1
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Pomella S, Cassandri M, D'Archivio L, Porrazzo A, Cossetti C, Phelps D, Perrone C, Pezzella M, Cardinale A, Wachtel M, Aloisi S, Milewski D, Colletti M, Sreenivas P, Walters ZS, Barillari G, Di Giannatale A, Milano GM, De Stefanis C, Alaggio R, Rodriguez-Rodriguez S, Carlesso N, Vakoc CR, Velardi E, Schafer BW, Guccione E, Gatz SA, Wasti A, Yohe M, Ignatius M, Quintarelli C, Shipley J, Miele L, Khan J, Houghton PJ, Marampon F, Gryder BE, De Angelis B, Locatelli F, Rota R. MYOD-SKP2 axis boosts tumorigenesis in fusion negative rhabdomyosarcoma by preventing differentiation through p57 Kip2 targeting. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8373. [PMID: 38102140 PMCID: PMC10724275 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44130-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are pediatric mesenchymal-derived malignancies encompassing PAX3/7-FOXO1 Fusion Positive (FP)-RMS, and Fusion Negative (FN)-RMS with frequent RAS pathway mutations. RMS express the master myogenic transcription factor MYOD that, whilst essential for survival, cannot support differentiation. Here we discover SKP2, an oncogenic E3-ubiquitin ligase, as a critical pro-tumorigenic driver in FN-RMS. We show that SKP2 is overexpressed in RMS through the binding of MYOD to an intronic enhancer. SKP2 in FN-RMS promotes cell cycle progression and prevents differentiation by directly targeting p27Kip1 and p57Kip2, respectively. SKP2 depletion unlocks a partly MYOD-dependent myogenic transcriptional program and strongly affects stemness and tumorigenic features and prevents in vivo tumor growth. These effects are mirrored by the investigational NEDDylation inhibitor MLN4924. Results demonstrate a crucial crosstalk between transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms through the MYOD-SKP2 axis that contributes to tumorigenesis in FN-RMS. Finally, NEDDylation inhibition is identified as a potential therapeutic vulnerability in FN-RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Pomella
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Cassandri
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
- Department of Radiological Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucrezia D'Archivio
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Antonella Porrazzo
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
- Department of Radiological Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Cossetti
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Doris Phelps
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Clara Perrone
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Michele Pezzella
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Antonella Cardinale
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Marco Wachtel
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sara Aloisi
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - David Milewski
- Oncogenomics Section, Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH,, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Marta Colletti
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Prethish Sreenivas
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Zoë S Walters
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology, Divisions of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Giovanni Barillari
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Di Giannatale
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Maria Milano
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Rita Alaggio
- Department of Pathology Unit, Department of Laboratories, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Sonia Rodriguez-Rodriguez
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Nadia Carlesso
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | | | - Enrico Velardi
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Beat W Schafer
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ernesto Guccione
- Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Department of Oncological Sciences and Pharmacological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Susanne A Gatz
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK
| | - Ajla Wasti
- Children and Young People's Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, UK
| | - Marielle Yohe
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Myron Ignatius
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Concetta Quintarelli
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Janet Shipley
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology, Divisions of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Lucio Miele
- Department of Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Oncogenomics Section, Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH,, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Peter J Houghton
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Francesco Marampon
- Department of Radiological Oncological and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Berkley E Gryder
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Biagio De Angelis
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy.
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2
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Monticelli M, Francisco R, Brasil S, Marques-da-Silva D, Rijoff T, Pascoal C, Jaeken J, Videira PA, Dos Reis Ferreira V. Stakeholders' views on drug development: the congenital disorders of glycosylation community perspective. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022; 17:303. [PMID: 35907899 PMCID: PMC9338569 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-022-02460-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are a large family of rare genetic diseases for which therapies are virtually nonexistent. However, CDG therapeutic research has been expanding, thanks to the continuous efforts of the CDG medical/scientific and patient communities. Hence, CDG drug development is a popular research topic. The main aim of this study was to understand current and steer future CDG drug development and approval by collecting and analysing the views and experiences of the CDG community, encompassing professionals and families. An electronic (e-)survey was developed and distributed to achieve this goal. RESULTS A total of 128 respondents (46 CDG professionals and 82 family members), mainly from Europe and the USA, participated in this study. Most professionals (95.0%) were relatively familiar with drug development and approval processes, while CDG families revealed low familiarity levels, with 8.5% admitting to never having heard about drug development. However, both stakeholder groups agreed that patients and families make significant contributions to drug development and approval. Regarding their perceptions of and experiences with specific drug development and approval tools, namely biobanks, disease models, patient registries, natural history studies (NHS) and clinical trials (CT), the CDG community stakeholders described low use and participation, as well as variable familiarity. Additionally, CDG professionals and families shared conflicting views about CT patient engagement and related information sharing. Families reported lower levels of involvement in CT design (25.0% declared ever being involved) and information (60.0% stated having been informed) compared to professionals (60.0% and 85.7%, respectively). These contrasting perceptions were further extended to their insights and experiences with patient-centric research. Finally, the CDG community (67.4% of professionals and 54.0% of families) reported a positive vision of artificial intelligence (AI) as a drug development tool. Nevertheless, despite the high AI awareness among CDG families (76.8%), professionals described limited AI use in their research (23.9%). CONCLUSIONS This community-centric study sheds new light on CDG drug development and approval. It identifies educational, communication and research gaps and opportunities for CDG professionals and families that could improve and accelerate CDG therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Monticelli
- Department of Biology, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", 80126, Naples, Italy.,CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies-PPAIN), Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Rita Francisco
- CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies-PPAIN), Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal. .,UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal. .,Associate Laboratory i4HB , Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal.
| | - Sandra Brasil
- CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies-PPAIN), Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal.,UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal.,Associate Laboratory i4HB , Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal.,Portuguese Association for Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG), Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Dorinda Marques-da-Silva
- CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies-PPAIN), Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal.,Portuguese Association for Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG), Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal.,LSRE-LCM - Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering - Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials, Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, 2411-901, Leiria, Portugal.,ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal
| | - Tatiana Rijoff
- CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies-PPAIN), Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal.,CDG Swiss Association, Meyrin, Switzerland
| | - Carlota Pascoal
- CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies-PPAIN), Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal.,UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal.,Associate Laboratory i4HB , Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal.,Portuguese Association for Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG), Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Jaak Jaeken
- CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies-PPAIN), Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal.,Department of Development and Regeneration, Centre for Metabolic Diseases, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paula A Videira
- CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies-PPAIN), Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal.,UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal.,Associate Laboratory i4HB , Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal.,Portuguese Association for Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG), Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Dos Reis Ferreira
- CDG & Allies - Professionals and Patient Associations International Network (CDG & Allies-PPAIN), Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal. .,UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal. .,Portuguese Association for Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG), Department of Life Sciences, School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516, Caparica, Portugal.
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3
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Perrone C, Pomella S, Cassandri M, Pezzella M, Milano GM, Colletti M, Cossetti C, Pericoli G, Di Giannatale A, de Billy E, Vinci M, Petrini S, Marampon F, Quintarelli C, Taulli R, Roma J, Gallego S, Camero S, Mariottini P, Cervelli M, Maestro R, Miele L, De Angelis B, Locatelli F, Rota R. MET Inhibition Sensitizes Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells to NOTCH Signaling Suppression. Front Oncol 2022; 12:835642. [PMID: 35574376 PMCID: PMC9092259 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.835642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a pediatric myogenic soft tissue sarcoma. The Fusion-Positive (FP) subtype expresses the chimeric protein PAX3-FOXO1 (P3F) while the Fusion-Negative (FN) is devoid of any gene translocation. FP-RMS and metastatic FN-RMS are often unresponsive to conventional therapy. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches are needed to halt tumor progression. NOTCH signaling has oncogenic functions in RMS and its pharmacologic inhibition through γ-secretase inhibitors blocks tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Here, we show that NOTCH signaling blockade resulted in the up-regulation and phosphorylation of the MET oncogene in both RH30 (FP-RMS) and RD (FN-RMS) cell lines. Pharmacologic inhibition of either NOTCH or MET signaling slowed proliferation and restrained cell survival compared to control cells partly by increasing Annexin V and CASP3/7 activation. Co-treatment with NOTCH and MET inhibitors significantly amplified these effects and enhanced PARP1 cleavage in both cell lines. Moreover, it severely hampered cell migration, colony formation, and anchorage-independent growth compared to single-agent treatments in both cell lines and significantly prevented the growth of FN-RMS cells grown as spheroids. Collectively, our results unveil the overexpression of the MET oncogene by NOTCH signaling targeting in RMS cells and show that MET pathway blockade sensitizes them to NOTCH inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Perrone
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Department of Science, "Department of Excellence 2018-2022", University of Rome "Roma Tre", Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Pomella
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Cassandri
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Department of Radiotherapy, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Pezzella
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Maria Milano
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Colletti
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Cossetti
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Pericoli
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Di Giannatale
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Emmanuel de Billy
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Vinci
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Petrini
- Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Concetta Quintarelli
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Josep Roma
- Group of Translational Research in Child and Adolescent Cancer, Vall d'Hebron Research Insti-tute-Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Soledad Gallego
- Group of Translational Research in Child and Adolescent Cancer, Vall d'Hebron Research Insti-tute-Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Simona Camero
- Department of Maternal, Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Mariottini
- Department of Science, "Department of Excellence 2018-2022", University of Rome "Roma Tre", Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Cervelli
- Department of Science, "Department of Excellence 2018-2022", University of Rome "Roma Tre", Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Maestro
- Unit of Oncogenetics and Functional Oncogenomics, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO Aviano) IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy
| | - Lucio Miele
- Department of Genetics and Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Biagio De Angelis
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Department of Pediatrics, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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4
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Hsu JY, Danis EP, Nance S, O'Brien JH, Gustafson AL, Wessells VM, Goodspeed AE, Talbot JC, Amacher SL, Jedlicka P, Black JC, Costello JC, Durbin AD, Artinger KB, Ford HL. SIX1 reprograms myogenic transcription factors to maintain the rhabdomyosarcoma undifferentiated state. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110323. [PMID: 35108532 PMCID: PMC8917510 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a pediatric muscle sarcoma characterized by expression of the myogenic lineage transcription factors (TFs) MYOD1 and MYOG. Despite high expression of these TFs, RMS cells fail to terminally differentiate, suggesting the presence of factors that alter their functions. Here, we demonstrate that the developmental TF SIX1 is highly expressed in RMS and critical for maintaining a muscle progenitor-like state. SIX1 loss induces differentiation of RMS cells into myotube-like cells and impedes tumor growth in vivo. We show that SIX1 maintains the RMS undifferentiated state by controlling enhancer activity and MYOD1 occupancy at loci more permissive to tumor growth over muscle differentiation. Finally, we demonstrate that a gene signature derived from SIX1 loss correlates with differentiation status and predicts RMS progression in human disease. Our findings demonstrate a master regulatory role of SIX1 in repression of RMS differentiation via genome-wide alterations in MYOD1 and MYOG-mediated transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Y Hsu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (UC-AMC), Aurora, CO, USA; Pharmacology Graduate Program, UC-AMC, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Etienne P Danis
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (UC-AMC), Aurora, CO, USA; University of Colorado Cancer Center, UC-AMC, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Stephanie Nance
- Division of Molecular Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jenean H O'Brien
- Department of Biology, College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Annika L Gustafson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (UC-AMC), Aurora, CO, USA; Molecular Biology Graduate Program, UC-AMC, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Andrew E Goodspeed
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (UC-AMC), Aurora, CO, USA; University of Colorado Cancer Center, UC-AMC, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jared C Talbot
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Sharon L Amacher
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | - Joshua C Black
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (UC-AMC), Aurora, CO, USA; Pharmacology Graduate Program, UC-AMC, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - James C Costello
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (UC-AMC), Aurora, CO, USA; Pharmacology Graduate Program, UC-AMC, Aurora, CO, USA; University of Colorado Cancer Center, UC-AMC, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Adam D Durbin
- Division of Molecular Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kristin B Artinger
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, UC-AMC, Aurora, CO, USA; University of Colorado Cancer Center, UC-AMC, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Heide L Ford
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (UC-AMC), Aurora, CO, USA; Pharmacology Graduate Program, UC-AMC, Aurora, CO, USA; University of Colorado Cancer Center, UC-AMC, Aurora, CO, USA.
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5
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Wang L, Hensch NR, Bondra K, Sreenivas P, Zhao XR, Chen J, Moreno Campos R, Baxi K, Vaseva AV, Sunkel BD, Gryder BE, Pomella S, Stanton BZ, Zheng S, Chen EY, Rota R, Khan J, Houghton PJ, Ignatius MS. SNAI2-Mediated Repression of BIM Protects Rhabdomyosarcoma from Ionizing Radiation. Cancer Res 2021; 81:5451-5463. [PMID: 34462275 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-4191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ionizing radiation (IR) and chemotherapy are mainstays of treatment for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma, yet the molecular mechanisms that underlie the success or failure of radiotherapy remain unclear. The transcriptional repressor SNAI2 was previously identified as a key regulator of IR sensitivity in normal and malignant stem cells through its repression of the proapoptotic BH3-only gene PUMA/BBC3. Here, we demonstrate a clear correlation between SNAI2 expression levels and radiosensitivity across multiple rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines. Modulating SNAI2 levels in rhabdomyosarcoma cells through its overexpression or knockdown altered radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo. SNAI2 expression reliably promoted overall cell growth and inhibited mitochondrial apoptosis following exposure to IR, with either variable or minimal effects on differentiation and senescence, respectively. Importantly, SNAI2 knockdown increased expression of the proapoptotic BH3-only gene BIM, and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing experiments established that SNAI2 is a direct repressor of BIM/BCL2L11. Because the p53 pathway is nonfunctional in the rhabdomyosarcoma cells used in this study, we have identified a new, p53-independent SNAI2/BIM signaling axis that could potentially predict clinical responses to IR treatment and be exploited to improve rhabdomyosarcoma therapy. SIGNIFICANCE: SNAI2 is identified as a major regulator of radiation-induced apoptosis in rhabdomyosarcoma through previously unknown mechanisms independent of p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Wang
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Nicole R Hensch
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Kathryn Bondra
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Prethish Sreenivas
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Xiang R Zhao
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Jiangfei Chen
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,School of Environmental Safety and Public Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Rodrigo Moreno Campos
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Kunal Baxi
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Angelina V Vaseva
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Benjamin D Sunkel
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Berkley E Gryder
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Silvia Pomella
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Benjamin Z Stanton
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Siyuan Zheng
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Eleanor Y Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Peter J Houghton
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Myron S Ignatius
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas. .,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
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6
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HER Tyrosine Kinase Family and Rhabdomyosarcoma: Role in Onset and Targeted Therapy. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071808. [PMID: 34359977 PMCID: PMC8305095 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071808] [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: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are tumors of the skeletal muscle lineage. Two main features allow for distinction between subtypes: morphology and presence/absence of a translocation between the PAX3 (or PAX7) and FOXO1 genes. The two main subtypes are fusion-positive alveolar RMS (ARMS) and fusion-negative embryonal RMS (ERMS). This review will focus on the role of receptor tyrosine kinases of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family that is comprised EGFR itself, HER2, HER3 and HER4 in RMS onset and the potential therapeutic targeting of receptor tyrosine kinases. EGFR is highly expressed by ERMS tumors and cell lines, in some cases contributing to tumor growth. If not mutated, HER2 is not directly involved in control of RMS cell growth but can be expressed at significant levels. A minority of ERMS carries a HER2 mutation with driving activity on tumor growth. HER3 is frequently overexpressed by RMS and can play a role in the residual myogenic differentiation ability and in resistance to signaling-directed therapy. HER family members could be exploited for therapeutic approaches in two ways: blocking the HER member (playing a driving role for tumor growth with antibodies or inhibitors) and targeting expressed HER members to vehiculate toxins or immune effectors.
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7
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Lian X, Bond JS, Bharathy N, Boudko SP, Pokidysheva E, Shern JF, Lathara M, Sasaki T, Settelmeyer T, Cleary MM, Bajwa A, Srinivasa G, Hartley CP, Bächinger HP, Mansoor A, Gultekin SH, Berlow NE, Keller C. Defining the Extracellular Matrix of Rhabdomyosarcoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:601957. [PMID: 33708626 PMCID: PMC7942227 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.601957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma of childhood with a propensity to metastasize. Current treatment for patients with RMS includes conventional systemic chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical resection; nevertheless, little to no improvement in long term survival has been achieved in decades-underlining the need for target discovery and new therapeutic approaches to targeting tumor cells or the tumor microenvironment. To evaluate cross-species sarcoma extracellular matrix production, we have used murine models which feature knowledge of the myogenic cell-of-origin. With focus on the RMS/undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) continuum, we have constructed tissue microarrays of 48 murine and four human sarcomas to analyze expression of seven different collagens, fibrillins, and collagen-modifying proteins, with cross-correlation to RNA deep sequencing. We have uncovered that RMS produces increased expression of type XVIII collagen alpha 1 (COL18A1), which is clinically associated with decreased long-term survival. We have also identified significantly increased RNA expression of COL4A1, FBN2, PLOD1, and PLOD2 in human RMS relative to normal skeletal muscle. These results complement recent studies investigating whether soft tissue sarcomas utilize collagens, fibrillins, and collagen-modifying enzymes to alter the structural integrity of surrounding host extracellular matrix/collagen quaternary structure resulting in improved ability to improve the ability to invade regionally and metastasize, for which therapeutic targeting is possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Lian
- Pediatric Cancer Biology, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - J. Steffan Bond
- Department of Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Narendra Bharathy
- Pediatric Cancer Biology, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Sergei P. Boudko
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Elena Pokidysheva
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Jack F. Shern
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Melvin Lathara
- Bioinformatics, Omics Data Automation, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Takako Sasaki
- Department of Matrix Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan
| | - Teagan Settelmeyer
- Pediatric Cancer Biology, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Megan M. Cleary
- Pediatric Cancer Biology, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Ayeza Bajwa
- Pediatric Cancer Biology, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | | | | | - Hans Peter Bächinger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shriners Hospital for Children, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Atiya Mansoor
- Department of Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Sakir H. Gultekin
- Department of Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Noah E. Berlow
- Pediatric Cancer Biology, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Charles Keller
- Pediatric Cancer Biology, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR, United States
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8
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Ghilu S, Li Q, Fontaine SD, Santi DV, Kurmasheva RT, Zheng S, Houghton PJ. Prospective use of the single-mouse experimental design for the evaluation of PLX038A. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2020; 85:251-263. [PMID: 31927611 PMCID: PMC7039322 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-019-04017-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Defining robust criteria for drug activity in preclinical studies allows for fewer animals per treatment group, and potentially allows for inclusion of additional cancer models that more accurately represent genetic diversity and, potentially, allows for tumor sensitivity biomarker identification. METHODS Using a single-mouse design, 32 pediatric xenograft tumor models representing diverse pediatric cancer types [Ewing sarcoma (9), brain (4), rhabdomyosarcoma (10), Wilms tumor (4), and non-CNS rhabdoid tumors (5)] were evaluated for response to a single administration of pegylated-SN38 (PLX038A), a controlled-release PEGylated formulation of SN-38. Endpoints measured were percent tumor regression, and event-free survival (EFS). The correlation between response to PLX038A was compared to that for ten models treated with irinotecan (2.5 mg/kg × 5 days × 2 cycles), using a traditional design (10 mice/group). Correlations between tumor sensitivity, genetic mutations and gene expression were sought. Models showing no disease at week 20 were categorized as 'extreme responders' to PLX038A, whereas those with EFS less than 5 weeks were categorized as 'resistant'. RESULTS The activity of PLX038A was evaluable in 31/32 models. PLX038A induced > 50% volume regressions in 25 models (78%). Initial tumor volume regression correlated only modestly with EFS (r2 = 0.238), but sensitivity to PLX038A was better correlated with response to irinotecan when one tumor hypersensitive to PLX038A was omitted (r2 = 0.6844). Mutations in 53BP1 were observed in three of six sensitive tumor models compared to none in resistant models (n = 6). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a single-mouse design for assessing the antitumor activity of an agent, while encompassing greater genetic diversity representative of childhood cancers. PLX038A was highly active in most xenograft models, and tumor sensitivity to PLX038A was correlated with sensitivity to irinotecan, validating the single-mouse design in identifying agents with the same mechanism of action. Biomarkers that correlated with model sensitivity included wild-type TP53, or mutant TP53 but with a mutation in 53BP1, thus a defect in DNA damage response. These results support the value of the single-mouse experimental design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samson Ghilu
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Qilin Li
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Shaun D Fontaine
- ProLynx LLC, 455 Mission Bay Blvd, South San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Daniel V Santi
- ProLynx LLC, 455 Mission Bay Blvd, South San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Raushan T Kurmasheva
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Siyuan Zheng
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Peter J Houghton
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
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9
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c-Myb regulates tumorigenic potential of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6342. [PMID: 31004084 PMCID: PMC6474878 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42684-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are a heterogeneous group of mesodermal tumors, the most common sub-types are embryonal (eRMS) and alveolar (aRMS) rhabdomyosarcoma. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed c-Myb expression in both eRMS and aRMS. c-Myb has been reported to be often associated with malignant human cancers. We therefore investigated the c-Myb role in RMS using cellular models of RMS. Specific suppression of c-Myb by a lentiviral vector expressing doxycycline (Dox)-inducible c-Myb shRNA inhibited proliferation, colony formation, and migration of the eRMS cell line (RD), but not of the aRMS cell line (RH30). Upon c-Myb knockdown in eRMS cells, cells accumulated in G0/G1 phase, the invasive behaviour of cells was repressed, and elevated levels of myosin heavy chain, marker of muscle differentiation, was detected. Next, we used an RD-based xenograft model to investigate the role of c-Myb in eRMS tumorigenesis in vivo. We found that Dox administration did not result in efficient suppression of c-Myb in growing tumors. However, when c-Myb-deficient RD cells were implanted into SCID mice, we observed inefficient tumor grafting and attenuation of tumor growth during the initial stages of tumor expansion. The presented study suggests that c-Myb could be a therapeutic target in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma assuming that its expression is ablated.
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10
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Kasiappan R, Jutooru I, Mohankumar K, Karki K, Lacey A, Safe S. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-Inducing Triterpenoid Inhibits Rhabdomyosarcoma Cell and Tumor Growth through Targeting Sp Transcription Factors. Mol Cancer Res 2019; 17:794-805. [PMID: 30610105 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-18-1071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Methyl 2-trifluoromethyl-3,11-dioxo-18β-olean-1,12-dien-3-oate (CF3DODA-Me) is derived synthetically from glycyrrhetinic acid, a major component of licorice, and this compound induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RD and Rh30 rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cells. CF3DODA-Me also inhibited growth and invasion and induced apoptosis in RMS cells, and these responses were attenuated after cotreatment with the antioxidant glutathione, demonstrating the effective anticancer activity of ROS in RMS. CF3DODA-Me also downregulated expression of specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors Sp1, Sp3, and Sp4 and prooncogenic Sp-regulated genes including PAX3-FOXO1 (in Rh30 cells). The mechanism of CF3DODA-Me-induced Sp-downregulation involved ROS-dependent repression of c-Myc and cMyc-regulated miR-27a and miR-17/20a, and this resulted in induction of the miRNA-regulated Sp repressors ZBTB4, ZBTB10, and ZBTB34. The cell and tumor growth effects of CF3DODA-Me further emphasize the sensitivity of RMS cells to ROS inducers and their potential clinical applications for treating this deadly disease. IMPLICATIONS: CF3DODA-Me and HDAC inhibitors that induce ROS-dependent Sp downregulation could be developed for clinical applications in treating rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Kasiappan
- Department of Biochemistry, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, Karnataka, India
| | - Indira Jutooru
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Kumaravel Mohankumar
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Keshav Karki
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Alexandra Lacey
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Stephen Safe
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
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11
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Di Giorgio E, Hancock WW, Brancolini C. MEF2 and the tumorigenic process, hic sunt leones. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2018; 1870:261-273. [PMID: 29879430 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2018.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
While MEF2 transcription factors are well known to cooperate in orchestrating cell fate and adaptive responses during development and adult life, additional studies over the last decade have identified a wide spectrum of genetic alterations of MEF2 in different cancers. The consequences of these alterations, including triggering and maintaining the tumorigenic process, are not entirely clear. A deeper knowledge of the molecular pathways that regulate MEF2 expression and function, as well as the nature and consequences of MEF2 mutations are necessary to fully understand the many roles of MEF2 in malignant cells. This review discusses the current knowledge of MEF2 transcription factors in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eros Di Giorgio
- Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Udine, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Wayne W Hancock
- Division of Transplant Immunology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Biesecker Center for Pediatric Liver Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Claudio Brancolini
- Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Udine, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy.
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12
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Abstract
Rare cancers account for about 22 per cent of all cancers diagnosed worldwide, disproportionately affecting some demographic groups, with an occurrence of less than 6 per 100,000 individuals annually. Many rare cancers in adults, adolescents and children are not curable, and patients and care providers have little option to take therapeutic decisions. The epidemiology of rare cancers is a challenging area of study but is inadequately addressed. Despite efforts mainly in some European nations, a few improvements have been observed in the management of rare cancers. Reasons for this obvious stagnation are multifactorial and are mainly inherent to logistical difficulties in carrying out clinical trials in very small patient populations, hesitation of the pharmaceutical industry to spend in small markets and complexity in creating adequate information for the development of cost-effective drugs. Rare cancers also face specific challenges that include late and incorrect diagnosis, lack of clinical expertise and lack of research interest and development of new therapies. The utilization of nationally representative study findings for the patients' evaluation may possibly offer chances to find out pathogenesis and prevalence, and this will eventually lead to control and prevention. Currently, advancing targeted therapies offer a great opportunity for the better management of rare cancers. Conducting clinical trials with small patient population, innovative clinical trial approach, prevailing controlling obstacles for international cooperation and financial support for research are the present challenges for rare cancers. The International Rare Cancers Initiative functions as a main platform for achieving new international clinical trials in rare tumours. This review delineates the current challenges and issues in the interpretation, management and research scenarios of rare cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raveendran K Pillai
- Division of Clinical Laboratory, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - K Jayasree
- Division of Pathology, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, India
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13
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Saini M, Verma A, Mathew SJ. SPRY2 is a novel MET interactor that regulates metastatic potential and differentiation in rhabdomyosarcoma. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:237. [PMID: 29445192 PMCID: PMC5833614 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-0261-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a predominantly pediatric soft-tissue cancer where the tumor cells exhibit characteristics of the developing skeletal muscle, and the two most common sub-types are embryonal and alveolar RMS. Elevated activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) MET is frequent in RMS and is thought to cause increased tumor metastasis and lack of differentiation. However, the reasons underlying dysregulated MET expression and activation in RMS are not well understood. Therefore, we explored the role of Sprouty 2 (SPRY2), a modulator of RTK signaling, in regulating MET. We identify SPRY2 as a novel MET interactor that colocalizes with and binds MET in both embryonal and alveolar RMS. We find that depletion of SPRY2 leads to MET degradation, resulting in reduced migratory and clonogenic potential, and induction of differentiation in both embryonal and alveolar RMS, outcomes that are identical to depletion of MET. Activation of the ERK/MAPK pathway, known to be crucial for regulating cell migration and whose inhibition is required for myogenic differentiation, was downregulated upon depletion of MET or SPRY2. This provides a direct connection to the decreased migration and induction of differentiation upon depletion of MET or SPRY2. Thus, these data indicate that SPRY2 interacts with MET and stabilizes it in order to maintain signaling downstream of MET, which keeps the ERK/MAPK pathway active, resulting in metastatic potential and inhibition of differentiation in RMS. Our results identify a novel mechanism by which MET signaling is stabilized in RMS, and is a potential target for therapeutic intervention in RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masum Saini
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, Haryana, 121001, India
| | - Aakanksha Verma
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, Haryana, 121001, India
| | - Sam J Mathew
- Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad, Haryana, 121001, India.
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14
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Randolph ME, Cleary MM, Bajwa Z, Svalina MN, Young MC, Mansoor A, Kaur P, Bult CJ, Goros MW, Michalek JE, Xiang S, Keck J, Krasnoperov V, Gill P, Keller C. EphB4/EphrinB2 therapeutics in Rhabdomyosarcoma. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183161. [PMID: 28817624 PMCID: PMC5560593 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma affecting children and is often diagnosed with concurrent metastases. Unfortunately, few effective therapies have been discovered that improve the long-term survival rate for children with metastatic disease. Here we determined effectiveness of targeting the receptor tyrosine kinase, EphB4, in both alveolar and embryonal RMS either directly through the inhibitory antibody, VasG3, or indirectly by blocking both forward and reverse signaling of EphB4 binding to EphrinB2, cognate ligand of EphB4. Clinically, EphB4 expression in eRMS was correlated with longer survival. Experimentally, inhibition of EphB4 with VasG3 in both aRMS and eRMS orthotopic xenograft and allograft models failed to alter tumor progression. Inhibition of EphB4 forward signaling using soluble EphB4 protein fused with murine serum albumin failed to affect eRMS model tumor progression, but did moderately slow progression in murine aRMS. We conclude that inhibition of EphB4 signaling with these agents is not a viable monotherapy for rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E. Randolph
- Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Megan M. Cleary
- Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, Oregon, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Zia Bajwa
- Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Matthew N. Svalina
- Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, Oregon, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Michael C. Young
- Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Atiya Mansoor
- Department of Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Pali Kaur
- The Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - Carol J. Bult
- The Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - Martin W. Goros
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Joel E. Michalek
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sunny Xiang
- The Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - James Keck
- The Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | | | - Parkash Gill
- Vasgene Therapeutics, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Charles Keller
- Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, Oregon, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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15
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Synergistic Antitumour Properties of viscumTT in Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. J Immunol Res 2017; 2017:4874280. [PMID: 28791312 PMCID: PMC5534308 DOI: 10.1155/2017/4874280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Revised: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aqueous mistletoe extracts from the European mistletoe (Viscum album) contain mainly mistletoe lectins and viscotoxins as cytotoxic compounds. Lipophilic triterpene acids, which do not occur in conventional mistletoe preparations, were solubilised with β-cyclodextrins. The combination of an aqueous extract (viscum) and a triterpene-containing extract (TT) recreated a whole mistletoe extract (viscumTT). These extracts were tested on rhabdomyosarcoma in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo with regard to anticancer effects. Viscum and viscumTT inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis effectively in a dose-dependent manner in vitro and ex vivo, whereas TT showed only moderate inhibitory effects. viscumTT proved to be more effective than the single extracts and displayed a synergistic effect in vitro and a stronger effect in vivo. viscumTT induced apoptosis via the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways, evidenced by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of CASP8 and CASP9. CASP10 inhibitor inhibited apoptosis effectively, emphasising the importance of CASP10 in viscumTT-induced apoptosis. Additionally, viscumTT changed the ratio of apoptosis-associated proteins by downregulation of antiapoptotic proteins such as XIAP and BIRC5, thus shifting the balance towards apoptosis. viscumTT effectively reduced tumour volume in patient-derived xenografts in vivo and may be considered a promising substance for rhabdomyosarcoma therapy.
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16
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Tenente IM, Hayes MN, Ignatius MS, McCarthy K, Yohe M, Sindiri S, Gryder B, Oliveira ML, Ramakrishnan A, Tang Q, Chen EY, Petur Nielsen G, Khan J, Langenau DM. Myogenic regulatory transcription factors regulate growth in rhabdomyosarcoma. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28080960 PMCID: PMC5231408 DOI: 10.7554/elife.19214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a pediatric malignacy of muscle with myogenic regulatory transcription factors MYOD and MYF5 being expressed in this disease. Consensus in the field has been that expression of these factors likely reflects the target cell of transformation rather than being required for continued tumor growth. Here, we used a transgenic zebrafish model to show that Myf5 is sufficient to confer tumor-propagating potential to RMS cells and caused tumors to initiate earlier and have higher penetrance. Analysis of human RMS revealed that MYF5 and MYOD are mutually-exclusively expressed and each is required for sustained tumor growth. ChIP-seq and mechanistic studies in human RMS uncovered that MYF5 and MYOD bind common DNA regulatory elements to alter transcription of genes that regulate muscle development and cell cycle progression. Our data support unappreciated and dominant oncogenic roles for MYF5 and MYOD convergence on common transcriptional targets to regulate human RMS growth. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.19214.001
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês M Tenente
- Molecular Pathology, Cancer Center, and Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, United States.,GABBA Program, Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Madeline N Hayes
- Molecular Pathology, Cancer Center, and Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, United States
| | - Myron S Ignatius
- Molecular Pathology, Cancer Center, and Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, United States.,Molecular Medicine, Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, San Antonio, United States
| | - Karin McCarthy
- Molecular Pathology, Cancer Center, and Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, United States
| | - Marielle Yohe
- Oncogenomics Section, Pediatric Oncology Branch, Advanced Technology Center, National Cancer Institute, Gaithersburg, United States
| | - Sivasish Sindiri
- Oncogenomics Section, Pediatric Oncology Branch, Advanced Technology Center, National Cancer Institute, Gaithersburg, United States
| | - Berkley Gryder
- Oncogenomics Section, Pediatric Oncology Branch, Advanced Technology Center, National Cancer Institute, Gaithersburg, United States
| | - Mariana L Oliveira
- Molecular Pathology, Cancer Center, and Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, United States.,Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ashwin Ramakrishnan
- Molecular Pathology, Cancer Center, and Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, United States
| | - Qin Tang
- Molecular Pathology, Cancer Center, and Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, United States
| | - Eleanor Y Chen
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - G Petur Nielsen
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
| | - Javed Khan
- Oncogenomics Section, Pediatric Oncology Branch, Advanced Technology Center, National Cancer Institute, Gaithersburg, United States
| | - David M Langenau
- Molecular Pathology, Cancer Center, and Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, United States
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17
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Meister MT, Boedicker C, Graab U, Hugle M, Hahn H, Klingebiel T, Fulda S. Arsenic trioxide induces Noxa-dependent apoptosis in rhabdomyosarcoma cells and synergizes with antimicrotubule drugs. Cancer Lett 2016; 381:287-95. [PMID: 27521572 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2016.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Revised: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The prognosis of metastatic or relapsed rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is poor, highlighting the need of new treatment options. In the present study, we evaluated the in vitro efficacy of arsenic trioxide (ATO) in RMS, a FDA-approved drug used in pediatric leukemia. Here, we report that ATO exerts antitumor activity against RMS cells both as single agent and in combination with microtubule-targeting drugs. Monotherapy with ATO reduces cell viability, triggers apoptosis and suppresses clonogenic survival of RMS cells, at least in part, by transcriptional induction of the proapoptotic BH3-only protein Noxa. siRNA-mediated knockdown of Noxa significantly rescues ATO-mediated cell death, demonstrating that Noxa is required for cell death. Also, ATO suppresses endogenous Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, as it significantly reduces Gli1 transcriptional activity and expression levels of several Hh target genes. Furthermore, we identify synergistic induction of apoptosis by ATO together with several antimicrotubule agents including vincristine (VCR), vinblastine and eribulin. The addition of the broad-range caspase inhibitor zVAD.fmk or overexpression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 significantly reduce ATO/VCR-induced cell death, indicating that the ATO/VCR combination triggers caspase-dependent apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. In summary, ATO exerts antitumor activity against RMS, especially in combination with antimicrotubule drugs. These findings have important implications for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Torsten Meister
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University, Komturstr. 3a, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Cathinka Boedicker
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University, Komturstr. 3a, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Graab
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University, Komturstr. 3a, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Manuela Hugle
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University, Komturstr. 3a, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Heidi Hahn
- Department of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Klingebiel
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Simone Fulda
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University, Komturstr. 3a, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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18
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Boyd N, Dancey JE, Gilks CB, Huntsman DG. Rare cancers: a sea of opportunity. Lancet Oncol 2016; 17:e52-e61. [PMID: 26868354 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(15)00386-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Revised: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Rare cancers, as a collective, account for around a quarter of all cancer diagnoses and deaths. Historically, they have been divided into two groups: cancers defined by their unusual histogenesis (cell of origin or differentiation state)--including chordomas or adult granulosa cell tumours--and histologically defined subtypes of common cancers. Most tumour types in the first group are still clinically and biologically relevant, and have been disproportionately important as sources of insight into cancer biology. By contrast, most of those in the second group have been shown to have neither defining molecular features nor clinical utility. Omics-based analyses have splintered common cancers into a myriad of molecularly, rather than histologically, defined subsets of common cancers, many of which have immediate clinical relevance. Now, almost all rare cancers are either histomolecular entities, which often have pathognomonic mutations, or molecularly defined subsets of more common cancers. The presence of specific genetic variants provides rationale for the testing of targeted drugs in rare cancers. However, in addition to molecular alterations, it is crucial to consider the contributions of both mutation and cell context in the development, biology, and behaviour of these cancers. Patients with rare cancers are disadvantaged because of the challenge of leading clinical trials in this setting due to poor accrual. However, the number of patients with rare cancers will only increase as more molecular subsets of common cancers are identified, necessitating a shift in the focus of clinical trials and research into these cancer types, which, by epidemiological definitions, will become rare tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niki Boyd
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Janet E Dancey
- Department of Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - C Blake Gilks
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - David G Huntsman
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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19
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Noujaim J, Thway K, Bajwa Z, Bajwa A, Maki RG, Jones RL, Keller C. Epithelioid Sarcoma: Opportunities for Biology-Driven Targeted Therapy. Front Oncol 2015; 5:186. [PMID: 26347853 PMCID: PMC4538302 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2015.00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelioid sarcoma (ES) is a soft tissue sarcoma of children and young adults for which the preferred treatment for localized disease is wide surgical resection. Medical management is to a great extent undefined, and therefore for patients with regional and distal metastases, the development of targeted therapies is greatly desired. In this review, we will summarize clinically relevant biomarkers (e.g., SMARCB1, CA125, dysadherin, and others) with respect to targeted therapeutic opportunities. We will also examine the role of EGFR, mTOR, and polykinase inhibitors (e.g., sunitinib) in the management of local and disseminated disease. Toward building a consortium of pharmaceutical, academic, and non-profit collaborators, we will discuss the state of resources for investigating ES with respect to cell line resources, tissue banks, and registries so that a roadmap can be developed toward effective biology-driven therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zia Bajwa
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute , Fort Collins, CO , USA
| | - Ayeza Bajwa
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute , Fort Collins, CO , USA
| | - Robert G Maki
- Adult and Paediatric Sarcoma Program, Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine , New York, NY , USA
| | | | - Charles Keller
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute , Fort Collins, CO , USA
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20
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Kashi VP, Hatley ME, Galindo RL. Probing for a deeper understanding of rhabdomyosarcoma: insights from complementary model systems. Nat Rev Cancer 2015; 15:426-39. [PMID: 26105539 PMCID: PMC4599785 DOI: 10.1038/nrc3961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a mesenchymal malignancy composed of neoplastic primitive precursor cells that exhibit histological features of myogenic differentiation. Despite intensive conventional multimodal therapy, patients with high-risk RMS typically suffer from aggressive disease. The lack of directed therapies against RMS emphasizes the need to further uncover the molecular underpinnings of the disease. In this Review, we discuss the notable advances in the model systems now available to probe for new RMS-targetable pathogenetic mechanisms, and the possibilities for enhanced RMS therapeutics and improved clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkatesh P Kashi
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-9072, USA
| | - Mark E Hatley
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Rene L Galindo
- 1] Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-9072, USA. [2] Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-9148, USA. [3] Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-9063, USA
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21
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Ridzewski R, Rettberg D, Dittmann K, Cuvelier N, Fulda S, Hahn H. Hedgehog Inhibitors in Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Comparison of Four Compounds and Responsiveness of Four Cell Lines. Front Oncol 2015; 5:130. [PMID: 26106586 PMCID: PMC4459089 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2015.00130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and is divided into two major histological subgroups, i.e., embryonal (ERMS) and alveolar RMS (ARMS). RMS can show HEDGEHOG/SMOOTHENED (HH/SMO) signaling activity and several clinical trials using HH inhibitors for therapy of RMS have been launched. We here compared the antitumoral effects of the SMO inhibitors GDC-0449, LDE225, HhA, and cyclopamine in two ERMS (RD, RUCH-2) and two ARMS (RMS-13, Rh41) cell lines. Our data show that the antitumoral effects of these SMO inhibitors are highly divers and do not necessarily correlate with inhibition of HH signaling. In addition, the responsiveness of the RMS cell lines to the drugs is highly heterogeneous. Whereas some SMO inhibitors (i.e., LDE225 and HhA) induce strong proapoptotic and antiproliferative effects in some RMS cell lines, others paradoxically induce cellular proliferation at certain concentrations (e.g., 10 μM GDC-0449 or 5 μM cyclopamine in RUCH-2 and Rh41 cells) or can increase HH signaling activity as judged by GLI1 expression (i.e., LDE225, HhA, and cyclopamine). Similarly, some drugs (e.g., HhA) inhibit PI3K/AKT signaling or induce autophagy (e.g., LDE225) in some cell lines, whereas others cannot (e.g., GDC-0449). In addition, the effects of SMO inhibitors are concentration-dependent (e.g., 1 and 10 μM GDC-0449 decrease GLI1 expression in RD cells whereas 30 μM GDC-0449 does not). Together these data show that some SMO inhibitors can induce strong antitumoral effects in some, but not all, RMS cell lines. Due to the highly heterogeneous response, we propose to conduct thorough pretesting of SMO inhibitors in patient-derived short-term RMS cultures or patient-derived xenograft mouse models before applying these drugs to RMS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalie Ridzewski
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Goettingen , Goettingen , Germany
| | - Diana Rettberg
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Goettingen , Goettingen , Germany
| | - Kai Dittmann
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Immunology, University Medical Center Goettingen , Goettingen , Germany
| | - Nicole Cuvelier
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Goettingen , Goettingen , Germany
| | - Simone Fulda
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt , Frankfurt , Germany
| | - Heidi Hahn
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Goettingen , Goettingen , Germany
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22
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Hettmer S, Li Z, Billin AN, Barr FG, Cornelison DDW, Ehrlich AR, Guttridge DC, Hayes-Jordan A, Helman LJ, Houghton PJ, Khan J, Langenau DM, Linardic CM, Pal R, Partridge TA, Pavlath GK, Rota R, Schäfer BW, Shipley J, Stillman B, Wexler LH, Wagers AJ, Keller C. Rhabdomyosarcoma: current challenges and their implications for developing therapies. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2014; 4:a025650. [PMID: 25368019 PMCID: PMC4208704 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a025650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) represents a rare, heterogeneous group of mesodermal malignancies with skeletal muscle differentiation. One major subgroup of RMS tumors (so-called "fusion-positive" tumors) carries exclusive chromosomal translocations that join the DNA-binding domain of the PAX3 or PAX7 gene to the transactivation domain of the FOXO1 (previously known as FKHR) gene. Fusion-negative RMS represents a heterogeneous spectrum of tumors with frequent RAS pathway activation. Overtly metastatic disease at diagnosis is more frequently found in individuals with fusion-positive than in those with fusion-negative tumors. RMS is the most common pediatric soft-tissue sarcoma, and approximately 60% of all children and adolescents diagnosed with RMS are cured by currently available multimodal therapies. However, a curative outcome is achieved in <30% of high-risk individuals with RMS, including all those diagnosed as adults, those diagnosed with fusion-positive tumors during childhood (including metastatic and nonmetastatic tumors), and those diagnosed with metastatic disease during childhood (including fusion-positive and fusion-negative tumors). This white paper outlines current challenges in RMS research and their implications for developing more effective therapies. Urgent clinical problems include local control, systemic disease, need for improved risk stratification, and characterization of differences in disease course in children and adults. Biological challenges include definition of the cellular functions of PAX-FOXO1 fusion proteins, clarification of disease heterogeneity, elucidation of the cellular origins of RMS, delineation of the tumor microenvironment, and identification of means for rational selection and testing of new combination therapies. To streamline future therapeutic developments, it will be critical to improve access to fresh tumor tissue for research purposes, consider alternative trial designs to optimize early clinical testing of candidate drugs, coalesce advocacy efforts to garner public and industry support, and facilitate collaborative efforts between academia and industry.
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23
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Siurala M, Bramante S, Vassilev L, Hirvinen M, Parviainen S, Tähtinen S, Guse K, Cerullo V, Kanerva A, Kipar A, Vähä-Koskela M, Hemminki A. Oncolytic adenovirus and doxorubicin-based chemotherapy results in synergistic antitumor activity against soft-tissue sarcoma. Int J Cancer 2014; 136:945-54. [DOI: 10.1002/ijc.29048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Revised: 05/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mikko Siurala
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Pathology and Transplantation Laboratory; Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki; Helsinki Finland
| | - Simona Bramante
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Pathology and Transplantation Laboratory; Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki; Helsinki Finland
| | | | - Mari Hirvinen
- Laboratory of Immunovirotherapy; Division of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki; Helsinki Finland
| | - Suvi Parviainen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Pathology and Transplantation Laboratory; Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki; Helsinki Finland
| | - Siri Tähtinen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Pathology and Transplantation Laboratory; Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki; Helsinki Finland
| | - Kilian Guse
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Pathology and Transplantation Laboratory; Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki; Helsinki Finland
| | - Vincenzo Cerullo
- Laboratory of Immunovirotherapy; Division of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki; Helsinki Finland
| | - Anna Kanerva
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Pathology and Transplantation Laboratory; Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki; Helsinki Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Helsinki University Central Hospital; Helsinki Finland
| | - Anja Kipar
- Finnish Centre for Laboratory Animal Pathology; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki; Helsinki Finland
- Department of Infection Biology; Institute of Global Health, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool; Liverpool United Kingdom
| | - Markus Vähä-Koskela
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Pathology and Transplantation Laboratory; Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki; Helsinki Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Pathology and Transplantation Laboratory; Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki; Helsinki Finland
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24
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Hinson ARP, Jones R, Crose LES, Belyea BC, Barr FG, Linardic CM. Human rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines for rhabdomyosarcoma research: utility and pitfalls. Front Oncol 2013; 3:183. [PMID: 23882450 PMCID: PMC3713458 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2013] [Accepted: 06/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood and adolescence. Despite intergroup clinical trials conducted in Europe and North America, outcomes for high risk patients with this disease have not significantly improved in the last several decades, and survival of metastatic or relapsed disease remains extremely poor. Accrual into new clinical trials is slow and difficult, so in vitro cell-line research and in vivo xenograft models present an attractive alternative for preclinical research for this cancer type. Currently, 30 commonly used human RMS cell lines exist, with differing origins, karyotypes, histologies, and methods of validation. Selecting an appropriate cell line for RMS research has important implications for outcomes. There are also potential pitfalls in using certain cell lines including contamination with murine stromal cells, cross-contamination between cell lines, discordance between the cell line and its associated original tumor, imposter cell lines, and nomenclature errors that result in the circulation of two or more presumed unique cell lines that are actually from the same origin. These pitfalls can be avoided by testing for species-specific isoenzymes, microarray analysis, assays for subtype-specific fusion products, and short tandem repeat analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley R P Hinson
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center , Durham, NC , USA
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