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Zhou Y, Tao L, Qiu J, Xu J, Yang X, Zhang Y, Tian X, Guan X, Cen X, Zhao Y. Tumor biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and targeted therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:132. [PMID: 38763973 PMCID: PMC11102923 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01823-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor biomarkers, the substances which are produced by tumors or the body's responses to tumors during tumorigenesis and progression, have been demonstrated to possess critical and encouraging value in screening and early diagnosis, prognosis prediction, recurrence detection, and therapeutic efficacy monitoring of cancers. Over the past decades, continuous progress has been made in exploring and discovering novel, sensitive, specific, and accurate tumor biomarkers, which has significantly promoted personalized medicine and improved the outcomes of cancer patients, especially advances in molecular biology technologies developed for the detection of tumor biomarkers. Herein, we summarize the discovery and development of tumor biomarkers, including the history of tumor biomarkers, the conventional and innovative technologies used for biomarker discovery and detection, the classification of tumor biomarkers based on tissue origins, and the application of tumor biomarkers in clinical cancer management. In particular, we highlight the recent advancements in biomarker-based anticancer-targeted therapies which are emerging as breakthroughs and promising cancer therapeutic strategies. We also discuss limitations and challenges that need to be addressed and provide insights and perspectives to turn challenges into opportunities in this field. Collectively, the discovery and application of multiple tumor biomarkers emphasized in this review may provide guidance on improved precision medicine, broaden horizons in future research directions, and expedite the clinical classification of cancer patients according to their molecular biomarkers rather than organs of origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhou
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Lei Tao
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jiahao Qiu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xinyu Yang
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- School of Medicine, Tibet University, Lhasa, 850000, China
| | - Xinyu Tian
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xinqi Guan
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaobo Cen
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- National Chengdu Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yinglan Zhao
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Duabil AJN, Cooper CR, Aldujaily E, Halford SER, Hirschberg S, Katugampola SD, Jones GDD. Investigations of the novel checkpoint kinase 1 inhibitor SRA737 in non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer cells of differing tumour protein 53 gene status. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2023; 4:1210-1226. [PMID: 38214010 PMCID: PMC10776598 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2023.00193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim In response to DNA damage the serine/threonine-specific protein kinase checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) is activated allowing cells to enter S phase (S) and G2 phase (G2) cell-cycle arrest. CHK1 inhibitors are expected to prevent cells from entering such arrest, thereby enhancing DNA damage-induced cytotoxicity. In contrast, normal cells with intact ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM), CHK2 and tumour suppressor protein 53 (P53) signalling are still able to enter cell-cycle arrest using the functioning G1/S checkpoint, thereby being rescued from enhanced cytotoxicity. The main objective of this work is to investigate the in vitro effects of the novel CHK1 inhibitor SRA737 on pairs of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines, all with genetic aberrations rendering them susceptible to replication stress but of differing tumour protein 53 (TP53) gene status, focusing on DNA damage induction and the subsequent effects on cell proliferation and viability. Methods NSCLC cell lines H23 [TP53 mutant (MUT)] and A549 [TP53 wild-type (WT)] and CRC cell lines HT29 (TP53 MUT) and HCT116 (TP53 WT) were incubated with differing micromolar concentrations of SRA737 for 24 h and then analysed using alkaline comet and phosphorylated H2A.X variant histone (γH2AX)-foci assays to assess mostly DNA single strand break and double strand break damage, respectively. Cell-counting/trypan blue staining was also performed to assess cell proliferation/viability. Results Clear concentration-dependent increases in comet formation and γH2AX-foci/cell were noted for the TP53 MUT cells with no or lower increases being noted in the corresponding TP53 WT cells. Also, greater anti-proliferative and cell killing effects were noted in the TP53 MUT cells than in the TP53 WT cells. Conclusions This study's data suggests that P53 status/functioning is a key factor in determining the sensitivity of NSCLC and CRC cancer cells towards CHK1 inhibition, even in circumstances conducive to high replicative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali JN Duabil
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, Department of Genetics & Genome Biology, University of Leicester, LE1 7RH Leics, UK
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq
| | - Christian R Cooper
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, Department of Genetics & Genome Biology, University of Leicester, LE1 7RH Leics, UK
- MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, University of Oxford, OX3 7DQ Oxon, UK
| | - Esraa Aldujaily
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, Department of Genetics & Genome Biology, University of Leicester, LE1 7RH Leics, UK
- Department of Pathology & Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq
| | - Sarah ER Halford
- Cancer Research UK Centre for Drug Development, London E20 1JQ, UK
| | | | | | - George DD Jones
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, Department of Genetics & Genome Biology, University of Leicester, LE1 7RH Leics, UK
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Guo L, Dong Z, Zhang X, Yang Y, Hu X, Ji Y, Li C, Wan S, Xu J, Liu C, Zhang Y, Liu L, Shi Y, Wu Z, Liu Y, Cui H. Morusinol extracted from Morus alba induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via inhibition of DNA damage response in melanoma by CHK1 degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 114:154765. [PMID: 37004403 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUD Flavonoids have a variety of biological activities, such as anti-inflammation, anti-tumor, anti-thrombosis and so on. Morusinol, as a novel isoprene flavonoid extracted from Morus alba root barks, has the effects of anti-arterial thrombosis and anti-inflammatory in previous studies. However, the anti-cancer mechanism of morusinol remains unclear. PURPOSE In present study, we mainly studied the anti-tumor effect of morusinol and its mode of action in melanoma. METHODS The anti-cancer effect of morusinol on melanoma were evaluated by using the MTT, EdU, plate clone formation and soft agar assay. Flow cytometry was used for detecting cell cycle and apoptosis. The ɣ-H2AX immunofluorescence and the alkaline comet assay were used to detect DNA damage and the Western blotting analysis was used to investigate the expressions of DNA-damage related proteins. Ubiquitination and turnover of CHK1 were also detected by using the immunoprecipitation assay. The cell line-derived xenograft (CDX) mouse models were used in vivo to evaluate the effect of morusinol on tumorigenicity. RESULTS We demonstrated that morusinol not only had the ability to inhibit cell proliferation, but also induced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase, caspase-dependent apoptosis and DNA damage in human melanoma cells. In addition, morusinol effectively inhibited the growth of melanoma xenografts in vivo. More strikingly, CHK1, which played an important role in maintaining the integrity of cell cycle, genomic stability and cell viability, was down-regulated in a dose- and time-dependent manner after morusinol treatment. Further research showed that CHK1 was degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Whereafter, morusinol-induced cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and DNA damage were partially salvaged by overexpressing CHK1 in melanoma cell lines. Herein, further experiments demonstrated that morusinol increased the sensitivity of dacarbazine (DTIC) to chemotherapy for melanoma in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION Morusinol induces CHK1 degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, thereby inducing cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and DNA damage response in melanoma. Our study firstly provided a theoretical basis for morusinol to be a candidate drug for clinical treatment of cancer, such as melanoma, alone or combinated with dacarbazine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leiyang Guo
- Department of Dermatology, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 050000, No.139 Ziqiang Road, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, China; State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Zhen Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Hospital of Southwest University, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Xiaolin Zhang
- Hospital of Southwest University, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Yuanmiao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Xiaosong Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Yacong Ji
- Department of Dermatology, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 050000, No.139 Ziqiang Road, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, China
| | - Chongyang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Sicheng Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Jie Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Chaolong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Yanli Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 050000, No.139 Ziqiang Road, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, China
| | - Lichao Liu
- Department of Dermatology, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 050000, No.139 Ziqiang Road, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, China
| | - Yaqiong Shi
- Department of Dermatology, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 050000, No.139 Ziqiang Road, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, China
| | - Zonghui Wu
- Hospital of Southwest University, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Yaling Liu
- Department of Dermatology, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 050000, No.139 Ziqiang Road, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, China.
| | - Hongjuan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Hospital of Southwest University, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China; Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400716, China; Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400716, China.
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Groelly FJ, Fawkes M, Dagg RA, Blackford AN, Tarsounas M. Targeting DNA damage response pathways in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2023; 23:78-94. [PMID: 36471053 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00535-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 166.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cells have evolved a complex network of biochemical pathways, collectively known as the DNA damage response (DDR), to prevent detrimental mutations from being passed on to their progeny. The DDR coordinates DNA repair with cell-cycle checkpoint activation and other global cellular responses. Genes encoding DDR factors are frequently mutated in cancer, causing genomic instability, an intrinsic feature of many tumours that underlies their ability to grow, metastasize and respond to treatments that inflict DNA damage (such as radiotherapy). One instance where we have greater insight into how genetic DDR abrogation impacts on therapy responses is in tumours with mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2. Due to compromised homologous recombination DNA repair, these tumours rely on alternative repair mechanisms and are susceptible to chemical inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), which specifically kill homologous recombination-deficient cancer cells, and have become a paradigm for targeted cancer therapy. It is now clear that many other synthetic-lethal relationships exist between DDR genes. Crucially, some of these interactions could be exploited in the clinic to target tumours that become resistant to PARP inhibition. In this Review, we discuss state-of-the-art strategies for DDR inactivation using small-molecule inhibitors and highlight those compounds currently being evaluated in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian J Groelly
- Genome Stability and Tumourigenesis Group, Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Matthew Fawkes
- Department of Oncology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Rebecca A Dagg
- Genome Stability and Tumourigenesis Group, Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrew N Blackford
- Department of Oncology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
| | - Madalena Tarsounas
- Genome Stability and Tumourigenesis Group, Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Hunter JE, Campbell AE, Kerridge S, Fraser C, Hannaway NL, Luli S, Ivanova I, Brownridge PJ, Coxhead J, Taylor L, Leary P, Hasoon MSR, Eyers CE, Perkins ND. Up-regulation of the PI3K/AKT and RHO/RAC/PAK signalling pathways in CHK1 inhibitor resistant Eµ-Myc lymphoma cells. Biochem J 2022; 479:2131-2151. [PMID: 36240067 PMCID: PMC9704644 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The development of resistance and the activation of bypass pathway signalling represents a major problem for the clinical application of protein kinase inhibitors. While investigating the effect of either a c-Rel deletion or RelAT505A phosphosite knockin on the Eµ-Myc mouse model of B-cell lymphoma, we discovered that both NF-κB subunit mutations resulted in CHK1 inhibitor resistance, arising from either loss or alteration of CHK1 activity, respectively. However, since Eµ-Myc lymphomas depend on CHK1 activity to cope with high levels of DNA replication stress and consequent genomic instability, it was not clear how these mutant NF-κB subunit lymphomas were able to survive. To understand these survival mechanisms and to identify potential compensatory bypass signalling pathways in these lymphomas, we applied a multi-omics strategy. With c-Rel-/- Eµ-Myc lymphomas we observed high levels of Phosphatidyl-inositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and AKT pathway activation. Moreover, treatment with the PI3K inhibitor Pictilisib (GDC-0941) selectively inhibited the growth of reimplanted c-Rel-/- and RelAT505A, but not wild type (WT) Eµ-Myc lymphomas. We also observed up-regulation of a RHO/RAC pathway gene expression signature in both Eµ-Myc NF-κB subunit mutation models. Further investigation demonstrated activation of the RHO/RAC effector p21-activated kinase (PAK) 2. Here, the PAK inhibitor, PF-3758309 successfully overcame resistance of RelAT505A but not WT lymphomas. These findings demonstrate that up-regulation of multiple bypass pathways occurs in CHK1 inhibitor resistant Eµ-Myc lymphomas. Consequently, drugs targeting these pathways could potentially be used as either second line or combinatorial therapies to aid the successful clinical application of CHK1 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill E. Hunter
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Newcastle University, Level 6, Herschel Building, Brewery Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, U.K
| | - Amy E. Campbell
- Centre for Proteome Research, Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K
| | - Scott Kerridge
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Newcastle University, Level 6, Herschel Building, Brewery Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, U.K
| | - Callum Fraser
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Newcastle University, Level 6, Herschel Building, Brewery Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, U.K
| | - Nicola L. Hannaway
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Newcastle University, Level 6, Herschel Building, Brewery Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, U.K
| | - Saimir Luli
- Newcastle University Clinical and Translational Research Institute, Preclinical In Vivo Imaging (PIVI), Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, U.K
| | - Iglika Ivanova
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Newcastle University, Level 6, Herschel Building, Brewery Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, U.K
| | - Philip J. Brownridge
- Centre for Proteome Research, Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K
| | - Jonathan Coxhead
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Newcastle University, Level 6, Herschel Building, Brewery Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, U.K
| | - Leigh Taylor
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Newcastle University, Level 6, Herschel Building, Brewery Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, U.K
| | - Peter Leary
- Bioinformatics Support Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, U.K
| | - Megan S. R. Hasoon
- Bioinformatics Support Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, U.K
| | - Claire E. Eyers
- Centre for Proteome Research, Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K
| | - Neil D. Perkins
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Newcastle University, Level 6, Herschel Building, Brewery Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, U.K
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Maresca L, Stecca B, Carrassa L. Novel Therapeutic Approaches with DNA Damage Response Inhibitors for Melanoma Treatment. Cells 2022; 11:1466. [PMID: 35563772 PMCID: PMC9099918 DOI: 10.3390/cells11091466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapies against components of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and immunotherapies, which block immune checkpoints, have shown important clinical benefits in melanoma patients. However, most patients develop resistance, with consequent disease relapse. Therefore, there is a need to identify novel therapeutic approaches for patients who are resistant or do not respond to the current targeted and immune therapies. Melanoma is characterized by homologous recombination (HR) and DNA damage response (DDR) gene mutations and by high replicative stress, which increase the endogenous DNA damage, leading to the activation of DDR. In this review, we will discuss the current experimental evidence on how DDR can be exploited therapeutically in melanoma. Specifically, we will focus on PARP, ATM, CHK1, WEE1 and ATR inhibitors, for which preclinical data as single agents, taking advantage of synthetic lethal interactions, and in combination with chemo-targeted-immunotherapy, have been growing in melanoma, encouraging the ongoing clinical trials. The overviewed data are suggestive of considering DDR inhibitors as a valid therapeutic approach, which may positively impact the future of melanoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Maresca
- Tumor Cell Biology Unit, Core Research Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research and Prevention (ISPRO), Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy;
| | - Barbara Stecca
- Tumor Cell Biology Unit, Core Research Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research and Prevention (ISPRO), Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy;
| | - Laura Carrassa
- Fondazione Cesalpino, Arezzo Hospital, USL Toscana Sud-Est, Via Pietro Nenni 20, 52100 Arezzo, Italy
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HUS1 as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Urothelial Cancer. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11082208. [PMID: 35456300 PMCID: PMC9031773 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11082208] [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: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Platinum-based chemotherapy is the standard of care with concern to first-line systemic therapy for metastatic disease in urothelial cancer (UC). Resistance to chemotherapy despite an initial response is linked with the ability to remove platinum-based DNA adducts and to repair chemotherapy-induced DNA lesions by various DNA repair proteins. The Rad9-Rad1-HUS1 complex that is loaded onto DNA at sites of damage is involved in checkpoint activation as well as DNA repair. Here, we addressed for the first time the potential influence of HUS1 expression in urothelial carcinogenesis (using two human basal urothelial cancer cell lines UM-UC-3 and HT1197) and its role as a potential therapeutic target for predicting responses to platinum-based chemotherapy. Specific inhibition of HUS1 expression in both cell lines was achieved by specific siRNA and validated by Western blot. In order to define the possible importance of HUS1 in the regulation of cellular proliferation, parental and resistant cells were treated with increasing concentrations of either control or HUS1 siRNA. HUS1 protein expression was observed in both human basal urothelial cancer cell lines UM-UC-3 and HT1197. In cisplatin-sensitive cells, knock-down of HUS1 inhibited cellular proliferation in the presence of cisplatin. On the contrary, knock-down of HUS1 in resistant cells did not result in a re-sensitization to cisplatin. Finally, RNAseq data from the Cancer Genome Atlas provided evidence that HUS1 expression is a significant prognostic factor for poor survival in UC patients. In summary, HUS1 may acts as an oncogene in UC and might be a key determinant of the cellular response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy.
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Guo Y, Wang J, Benedict B, Yang C, van Gemert F, Ma X, Gao D, Wang H, Zhang S, Lieftink C, Beijersbergen RL, Te Riele H, Qiao X, Gao Q, Sun C, Qin W, Bernards R, Wang C. Targeting CDC7 potentiates ATR-CHK1 signaling inhibition through induction of DNA replication stress in liver cancer. Genome Med 2021; 13:166. [PMID: 34663432 PMCID: PMC8524847 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-021-00981-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Broad-spectrum kinase inhibitors like sorafenib and lenvatinib provide only modest survival benefit to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims to identify novel therapeutic strategies for HCC patients. METHODS Integrated bioinformatics analyses and a non-biased CRISPR loss of function genetic screen were performed to identify potential therapeutic targets for HCC cells. Whole-transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) and time-lapse live imaging were performed to explore the mechanisms of the synergy between CDC7 inhibition and ATR or CHK1 inhibitors in HCC cells. Multiple in vitro and in vivo assays were used to validate the synergistic effects. RESULTS Through integrated bioinformatics analyses using the Cancer Dependency Map and the TCGA database, we identified ATR-CHK1 signaling as a therapeutic target for liver cancer. Pharmacological inhibition of ATR or CHK1 leads to robust proliferation inhibition in liver cancer cells having a high basal level of replication stress. For liver cancer cells that are resistant to ATR or CHK1 inhibition, treatment with CDC7 inhibitors induces strong DNA replication stress and consequently such drugs show striking synergy with ATR or CHK1 inhibitors. The synergy between ATR-CHK1 inhibition and CDC7 inhibition probably derives from abnormalities in mitosis inducing mitotic catastrophe. CONCLUSIONS Our data highlights the potential of targeting ATR-CHK1 signaling, either alone or in combination with CDC7 inhibition, for the treatment of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute & Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute & Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bente Benedict
- Division of Tumour Biology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Chen Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute & Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Frank van Gemert
- Division of Tumour Biology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Xuhui Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute & Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongmei Gao
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute & Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu Zhang
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Cor Lieftink
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Roderick L Beijersbergen
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hein Te Riele
- Division of Tumour Biology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Xiaohang Qiao
- Division of Tumour Biology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Qiang Gao
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Chong Sun
- Immune Regulation in Cancer Group, German Cancer Research Center, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wenxin Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute & Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - René Bernards
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute & Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Cun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute & Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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9
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Proctor M, Gonzalez Cruz JL, Daignault-Mill SM, Veitch M, Zeng B, Ehmann A, Sabdia M, Snell C, Keane C, Dolcetti R, Haass NK, Wells JW, Gabrielli B. Targeting Replication Stress Using CHK1 Inhibitor Promotes Innate and NKT Cell Immune Responses and Tumour Regression. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3733. [PMID: 34359633 PMCID: PMC8345057 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13153733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Drugs selectively targeting replication stress have demonstrated significant preclinical activity, but this has not yet translated into an effective clinical treatment. Here we report that targeting increased replication stress with a combination of Checkpoint kinase 1 inhibitor (CHK1i) with a subclinical dose of hydroxyurea targets also promotes pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine expression that is independent of cGAS-STING pathway activation and immunogenic cell death in human and murine melanoma cells. In vivo, this drug combination induces tumour regression which is dependent on an adaptive immune response. It increases cytotoxic CD8+ T cell activity, but the major adaptive immune response is a pronounced NKT cell tumour infiltration. Treatment also promotes an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment through CD4+ Treg and FoxP3+ NKT cells. The number of these accumulated during treatment, the increase in FoxP3+ NKT cells numbers correlates with the decrease in activated NKT cells, suggesting they are a consequence of the conversion of effector to suppressive NKT cells. Whereas tumour infiltrating CD8+ T cell PD-1 and tumour PD-L1 expression was increased with treatment, peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells retained strong anti-tumour activity. Despite increased CD8+ T cell PD-1, combination with anti-PD-1 did not improve response, indicating that immunosuppression from Tregs and FoxP3+ NKT cells are major contributors to the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. This demonstrates that therapies targeting replication stress can be well tolerated, not adversely affect immune responses, and trigger an effective anti-tumour immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Proctor
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (M.P.); (A.E.); (M.S.); (C.K.)
| | - Jazmina L. Gonzalez Cruz
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (J.L.G.C.); (S.M.D.-M.); (M.V.); (B.Z.); (R.D.); (N.K.H.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Sheena M. Daignault-Mill
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (J.L.G.C.); (S.M.D.-M.); (M.V.); (B.Z.); (R.D.); (N.K.H.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Margaret Veitch
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (J.L.G.C.); (S.M.D.-M.); (M.V.); (B.Z.); (R.D.); (N.K.H.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Bijun Zeng
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (J.L.G.C.); (S.M.D.-M.); (M.V.); (B.Z.); (R.D.); (N.K.H.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Anna Ehmann
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (M.P.); (A.E.); (M.S.); (C.K.)
| | - Muhammed Sabdia
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (M.P.); (A.E.); (M.S.); (C.K.)
| | - Cameron Snell
- Mater Pathology, Mater Research, Mater Hospital, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia;
| | - Colm Keane
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (M.P.); (A.E.); (M.S.); (C.K.)
| | - Riccardo Dolcetti
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (J.L.G.C.); (S.M.D.-M.); (M.V.); (B.Z.); (R.D.); (N.K.H.); (J.W.W.)
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Nikolas K. Haass
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (J.L.G.C.); (S.M.D.-M.); (M.V.); (B.Z.); (R.D.); (N.K.H.); (J.W.W.)
| | - James W. Wells
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (J.L.G.C.); (S.M.D.-M.); (M.V.); (B.Z.); (R.D.); (N.K.H.); (J.W.W.)
| | - Brian Gabrielli
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; (M.P.); (A.E.); (M.S.); (C.K.)
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10
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Chk1 and the Host Cell DNA Damage Response as a Potential Antiviral Target in BK Polyomavirus Infection. Viruses 2021; 13:v13071353. [PMID: 34372559 PMCID: PMC8310304 DOI: 10.3390/v13071353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The human BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) is latent in the kidneys of most adults, but can be reactivated in immunosuppressed states, such as following renal transplantation. If left unchecked, BK polyomavirus nephropathy (PyVAN) and possible graft loss may result from viral destruction of tubular epithelial cells and interstitial fibrosis. When coupled with regular post-transplant screening, immunosuppression reduction has been effective in limiting BKPyV viremia and the development of PyVAN. Antiviral drugs that are safe and effective in combating BKPyV have not been identified but would be a benefit in complementing or replacing immunosuppression reduction. The present study explores inhibition of the host DNA damage response (DDR) as an antiviral strategy. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent analyses of PyVAN biopsies provide evidence for stimulation of a DDR in vivo. DDR pathways were also stimulated in vitro following BKPyV infection of low-passage human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells. The role of Chk1, a protein kinase known to be involved in the replication stress-induced DDR, was examined by inhibition with the small molecule LY2603618 and by siRNA-mediated knockdown. Inhibition of Chk1 resulted in decreased replication of BKPyV DNA and viral spread. Activation of mitotic pathways was associated with the reduction in BKPyV replication. Chk1 inhibitors that are found to be safe and effective in clinical trials for cancer should also be evaluated for antiviral activity against BKPyV.
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11
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Ashworth A. ATR Inhibitors and Paclitaxel in Melanoma. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:4667-4668. [PMID: 34172499 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-1778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A phase I study defined a tolerable combination of the ATR inhibitor ceralasertib with paclitaxel and responses were seen in patients with melanoma who had progressed on an immune checkpoint inhibitor. This combination warrants further exploration to determine the extent and molecular determinants of clinical activity.See related article by Kim et al., p. 4700.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Ashworth
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California.
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12
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Barnaba N, LaRocque JR. Targeting cell cycle regulation via the G2-M checkpoint for synthetic lethality in melanoma. CELL CYCLE (GEORGETOWN, TEX.) 2021; 20:1041-1051. [PMID: 33966611 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2021.1922806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Disruption of cell cycle checkpoints has been well established as a hallmark of cancer. In particular, the G1-S transition mediated by the cyclin D-cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) pathway is dysregulated in more than 90% of melanoma cases. Therefore, tumor cells mainly rely on the G2-M checkpoint to halt the cell cycle in order to repair DNA damage. Here, we review the promising method of cell cycle-mediated synthetic lethality for melanoma treatment, which entails exploiting somatically acquired mutations in the G1-S transition with inhibitors of the G2-M transition in order to specifically kill melanoma cells. The idea stems from the theory that melanoma cells lacking G1-S checkpoints are particularly vulnerable to mitotic catastrophe when presented with G2-M checkpoint inhibition in addition to DNA damage, whereas normal cells with intact G1-S checkpoints should theoretically be spared. This review explores the link between cell cycle dysregulation and synthetic lethality in melanoma cells and discusses potential future applications for this treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Barnaba
- Biology Department, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.,Georgetown University School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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13
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Sensitivity of cells to ATR and CHK1 inhibitors requires hyperactivation of CDK2 rather than endogenous replication stress or ATM dysfunction. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7077. [PMID: 33782497 PMCID: PMC8007816 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86490-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA damage activates cell cycle checkpoint proteins ATR and CHK1 to arrest cell cycle progression, providing time for repair and recovery. Consequently, inhibitors of ATR (ATRi) and CHK1 (CHK1i) enhance damage-induced cell death. Intriguingly, both CHK1i and ATRi alone elicit cytotoxicity in some cell lines. Sensitivity has been attributed to endogenous replications stress, but many more cell lines are sensitive to ATRi than CHK1i. Endogenous activation of the DNA damage response also did not correlate with drug sensitivity. Sensitivity correlated with the appearance of γH2AX, a marker of DNA damage, but without phosphorylation of mitotic markers, contradicting suggestions that the damage is due to premature mitosis. Sensitivity to ATRi has been associated with ATM mutations, but dysfunction in ATM signaling did not correlate with sensitivity. CHK1i and ATRi circumvent replication stress by reactivating stalled replicons, a process requiring a low threshold activity of CDK2. In contrast, γH2AX induced by single agent ATRi and CHK1i requires a high threshold activity CDK2. Hence, phosphorylation of different CDK2 substrates is required for cytotoxicity induced by replication stress plus ATRi/CHK1i as compared to their single agent activity. In summary, sensitivity to ATRi and CHK1i as single agents is elicited by premature hyper-activation of CDK2.
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14
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Singh R, Bhardwaj VK, Sharma J, Das P, Purohit R. Discovery and in silico evaluation of aminoarylbenzosuberene molecules as novel checkpoint kinase 1 inhibitor determinants. Genomics 2020; 113:707-715. [PMID: 33065246 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) is an essential kinase with a critical function in cell cycle arrest. Several potent inhibitors targeting CHK1 have been published, but most of them have failed in clinical trials. Acknowledging the emerging consequence of CHK1 inhibitors in medication of cancer, there is a demand for widening the chemical range of CHK1 inhibitors. In this research, we considered a set of in-house plant based semi-synthetic aminoarylbenzosuberene molecules as potential CHK1 inhibitors. Based on a combined computational research that consolidates molecular docking and binding free energy computations we recognized the crucial determinants for their receptor binding. The drug likeness of these molecules were also scrutinized based on their toxicity and bioavailibilty profile. The computational strategy indicates that the Bch10 could be regarded as a potential CHK1 inhibitor in comparison with top five co-crystallize molecules. Bch10 signifies a promising outlet for the development of potent inhibitors for CHK1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Singh
- Structural Bioinformatics Lab, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, HP 176061, India; Biotechnology division, CSIR-IHBT, Palampur, HP 176061, India
| | - Vijay Kumar Bhardwaj
- Structural Bioinformatics Lab, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, HP 176061, India; Biotechnology division, CSIR-IHBT, Palampur, HP 176061, India; Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-IHBT Campus, Palampur, HP 176061, India
| | - Jatin Sharma
- Structural Bioinformatics Lab, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, HP 176061, India; Biotechnology division, CSIR-IHBT, Palampur, HP 176061, India
| | - Pralay Das
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-IHBT Campus, Palampur, HP 176061, India; Natural Product Chemistry and Process Development, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Rituraj Purohit
- Structural Bioinformatics Lab, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, HP 176061, India; Biotechnology division, CSIR-IHBT, Palampur, HP 176061, India; Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-IHBT Campus, Palampur, HP 176061, India.
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15
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Rogers RF, Walton MI, Cherry DL, Collins I, Clarke PA, Garrett MD, Workman P. CHK1 Inhibition Is Synthetically Lethal with Loss of B-Family DNA Polymerase Function in Human Lung and Colorectal Cancer Cells. Cancer Res 2020; 80:1735-1747. [PMID: 32161100 PMCID: PMC7611445 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-1372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) is a key mediator of the DNA damage response that regulates cell-cycle progression, DNA damage repair, and DNA replication. Small-molecule CHK1 inhibitors sensitize cancer cells to genotoxic agents and have shown single-agent preclinical activity in cancers with high levels of replication stress. However, the underlying genetic determinants of CHK1 inhibitor sensitivity remain unclear. We used the developmental clinical drug SRA737 in an unbiased large-scale siRNA screen to identify novel mediators of CHK1 inhibitor sensitivity and uncover potential combination therapies and biomarkers for patient selection. We identified subunits of the B-family of DNA polymerases (POLA1, POLE, and POLE2) whose silencing sensitized the human A549 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and SW620 colorectal cancer cell lines to SRA737. B-family polymerases were validated using multiple siRNAs in a panel of NSCLC and colorectal cancer cell lines. Replication stress, DNA damage, and apoptosis were increased in human cancer cells following depletion of the B-family DNA polymerases combined with SRA737 treatment. Moreover, pharmacologic blockade of B-family DNA polymerases using aphidicolin or CD437 combined with CHK1 inhibitors led to synergistic inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. Furthermore, low levels of POLA1, POLE, and POLE2 protein expression in NSCLC and colorectal cancer cells correlated with single-agent CHK1 inhibitor sensitivity and may constitute biomarkers of this phenotype. These findings provide a potential basis for combining CHK1 and B-family polymerase inhibitors in cancer therapy. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings demonstrate how the therapeutic benefit of CHK1 inhibitors may potentially be enhanced and could have implications for patient selection and future development of new combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca F Rogers
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael I Walton
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel L Cherry
- School of Biosciences, Stacey Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Collins
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul A Clarke
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle D Garrett
- School of Biosciences, Stacey Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom.
| | - Paul Workman
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom.
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16
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Hu G, Wang S, Wang Y, Gao Y, Zhu H, Liu M, Xu N, Wang L. Clinical and functional significance of CHK1-S, an alternatively spliced isoform of the CHK1 gene, in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cancer 2020; 11:1792-1799. [PMID: 32194790 PMCID: PMC7052871 DOI: 10.7150/jca.39443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing plays critical roles in many disease processes and splicing dysregulation is a hallmark of cancer. The different splicing isoforms may have significantly different effects on the malignant progression of cancer. Checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) is a serine/threonine kinase and regulates DNA damage response. In this study, we measured the expression of an alternative CHK1 transcript (CHK1-S, excluded exon 3) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues. Our results showed that CHK1-S was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues compared with paired adjacent noncancerous hepatic tissues. The levels of full-length CHK1(CHK1-L), CHK1-S and the ratio of CHK1-S/L in tumor tissue were associated with relapse free survival (RFS) of postoperative HCC patients, respectively, but not the levels of CHK1-L, CHK1-S and the ratio of CHK1-S/L in adjacent normal tissue. To further demonstrate the role of CHK1-S in HCC, CCK-8 assays, EdU incorporation assays and colony formation assays were used. The results showed that overexpression of CHK1-S significantly accelerated HCC cell proliferation, compared with CHK1-L. In addition, we found that serine-arginine protein kinase 1 (SRPK1), as an upstream regulator kinase of splicing factor, could upregulate the expression of CHK1-S and its expression level was significantly higher in HCC tumors than the paired normal tissues and was associated with the levels of CHK1-S (P=0.016). In conclusion, our study demonstrated that CHK1-S, acts as an oncogene, which was upregulated and associated with RFS in HCC patients. SRPK1 may mediate its mRNA splicing in HCC. All these data indicated that the expression of CHK1-S would have potential prognostic values and splicing kinase SRPK1 might be developed as therapeutic target in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanghui Hu
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shuren Wang
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hongxia Zhu
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Mei Liu
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ningzhi Xu
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Liming Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College
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17
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Pavey S, Pinder A, Fernando W, D'Arcy N, Matigian N, Skalamera D, Lê Cao KA, Loo-Oey D, Hill MM, Stark M, Kimlin M, Burgess A, Cloonan N, Sturm RA, Gabrielli B. Multiple interaction nodes define the postreplication repair response to UV-induced DNA damage that is defective in melanomas and correlated with UV signature mutation load. Mol Oncol 2019; 14:22-41. [PMID: 31733171 PMCID: PMC6944116 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Ultraviolet radiation‐induced DNA mutations are a primary environmental driver of melanoma. The reason for this very high level of unrepaired DNA lesions leading to these mutations is still poorly understood. The primary DNA repair mechanism for UV‐induced lesions, that is, the nucleotide excision repair pathway, appears intact in most melanomas. We have previously reported a postreplication repair mechanism that is commonly defective in melanoma cell lines. Here we have used a genome‐wide approach to identify the components of this postreplication repair mechanism. We have used differential transcript polysome loading to identify transcripts that are associated with UV response, and then functionally assessed these to identify novel components of this repair and cell cycle checkpoint network. We have identified multiple interaction nodes, including global genomic nucleotide excision repair and homologous recombination repair, and previously unexpected MASTL pathway, as components of the response. Finally, we have used bioinformatics to assess the contribution of dysregulated expression of these pathways to the UV signature mutation load of a large melanoma cohort. We show that dysregulation of the pathway, especially the DNA damage repair components, are significant contributors to UV mutation load, and that dysregulation of the MASTL pathway appears to be a significant contributor to high UV signature mutation load.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Pavey
- Diamantina Institute, TRI, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Alex Pinder
- Diamantina Institute, TRI, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Winnie Fernando
- Mater Research, TRI, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicholas D'Arcy
- Mater Research, TRI, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicholas Matigian
- Diamantina Institute, TRI, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.,QFAB Bioinformatics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Dubravka Skalamera
- Diamantina Institute, TRI, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.,Mater Research, TRI, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Kim-Anh Lê Cao
- Diamantina Institute, TRI, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Dorothy Loo-Oey
- Diamantina Institute, TRI, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Michelle M Hill
- Diamantina Institute, TRI, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Mitchell Stark
- Diamantina Institute, TRI, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael Kimlin
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Nicole Cloonan
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Richard A Sturm
- Diamantina Institute, TRI, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Brian Gabrielli
- Diamantina Institute, TRI, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.,Mater Research, TRI, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
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18
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Everything in Moderation: Lessons Learned by Exploiting Moderate Replication Stress in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11091320. [PMID: 31500184 PMCID: PMC6769680 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11091320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The poor selectivity of standard cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens causes severe side-effects in patients and reduces the quality of life during treatment. Targeting cancer-specific vulnerabilities can improve response rates, increase overall survival and limit toxic side effects in patients. Oncogene-induced replication stress serves as a tumour specific vulnerability and rationale for the clinical development of inhibitors targeting the DNA damage response (DDR) kinases (CHK1, ATR, ATM and WEE1). CHK1 inhibitors (CHK1i) have served as the pilot compounds in this class and their efficacy in clinical trials as single agents has been disappointing. Initial attempts to combine CHK1i with chemotherapies agents that enhance replication stress (such as gemcitabine) were reported to be excessively toxic. More recently, it has emerged that combining CHK1i with subclinical doses of replication stress inducers is more effective, better tolerated and more compatible with immunotherapies. Here we focus on the lessons learned during the clinical development of CHK1i with the goal of improving the design of future clinical trials utilizing DDR inhibitors to target replication stress in cancer.
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19
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Co-Inhibition of the DNA Damage Response and CHK1 Enhances Apoptosis of Neuroblastoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20153700. [PMID: 31362335 PMCID: PMC6696225 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20153700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) is a central mediator of the DNA damage response (DDR) at the S and G2/M cell cycle checkpoints, and plays a crucial role in preserving genomic integrity. CHK1 overexpression is thought to contribute to cancer aggressiveness, and several selective inhibitors of this kinase are in clinical development for various cancers, including neuroblastoma (NB). Here, we examined the sensitivity of MYCN-amplified NB cell lines to the CHK1 inhibitor PF-477736 and explored mechanisms to increase its efficacy. PF-477736 treatment of two sensitive NB cell lines, SMS-SAN and CHP134, increased the expression of two pro-apoptotic proteins, BAX and PUMA, providing a mechanism for the effect of the CHK1 inhibitor. In contrast, in NB-39-nu and SK-N-BE cell lines, PF-477736 induced DNA double-strand breaks and activated the ataxia telangiectasia mutated serine/threonine kinase (ATM)-p53-p21 axis of the DDR pathway, which rendered the cells relatively insensitive to the antiproliferative effects of the CHK1 inhibitor. Interestingly, combined treatment with PF-477736 and the ATM inhibitor Ku55933 overcame the insensitivity of NB-39-nu and SK-N-BE cells to CHK1 inhibition and induced mitotic cell death. Similarly, co-treatment with PF-477736 and NU7441, a pharmacological inhibitor of DNA-PK, which is also essential for the DDR pathway, rendered the cells sensitive to CHK1 inhibition. Taken together, our results suggest that synthetic lethality between inhibitors of CHK1 and the DDR drives G2/M checkpoint abrogation and could be a novel potential therapeutic strategy for NB.
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20
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Oo ZY, Proctor M, Stevenson AJ, Nazareth D, Fernando M, Daignault SM, Lanagan C, Walpole S, Bonazzi V, Škalamera D, Snell C, Haass NK, Larsen JE, Gabrielli B. Combined use of subclinical hydroxyurea and CHK1 inhibitor effectively controls melanoma and lung cancer progression, with reduced normal tissue toxicity compared to gemcitabine. Mol Oncol 2019; 13:1503-1518. [PMID: 31044505 PMCID: PMC6599846 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Drugs such as gemcitabine that increase replication stress are effective chemotherapeutics in a range of cancer settings. These drugs effectively block replication and promote DNA damage, triggering a cell cycle checkpoint response through the ATR–CHK1 pathway. Inhibiting this signalling pathway sensitises cells to killing by replication stress‐inducing drugs. Here, we investigated the effect of low‐level replication stress induced by low concentrations (> 0.2 mm) of the reversible ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor hydroxyurea (HU), which slows S‐phase progression but has little effect on cell viability or proliferation. We demonstrate that HU effectively synergises with CHK1, but not ATR inhibition, in > 70% of melanoma and non‐small‐cell lung cancer cells assessed, resulting in apoptosis and complete loss of proliferative potential in vitro and in vivo. Normal fibroblasts and haemopoietic cells retain viability and proliferative potential following exposure to CHK1 inhibitor plus low doses of HU, but normal cells exposed to CHK1 inhibitor combined with submicromolar concentrations of gemcitabine exhibited complete loss of proliferative potential. The effects of gemcitabine on normal tissue correlate with irreversible ATR–CHK1 pathway activation, whereas low doses of HU reversibly activate CHK1 independently of ATR. The combined use of CHK1 inhibitor and subclinical HU also triggered an inflammatory response involving the recruitment of macrophages in vivo. These data indicate that combining CHK1 inhibitor with subclinical HU is superior to combination with gemcitabine, as it provides equal anticancer efficacy but with reduced normal tissue toxicity. These data suggest a significant proportion of melanoma and lung cancer patients could benefit from treatment with this drug combination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zay Yar Oo
- Smiling for Smiddy Research Group, Translational Research Institute, Mater Research Institute-The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland-Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Martina Proctor
- Smiling for Smiddy Research Group, Translational Research Institute, Mater Research Institute-The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Alexander J Stevenson
- Smiling for Smiddy Research Group, Translational Research Institute, Mater Research Institute-The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Deborah Nazareth
- Smiling for Smiddy Research Group, Translational Research Institute, Mater Research Institute-The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Madushan Fernando
- Smiling for Smiddy Research Group, Translational Research Institute, Mater Research Institute-The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Sheena M Daignault
- Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland-Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Catherine Lanagan
- Smiling for Smiddy Research Group, Translational Research Institute, Mater Research Institute-The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Sebastian Walpole
- Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland-Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Vanessa Bonazzi
- Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland-Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Dubravka Škalamera
- Smiling for Smiddy Research Group, Translational Research Institute, Mater Research Institute-The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Cameron Snell
- Smiling for Smiddy Research Group, Translational Research Institute, Mater Research Institute-The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,Mater Pathology, Mater Adults Hospital, Mater Misericordiae Limited, South Brisbane, Australia
| | - Nikolas K Haass
- Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland-Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jill E Larsen
- QIMR-Berghofer Medical Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Brian Gabrielli
- Smiling for Smiddy Research Group, Translational Research Institute, Mater Research Institute-The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland-Diamantina Institute, Brisbane, Australia
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21
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Bourgeois A, Bonnet S, Breuils-Bonnet S, Habbout K, Paradis R, Tremblay E, Lampron MC, Orcholski ME, Potus F, Bertero T, Peterlini T, Chan SY, Norris KA, Paulin R, Provencher S, Boucherat O. Inhibition of CHK 1 (Checkpoint Kinase 1) Elicits Therapeutic Effects in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2019; 39:1667-1681. [PMID: 31092016 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.119.312537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a debilitating disease associated with progressive vascular remodeling of distal pulmonary arteries leading to elevation of pulmonary artery pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, and death. Although presenting high levels of DNA damage that normally jeopardize their viability, pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) from patients with PAH exhibit a cancer-like proproliferative and apoptosis-resistant phenotype accounting for vascular lumen obliteration. In cancer cells, overexpression of the serine/threonine-protein kinase CHK1 (checkpoint kinase 1) is exploited to counteract the excess of DNA damage insults they are exposed to. This study aimed to determine whether PAH-PASMCs have developed an orchestrated response mediated by CHK1 to overcome DNA damage, allowing cell survival and proliferation. Approach and Results: We demonstrated that CHK1 expression is markedly increased in isolated PASMCs and distal PAs from patients with PAH compared with controls, as well as in multiple complementary animal models recapitulating the disease, including monocrotaline rats and the simian immunodeficiency virus-infected macaques. Using a pharmacological and molecular loss of function approach, we showed that CHK1 promotes PAH-PASMCs proliferation and resistance to apoptosis. In addition, we found that inhibition of CHK1 induces downregulation of the DNA repair protein RAD 51 and severe DNA damage. In vivo, we provided evidence that pharmacological inhibition of CHK1 significantly reduces vascular remodeling and improves hemodynamic parameters in 2 experimental rat models of PAH. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that CHK1 exerts a proproliferative function in PAH-PASMCs by mitigating DNA damage and suggest that CHK1 inhibition may, therefore, represent an attractive therapeutic option for patients with PAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Bourgeois
- From the Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Canada (A.B., S.B., S.B-B., K.H., R.P., E.T., M.C.L., M.E.O., F.P., T.P., R.P., S.P., O.B.)
| | - Sébastien Bonnet
- From the Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Canada (A.B., S.B., S.B-B., K.H., R.P., E.T., M.C.L., M.E.O., F.P., T.P., R.P., S.P., O.B.).,Department of Medicine, Université Laval, QC, Canada (S.P., O.B., S.B.)
| | - Sandra Breuils-Bonnet
- From the Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Canada (A.B., S.B., S.B-B., K.H., R.P., E.T., M.C.L., M.E.O., F.P., T.P., R.P., S.P., O.B.)
| | - Karima Habbout
- From the Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Canada (A.B., S.B., S.B-B., K.H., R.P., E.T., M.C.L., M.E.O., F.P., T.P., R.P., S.P., O.B.)
| | - Renée Paradis
- From the Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Canada (A.B., S.B., S.B-B., K.H., R.P., E.T., M.C.L., M.E.O., F.P., T.P., R.P., S.P., O.B.)
| | - Eve Tremblay
- From the Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Canada (A.B., S.B., S.B-B., K.H., R.P., E.T., M.C.L., M.E.O., F.P., T.P., R.P., S.P., O.B.)
| | - Marie-Claude Lampron
- From the Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Canada (A.B., S.B., S.B-B., K.H., R.P., E.T., M.C.L., M.E.O., F.P., T.P., R.P., S.P., O.B.)
| | - Mark E Orcholski
- From the Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Canada (A.B., S.B., S.B-B., K.H., R.P., E.T., M.C.L., M.E.O., F.P., T.P., R.P., S.P., O.B.)
| | - Francois Potus
- From the Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Canada (A.B., S.B., S.B-B., K.H., R.P., E.T., M.C.L., M.E.O., F.P., T.P., R.P., S.P., O.B.)
| | - Thomas Bertero
- University Côte d'Azur, CNRS UMR7284, INSERM U1081, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging Nice (IRCAN), University Côte d'Azur, France (T.B.)
| | - Thibaut Peterlini
- From the Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Canada (A.B., S.B., S.B-B., K.H., R.P., E.T., M.C.L., M.E.O., F.P., T.P., R.P., S.P., O.B.)
| | - Stephen Y Chan
- Center for Pulmonary Vascular Biology and Medicine, Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA (S.Y.C.)
| | - Karen A Norris
- Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens (K.A.N.)
| | - Roxane Paulin
- From the Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Canada (A.B., S.B., S.B-B., K.H., R.P., E.T., M.C.L., M.E.O., F.P., T.P., R.P., S.P., O.B.)
| | - Steeve Provencher
- From the Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Canada (A.B., S.B., S.B-B., K.H., R.P., E.T., M.C.L., M.E.O., F.P., T.P., R.P., S.P., O.B.).,Department of Medicine, Université Laval, QC, Canada (S.P., O.B., S.B.)
| | - Olivier Boucherat
- From the Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Canada (A.B., S.B., S.B-B., K.H., R.P., E.T., M.C.L., M.E.O., F.P., T.P., R.P., S.P., O.B.).,Department of Medicine, Université Laval, QC, Canada (S.P., O.B., S.B.)
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22
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Fási L, Di Meo F, Kuo CY, Stojkovic Buric S, Martins A, Kúsz N, Béni Z, Dékány M, Balogh GT, Pesic M, Wang HC, Trouillas P, Hunyadi A. Antioxidant-Inspired Drug Discovery: Antitumor Metabolite Is Formed in Situ from a Hydroxycinnamic Acid Derivative upon Free-Radical Scavenging. J Med Chem 2019; 62:1657-1668. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Florent Di Meo
- INSERM UMR 1248 IPPRITT, Université Limoges, Faculty of Pharmacy, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, F-87000 Limoges, France
| | - Ching-Ying Kuo
- Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Shih-Chuan 1st Rd. 100, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Sonja Stojkovic Buric
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ana Martins
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 10, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | | | | | | | | | - Milica Pesic
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Hui-Chun Wang
- Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Shih-Chuan 1st Rd. 100, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Patrick Trouillas
- INSERM UMR 1248 IPPRITT, Université Limoges, Faculty of Pharmacy, 2 rue du Dr Marcland, F-87000 Limoges, France
- RCPTM, Faculty of Sciences, Palacký University, tr. 17. listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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23
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D'Arcy N, Matigian N, Lê Cao KA, Gabrielli B. Pathway dysregulation analysis of the nucleotide excision repair mechanisms reveals it is not a common feature of melanomas. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2018; 32:336-338. [PMID: 30269428 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 09/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas D'Arcy
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicholas Matigian
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,QFAB Bioinformatics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kim-Anh Lê Cao
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,QFAB Bioinformatics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Brian Gabrielli
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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24
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Walker RC, Underwood TJ. Molecular pathways in the development and treatment of oesophageal cancer. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2018; 36-37:9-15. [PMID: 30551862 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpg.2018.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The molecular pathways involved in the development and treatment of oesophageal cancer are complex. Recent large-scale genome sequencing studies have delivered novel insights into aetiology and possible targeted treatments. Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and adenocarcinoma (OAC) are distinct entities. At the molecular level OSCC is more similar to squamous cell cancers in other organs than OAC. Whilst considerable heterogeneity exists in both tumour types new data suggests that driver gene events and mutational signatures may be able to categorise tumours into potentially actionable subtypes. Taken together these findings not only suggest new avenues for treatments in a cancer type with appalling outcomes, but also a new era of molecular rather than purely anatomical classification and staging of oesophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Charles Walker
- Cancer Research UK and Royal College of Surgeons of England Clinical Research Training Fellow, University of Southampton, UK
| | - Timothy James Underwood
- Cancer Research UK and Royal College of Surgeons of England Advanced Clinician Scientist Fellow, University of Southampton, UK.
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25
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Hwang BJ, Adhikary G, Eckert RL, Lu AL. Chk1 inhibition as a novel therapeutic strategy in melanoma. Oncotarget 2018; 9:30450-30464. [PMID: 30100999 PMCID: PMC6084399 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma patients respond poorly to chemotherapies because they acquire drug resistance. Therapies that can overcome the resistance to inhibitors of the mutated BRAF protein kinase in melanoma are urgently needed. Chk1 protein kinase is a central component of the DNA damage response and plays a crucial role in controlling cell cycle progression. Analyses indicate that low mRNA expression of Chk1 is significantly associated with good overall survival of melanoma patients. To evaluate the effectiveness of Chk1 inhibitors in melanoma therapy, we have generated BRAF inhibitor (PLX4032 or vemurafenib) resistant melanoma cell lines (A375-PLX-R and WM9-PLX-R) from A375 and WM9, respectively. We observe that AKT (protein kinase B) is constitutively activated in A375-PLX-R, but not in WM9-PLX-R cells, suggesting that these cells develop resistance to PLX4032 through different mechanisms. We show that a potent and specific inhibitor of Chk1 (PF477736) is effective in reducing cell viability and colony formation of PLX4032-resistant cells. Even more impressively, PF477736 triggers PLX4032-resistant melanoma cells to regain sensitivity to the PLX4032. Mouse xenograft studies show that treating A375-PLX-R derived tumors with combined PLX4032 and PF477736 significantly reduce tumor growth. Combined treatments with PLX4032 and PF477736 reduce the levels of total Chk1 protein and alter Chk1 phosphorylation at several sites in both PLX4032 sensitive and resistant melanoma cells. Combinatorial treatments with PLX4032 and PF477736 to melanoma cells substantially induce DNA damage and cell death. Our results suggest that Chk1 inhibitors may provide new therapy options for melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bor-Jang Hwang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gautam Adhikary
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard L Eckert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Dermatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Reproductive Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - A-Lien Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
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26
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Manic G, Signore M, Sistigu A, Russo G, Corradi F, Siteni S, Musella M, Vitale S, De Angelis ML, Pallocca M, Amoreo CA, Sperati F, Di Franco S, Barresi S, Policicchio E, De Luca G, De Nicola F, Mottolese M, Zeuner A, Fanciulli M, Stassi G, Maugeri-Saccà M, Baiocchi M, Tartaglia M, Vitale I, De Maria R. CHK1-targeted therapy to deplete DNA replication-stressed, p53-deficient, hyperdiploid colorectal cancer stem cells. Gut 2018; 67:903-917. [PMID: 28389531 PMCID: PMC5890648 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2016-312623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Revised: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for tumour formation and spreading, and their targeting is required for tumour eradication. There are limited therapeutic options for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC), particularly for tumours carrying RAS-activating mutations. The aim of this study was to identify novel CSC-targeting strategies. DESIGN To discover potential therapeutics to be clinically investigated as single agent, we performed a screening with a panel of FDA-approved or investigational drugs on primary CRC cells enriched for CSCs (CRC-SCs) isolated from 27 patients. Candidate predictive biomarkers of efficacy were identified by integrating genomic, reverse-phase protein microarray (RPPA) and cytogenetic analyses, and validated by immunostainings. DNA replication stress (RS) was increased by employing DNA replication-perturbing or polyploidising agents. RESULTS The drug-library screening led to the identification of LY2606368 as a potent anti-CSC agent acting in vitro and in vivo in tumour cells from a considerable number of patients (∼36%). By inhibiting checkpoint kinase (CHK)1, LY2606368 affected DNA replication in most CRC-SCs, including RAS-mutated ones, forcing them into premature, lethal mitoses. Parallel genomic, RPPA and cytogenetic analyses indicated that CRC-SCs sensitive to LY2606368 displayed signs of ongoing RS response, including the phosphorylation of RPA32 and ataxia telangiectasia mutated serine/threonine kinase (ATM). This was associated with mutation(s) in TP53 and hyperdiploidy, and made these CRC-SCs exquisitely dependent on CHK1 function. Accordingly, experimental increase of RS sensitised resistant CRC-SCs to LY2606368. CONCLUSIONS LY2606368 selectively eliminates replication-stressed, p53-deficient and hyperdiploid CRC-SCs independently of RAS mutational status. These results provide a strong rationale for biomarker-driven clinical trials with LY2606368 in patients with CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwenola Manic
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Signore
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Sistigu
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Russo
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy,Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University and A. Gemelli Polyclinic, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Corradi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Siteni
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy,Department of Science, University “Roma Tre”, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Musella
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy,Department of Molecular Medicine, University “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Vitale
- Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University and A. Gemelli Polyclinic, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Laura De Angelis
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Pallocca
- SAFU, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, RomeItaly
| | | | - Francesca Sperati
- Biostatistical Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Simone Di Franco
- Department of Surgical Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Sabina Barresi
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico “Bambino Gesù”, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Policicchio
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy,Department of Experimental Medicine, University “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele De Luca
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca De Nicola
- SAFU, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, RomeItaly
| | - Marcella Mottolese
- Department of Pathology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Ann Zeuner
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Fanciulli
- SAFU, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, RomeItaly
| | - Giorgio Stassi
- Department of Surgical Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Marta Baiocchi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Tartaglia
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico “Bambino Gesù”, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilio Vitale
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy,Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Ruggero De Maria
- Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University and A. Gemelli Polyclinic, Rome, Italy
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27
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Oo ZY, Stevenson AJ, Proctor M, Daignault SM, Walpole S, Lanagan C, Chen J, Škalamera D, Spoerri L, Ainger SA, Sturm RA, Haass NK, Gabrielli B. Endogenous Replication Stress Marks Melanomas Sensitive to CHEK1 Inhibitors In Vivo. Clin Cancer Res 2018. [PMID: 29535131 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-2701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Checkpoint kinase 1 inhibitors (CHEK1i) have single-agent activity in vitro and in vivo Here, we have investigated the molecular basis of this activity.Experimental Design: We have assessed a panel of melanoma cell lines for their sensitivity to the CHEK1i GNE-323 and GDC-0575 in vitro and in vivo The effects of these compounds on responses to DNA replication stress were analyzed in the hypersensitive cell lines.Results: A subset of melanoma cell lines is hypersensitive to CHEK1i-induced cell death in vitro, and the drug effectively inhibits tumor growth in vivo In the hypersensitive cell lines, GNE-323 triggers cell death without cells entering mitosis. CHEK1i treatment triggers strong RPA2 hyperphosphorylation and increased DNA damage in only hypersensitive cells. The increased replication stress was associated with a defective S-phase cell-cycle checkpoint. The number and intensity of pRPA2 Ser4/8 foci in untreated tumors appeared to be a marker of elevated replication stress correlated with sensitivity to CHEK1i.Conclusions: CHEK1i have single-agent activity in a subset of melanomas with elevated endogenous replication stress. CHEK1i treatment strongly increased this replication stress and DNA damage, and this correlated with increased cell death. The level of endogenous replication is marked by the pRPA2Ser4/8 foci in the untreated tumors, and may be a useful marker of replication stress in vivoClin Cancer Res; 24(12); 2901-12. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zay Yar Oo
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland. Australia
| | - Alexander J Stevenson
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Martina Proctor
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sheena M Daignault
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland. Australia
| | - Sebastian Walpole
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland. Australia
| | - Catherine Lanagan
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - James Chen
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland. Australia
| | - Dubravka Škalamera
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Loredana Spoerri
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland. Australia
| | - Stephen A Ainger
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland. Australia
| | - Richard A Sturm
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland. Australia
| | - Nikolas K Haass
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland. Australia
| | - Brian Gabrielli
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. .,The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland. Australia
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28
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Wayne J, Brooks T, Massey AJ. Inhibition of Chk1 with the small molecule inhibitor V158411 induces DNA damage and cell death in an unperturbed S-phase. Oncotarget 2018; 7:85033-85048. [PMID: 27829224 PMCID: PMC5356717 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 10/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Chk1 kinase is a critical component of the DNA damage response checkpoint and Chk1 inhibitors are currently under clinical investigation. Chk1 suppresses oncogene-induced replication stress with Chk1 inhibitors demonstrating activity as a monotherapy in numerous cancer types. Understanding the mechanism by which Chk1 inhibitors induce DNA damage and cancer cell death is essential for their future clinical development. Here we characterize the mechanism by which the novel Chk1 inhibitor (V158411) increased DNA damage and cell death in models of human cancer. V158411 induced a time- and concentration-dependent increase in γH2AX-positive nuclei that was restricted to cells actively undergoing DNA synthesis. γH2AX induction was an early event and correlated with activation of the ATR/ATM/DNA-PKcs DNA damage response pathways. The appearance of γH2AX positive nuclei preceded ssDNA appearance and RPA exhaustion. Complete and sustained inhibition of Chk1 kinase was necessary to activate a robust γH2AX induction and growth inhibition. Chk1 inhibitor cytotoxicity correlated with induction of DNA damage with cells undergoing apoptosis, mitotic slippage and DNA damage-induced permanent cell cycle arrest. We identified two distinct classes of Chk1 inhibitors: those that induced a strong increase in γH2AX, pChk1 (S317) and pRPA32 (S4/S8) (including V158411, LY2603618 and ARRY-1A) and those that did not (including MK-8776 and GNE-900). Tumor cell death, induced through increased DNA damage, coupled with abrogation of cell cycle checkpoints makes selective inhibitors of Chk1 a potentially useful therapeutic treatment for multiple human cancers.
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29
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Yang X, Pan Y, Qiu Z, Du Z, Zhang Y, Fa P, Gorityala S, Ma S, Li S, Chen C, Wang H, Xu Y, Yan C, Ruth K, Ma Z, Zhang J. RNF126 as a Biomarker of a Poor Prognosis in Invasive Breast Cancer and CHEK1 Inhibitor Efficacy in Breast Cancer Cells. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:1629-1643. [PMID: 29326282 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-2242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Revised: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: (i) To investigate the expression of the E3 ligase, RNF126, in human invasive breast cancer and its links with breast cancer outcomes; and (ii) to test the hypothesis that RNF126 determines the efficacy of inhibitors targeting the cell-cycle checkpoint kinase, CHEK1.Experimental Design: A retrospective analysis by immunohistochemistry (IHC) compared RNF126 staining in 110 invasive breast cancer and 78 paired adjacent normal tissues with clinicopathologic data. Whether RNF126 controls CHEK1 expression was determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation and a CHEK1 promoter driven luciferase reporter. Staining for these two proteins by IHC using tissue microarrays was also conducted. Cell killing/replication stress induced by CHEK1 inhibition was evaluated in cells, with or without RNF126 knockdown, by MTT/colony formation, replication stress biomarker immunostaining and DNA fiber assays.Results: RNF126 protein expression was elevated in breast cancer tissue samples. RNF126 was associated with a poor clinical outcome after multivariate analysis and was an independent predictor. RNF126 promotes CHEK1 transcript expression. Critically, a strong correlation between RNF126 and CHEK1 proteins was identified in breast cancer tissue and cell lines. The inhibition of CHEK1 induced a greater cell killing and a higher level of replication stress in breast cancer cells expressing RNF126 compared to RNF126 depleted cells.Conclusions: RNF126 protein is highly expressed in invasive breast cancer tissue. The high expression of RNF126 is an independent predictor of a poor prognosis in invasive breast cancer and is considered a potential biomarker of a cancer's responsiveness to CHEK1 inhibitors. CHEK1 inhibition targets breast cancer cells expressing higher levels of RNF126 by enhancing replication stress. Clin Cancer Res; 24(7); 1629-43. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaosong Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.,Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - You Pan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.,Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhaojun Qiu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Zhanwen Du
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Yao Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Pengyan Fa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | | | - Shanhuai Ma
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Shunqiang Li
- Division of Oncology Breast Oncology Section, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Ceshi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Hongbing Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yan Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio.,Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Chunhong Yan
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Keri Ruth
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Zhefu Ma
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. .,Department of Breast Surgery & Plastic Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Junran Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. .,Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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30
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Gadhikar MA, Zhang J, Shen L, Rao X, Wang J, Zhao M, Kalu NN, Johnson FM, Byers LA, Heymach J, Hittelman WN, Udayakumar D, Pandita RK, Pandita TK, Pickering CR, Redwood AB, Piwnica-Worms H, Schlacher K, Frederick MJ, Myers JN. CDKN2A/p16 Deletion in Head and Neck Cancer Cells Is Associated with CDK2 Activation, Replication Stress, and Vulnerability to CHK1 Inhibition. Cancer Res 2017; 78:781-797. [PMID: 29229598 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-2802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Checkpoint kinase inhibitors (CHKi) exhibit striking single-agent activity in certain tumors, but the mechanisms accounting for hypersensitivity are poorly understood. We screened a panel of 49 established human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines and report that nearly 20% are hypersensitive to CHKi monotherapy. Hypersensitive cells underwent early S-phase arrest at drug doses sufficient to inhibit greater than 90% of CHK1 activity. Reduced rate of DNA replication fork progression and chromosomal shattering were also observed, suggesting replication stress as a root causative factor in CHKi hypersensitivity. To explore genomic underpinnings of CHKi hypersensitivity, comparative genomic analysis was performed between hypersensitive cells and cells categorized as least sensitive because they showed drug IC50 value greater than the cell panel median and lacked early S-phase arrest. Novel association between CDKN2A/p16 copy number loss, CDK2 activation, replication stress, and hypersensitivity of HNSCC cells to CHKi monotherapy was found. Restoring p16 in cell lines harboring CDKN2A/p16 genomic deletions alleviated CDK2 activation and replication stress, attenuating CHKi hypersensitivity. Taken together, our results suggest a biomarker-driven strategy for selecting HNSCC patients who may benefit the most from CHKi therapy.Significance: These results suggest a biomarker-driven strategy for selecting HNSCC patients who may benefit the most from therapy with CHK inhibitors. Cancer Res; 78(3); 781-97. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayur A Gadhikar
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jiexin Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Li Shen
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Xiayu Rao
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Mei Zhao
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Nene N Kalu
- Thoracic Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Faye M Johnson
- Thoracic Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Lauren A Byers
- Thoracic Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - John Heymach
- Thoracic Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Walter N Hittelman
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Durga Udayakumar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist, Houston, Texas
| | - Raj K Pandita
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist, Houston, Texas
| | - Tej K Pandita
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston Methodist, Houston, Texas
| | - Curtis R Pickering
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Abena B Redwood
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Helen Piwnica-Worms
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Katharina Schlacher
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Mitchell J Frederick
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
| | - Jeffrey N Myers
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
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31
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Karanika S, Karantanos T, Li L, Wang J, Park S, Yang G, Zuo X, Song JH, Maity SN, Manyam GC, Broom B, Aparicio AM, Gallick GE, Troncoso P, Corn PG, Navone N, Zhang W, Li S, Thompson TC. Targeting DNA Damage Response in Prostate Cancer by Inhibiting Androgen Receptor-CDC6-ATR-Chk1 Signaling. Cell Rep 2017; 18:1970-1981. [PMID: 28228262 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.01.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Revised: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell division cycle 6 (CDC6), an androgen receptor (AR) target gene, is implicated in regulating DNA replication and checkpoint mechanisms. CDC6 expression is increased during prostate cancer (PCa) progression and positively correlates with AR in PCa tissues. AR or CDC6 knockdown, together with AZD7762, a Chk1/2 inhibitor, results in decreased TopBP1-ATR-Chk1 signaling and markedly increased ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) phosphorylation, a biomarker of DNA damage, and synergistically increases treatment efficacy. Combination treatment with the AR signaling inhibitor enzalutamide (ENZ) and the Chk1/2 inhibitor AZD7762 demonstrates synergy with regard to inhibition of AR-CDC6-ATR-Chk1 signaling, ATM phosphorylation induction, and apoptosis in VCaP (mutant p53) and LNCaP-C4-2b (wild-type p53) cells. CDC6 overexpression significantly reduced ENZ- and AZD7762-induced apoptosis. Additive or synergistic therapeutic activities are demonstrated in AR-positive animal xenograft models. These findings have important clinical implications, since they introduce a therapeutic strategy for AR-positive, metastatic, castration-resistant PCa, regardless of p53 status, through targeting AR-CDC6-ATR-Chk1 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Styliani Karanika
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Theodoros Karantanos
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Likun Li
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jianxiang Wang
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sanghee Park
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Guang Yang
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xuemei Zuo
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jian H Song
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sankar N Maity
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ganiraju C Manyam
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77230, USA
| | - Bradley Broom
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77230, USA
| | - Ana M Aparicio
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Gary E Gallick
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Patricia Troncoso
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Paul G Corn
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nora Navone
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shuhua Li
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Timothy C Thompson
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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32
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Verduzco D, Kuenzi BM, Kinose F, Sondak VK, Eroglu Z, Rix U, Smalley KSM. Ceritinib Enhances the Efficacy of Trametinib in BRAF/NRAS-Wild-Type Melanoma Cell Lines. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 17:73-83. [PMID: 29133622 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-0196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Targeted therapy options are currently lacking for the heterogeneous population of patients whose melanomas lack BRAF or NRAS mutations (∼35% of cases). We undertook a chemical biology screen to identify potential novel drug targets for this understudied group of tumors. Screening a panel of 8 BRAF/NRAS-WT melanoma cell lines against 240 targeted drugs identified ceritinib and trametinib as potential hits with single-agent activity. Ceritinib enhanced the efficacy of trametinib across the majority of the BRAF/NRAS-WT cell lines, and the combination showed increased cytotoxicity in both three-dimensional spheroid culture and long-term colony formation experiments. Coadministration of ceritinib and trametinib led to robust inhibition of tumor growth in an in vivo xenograft BRAF/NRAS-WT melanoma model; this was not due to ALK inhibition by ceritinib. Mechanistic studies showed the ceritinib-trametinib combination to increase suppression of MAPK and TORC1 signaling. Similar results were seen when BRAF/NRAS-WT melanoma cells were treated with a combination of trametinib and the TORC1/2 inhibitor INK128. We next used mass spectrometry-based chemical proteomics and identified known and new ceritinib targets, such as IGF1R and ACK1, respectively. Validation studies suggested that ceritinib could suppress mTORC1 signaling in the presence of trametinib through inhibition of IGF1R and/or ACK1 in a cell line-dependent manner. Together, our studies demonstrated that combining a specific inhibitor (trametinib) with a more broadly targeted agent (ceritinib) has efficacy against tumors with heterogeneous mutational profiles. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(1); 73-83. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Verduzco
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Brent M Kuenzi
- The Department of Drug Discovery, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Fumi Kinose
- The Department of Drug Discovery, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Vernon K Sondak
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Zeynep Eroglu
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Uwe Rix
- The Department of Drug Discovery, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida. .,The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
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33
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Qiu Z, Oleinick NL, Zhang J. ATR/CHK1 inhibitors and cancer therapy. Radiother Oncol 2017; 126:450-464. [PMID: 29054375 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2017.09.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The cell cycle checkpoint proteins ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated-and-Rad3-related kinase (ATR) and its major downstream effector checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) prevent the entry of cells with damaged or incompletely replicated DNA into mitosis when the cells are challenged by DNA damaging agents, such as radiation therapy (RT) or chemotherapeutic drugs, that are the major modalities to treat cancer. This regulation is particularly evident in cells with a defective G1 checkpoint, a common feature of cancer cells, due to p53 mutations. In addition, ATR and/or CHK1 suppress replication stress (RS) by inhibiting excess origin firing, particularly in cells with activated oncogenes. Those functions of ATR/CHK1 make them ideal therapeutic targets. ATR/CHK1 inhibitors have been developed and are currently used either as single agents or paired with radiotherapy or a variety of genotoxic chemotherapies in preclinical and clinical studies. Here, we review the status of the development of ATR and CHK1 inhibitors. We also discuss the potential mechanisms by which ATR and CHK1 inhibition induces cell killing in the presence or absence of exogenous DNA damaging agents, such as RT and chemotherapeutic agents. Lastly, we discuss synthetic lethality interactions between the inhibition of ATR/CHK1 and defects in other DNA damage response (DDR) pathways/genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaojun Qiu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
| | - Nancy L Oleinick
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
| | - Junran Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA.
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34
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Abstract
Dysregulation of cell cycle control is a hallmark of melanomagenesis. Agents targeting the G1-S and G2-M checkpoints, as well as direct anti-mitotic agents, have all shown promising preclinical activity in melanoma. However, in vivo, standalone single agents targeting cell cycle regulation have only demonstrated modest efficacy in unselected patients. The advent of specific CDK 4/6 inhibitors targeting the G1-S transition, with an improved therapeutic index, is a significant step forward. Potential synergy exists with the combination of CDK4/6 inhibitors with existing therapies targeting the MAPK pathway, particularly in subsets of metastatic melanomas such as NRAS and BRAF mutants. This reviews summaries of the latest developments in both preclinical and clinical data with cell cycle-targeted therapies in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - Grant McArthur
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Australia. .,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. .,Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Oncogenic Signalling and Growth Control Program, East Melbourne, Australia. .,Translational Research Laboratory, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia. .,Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia. .,Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Locked Bag 1, A'Beckett Street, Melbourne, VIC, 8006, Australia.
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35
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Di Benedetto A, Ercolani C, Mottolese M, Sperati F, Pizzuti L, Vici P, Terrenato I, Shaaban AM, Humphries MP, Di Lauro L, Barba M, Vitale I, Ciliberto G, Speirs V, De Maria R, Maugeri-Saccà M. Analysis of the ATR-Chk1 and ATM-Chk2 pathways in male breast cancer revealed the prognostic significance of ATR expression. Sci Rep 2017; 7:8078. [PMID: 28808232 PMCID: PMC5556084 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07366-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The ATR-Chk1 and ATM-Chk2 pathways are central in DNA damage repair (DDR) and their over-activation may confer aggressive molecular features, being an adaptive response to endogenous DNA damage and oncogene-induced replication stress. Herein we investigated the ATR-Chk1 and ATM-Chk2 signalings in male breast cancer (MBC). The expression of DDR kinases (pATR, pATM, pChk1, pChk2, and pWee1) and DNA damage markers (pRPA32 and γ-H2AX) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 289 MBC samples to assess their association. Survival analyses were carried out in 112 patients. Survival curves were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test. Cox proportional regression models were generated to identify variables impacting survival outcomes. The expression of pATR conferred poorer survival outcomes (log rank p = 0.013, p = 0.007 and p = 0.010 for overall, 15- and 10-year survival, respectively). Multivariate Cox models of 10-year survival and overall indicated that pATR expression, alone or combined with pChk2, was an independent predictor of adverse outcomes (10-year survival: pATR: HR 2.74, 95% CI: 1.23-6.10; pATR/pChk2: HR 2.92, 95% CI: 1.35-6.33; overall survival: pATR: HR 2.58, 95% CI: 1.20-5.53; pATR/pChk2: HR 2.89, 95% CI: 1.37-6.12). Overall, the ATR/ATM-initiated molecular cascade seems to be active in a fraction of MBC patients and may represent a negative prognostic factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Di Benedetto
- Department of Pathology, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristiana Ercolani
- Department of Pathology, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcella Mottolese
- Department of Pathology, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Sperati
- Biostatistics-Scientific Directorate, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Pizzuti
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Vici
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Terrenato
- Biostatistics-Scientific Directorate, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Abeer M Shaaban
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and University of Birmingham, Department of Histopathology, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2GW, UK
| | - Matthew P Humphries
- Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Luigi Di Lauro
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Maddalena Barba
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.,Scientific Directorate, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilio Vitale
- Scientific Directorate, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Scientific Directorate, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Valerie Speirs
- Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS9 7TF, UK.
| | - Ruggero De Maria
- Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Agostino Gemelli, 10, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello Maugeri-Saccà
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy. .,Scientific Directorate, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
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36
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Samadder P, Suchánková T, Hylse O, Khirsariya P, Nikulenkov F, Drápela S, Straková N, Vaňhara P, Vašíčková K, Kolářová H, Binó L, Bittová M, Ovesná P, Kollár P, Fedr R, Ešner M, Jaroš J, Hampl A, Krejčí L, Paruch K, Souček K. Synthesis and Profiling of a Novel Potent Selective Inhibitor of CHK1 Kinase Possessing Unusual N-trifluoromethylpyrazole Pharmacophore Resistant to Metabolic N-dealkylation. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 16:1831-1842. [PMID: 28619751 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 05/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Checkpoint-mediated dependency of tumor cells can be deployed to selectively kill them without substantial toxicity to normal cells. Specifically, loss of CHK1, a serine threonine kinase involved in the surveillance of the G2-M checkpoint in the presence of replication stress inflicted by DNA-damaging drugs, has been reported to dramatically influence the viability of tumor cells. CHK1's pivotal role in maintaining genomic stability offers attractive opportunity for increasing the selectivity, effectivity, and reduced toxicity of chemotherapy. Some recently identified CHK1 inhibitors entered clinical trials in combination with DNA antimetabolites. Herein, we report synthesis and profiling of MU380, a nontrivial analogue of clinically profiled compound SCH900776 possessing the highly unusual N-trifluoromethylpyrazole motif, which was envisioned not to undergo metabolic oxidative dealkylation and thereby provide greater robustness to the compound. MU380 is a selective and potent inhibitor of CHK1 which sensitizes a variety of tumor cell lines to hydroxyurea or gemcitabine up to 10 times. MU380 shows extended inhibitory effects in cells, and unlike SCH900776, does not undergo in vivo N-dealkylation to the significantly less selective metabolite. Compared with SCH900776, MU380 in combination with GEM causes higher accumulation of DNA damage in tumor cells and subsequent enhanced cell death, and is more efficacious in the A2780 xenograft mouse model. Overall, MU380 represents a novel state-of-the-art CHK1 inhibitor with high potency, selectivity, and improved metabolic robustness to oxidative N-dealkylation. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(9); 1831-42. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pounami Samadder
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Suchánková
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics CAS, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Hylse
- Department of Chemistry, CZ Openscreen, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Prashant Khirsariya
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Chemistry, CZ Openscreen, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Fedor Nikulenkov
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Stanislav Drápela
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics CAS, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Nicol Straková
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics CAS, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Vaňhara
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Vašíčková
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Kolářová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lucia Binó
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics CAS, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslava Bittová
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Chemistry, CZ Openscreen, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Ovesná
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics CAS, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Human Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Kollár
- Cellular Imaging Core Facility - CELLIM, CEITEC Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Fedr
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics CAS, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Ešner
- Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,Cellular Imaging Core Facility - CELLIM, CEITEC Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Jaroš
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Hampl
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lumír Krejčí
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic. .,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kamil Paruch
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic. .,Department of Chemistry, CZ Openscreen, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Souček
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic. .,Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics CAS, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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37
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Haass NK, Gabrielli B. Cell cycle-tailored targeting of metastatic melanoma: Challenges and opportunities. Exp Dermatol 2017; 26:649-655. [PMID: 28109167 DOI: 10.1111/exd.13303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The advent of targeted therapies of metastatic melanoma, such as MAPK pathway inhibitors and immune checkpoint antagonists, has turned dermato-oncology from the "bad guy" to the "poster child" in oncology. Current targeted therapies are effective, although here is a clear need to develop combination therapies to delay the onset of resistance. Many antimelanoma drugs impact on the cell cycle but are also dependent on certain cell cycle phases resulting in cell cycle phase-specific drug insensitivity. Here, we raise the question: Have combination trials been abandoned prematurely as ineffective possibly only because drug scheduling was not optimized? Firstly, if both drugs of a combination hit targets in the same melanoma cell, cell cycle-mediated drug insensitivity should be taken into account when planning combination therapies, timing of dosing schedules and choice of drug therapies in solid tumors. Secondly, if the combination is designed to target different tumor cell subpopulations of a heterogeneous tumor, one drug effective in a particular subpopulation should not negatively impact on the other drug targeting another subpopulation. In addition to the role of cell cycle stage and progression on standard chemotherapeutics and targeted drugs, we discuss the utilization of cell cycle checkpoint control defects to enhance chemotherapeutic responses or as targets themselves. We propose that cell cycle-tailored targeting of metastatic melanoma could further improve therapy outcomes and that our real-time cell cycle imaging 3D melanoma spheroid model could be utilized as a tool to measure and design drug scheduling approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolas K Haass
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.,The Centenary Institute, Newtown, NSW, Australia.,Discipline of Dermatology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Brian Gabrielli
- Mater Medical Research Institute, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
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38
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Ronchetti L, Melucci E, De Nicola F, Goeman F, Casini B, Sperati F, Pallocca M, Terrenato I, Pizzuti L, Vici P, Sergi D, Di Lauro L, Amoreo CA, Gallo E, Diodoro MG, Pescarmona E, Vitale I, Barba M, Buglioni S, Mottolese M, Fanciulli M, De Maria R, Maugeri-Saccà M. DNA damage repair and survival outcomes in advanced gastric cancer patients treated with first-line chemotherapy. Int J Cancer 2017; 140:2587-2595. [PMID: 28233295 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.30668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The DNA damage response (DDR) network is exploited by cancer cells to withstand chemotherapy. Gastric cancer (GC) carries deregulation of the DDR and harbors genetic defects that fuel its activation. The ATM-Chk2 and ATR-Chk1-Wee1 axes are deputed to initiate DNA repair. Overactivation of these pathways in cancer cells may represent an adaptive response for compensating genetic defects deregulating G1 -S transition (e.g., TP53) and ATM/ATR-initiated DNA repair (e.g., ARID1A). We hypothesized that DDR-linked biomarkers may predict clinical outcomes in GC patients treated with chemotherapy. Immunohistochemical assessment of DDR kinases (pATM, pChk2, pChk1 and pWee1) and DNA damage markers (γ-H2AX and pRPA32) was performed in biological samples from 110 advanced GC patients treated with first-line chemotherapy, either in phase II trials or in routine clinical practice. In 90 patients, this characterization was integrated with targeted ultra-deep sequencing for evaluating the mutational status of TP53 and ARID1A. We recorded a positive association between the investigated biomarkers. The combination of two biomarkers (γ-H2AXhigh /pATMhigh ) was an adverse factor for both progression-free survival (multivariate Cox: HR 2.23, 95%CI: 1.47-3.40) and overall survival (multivariate Cox: HR: 2.07, 95%CI: 1.20-3.58). The relationship between the γ-H2AXhigh /pATMhigh model and progression-free survival was consistent across the different TP53 backgrounds and was maintained in the ARID1A wild-type setting. Conversely, this association was no longer observed in an ARID1A-mutated subgroup. The γ-H2AXhigh /pATMhigh model negatively impacted survival outcomes in GC patients treated with chemotherapy. The mutational status of ARID1A, but apparently not TP53 mutations, affects its predictive significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Ronchetti
- Department of Pathology, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Melucci
- Department of Pathology, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca De Nicola
- SAFU Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic, and Technological Innovation, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Frauke Goeman
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Beatrice Casini
- Department of Pathology, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Sperati
- Biostatistics-Scientific Direction, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Pallocca
- SAFU Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic, and Technological Innovation, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Terrenato
- Biostatistics-Scientific Direction, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Pizzuti
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Vici
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Sergi
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Di Lauro
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Enzo Gallo
- Department of Pathology, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Edoardo Pescarmona
- Department of Pathology, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilio Vitale
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.,Scientific Direction, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Maddalena Barba
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.,Scientific Direction, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Simonetta Buglioni
- Department of Pathology, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcella Mottolese
- Department of Pathology, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Fanciulli
- SAFU Laboratory, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostic, and Technological Innovation, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Ruggero De Maria
- Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello Maugeri-Saccà
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.,Scientific Direction, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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39
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Zhang XY, Zhang P. Sensitization strategies in lung cancer. Oncol Lett 2016; 12:3669-3673. [PMID: 27900051 PMCID: PMC5104149 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2016.5146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The commonly used treatment avenues employed by cancer physicians include surgery, radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy in addition to rapid developmental and confirmatory studies on the efficacy of targeted therapies. However, the success rate in these commonly used treatments remains relatively low due to associated side effects, such as normal cell targeting/toxicity and resistance. In addition, investigators are continuing their efforts to enhance the efficacy of RT and chemotherapy to prevent associated side effects and improve the survival rate of the affected patient in order to increase patient survival. In the present study, we have reviewed the sensitization approaches used to improve chemotherapy and RT sensitivity in tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Ying Zhang
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Information Institute, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Peiying Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, The Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Medical College of Southeast University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221009, P.R. China
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40
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Massey AJ. Tumour growth environment modulates Chk1 signalling pathways and Chk1 inhibitor sensitivity. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35874. [PMID: 27775084 PMCID: PMC5075878 DOI: 10.1038/srep35874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical development of Chk1 inhibitors is currently focussed on evaluating activity as monotherapy and as potentiators of chemotherapy. To aid translation of pre-clinical studies, we sought to understand the effects of the tumour growth environment on Chk1 signalling and sensitivity to small molecule Chk1 inhibition. Spheroid culture altered Chk1 signalling to a more xenograft like state but decreased sensitivity to Chk1 inhibition. Growth in low serum did not alter DDR signalling but increased the sensitivity of A2058 and U2OS tumour cells to Chk1 inhibition. An analysis of the expression levels of replication associated proteins identified a correlation between Cdc6 and pChk1 (S296) as well as total Chk1 in xenograft derived samples and between Cdc6 and total Chk1 in anchorage-dependent growth derived protein samples. No apparent correlation between Chk1 or Cdc6 expression and sensitivity to Chk1 inhibition in vitro was observed. A database analysis revealed upregulation of CDC6 mRNA expression in tumour compared to normal tissue and a correlation between CDC6 and CHEK1 mRNA expression in human cancers. We suggest that Cdc6 overexpression in human tumours requires a concomitant increase in Chk1 to counterbalance the deleterious effects of origin hyperactivation-induced DNA damage.
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41
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Secrier M, Li X, de Silva N, Eldridge MD, Contino G, Bornschein J, MacRae S, Grehan N, O’Donovan M, Miremadi A, Yang TP, Bower L, Chettouh H, Crawte J, Galeano-Dalmau N, Grabowska A, Saunders J, Underwood T, Waddell N, Barbour AP, Nutzinger B, Achilleos A, Edwards PAW, Lynch AG, Tavaré S, Fitzgerald RC. Mutational signatures in esophageal adenocarcinoma define etiologically distinct subgroups with therapeutic relevance. Nat Genet 2016; 48:1131-41. [PMID: 27595477 PMCID: PMC5957269 DOI: 10.1038/ng.3659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 262] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has a poor outcome, and targeted therapy trials have thus far been disappointing owing to a lack of robust stratification methods. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of 129 cases demonstrated that this is a heterogeneous cancer dominated by copy number alterations with frequent large-scale rearrangements. Co-amplification of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and/or downstream mitogenic activation is almost ubiquitous; thus tailored combination RTK inhibitor (RTKi) therapy might be required, as we demonstrate in vitro. However, mutational signatures showed three distinct molecular subtypes with potential therapeutic relevance, which we verified in an independent cohort (n = 87): (i) enrichment for BRCA signature with prevalent defects in the homologous recombination pathway; (ii) dominant T>G mutational pattern associated with a high mutational load and neoantigen burden; and (iii) C>A/T mutational pattern with evidence of an aging imprint. These subtypes could be ascertained using a clinically applicable sequencing strategy (low coverage) as a basis for therapy selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Secrier
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Xiaodun Li
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, Hutchison/Medical Research Council Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nadeera de Silva
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, Hutchison/Medical Research Council Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthew D. Eldridge
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gianmarco Contino
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, Hutchison/Medical Research Council Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jan Bornschein
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, Hutchison/Medical Research Council Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Shona MacRae
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, Hutchison/Medical Research Council Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nicola Grehan
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, Hutchison/Medical Research Council Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maria O’Donovan
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, Hutchison/Medical Research Council Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ahmad Miremadi
- Department of Histopathology, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tsun-Po Yang
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, Hutchison/Medical Research Council Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lawrence Bower
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hamza Chettouh
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, Hutchison/Medical Research Council Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jason Crawte
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, Hutchison/Medical Research Council Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Núria Galeano-Dalmau
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, Hutchison/Medical Research Council Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anna Grabowska
- Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - John Saunders
- Department of Oesophagogastric Surgery, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - Tim Underwood
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK
| | - Nicola Waddell
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew P. Barbour
- Surgical Oncology Group, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Barbara Nutzinger
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, Hutchison/Medical Research Council Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Achilleas Achilleos
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Andy G. Lynch
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Simon Tavaré
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rebecca C. Fitzgerald
- Medical Research Council Cancer Unit, Hutchison/Medical Research Council Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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42
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Inhibition of ATR-dependent feedback activation of Chk1 sensitises cancer cells to Chk1 inhibitor monotherapy. Cancer Lett 2016; 383:41-52. [PMID: 27693461 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2016.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The Chk1 and ATR kinases are critical mediators of the DNA damage response pathway and help protect cancer cells from endogenous and oncogene induced replication stress. Inhibitors of both kinases are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. Chk1 inhibition with V158411 increases DNA damage and activates the ATR, ATM and DNA-PKcs dependent DNA damage response pathways. Inhibiting ATR, ATM and/or DNA-PKcs has the potential to increase the therapeutic activity of Chk1 inhibitors. ATR inhibition but not ATM or DNA-PKcs inhibition potentiated the cytotoxicity of V158411 in p53 mutant and wild type human cancer cell lines. This increased cytotoxicity correlated with increased nuclear DNA damage and replication stress in a dose and time dependent manner. γH2AX induction following Chk1 inhibition protected cells from caspase-dependent apoptosis. Inhibition of ATR increased Chk1 inhibitor induced cell death independently of caspase activation. The effect of ATR, ATM and/or DNA-PK inhibition on Chk1 inhibitor induced replication stress was dependent on the concentration of Chk1 inhibitor. ATR inhibition potentiated Chk1 inhibitor induced replication stress and cytotoxicity via the abrogation of ATR-dependent feedback activation of Chk1 induced by Chk1 inhibitor generated replication stress. This study suggests that combining an ATR inhibitor to lower the threshold by which a Chk1 inhibitor induces replication stress, DNA damage and tumour cell death in a wide range of cancer types may be a useful clinical approach.
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43
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Restelli V, Chilà R, Lupi M, Rinaldi A, Kwee I, Bertoni F, Damia G, Carrassa L. Characterization of a mantle cell lymphoma cell line resistant to the Chk1 inhibitor PF-00477736. Oncotarget 2016; 6:37229-40. [PMID: 26439697 PMCID: PMC4741926 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive B-cell lymphoma characterized by the chromosomal translocation t(11;14) that leads to constitutive expression of cyclin D1, a master regulator of the G1-S phase. Chk1 inhibitors have been recently shown to be strongly effective as single agents in MCL. To investigate molecular mechanisms at the basis of Chk1 inhibitor activity, a MCL cell line resistant to the Chk1 inhibitor PF-00477736 (JEKO-1 R) was obtained and characterized. The JEKO-1 R cell line was cross resistant to another Chk1 inhibitor (AZD-7762) and to the Wee1 inhibitor MK-1775. It displayed a shorter doubling time than parental cell line, likely due to a faster S phase. Cyclin D1 expression levels were decreased in resistant cell line and its re-overexpression partially re-established PF-00477736 sensitivity. Gene expression profiling showed an enrichment in gene sets involved in pro-survival pathways in JEKO-1 R. Dasatinib treatment partly restored PF-00477736 sensitivity in resistant cells suggesting that the pharmacological interference of pro-survival pathways can overcome the resistance to Chk1 inhibitors. These data further corroborate the involvement of the t(11;14) in cellular sensitivity to Chk1 inhibitors, fostering the clinical testing of Chk1 inhibitors as single agents in MCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Restelli
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Laboratory of Cancer Pharmacology, Department of Oncology, IRCCS- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy
| | - Rosaria Chilà
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Laboratory of Cancer Pharmacology, Department of Oncology, IRCCS- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Lupi
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Laboratory of Cancer Pharmacology, Department of Oncology, IRCCS- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Rinaldi
- Lymphoma and Genomics Research Program, IOR Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Ivo Kwee
- Lymphoma and Genomics Research Program, IOR Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland.,Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IDSIA), Manno, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Bertoni
- Lymphoma and Genomics Research Program, IOR Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland.,Lymphoma Unit, IOSI Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Giovanna Damia
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Laboratory of Cancer Pharmacology, Department of Oncology, IRCCS- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Carrassa
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Laboratory of Cancer Pharmacology, Department of Oncology, IRCCS- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy
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44
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Osborne JD, Matthews TP, McHardy T, Proisy N, Cheung KMJ, Lainchbury M, Brown N, Walton MI, Eve PD, Boxall KJ, Hayes A, Henley AT, Valenti MR, De Haven Brandon AK, Box G, Jamin Y, Robinson SP, Westwood IM, van Montfort RLM, Leonard PM, Lamers MBAC, Reader JC, Aherne GW, Raynaud FI, Eccles SA, Garrett MD, Collins I. Multiparameter Lead Optimization to Give an Oral Checkpoint Kinase 1 (CHK1) Inhibitor Clinical Candidate: (R)-5-((4-((Morpholin-2-ylmethyl)amino)-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yl)amino)pyrazine-2-carbonitrile (CCT245737). J Med Chem 2016; 59:5221-37. [PMID: 27167172 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Multiparameter optimization of a series of 5-((4-aminopyridin-2-yl)amino)pyrazine-2-carbonitriles resulted in the identification of a potent and selective oral CHK1 preclinical development candidate with in vivo efficacy as a potentiator of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damaging chemotherapy and as a single agent. Cellular mechanism of action assays were used to give an integrated assessment of compound selectivity during optimization resulting in a highly CHK1 selective adenosine triphosphate (ATP) competitive inhibitor. A single substituent vector directed away from the CHK1 kinase active site was unexpectedly found to drive the selective cellular efficacy of the compounds. Both CHK1 potency and off-target human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) ion channel inhibition were dependent on lipophilicity and basicity in this series. Optimization of CHK1 cellular potency and in vivo pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) properties gave a compound with low predicted doses and exposures in humans which mitigated the residual weak in vitro hERG inhibition.
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45
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Paoluzzi L, Hanniford D, Sokolova E, Osman I, Darvishian F, Wang J, Bradner JE, Hernando E. BET and BRAF inhibitors act synergistically against BRAF-mutant melanoma. Cancer Med 2016; 5:1183-93. [PMID: 27169980 PMCID: PMC4867668 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Revised: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite major advances in the treatment of metastatic melanoma, treatment failure is still inevitable in most cases. Manipulation of key epigenetic regulators, including inhibition of Bromodomain and extra‐terminal domain (BET) family members impairs cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo in different cancers, including melanoma. Here, we investigated the effect of combining the BET inhibitor JQ1 with the BRAF inhibitor Vemurafenib in in vitro and in vivo models of BRAF‐mutant melanoma. We performed cytotoxicity and apoptosis assays, and a xenograft mouse model to determine the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of JQ1 in combination with Vemurafenib against BRAF‐mutant melanoma cell lines. Further, to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of combined treatment, we conducted antibody arrays of in vitro drug‐treated cell lines and RNA sequencing of drug‐treated xenograft tumors. The combination of JQ1 and Vemurafenib acted synergistically in BRAF‐mutant cell lines, resulting in marked apoptosis in vitro, with upregulation of proapoptotic proteins. In vivo, combination treatment suppressed tumor growth and significantly improved survival compared to either drug alone. RNA sequencing of tumor tissues revealed almost four thousand genes that were uniquely modulated by the combination, with several anti‐apoptotic genes significantly down‐regulated. Collectively, our data provide a rationale for combined BET and BRAF inhibition as a novel strategy for the treatment of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Paoluzzi
- New York University Cancer Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York.,Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.,Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, NYU Cancer Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Douglas Hanniford
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.,Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, NYU Cancer Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Elena Sokolova
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.,Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, NYU Cancer Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Iman Osman
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.,Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, NYU Cancer Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York.,Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Farbod Darvishian
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.,Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, NYU Cancer Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Jinhua Wang
- New York University Cancer Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York.,Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, NYU Cancer Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York.,NYU Center for Health Informatics and Bioinformatics, New York, New York
| | - James E Bradner
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Eva Hernando
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.,Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, NYU Cancer Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York
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46
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Spoerri L, Brooks K, Chia K, Grossman G, Ellis JJ, Dahmer-Heath M, Škalamera D, Pavey S, Burmeister B, Gabrielli B. A novel ATM-dependent checkpoint defect distinct from loss of function mutation promotes genomic instability in melanoma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2016; 29:329-39. [PMID: 26854966 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Melanomas have high levels of genomic instability that can contribute to poor disease prognosis. Here, we report a novel defect of the ATM-dependent cell cycle checkpoint in melanoma cell lines that promotes genomic instability. In defective cells, ATM signalling to CHK2 is intact, but the cells are unable to maintain the cell cycle arrest due to elevated PLK1 driving recovery from the arrest. Reducing PLK1 activity recovered the ATM-dependent checkpoint arrest, and over-expressing PLK1 was sufficient to overcome the checkpoint arrest and increase genomic instability. Loss of the ATM-dependent checkpoint did not affect sensitivity to ionizing radiation demonstrating that this defect is distinct from ATM loss of function mutations. The checkpoint defective melanoma cell lines over-express PLK1, and a significant proportion of melanomas have high levels of PLK1 over-expression suggesting this defect is a common feature of melanomas. The inability of ATM to impose a cell cycle arrest in response to DNA damage increases genomic instability. This work also suggests that the ATM-dependent checkpoint arrest is likely to be defective in a higher proportion of cancers than previously expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Spoerri
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Kelly Brooks
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - KeeMing Chia
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
- The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Gavriel Grossman
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Jonathan J Ellis
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Mareike Dahmer-Heath
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Dubravka Škalamera
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Sandra Pavey
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Bryan Burmeister
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
- Division of Cancer Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Brian Gabrielli
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
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47
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Vici P, Buglioni S, Sergi D, Pizzuti L, Di Lauro L, Antoniani B, Sperati F, Terrenato I, Carosi M, Gamucci T, Dattilo R, Bartucci M, Vincenzoni C, Mariani L, Vizza E, Sanguineti G, Gadducci A, Vitale I, Barba M, De Maria R, Mottolese M, Maugeri-Saccà M. DNA Damage and Repair Biomarkers in Cervical Cancer Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: An Exploratory Analysis. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0149872. [PMID: 26930412 PMCID: PMC4773222 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer cells commonly harbour a defective G1/S checkpoint owing to the interaction of viral oncoproteins with p53 and retinoblastoma protein. The activation of the G2/M checkpoint may thus become essential for protecting cancer cells from genotoxic insults, such as chemotherapy. In 52 cervical cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, we investigated whether the levels of phosphorylated Wee1 (pWee1), a key G2/M checkpoint kinase, and γ-H2AX, a marker of DNA double-strand breaks, discriminated between patients with a pathological complete response (pCR) and those with residual disease. We also tested the association between pWee1 and phosphorylated Chk1 (pChk1), a kinase acting upstream Wee1 in the G2/M checkpoint pathway. pWee1, γ-H2AX and pChk1 were retrospectively assessed in diagnostic biopsies by immunohistochemistry. The degrees of pWee1 and pChk1 expression were defined using three different classification methods, i.e., staining intensity, Allred score, and a multiplicative score. γ-H2AX was analyzed both as continuous and categorical variable. Irrespective of the classification used, elevated levels of pWee1 and γ-H2AX were significantly associated with a lower rate of pCR. In univariate and multivariate analyses, pWee1 and γ-H2AX were both associated with reduced pCR. Internal validation conducted through a re-sampling without replacement procedure confirmed the robustness of the multivariate model. Finally, we found a significant association between pWee1 and pChk1. The message conveyed by the present analysis is that biomarkers of DNA damage and repair may predict the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cervical cancer. Further studies are warranted to prospectively validate these encouraging findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Vici
- Division of Medical Oncology B, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Simonetta Buglioni
- Department of Pathology, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Sergi
- Division of Medical Oncology B, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Pizzuti
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Di Lauro
- Division of Medical Oncology B, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Antoniani
- Department of Pathology, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Sperati
- Biostatistics-Scientific Direction, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Irene Terrenato
- Biostatistics-Scientific Direction, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariantonia Carosi
- Department of Pathology, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Rosanna Dattilo
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Bartucci
- Drug Discovery Program, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Cristina Vincenzoni
- Department of Surgery, Gynecologic Oncology Unit, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Luciano Mariani
- Department of Surgery, Gynecologic Oncology Unit, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- HPV-UNIT, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Vizza
- Department of Surgery, Gynecologic Oncology Unit, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Sanguineti
- Department of Radiotherapy, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Angiolo Gadducci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ilio Vitale
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
- Scientific Direction, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Maddalena Barba
- Division of Medical Oncology B, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- Scientific Direction, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Ruggero De Maria
- Scientific Direction, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail: (MM-S); (RDM)
| | - Marcella Mottolese
- Department of Pathology, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello Maugeri-Saccà
- Division of Medical Oncology B, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- Scientific Direction, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail: (MM-S); (RDM)
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48
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Walton MI, Eve PD, Hayes A, Henley AT, Valenti MR, De Haven Brandon AK, Box G, Boxall KJ, Tall M, Swales K, Matthews TP, McHardy T, Lainchbury M, Osborne J, Hunter JE, Perkins ND, Aherne GW, Reader JC, Raynaud FI, Eccles SA, Collins I, Garrett MD. The clinical development candidate CCT245737 is an orally active CHK1 inhibitor with preclinical activity in RAS mutant NSCLC and Eµ-MYC driven B-cell lymphoma. Oncotarget 2016; 7:2329-42. [PMID: 26295308 PMCID: PMC4823038 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
CCT245737 is the first orally active, clinical development candidate CHK1 inhibitor to be described. The IC50 was 1.4 nM against CHK1 enzyme and it exhibited>1,000-fold selectivity against CHK2 and CDK1. CCT245737 potently inhibited cellular CHK1 activity (IC50 30-220 nM) and enhanced gemcitabine and SN38 cytotoxicity in multiple human tumor cell lines and human tumor xenograft models. Mouse oral bioavailability was complete (100%) with extensive tumor exposure. Genotoxic-induced CHK1 activity (pS296 CHK1) and cell cycle arrest (pY15 CDK1) were inhibited both in vitro and in human tumor xenografts by CCT245737, causing increased DNA damage and apoptosis. Uniquely, we show CCT245737 enhanced gemcitabine antitumor activity to a greater degree than for higher doses of either agent alone, without increasing toxicity, indicating a true therapeutic advantage for this combination. Furthermore, development of a novel ELISA assay for pS296 CHK1 autophosphorylation, allowed the quantitative measurement of target inhibition in a RAS mutant human tumor xenograft of NSCLC at efficacious doses of CCT245737. Finally, CCT245737 also showed significant single-agent activity against a MYC-driven mouse model of B-cell lymphoma. In conclusion, CCT245737 is a new CHK1 inhibitor clinical development candidate scheduled for a first in man Phase I clinical trial, that will use the novel pS296 CHK1 ELISA to monitor target inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike I. Walton
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Paul D. Eve
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Angela Hayes
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Alan T. Henley
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Melanie R. Valenti
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Alexis K. De Haven Brandon
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Gary Box
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Kathy J. Boxall
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Matthew Tall
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Karen Swales
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Thomas P. Matthews
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Tatiana McHardy
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Michael Lainchbury
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - James Osborne
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Jill E. Hunter
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Neil D. Perkins
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - G. Wynne Aherne
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | | | - Florence I. Raynaud
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Suzanne A. Eccles
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Ian Collins
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Michelle D. Garrett
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK
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49
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Sarmento LM, Barata JT. CHK1 and replicative stress in T-cell leukemia: Can an irreverent tumor suppressor end up playing the oncogene? Adv Biol Regul 2016; 60:115-121. [PMID: 26527132 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2015.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Revised: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Replicative stress (RS) is a cell-intrinsic phenomenon enhanced by oncogenic transformation. Checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) is a key component of the ATR-dependent DNA damage response pathway that protects cells from RS by preventing replication fork collapse and activating homologous DNA repair. Taking this knowledge into account, one would predict CHK1 behaves strictly as a tumor suppressor. However, the reality seems far more complex. CHEK1 loss-of-function mutations have not been found in human tumors, and transgenic expression of Chek1 in mice promotes oncogene-induced transformation through RS inhibition. Moreover, CHK1 is overexpressed in various human cancers and CHK1 inhibitors have been developed as sensitizers to enhance the cytotoxicity of DNA damage-inducing chemotherapies. Here, we summarize the literature on the involvement of CHK1 in cancer progression, including our recent observation that CHK1 sustains T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell viability. We also debate the importance of identifying patients that could benefit the most from treatment with CHK1 inhibitors, taking T-ALL as a model, and propose possible markers of therapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonor M Sarmento
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João T Barata
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal.
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50
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Sanjiv K, Hagenkort A, Calderón-Montaño JM, Koolmeister T, Reaper PM, Mortusewicz O, Jacques SA, Kuiper RV, Schultz N, Scobie M, Charlton PA, Pollard JR, Berglund UW, Altun M, Helleday T. Cancer-Specific Synthetic Lethality between ATR and CHK1 Kinase Activities. Cell Rep 2015; 14:298-309. [PMID: 26748709 PMCID: PMC4713868 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Revised: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
ATR and CHK1 maintain cancer cell survival under replication stress and inhibitors of both kinases are currently undergoing clinical trials. As ATR activity is increased after CHK1 inhibition, we hypothesized that this may indicate an increased reliance on ATR for survival. Indeed, we observe that replication stress induced by the CHK1 inhibitor AZD7762 results in replication catastrophe and apoptosis, when combined with the ATR inhibitor VE-821 specifically in cancer cells. Combined treatment with ATR and CHK1 inhibitors leads to replication fork arrest, ssDNA accumulation, replication collapse, and synergistic cell death in cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of CDK reversed replication stress and synthetic lethality, demonstrating that regulation of origin firing by ATR and CHK1 explains the synthetic lethality. In conclusion, this study exemplifies cancer-specific synthetic lethality between two proteins in the same pathway and raises the prospect of combining ATR and CHK1 inhibitors as promising cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumar Sanjiv
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Hagenkort
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - José Manuel Calderón-Montaño
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tobias Koolmeister
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Philip M Reaper
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Ltd., Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4RW, UK
| | - Oliver Mortusewicz
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sylvain A Jacques
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Raoul V Kuiper
- Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Niklas Schultz
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Scobie
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peter A Charlton
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Ltd., Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4RW, UK
| | - John R Pollard
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Ltd., Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4RW, UK
| | - Ulrika Warpman Berglund
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mikael Altun
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Helleday
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Translational Medicine and Chemical Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 171 21 Stockholm, Sweden.
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