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Xiao C, Wu X, Gallagher CS, Rasooly D, Jiang X, Morton CC. Genetic contribution of reproductive traits to risk of uterine leiomyomata: a large-scale, genome-wide, cross-trait analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024; 230:438.e1-438.e15. [PMID: 38191017 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.12.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although phenotypic associations between female reproductive characteristics and uterine leiomyomata have long been observed in epidemiologic investigations, the shared genetic architecture underlying these complex phenotypes remains unclear. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate the shared genetic basis, pleiotropic effects, and potential causal relationships underlying reproductive traits (age at menarche, age at natural menopause, and age at first birth) and uterine leiomyomata. STUDY DESIGN With the use of large-scale, genome-wide association studies conducted among women of European ancestry for age at menarche (n=329,345), age at natural menopause (n=201,323), age at first birth (n=418,758), and uterine leiomyomata (ncases/ncontrols=35,474/267,505), we performed a comprehensive, genome-wide, cross-trait analysis to examine systematically the common genetic influences between reproductive traits and uterine leiomyomata. RESULTS Significant global genetic correlations were identified between uterine leiomyomata and age at menarche (rg, -0.17; P=3.65×10-10), age at natural menopause (rg, 0.23; P=3.26×10-07), and age at first birth (rg, -0.16; P=1.96×10-06). Thirteen genomic regions were further revealed as contributing significant local correlations (P<.05/2353) to age at natural menopause and uterine leiomyomata. A cross-trait meta-analysis identified 23 shared loci, 3 of which were novel. A transcriptome-wide association study found 15 shared genes that target tissues of the digestive, exo- or endocrine, nervous, and cardiovascular systems. Mendelian randomization suggested causal relationships between a genetically predicted older age at menarche (odds ratio, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.85-0.92; P=1.50×10-10) or older age at first birth (odds ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.90-0.99; P=.02) and a reduced risk for uterine leiomyomata and between a genetically predicted older age at natural menopause and an increased risk for uterine leiomyomata (odds ratio, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.09; P=2.30×10-27). No causal association in the reverse direction was found. CONCLUSION Our work highlights that there are substantial shared genetic influences and putative causal links that underlie reproductive traits and uterine leiomyomata. The findings suggest that early identification of female reproductive risk factors may facilitate the initiation of strategies to modify potential uterine leiomyomata risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changfeng Xiao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xueyao Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | | | - Danielle Rasooly
- Division of Aging, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Xia Jiang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Cynthia Casson Morton
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA; Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
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2
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van den Bosch QCC, de Klein A, Verdijk RM, Kiliç E, Brosens E. Uveal melanoma modeling in mice and zebrafish. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189055. [PMID: 38104908 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.189055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Despite extensive research and refined therapeutic options, the survival for metastasized uveal melanoma (UM) patients has not improved significantly. UM, a malignant tumor originating from melanocytes in the uveal tract, can be asymptomatic and small tumors may be detected only during routine ophthalmic exams; making early detection and treatment difficult. UM is the result of a number of characteristic somatic alterations which are associated with prognosis. Although UM morphology and biology have been extensively studied, there are significant gaps in our understanding of the early stages of UM tumor evolution and effective treatment to prevent metastatic disease remain elusive. A better understanding of the mechanisms that enable UM cells to thrive and successfully metastasize is crucial to improve treatment efficacy and survival rates. For more than forty years, animal models have been used to investigate the biology of UM. This has led to a number of essential mechanisms and pathways involved in UM aetiology. These models have also been used to evaluate the effectiveness of various drugs and treatment protocols. Here, we provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms and pharmacological studies using mouse and zebrafish UM models. Finally, we highlight promising therapeutics and discuss future considerations using UM models such as optimal inoculation sites, use of BAP1mut-cell lines and the rise of zebrafish models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quincy C C van den Bosch
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annelies de Klein
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert M Verdijk
- Department of Pathology, Section of Ophthalmic Pathology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Emine Kiliç
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erwin Brosens
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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3
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Phan HTN, Kim NH, Wei W, Tall GG, Smrcka AV. Uveal melanoma-associated mutations in PLCβ4 are constitutively activating and promote melanocyte proliferation and tumorigenesis. Sci Signal 2021; 14:eabj4243. [PMID: 34905385 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abj4243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoa T N Phan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Nam Hoon Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Wenhui Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Gregory G Tall
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Alan V Smrcka
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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4
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Zeng H, Castillo-Cabrera J, Manser M, Lu B, Yang Z, Strande V, Begue D, Zamponi R, Qiu S, Sigoillot F, Wang Q, Lindeman A, Reece-Hoyes JS, Russ C, Bonenfant D, Jiang X, Wang Y, Cong F. Genome-wide CRISPR screening reveals genetic modifiers of mutant EGFR dependence in human NSCLC. eLife 2019; 8:50223. [PMID: 31741433 PMCID: PMC6927754 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
EGFR-mutant NSCLCs frequently respond to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, the responses are not durable, and the magnitude of tumor regression is variable, suggesting the existence of genetic modifiers of EGFR dependency. Here, we applied a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening to identify genetic determinants of EGFR TKI sensitivity and uncovered putative candidates. We show that knockout of RIC8A, essential for G-alpha protein activation, enhanced EGFR TKI-induced cell death. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that RIC8A is a positive regulator of YAP signaling, activation of which rescued the EGFR TKI sensitizing phenotype resulting from RIC8A knockout. We also show that knockout of ARIH2, or other components in the Cullin-5 E3 complex, conferred resistance to EGFR inhibition, in part by promoting nascent protein synthesis through METAP2. Together, these data uncover a spectrum of previously unidentified regulators of EGFR TKI sensitivity in EGFR-mutant human NSCLC, providing insights into the heterogeneity of EGFR TKI treatment responses. Cancer is caused by cells growing and dividing uncontrollably as a result of mutations in certain genes. Many human lung cancers have a mutation in the gene that makes the protein EGFR. In healthy cells, EGFR allows a cell to respond to chemical signals that encourage healthy growth. In cancer, the altered EGFR is always on, which allows the cell to rapidly grow without any control, resulting in cancer. One approach to treating these cancers is with drugs that block the activity of mutant EGFR. Although these drugs have been very successful, they do not always succeed in completely treating the cancer. This is because over time the cancer cells can become resistant to the drug and start forming new tumors. One way that this can happen is if random mutations lead to changes in other proteins that make the drug less effective or stop it from accessing the EGFR proteins. However, it is unclear how other proteins in cancer cells affect the response to these EGFR inhibiting drugs. Now, Zeng et al. have used gene editing to systematically remove every protein from human lung cancer cells grown in the laboratory to see how this affects resistance to EGFR inhibitor treatment. This revealed that a number of different proteins could change how cancer cells responded to the drug. For instance, cells lacking the protein RIC8A were more sensitive to EGFR inhibitors and less likely to develop resistance. This is because loss of RIC8A turns down a key cell survival pathway in cancer cells. Whereas, cancer cells lacking the ARIH2 protein were able to produce more proteins that are needed for cancer cell growth, which resulted in them having increased resistance to EGFR inhibitors. The proteins identified in this study could be used to develop new drugs that improve the effectiveness of EGFR inhibitors. Understanding how cancer cells respond to EGFR inhibitor treatment could help determine how likely a patient is to develop resistance to these drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zeng
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
| | - Johnny Castillo-Cabrera
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
| | - Mika Manser
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
| | - Bo Lu
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
| | - Zinger Yang
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
| | - Vaik Strande
- Analytical Sciences and Imaging, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Damien Begue
- Analytical Sciences and Imaging, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Raffaella Zamponi
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
| | - Shumei Qiu
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
| | - Frederic Sigoillot
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
| | - Qiong Wang
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
| | - Alicia Lindeman
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
| | - John S Reece-Hoyes
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
| | - Carsten Russ
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
| | - Debora Bonenfant
- Analytical Sciences and Imaging, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Xiaomo Jiang
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
| | - Youzhen Wang
- Oncology Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
| | - Feng Cong
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, United States
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5
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Annala S, Feng X, Shridhar N, Eryilmaz F, Patt J, Yang J, Pfeil EM, Cervantes-Villagrana RD, Inoue A, Häberlein F, Slodczyk T, Reher R, Kehraus S, Monteleone S, Schrage R, Heycke N, Rick U, Engel S, Pfeifer A, Kolb P, König G, Bünemann M, Tüting T, Vázquez-Prado J, Gutkind JS, Gaffal E, Kostenis E. Direct targeting of Gαq and Gα11 oncoproteins in cancer cells. Sci Signal 2019; 12:12/573/eaau5948. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aau5948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Somatic gain-of-function mutations of GNAQ and GNA11, which encode α subunits of heterotrimeric Gαq/11 proteins, occur in about 85% of cases of uveal melanoma (UM), the most common cancer of the adult eye. Molecular therapies to directly target these oncoproteins are lacking, and current treatment options rely on radiation, surgery, or inhibition of effector molecules downstream of these G proteins. A hallmark feature of oncogenic Gαq/11 proteins is their reduced intrinsic rate of hydrolysis of guanosine triphosphate (GTP), which results in their accumulation in the GTP-bound, active state. Here, we report that the cyclic depsipeptide FR900359 (FR) directly interacted with GTPase-deficient Gαq/11 proteins and preferentially inhibited mitogenic ERK signaling rather than canonical phospholipase Cβ (PLCβ) signaling driven by these oncogenes. Thereby, FR suppressed the proliferation of melanoma cells in culture and inhibited the growth of Gαq-driven UM mouse xenografts in vivo. In contrast, FR did not affect tumor growth when xenografts carried mutated B-RafV600E as the oncogenic driver. Because FR enabled suppression of malignant traits in cancer cells that are driven by activating mutations at codon 209 in Gαq/11 proteins, we envision that similar approaches could be taken to blunt the signaling of non-Gαq/11 G proteins.
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6
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Papasergi-Scott MM, Stoveken HM, MacConnachie L, Chan PY, Gabay M, Wong D, Freeman RS, Beg AA, Tall GG. Dual phosphorylation of Ric-8A enhances its ability to mediate G protein α subunit folding and to stimulate guanine nucleotide exchange. Sci Signal 2018; 11:11/532/eaap8113. [PMID: 29844055 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aap8113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase-8A (Ric-8A) and Ric-8B are essential biosynthetic chaperones for heterotrimeric G protein α subunits. We provide evidence for the direct regulation of Ric-8A cellular activity by dual phosphorylation. Using proteomics, Western blotting, and mutational analyses, we determined that Ric-8A was constitutively phosphorylated at five serines and threonines by the protein kinase CK2. Phosphorylation of Ser435 and Thr440 in rat Ric-8A (corresponding to Ser436 and Thr441 in human Ric-8A) was required for high-affinity binding to Gα subunits, efficient stimulation of Gα subunit guanine nucleotide exchange, and mediation of Gα subunit folding. The CK2 consensus sites that contain Ser435 and Thr440 are conserved in Ric-8 homologs from worms to mammals. We found that the homologous residues in mouse Ric-8B, Ser468 and Ser473, were also phosphorylated. Mutation of the genomic copy of ric-8 in Caenorhabditis elegans to encode alanine in the homologous sites resulted in characteristic ric-8 reduction-of-function phenotypes that are associated with defective Gq and Gs signaling, including reduced locomotion and defective egg laying. The C. elegans ric-8 phosphorylation site mutant phenotypes were partially rescued by chemical stimulation of Gq signaling. These results indicate that dual phosphorylation represents a critical form of conserved Ric-8 regulation and demonstrate that Ric-8 proteins are needed for effective Gα signaling. The position of the CK2-phosphorylated sites within a structural model of Ric-8A reveals that these sites contribute to a key acidic and negatively charged surface that may be important for its interactions with Gα subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makaía M Papasergi-Scott
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Hannah M Stoveken
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Lauren MacConnachie
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Pui-Yee Chan
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Meital Gabay
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Dorothy Wong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Robert S Freeman
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Asim A Beg
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Gregory G Tall
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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7
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Park JJ, Diefenbach RJ, Joshua AM, Kefford RF, Carlino MS, Rizos H. Oncogenic signaling in uveal melanoma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2018; 31:661-672. [DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John J. Park
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Macquarie University; Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Melanoma Institute Australia; Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Russell J. Diefenbach
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Macquarie University; Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Melanoma Institute Australia; Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Anthony M. Joshua
- Melanoma Institute Australia; Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Kinghorn Cancer Centre; St Vincent’s Hospital; Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Richard F. Kefford
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Macquarie University; Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Melanoma Institute Australia; Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Department of Medical Oncology; Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre; Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals; Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Matteo S. Carlino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Macquarie University; Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Melanoma Institute Australia; Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Department of Medical Oncology; Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre; Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals; Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Helen Rizos
- Department of Biomedical Sciences; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Macquarie University; Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Melanoma Institute Australia; Sydney New South Wales Australia
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8
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Loskutov YV, Griffin CL, Marinak KM, Bobko A, Margaryan NV, Geldenhuys WJ, Sarkaria JN, Pugacheva EN. LPA signaling is regulated through the primary cilium: a novel target in glioblastoma. Oncogene 2018; 37:1457-1471. [PMID: 29321663 PMCID: PMC5854509 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-017-0049-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The primary cilium is a ubiquitous organelle presented on most human cells. It is a crucial signaling hub for multiple pathways including growth factor and G-protein coupled receptors. Loss of primary cilia, observed in various cancers, has been shown to affect cell proliferation. Primary cilia formation is drastically decreased in glioblastoma (GBM), however, the role of cilia in normal astrocyte or glioblastoma proliferation has not been explored. Here, we report that loss of primary cilia in human astrocytes stimulates growth rate in a lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-dependent manner. We show that lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1) is accumulated in primary cilia. LPAR1 signaling through Gα12/Gαq was previously reported to be responsible for cancer cell proliferation. We found that in ciliated cells, Gα12 and Gαq are excluded from the cilium, creating a barrier against unlimited proliferation, one of the hallmarks of cancer. Upon loss of primary cilia, LPAR1 redistributes to the plasma membrane with a concomitant increase in LPAR1 association with Gα12 and Gαq. Inhibition of LPA signaling with the small molecule compound Ki16425 in deciliated highly proliferative astrocytes or glioblastoma patient-derived cells/xenografts drastically suppresses their growth both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, Ki16425 brain delivery via PEG-PLGA nanoparticles inhibited tumor progression in an intracranial glioblastoma PDX model. Overall, our findings establish a novel mechanism by which primary cilium restricts proliferation and indicate that loss of primary cilia is sufficient to increase mitogenic signaling, and is important for the maintenance of a highly proliferative phenotype. Clinical application of LPA inhibitors may prove beneficial to restrict glioblastoma growth and ensure local control of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuriy V Loskutov
- WVU Cancer Institute, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Caryn L Griffin
- WVU Cancer Institute, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Kristina M Marinak
- WVU Cancer Institute, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Andrey Bobko
- Department of Biochemistry, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Naira V Margaryan
- Department of Biochemistry, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Werner J Geldenhuys
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | | | - Elena N Pugacheva
- WVU Cancer Institute, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA.
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9
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Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM), a rare cancer of the eye, is distinct from cutaneous melanoma by its etiology, the mutation frequency and profile, and its clinical behavior including resistance to targeted therapy and immune checkpoint blockers. Primary disease is efficiently controlled by surgery or radiation therapy, but about half of UMs develop distant metastasis mostly to the liver. Survival of patients with metastasis is below 1 year and has not improved in decades. Recent years have brought a deep understanding of UM biology characterized by initiating mutations in the G proteins GNAQ and GNA11. Cytogenetic alterations, in particular monosomy of chromosome 3 and amplification of the long arm of chromosome 8, and mutation of the BRCA1-associated protein 1, BAP1, a tumor suppressor gene, or the splicing factor SF3B1 determine UM metastasis. Cytogenetic and molecular profiling allow for a very precise prognostication that is still not matched by efficacious adjuvant therapies. G protein signaling has been shown to activate the YAP/TAZ pathway independent of HIPPO, and conventional signaling via the mitogen-activated kinase pathway probably also contributes to UM development and progression. Several lines of evidence indicate that inflammation and macrophages play a pro-tumor role in UM and in its hepatic metastases. UM cells benefit from the immune privilege in the eye and may adopt several mechanisms involved in this privilege for tumor escape that act even after leaving the niche. Here, we review the current knowledge of the biology of UM and discuss recent approaches to UM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Amaro
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Integrated Oncology Therapies, IRCCS AOU San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, L.go Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Rosaria Gangemi
- Laboratory of Biotherapies, Department of Integrated Oncology Therapies, IRCCS AOU San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Piaggio
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Integrated Oncology Therapies, IRCCS AOU San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, L.go Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giovanna Angelini
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Integrated Oncology Therapies, IRCCS AOU San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, L.go Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gaia Barisione
- Laboratory of Biotherapies, Department of Integrated Oncology Therapies, IRCCS AOU San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy
| | - Silvano Ferrini
- Laboratory of Biotherapies, Department of Integrated Oncology Therapies, IRCCS AOU San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ulrich Pfeffer
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Integrated Oncology Therapies, IRCCS AOU San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, L.go Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa, Italy.
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10
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Chua V, Lapadula D, Randolph C, Benovic JL, Wedegaertner PB, Aplin AE. Dysregulated GPCR Signaling and Therapeutic Options in Uveal Melanoma. Mol Cancer Res 2017; 15:501-506. [PMID: 28223438 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-17-0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignant tumor in adults and arises from the transformation of melanocytes in the uveal tract. Even after treatment of the primary tumor, up to 50% of patients succumb to metastatic disease. The liver is the predominant organ of metastasis. There is an important need to provide effective treatment options for advanced stage uveal melanoma. To provide the preclinical basis for new treatments, it is important to understand the molecular underpinnings of the disease. Recent genomic studies have shown that mutations within components of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling are early events associated with approximately 98% of uveal melanomas.Implications: This review discusses the alterations in GPCR signaling components (GNAQ and GNA11), dysregulated GPCR signaling cascades, and viable targeted therapies with the intent to provide insight into new therapeutic strategies in uveal melanoma. Mol Cancer Res; 15(5); 501-6. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Chua
- Department of Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Dominic Lapadula
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Clinita Randolph
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jeffrey L Benovic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Cancer Cell Biology and Signaling Program, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Philip B Wedegaertner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Cancer Cell Biology and Signaling Program, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Andrew E Aplin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. .,Cancer Cell Biology and Signaling Program, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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