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Wu J, Chen Y, Li R, Guan Y, Chen M, Yin H, Yang X, Jin M, Huang B, Ding X, Yang J, Wang Z, He Y, Wang Q, Luo J, Wang P, Mao Z, Huen MS, Lou Z, Yuan J, Gong F. Synergistic anticancer effect by targeting CDK2 and EGFR-ERK signaling. J Cell Biol 2024; 223:e202203005. [PMID: 37955924 PMCID: PMC10641568 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202203005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The EGFR-RAS-ERK pathway is one of the most important signaling cascades in cell survival, growth, and proliferation. Aberrant activation of this pathway is a common mechanism in various cancers. Here, we report that CDK2 is a novel regulator of the ERK pathway via USP37 deubiquitinase (DUB). Mechanistically, CDK2 phosphorylates USP37, which is required for USP37 DUB activity. Further, USP37 deubiquitinates and stabilizes ERK1/2, thereby enhancing cancer cell proliferation. Thus, CDK2 is able to promote cell proliferation by activating USP37 and, in turn, stabilizing ERK1/2. Importantly, combined CDK1/2 and EGFR inhibitors have a synergetic anticancer effect through the downregulation of ERK1/2 stability and activity. Indeed, our patient-derived xenograft (PDX) results suggest that targeting both ERK1/2 stability and activity kills cancer cells more efficiently even at lower doses of these two inhibitors, which may reduce their associated side effects and indicate a potential new combination strategy for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhuan Wu
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuping Chen
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Li
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaping Guan
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mu Chen
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Yin
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoning Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Mingpeng Jin
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bingsong Huang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Ding
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiming He
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianwen Wang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Luo
- Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiyong Mao
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Michael S.Y. Huen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong S.A.R
| | - Zhenkun Lou
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jian Yuan
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fanghua Gong
- School of Pharmacy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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2
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CCT196969 effectively inhibits growth and survival of melanoma brain metastasis cells. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273711. [PMID: 36084109 PMCID: PMC9462752 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanomas frequently metastasize to the brain. Despite recent progress in the treatment of melanoma brain metastasis, therapy resistance and relapse of disease remain unsolved challenges. CCT196969 is a SRC family kinase (SFK) and Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (RAF) inhibitor with documented effects in primary melanoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Using in vitro cell line assays, we studied the effects of CCT196969 in multiple melanoma brain metastasis cell lines. The drug effectively inhibited proliferation, migration, and survival in all examined cell lines, with viability IC50 doses in the range of 0.18–2.6 μM. Western blot analysis showed decreased expression of p-ERK, p-MEK, p-STAT3 and STAT3 upon CCT196969 treatment. Furthermore, CCT196969 inhibited viability in two B-Raf Proto-Oncogene (BRAF) inhibitor resistant metastatic melanoma cell lines. Further in vivo studies should be performed to determine the treatment potential of CCT196969 in patients with treatment-naïve and resistant melanoma brain metastasis.
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Baaz M, Cardilin T, Lignet F, Jirstrand M. Optimized scaling of translational factors in oncology: from xenografts to RECIST. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2022; 90:239-250. [PMID: 35922568 PMCID: PMC9402719 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-022-04458-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Tumor growth inhibition (TGI) models are regularly used to quantify the PK–PD relationship between drug concentration and in vivo efficacy in oncology. These models are typically calibrated with data from xenograft mice and before being used for clinical predictions, translational methods have to be applied. Currently, such methods are commonly based on replacing model components or scaling of model parameters. However, difficulties remain in how to accurately account for inter-species differences. Therefore, more research must be done before xenograft data can fully be utilized to predict clinical response. Method To contribute to this research, we have calibrated TGI models to xenograft data for three drug combinations using the nonlinear mixed effects framework. The models were translated by replacing mice exposure with human exposure and used to make predictions of clinical response. Furthermore, in search of a better way of translating these models, we estimated an optimal way of scaling model parameters given the available clinical data. Results The predictions were compared with clinical data and we found that clinical efficacy was overestimated. The estimated optimal scaling factors were similar to a standard allometric scaling exponent of − 0.25. Conclusions We believe that given more data, our methodology could contribute to increasing the translational capabilities of TGI models. More specifically, an appropriate translational method could be developed for drugs with the same mechanism of action, which would allow for all preclinical data to be leveraged for new drugs of the same class. This would ensure that fewer clinically inefficacious drugs are tested in clinical trials. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00280-022-04458-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Baaz
- Fraunhofer-Chalmers Research Centre for Industrial Mathematics, Chalmers Science Park, 41288, Gothenburg, Sweden. .,Department of Mathematical Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Tim Cardilin
- Fraunhofer-Chalmers Research Centre for Industrial Mathematics, Chalmers Science Park, 41288, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Mats Jirstrand
- Fraunhofer-Chalmers Research Centre for Industrial Mathematics, Chalmers Science Park, 41288, Gothenburg, Sweden
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4
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Jandova J, Wondrak GT. Vemurafenib Drives Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Gene Expression in BRAF Inhibitor‒Resistant BRAF V600E/NRAS Q61K Melanoma Enhancing Tumor Growth and Metastasis in a Bioluminescent Murine Model. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 142:1456-1465.e1. [PMID: 34687745 PMCID: PMC9021323 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) resistance compromises long-term survivorship of patients with malignant melanoma, and mutant NRAS is a major mediator of BRAFi resistance. In this study, employing phenotypic and transcriptomic analysis of isogenic melanoma cells that differ only by NRAS mutational status (BRAFi-sensitive A375-BRAFV600E/NRASQ61 vs. BRAFi-resistant A375-BRAFV600E/NRASQ61K), we show that BRAFi (vemurafenib) treatment selectively targets BRAFV600E/NRASQ61K cells upregulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) gene expression, paradoxically promoting invasiveness and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. First, NanoString nCounter transcriptomic analysis identified the upregulation of specific gene expression networks (EMT and EMT to metastasis) as a function of NRASQ61K status. Strikingly, BRAFi treatment further exacerbated the upregulation of genes promoting EMT in BRAFV600E/NRASQ61K cells (with opposing downregulation of EMT-driver genes in the BRAFV600E/NRASQ61 genotype) as detected by EMT-focused RT2 Profiler qPCR array analysis. In BRAFV600E/NRASQ61K cells, BRAFi treatment enhanced proliferation and invasiveness, together with activation of phosphorylated protein kinase B (Ser473), with opposing phenotypic effects observable in BRAFV600E/NRASQ61 cells displaying downregulation of phosphorylated protein kinase B and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. In a SCID mouse bioluminescent melanoma metastasis model, BRAFi treatment enhanced lung tumor burden imposed by BRAFV600E/NRASQ61K cells while blocking BRAFV600E/NRASQ61 metastasis. These preclinical data document the BRAFi-driven enhancement of tumorigenesis and metastasis in BRAFi-resistant human BRAFV600E/NRASQ61K melanoma, a finding with potential clinical implications for patients with NRAS-driven BRAFi-resistant tumors receiving BRAFi treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Jandova
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA; UA Cancer Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Georg T Wondrak
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA; UA Cancer Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
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5
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Zhao J, Galvez C, Beckermann KE, Johnson DB, Sosman JA. Novel insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of NRAS mutant melanoma. EXPERT REVIEW OF PRECISION MEDICINE AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT 2021; 6:281-294. [PMID: 34485698 PMCID: PMC8415440 DOI: 10.1080/23808993.2021.1938545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION NRAS was the first mutated oncogene identified in melanoma and is currently the second most common driver mutation in this malignancy. For patients with NRASmutant advanced stage melanoma refractory to immunotherapy or with contraindications to immune-based regimens, there are few therapeutic options including low-efficacy chemotherapy regimens and binimetinib monotherapy. Here, we review recent advances in preclinical studies of molecular targets for NRAS mutant melanoma as well as the failures and successes of early-phase clinical trials. While there are no targeted therapies for NRAS-driven melanoma, there is great promise in approaches combining MEK inhibition with inhibitors of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK), inhibitors of autophagy pathways, and pan-RAF inhibitors. AREAS COVERED This review surveys new developments in all aspects of disease pathogenesis and potential treatment - including those that have failed, stalled, or progressed through various phases of preclinical and clinical development. EXPERT OPINION There are no currently approved targeted therapies for BRAF wild-type melanoma patients harboring NRAS driver mutations though an array of agents are in early phase clinical trials. The diverse strategies taken exploit combined MAP kinase signaling blockade with inhibition of cell cycle mediators, inhibition of the autophagy pathway, and alteration of kinases involved in actin cytoskeleton signaling. Future advances of developmental therapeutics into late stage trials may yield new options beyond immunotherapy for patients with advanced stage disease and NRAS mutation status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Zhao
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
| | - Carlos Galvez
- Northwestern Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology.,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | - Kathryn Eby Beckermann
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, 1301 Medical Center Drive, Nashville, 37232, USA
| | - Douglas B Johnson
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, 1301 Medical Center Drive, Nashville, 37232, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Sosman
- Northwestern Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology.,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
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6
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Huang L, Peng B, Nayak Y, Wang C, Si F, Liu X, Dou J, Xu H, Peng G. Baicalein and Baicalin Promote Melanoma Apoptosis and Senescence via Metabolic Inhibition. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:836. [PMID: 32984331 PMCID: PMC7477299 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is one of the most common and dangerous skin cancers with a high rate of death every year. Furthermore, N-RAS and B-RAF mutations in melanoma cells increase the difficulties for clinical treatment in patients. Therefore, development of effective and universal drugs against melanoma is urgently needed. Here we demonstrate that baicalein and baicalin, the active components of the Chinese traditional medicinal plant Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, can significantly inhibit melanoma cell growth and proliferation, suppress tumor cell colony formation and migration, as well as induce apoptosis and senescence in melanoma cells. The anti-tumor effects mediated by baicalein and baicalin are independent of N-RAS and B-RAF mutation statuses in melanoma cells. Mechanistically, we identify that the suppression of baicalein and baicalin on melanoma cells is due to inhibition of tumor cell glucose uptake and metabolism by affecting the mTOR-HIF-1α signaling pathway. In addition, we demonstrated that baicalein and baicalin can suppress tumorigenesis and tumor growth in vivo in the melanoma model. These studies clearly indicate that baicalein and baicalin can control tumor growth and development metabolically and have great potential as novel and universal drugs for melanoma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Huang
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Bo Peng
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Yash Nayak
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Cindy Wang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Fusheng Si
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Xia Liu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Jie Dou
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Sciences and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huaxi Xu
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Guangyong Peng
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, United States
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7
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Qian L, Chen K, Wang C, Chen Z, Meng Z, Wang P. Targeting NRAS-Mutant Cancers with the Selective STK19 Kinase Inhibitor Chelidonine. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:3408-3419. [PMID: 32156748 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-2604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Oncogenic mutations in NRAS promote tumorigenesis. Although novel anti-NRAS inhibitors are urgently needed for the treatment of cancer, the protein is generally considered "undruggable" and no effective therapies have yet reached the clinic. STK19 kinase was recently reported to be a novel activator of NRAS and a potential therapeutic target for NRAS-mutant melanomas. Here, we describe a new pharmacologic inhibitor of STK19 kinase for the treatment of NRAS-mutant cancers. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The STK19 kinase inhibitor was identified from a natural compound library using a luminescent phosphorylation assay as the primary screen followed by verification with an in vitro kinase assay and immunoblotting of treated cell extracts. The antitumor potency of chelidonine was investigated in vitro and in vivo using a panel of NRAS-mutant and NRAS wild-type cancer cells. RESULTS Chelidonine was identified as a potent and selective inhibitor of STK19 kinase activity. In vitro, chelidonine treatment inhibited NRAS signaling, leading to reduced cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in a panel of NRAS-mutant cancer cell lines, including melanoma, liver, lung, and gastric cancer. In vivo, chelidonine suppressed the growth of NRAS-driven tumor cells in nude mice while exhibiting minimal toxicity. CONCLUSIONS Chelidonine suppresses NRAS-mutant cancer cell growth and could have utility as a new treatment for such malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Qian
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kun Chen
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Changhong Wang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhen Chen
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiqiang Meng
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China. .,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Targeting CDC7 sensitizes resistance melanoma cells to BRAF V600E-specific inhibitor by blocking the CDC7/MCM2-7 pathway. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14197. [PMID: 31578454 PMCID: PMC6775054 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50732-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the utilization of selective BRAFV600E inhibitors is associated with improved overall survival in patients with metastatic melanoma, a growing challenge of drug resistance has emerged. CDC7 has been shown to be overexpressed and associated with poor prognosis in various cancers including melanoma. Thus, we aimed to elucidate the biological role of CDC7 in promoting Vemurafenib resistance and the anticipated benefits of dual targeting of BRAFV600E and CDC7 in melanoma cells. We performed exosomes-associated microRNA profiling and functional assays to determine the role of CDC7 in drug resistance using Vemurafenib-sensitive and resistant melanoma cells. Our results demonstrated that Vemurafenib-resistant cells exhibited a persistent expression of CDC7 in addition to prolonged activity of MCM2 compared to drug-sensitive cells. Reconstitution of miR-3613-3p in resistant cells downregulated CDC7 expression and reduced the number of colonies. Treatment of cells with low concentrations of CDC7 inhibitor TAK-931 sensitized resistant cells to Vemurafenib and reduced the number of cell colonies. Taken together, CDC7 overexpression and downregulation of miR-3613-3p were associated with Vemurafenib resistance in BRAFV600E- bearing melanoma cells. Dual targeting of CDC7 and BRAFV600E reduced the development of resistance against Vemurafenib. Further studies are warranted to investigate the clinical effect of targeting CDC7 in metastatic melanoma.
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9
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Khaliq M, Fallahi-Sichani M. Epigenetic Mechanisms of Escape from BRAF Oncogene Dependency. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11101480. [PMID: 31581557 PMCID: PMC6826668 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11101480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
About eight percent of all human tumors (including 50% of melanomas) carry gain-of-function mutations in the BRAF oncogene. Mutated BRAF and subsequent hyperactivation of the MAPK signaling pathway has motivated the use of MAPK-targeted therapies for these tumors. Despite great promise, however, MAPK-targeted therapies in BRAF-mutant tumors are limited by the emergence of drug resistance. Mechanisms of resistance include genetic, non-genetic and epigenetic alterations. Epigenetic plasticity, often modulated by histone-modifying enzymes and gene regulation, can influence a tumor cell's BRAF dependency and therefore, response to therapy. In this review, focusing primarily on class 1 BRAF-mutant cells, we will highlight recent work on the contribution of epigenetic mechanisms to inter- and intratumor cell heterogeneity in MAPK-targeted therapy response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehwish Khaliq
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
- Program in Cancer Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Mohammad Fallahi-Sichani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
- Program in Cancer Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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Jia H, Xu M, Bo Y, Li W, Zhou R. Ras-ERK1/2 signaling accelerates the progression of colorectal cancer via mediation of H2BK5ac. Life Sci 2019; 230:89-96. [PMID: 31129138 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.05.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) is a key downstream gene of Ras pathway. Activation of Ras-ERK1/2 has been testified to be linked to the progression of diverse cancers. Nonetheless, whether Ras-ERK1/2-tumorigenic pathway is mediated by epigenetic factors remains indistinct. The purpose of the research attempted to disclose the functions of H2BK5ac in Ras-ERK1/2-evoked CRC cell phenotypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Western blot assay was implemented for exploration of the relevancy between Ras-ERK1/2 and H2BK5ac. H2BK5Q was established and its functions in cell viability, colony formation and migration were appraised via utilizing MTT, soft-agar colony formation and Transwell assays. The mRNA and transcription of ERK1/2 downstream genes were estimated via RT-qPCR and ChIP assays. HDAC2 functions in SW48 cell phenotypes were evaluated after co-transfection with pEGFP-RasQ61L/T35S and si-HDAC2 vectors. Additionally, the involvements of ATF2 and MDM2 in Ras-ERK1/2-affected H2BK5ac expression were estimated. KEY FINDINGS H2BK5ac expression was evidently repressed by Ras-ERK1/2 pathway in SW48 cells. Moreover, Ras-ERK1/2-elevated cell viability, the number of colonies and migration were both impeded by H2BK5ac. The mRNA and transcriptions of CYR61, IGFBP3, WNT16B, NT5E, GDF15 and CARD16 were both mediated by H2BK5ac. Additionally, HDAC2 silence overtly recovered H2BK5ac expression inhibited by Ras-ERK1/2, meanwhile abated Ras-ERK1/2-affected SW48 cell phenotypes. Beyond that, restrained H2BK5ac induced by Ras-ERK1/2 was concerned with MDM2-mediated ATF2 degradation. SIGNIFICANCE These investigations testified that Ras-ERK1/2 pathway affected SW48 cell phenotypes through repressing H2BK5ac expression. Otherwise, declined H2BK5ac might be linked to MDM2-mediated ATF2 degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanxiang Jia
- Department of Radiology, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Jining 272011, Shandong, China
| | - Ming Xu
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao), Qingdao 266035, Shandong, China
| | - Yan Bo
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao), Qingdao 266035, Shandong, China
| | - Wenxiao Li
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Jinan 250000, Shandong, China
| | - Runhe Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao), Qingdao 266035, Shandong, China.
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11
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Vera J, Paludo J, Kottschade L, Brandt J, Yan Y, Block M, McWilliams R, Dronca R, Loprinzi C, Grothey A, Markovic SN. Case series of dabrafenib-trametinib-induced pyrexia successfully treated with colchicine. Support Care Cancer 2019; 27:3869-3875. [DOI: 10.1007/s00520-019-4654-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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12
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Bronte E, Bronte G, Novo G, Rinaldi G, Bronte F, Passiglia F, Russo A. Cardiotoxicity mechanisms of the combination of BRAF-inhibitors and MEK-inhibitors. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 192:65-73. [PMID: 29964124 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Many new drugs have appeared in last years in the oncological treatment scenario. Each drug carries an important set of adverse events, not less, cardiovascular adverse events. This aspect is even more important considering the increasing use of combination therapies with two drugs, or three drugs as in some ongoing clinical trials. Besides it represents a growing problem for Cardiologists, that face it in every day clinical practice and that will face it probably more and more in the coming years. This work reviews the mechanism of action of BRAF-inhibitors and MEK-inhibitors used together, the pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to cardiovascular toxicity. Particularly, it focuses on hypertension and ejection fraction reduction development. Then, it follows the examination of published data for each combination therapy. A Literature research was carried out using Pubmed selecting review articles, original studies and clinical trials, but mainly focusing on phase 3 studies. This work aims to summarize the knowledge about BRAF-inhibitor and MEK-inhibitor treatment and its cardiovascular toxicity to make it usable and give the basic tools to Cardiologists and Oncologists for a better management of cancer patient undergoing this treatment. Besides a deeper knowledge of the cardiovascular adverse events linked to this treatment and the magnitude of their expression and frequency can lead to a targeted cardiological treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Bronte
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Bronte
- Department of Medical Oncology, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Novo
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Gaetana Rinaldi
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Bronte
- U.O.C. di Gastroenterologia, Ospedali Riuniti Villa Sofia-Cervello, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Passiglia
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Russo
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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13
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Torres-Collado AX, Knott J, Jazirehi AR. Reversal of Resistance in Targeted Therapy of Metastatic Melanoma: Lessons Learned from Vemurafenib (BRAF V600E-Specific Inhibitor). Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10060157. [PMID: 29795041 PMCID: PMC6025215 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10060157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and has a very low survival rate. Over 50% of melanomas harbor various BRAF mutations with the most common being the V600E. BRAFV600E mutation that causes constitutive activation of the MAPK pathway leading to drug-, immune-resistance, apoptosis evasion, proliferation, survival, and metastasis of melanomas. The ATP competitive BRAFV600E selective inhibitor, vemurafenib, has shown dramatic success in clinical trials; promoting tumor regression and an increase in overall survival of patients with metastatic melanoma. Regrettably, vemurafenib-resistance develops over an average of six months, which renders melanomas resistant to other therapeutic strategies. Elucidation of the underlying mechanism(s) of acquisition of vemurafenib-resistance and design of novel approaches to override resistance is the subject of intense clinical and basic research. In this review, we summarize recent developments in therapeutic approaches and clinical investigations on melanomas with BRAFV600E mutation to establish a new platform for the treatment of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoni Xavier Torres-Collado
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, and the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Jeffrey Knott
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, and the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Ali R Jazirehi
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, and the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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14
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Schorch B, Heni H, Zahaf NI, Brummer T, Mione M, Schmidt G, Papatheodorou P, Aktories K. Targeting oncogenic Ras by the Clostridium perfringens toxin TpeL. Oncotarget 2018; 9:16489-16500. [PMID: 29662661 PMCID: PMC5893256 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens toxin TpeL belongs to the family of large clostridial glycosylating toxins. The toxin causes N-acetylglucosaminylation of Ras proteins at threonine35 thereby inactivating the small GTPases. Here, we show that all main types of oncogenic Ras proteins (H-Ras, K-Ras and N-Ras) are modified by the toxin in vitro and in vivo. Toxin-catalyzed modification of Ras was accompanied by inhibition of the MAP kinase pathway. Importantly, TpeL inhibited the paradoxical activation of the MAP kinase pathway induced by the BRAF inhibitor Vemurafenib in the human melanoma cell line SBCL2. The toxin also blocked Ras signaling in a zebrafish embryo model expressing oncogenic H-RasG12V, resulting in a reduction of melanocyte number. By using the binding and translocation component of anthrax toxin (protective antigen), the glucosyltransferase domain of TpeL was effectively introduced into target cells that were not sensitive to native TpeL toxin. To reach a higher specificity towards cancer cells, a chimeric TpeL toxin was engineered that possessed the knob region of adenovirus serotype 35 fiber, which interacts with CD46 of target cells frequently overexpressed in cancer cells. The chimeric TpeL fusion toxin efficiently inhibited Ras and MAP kinases in human pancreatic cancer Capan-2 cells, which were insensitive to the wild-type toxin. The data reveal that TpeL and TpeL-related immunotoxins provide a new toolset as Ras-inactivating agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Schorch
- Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hannah Heni
- Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nour-Imene Zahaf
- Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Tilman Brummer
- Institut für Molekulare Medizin und Zellforschung, Medizinische Fakultät, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg, Germany, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Centre for Biological Signalling Studies (BIOSS), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marina Mione
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggestein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.,Present Address: Center for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Gudula Schmidt
- Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Panagiotis Papatheodorou
- Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Present Address: Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.,Present Address: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Klaus Aktories
- Institut für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Centre for Biological Signalling Studies (BIOSS), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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15
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Gao H, Williams JA. Predicting human clinical trial responses in mice. Mol Cell Oncol 2018; 5:e1162895. [PMID: 29487892 DOI: 10.1080/23723556.2016.1162895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical modeling of human Phase II oncology trials by traditional methods has failed to be highly predictive. Here, we comment on our data showing that much better prediction of clinical trial results can be achieved using a broad-based patient-derived xenograft (PDX) panel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Gao
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Juliet Anne Williams
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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16
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Holzberg M, Boergeling Y, Schräder T, Ludwig S, Ehrhardt C. Vemurafenib Limits Influenza A Virus Propagation by Targeting Multiple Signaling Pathways. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2426. [PMID: 29312159 PMCID: PMC5735105 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza A viruses (IAV) can cause severe global pandemic outbreaks. The currently licensed antiviral drugs are not very effective and prone to viral resistance. Thus, novel effective and broadly active drugs are urgently needed. We have identified the cellular Raf/MEK/ERK signaling cascade as crucial for IAV replication and suitable target for an antiviral intervention. Since this signaling cascade is aberrantly activated in many human cancers, several clinically approved inhibitors of Raf and MEK are now available. Here we explored the anti-IAV action of the licensed B-RafV600E inhibitor Vemurafenib. Treatment of B-RafWT cells with Vemurafenib induced a hyperactivation of the Raf/MEK/ERK cascade rather than inhibiting its activation upon IAV infection. Despite this hyperactivation, which has also been confirmed by others, Vemurafenib still strongly limited IAV-induced activation of other signaling cascades especially of p38 and JNK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Most interestingly, Vemurafenib inhibited virus-induced apoptosis via impaired expression of apoptosis-inducing cytokines and led to hampered viral protein expression most likely due to the decreased activation of p38 and JNK MAPK. These multiple actions resulted in a profound and broadly active inhibition of viral replication, up to a titer reduction of three orders of a magnitude. Thus, while Vemurafenib did not act similar to MEK inhibitors, it displays strong antiviral properties via a distinct and multi-target mode of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Holzberg
- Institute of Virology Muenster, Westfaelische Wilhelms-University Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Yvonne Boergeling
- Institute of Virology Muenster, Westfaelische Wilhelms-University Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Cells in Motion, Westfaelische Wilhelms-University Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Tobias Schräder
- Institute of Virology Muenster, Westfaelische Wilhelms-University Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Stephan Ludwig
- Institute of Virology Muenster, Westfaelische Wilhelms-University Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Cells in Motion, Westfaelische Wilhelms-University Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Christina Ehrhardt
- Institute of Virology Muenster, Westfaelische Wilhelms-University Muenster, Muenster, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Cells in Motion, Westfaelische Wilhelms-University Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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17
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Najem A, Krayem M, Salès F, Hussein N, Badran B, Robert C, Awada A, Journe F, Ghanem GE. P53 and MITF/Bcl-2 identified as key pathways in the acquired resistance of NRAS-mutant melanoma to MEK inhibition. Eur J Cancer 2017; 83:154-165. [PMID: 28738256 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2017.06.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Activating mutations in Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog (NRAS) are found in 15-30% of melanomas and are associated with a poor prognosis. Although MAP kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitors used as single agents showed a limited clinical benefit in patients with NRAS-mutant melanoma due to their rather cytostatic effect and high toxicity, their combination with other inhibitors of pathways known to cooperate with MEK inhibition may maximise their antitumour activity. Similarly, in a context where p53 is largely inactivated in melanoma, hyperexpression of Microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF) and its downstream anti-apoptotic targets may be the cause of the restraint cytotoxic effects of MEK inhibitors. Indeed, drug combinations targeting both mutant BRAF and MITF or one of its important targets Bcl-2 were effective in mutant BRAF melanoma but had no effect on acquired resistance. Therefore, we aimed to further investigate the downstream MITF targets that can explain this anti-apoptotic effect and to evaluate in parallel the effect of p53 reactivation on the promotion of apoptosis under MEK inhibition in a panel of Q61NRAS-mutant melanoma cells. First, we showed that MEK inhibition (pimasertib) led to a significant inhibition of cell proliferation but with a limited effect on apoptosis that could be explained by the systematic MITF upregulation. Mimicking the MITF effect via cyclic adenosine monophosphate activation conferred resistance to MEK inhibition and upregulated Bcl-2 expression. In addition, acquired resistance to MEK inhibition was associated with a strong activation of the anti-apoptotic signalling MITF/Bcl-2. More importantly, selective Bcl-2 inhibition by ABT-199 or Bcl-2 knockout using CRISPR/Cas9 system annihilated the acquired resistance and restored the sensitivity of NRAS-mutant melanoma cells to MEK inhibition. Strikingly and similarly, direct p53 reactivation (PRIMA-1Met, APR-246) also broke resistance and synergised with MEK inhibition to induce massive apoptosis in NRAS-mutant melanoma cells with wild-type or mutant p53. Hence, our data identify MITF/Bcl-2 as a key mechanism underlying resistance of NRAS-mutant melanoma cells to apoptosis by MEK inhibitors and paves the way for a promising drug combination that could prevent or reverse anti-MEK resistance in this group of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Najem
- Laboratory of Oncology and Experimental Surgery, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mohammad Krayem
- Laboratory of Oncology and Experimental Surgery, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - François Salès
- Laboratory of Oncology and Experimental Surgery, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Surgery, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nader Hussein
- Department of Biochemistry, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Bassam Badran
- Department of Biochemistry, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Ahmad Awada
- Medical Oncology Clinic, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Fabrice Journe
- Laboratory of Oncology and Experimental Surgery, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; Service d'Anatomie Humaine et d'Oncologie Expérimentale, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Ghanem E Ghanem
- Laboratory of Oncology and Experimental Surgery, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
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18
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Dorard C, Estrada C, Barbotin C, Larcher M, Garancher A, Leloup J, Beermann F, Baccarini M, Pouponnot C, Larue L, Eychène A, Druillennec S. RAF proteins exert both specific and compensatory functions during tumour progression of NRAS-driven melanoma. Nat Commun 2017; 8:15262. [PMID: 28497782 PMCID: PMC5437303 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
NRAS and its effector BRAF are frequently mutated in melanoma. Paradoxically, CRAF but not BRAF was shown to be critical for various RAS-driven cancers, raising the question of the role of RAF proteins in NRAS-induced melanoma. Here, using conditional ablation of Raf genes in NRAS-induced mouse melanoma models, we investigate their contribution in tumour progression, from the onset of benign tumours to malignant tumour maintenance. We show that BRAF expression is required for ERK activation and nevi development, demonstrating a critical role in the early stages of NRAS-driven melanoma. After melanoma formation, single Braf or Craf ablation is not sufficient to block tumour growth, showing redundant functions for RAF kinases. Finally, proliferation of resistant cells emerging in the absence of BRAF and CRAF remains dependent on ARAF-mediated ERK activation. These results reveal specific and compensatory functions for BRAF and CRAF and highlight an addiction to RAF signalling in NRAS-driven melanoma. The melanoma-driver mutations in NRAS and BRAF are mutually exclusive but the contribution of RAF signalling downstream of NRAS remains to be clarified. Here, using mouse models, the authors show specific roles of each member of the RAF family at different stages of melanomagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coralie Dorard
- Institut Curie, Orsay F-91405, France.,INSERM U1021, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,CNRS UMR 3347, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,Université Paris Sud-11, Orsay F-91405, France.,Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Orsay F-91405, France
| | - Charlène Estrada
- Institut Curie, Orsay F-91405, France.,INSERM U1021, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,CNRS UMR 3347, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,Université Paris Sud-11, Orsay F-91405, France.,Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Orsay F-91405, France
| | - Céline Barbotin
- Institut Curie, Orsay F-91405, France.,INSERM U1021, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,CNRS UMR 3347, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,Université Paris Sud-11, Orsay F-91405, France.,Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Orsay F-91405, France
| | - Magalie Larcher
- Institut Curie, Orsay F-91405, France.,INSERM U1021, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,CNRS UMR 3347, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,Université Paris Sud-11, Orsay F-91405, France.,Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Orsay F-91405, France
| | - Alexandra Garancher
- Institut Curie, Orsay F-91405, France.,INSERM U1021, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,CNRS UMR 3347, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,Université Paris Sud-11, Orsay F-91405, France
| | - Jessy Leloup
- Institut Curie, Orsay F-91405, France.,INSERM U1021, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,CNRS UMR 3347, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,Université Paris Sud-11, Orsay F-91405, France.,Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Orsay F-91405, France
| | - Friedrich Beermann
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Manuela Baccarini
- Max F. Perutz Laboratories, Center for Molecular Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Celio Pouponnot
- Institut Curie, Orsay F-91405, France.,INSERM U1021, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,CNRS UMR 3347, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,Université Paris Sud-11, Orsay F-91405, France
| | - Lionel Larue
- Institut Curie, Orsay F-91405, France.,INSERM U1021, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,CNRS UMR 3347, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,Université Paris Sud-11, Orsay F-91405, France.,Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Orsay F-91405, France
| | - Alain Eychène
- Institut Curie, Orsay F-91405, France.,INSERM U1021, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,CNRS UMR 3347, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,Université Paris Sud-11, Orsay F-91405, France.,Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Orsay F-91405, France
| | - Sabine Druillennec
- Institut Curie, Orsay F-91405, France.,INSERM U1021, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,CNRS UMR 3347, Centre Universitaire, Orsay F-91405, France.,Université Paris Sud-11, Orsay F-91405, France.,Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Orsay F-91405, France
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19
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Mikula H, Stapleton S, Kohler RH, Vinegoni C, Weissleder R. Design and Development of Fluorescent Vemurafenib Analogs for In Vivo Imaging. Am J Cancer Res 2017; 7:1257-1265. [PMID: 28435463 PMCID: PMC5399591 DOI: 10.7150/thno.18238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Herein we describe fluorescent derivatives of vemurafenib to probe therapeutic BRAF inhibition in live cells and in vivo. The compounds were evaluated and compared by determining target binding, inhibition of mutant BRAF melanoma cell lines and live cell imaging. We show that vemurafenib-BODIPY is a superior imaging drug to visualize the targets of vemurafenib in live cells and in vivo in non-resistant and resistant melanoma tumors.
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20
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Tokuda EY, Jones CE, Anseth KS. PEG-peptide hydrogels reveal differential effects of matrix microenvironmental cues on melanoma drug sensitivity. Integr Biol (Camb) 2017; 9:76-87. [PMID: 28001152 PMCID: PMC5258768 DOI: 10.1039/c6ib00229c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Metastatic melanoma is highly drug resistant, though the exact mechanisms of this resistance are not completely understood. One method to study melanoma drug responsiveness in vitro is through the use of multicellular spheroids, which have been found to exhibit decreased drug sensitivity compared to traditional 2D culture on various substrates. Because it is unclear whether dimensionality, cell-matrix interactions, and/or cell-cell contacts may influence melanoma drug responsiveness, we utilized a synthetic PEG-based hydrogel to compare the responses of cells cultured on top of or encapsulated within matrices with the same adhesive ligand density, polymer density, and material properties. We found that depending on the stage of progression at which the melanoma cells were derived, the cells responded differently to PLX4032 treatment, a commercially available melanoma drug. In particular, early stage WM35 cells were insensitive to dimensionality (i.e., 2D versus 3D culture), while metastatic A375 cells exhibited decreased responsiveness in 3D compared to 2D. To further understand the role of the microenvironment in early stage melanoma cells, we tested single WM35 cells and multicellular WM35 spheroids in 3D. The results revealed that the spheroids were similarly sensitive to PLX4032 treatment compared to single cell encapsulations. Collectively, this study implicates the role that 3D microenvironments (i.e., dimensionality) may play in observed melanoma drug responsiveness, and the potential lack of influence of cell-matrix interactions over cell-cell contacts in early stages of melanoma resistance to PLX4032-induced apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emi Y Tokuda
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. and Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Caitlin E Jones
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Kristi S Anseth
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. and Howard Hughes Medical Institute and The BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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21
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Gowda R, Sharma A, Robertson GP. Synergistic inhibitory effects of Celecoxib and Plumbagin on melanoma tumor growth. Cancer Lett 2016; 385:243-250. [PMID: 27769779 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2016.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Revised: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is a highly drug resistant cancer. To circumvent this problem, a class of synergistically acting drug combinations, which inhibit multiple key pathways in melanoma cells, could be used as one approach for long-term treatment of this deadly disease. A screen has been undertaken on cell lines to identify those that could be combined to synergistically kill melanoma cells. Plumbagin and Celecoxib are two agents that were identified to synergistically kill melanoma cells by inhibiting the COX-2 and STAT3 pathways, which are constitutively activated in up to 70% of melanomas. The combination of these two drugs was more effective at killing melanoma cells than normal cells and decreased cellular proliferation as well as induced apoptosis of cultured cells. The drug combination inhibited development of xenograft melanoma tumors by up to 63% without affecting animal weight or blood biomarkers of organ function, suggesting negligible toxicity. Mechanistically, combination of Celecoxib and Plumbagin decreased melanoma cell proliferation and retarded vascular development of tumors mediated by inhibition of COX-2 and STAT3 leading to decreased levels of key cyclins key on which melanoma cell were dependent for survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghavendra Gowda
- Department of Pharmacology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United states; The Penn State Melanoma Center, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United states; Penn State Melanoma Therapeutics Program, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United states; Foreman Foundation for Melanoma Research, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United states
| | - Arati Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United states
| | - Gavin P Robertson
- Department of Pharmacology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United states; Department of Pathology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United states; Department of Dermatology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United states; Department of Surgery, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United states; The Penn State Melanoma Center, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United states; Penn State Melanoma Therapeutics Program, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United states; Foreman Foundation for Melanoma Research, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United states.
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22
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Cao J, Heijkants RC, Jochemsen AG, Dogrusöz M, de Lange MJ, van der Velden PA, van der Burg SH, Jager MJ, Verdijk RM. Targeting of the MAPK and AKT pathways in conjunctival melanoma shows potential synergy. Oncotarget 2016; 8:58021-58036. [PMID: 28938534 PMCID: PMC5601630 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Conjunctival melanoma (CM) is a rare but lethal form of cancer. Similar to cutaneous melanoma, CM frequently carries activating mutations in BRAF and NRAS. We studied whether CM as well as conjunctival benign and premalignant melanocytic lesions express targets in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and AKT pathways, and whether specific inhibitors can suppress CM growth in vitro. METHODS 131 conjunctival lesions obtained from 129 patients were collected. The presence of BRAF V600E mutation and expression of phosphorylated (p)-ERK and p-AKT were assessed by immunohistochemistry. We studied cell proliferation, phosphorylation, cell cycling and apoptosis in three CM cell lines using two BRAF inhibitors (Vemurafenib and Dabrafenib), a MEK inhibitor (MEK162) and an AKT inhibitor (MK2206). RESULTS The BRAF V600E mutation was present in 19% of nevi and 26% of melanomas, but not in primary acquired melanosis (PAM). Nuclear and cytoplasmic p-ERK and p-AKT were expressed in all conjunctival lesions. Both BRAF inhibitors suppressed growth of both BRAF mutant CM cell lines, but only one induced cell death. MEK162 and MK2206 inhibited proliferation of CM cells in a dose-dependent manner, and the combination of these two drugs led to synergistic growth inhibition and cell death in all CM cell lines. CONCLUSION ERK and AKT are constitutively activated in conjunctival nevi, PAM and melanoma. While BRAF inhibitors prohibited cell growth, they were not always cytotoxic. Combining MEK and AKT inhibitors led to more growth inhibition and cell death in CM cells. The combination may benefit patients suffering from metastatic conjunctival melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Cao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Renier C Heijkants
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Aart G Jochemsen
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mehmet Dogrusöz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mark J de Lange
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Martine J Jager
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Robert M Verdijk
- Department of Pathology, Section Ophthalmic Pathology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Vu HL, Aplin AE. Targeting mutant NRAS signaling pathways in melanoma. Pharmacol Res 2016; 107:111-116. [PMID: 26987942 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is a devastating form of skin cancer and its incidence is increasing faster than any other preventable cancer in the United States. The mutant NRAS subset of melanoma is more aggressive and associated with poorer outcomes compared to non-NRAS mutant melanoma. The aggressive nature and complex molecular signaling conferred by this transformation has evaded clinically effective treatment options. This review examines the major downstream effectors of NRAS relevant in melanoma and the associated advances made in targeted therapies that focus on these effector pathways. We outline the history of MEK inhibition in mutant NRAS melanoma and recent advances with newer MEK inhibitors. Since MEK inhibitors will likely be optimized when combined with other targeted therapies, we focus on recently identified targets that can be used in combination with MEK inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha Linh Vu
- Department of Cancer Biology and Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
| | - Andrew E Aplin
- Department of Cancer Biology and Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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24
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Bhargava A, Anant M, Mack H. Registered report: Kinase-dead BRAF and oncogenic RAS cooperate to drive tumor progression through CRAF. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 26885666 PMCID: PMC4769162 DOI: 10.7554/elife.11999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology seeks to address growing concerns about reproducibility in scientific research by conducting replications of selected experiments from a number of high-profile papers in the field of cancer biology. The papers, which were published between 2010 and 2012, were selected on the basis of citations and Altmetric scores (Errington et al., 2014). This Registered Report describes the proposed replication plan of key experiments from "Kinase-dead BRAF and oncogenic RAS cooperate to drive tumor progression through CRAF" by Heidorn and colleagues, published in Cell in 2010 (Heidorn et al., 2010). The experiments to be replicated are those reported in Figures 1A, 1B, 3A, 3B, and 4D. Heidorn and colleagues report that paradoxical activation of the RAF-RAS-MEK-ERK pathway by BRAF inhibitors when applied to BRAFWT cells is a result of BRAF/CRAF heterodimer formation upon inactivation of BRAF kinase activity, and occurs only in the context of active RAS. The Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology is a collaboration between the Center for Open Science and Science Exchange, and the results of the replications will be published by eLife. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.11999.001
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Madan Anant
- Shakti BioResearch LLC, Woodbridge, United States
| | - Hildegard Mack
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
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25
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Bhargava A, Pelech S, Woodard B, Kerwin J, Maherali N. Registered report: RAF inhibitors prime wild-type RAF to activate the MAPK pathway and enhance growth. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 26882073 PMCID: PMC4769155 DOI: 10.7554/elife.09976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology seeks to address growing concerns about reproducibility in scientific research by conducting replications of selected experiments from a number of high-profile papers in the field of cancer biology. The papers, which were published between 2010 and 2012, were selected on the basis of citations and Altmetric scores (Errington et al., 2014). This Registered Report describes the proposed replication plan of key experiments from 'RAF inhibitors prime wild-type RAF to activate the MAPK pathway and enhance growth' by Hatzivassiliou and colleagues, published in Nature in 2010 (Hatzivassiliou et al., 2010). Hatzivassiliou and colleagues examined the paradoxical response of RAF-WT tumors to treatment with RAF inhibitors. The key experiments being replicated include Figure 1A, in which the original authors demonstrated that treatment of a subset of BRAFWT tumor cell lines with RAF small molecule inhibitors resulted in an increase in cell viability, Figure 2B, which reported that RAF inhibitor activation of the MAPK pathway was dependent on CRAF but not BRAF, and Figure 4A, where the dimerization of BRAF and CRAF was modulated by the RAF inhibitor PLX4720, but not GDC-0879. The Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology is a collaboration between the Center for Open Science and Science Exchange, and the results of the replications will be published by eLife. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09976.001
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steven Pelech
- Kinexus Bioinformatics Corporation, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Ben Woodard
- Biotechnology Research and Education Program, University of Maryland, College Park, United States
| | - John Kerwin
- Biotechnology Research and Education Program, University of Maryland, College Park, United States
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26
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Amadoz A, Sebastian-Leon P, Vidal E, Salavert F, Dopazo J. Using activation status of signaling pathways as mechanism-based biomarkers to predict drug sensitivity. Sci Rep 2015; 5:18494. [PMID: 26678097 PMCID: PMC4683444 DOI: 10.1038/srep18494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Many complex traits, as drug response, are associated with changes in biological pathways rather than being caused by single gene alterations. Here, a predictive framework is presented in which gene expression data are recoded into activity statuses of signal transduction circuits (sub-pathways within signaling pathways that connect receptor proteins to final effector proteins that trigger cell actions). Such activity values are used as features by a prediction algorithm which can efficiently predict a continuous variable such as the IC50 value. The main advantage of this prediction method is that the features selected by the predictor, the signaling circuits, are themselves rich-informative, mechanism-based biomarkers which provide insight into or drug molecular mechanisms of action (MoA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Amadoz
- Computational Genomics Department, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF), Valencia, Spain
| | - Patricia Sebastian-Leon
- Computational Genomics Department, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF), Valencia, Spain
| | - Enrique Vidal
- Computational Genomics Department, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF), Valencia, Spain
- Bioinformatics of Rare Diseases (BIER), CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Francisco Salavert
- Computational Genomics Department, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF), Valencia, Spain
- Bioinformatics of Rare Diseases (BIER), CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Joaquin Dopazo
- Computational Genomics Department, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF), Valencia, Spain
- Bioinformatics of Rare Diseases (BIER), CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
- Functional Genomics Node, (INB) at CIPF, Valencia, Spain
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27
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Rusinek D, Swierniak M, Chmielik E, Kowal M, Kowalska M, Cyplinska R, Czarniecka A, Piglowski W, Korfanty J, Chekan M, Krajewska J, Szpak-Ulczok S, Jarzab M, Widlak W, Jarzab B. BRAFV600E-Associated Gene Expression Profile: Early Changes in the Transcriptome, Based on a Transgenic Mouse Model of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143688. [PMID: 26625260 PMCID: PMC4666467 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The molecular mechanisms driving the papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are still poorly understood. The most frequent genetic alteration in PTC is the BRAFV600E mutation–its impact may extend even beyond PTC genomic profile and influence the tumor characteristics and even clinical behavior. Methods In order to identify BRAF-dependent signature of early carcinogenesis in PTC, a transgenic mouse model with BRAFV600E-induced PTC was developed. Mice thyroid samples were used in microarray analysis and the data were referred to a human thyroid dataset. Results Most of BRAF(+) mice developed malignant lesions. Nevertheless, 16% of BRAF(+) mice displayed only benign hyperplastic lesions or apparently asymptomatic thyroids. After comparison of non-malignant BRAF(+) thyroids to BRAF(−) ones, we selected 862 significantly deregulated genes. When the mouse BRAF-dependent signature was transposed to the human HG-U133A microarray, we identified 532 genes, potentially indicating the BRAF signature (representing early changes, not related to developed malignant tumor). Comparing BRAF(+) PTCs to healthy human thyroids, PTCs without BRAF and RET alterations and RET(+), RAS(+) PTCs, 18 of these 532 genes displayed significantly deregulated expression in all subgroups. All 18 genes, among them 7 novel and previously not reported, were validated as BRAFV600E-specific in the dataset of independent PTC samples, made available by The Cancer Genome Atlas Project. Conclusion The study identified 7 BRAF-induced genes that are specific for BRAF V600E-driven PTC and not previously reported as related to BRAF mutation or thyroid carcinoma: MMD, ITPR3, AACS, LAD1, PVRL3, ALDH3B1, and RASA1. The full signature of BRAF-related 532 genes may encompass other BRAF-related important transcripts and require further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagmara Rusinek
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
- * E-mail:
| | - Michal Swierniak
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
- Genomic Medicine, Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Chmielik
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Monika Kowal
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Kowalska
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Renata Cyplinska
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Czarniecka
- Department of Oncological and Reconstructive Surgery, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Wojciech Piglowski
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Joanna Korfanty
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Mykola Chekan
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Jolanta Krajewska
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Sylwia Szpak-Ulczok
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Michal Jarzab
- III Department of Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Wieslawa Widlak
- III Department of Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
- II Department of Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Barbara Jarzab
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
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28
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High-throughput screening using patient-derived tumor xenografts to predict clinical trial drug response. Nat Med 2015; 21:1318-25. [PMID: 26479923 DOI: 10.1038/nm.3954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 916] [Impact Index Per Article: 101.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Profiling candidate therapeutics with limited cancer models during preclinical development hinders predictions of clinical efficacy and identifying factors that underlie heterogeneous patient responses for patient-selection strategies. We established ∼1,000 patient-derived tumor xenograft models (PDXs) with a diverse set of driver mutations. With these PDXs, we performed in vivo compound screens using a 1 × 1 × 1 experimental design (PDX clinical trial or PCT) to assess the population responses to 62 treatments across six indications. We demonstrate both the reproducibility and the clinical translatability of this approach by identifying associations between a genotype and drug response, and established mechanisms of resistance. In addition, our results suggest that PCTs may represent a more accurate approach than cell line models for assessing the clinical potential of some therapeutic modalities. We therefore propose that this experimental paradigm could potentially improve preclinical evaluation of treatment modalities and enhance our ability to predict clinical trial responses.
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Abstract
The molecular classification of melanoma and the advent of new drugs are changing the paradigm of therapy for advanced melanoma. A review of the recent key studies was performed, followed by a discussion in an expert forum. The aim of this review was to generate a therapeutic algorithm for stage IV melanoma. Tumor genotyping for BRAF and/or KIT should be performed before selection of therapy. For most BRAF-mutated melanoma patients and particularly those with a high tumor load, vemurafenib or other BRAF inhibitors such as dabrafenib are the treatment of choice. KIT inhibitors can be effective in KIT-mutant tumors, especially in those patients with mutations at exons 11 and 13. Ipilimumab is a good option for patients with nontargetable or nondetected mutations and those who progress under therapy with vemurafenib or a KIT inhibitor. There is still a role for conventional chemotherapy either as first-line treatment in BRAF wild-type patients or as salvage therapy in second or third line, or after other treatment modalities. Participation in clinical trials is strongly encouraged, either in first or in subsequent lines. New therapeutic options for advanced melanoma are guided by tumor genotyping. The current therapeutic algorithm includes kinase inhibitors, anti-CTLA4 therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy, depending on the tumor genotype and response to previous treatments. Participation in clinical trials should always be encouraged because the treatment goal is long-term survival and potential cure in a subset of patients.
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30
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Capparelli C, Rosenbaum S, Berger AC, Aplin AE. Fibroblast-derived neuregulin 1 promotes compensatory ErbB3 receptor signaling in mutant BRAF melanoma. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:24267-77. [PMID: 26269601 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.657270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (RAF) inhibitors are first-line treatments for patients harboring V600E/K mutant BRAF melanoma. Although RAF inhibitors produce high response rates, the degree of tumor regression is heterogeneous. Compensatory/adaptive responses to targeted inhibitors are frequently initiated by the activation of growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases, including ErbB3, and factors from the tumor microenvironment may play an important role. We have shown previously that mutant v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) melanoma cells have enhanced activation of ErbB3 following RAF inhibition. However, the source of neuregulin 1 (NRG1), the ligand for ErbB3, is unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that NRG1 is highly expressed by dermal fibroblasts and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) isolated from mutant BRAF melanomas. Conditioned medium from fibroblasts and CAFs enhanced ErbB3 pathway activation and limited RAF inhibitor cytotoxicity in V600 mutant BRAF-harboring melanomas. Targeting the ErbB3/ErbB2 pathway partially reversed the protective effects of fibroblast/CAF-derived NRG1 on cell growth properties of RAF inhibitor-treated melanoma cells. These findings support the idea that NRG1, acting in a paracrine manner, promotes resistance to RAF inhibitors and emphasize that targeting the ErbB3/ErbB2 pathway will likely improve the efficacy of RAF inhibitors for mutant BRAF melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sheera Rosenbaum
- From the Department of Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, and
| | - Adam C Berger
- Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
| | - Andrew E Aplin
- From the Department of Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, and
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31
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ERK1/2 can feedback-regulate cellular MEK1/2 levels. Cell Signal 2015; 27:1939-48. [PMID: 26163823 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2015.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Revised: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Signal transduction of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway is regulated by various feedback mechanisms. Given the greater molar ratio between Raf-MEK than between MEK-ERK in cells, it may be possible that MEK1/2 levels are regulated to modulate Raf/MEK/ERK activity upon pathway stimulation. Nevertheless, it has not been reported whether MEK1/2 expression can be subject to a feedback regulation. Here, we report that the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway can feedback-regulate cellular MEK1 and MEK2 levels. In different cell types, ΔRaf-1:ER- or B-Raf(V600E)-mediated MEK/ERK activation increased MEK1 but decreased MEK2 levels. These regulations were abrogated by ERK1/2 knockdown mediated by RNA interference, suggesting the presence of a feedback mechanism that regulates MEK1/2 levels. Subsequently, analyses using qPCR and luciferase reporters of the DNA promoter and 3' untranslated region revealed that the feedback MEK1 upregulation was in part attributed to increased transcription. However, the feedback MEK2 downregulation was only observed at protein levels, which was blocked by the proteasome inhibitors, MG132 and bortezomib, suggesting that the MEK2 regulation is mediated at a post-translational level. These results suggest that the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway can feedback-regulate cellular levels of MEK1 and MEK2, wherein MEK1 levels are upregulated at transcriptional level whereas MEK2 levels are downregulated at posttranslational level.
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32
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XL888 Limits Vemurafenib-Induced Proliferative Skin Events by Suppressing Paradoxical MAPK Activation. J Invest Dermatol 2015; 135:2542-2544. [PMID: 26039542 PMCID: PMC4567904 DOI: 10.1038/jid.2015.205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Bhatia P, Friedlander P, Zakaria EA, Kandil E. Impact of BRAF mutation status in the prognosis of cutaneous melanoma: an area of ongoing research. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2015; 3:24. [PMID: 25738144 PMCID: PMC4322160 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2014.12.05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This review is intended to provide an updated role of molecular genetics and various targeted therapies that have been developed to treat advanced stages of melanoma. Because of the declining success in melanoma therapy, the curative treatment for advanced stage melanoma has been a challenge for clinicians. Several mutations such as N-RAS, p53, BRAF including mutant-BRAF that lead to activation of kinase pathway, are implicated in the development of malignant melanoma. However, the current literature depicts that the prognostic role of BRAF mutation in disease progression is still controversial. While its higher level in advanced stage disease is associated with decreased overall survival (OS), some studies show that it failed to confer as an independent prognostic predictor of the disease. This has also led researchers to accomplish newer therapeutic strategies that lead to improved disease-response and grant survival benefits. Vemurafenib, a BRAF inhibitor agent, is one of the few available targeted therapies that is FDA approved and provides promising results in metastatic disease. However, its resistance at an early stage is of great concern. Recent implementation of combinational therapies including "targeted therapy", immunotherapy, and biological agents has appealed many researchers to define the adjunctive role of available therapies and their limitations in advanced stage and metastatic melanoma. This commends the need for future multi-institutional studies to confirm the clinical validity of different therapeutic strategies on a large scale population.
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Strickland LR, Pal HC, Elmets CA, Afaq F. Targeting drivers of melanoma with synthetic small molecules and phytochemicals. Cancer Lett 2015; 359:20-35. [PMID: 25597784 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2015.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2014] [Revised: 01/06/2015] [Accepted: 01/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is the least common form of skin cancer, but it is responsible for the majority of skin cancer deaths. Traditional therapeutics and immunomodulatory agents have not shown much efficacy against metastatic melanoma. Agents that target the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK (MAPK) signaling pathway - the BRAF inhibitors vemurafenib and dabrafenib, and the MEK1/2 inhibitor trametinib - have increased survival in patients with metastatic melanoma. Further, the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib has been shown to be superior to single agent therapy for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. However, resistance to these agents develops rapidly. Studies of additional agents and combinations targeting the MAPK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR (PI3K), c-kit, and other signaling pathways are currently underway. Furthermore, studies of phytochemicals have yielded promising results against proliferation, survival, invasion, and metastasis by targeting signaling pathways with established roles in melanomagenesis. The relatively low toxicities of phytochemicals make their adjuvant use an attractive treatment option. The need for improved efficacy of current melanoma treatments calls for further investigation of each of these strategies. In this review, we will discuss synthetic small molecule inhibitors, combined therapies and current progress in the development of phytochemical therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Ray Strickland
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Harish Chandra Pal
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Craig A Elmets
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Farrukh Afaq
- Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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Oikonomou E, Koustas E, Goulielmaki M, Pintzas A. BRAF vs RAS oncogenes: are mutations of the same pathway equal? Differential signalling and therapeutic implications. Oncotarget 2014; 5:11752-77. [PMID: 25361007 PMCID: PMC4322985 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
As the increased knowledge of tumour heterogeneity and genetic alterations progresses, it exemplifies the need for further personalized medicine in modern cancer management. Here, the similarities but also the differential effects of RAS and BRAF oncogenic signalling are examined and further implications in personalized cancer diagnosis and therapy are discussed. Redundant mechanisms mediated by the two oncogenes as well as differential regulation of signalling pathways and gene expression by RAS as compared to BRAF are addressed. The implications of RAS vs BRAF differential functions, in relevant tumour types including colorectal cancer, melanoma, lung cancer are discussed. Current therapeutic findings and future viewpoints concerning the exploitation of RAS-BRAF-pathway alterations for the development of novel therapeutics and efficient rational combinations, as well as companion tests for relevant markers of response will be evaluated. The concept that drug-resistant cells may also display drug dependency, such that altered dosing may prevent the emergence of lethal drug resistance posed a major therapy hindrance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eftychia Oikonomou
- Laboratory of Signal Mediated Gene Expression, Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, 11635, Greece
| | - Evangelos Koustas
- Laboratory of Signal Mediated Gene Expression, Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, 11635, Greece
| | - Maria Goulielmaki
- Laboratory of Signal Mediated Gene Expression, Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, 11635, Greece
| | - Alexander Pintzas
- Laboratory of Signal Mediated Gene Expression, Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, 11635, Greece
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Estela Cubells J, Victoria Martínez A, Oliver Martínez V, Alegre de Miquel V. Nevus melanocítico atípico amelanótico inducido por vemurafenib. ACTAS DERMO-SIFILIOGRAFICAS 2014; 105:726-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ad.2013.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2013] [Revised: 09/19/2013] [Accepted: 09/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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37
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Estela Cubells J, Victoria Martínez A, Oliver Martínez V, Alegre de Miquel V. An Amelanotic Dysplastic Melanocytic Nevus Induced by Vemurafenib. ACTAS DERMO-SIFILIOGRAFICAS 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.adengl.2014.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
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38
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Li B, Lu JC, He D, Wang J, Zhou H, Shen L, Zhang C, Duan C. Rapid onset lung squamous cell carcinoma with prominent peritoneal carcinomatosis and an eosinophilic leukemoid reaction, with coexistence of the BRAF V600E and oncogenic KRAS G12A mutations: A case report. Oncol Lett 2014; 8:589-593. [PMID: 25013473 PMCID: PMC4081353 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2014.2169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2013] [Accepted: 04/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Peritoneal carcinomatosis from lung cancer is rare, particularly from lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Concurrent somatic BRAF and KRAS mutations within the same tumor specimen have not been reported. The present study describes the case of a treatment-naïve LSCC patient with coexisting BRAF V600E and oncogenic KRAS G12A mutations in the primary lung lesion and the peritoneal metastases. The patient presented with prominent peritoneal carcinomatosis and an eosinophilic leukemoid reaction, but no respiratory symptoms. The patient succumbed 8 days after the onset of the condition due to rapid aggravation of the peritoneal carcinomatosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study concerning the coexistence of BRAF and KRAS mutations in LSCC. Intensive activation of ERK was also observed in the primary lung lesion and the peritoneal metastases. Although the exact pathogenesis was unclear, the observations indicated that in the present study, the BRAF V600E and KRAS G12A mutations may have cooperate in inducing the malignant phenotype of LSCC. This case also highlighted the potential aggressive course and unusual pattern of spread of this specific dual-mutated tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Li
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics of Chinese Ministry of Health, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China ; Division of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Jing Chen Lu
- Division of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Dan He
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics of Chinese Ministry of Health, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Jun Wang
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics of Chinese Ministry of Health, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Hui Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Liangfang Shen
- Division of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Chunfang Zhang
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics of Chinese Ministry of Health, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
| | - Chaojun Duan
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics of Chinese Ministry of Health, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China
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39
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Takashima A, English B, Chen Z, Cao J, Cui R, Williams RM, Faller DV. Protein kinase Cδ is a therapeutic target in malignant melanoma with NRAS mutation. ACS Chem Biol 2014; 9:1003-14. [PMID: 24506253 DOI: 10.1021/cb400837t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
NRAS is the second most frequently mutated gene in melanoma. Previous reports have demonstrated the sensitivity of cancer cell lines carrying KRAS mutations to apoptosis initiated by inhibition of protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ). Here, we report that PKCδ inhibition is cytotoxic in melanomas with primary NRAS mutations. Novel small-molecule inhibitors of PKCδ were designed as chimeric hybrids of two naturally occurring PKCδ inhibitors, staurosporine and rottlerin. The specific hypothesis interrogated and validated is that combining two domains of two naturally occurring PKCδ inhibitors into a chimeric or hybrid structure retains biochemical and biological activity and improves PKCδ isozyme selectivity. We have devised a potentially general synthetic protocol to make these chimeric species using Molander trifluorborate coupling chemistry. Inhibition of PKCδ, by siRNA or small molecule inhibitors, suppressed the growth of multiple melanoma cell lines carrying NRAS mutations, mediated via caspase-dependent apoptosis. Following PKCδ inhibition, the stress-responsive JNK pathway was activated, leading to the activation of H2AX. Consistent with recent reports on the apoptotic role of phospho-H2AX, knockdown of H2AX prior to PKCδ inhibition mitigated the induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis. Furthermore, PKCδ inhibition effectively induced cytotoxicity in BRAF mutant melanoma cell lines that had evolved resistance to a BRAF inhibitor, suggesting the potential clinical application of targeting PKCδ in patients who have relapsed following treatment with BRAF inhibitors. Taken together, the present work demonstrates that inhibition of PKCδ by novel small molecule inhibitors causes caspase-dependent apoptosis mediated via the JNK-H2AX pathway in melanomas with NRAS mutations or BRAF inhibitor resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brandon English
- Department
of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | | | | | | | - Robert M. Williams
- Department
of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
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Abstract
The RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway is considered to be the most important signal transduction pathway in melanoma, and alterations in this pathway via various genetic mutations, such as BRAF and NRAS mutations, are known to be important drivers of melanomagenesis. As MEK is an essential intermediary kinase protein within this pathway, inhibition of MEK has been of a great interest as a molecular target therapy in melanoma. In fact, trametinib, a selective MEK inhibitor, has been shown to have a survival benefit over cytotoxic chemotherapy in patients with V600 BRAF-mutant metastatic melanoma, leading to the FDA approval for this patient population. MEK inhibitors may also be useful in treatment of advanced melanoma harboring other genetic mutations, such as NRAS and GNAQ/GNA11 mutations. Here, we review and discuss the preclinical and clinical data regarding MEK inhibitors and their role in the treatment of advanced melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- April K S Salama
- Division of Medical Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC 3476, Durham, NC, 27710, USA,
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41
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Thumar J, Shahbazian D, Aziz SA, Jilaveanu LB, Kluger HM. MEK targeting in N-RAS mutated metastatic melanoma. Mol Cancer 2014; 13:45. [PMID: 24588908 PMCID: PMC3945937 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-13-45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2013] [Accepted: 02/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gain of function mutations in B-RAF and N-RAS occur frequently in melanoma, leading to mitogen activating protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation, and this pathway is the target of drugs in development. Our purpose was to study clinical characteristics of patients with mutations in this pathway and to determine activity of inhibitors of B-RAF and MEK in short term cultures grown from tumors of some of these patients. Methods Clinical and pathologic data were collected retrospectively on melanoma patients tested for B-RAF and N-RAS mutations at the Yale Cancer Center and associations with survival were determined. We studied in vitro activity of the pan-RAF inhibitor, RAF265, and the MEK inhibitor, MEK162, in 22 melanoma short term cultures. We further characterized the effect of MEK inhibition on apoptosis and growth of melanoma cultures. Results In a cohort of 144 metastatic melanoma patients we found that patients with N-RAS mutant melanoma had a worse prognosis. These patients were more likely to have brain metastases at the time of presentation with metastatic disease than their N-RAS-wild-type counterparts. All N-RAS mutant melanoma cultures tested in our study (n = 7) were sensitive to MEK inhibition162. Exposure to MEK162 reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and induced apoptosis. Clonogenic survival was significantly reduced in sensitive melanoma cell cultures. Conclusions The prognosis of patients with melanoma expressing constitutively active N-RAS is poor, consistent with studies performed at other institutions. N-RAS mutant melanoma cultures appear to be particularly sensitive to MEK162, supporting ongoing clinical trials with MEK162 in N-RAS mutated melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Harriet M Kluger
- Section of Medical Oncology, Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, WWW213, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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42
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Jazirehi AR, Nazarian R, Torres-Collado AX, Economou JS. Aberrant apoptotic machinery confers melanoma dual resistance to BRAF(V600E) inhibitor and immune effector cells: immunosensitization by a histone deacetylase inhibitor. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 3:43-56. [PMID: 24660121 PMCID: PMC3960761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BRAF(V600E)-inhibitors (BRAFi; e.g., vemurafenib) and modern immune-based therapies such as PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 checkpoints blockade and adoptive cell transfer (ACT) have significantly improved the care of melanoma patients. Having these two effective (BRAFi and immunotherapy) therapies raises the question whether there is a rational biological basis for using them in combination. We developed an in vitro model to determine whether tumor resistance mechanisms to a small molecule inhibitor of a driver oncogene, and to cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)- and natural killer (NK) cell-delivered apoptotic death signals were exclusive or intersecting. We generated melanoma sublines resistant to BRAFi vemurafenib and to CTL recognizing the MART-1 melanoma antigen. Vemurafenib-resistant (VemR) sublines were cross-resistant to MART CTL and NK cells indicating that a common apoptotic pathway governing tumor response to both modalities was disrupted. Pretreatment of VemR melanomas with a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) restored sensitivity to MART CTL and NK apoptosis by skewing the apoptotic gene programs towards a proapoptotic phenotype. Our in vitro findings suggest that during the course of acquisition of BRAFi resistance, melanomas develop cross-resistance to CTL- and NK-killing. Further, aberrant apoptotic pathways, amenable by an FDA-approved chromatin remodeling drug, regulate tumor resistance mechanisms to immune effector cells. These results may provide rational molecular basis for further investigations to combine these therapies clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali R Jazirehi
- Department of Surgery, The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of CaliforniaLos Angeles 90095, USA
| | - Ramin Nazarian
- Department of Medicine, The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of CaliforniaLos Angeles 90095, USA
| | - Antoni Xavier Torres-Collado
- Department of Surgery, The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of CaliforniaLos Angeles 90095, USA
| | - James S Economou
- Department of Surgery, The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of CaliforniaLos Angeles 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of CaliforniaLos Angeles 90095, USA
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, The Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of CaliforniaLos Angeles 90095, USA
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Breunig C, Mueller BJ, Umansky L, Wahl K, Hoffmann K, Lehner F, Manns MP, Bantel H, Falk CS. BRaf and MEK Inhibitors Differentially Regulate Cell Fate and Microenvironment in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2014; 20:2410-23. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-13-1635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Basile KJ, Le K, Hartsough EJ, Aplin AE. Inhibition of mutant BRAF splice variant signaling by next-generation, selective RAF inhibitors. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2014; 27:479-84. [PMID: 24422853 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2013] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Vemurafenib and dabrafenib block MEK-ERK1/2 signaling and cause tumor regression in the majority of advanced-stage BRAF(V600E) melanoma patients; however, acquired resistance and paradoxical signaling have driven efforts for more potent and selective RAF inhibitors. Next-generation RAF inhibitors, such as PLX7904 (PB04), effectively inhibit RAF signaling in BRAF(V600E) melanoma cells without paradoxical effects in wild-type cells. Furthermore, PLX7904 blocks the growth of vemurafenib-resistant BRAF(V600E) cells that express mutant NRAS. Acquired resistance to vemurafenib and dabrafenib is also frequently driven by expression of mutation BRAF splice variants; thus, we tested the effects of PLX7904 and its clinical analog, PLX8394 (PB03), in BRAF(V600E) splice variant-mediated vemurafenib-resistant cells. We show that paradox-breaker RAF inhibitors potently block MEK-ERK1/2 signaling, G1/S cell cycle events, survival and growth of vemurafenib/PLX4720-resistant cells harboring distinct BRAF(V600E) splice variants. These data support the further investigation of paradox-breaker RAF inhibitors as a second-line treatment option for patients failing on vemurafenib or dabrafenib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Basile
- Department of Cancer Biology and Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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45
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Capovilla M. [Cellular and molecular mechanisms of carcinogenic side effects and resistance to BRAF inhibitors in metastatic melanoma with BRAFV600 mutation: state of the knowledge]. Ann Pathol 2013; 33:375-85. [PMID: 24331719 DOI: 10.1016/j.annpat.2013.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 09/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is a malignant tumor with a high metastatic potential. If an early treatment is associated with a favorable outcome, the prognosis of metastatic melanoma remains poor. Advances in molecular characterization of cancers, notably the discovery of BRAF gene mutations in metastatic melanoma, allowed to the recent development of targeted therapies against mutated BRAF protein. Despite high tumor response rates observed in clinical trials, these new drugs are associated with frequent secondary tumor resistance occurrence and paradoxical carcinogenic side effects. The cellular and molecular mechanisms of these carcinogenic side effects and secondary resistance are not yet fully elucidated and are actually intensely studied. This review of the literature focus on the mechanisms of these carcinogenic side effects and on the tumor resistance associated with anti-BRAF targeted therapies.
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MESH Headings
- Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/chemically induced
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Enzyme Activation/drug effects
- Epigenesis, Genetic
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Genes, ras
- Humans
- Indoles/adverse effects
- Indoles/pharmacology
- Indoles/therapeutic use
- Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism
- Keratoacanthoma/chemically induced
- Leukemia/chemically induced
- MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects
- Melanoma/chemically induced
- Melanoma/drug therapy
- Melanoma/genetics
- Melanoma/immunology
- Melanoma/secondary
- Models, Biological
- Molecular Targeted Therapy
- Mutation, Missense
- Neoplasm Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasm Proteins/physiology
- Neoplasms, Second Primary/chemically induced
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/enzymology
- Nevus, Pigmented/enzymology
- Nevus, Pigmented/pathology
- Point Mutation
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/adverse effects
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/antagonists & inhibitors
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/physiology
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf/biosynthesis
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf/physiology
- Skin Neoplasms/chemically induced
- Sulfonamides/adverse effects
- Sulfonamides/pharmacology
- Sulfonamides/therapeutic use
- Tumor Microenvironment
- Vemurafenib
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Capovilla
- Service de pathologie, centre François-Baclesse, 3, avenue Général-Harris, BP 5026, 14076 Caen cedex 05, France.
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46
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Abstract
Activating BRAF mutations, leading to constitutive activation of the MAPK signaling pathway, are common in a variety of human cancers. Several small molecule BRAF inhibitors have been developed during the last years and shown promising results in clinical trials, especially for metastatic melanoma, while they have been less effective in colon cancer. Two inhibitors, vemurafenib and dabrafenib, have been approved for treatment of melanoma. Unfortunately, in most patients who initially respond the tumors eventually develop acquired resistance to the BRAF inhibitors. So far, a number of resistance mechanisms have been identified, including secondary NRAS mutations and BRAF alternative splicing, leading to reactivation of the MAPK pathway. Other alterations, both upstream and downstream of BRAF can have the same effect, and activation of alternative pathways can also play a role in resistance to BRAF inhibitors. In addition, intra-tumor heterogeneity with the presence of clones of tumor cells lacking BRAF mutations needs to be considered, since wildtype BRAF can be activated by inhibitors designed to target mutated BRAF. Combination of the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib with the MEK inhibitor trametinib has significantly prolonged progression free survival compared to dabrafenib alone in metastatic melanoma. Combination treatments of BRAF inhibitors with other agents may not only circumvent or delay resistance, but may also lead to fewer side effects, such as development of secondary squamous tumors. Several clinical trials are underway for many different BRAF mutation positive cancers with BRAF inhibitors alone or in combination with other small molecule inhibitors, immunotherapies or conventional chemotherapy.
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47
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Belum VR, Fontanilla Patel H, Lacouture ME, Rodeck U. Skin toxicity of targeted cancer agents: mechanisms and intervention. Future Oncol 2013; 9:1161-70. [PMID: 23902247 DOI: 10.2217/fon.13.62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, targeted agents have rapidly evolved as effective tools in the clinical management of a broad range of malignant diseases. These agents disrupt molecular mechanisms and signaling modules that drive the malignant phenotype in defined subsets of malignancies. Beyond the intended cellular targets crucial to tumor growth and progression, these agents also affect signal transduction in normal cells and tissues. The resulting adverse events and their clinical management continue to change, as newer agents with an ever-increasing target spectrum are developed. We provide a succinct overview of dermatologic toxicities arising from the targeting of receptor tyrosine kinases and downstream effectors. Emergent insights into the pathomechanisms involved and the use of this knowledge base to alleviate cutaneous adverse events are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viswanath Reddy Belum
- Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion Suite 248, 160 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022, USA
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48
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Bello DM, Ariyan CE, Carvajal RD. Melanoma Mutagenesis and Aberrant Cell Signaling. Cancer Control 2013; 20:261-81. [DOI: 10.1177/107327481302000404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M. Bello
- Department of Surgery Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Charlotte E. Ariyan
- Department of Surgery Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Richard D. Carvajal
- Department of Medical Oncology Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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49
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Lieu CH, Tan AC, Leong S, Diamond JR, Eckhardt SG. From bench to bedside: lessons learned in translating preclinical studies in cancer drug development. J Natl Cancer Inst 2013; 105:1441-56. [PMID: 24052618 PMCID: PMC3787906 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djt209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of targeted agents in oncology has rapidly expanded over the past 2 decades and has led to clinically significant improvements in the treatment of numerous cancers. Unfortunately, not all success at the bench in preclinical experiments has translated to success at the bedside. As preclinical studies shift toward defining proof of mechanism, patient selection, and rational drug combinations, it is critical to understand the lessons learned from prior translational studies to gain an understanding of prior drug development successes and failures. By learning from prior drug development, future translational studies will provide more clinically relevant data, and the underlying hope is that the clinical success rate will improve and the treatment of patients with ineffective targeted therapy will be limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher H Lieu
- Affiliation of authors: Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO (CHL, A-CT, SL, JRD, SGE)
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50
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Nickoloff BJ, Vande Woude G. Hepatocyte growth factor in the neighborhood reverses resistance to BRAF inhibitor in melanoma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2013; 25:758-61. [PMID: 22974232 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Nickoloff
- Nicholas V. Perricone Division of Dermatology, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, and Lab of Cutaneous Oncology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
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