 in >25% of patients included neutropenia, anemia, leukopenia, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Pharmacokinetic profiles of olaratumab with chemotherapy were within the projected range based on adult data. There was one complete response (rhabdomyosarcoma [Part B vincristine/irinotecan arm]) and three partial responses (two rhabdomyosarcoma [Part A doxorubicin arm and Part C doxorubicin arm]; one pineoblastoma [Part B vincristine/irinotecan arm]). Olaratumab was tolerable and safely administered in combination with chemotherapy regimens commonly used in children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo Mascarenhas
- Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chitose Ogawa
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Theodore W Laetsch
- Department of Pediatrics, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Pauline Allen Gill Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Health, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Brenda J Weigel
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Michael W Bishop
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Julie Krystal
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Cohen Children's Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY, USA
| | - Scott C Borinstein
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | - Jodi A Muscal
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Pooja Hingorani
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Donna E Levy
- Biostatistics and Biometrics Division, Syneos Health, Morrisville, NC, USA
| | - Gary Mo
- PK/PD and Pharmacometrics Division, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ashwin Shahir
- Oncology Division, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jennifer Wright
- Oncology Division, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Steven G DuBois
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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9
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Ollauri-Ibáñez C, Astigarraga I. Use of Antiangiogenic Therapies in Pediatric Solid Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:E253. [PMID: 33445470 PMCID: PMC7827326 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is an important cause of death in childhood. In recent years, scientists have made an important effort to achieve greater precision and more personalized treatments against cancer. But since only a few pediatric patients have identifiable therapeutic targets, other ways to stop the neoplastic cell proliferation and dissemination are needed. Therefore, the inhibition of general processes involved in the growth and behavior of tumors can be a relevant strategy for the development of new cancer therapies. In the case of solid tumors, one of these processes is angiogenesis, essential for tumor growth and generation of metastases. This review summarizes the results obtained with the use of antiangiogenic drugs in the main pediatric malignant solid tumors and also an overview of clinical trials currently underway. It should be noted that due to the rarity and heterogeneity of the different types of pediatric cancer, most studies on antiangiogenic drugs include only a small number of patients or isolated clinical cases, so they are not conclusive and further studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Ollauri-Ibáñez
- Pediatric Oncology Group, BioCruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain;
| | - Itziar Astigarraga
- Pediatric Oncology Group, BioCruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain;
- Pediatrics Department, Hospital Universitario Cruces, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
- Pediatrics Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain
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10
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Ashton LV, Graham B, Afzali MF, Gustafson D, MacNeill AL. Treatment of an Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma Allograft with Recombinant Myxoma Virus and Oclacitinib. Oncolytic Virother 2020; 9:17-29. [PMID: 32548076 PMCID: PMC7266523 DOI: 10.2147/ov.s252727] [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] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are difficult tumors to treat with conventional therapies. Publications indicate that oncolytic virotherapy (OV) could benefit cancer patients with tumors that are refractory to conventional treatments. It is believed that the efficacy of OV can be enhanced when used in combination with other treatments. This study evaluated the response of mice with aggressive alveolar RMS (ARMS) allografts to treatment with an OV [recombinant myxoma virus (MYXVΔserp2)] in combination with a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor (oclacitinib). Oclacitinib is known to inhibit JAK1 and JAK2 cell signaling pathways, which should limit the antiviral Type I interferon response. However, oclacitinib does not inhibit immune pathways that promote antigen presentation, which help stimulate an anti-cancer immune response. Materials and Methods To determine if MYXVΔserp2 and oclacitinib could improve outcomes in animals with ARMS, nude mice were inoculated subcutaneously with murine ARMS cells to establish tumors. Immune responses, tumor growth, and clinical signs in mice treated with combination therapy were compared to mice given placebo therapy and mice treated with OV alone. Results Combination therapy was safe; no viral DNA was detected in off-target organs, only within tumors. As predicted, viral DNA was detected in tumors of mice given oclacitinib and MYXVΔserp2 for a longer time period than mice treated with OV alone. Although tumor growth rates and median survival times were not significantly different between groups, clinical signs were less severe in mice treated with OV. Conclusion Our data indicate that MYXVΔserp2 treatment benefits mice with ARMS by reducing clinical signs of disease and improving quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura V Ashton
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Barbara Graham
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Maryam F Afzali
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Daniel Gustafson
- Departiment of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Amy L MacNeill
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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11
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Xiao W, Wang J, Wen X, Xu B, Que Y, Yu K, Xu L, Zhao J, Pan Q, Zhou P, Zhang X. Chimeric antigen receptor‐modified T‐cell therapy for platelet‐derived growth factor receptor α‐positive rhabdomyosarcoma. Cancer 2020; 126 Suppl 9:2093-2100. [DOI: 10.1002/cncr.32764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Xiao
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Medical Oncology Unit Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
| | - Jinghua Wang
- Department of Hematology Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences Guangzhou China
| | - Xizhi Wen
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Medical Oncology Unit Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
| | - Bushu Xu
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Medical Oncology Unit Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
| | - Yi Que
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Medical Oncology Unit Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
| | - Kuai Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
- Department of Experimental Research Sun Yat‐Sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
| | - Liping Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
- Department of Experimental Research Sun Yat‐Sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
| | - Jingjing Zhao
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Medical Oncology Unit Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
| | - Qiuzhong Pan
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Medical Oncology Unit Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
| | - Penghui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
- Department of Experimental Research Sun Yat‐Sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
| | - Xing Zhang
- Melanoma and Sarcoma Medical Oncology Unit Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center Guangzhou China
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12
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Saggioro M, D'Angelo E, Bisogno G, Agostini M, Pozzobon M. Carcinoma and Sarcoma Microenvironment at a Glance: Where We Are. Front Oncol 2020; 10:76. [PMID: 32195166 PMCID: PMC7063801 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) components represent the multifaceted and dynamic environment that distinguishes each organ. Cancer is characterized by the dysregulation of the composition and structure of the tissues, giving rise to the tumor milieu. In this review, we focus on the microenvironmental analysis of colorectal cancer (CRC) and rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), two different solid tumors. While a lot is known about CRC environment, for RMS, this aspect is mostly unexplored. Following the example of the more complete CRC microenvironmental characterization, we collected and organized data on RMS for a better awareness of how tissue remodeling affects disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Saggioro
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città Della Speranza, Padova, Italy.,Department of Women and Children Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Edoardo D'Angelo
- First Surgical Clinic, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,NanoInspired Biomedicine Lab, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy.,LIFELAB Program, Consorzio per la Ricerca Sanitaria-CORIS, Padova, Italy
| | - Gianni Bisogno
- Department of Women and Children Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Agostini
- First Surgical Clinic, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,NanoInspired Biomedicine Lab, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy.,LIFELAB Program, Consorzio per la Ricerca Sanitaria-CORIS, Padova, Italy
| | - Michela Pozzobon
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città Della Speranza, Padova, Italy.,Department of Women and Children Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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13
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The Tumor Microenvironment of Pediatric Sarcoma: Mesenchymal Mechanisms Regulating Cell Migration and Metastasis. Curr Oncol Rep 2019; 21:90. [PMID: 31418125 PMCID: PMC6695368 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-019-0839-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review presents a selection of regulatory molecules of tumor microenvironmental properties and metastasis. Signaling pathways controlling mesenchymal biology in bone and soft-tissue sarcomas found in children and adolescents are prioritized. RECENT FINDINGS The tumor microenvironment of pediatric tumors is still relatively unexplored. Highlighted findings are mainly on deregulated genes associated with cell adhesion, migration, and tumor cell dissemination. How these processes are involved in a mesenchymal phenotype and metastasis is further discussed in relation to the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in epithelial tumors. Cell plasticity is emerging as a concept with impact on tumor behavior. Sarcomas belong to a heterogeneous group of tumors where local recurrence and tumor spread pose major challenges despite intense multimodal treatments. Molecular pathways involved in the metastatic process are currently being characterized, and tumor-regulatory properties of structural components, and infiltrating, non-malignant cell types should be further investigated.
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14
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Beltrán D, Anderson ME, Bharathy N, Settelmeyer TP, Svalina MN, Bajwa Z, Shern JF, Gultekin SH, Cuellar MA, Yonekawa T, Keller C, Campbell KP. Exogenous expression of the glycosyltransferase LARGE1 restores α-dystroglycan matriglycan and laminin binding in rhabdomyosarcoma. Skelet Muscle 2019; 9:11. [PMID: 31054580 PMCID: PMC6500046 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-019-0195-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background α-Dystroglycan is the highly glycosylated component of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) that binds with high-affinity to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins containing laminin-G-like (LG) domains via a unique heteropolysaccharide [-GlcA-beta1,3-Xyl-alpha1,3-]n called matriglycan. Changes in expression of components of the DGC or in the O-glycosylation of α-dystroglycan result in muscular dystrophy but are also observed in certain cancers. In mice, the loss of either of two DGC proteins, dystrophin or α-sarcoglycan, is associated with a high incidence of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). In addition, glycosylation of α-dystroglycan is aberrant in a small cohort of human patients with RMS. Since both the glycosylation of α-dystroglycan and its function as an ECM receptor require over 18 post-translational processing enzymes, we hypothesized that understanding its role in the pathogenesis of RMS requires a complete analysis of the expression of dystroglycan-modifying enzymes and the characterization of α-dystroglycan glycosylation in the context of RMS. Methods A series of cell lines and biopsy samples from human and mouse RMS were analyzed for the glycosylation status of α-dystroglycan and for expression of the genes encoding the responsible enzymes, in particular those required for the addition of matriglycan. Furthermore, the glycosyltransferase LARGE1 was ectopically expressed in RMS cells to determine its effects on matriglycan modifications and the ability of α-dystroglycan to function as a laminin receptor. Results Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting of a collection of primary RMS tumors show that although α-dystroglycan is consistently expressed and glycosylated in these tumors, α-dystroglycan lacks matriglycan and the ability to bind laminin. Similarly, in a series of cell lines derived from human and mouse RMS, α-dystroglycan lacks matriglycan modification and the ability to bind laminin. RNAseq data from RMS cell lines was analyzed for expression of the genes known to be involved in α-dystroglycan glycosylation, which revealed that, for most cell lines, the lack of matriglycan can be attributed to the downregulation of the dystroglycan-modifying enzyme LARGE1. Ectopic expression of LARGE1 in these cell cultures restored matriglycan to levels comparable to those in muscle and restored high-affinity laminin binding to α-dystroglycan. Conclusions Collectively, our findings demonstrate that a lack of matriglycan on α-dystroglycan is a common feature in RMS due to the downregulation of LARGE1, and that ectopic expression of LARGE1 can restore matriglycan modifications and the ability of α-dystroglycan to function as an ECM receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Beltrán
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Neurology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 4283 Carver Biomedical Research Building, 285 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52242-1101, USA
| | - Mary E Anderson
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Neurology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 4283 Carver Biomedical Research Building, 285 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52242-1101, USA
| | - Narendra Bharathy
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 12655 SW Beaverdam Road W, Beaverton, OR, 97005, USA
| | - Teagan P Settelmeyer
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 12655 SW Beaverdam Road W, Beaverton, OR, 97005, USA
| | - Matthew N Svalina
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 12655 SW Beaverdam Road W, Beaverton, OR, 97005, USA
| | - Zia Bajwa
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 12655 SW Beaverdam Road W, Beaverton, OR, 97005, USA
| | - John F Shern
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Sakir H Gultekin
- Department of Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Marco A Cuellar
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Neurology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 4283 Carver Biomedical Research Building, 285 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52242-1101, USA
| | - Takahiro Yonekawa
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Neurology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 4283 Carver Biomedical Research Building, 285 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52242-1101, USA
| | - Charles Keller
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 12655 SW Beaverdam Road W, Beaverton, OR, 97005, USA.
| | - Kevin P Campbell
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Department of Neurology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, 4283 Carver Biomedical Research Building, 285 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA, 52242-1101, USA.
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15
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Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Imatinib Mesylate Alters DMBA-Induced Early Onco/Suppressor Gene Expression with Tissue-Specificity in Mice. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:8670398. [PMID: 30882001 PMCID: PMC6383434 DOI: 10.1155/2019/8670398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Tyrosine kinases play crucial roles in cellular development and tumorigenesis. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are effective and widely used drug molecules in targeted cancer therapies. Altered expressions of protooncogenes and tumor suppressor genes after DMBA (7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene) treatment have been described as early markers of tumor induction; however their tissue-specific effects remain still unclear. Our study was aimed at examining the short-term possible antineoplastic and chemopreventive effects of a TKI compound (imatinib mesylate) on a DMBA-induced mouse tumor model. In addition, we also investigated the tissue-specific expressions of Hras, Kras, Myc, and Trp53 genes in the brain, bone marrow, spleen, liver, abdominal lymph nodes, thymus, lungs, and kidneys, respectively. 24 hours after the imatinib mesylate injection, we observed significant Kras downregulation in the bone marrow and lung of the DMBA-treated mice. Moreover, the mRNA expression of Myc was also found to be decreased significantly in the spleen. Interestingly, while Trp53 expression was significantly increased in the lung, it was decreased in the other tissues. However, there was also a tendency in the decreased Myc level in the bone marrow, brain, kidneys, lungs, and lymph nodes and in the decreased Hras level in the bone marrow, kidneys, and lungs, although no significant differences were observed. Our findings indicate rapid tissue-specific impact of imatinib mesylate on DMBA-induced gene expression in vivo, supporting the chemopreventive potential of imatinib mesylate in cancer.
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16
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Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and represents a high-grade neoplasm of skeletal myoblast-like cells. Decades of clinical and basic research have gradually improved our understanding of the pathophysiology of RMS and helped to optimize clinical care. The two major subtypes of RMS, originally characterized on the basis of light microscopic features, are driven by fundamentally different molecular mechanisms and pose distinct clinical challenges. Curative therapy depends on control of the primary tumour, which can arise at many distinct anatomical sites, as well as controlling disseminated disease that is known or assumed to be present in every case. Sophisticated risk stratification for children with RMS incorporates various clinical, pathological and molecular features, and that information is used to guide the application of multifaceted therapy. Such therapy has historically included cytotoxic chemotherapy as well as surgery, ionizing radiation or both. This Primer describes our current understanding of RMS epidemiology, disease susceptibility factors, disease mechanisms and elements of clinical care, including diagnostics, risk-based care of newly diagnosed and relapsed disease and the prevention and management of late effects in survivors. We also outline potential opportunities to further translate new biological insights into improved clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen X Skapek
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Andrea Ferrari
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Abha A Gupta
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Philip J Lupo
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Erin Butler
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Janet Shipley
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Belmont, UK
| | - Frederic G Barr
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Douglas S Hawkins
- Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington, and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
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17
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Nguyen TH, Barr FG. Therapeutic Approaches Targeting PAX3-FOXO1 and Its Regulatory and Transcriptional Pathways in Rhabdomyosarcoma. Molecules 2018; 23:E2798. [PMID: 30373318 PMCID: PMC6278278 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23112798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a family of soft tissue cancers that are related to the skeletal muscle lineage and predominantly occur in children and young adults. A specific chromosomal translocation t(2;13)(q35;q14) that gives rise to the chimeric oncogenic transcription factor PAX3-FOXO1 has been identified as a hallmark of the aggressive alveolar subtype of RMS. PAX3-FOXO1 cooperates with additional molecular changes to promote oncogenic transformation and tumorigenesis in various human and murine models. Its expression is generally restricted to RMS tumor cells, thus providing a very specific target for therapeutic approaches for these RMS tumors. In this article, we review the recent understanding of PAX3-FOXO1 as a transcription factor in the pathogenesis of this cancer and discuss recent developments to target this oncoprotein for treatment of RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frederic G. Barr
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
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18
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Zobniw CM, Trinh VA, Posey K, Somaiah N. Olaratumab in the management of advanced soft tissue sarcoma. J Oncol Pharm Pract 2018; 25:442-448. [PMID: 30032714 DOI: 10.1177/1078155218788135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Olaratumab, the first-in-class anti-PDGFRα monoclonal antibody, has been contingently approved in combination with doxorubicin to treat adult patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma for improving progression-free and overall survival. Olaratumab-doxorubicin combination has tolerable safety profile, which mimics that of doxorubicin monotherapy, with the exception of infusion-related reactions. Survival data of an ongoing confirmatory phase 3 trial are forthcoming to ascertain the optimal role of this product in the management algorithm of advanced soft tissue sarcoma. Active research is ongoing to identify biomarkers predictive of clinical benefit to olaratumab, to expand its utility to the pediatric population, and to explore its safety and efficacy in combination with other active regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrystia M Zobniw
- 1 Division of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Clinical Programs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Van Anh Trinh
- 1 Division of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Clinical Programs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kristi Posey
- 2 Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Neeta Somaiah
- 2 Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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19
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Cleary MM, Mansoor A, Settelmeyer T, Ijiri Y, Ladner KJ, Svalina MN, Rubin BP, Guttridge DC, Keller C. NFκB signaling in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Dis Model Mech 2018; 10:1109-1115. [PMID: 28883017 PMCID: PMC5611971 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.030882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS) is a pediatric soft tissue cancer commonly associated with a chromosomal translocation that leads to the expression of a Pax3:Foxo1 or Pax7:Foxo1 fusion protein, the developmental underpinnings of which may give clues to its therapeutic approaches. In aRMS, the NFκB–YY1–miR-29 regulatory circuit is dysregulated, resulting in repression of miR-29 and loss of the associated tumor suppressor activity. To further elucidate the role of NFκB in aRMS, we first tested 55 unique sarcoma cell lines and primary cell cultures in a large-scale chemical screen targeting diverse molecular pathways. We found that pharmacological inhibition of NFκB activity resulted in decreased cell proliferation of many of the aRMS tumor cultures. Surprisingly, mice that were orthotopically allografted with aRMS tumor cells exhibited no difference in tumor growth when administered an NFκB inhibitor, compared to control. Furthermore, inhibition of NFκB by genetically ablating its activating kinase inhibitor, IKKβ, by conditional deletion in a mouse model harboring the Pax3:Foxo1 chimeric oncogene failed to abrogate spontaneous tumor growth. Genetically engineered mice with conditionally deleted IKKβ exhibited a paradoxical decrease in tumor latency compared with those with active NFκB. However, using a synthetic-lethal approach, primary cell cultures derived from tumors with inactivated NFκB showed sensitivity to the BCL-2 inhibitor navitoclax. When used in combination with an NFκB inhibitor, navitoclax was synergistic in decreasing the growth of both human and IKKβ wild-type mouse aRMS cells, indicating that inactivation of NFκB alone may not be sufficient for reducing tumor growth, but, when combined with another targeted therapeutic, may be clinically beneficial. Summary: In a genetically engineered mouse model of aRMS, disrupting the NFκB pathway facilitated tumor initiation, suggesting it is a modifier of the disease rather than the driver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M Cleary
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR 97005, USA .,Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Atiya Mansoor
- Department of Pathology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Teagan Settelmeyer
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR 97005, USA
| | - Yuichi Ijiri
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics and The Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Katherine J Ladner
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics and The Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Matthew N Svalina
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR 97005, USA
| | - Brian P Rubin
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Molecular Genetics, Taussig Cancer Center, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Denis C Guttridge
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics and The Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Charles Keller
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR 97005, USA
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20
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Heldin CH, Lennartsson J, Westermark B. Involvement of platelet-derived growth factor ligands and receptors in tumorigenesis. J Intern Med 2018; 283:16-44. [PMID: 28940884 DOI: 10.1111/joim.12690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) isoforms and their receptors have important roles during embryogenesis, particularly in the development of various mesenchymal cell types in different organs. In the adult, PDGF stimulates wound healing and regulates tissue homeostasis. However, overactivity of PDGF signalling is associated with malignancies and other diseases characterized by excessive cell proliferation, such as fibrotic conditions and atherosclerosis. In certain tumours, genetic or epigenetic alterations of the genes for PDGF ligands and receptors drive tumour cell proliferation and survival. Examples include the rare skin tumour dermatofibrosarcoma protuberance, which is driven by autocrine PDGF stimulation due to translocation of a PDGF gene, and certain gastrointestinal stromal tumours and leukaemias, which are driven by constitute activation of PDGF receptors due to point mutations and formation of fusion proteins of the receptors, respectively. Moreover, PDGF stimulates cells in tumour stroma and promotes angiogenesis as well as the development of cancer-associated fibroblasts, both of which promote tumour progression. Inhibitors of PDGF signalling may thus be of clinical usefulness in the treatment of certain tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- C-H Heldin
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - J Lennartsson
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - B Westermark
- Department of Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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21
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Olaratumab Exerts Antitumor Activity in Preclinical Models of Pediatric Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors through Inhibition of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor α. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 24:847-857. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-1258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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22
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Mashreghi M, Azarpara H, Bazaz MR, Jafari A, Masoudifar A, Mirzaei H, Jaafari MR. Angiogenesis biomarkers and their targeting ligands as potential targets for tumor angiogenesis. J Cell Physiol 2017; 233:2949-2965. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.26049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Mashreghi
- NanotechnologyResearch Center; Mashhad University of Medical Sciences; Mashhad Iran
- School of Pharmacy; Mashhad University of Medical Sciences; Mashhad Iran
| | - Hassan Azarpara
- School of Medicine; Iran University of Medical Sciences; Tehran Iran
| | - Mahere R. Bazaz
- Division of Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Ferdowsi University of Mashhad; Mashhad Iran
| | - Arash Jafari
- School of Medicine; Birjand University of Medical Sciences; Birjand Iran
| | - Aria Masoudifar
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center; Royan Institute for Biotechnology; ACECR Isfahan Iran
| | - Hamed Mirzaei
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine; Mashhad University of Medical Sciences; Mashhad Iran
| | - Mahmoud R. Jaafari
- NanotechnologyResearch Center; Mashhad University of Medical Sciences; Mashhad Iran
- School of Pharmacy; Mashhad University of Medical Sciences; Mashhad Iran
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23
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Teyssonneau
- Early Phase Trials and Sarcoma Units, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - Antoine Italiano
- Early Phase Trials and Sarcoma Units, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
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24
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Lewandowski SA, Fredriksson L, Lawrence DA, Eriksson U. Pharmacological targeting of the PDGF-CC signaling pathway for blood-brain barrier restoration in neurological disorders. Pharmacol Ther 2016; 167:108-119. [PMID: 27524729 PMCID: PMC5341142 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2016.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neurological disorders account for a majority of non-malignant disability in humans and are often associated with dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Recent evidence shows that despite apparent variation in the origin of neural damage, the central nervous system has a common injury response mechanism involving platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-CC activation in the neurovascular unit and subsequent dysfunction of BBB integrity. Inhibition of PDGF-CC signaling with imatinib in mice has been shown to prevent BBB dysfunction and have neuroprotective effects in acute damage conditions, including traumatic brain injury, seizures or stroke, as well as in neurodegenerative diseases that develop over time, including multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Stroke and traumatic injuries are major risk factors for age-associated neurodegenerative disorders and we speculate that restoring BBB properties through PDGF-CC inhibition might provide a common therapeutic opportunity for treatment of both acute and progressive neuropathology in humans. In this review we will summarize what is known about the role of PDGF-CC in neurovascular signaling events and the variety of seemingly different neuropathologies it is involved in. We will also discuss the pharmacological means of therapeutic interventions for anti-PDGF-CC therapy and ongoing clinical trials. In summary: inhibition of PDGF-CC signaling can be protective for immediate injury and decrease the long-term neurodegenerative consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian A Lewandowski
- Tissue Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Scheeles v. 2, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Linda Fredriksson
- Vascular Biology Groups, Division of Vascular Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Scheeles v. 2, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, 7301 Medical Science Research Building III, 1150 West Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0644, USA
| | - Daniel A Lawrence
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, 7301 Medical Science Research Building III, 1150 West Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0644, USA
| | - Ulf Eriksson
- Tissue Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Scheeles v. 2, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden.
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25
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Maher OM, Khatua S, Mukherjee D, Olar A, Lazar A, Luthra R, Liu D, Wu J, Ketonen L, Zaky W. Primary intracranial soft tissue sarcomas in children, adolescents, and young adults: single institution experience and review of the literature. J Neurooncol 2015; 127:155-63. [PMID: 26718692 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-015-2027-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 12/24/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
There is a paucity of literature reporting the outcome of intracranial sarcomas (IS) in children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYA). A multimodal therapeutic approach is commonly used, with no well-established treatment consensus. We conducted a retrospective review of CAYA with IS, treated at our institution, to determine their clinical findings, treatments, and outcomes. Immunohistochemistry (PDGFRA and EGFR) and DNA sequencing were performed on 5 tumor samples. A literature review of IS was also conducted. We reviewed 13 patients (median age, 7 years) with a primary diagnosis of IS between 1990 and 2015. Diagnoses included unclassified sarcoma (n = 9), chondrosarcoma (n = 2), and rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 2). Five patients underwent upfront gross total resection (GTR) of the tumor. The 5-drug regimen (vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and ifosfamide) was the most common treatment used. Nine patients died due to progression or recurrence (n = 8) or secondary malignancy (n = 1). The median follow-up period of the 4 surviving patients was 1.69 years (range 1.44-5.17 years). The 5-year progression-free survival and overall survival rates were 21 and 44 %, respectively. BRAF, TP53, KRAS, KIT, ERBB2, MET, RET, ATM, and EGFR mutations were detected in 4 of the 5 tissue samples. All 5 samples were immunopositive for PDGFRA, and only 2 were positive for EGFR. IS remain a therapeutic challenge due to high progression and recurrence rates. Collaborative multi-institutional studies are warranted to delineate a treatment consensus and investigate tumor biology to improve the disease outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ossama M Maher
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 87, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Soumen Khatua
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 87, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Devashis Mukherjee
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 87, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Adriana Olar
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexander Lazar
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Raja Luthra
- Department of Hematopathology, Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Diane Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jimin Wu
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Leena Ketonen
- Department of Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wafik Zaky
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 87, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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26
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Hedrick E, Crose L, Linardic CM, Safe S. Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Inhibit Rhabdomyosarcoma by Reactive Oxygen Species-Dependent Targeting of Specificity Protein Transcription Factors. Mol Cancer Ther 2015; 14:2143-53. [PMID: 26162688 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-15-0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The two major types of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) are predominantly diagnosed in children, namely embryonal (ERMS) and alveolar (ARMS) RMS, and patients are treated with cytotoxic drugs, which results in multiple toxic side effects later in life. Therefore, development of innovative chemotherapeutic strategies is imperative, and a recent genomic analysis suggested the potential efficacy of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-inducing agents. Here, we demonstrate the efficacy of the potent histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, panobinostat and vorinostat, as agents that inhibit RMS tumor growth in vivo, induce apoptosis, and inhibit invasion of RD and Rh30 RMS cell lines. These effects are due to epigenetic repression of cMyc, which leads to decreased expression of cMyc-regulated miRs-17, -20a, and -27a; upregulation of ZBTB4, ZBTB10, and ZBTB34; and subsequent downregulation of Sp transcription factors. We also show that inhibition of RMS cell growth, survival and invasion, and repression of Sp transcription factors by the HDAC inhibitors are independent of histone acetylation but reversible after cotreatment with the antioxidant glutathione. These results show a novel ROS-dependent mechanism of antineoplastic activity for panobinostat and vorinostat that lies outside of their canonical HDAC-inhibitory activity and demonstrates the potential clinical utility for treating RMS patients with ROS-inducing agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Hedrick
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Lisa Crose
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Corinne M Linardic
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Stephen Safe
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center, Houston, Texas.
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27
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Paulsson J, Ehnman M, Östman A. PDGF receptors in tumor biology: prognostic and predictive potential. Future Oncol 2015; 10:1695-708. [PMID: 25145436 DOI: 10.2217/fon.14.83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PDGF receptors (PDGFRs) exert cell type-specific effects in many different tumor types. They are emerging as key regulators of mesenchymal cells of the tumor microenvironment, and of many common malignancies, such as cancer of the breast, colon and prostate. In some tumor types PDGFRs are genetically activated and are thus directly involved in stimulation of malignant cell growth. Recent studies have uncovered clinically relevant variations in stromal PDGFR expression. High stromal PDGFRβ expression or activation is associated with poor prognosis in breast and prostate cancer. Indications of prognostic significance of stromal PDGFRβ expression in various GI tract tumor types also exist. The prognostic significance of PDGFRα and β in malignant cells of common epithelial tumor types should be further studied. Collectively data suggest that continued characterization of PDGFR expression in human tumors should present opportunities for improved accuracy in prognosis and also allow novel biomarker-based clinical studies exploring the efficacy of PDGFR-directed tumor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janna Paulsson
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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28
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Saletta F, Wadham C, Ziegler DS, Marshall GM, Haber M, McCowage G, Norris MD, Byrne JA. Molecular profiling of childhood cancer: Biomarkers and novel therapies. BBA CLINICAL 2014; 1:59-77. [PMID: 26675306 PMCID: PMC4633945 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbacli.2014.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Revised: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 06/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Technological advances including high-throughput sequencing have identified numerous tumor-specific genetic changes in pediatric and adolescent cancers that can be exploited as targets for novel therapies. SCOPE OF REVIEW This review provides a detailed overview of recent advances in the application of target-specific therapies for childhood cancers, either as single agents or in combination with other therapies. The review summarizes preclinical evidence on which clinical trials are based, early phase clinical trial results, and the incorporation of predictive biomarkers into clinical practice, according to cancer type. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS There is growing evidence that molecularly targeted therapies can valuably add to the arsenal available for treating childhood cancers, particularly when used in combination with other therapies. Nonetheless the introduction of molecularly targeted agents into practice remains challenging, due to the use of unselected populations in some clinical trials, inadequate methods to evaluate efficacy, and the need for improved preclinical models to both evaluate dosing and safety of combination therapies. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE The increasing recognition of the heterogeneity of molecular causes of cancer favors the continued development of molecularly targeted agents, and their transfer to pediatric and adolescent populations.
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Key Words
- ALK, anaplastic lymphoma kinase
- ALL, acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- AML, acute myeloid leukemia
- ARMS, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma
- AT/RT, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor
- AURKA, aurora kinase A
- AURKB, aurora kinase B
- BET, bromodomain and extra terminal
- Biomarkers
- CAR, chimeric antigen receptor
- CML, chronic myeloid leukemia
- Childhood cancer
- DFMO, difluoromethylornithine
- DIPG, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma
- EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor
- ERMS, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma
- HDAC, histone deacetylases
- Hsp90, heat shock protein 90
- IGF-1R, insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor
- IGF/IGFR, insulin-like growth factor/receptor
- Molecular diagnostics
- NSCLC, non-small cell lung cancer
- ODC1, ornithine decarboxylase 1
- PARP, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase
- PDGFRA/B, platelet derived growth factor alpha/beta
- PI3K, phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase
- PLK1, polo-like kinase 1
- Ph +, Philadelphia chromosome-positive
- RMS, rhabdomyosarcoma
- SHH, sonic hedgehog
- SMO, smoothened
- SYK, spleen tyrosine kinase
- TOP1/TOP2, DNA topoisomerase 1/2
- TRAIL, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand
- Targeted therapy
- VEGF/VEGFR, vascular endothelial growth factor/receptor
- mAb, monoclonal antibody
- mAbs, monoclonal antibodies
- mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Saletta
- Children's Cancer Research Unit, Kids Research Institute, Westmead 2145, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Carol Wadham
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David S. Ziegler
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia
- Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Glenn M. Marshall
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia
- Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michelle Haber
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Geoffrey McCowage
- The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead 2145, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Murray D. Norris
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jennifer A. Byrne
- Children's Cancer Research Unit, Kids Research Institute, Westmead 2145, New South Wales, Australia
- The University of Sydney Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead 2145, New South Wales, Australia
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Abstract
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS) is an aggressive myogenic childhood malignancy, not infrequently presenting as incurable metastatic disease. To identify therapeutic targets, we performed an unbiased tyrosine kinome RNA interference screen in primary cell cultures from a genetically engineered, conditional mouse model of aRMS. We identified ephrin receptor B4 (EphB4) as a target that is widely expressed in human aRMS and that portends a poor clinical outcome in an expression level-dependent manner. We also uncovered cross-talk of this ephrin receptor with another receptor tyrosine kinase, PDGFRβ, which facilitates PDGF ligand-dependent, ephrin ligand-independent activation of EphB4 converging on the Akt and Erk1/2 pathways. Conversely, EphB4 activation by its cognate ligand, EphrinB2, did not stimulate PDGFRβ; instead, apoptosis was paradoxically induced. Finally, we showed that small-molecule inhibition of both PDGFRβ and EphB4 by dasatinib resulted in a significant decrease in tumor cell viability in vitro, as well as decreased tumor growth rate and significantly prolonged survival in vivo. To our knowledge, these results are the first to identify EphB4 and its cross-talk with PDGFRβ as unexpected vital determinants of tumor cell survival in aRMS, with EphB4 at the crux of a bivalent signaling node that is either mitogenic or proapoptotic.
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30
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Rekhi B, Qureshi SS, Narula G, Gujral S, Kurkure P. Rapidly progressive congenital rhabdomyosarcoma presenting with multiple cutaneous lesions: an uncommon diagnosis and a therapeutic challenge. Pathol Res Pract 2014; 210:328-33. [PMID: 24635971 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2014.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2013] [Revised: 12/27/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Congenital rhabdomyosarcomas (RMSs) are rare tumors with variable clinical presentations. A 2 month-old, term male neonate (37 weeks, 4 days), weighing 3.2kg, born to a 24 year-old primigravida, by simple vaginal delivery presented with multiple erythematous papulonodular lesions over his trunk that progressed to his whole body, on the first day of delivery. Prior to conception, his mother was treated for polycystic ovarian disease. On the tenth day, his chest computed tomogram scans revealed multiple, heterogeneously enhancing, bilateral pleural-based soft tissue density nodular lesions, along with multiple soft tissue density lesions, involving skeletal muscles of all his body parts. Microsections from two biopsies (on 10th day and after 2 months) revealed a malignant round cell tumor with cells arranged in a diffuse, solid pattern, comprising embryonal and solid alveolar components. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were diffusely positive for desmin, myoD1 and myogenin. Diagnosis of embryonal and alveolar (mixed type) RMS was offered. Further molecular cytogenetic analysis was negative for PAX3-FKHR and PAX7-FKHR. The patient was induced on chemotherapy as per intergroup rhabdomyosarcoma study IV protocol. There was treatment response with near total remission after 8 weeks of treatment. Thereafter, new lesions started appearing that also disappeared after modification of the chemotherapy drugs. However, after 16 months, the baby died of brain metastasis. The present case forms the fourth case report of an aggressive form of a congenital RMS with extensive cutaneous involvement and brain metastasis. A review of previously diagnosed cases of congenital RMSs is discussed herewith.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharat Rekhi
- Department of Pathology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
| | | | - Gaurav Narula
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sumeet Gujral
- Department of Pathology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Purna Kurkure
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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31
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Kikuchi K, Hettmer S, Aslam MI, Michalek JE, Laub W, Wilky BA, Loeb DM, Rubin BP, Wagers AJ, Keller C. Cell-cycle dependent expression of a translocation-mediated fusion oncogene mediates checkpoint adaptation in rhabdomyosarcoma. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004107. [PMID: 24453992 PMCID: PMC3894165 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2013] [Accepted: 11/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most commonly occurring soft-tissue sarcoma in childhood. Most rhabdomyosarcoma falls into one of two biologically distinct subgroups represented by alveolar or embryonal histology. The alveolar subtype harbors a translocation-mediated PAX3:FOXO1A fusion gene and has an extremely poor prognosis. However, tumor cells have heterogeneous expression for the fusion gene. Using a conditional genetic mouse model as well as human tumor cell lines, we show that that Pax3:Foxo1a expression is enriched in G2 and triggers a transcriptional program conducive to checkpoint adaptation under stress conditions such as irradiation in vitro and in vivo. Pax3:Foxo1a also tolerizes tumor cells to clinically-established chemotherapy agents and emerging molecularly-targeted agents. Thus, the surprisingly dynamic regulation of the Pax3:Foxo1a locus is a paradigm that has important implications for the way in which oncogenes are modeled in cancer cells. Rare childhood cancers can be paradigms from which important new principles can be discerned. The childhood muscle cancer rhabdomyosarcoma is no exception, having been the focus of the original 1969 description by Drs. Li and Fraumeni of a syndrome now know to be commonly caused by underlying p53 tumor suppressor loss-of-function. In our studies using a conditional genetic mouse model of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in conjunction with human tumor cell lines, we have uncovered that the expression level of a translocation-mediated fusion gene, Pax3:Foxo1a, is dynamic and varies during the cell cycle. Our studies support that Pax3:Foxo1a facilitate the yeast-related process of checkpoint adaptation under stresses such as irradiation. The broader implication of our studies is that distal cis elements (promoter-influencing regions of DNA) may be critical to fully understanding the function of cancer-associated translocations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Kikuchi
- Pediatric Cancer Biology Program, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Simone Hettmer
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America, and Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - M. Imran Aslam
- Pediatric Cancer Biology Program, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Joel E. Michalek
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Wolfram Laub
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Breelyn A. Wilky
- Division of Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David M. Loeb
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Brian P. Rubin
- Departments of Anatomic Pathology and Molecular Genetics, Taussig Cancer Center and Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Amy J. Wagers
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America, and Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Charles Keller
- Pediatric Cancer Biology Program, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Faggi F, Mitola S, Sorci G, Riuzzi F, Donato R, Codenotti S, Poliani PL, Cominelli M, Vescovi R, Rossi S, Calza S, Colombi M, Penna F, Costelli P, Perini I, Sampaolesi M, Monti E, Fanzani A. Phosphocaveolin-1 enforces tumor growth and chemoresistance in rhabdomyosarcoma. PLoS One 2014; 9:e84618. [PMID: 24427291 PMCID: PMC3888403 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2013] [Accepted: 11/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) can ambiguously behave as either tumor suppressor or oncogene depending on its phosphorylation state and the type of cancer. In this study we show that Cav-1 was phosphorylated on tyrosine 14 (pCav-1) by Src-kinase family members in various human cell lines and primary mouse cultures of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most frequent soft-tissue sarcoma affecting childhood. Cav-1 overexpression in the human embryonal RD or alveolar RH30 cells yielded increased pCav-1 levels and reinforced the phosphorylation state of either ERK or AKT kinase, respectively, in turn enhancing in vitro cell proliferation, migration, invasiveness and chemoresistance. In contrast, reducing the pCav-1 levels by administration of a Src-kinase inhibitor or through targeted Cav-1 silencing counteracted the malignant in vitro phenotype of RMS cells. Consistent with these results, xenotransplantation of Cav-1 overexpressing RD cells into nude mice resulted in substantial tumor growth in comparison to control cells. Taken together, these data point to pCav-1 as an important and therapeutically valuable target for overcoming the progression and multidrug resistance of RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiorella Faggi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
| | - Stefania Mitola
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Sorci
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
| | - Francesca Riuzzi
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
| | - Rosario Donato
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
| | - Silvia Codenotti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
| | - Pietro Luigi Poliani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Manuela Cominelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Raffaella Vescovi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefania Rossi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefano Calza
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marina Colombi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Fabio Penna
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
| | - Paola Costelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
| | - Ilaria Perini
- Stem Cell Research Institute, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maurilio Sampaolesi
- Stem Cell Research Institute, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium
- Human Anatomy Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
| | - Eugenio Monti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Fanzani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
- * E-mail:
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Heldin CH. Targeting the PDGF signaling pathway in tumor treatment. Cell Commun Signal 2013; 11:97. [PMID: 24359404 PMCID: PMC3878225 DOI: 10.1186/1478-811x-11-97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 329] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2013] [Accepted: 12/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) isoforms and PDGF receptors have important functions in the regulation of growth and survival of certain cell types during embryonal development and e.g. tissue repair in the adult. Overactivity of PDGF receptor signaling, by overexpression or mutational events, may drive tumor cell growth. In addition, pericytes of the vasculature and fibroblasts and myofibroblasts of the stroma of solid tumors express PDGF receptors, and PDGF stimulation of such cells promotes tumorigenesis. Inhibition of PDGF receptor signaling has proven to useful for the treatment of patients with certain rare tumors. Whether treatment with PDGF/PDGF receptor antagonists will be beneficial for more common malignancies is the subject for ongoing studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl-Henrik Heldin
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Science for life laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 595SE-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden.
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High ALK mRNA expression has a negative prognostic significance in rhabdomyosarcoma. Br J Cancer 2013; 109:3084-91. [PMID: 24149177 PMCID: PMC3859940 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2013.653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2013] [Revised: 09/30/2013] [Accepted: 10/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a receptor tyrosine kinase aberrantly expressed in cancer, but its clinical and functional importance remain controversial. Mutation or amplification of ALK, as well as its expression levels assessed by conventional immunohistochemistry methods, has been linked to prognosis in cancer, although with potential bias because of the semi-quantitative approaches. Herein, we measured ALK mRNA expression in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and determined its clinical impact on patients' stratification and outcome. Methods: Specimens were obtained from RMS patients and cell lines, and ALK expression was analysed by quantitative RT–PCR, western blotting, IHC, and copy number analysis. Results: High ALK mRNA expression was detected in the vast majority of PAX3/7-FOXO1-positive tumours, whereas PAX3/7-FOXO1-negative RMS displayed considerably lower amounts of both mRNA and protein. Notably, ALK mRNA distinguished unfavourable PAX3/7-FOXO1-positive tumours from PAX3/7-FOXO1-negative RMS (P<0.0001), and also correlated with larger tumour size (P<0.05) and advanced clinical stage (P<0.01), independently of fusion gene status. High ALK mRNA levels were of prognostic relevance by Cox univariate regression analysis and correlated with increased risk of relapse (P=0.001) and survival (P=0.01), whereas by multivariate analysis elevated ALK mRNA expression resulted a negative prognostic marker when clinical stage was not included. Conclusion: Quantitative assessment of ALK mRNA expression helps to improve risk stratification of RMS patients and identifies tumours with adverse biological characteristics and aggressive behaviour.
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Jothi M, Mal M, Keller C, Mal AK. Small molecule inhibition of PAX3-FOXO1 through AKT activation suppresses malignant phenotypes of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:2663-74. [PMID: 24107448 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-13-0277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma comprises a rare highly malignant tumor presumed to be associated with skeletal muscle lineage in children. The hallmark of the majority of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is a chromosomal translocation that generates the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein, which is an oncogenic transcription factor responsible for the development of the malignant phenotype of this tumor. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells are dependent on the oncogenic activity of PAX3-FOXO1, and its expression status in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma tumors correlates with worst patient outcome, suggesting that blocking this activity of PAX3-FOXO1 may be an attractive therapeutic strategy against this fusion-positive disease. In this study, we screened small molecule chemical libraries for inhibitors of PAX3-FOXO1 transcriptional activity using a cell-based readout system. We identified the Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPases (SERCA) inhibitor thapsigargin as an effective inhibitor of PAX3-FOXO1. Subsequent experiments in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells showed that activation of AKT by thapsigargin inhibited PAX3-FOXO1 activity via phosphorylation. Moreover, this AKT activation appears to be associated with the effects of thapsigargin on intracellular calcium levels. Furthermore, thapsigargin inhibited the binding of PAX3-FOXO1 to target genes and subsequently promoted its proteasomal degradation. In addition, thapsigargin treatment decreases the growth and invasive capacity of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells while inducing apoptosis in vitro. Finally, thapsigargin can suppress the growth of an alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma xenograft tumor in vivo. These data reveal that thapsigargin-induced activation of AKT is an effective mechanism to inhibit PAX3-FOXO1 and a potential agent for targeted therapy against alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathivanan Jothi
- Corresponding Author: Asoke K. Mal, Department of Cell Stress Biology, BLSC-L3-319 Roswell Park Cancer Institute Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263.
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36
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Aslam MI, Hettmer S, Abraham J, Latocha D, Soundararajan A, Huang ET, Goros MW, Michalek JE, Wang S, Mansoor A, Druker BJ, Wagers AJ, Tyner JW, Keller C. Dynamic and nuclear expression of PDGFRα and IGF-1R in alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. Mol Cancer Res 2013; 11:1303-13. [PMID: 23928059 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-12-0598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Since the advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors as targeted therapies in cancer, several receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) have been identified as operationally important for disease progression. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a malignancy in need of new treatment options; therefore, better understanding of the heterogeneity of RTKs would advance this goal. Here, alveolar RMS (aRMS) tumor cells derived from a transgenic mouse model expressing two such RTKs, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGFR)α and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1R, were investigated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Sorted subpopulations that were positive or negative for PDGFRα and IGF-1R dynamically altered their cell surface RTK expression profiles as early as the first cell division. Interestingly, a difference in total PDGFRα expression and nuclear IGF-1R expression was conserved in populations. Nuclear IGF-1R expression was greater than cytoplasmic IGF-1R in cells with initially high cell surface IGF-1R, and cells with high nuclear IGF-1R established tumors more efficiently in vivo. RNA interference-mediated silencing of IGF-1R in the subpopulation of cells initially harboring higher cell surface and total IGF-1R resulted in significantly reduced anchorage-independent colony formation as compared with cells with initially lower cell surface and total IGF-1R expression. Finally, in accordance with the findings observed in murine aRMS, human aRMS also had robust expression of nuclear IGF-1R. IMPLICATIONS RTK expression status and subcellular localization dynamics are important considerations for personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Imran Aslam
- Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., MC-L321, Portland, OR 97239.
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37
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Hinson ARP, Jones R, Crose LES, Belyea BC, Barr FG, Linardic CM. Human rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines for rhabdomyosarcoma research: utility and pitfalls. Front Oncol 2013; 3:183. [PMID: 23882450 PMCID: PMC3713458 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2013] [Accepted: 06/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood and adolescence. Despite intergroup clinical trials conducted in Europe and North America, outcomes for high risk patients with this disease have not significantly improved in the last several decades, and survival of metastatic or relapsed disease remains extremely poor. Accrual into new clinical trials is slow and difficult, so in vitro cell-line research and in vivo xenograft models present an attractive alternative for preclinical research for this cancer type. Currently, 30 commonly used human RMS cell lines exist, with differing origins, karyotypes, histologies, and methods of validation. Selecting an appropriate cell line for RMS research has important implications for outcomes. There are also potential pitfalls in using certain cell lines including contamination with murine stromal cells, cross-contamination between cell lines, discordance between the cell line and its associated original tumor, imposter cell lines, and nomenclature errors that result in the circulation of two or more presumed unique cell lines that are actually from the same origin. These pitfalls can be avoided by testing for species-specific isoenzymes, microarray analysis, assays for subtype-specific fusion products, and short tandem repeat analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley R P Hinson
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center , Durham, NC , USA
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38
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Yamamoto Y, Fukuda K, Fuchimoto Y, Matsuzaki Y, Saikawa Y, Kitagawa Y, Morikawa Y, Kuroda T. Cetuximab promotes anticancer drug toxicity in rhabdomyosarcomas with EGFR amplification in vitro. Oncol Rep 2013; 30:1081-6. [PMID: 23828214 DOI: 10.3892/or.2013.2588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been detected in various tumors and is associated with poor outcomes. Combination treatment regimens with EGFR-targeting and cytotoxic agents are a potential therapeutic option for rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) with EGFR amplification. We investigated the effects of combination treatment with actinomycin D and the EGFR-targeting agent cetuximab in 4 RMS cell lines. All 4 RMS cell lines expressed wild-type K-ras, and 2 of the 4 overexpressed EGFR, as determined by flow cytometry, real-time PCR and direct sequencing. Combination of cetuximab and actinomycin D was highly effective, synergistically inhibiting cell growth with a combination index of less than 1. Moreover, combination treatment with these two reagents increased the rate of apoptosis in EGFR-positive cells. Cetuximab has antitumor activity in EGFR-amplified RMS cells when combined with antitumor reagents, indicating that cetuximab is a potential therapeutic reagent for RMS with EGFR amplification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Yamamoto
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-858, Japan
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39
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Sokolowski E, Turina CB, Kikuchi K, Langenau DM, Keller C. Proof-of-concept rare cancers in drug development: the case for rhabdomyosarcoma. Oncogene 2013; 33:1877-89. [PMID: 23665679 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2013] [Revised: 02/22/2013] [Accepted: 02/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Rare diseases typically affect fewer than 200,000 patients annually, yet because thousands of rare diseases exist, the cumulative impact is millions of patients worldwide. Every form of childhood cancer qualifies as a rare disease-including the childhood muscle cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). The next few years promise to be an exceptionally good era of opportunity for public-private collaboration for rare and childhood cancers. Not only do certain governmental regulation advantages exist, but these advantages are being made permanent with special incentives for pediatric orphan drug-product development. Coupled with a growing understanding of sarcoma tumor biology, synergy with pharmaceutical muscle disease drug-development programs, and emerging publically available preclinical and clinical tools, the outlook for academic-community-industry partnerships in RMS drug development looks promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Sokolowski
- Department of Student Affairs, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - C B Turina
- 1] Department of Student Affairs, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA [2] Pediatric Cancer Biology Program, Department of Pediatrics, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - K Kikuchi
- Pediatric Cancer Biology Program, Department of Pediatrics, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - D M Langenau
- 1] Division of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA [2] Harvard Medical School and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - C Keller
- Pediatric Cancer Biology Program, Department of Pediatrics, Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Olanich ME, Barr FG. A call to ARMS: targeting the PAX3-FOXO1 gene in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2013; 17:607-23. [PMID: 23432728 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2013.772136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Expression of fusion oncoproteins generated by recurrent chromosomal translocations represents a major tumorigenic mechanism characteristic of multiple cancers, including one-third of all sarcomas. Oncogenic fusion genes provide novel targets for therapeutic intervention. The PAX3-FOXO1 oncoprotein in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is presented as a paradigm to examine therapeutic strategies for targeting sarcoma-associated fusion genes. AREAS COVERED This review discusses the role of PAX3-FOXO1 in ARMS tumors. Besides evaluating various approaches to molecularly target PAX3-FOXO1 itself, this review highlights therapeutically attractive downstream genes activated by PAX3-FOXO1. EXPERT OPINION Oncogenic fusion proteins represent desirable therapeutic targets because their expression is specific to tumor cells, but these fusions generally characterize rare malignancies. Full development and testing of potential drugs targeted to these fusions are complicated by the small numbers of patients in these disease categories. Although efforts to develop targeted therapies against fusion proteins should continue, molecular targets that are applicable to a broader tumor landscape should be pursued. A shift of the traditional paradigm to view therapeutic intervention as target-specific rather than tumor-specific will help to circumvent the challenges posed by rare tumors and maximize the possibility of developing successful new treatments for patients with these rare translocation-associated sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Olanich
- National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research, Laboratory of Pathology , Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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41
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Ehnman M, Missiaglia E, Folestad E, Selfe J, Strell C, Thway K, Brodin B, Pietras K, Shipley J, Östman A, Eriksson U. Distinct effects of ligand-induced PDGFRα and PDGFRβ signaling in the human rhabdomyosarcoma tumor cell and stroma cell compartments. Cancer Res 2013; 73:2139-49. [PMID: 23338608 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-1646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFR) α and β have been suggested as potential targets for treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. This study identifies biologic activities linked to PDGF signaling in rhabdomyosarcoma models and human sample collections. Analysis of gene expression profiles of 101 primary human rhabdomyosarcomas revealed elevated PDGF-C and -D expression in all subtypes, with PDGF-D as the solely overexpressed PDGFRβ ligand. By immunohistochemistry, PDGF-CC, PDGF-DD, and PDGFRα were found in tumor cells, whereas PDGFRβ was primarily detected in vascular stroma. These results are concordant with the biologic processes and pathways identified by data mining. While PDGF-CC/PDGFRα signaling associated with genes involved in the reactivation of developmental programs, PDGF-DD/PDGFRβ signaling related to wound healing and leukocyte differentiation. Clinicopathologic correlations further identified associations between PDGFRβ in vascular stroma and the alveolar subtype and with presence of metastases. Functional validation of our findings was carried out in molecularly distinct model systems, where therapeutic targeting reduced tumor burden in a PDGFR-dependent manner with effects on cell proliferation, vessel density, and macrophage infiltration. The PDGFR-selective inhibitor CP-673,451 regulated cell proliferation through mechanisms involving reduced phosphorylation of GSK-3α and GSK-3β. Additional tissue culture studies showed a PDGFR-dependent regulation of rhabdosphere formation/cancer cell stemness, differentiation, senescence, and apoptosis. In summary, the study shows a clinically relevant distinction in PDGF signaling in human rhabdomyosarcoma and also suggests continued exploration of the influence of stromal PDGFRs on sarcoma progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Ehnman
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Armeanu-Ebinger S, Herrmann D, Bonin M, Leuschner I, Warmann SW, Fuchs J, Seitz G. Differential expression of miRNAs in rhabdomyosarcoma and malignant rhabdoid tumor. Exp Cell Res 2012; 318:2567-77. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2012.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2012] [Revised: 07/18/2012] [Accepted: 07/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Zanola A, Rossi S, Faggi F, Monti E, Fanzani A. Rhabdomyosarcomas: an overview on the experimental animal models. J Cell Mol Med 2012; 16:1377-91. [PMID: 22225829 PMCID: PMC3823208 DOI: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01518.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are aggressive childhood soft-tissue malignancies deriving from mesenchymal progenitors that are committed to muscle-specific lineages. Despite the histopathological signatures associated with three main histological variants, termed embryonal, alveolar and pleomorphic, a plethora of genetic and molecular changes are recognized in RMS. Over the years, exposure to carcinogens or ionizing radiations and gene-targeting approaches in vivo have greatly contributed to disclose some of the mechanisms underlying RMS onset. In this review, we describe the principal distinct features associated with RMS variants and focus on the current available experimental animal models to point out the molecular determinants cooperating with RMS development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Zanola
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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Soundararajan A, Abraham J, Nelon LD, Prajapati SI, Zarzabal LA, Michalek JE, McHardy SF, Hawkins DS, Malempati S, Keller C. 18F-FDG microPET imaging detects early transient response to an IGF1R inhibitor in genetically engineered rhabdomyosarcoma models. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 59:485-92. [PMID: 22238194 PMCID: PMC3924883 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.24075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2011] [Accepted: 12/16/2011] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) are among the most common and most treatment resistant soft tissue sarcomas of childhood. Here, we evaluated the potential of (18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) as a marker of therapeutic response to picropodophyllin (PPP), an IGF1R inhibitor, in a conditional mouse model of ARMS and a conditional model of ERMS/undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS). PROCEDURE Primary tumor cell cultures from Myf6Cre,Pax3:Fkhr,p53 and Pax7CreER,Ptch1,p53 conditional models of ARMS and ERMS/UPS were found to be highly sensitive to PPP (IC(50) values 150 and 200 nM, respectively). Animals of each model were then treated with 80 mg/kg/day PPP by intraperitoneal injection for 12 days and imaged by (18)F-FDG microPET. RESULTS Tumor volumes on day 4 for PPP-treated ARMS and ERMS mice were lower than untreated control mouse tumor volumes, although treated tumors were larger than day 0. However, tumor FDG uptake was significantly reduced on day 4 for PPP-treated mice compared to pretreatment baseline or untreated control mice on day 4 (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, by day 12 tumor volumes and FDG uptake for treated mice had increased significantly, indicating rapidly evolving resistance to therapy. CONCLUSIONS (18)F-FDG PET imaging is a potential imaging biomarker of molecular susceptibility to targeted agents early in treatment for this aggressive form of sarcoma, but may find best use serially for Phase I/II studies where chemotherapy and targeted agents are combined to cytoreduce tumors and abrogate Igf1r inhibitor resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Soundararajan
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229 USA
| | - Jinu Abraham
- Pediatric Cancer Biology Program, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - Laura D. Nelon
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229 USA
| | - Suresh I. Prajapati
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229 USA
| | - Lee Ann Zarzabal
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229 USA
| | - Joel E. Michalek
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229 USA
| | | | - Douglas S. Hawkins
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Washington
| | - Suman Malempati
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - Charles Keller
- Pediatric Cancer Biology Program, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA,corresponding author: Pediatric Cancer Biology Program, Pape’ Family Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Mail Code: L321, Portland, OR 97239-3098, Tel 503.494.1210, Fax 503.418.5044,
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Abraham J, Chua YX, Glover JM, Tyner JW, Loriaux MM, Kilcoyne A, Giles FJ, Nelon LD, Carew JS, Ouyang Y, Michalek JE, Pal R, Druker BJ, Rubin BP, Keller C. An adaptive Src-PDGFRA-Raf axis in rhabdomyosarcoma. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2012; 426:363-8. [PMID: 22960170 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.08.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2012] [Accepted: 08/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS) is a very aggressive sarcoma of children and young adults. Our previous studies have shown that small molecule inhibition of Pdgfra is initially very effective in an aRMS mouse model. However, slowly evolving, acquired resistance to a narrow-spectrum kinase inhibitor (imatinib) was common. We identified Src family kinases (SFKs) to be potentiators of Pdgfra in murine aRMS primary cell cultures from mouse tumors with evolved resistance in vivo in comparison to untreated cultures. Treating the resistant primary cell cultures with a combination of Pdgfra and Src inhibitors had a strong additive effect on cell viability. In Pdgfra knockout tumors, however, the Src inhibitor had no effect on tumor cell viability. Sorafenib, whose targets include not only PDGFRA but also the Src downstream target Raf, was effective at inhibiting mouse and human tumor cell growth and halted progression of mouse aRMS tumors in vivo. These results suggest that an adaptive Src-Pdgfra-Raf-Mapk axis is relevant to PDGFRA inhibition in rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinu Abraham
- Pediatric Cancer Biology Program, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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Chadalapaka G, Jutooru I, Sreevalsan S, Pathi S, Kim K, Chen C, Crose L, Linardic C, Safe S. Inhibition of rhabdomyosarcoma cell and tumor growth by targeting specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors. Int J Cancer 2012; 132:795-806. [PMID: 22815231 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.27730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2011] [Accepted: 06/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 are highly expressed in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cells. In tissue arrays of RMS tumor cores from 71 patients, 80% of RMS patients expressed high levels of Sp1 protein, whereas low expression of Sp1 was detected in normal muscle tissue. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) tolfenamic acid (TA) inhibited growth and migration of RD and RH30 RMS cell lines and also inhibited tumor growth in vivo using a mouse xenograft (RH30 cells) model. The effects of TA were accompanied by downregulation of Sp1, Sp3, Sp4 and Sp-regulated genes in RMS cells and tumors, and the role of Sp protein downregulation in mediating inhibition of RD and RH30 cell growth and migration was confirmed by individual and combined knockdown of Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 proteins by RNA interference. TA treatment and Sp knockdown in RD and RH30 cells also showed that four genes that are emerging as individual drug targets for treating RMS, namely c-MET, insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR), PDGFRα and CXCR4, are also Sp-regulated genes. These results suggest that NSAIDs such as TA may have potential clinical efficacy in drug combinations for treating RMS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayathri Chadalapaka
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4466, USA
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Pediatric sarcomas: translating molecular pathogenesis of disease to novel therapeutic possibilities. Pediatr Res 2012; 72:112-21. [PMID: 22546864 PMCID: PMC4283808 DOI: 10.1038/pr.2012.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric sarcomas represent a diverse group of rare bone and soft tissue malignancies. Although the molecular mechanisms that propel the development of these cancers are not well understood, identification of tumor-specific translocations in many sarcomas has provided significant insight into their tumorigenesis. Each fusion protein resulting from these chromosomal translocations is thought to act as a driving force in the tumor, either as an aberrant transcription factor (TF), constitutively active growth factor, or ligand-independent receptor tyrosine kinase. Identification of transcriptional targets or signaling pathways modulated by these oncogenic fusions has led to the discovery of potential therapeutic targets. Some of these targets have shown considerable promise in preclinical models and are currently being tested in clinical trials. This review summarizes the molecular pathology of a subset of pediatric sarcomas with tumor-associated translocations and how increased understanding at the molecular level is being translated to novel therapeutic advances.
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Abstract
Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) isoforms are important mitogens for different types of mesenchymal cells, which have important functions during the embryonal development and in the adult during wound healing and tissue homeostasis. In tumors, PDGF isoforms are often over-expressed and contribute to the growth of both normal and malignant cells. This review focuses on tumors expressing PDGF isoforms together with their tyrosine kinase receptors, thus resulting in autocrine stimulation of growth and survival. Patients with such tumors could benefit from treatment with inhibitors of either PDGF or PDGF receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl-Henrik Heldin
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Uppsala University, BMC, Box 595, S-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
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Abstract
Caveolins are scaffolding proteins that play a pivotal role in numerous processes, including caveolae biogenesis, vesicular transport, cholesterol homeostasis and regulation of signal transduction. There are three different isoforms (Cav-1, -2 and -3) that form homo- and hetero-aggregates at the plasma membrane and modulate the activity of a number of intracellular binding proteins. Cav-1 and Cav-3, in particular, are respectively expressed in the reserve elements (e.g. satellite cells) and in mature myofibres of skeletal muscle and their expression interplay characterizes the switch from muscle precursors to differentiated elements. Recent findings have shown that caveolins are also expressed in rhabdomyosarcoma, a group of heterogeneous childhood soft-tissue sarcomas in which the cancer cells seem to derive from progenitors that resemble myogenic cells. In this review, we will focus on the role of caveolins in rhabdomyosarcomas and on their potential use as markers of the degree of differentiation in these paediatric tumours. Given that the function of Cav-1 as tumour conditional gene in cancer has been well-established, we will also discuss the relationship between Cav-1 and the progression of rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Rossi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy Department of Pathology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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Bai Y, Li J, Fang B, Edwards A, Zhang G, Bui M, Eschrich S, Altiok S, Koomen J, Haura EB. Phosphoproteomics identifies driver tyrosine kinases in sarcoma cell lines and tumors. Cancer Res 2012; 72:2501-11. [PMID: 22461510 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-11-3015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Driver tyrosine kinase mutations are rare in sarcomas, and patterns of tyrosine phosphorylation are poorly understood. To better understand the signaling pathways active in sarcoma, we examined global tyrosine phosphorylation in sarcoma cell lines and human tumor samples. Anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies were used to purify tyrosine phosphorylated peptides, which were then identified by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The findings were validated with RNA interference, rescue, and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We identified 1,936 unique tyrosine phosphorylated peptides, corresponding to 844 unique phosphotyrosine proteins. In sarcoma cells alone, peptides corresponding to 39 tyrosine kinases were found. Four of 10 cell lines showed dependence on tyrosine kinases for growth and/or survival, including platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)α, MET, insulin receptor/insulin-like growth factor receptor signaling, and SRC family kinase signaling. Rhabdomyosarcoma samples showed overexpression of PDGFRα in 13% of examined cases, and sarcomas showed abundant tyrosine phosphorylation and expression of a number of tyrosine phosphorylated tyrosine kinases, including DDR2, EphB4, TYR2, AXL, SRC, LYN, and FAK. Together, our findings suggest that integrating global phosphoproteomics with functional analyses with kinase inhibitors can identify drivers of sarcoma growth and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Bai
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
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