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Manfreda L, Rampazzo E, Persano L. Wnt Signaling in Brain Tumors: A Challenging Therapeutic Target. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12050729. [PMID: 37237541 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The involvement of Wnt signaling in normal tissue homeostasis and disease has been widely demonstrated over the last 20 years. In particular, dysregulation of Wnt pathway components has been suggested as a relevant hallmark of several neoplastic malignancies, playing a role in cancer onset, progression, and response to treatments. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the instructions provided by Wnt signaling during organogenesis and, particularly, brain development. Moreover, we recapitulate the most relevant mechanisms through which aberrant Wnt pathway activation may impact on brain tumorigenesis and brain tumor aggressiveness, with a particular focus on the mutual interdependency existing between Wnt signaling components and the brain tumor microenvironment. Finally, the latest anti-cancer therapeutic approaches employing the specific targeting of Wnt signaling are extensively reviewed and discussed. In conclusion, here we provide evidence that Wnt signaling, due to its pleiotropic involvement in several brain tumor features, may represent a relevant target in this context, although additional efforts will be needed to: (i) demonstrate the real clinical impact of Wnt inhibition in these tumors; (ii) overcome some still unsolved concerns about the potential systemic effects of such approaches; (iii) achieve efficient brain penetration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Manfreda
- Department of Women and Children's Health, University of Padova, Via Giustininani, 3, 35128 Padova, Italy
- Pediatric Research Institute, Corso Stati Uniti, 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Rampazzo
- Department of Women and Children's Health, University of Padova, Via Giustininani, 3, 35128 Padova, Italy
- Pediatric Research Institute, Corso Stati Uniti, 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Luca Persano
- Department of Women and Children's Health, University of Padova, Via Giustininani, 3, 35128 Padova, Italy
- Pediatric Research Institute, Corso Stati Uniti, 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
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2
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Swiderska-Syn M, Mir-Pedrol J, Oles A, Schleuger O, Salvador AD, Greiner SM, Seward C, Yang F, Babcock BR, Shen C, Wynn DT, Sanchez-Mejias A, Gershon TR, Martin V, McCrea HJ, Lindsey KG, Krieg C, Rodriguez-Blanco J. Noncanonical activation of GLI signaling in SOX2 + cells drives medulloblastoma relapse. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabj9138. [PMID: 35857834 PMCID: PMC9299538 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj9138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 2 (SOX2)-labeled cells play key roles in chemoresistance and tumor relapse; thus, it is critical to elucidate the mechanisms propagating them. Single-cell transcriptomic analyses of the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor, medulloblastoma (MB), revealed the existence of astrocytic Sox2+ cells expressing sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling biomarkers. Treatment with vismodegib, an SHH inhibitor that acts on Smoothened (Smo), led to increases in astrocyte-like Sox2+ cells. Using SOX2-enriched MB cultures, we observed that SOX2+ cells required SHH signaling to propagate, and unlike in the proliferative tumor bulk, the SHH pathway was activated in these cells downstream of Smo in an MYC-dependent manner. Functionally different GLI inhibitors depleted vismodegib-resistant SOX2+ cells from MB tissues, reduced their ability to further engraft in vivo, and increased symptom-free survival. Our results emphasize the promise of therapies targeting GLI to deplete SOX2+ cells and provide stable tumor remission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzena Swiderska-Syn
- Darby Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Júlia Mir-Pedrol
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona 08002, Spain
| | - Alexander Oles
- Darby Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Olga Schleuger
- Darby Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - April D. Salvador
- Darby Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Sean M. Greiner
- Darby Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Cara Seward
- Darby Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Fan Yang
- Molecular Oncology Program, The Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Benjamin R. Babcock
- Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Chen Shen
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Daniel T. Wynn
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Avencia Sanchez-Mejias
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona 08002, Spain
| | - Timothy R. Gershon
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Vanesa Martin
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Asturias 33006, Spain
| | - Heather J. McCrea
- Department of Clinical Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Kathryn G. Lindsey
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Carsten Krieg
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Jezabel Rodriguez-Blanco
- Darby Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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3
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Bou-Rouphael J, Durand BC. T-Cell Factors as Transcriptional Inhibitors: Activities and Regulations in Vertebrate Head Development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:784998. [PMID: 34901027 PMCID: PMC8651982 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.784998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Since its first discovery in the late 90s, Wnt canonical signaling has been demonstrated to affect a large variety of neural developmental processes, including, but not limited to, embryonic axis formation, neural proliferation, fate determination, and maintenance of neural stem cells. For decades, studies have focused on the mechanisms controlling the activity of β-catenin, the sole mediator of Wnt transcriptional response. More recently, the spotlight of research is directed towards the last cascade component, the T-cell factor (TCF)/Lymphoid-Enhancer binding Factor (LEF), and more specifically, the TCF/LEF-mediated switch from transcriptional activation to repression, which in both embryonic blastomeres and mouse embryonic stem cells pushes the balance from pluri/multipotency towards differentiation. It has been long known that Groucho/Transducin-Like Enhancer of split (Gro/TLE) is the main co-repressor partner of TCF/LEF. More recently, other TCF/LEF-interacting partners have been identified, including the pro-neural BarH-Like 2 (BARHL2), which belongs to the evolutionary highly conserved family of homeodomain-containing transcription factors. This review describes the activities and regulatory modes of TCF/LEF as transcriptional repressors, with a specific focus on the functions of Barhl2 in vertebrate brain development. Specific attention is given to the transcriptional events leading to formation of the Organizer, as well as the roles and regulations of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in growth of the caudal forebrain. We present TCF/LEF activities in both embryonic and neural stem cells and discuss how alterations of this pathway could lead to tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Béatrice C. Durand
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR7622, IBPS Developmental Biology Laboratory, Campus Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
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4
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Lhermitte B, Blandin AF, Coca A, Guerin E, Durand A, Entz-Werlé N. Signaling pathway deregulation and molecular alterations across pediatric medulloblastomas. Neurochirurgie 2021; 67:39-45. [PMID: 29776650 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuchi.2018.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Revised: 01/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastomas (MBs) account for 15% of brain tumors in children under the age of 15. To date, the overall 5-year survival rate for all children is only around 60%. Recent advances in cancer genomics have led to a fundamental change in medulloblastoma classification and is evolving along with the genomic discoveries, allowing to regularly reclassify this disease. The previous molecular classification defined 4 groups (WNT-activated MB, SHH-activated MB and the groups 3 and 4 characterized partially by NMYC and MYC driven MBs). This stratification moved forward recently to better define these groups and their correlation to outcome. This new stratification into 7 novel subgroups was helpful to lay foundations and complementary data on the understanding regarding molecular pathways and gene mutations underlying medulloblastoma biology. This review was aimed at answering the recent key questions on MB genomics and go further in the relevance of those genes in MB development as well as in their targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Lhermitte
- Laboratoire de Pathologie, CHU Hautepierre, 1, avenue Molière, 67098 Strasbourg, France
| | - A F Blandin
- EA3430, Progression tumorale et microenvironnement, approches translationnelles et épidémiologie, université de Strasbourg, 3, avenue Molière, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - A Coca
- Service de Neurochirurgie, CHU Hautepierre, 1, avenue Molière, 67098 Strasbourg, France
| | - E Guerin
- Laboratoire de biologie moléculaire et plateforme régionale d'oncobiologie d'Alsace, CHU Hautepierre, 1, avenue Molière, 67098 Strasbourg, France
| | - A Durand
- EA3430, Progression tumorale et microenvironnement, approches translationnelles et épidémiologie, université de Strasbourg, 3, avenue Molière, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - N Entz-Werlé
- EA3430, Progression tumorale et microenvironnement, approches translationnelles et épidémiologie, université de Strasbourg, 3, avenue Molière, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Service de pédiatrie onco-hématologie, CHU Hautepierre, 1, avenue Molière, 67098 Strasbourg, France.
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Dual Role of WISP1 in maintaining glioma stem cells and tumor-supportive macrophages in glioblastoma. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3015. [PMID: 32541784 PMCID: PMC7295765 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16827-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The interplay between glioma stem cells (GSCs) and the tumor microenvironment plays crucial roles in promoting malignant growth of glioblastoma (GBM), the most lethal brain tumor. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this crosstalk are incompletely understood. Here, we show that GSCs secrete the Wnt‐induced signaling protein 1 (WISP1) to facilitate a pro-tumor microenvironment by promoting the survival of both GSCs and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). WISP1 is preferentially expressed and secreted by GSCs. Silencing WISP1 markedly disrupts GSC maintenance, reduces tumor-supportive TAMs (M2), and potently inhibits GBM growth. WISP1 signals through Integrin α6β1-Akt to maintain GSCs by an autocrine mechanism and M2 TAMs through a paracrine manner. Importantly, inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin-WISP1 signaling by carnosic acid (CA) suppresses GBM tumor growth. Collectively, these data demonstrate that WISP1 plays critical roles in maintaining GSCs and tumor-supportive TAMs in GBM, indicating that targeting Wnt/β-catenin-WISP1 signaling may effectively improve GBM treatment and the patient survival. The tumour microenvironment plays an important role in promoting glioblastoma. Here, the authors show that glioma stem cells secrete WISP1, which promotes both the survival of the stem cells and tumour-associated macrophages.
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Sneha S, Nagare RP, Sidhanth C, Krishnapriya S, Garg M, Ramachandran B, Murhekar K, Sundersingh S, Ganesan TS. The hedgehog pathway regulates cancer stem cells in serous adenocarcinoma of the ovary. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2020; 43:601-616. [PMID: 32382997 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-020-00504-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Signaling by cancer stem cells (CSCs) is known to occur at least in part through conserved developmental pathways. Here, the role of one of these pathways, i.e., the hedgehog pathway, was evaluated in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC). METHODS AND RESULTS We found that in HGSOC, hedgehog inhibitors (HHIs) GANT61, LDE225 and GDC0449 reduced or inhibited the formation of spheroids enriched in CSCs. Primary malignant cells (PMCs) in ascites from HGSOC patients cultured in the presence of HHIs showed significant reduction in CSCs. Sonic hedgehog (SHH) significantly increased the expression of ALDH1A1, which was inhibited by GANT61. In the presence of a SHH neutralizing antibody (5E1), a significant reduction in the number of spheroids was observed in HGSOC-derived cell lines. Further, the motility, migration and clonogenic growth of the cells were significantly reduced by HHIs. In the presence of GANT61, a reduction of cells from PMCs in the G0 phase of the cell cycle was observed. The magnitude of difference in expression of Gli1 in tumors from the same HGSOC patients at presentation and at interval debulking surgery was greater in patients who had a recurrence on follow up. GANT61 also significantly inhibited the growth of CSCs in nude mice. Finally, RNA sequencing of HGSOC cells treated with GANT61 showed a significantly reduced expression of CSC markers. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that the hedgehog pathway plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of CSCs in HGSOC and could be a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smarakan Sneha
- Laboratory for Cancer Biology, Departments of Medical Oncology and Clinical Research, Cancer Institute (WIA), 38, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600036, India
| | - Rohit P Nagare
- Laboratory for Cancer Biology, Departments of Medical Oncology and Clinical Research, Cancer Institute (WIA), 38, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600036, India
| | - Chirukandath Sidhanth
- Laboratory for Cancer Biology, Departments of Medical Oncology and Clinical Research, Cancer Institute (WIA), 38, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600036, India
| | - Syama Krishnapriya
- Laboratory for Cancer Biology, Departments of Medical Oncology and Clinical Research, Cancer Institute (WIA), 38, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600036, India
| | - Manoj Garg
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine & Stem Cell Research, Amity University Campus, Sector-125, 201303, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Balaji Ramachandran
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Kanchan Murhekar
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Trivadi S Ganesan
- Laboratory for Cancer Biology, Departments of Medical Oncology and Clinical Research, Cancer Institute (WIA), 38, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600036, India.
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7
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Tu R, Duan B, Song X, Xie T. Dlp-mediated Hh and Wnt signaling interdependence is critical in the niche for germline stem cell progeny differentiation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaaz0480. [PMID: 32426496 PMCID: PMC7220319 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz0480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Although multiple signaling pathways work synergistically in various niches to control stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, it remains poorly understood how they cooperate with one another molecularly. In the Drosophila ovary, Hh and Wnt pathways function in the niche to promote germline stem cell (GSC) progeny differentiation. Here, we show that glypican Dlp-mediated Hh and Wnt signaling interdependence operates in the niche to promote GSC progeny differentiation by preventing BMP signaling. Hh/Wnt-mediated dlp repression is essential for their signaling interdependence in niche cells and for GSC progeny differentiation by preventing BMP signaling. Mechanistically, Hh and Wnt downstream transcription factors directly bind to the same dlp regulatory region and recruit corepressors composed of transcription factor Croc and Egg/H3K9 trimethylase to repress Dlp expression. Therefore, our study reveals a novel mechanism for Hh/Wnt signaling-mediated direct dlp repression and a novel regulatory mechanism for Dlp-mediated Hh/Wnt signaling interdependence in the GSC differentiation niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renjun Tu
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Bo Duan
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Xiaoqing Song
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
| | - Ting Xie
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
- Corresponding author.
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8
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Alharbi M, Mobark N, Bashawri Y, Abu Safieh L, Alowayn A, Aljelaify R, AlSaeed M, Almutairi A, Alqubaishi F, AlSolme E, Ahmad M, Al-Banyan A, Alotabi FE, Serrano J, Snuderl M, Al-Rashed M, Abedalthagafi M. Methylation Profiling of Medulloblastoma in a Clinical Setting Permits Sub-classification and Reveals New Outcome Predictions. Front Neurol 2020; 11:167. [PMID: 32265819 PMCID: PMC7100767 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common childhood malignant brain tumor and is a leading cause of cancer-related death in children. DNA methylation profiling has rapidly advanced our understanding of MB pathogenesis at the molecular level, but assessments in Saudi Arabian (SA)-MB cases are sparse. MBs can be sub-grouped according to methylation patterns from FPPE samples into Wingless (WNT-MB), Sonic Hedgehog (SHH-MB), Group 3 (G3), and Group 4 (G4) tumors. The WNT-MB and SHH-MB subgroups are characterized by gain-of function mutations that activate oncogenic cell signaling, whilst G3/G4 tumors show recurrent chromosomal alterations. Given that each subgroup has distinct clinical outcomes, the ability to subgroup SA-FPPE samples holds significant prognostic and therapeutic value. Here, we performed the first assessment of MB-DNA methylation patterns in an SA cohort using archival biopsy material (FPPE n = 49). Of the 41 materials available for methylation assessments, 39 could be classified into the major DNA methylation subgroups (SHH, WNT, G3, and G4). Furthermore, methylation analysis was able to reclassify tumors that could not be sub-grouped through next-generation sequencing, highlighting its superior accuracy for MB molecular classifications. Independent assessments demonstrated known clinical relationships of the subgroups, exemplified by the high survival rates observed for WNT tumors. Surprisingly, the G4 subgroup did not conform to previously identified phenotypes, with a high prevalence in females, high metastatic rates, and a large number of tumor-associated deaths. Taking our results together, we demonstrate that DNA methylation profiling enables the robust sub-classification of four disease sub-groups in archival FFPE biopsy material from SA-MB patients. Moreover, we show that the incorporation of DNA methylation biomarkers can significantly improve current disease-risk stratification schemes, particularly concerning the identification of aggressive G4 tumors. These findings have important implications for future clinical disease management in MB cases across the Arab world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Musa Alharbi
- Department of Paediatric Oncology Comprehensive Cancer Centre, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nahla Mobark
- Department of Paediatric Oncology Comprehensive Cancer Centre, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yara Bashawri
- Department of Biostatistics, Research Centre, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Leen Abu Safieh
- Genomics Research Department, Saudi Human Genome Project, King Fahad Medical City and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Albandary Alowayn
- Department of Biostatistics, Research Centre, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rasha Aljelaify
- Department of Biostatistics, Research Centre, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mariam AlSaeed
- Department of Biostatistics, Research Centre, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amal Almutairi
- Department of Biostatistics, Research Centre, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatimah Alqubaishi
- Department of Biostatistics, Research Centre, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ebtehal AlSolme
- Genomics Research Department, Saudi Human Genome Project, King Fahad Medical City and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maqsood Ahmad
- Department of Neuroscience, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ayman Al-Banyan
- Department of Neuroscience, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad E Alotabi
- Department of Neuroscience, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jonathan Serrano
- Department of Pathology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Matija Snuderl
- Department of Pathology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - May Al-Rashed
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Malak Abedalthagafi
- Genomics Research Department, Saudi Human Genome Project, King Fahad Medical City and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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9
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Tamayo-Orrego L, Charron F. Recent advances in SHH medulloblastoma progression: tumor suppressor mechanisms and the tumor microenvironment. F1000Res 2019; 8. [PMID: 31700613 PMCID: PMC6820827 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.20013.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma, the most common of the malignant pediatric brain tumors, is a group of four molecularly and clinically distinct cancers with different cells of origin. One of these medulloblastoma groups displays activation of Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling and originates from granule cell precursors of the developing cerebellum. Ongoing basic and clinical research efforts are tailored to discover targeted and safer therapies, which rely on the identification of the basic mechanisms regulating tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. In SHH medulloblastoma, the mechanisms regulating neural progenitor transformation and progression to advanced tumors have been studied in some detail. The present review discusses recent advances on medulloblastoma progression derived from studies using mouse models of SHH medulloblastoma. We focus on mechanisms that regulate progression from precancerous lesions to medulloblastoma, describing novel roles played by tumor suppressor mechanisms and the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Tamayo-Orrego
- Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Grupo Neuroaprendizaje, Autonomous University of Manizales, Manizales, Colombia
| | - Frédéric Charron
- Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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10
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Abstract
The hedgehog (Hh) pathway plays an important role in cancer development and maintenance, as ~25% of all cancers have aberrant Hh pathway activation. Targeted therapy for inhibition of the Hh pathway was thought to be promising for achieving clinical response in the Hh-dependent cancers. However, the results of new clinical trials with smoothened (SMO) antagonists do not show much success in cancers other than basal cell carcinoma. The studies suggest that the Hh pathway involves multiple mechanisms of activation or inhibition in primary cilia and interactions between several related pathways in different types of cells, which makes this pathway extremely complex. The SMO-specific antagonists may not stop all relevant pathways that may lead to escape or development of resistance. Therefore, in the Hh-dependent cancers, the inhibition of two or more oncogenic pathways (including the Hh pathway) with use of a single agent of a suitable multitarget profile or a combination of drugs seems promising for achieving clinical response in patients and decrease in resistance development with prolonged use of the specific SMO antagonists. Furthermore, for studying the effect of new treatments, the inclusion criteria should be more specific for selection of patients with aberrant Hh pathway activity confirmed by tests. These considerations will be very helpful for choosing the right patients and the right drugs for the best therapeutic outcome.
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11
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Vriend J, Tate RB. Differential Expression of Genes for Ubiquitin Ligases in Medulloblastoma Subtypes. THE CEREBELLUM 2019; 18:469-488. [PMID: 30810905 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-019-1009-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Using publically available datasets on gene expression in medulloblastoma (MB) subtypes, we selected genes for ubiquitin ligases and identified statistically those that best predicted each of the four major MB subgroups as separate disease entities. We identify a gene coding for an ubiquitin ligase, ZNRF3, whose overexpression alone can predict the WNT subgroup for 100% in the Pfister dataset. For the SHH subgroup, we identify a gene for a regulatory subunit of the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), PPP2R2C, as the major predictor among the E3 ligases genes. The ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like conjugation database (UUCD) lists PPP2R2C as coding for a Cullin Ring ubiquitin ligase adaptor. For group 3 MBs, the best ubiquitin ligase predictor was PPP2R2B, a gene which codes for another regulatory subunit of the PP2A holoenzyme. For group 4, the best E3 gene predictors were MID2, ZBTB18, and PPP2R2A, which codes for a third PP2A regulatory subunit. Heatmap analysis of the E3 gene data shows that expression of ten genes for ubiquitin ligases can be used to classify MBs into the four major consensus subgroups. This was illustrated by analysis of gene expression of ubiquitin ligases of the Pfister dataset and confirmed in the dataset of Cavalli. We conclude that genes for ubiquitin ligases can be used as genetic markers for MB subtypes and that the proteins coded for by these genes should be investigated as subtype specific therapeutic targets for MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry Vriend
- Department of Human Anatomy & Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Rm134, BMSB, 745 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 0J9, Canada.
| | - Robert B Tate
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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12
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Rodriguez-Blanco J, Li B, Long J, Shen C, Yang F, Orton D, Collins S, Kasahara N, Ayad NG, McCrea HJ, Roussel MF, Weiss WA, Capobianco AJ, Robbins DJ. A CK1α Activator Penetrates the Brain and Shows Efficacy Against Drug-resistant Metastatic Medulloblastoma. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 25:1379-1388. [PMID: 30487124 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-1319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Although most children with medulloblastoma are cured of their disease, Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) subgroup medulloblastoma driven by TRP53 mutations is essentially lethal. Casein kinase 1α (CK1α) phosphorylates and destabilizes GLI transcription factors, thereby inhibiting the key effectors of SHH signaling. We therefore tested a second-generation CK1α activator against TRP53-mutant, MYCN-amplified medulloblastoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The ability of this CK1α activator to block SHH signaling was determined in vitro using GLI reporter cells, granular precursor primary cultures, and PATCHED1 (PTCH1)-mutant sphere cultures. While in vivo efficacy was tested using 2 different medulloblastoma mouse models: PTCH1 and ND2:SMOA1. Finally, the clinical relevance of CK1α activators was demonstrated using a TRP53-mutant, MYCN-amplified patient-derived xenograft. RESULTS SSTC3 inhibited SHH activity in vitro, acting downstream of the vismodegib target SMOOTHENED (SMO), and reduced the viability of sphere cultures derived from SHH medulloblastoma. SSTC3 accumulated in the brain, inhibited growth of SHH medulloblastoma tumors, and blocked metastases in a genetically engineered vismodegib-resistant mouse model of SHH medulloblastoma. Importantly, SSTC3 attenuated growth and metastasis of orthotopic patient-derived TRP53-mutant, MYCN-amplified, SHH subgroup medulloblastoma xenografts, increasing overall survival. CONCLUSIONS Using a newly described small-molecule, SSTC3, we show that CK1a activators could address a significant unmet clinical need for patients with SMO inhibitor-resistant medulloblastoma, including those harboring mutations in TRP53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jezabel Rodriguez-Blanco
- Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Bin Li
- Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Jun Long
- Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Chen Shen
- Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Fan Yang
- Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | | | - Sara Collins
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Noriyuki Kasahara
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Florida
| | - Nagi G Ayad
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Florida.,Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Heather J McCrea
- Department of Clinical Neurological Surgery, University of Miami, Florida
| | - Martine F Roussel
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH), Memphis, Tennessee
| | - William A Weiss
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Anthony J Capobianco
- Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Florida
| | - David J Robbins
- Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida. .,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Florida
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Wnt Signaling in Thyroid Homeostasis and Carcinogenesis. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9040204. [PMID: 29642644 PMCID: PMC5924546 DOI: 10.3390/genes9040204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wnt pathway is essential for stem cell maintenance, but little is known about its role in thyroid hormone signaling and thyroid stem cell survival and maintenance. In addition, the role of Wnt signaling in thyroid cancer progenitor cells is also unclear. Here, we present emerging evidence for the role of Wnt signaling in somatic thyroid stem cell and thyroid cancer stem cell function. An improved understanding of the role of Wnt signaling in thyroid physiology and carcinogenesis is essential for improving both thyroid disease diagnostics and therapeutics.
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