1
|
Cannataro VL, Glasmacher KA, Hampson CE. Mutations, substitutions, and selection: Linking mutagenic processes to cancer using evolutionary theory. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167268. [PMID: 38823460 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Cancers are the product of evolutionary events, where molecular variation occurs and accumulates in tissues and tumors. Sequencing of this molecular variation informs not only which variants are driving tumorigenesis, but also the mechanisms behind what is fueling mutagenesis. Both of these details are crucial for preventing premature deaths due to cancer, whether it is by targeting the variants driving the cancer phenotype or by measures to prevent exogenous mutations from contributing to somatic evolution. Here, we review tools to determine both molecular signatures and cancer drivers, and avenues by which these metrics may be linked.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kira A Glasmacher
- Emmanuel College, 400 Fenway, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| | - Caralynn E Hampson
- Emmanuel College, 400 Fenway, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Schmidlin, Apodaca, Newell, Sastokas, Kinsler, Geiler-Samerotte. Distinguishing mutants that resist drugs via different mechanisms by examining fitness tradeoffs across hundreds of fluconazole-resistant yeast strains. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.17.562616. [PMID: 37905147 PMCID: PMC10614906 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.17.562616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
There is growing interest in designing multidrug therapies that leverage tradeoffs to combat resistance. Tradeoffs are common in evolution and occur when, for example, resistance to one drug results in sensitivity to another. Major questions remain about the extent to which tradeoffs are reliable, specifically, whether the mutants that provide resistance to a given drug all suffer similar tradeoffs. This question is difficult because the drug-resistant mutants observed in the clinic, and even those evolved in controlled laboratory settings, are often biased towards those that provide large fitness benefits. Thus, the mutations (and mechanisms) that provide drug resistance may be more diverse than current data suggests. Here, we perform evolution experiments utilizing lineage-tracking to capture a fuller spectrum of mutations that give yeast cells a fitness advantage in fluconazole, a common antifungal drug. We then quantify fitness tradeoffs for each of 774 evolved mutants across 12 environments, finding these mutants group into 6 classes with characteristically different tradeoffs. Their unique tradeoffs may imply that each group of mutants affects fitness through different underlying mechanisms. Some of the groupings we find are surprising. For example, we find some mutants that resist single drugs do not resist their combination, and some mutants to the same gene have different tradeoffs than others. These findings, on one hand, demonstrate the difficulty in relying on consistent or intuitive tradeoffs when designing multidrug treatments. On the other hand, by demonstrating that hundreds of adaptive mutations can be reduced to a few groups with characteristic tradeoffs, our findings empower multidrug strategies that leverage tradeoffs to combat resistance. Finally, by grouping mutants that likely affect fitness through similar underlying mechanisms, our work guides efforts to map the phenotypic effects of mutation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Schmidlin
- Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ
| | - Apodaca
- Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ
| | - Newell
- Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ
| | - Sastokas
- Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ
| | - Kinsler
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Geiler-Samerotte
- Biodesign Center for Mechanisms of Evolution, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhu X, Zhao W, Zhou Z, Gu X. Unraveling the Drivers of Tumorigenesis in the Context of Evolution: Theoretical Models and Bioinformatics Tools. J Mol Evol 2023:10.1007/s00239-023-10117-0. [PMID: 37246992 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-023-10117-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Cancer originates from somatic cells that have accumulated mutations. These mutations alter the phenotype of the cells, allowing them to escape homeostatic regulation that maintains normal cell numbers. The emergence of malignancies is an evolutionary process in which the random accumulation of somatic mutations and sequential selection of dominant clones cause cancer cells to proliferate. The development of technologies such as high-throughput sequencing has provided a powerful means to measure subclonal evolutionary dynamics across space and time. Here, we review the patterns that may be observed in cancer evolution and the methods available for quantifying the evolutionary dynamics of cancer. An improved understanding of the evolutionary trajectories of cancer will enable us to explore the molecular mechanism of tumorigenesis and to design tailored treatment strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xunuo Zhu
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Wenyi Zhao
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zhan Zhou
- Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, 322000, China.
- Alibaba-Zhejiang University Joint Research Center of Future Digital Healthcare, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Xun Gu
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Guo MZ, Marrone KA, Spira A, Rosner S. Adagrasib: a novel inhibitor for KRASG12C-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer. Future Oncol 2023. [PMID: 37133216 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2022-1106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Adagrasib is a recently US FDA-approved novel KRASG12C targeted therapy with clinical efficacy in patients with advanced, pretreated KRASG12C-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer. KRYSTAL-I reported an objective response rate of 42.9% with median duration of response of 8.5 months. Treatment-related adverse events were primarily gastrointestinal and occurred in 97.4% of patients, with grade 3+ treatment-related adverse events occurring in 44.8% of patients. This review details the preclinical and clinical data for adagrasib in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. We also outline practical clinical administration guidelines for this novel therapy, including management of toxicities. Finally, we discuss the implications of resistance mechanisms, summarize other KRASG12C inhibitors currently in development and outline future directions for adagrasib-based combination therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Z Guo
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kristen A Marrone
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alexander Spira
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Virginia Cancer Specialists Research Institute, Fairfax, VA, USA
- US Oncology Research, The Woodlands, TX, USA
- NEXT Oncology, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Samuel Rosner
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Qi Y, Zou H, Zhao X, Kapeleris J, Monteiro M, Li F, Xu ZP, Deng Y, Wu Y, Tang Y, Gu W. Inhibition of colon cancer K-RasG13D mutation reduces cancer cell proliferation but promotes stemness and inflammation via RAS/ERK pathway. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:996053. [PMID: 36386200 PMCID: PMC9650442 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.996053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
K-Ras is a well-studied oncogene, and its mutation is frequently found in epithelial cancers like pancreas, lung, and colorectal cancers. Cancer cells harboring K-Ras mutations are difficult to treat due to the drug resistance and metastasis properties. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are believed the major cause of chemotherapeutic resistance and responsible for tumor recurrence and metastasis. But how K-Ras mutation affects CSCs and inflammation is not clear. Here, we compared two colon cancer cell lines, HCT-116 and HT-29, with the former being K-RasG13D mutant and the latter being wildtype. We found that HCT-116 cells treated with a K-Ras mutation inhibitor S7333 formed significantly more tumor spheroids than the untreated control, while the wild type of HT-29 cells remained unchanged. However, the size of tumor spheroids was smaller than the untreated controls, indicating their proliferation was suppressed after S7333 treatment. Consistent with this, the expressions of stem genes Lgr5 and CD133 significantly increased and the expression of self-renewal gene TGF-β1 also increased. The flow cytometry analysis indicated that the expression of stem surface marker CD133 increased in the treated HCT-116 cells. To understand the pathway through which the G13D mutation induced the effects, we studied both RAS/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways using specific inhibitors SCH772984 and BEZ235. The results indicated that RAS/ERK rather than PI3K/Akt pathway was involved. As CSCs play the initial role in cancer development and the inflammation is a vital step during tumor initiation, we analyzed the correlation between increased stemness and inflammation. We found a close correlation of increased Lgr5 and CD133 with proinflammatory factors like IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23. Together, our findings suggest that K-RasG13D mutation promotes cancer cell growth but decreases cancer stemness and inflammation thus tumorigenesis and metastasis potential in colon cancer. Inhibition of this mutation reverses the process. Therefore, care needs be taken when employing targeted therapies to K-RasG13D mutations in clinics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Qi
- Department of Pathology, Central People’s Hospital of Zhanjiang and Zhanjiang Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Hong Zou
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - XiaoHui Zhao
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Joanna Kapeleris
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael Monteiro
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Pathology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi Ping Xu
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Yizhen Deng
- Gillion Biotherapeutics Ltd., Guangzhou Huangpu Industrial Zoon, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanheng Wu
- Gillion Biotherapeutics Ltd., Guangzhou Huangpu Industrial Zoon, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Ying Tang, ; Wenyi Gu,
| | - Wenyi Gu
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Gillion Biotherapeutics Ltd., Guangzhou Huangpu Industrial Zoon, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Ying Tang, ; Wenyi Gu,
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Drugging KRAS: current perspectives and state-of-art review. J Hematol Oncol 2022; 15:152. [PMID: 36284306 PMCID: PMC9597994 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-022-01375-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
After decades of efforts, we have recently made progress into targeting KRAS mutations in several malignancies. Known as the ‘holy grail’ of targeted cancer therapies, KRAS is the most frequently mutated oncogene in human malignancies. Under normal conditions, KRAS shuttles between the GDP-bound ‘off’ state and the GTP-bound ‘on’ state. Mutant KRAS is constitutively activated and leads to persistent downstream signaling and oncogenesis. In 2013, improved understanding of KRAS biology and newer drug designing technologies led to the crucial discovery of a cysteine drug-binding pocket in GDP-bound mutant KRAS G12C protein. Covalent inhibitors that block mutant KRAS G12C were successfully developed and sotorasib was the first KRAS G12C inhibitor to be approved, with several more in the pipeline. Simultaneously, effects of KRAS mutations on tumour microenvironment were also discovered, partly owing to the universal use of immune checkpoint inhibitors. In this review, we discuss the discovery, biology, and function of KRAS in human malignancies. We also discuss the relationship between KRAS mutations and the tumour microenvironment, and therapeutic strategies to target KRAS. Finally, we review the current clinical evidence and ongoing clinical trials of novel agents targeting KRAS and shine light on resistance pathways known so far.
Collapse
|
7
|
The current state of the art and future trends in RAS-targeted cancer therapies. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2022; 19:637-655. [PMID: 36028717 PMCID: PMC9412785 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-022-00671-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Despite being the most frequently altered oncogenic protein in solid tumours, KRAS has historically been considered ‘undruggable’ owing to a lack of pharmacologically targetable pockets within the mutant isoforms. However, improvements in drug design have culminated in the development of inhibitors that are selective for mutant KRAS in its active or inactive state. Some of these inhibitors have proven efficacy in patients with KRASG12C-mutant cancers and have become practice changing. The excitement associated with these advances has been tempered by drug resistance, which limits the depth and/or duration of responses to these agents. Improvements in our understanding of RAS signalling in cancer cells and in the tumour microenvironment suggest the potential for several novel combination therapies, which are now being explored in clinical trials. Herein, we provide an overview of the RAS pathway and review the development and current status of therapeutic strategies for targeting oncogenic RAS, as well as their potential to improve outcomes in patients with RAS-mutant malignancies. We then discuss challenges presented by resistance mechanisms and strategies by which they could potentially be overcome. The RAS oncogenes are among the most common drivers of tumour development and progression but have historically been considered undruggable. The development of direct KRAS inhibitors has changed this paradigm, although currently clinical use of these novel therapeutics is limited to a select subset of patients, and intrinsic or acquired resistance presents an inevitable challenge to cure. Herein, the authors provide an overview of the RAS pathway in cancer and review the ongoing efforts to develop effective therapeutic strategies for RAS-mutant cancers. They also discuss the current understanding of mechanisms of resistance to direct KRAS inhibitors and strategies by which they might be overcome. Owing to intrinsic and extrinsic factors, KRAS and other RAS isoforms have until recently been impervious to targeting with small-molecule inhibitors. Inhibitors of the KRASG12C variant constitute a potential breakthrough in the treatment of many cancer types, particularly non-small-cell lung cancer, for which such an agent has been approved by the FDA. Several forms of resistance to KRAS inhibitors have been defined, including primary, adaptive and acquired resistance; these resistance mechanisms are being targeted in studies that combine KRAS inhibitors with inhibitors of horizontal or vertical signalling pathways. Mutant KRAS has important effects on the tumour microenvironment, including the immunological milieu; these effects must be considered to fully understand resistance to KRAS inhibitors and when designing novel treatment strategies.
Collapse
|
8
|
Alsulaiman AS, Alharthi SB, Albariqi AS, Mutabaqani RA, Bokhari FF, Tayeb IM, Alharthi DR, Tariq MU, Babaier YH. KRAS G12C-Mutant Non-Small-Cell Lung Adenocarcinoma: First Documented Report in the Arabian Gulf. Cureus 2022; 14:e27090. [PMID: 36004014 PMCID: PMC9391965 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.27090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the first documented case series of two lung adenocarcinoma patients demonstrating Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) G12C mutations by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction techniques from Saudi Arabia. Both patients were males aged 64 and 76 years. The first had a heavy smoking history, while the second did not report any history of smoking. The tumor subtype was identified to be non-mucinous lung adenocarcinoma in both cases. The younger patient presented with generalized lymphadenopathy and a right-sided lung mass lesion, while the older patient exhibited stage III-A left lung adenocarcinoma that required rapid response. An initial examination of the first case showed a right-sided mediastinal shift, bilateral neck lymphadenopathy, and poorly differentiated neoplasm from a right supraclavicular core biopsy, leading to treatment with palliatives along with regular checkups. The second case was afebrile after being confirmed to be vitally stable and laboratory testing (Neutr 100). Further studies, specifically on large numbers of patients from the Arabian Gulf, are needed to confirm significant differences between the national and international populations. Additionally, future studies should investigate more differences in the differentiation of KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma between patients from the Arabian Gulf and others.
Collapse
|
9
|
Lietman CD, Johnson ML, McCormick F, Lindsay CR. More to the RAS Story: KRAS G12C Inhibition, Resistance Mechanisms, and Moving Beyond KRAS G12C. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2022; 42:1-13. [PMID: 35561303 DOI: 10.1200/edbk_351333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Despite the discovery of RAS oncogenes in human tumor DNA 40 years ago, the development of effective targeted therapies directed against RAS has lagged behind those more successful advancements in the field of therapeutic tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting other oncogenes such as EGFR, ALK, and ROS1. The discoveries that (1) malignant RAS oncogenes differ from their wild-type counterparts by only a single amino acid change and (2) covalent inhibition of the cysteine residue at codon 12 of KRASG12C in its inactive GDP-bound state resulted in effective inhibition of oncogenic RAS signaling and have catalyzed a dramatic shift in mindset toward KRAS-driven cancers. Although the development of allele-selective KRASG12C inhibitors has changed a treatment paradigm, the clinical activity of these agents is more modest than tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting other oncogene-driven cancers. Heterogeneous resistance mechanisms generally result in the restoration of RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway signaling. Many approaches are being evaluated to overcome this resistance, with many combinatorial clinical trials ongoing. Furthermore, because KRASG12D and KRASG12V are more prevalent than KRASG12C, there remains an unmet need for additional therapeutic strategies for these patients. Thus, our current translational standing could be described as "the end of the beginning," with additional discovery and research innovation needed to address the enormous disease burden imposed by RAS-mutant cancers. Here, we describe the development of KRASG12C inhibitors, the challenges of resistance to these inhibitors, strategies to mitigate that resistance, and new approaches being taken to address other RAS-mutant cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Frank McCormick
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cannataro VL, Mandell JD, Townsend JP. Attribution of Cancer Origins to Endogenous, Exogenous, and Preventable Mutational Processes. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:msac084. [PMID: 35580068 PMCID: PMC9113445 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [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] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutational processes in tumors create distinctive patterns of mutations, composed of neutral "passenger" mutations and oncogenic drivers that have quantifiable effects on the proliferation and survival of cancer cell lineages. Increases in proliferation and survival are mediated by natural selection, which can be quantified by comparing the frequency at which we detect substitutions to the frequency at which we expect to detect substitutions assuming neutrality. Most of the variants detectable with whole-exome sequencing in tumors are neutral or nearly neutral in effect, and thus the processes generating the majority of mutations may not be the primary sources of the tumorigenic mutations. Across 24 cancer types, we identify the contributions of mutational processes to each oncogenic variant and quantify the degree to which each process contributes to tumorigenesis. We demonstrate that the origination of variants driving melanomas and lung cancers is predominantly attributable to the preventable, exogenous mutational processes associated with ultraviolet light and tobacco exposure, respectively, whereas the origination of selected variants in gliomas and prostate adenocarcinomas is largely attributable to endogenous processes associated with aging. Preventable mutations associated with pathogen exposure and apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme activity account for a large proportion of the cancer effect within head-and-neck, bladder, cervical, and breast cancers. These attributions complement epidemiological approaches-revealing the burden of cancer driven by single-nucleotide variants caused by either endogenous or exogenous, nonpreventable, or preventable processes, and crucially inform public health strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeffrey D. Mandell
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jeffrey P. Townsend
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Cho YS, Kim GC, Lee HM, Kim B, Kim HR, Chung SW, Chang HW, Ko YG, Lee YS, Kim SW, Byun Y, Kim SY. Albumin metabolism targeted peptide-drug conjugate strategy for targeting pan-KRAS mutant cancer. J Control Release 2022; 344:26-38. [PMID: 35202743 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Despite recent breakthroughs in the development of direct KRAS inhibitors and modulators, no drugs targeting pan-KRAS mutant cancers are clinically available. Here, we report a novel strategy to treat pan-KRAS cancers using a caspase-3 cleavable peptide-drug conjugate that exploits enhanced albumin metabolism in KRAS altered cancers to deliver a cytotoxic agent that can induce a widespread bystander killing effect in tumor cells. Increased albumin metabolism in KRAS mutant cancer cells induced apoptosis via the intracellular uptake of albumin-bound MPD1. This allowed caspase-3 upregulation activated MPD1 to release the payload and exert the non-selective killing of neighboring cancer cells. MPD1 exhibited potent and durable antitumor efficacy in mouse xenograft models with different KRAS genotypes. An augmentation of anti-cancer efficacy was achieved by the bystander killing effect derived from the caspase-3 mediated activation of MPD1. In summary, albumin metabolism-induced apoptosis, together with the bystander killing effect of MPD1 boosted by caspase-3 mediated activation, intensified the efficacy of MPD1 in KRAS mutant cancers. These findings suggest that this novel peptide-drug conjugate could be a promising breakthrough for the treatment in the targeting of pan-KRAS mutant cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Young Seok Cho
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergent Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Gui Chul Kim
- Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Min Lee
- Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Byoungmo Kim
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha Rin Kim
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Woo Chung
- Center for Nanomedicine, Wilmer Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo Won Chang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Gun Ko
- Pharosgen Co.Ltd, 2-404 Jangji-dong 892, Seoul 05852, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Se Lee
- Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Who Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngro Byun
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sang Yoon Kim
- Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Rajpurohit T, Bhattacharya S. Moving Towards Dawn: KRas Signaling and Treatment in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Curr Mol Pharmacol 2022; 15:904-928. [PMID: 35088684 DOI: 10.2174/1874467215666220128161647] [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: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
"Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)" is robust, nearly clueless, and all-around deadly among all tumors. Below 10 %, the general 5-year endurance period has remained adamantly unaltered in the last 30 years, regardless of enormous clinical and therapeutic endeavors. The yearly number of deaths is more than the number of recently analyzed cases. Not a classic one, but "Carbohydrate Antigen CA19- 9" remains the prevailing tool for diagnosis. MicroRNAs and non-invasive techniques are now incorporated for the effective prognosis of PDAC than just CA19-9. Mutated "Rat sarcoma virus Ras" conformation "V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog KRas" is 95 % accountable for PDAC, and its active (GTP-bound) formation activates signaling cascade comprising "Rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma Raf"/"Mitogen-activated protein kinase MEK"/ "Extracellular signal-regulated kinase ERK" with "Phosphoinositide 3-kinase PI3K"/ "protein kinase B Akt"/ "mammalian target of rapamycin mTOR" pathways. KRas has acquired the label of 'undruggable' since the crosstalk in the nexus of pathways compensates for Raf and PI3K signaling cascade blocking. It is arduous to totally regulate KRascoordinated PDAC with traditional medicaments like "gemcitabine GEM" plus nabpaclitaxel/ FOLFIRINOX. For long-haul accomplishments aiming at KRas, future endeavors should be directed to combinatorial methodologies to adequately block KRas pathways at different standpoints. Currently they are contributing to healing PDAC. In this review article, we outline the function of KRas in carcinogenesis in PDAC, its signaling cascade, former techniques utilized in hindering Kras, current and future possibilities for targeting Kras.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tarun Rajpurohit
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM'S NMIMS Deemed-to-be University, Shirpur, Maharashtra 425405, India
| | - Sankha Bhattacharya
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy & Technology Management, SVKM'S NMIMS Deemed-to-be University, Shirpur, Maharashtra 425405, India
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Katopodi T, Petanidis S, Domvri K, Zarogoulidis P, Anestakis D, Charalampidis C, Tsavlis D, Bai C, Huang H, Freitag L, Hohenforst-Schmidt W, Matthaios D, Porpodis K. Kras-driven intratumoral heterogeneity triggers infiltration of M2 polarized macrophages via the circHIPK3/PTK2 immunosuppressive circuit. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15455. [PMID: 34326381 PMCID: PMC8322174 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94671-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Intratumoral heterogeneity in lung cancer is essential for evasion of immune surveillance by tumor cells and establishment of immunosuppression. Gathering data reveal that circular RNAs (circRNAs), play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of lung cancer. Particularly Kras-driven circRNA signaling triggers infiltration of myeloid-associated tumor macrophages in lung tumor microenvironment thus establishing immune deregulation, and immunosuppression but the exact pathogenic mechanism is still unknown. In this study, we investigate the role of oncogenic Kras signaling in circRNA-related immunosuppression and its involvement in tumoral chemoresistance. The expression pattern of circRNAs HIPK3 and PTK2 was determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in lung cancer patient samples and cell lines. Apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin V/PI staining and FACS detection. M2 macrophage polarization and MDSC subset analysis (Gr1-/CD11b-, Gr1-/CD11b+) were determined by flow cytometry. Tumor growth and metastatic potential were determined in vivo in C57BL/6 mice. Findings reveal intra-epithelial CD163+/CD206+ M2 macrophages to drive Kras immunosuppressive chemoresistance through myeloid differentiation. In particular, monocytic MDSC subsets Gr1-/CD11b-, Gr1-/CD11b+ triggered an M2-dependent immune response, creating an immunosuppressive tumor-promoting network via circHIPK3/PTK2 enrichment. Specifically, upregulation of exosomal cicHIPK3/PTK2 expression prompted Kras-driven intratumoral heterogeneity and guided lymph node metastasis in C57BL/6 mice. Consequent co-inhibition of circPTK2/M2 macrophage signaling suppressed lung tumor growth along with metastatic potential and prolonged survival in vivo. Taken together, these results demonstrate the key role of myeloid-associated macrophages in sustaining lung immunosuppressive neoplasia through circRNA regulation and represent a potential therapeutic target for clinical intervention in metastatic lung cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Theodora Katopodi
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Biology and Genetics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Savvas Petanidis
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Biology and Genetics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece. .,Department of Pulmonology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, 119992, Russian Federation.
| | - Kalliopi Domvri
- Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57010, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Paul Zarogoulidis
- Third Department of Surgery, "AHEPA" University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 55236, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Doxakis Anestakis
- Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Cyprus, 1678, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - Drosos Tsavlis
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Experimental Physiology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Chong Bai
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Haidong Huang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Lutz Freitag
- Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Konstantinos Porpodis
- Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57010, Thessaloniki, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
What Is New in Biomarker Testing at Diagnosis of Advanced Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma? Implications for Cytology and Liquid Biopsy. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/jmp2020015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery and clinical validation of biomarkers predictive of the response of non-squamous non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NS-NSCLC) to therapeutic strategies continue to provide new data. The evaluation of novel treatments is based on molecular analyses aimed at determining their efficacy. These tests are increasing in number, but the tissue specimens are smaller and smaller and/or can have few tumor cells. Indeed, in addition to tissue samples, complementary cytological and/or blood samples can also give access to these biomarkers. To date, it is recommended and necessary to look for the status of five genomic molecular biomarkers (EGFR, ALK, ROS1, BRAFV600, NTRK) and of a protein biomarker (PD-L1). However, the short- and more or less long-term emergence of new targeted treatments of genomic alterations on RET and MET, but also on others’ genomic alteration, notably on KRAS, HER2, NRG1, SMARCA4, and NUT, have made cellular and blood samples essential for molecular testing. The aim of this review is to present the interest in using cytological and/or liquid biopsies as complementary biological material, or as an alternative to tissue specimens, for detection at diagnosis of new predictive biomarkers of NS-NSCLC.
Collapse
|
15
|
Addeo A, Banna GL, Friedlaender A. KRAS G12C Mutations in NSCLC: From Target to Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13112541. [PMID: 34064232 PMCID: PMC8196854 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer represents the most common form of cancer, accounting for 1.8 million deaths globally in 2020. Over the last decade the treatment for advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer have dramatically improved largely thanks to the emergence of two therapeutic breakthroughs: the discovery of immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeting of oncogenic driver alterations. While these therapies hold great promise, they face the same limitation as other inhibitors: the emergence of resistant mechanisms. One such alteration in non-small cell lung cancer is the Kirsten Rat Sarcoma (KRAS) oncogene. KRAS mutations are the most common oncogenic driver in NSCLC, representing roughly 20-25% of cases. The mutation is almost exclusively detected in adenocarcinoma and is found among smokers 90% of the time. Along with the development of new drugs that have been showing promising activity, resistance mechanisms have begun to be clarified. The aim of this review is to unwrap the biology of KRAS in NSCLC with a specific focus on primary and secondary resistance mechanisms and their possible clinical implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Addeo
- Swiss Cancer Center Leman, Oncology Department, Switzerland University of Geneva, University Hospital Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland;
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Alex Friedlaender
- Swiss Cancer Center Leman, Oncology Department, Switzerland University of Geneva, University Hospital Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland;
- Oncology Service, Clinique Générale Beaulieu, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Townsend JP. Getting quantitative on the effects of somatic mutation on cancer. Oncoscience 2021; 7:83-84. [PMID: 33457449 PMCID: PMC7781488 DOI: 10.18632/oncoscience.521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey P Townsend
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Loong HHF, Du N, Cheng C, Lin H, Guo J, Lin G, Li M, Jiang T, Shi Z, Cui Y, Jin X, Yao J, Xing Y, Yao M, Wang K, Mok TSK, Liu L. KRAS G12C mutations in Asia: a landscape analysis of 11,951 Chinese tumor samples. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2020; 9:1759-1769. [PMID: 33209599 PMCID: PMC7653137 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-20-455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Background Kirsten rat sarcoma vial oncogene (KRAS) is one of the most prevalent oncogenes in multiple cancer types, but the incidence is different between the Asian and non-Asian populations. The recent development of KRAS G12C targeting drug has shown great promise. It is thus important to understand the genomic landscape of KRAS G12C in a specific population. Methods Sequencing data of 11,951 tumor samples collected from 11/2016 to 7/2019 from multiple centres in China were analyzed for KRAS mutation status. Concomitant genomic aberrations were further analyzed in tumors with KRAS G12C mutations, which were sequenced with comprehensive cancer panel including over 450 cancer-related genes. Smoking status and its correlation with KRAS were analyzed in 2,235 lung cancer cases within this cohort. Results KRAS mutations were identified in 1978 (16.6%) patient samples. Specifically, KRAS G12C accounted for 14.5% (n=286) of all KRAS mutations. G12C was most commonly seen in lung cancer (4.3%), followed by colorectal cancer (2.5%) and biliary cancer (2.3%). Almost all patients (99.6%) with G12C mutations had concomitant genomic aberrations. These were most commonly associated with the RAS/RTK pathway including BRAF and PI3KCA mutations. Moreover, KRAS mutation was positively correlated with smoking status in lung adenocarcinomas. Conclusions The overall incidence of KRAS G12C mutations remains low in the Chinese population. The most common tumor types harboring KRAS G12C mutations are in patients suffering from lung, colorectal and biliary cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Herbert Ho-Fung Loong
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Nan Du
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | | | | | - Jian Guo
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Gen Lin
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Mingjiang Li
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Zhihua Shi
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yanzhi Cui
- Medical Oncology, Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xianfeng Jin
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | | | | | | | | | - Tony S K Mok
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Lunxu Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Abstract
Aberrations in rat sarcoma (RAS) viral oncogene are the most prevalent and best-known genetic alterations identified in human cancers. Indeed, RAS drives tumorigenesis as one of the downstream effectors of EGFR activation, regulating cellular switches and functions and triggering intracellular signaling cascades such as the MAPK and PI3K pathways. Of the three RAS isoforms expressed in human cells, all of which were linked to tumorigenesis more than three decades ago, KRAS is the most frequently mutated. In particular, point mutations in KRAS codon 12 are present in up to 80% of KRAS-mutant malignancies. Unfortunately, there are no approved KRAS-targeted agents, despite decades of research and development. Recently, a revolutionary strategy to use covalent allosteric inhibitors that target a shallow pocket on the KRAS surface has provided new impetus for renewed drug development efforts, specifically against KRASG12C. These inhibitors, such as AMG 510 and MRTX849, show promise in early-phase studies. Nevertheless, combination strategies that target resistance mechanisms have become vital in the war against KRAS-mutant tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyaw Z Thein
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Oregon Health and Science University/Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA;
| | - Amadeo B Biter
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA; ,
| | - David S Hong
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA; ,
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Nollmann FI, Ruess DA. Targeting Mutant KRAS in Pancreatic Cancer: Futile or Promising? Biomedicines 2020; 8:E281. [PMID: 32796566 PMCID: PMC7459579 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8080281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most fatal cancers with a dismal prognosis for the patient. This is due to limited diagnostic options for the early detection of the disease as well as its rather aggressive nature. Despite major advances in oncologic research in general, the treatment options in the clinic for PDAC have only undergone minor changes in the last decades. One major treatment advance would be the successful targeting of the oncogenic driver KRASmut. In the past, the indirect targeting of KRAS has been exploited, e. g., via upstream inhibition of receptor tyrosine kinases or via downstream MEK or PI3K inhibition. However, the experience gained from clinical trials and from the clinic itself in the treatment of KRASmut cancer entities has dampened the initial euphoria. Lately, with the development of KRASG12C-specific inhibitors, not only the direct but also the indirect targeting of KRASmut has gained momentum again. Though preclinical studies and preliminary early clinical studies of monotherapies have shown promising results, they have been overshadowed by the swift development of resistances resulting in inconsistent responses in patient cohorts. Currently, several different combination therapies for KRASmut cancer are being explored. If they hold the promise they have made in preclinical studies, they might also be suitable treatment options for patients suffering from PDAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dietrich Alexander Ruess
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Center of Surgery, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Hugstetterstrasse 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany;
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Somarelli JA, Gardner H, Cannataro VL, Gunady EF, Boddy AM, Johnson NA, Fisk JN, Gaffney SG, Chuang JH, Li S, Ciccarelli FD, Panchenko AR, Megquier K, Kumar S, Dornburg A, DeGregori J, Townsend JP. Molecular Biology and Evolution of Cancer: From Discovery to Action. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 37:320-326. [PMID: 31642480 PMCID: PMC6993850 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer progression is an evolutionary process. During this process, evolving cancer cell populations encounter restrictive ecological niches within the body, such as the primary tumor, circulatory system, and diverse metastatic sites. Efforts to prevent or delay cancer evolution-and progression-require a deep understanding of the underlying molecular evolutionary processes. Herein we discuss a suite of concepts and tools from evolutionary and ecological theory that can inform cancer biology in new and meaningful ways. We also highlight current challenges to applying these concepts, and propose ways in which incorporating these concepts could identify new therapeutic modes and vulnerabilities in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason A Somarelli
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - Heather Gardner
- Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Medford, MA
| | | | - Ella F Gunady
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - Amy M Boddy
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
| | | | | | - Stephen G Gaffney
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
| | | | - Sheng Li
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT
| | - Francesca D Ciccarelli
- Cancer Systems Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna R Panchenko
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Ontario Institute of Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kate Megquier
- Broad Institute, Massachusettes Institute of Technology and Harvard University
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, and Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Alex Dornburg
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC
| | - James DeGregori
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
| | - Jeffrey P Townsend
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Cannataro VL, Gaffney SG, Townsend JP. Effect Sizes of Somatic Mutations in Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 2019; 110:1171-1177. [PMID: 30365005 PMCID: PMC6235682 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djy168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A major goal of cancer biology is determination of the relative importance of the genetic alterations that confer selective advantage to cancer cells. Tumor sequence surveys have frequently ranked the importance of substitutions to cancer growth by P value or a false-discovery conversion thereof. However, P values are thresholds for belief, not metrics of effect. Their frequent misuse as metrics of effect has often been vociferously decried, even in cases when the only attributable mistake was omission of effect sizes. Here, we propose an appropriate ranking-the cancer effect size, which is the selection intensity for somatic variants in cancer cell lineages. The selection intensity is a metric of the survival and reproductive advantage conferred by mutations in somatic tissue. Thus, they are of fundamental importance to oncology, and have immediate relevance to ongoing decision making in precision medicine tumor boards, to the selection and design of clinical trials, to the targeted development of pharmaceuticals, and to basic research prioritization. Within this commentary, we first discuss the scope of current methods that rank confidence in the overrepresentation of specific mutated genes in cancer genomes. Then we bring to bear recent advances that draw upon an understanding of the development of cancer as an evolutionary process to estimate the effect size of somatic variants leading to cancer. We demonstrate the estimation of the effect sizes of all recurrent single nucleotide variants in 22 cancer types, quantifying relative importance within and between driver genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephen G Gaffney
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
| | - Jeffrey P Townsend
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Detailed modeling of positive selection improves detection of cancer driver genes. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3399. [PMID: 31363082 PMCID: PMC6667447 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11284-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying driver genes from somatic mutations is a central problem in cancer biology. Existing methods, however, either lack explicit statistical models, or use models based on simplistic assumptions. Here, we present driverMAPS (Model-based Analysis of Positive Selection), a model-based approach to driver gene identification. This method explicitly models positive selection at the single-base level, as well as highly heterogeneous background mutational processes. In particular, the selection model captures elevated mutation rates in functionally important sites using multiple external annotations, and spatial clustering of mutations. Simulations under realistic evolutionary models demonstrate the increased power of driverMAPS over current approaches. Applying driverMAPS to TCGA data of 20 tumor types, we identified 159 new potential driver genes, including the mRNA methyltransferase METTL3-METTL14. We experimentally validated METTL3 as a tumor suppressor gene in bladder cancer, providing support to the important role mRNA modification plays in tumorigenesis. Finding driver genes sheds lights on the biological mechanisms propelling the development of a tumour, and can suggest therapeutic strategies. Here, the authors develop driverMAPS, a model-based approach to identify driver genes, and apply it to TCGA datasets.
Collapse
|
23
|
Abstract
BACKGROUND Management of tumors has become more complex owing to tumor heterogeneity. Fewer studies have been performed on intra-tumor heterogeneity of endometrial cancer (EC) until now. Therefore, it is of great clinical value to explore the intra-tumor heterogeneity of EC based on clinical features and gene expression profiles. METHODS A total of 1688 patients with EC were screened and 114 patients were finally selected, including specimens from 84 patients with primary EC without relapse (PE) and the paired metastases (P-M) specimens, as well as specimens from 30 patients with primary EC with relapse (RPE) and the paired relapsed EC (P-RE) specimens. Microarray and RNA-seq were used to detect gene expression of EC samples. Clinicopathological characteristics and molecular data were compared between PE and P-M groups and between RPE and P-RE groups to explore the intra-tumor heterogeneity of EC. RESULTS The clinical intra-tumor spatial heterogeneity of pathological type, grade, ER status, and PR status between PE and P-M were 17.9%, 13.1%, 28.6%, and 28.6%, respectively. The clinical intra-tumor spatiotemporal heterogeneity of pathological type, grade, ER status, and PR status between RPE and P-RE were 16.7%, 33.3%, 25.0%, and 37.5%, respectively. Cluster analysis sorts EC samples based on progression type of lesion and their pathological type. There were differentially expressed genes between PE and P-M and between RPE and P-RE, of which gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis were mainly enriched in cell proliferation, the p53 signaling pathway, etc. CONCLUSIONS:: Clinical and molecular data showed that there was spatiotemporal heterogeneity in intra-tumor of EC, which may add to the complexity of diagnosis and therapeutics for EC. Considering the intra-tumor heterogeneity, sequential chemotherapy and precision medicine may be a more suitable treatment plan for EC.
Collapse
|
24
|
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent L. Cannataro
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey P. Townsend
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Cannataro VL, Gaffney SG, Sasaki T, Issaeva N, Grewal NKS, Grandis JR, Yarbrough WG, Burtness B, Anderson KS, Townsend JP. APOBEC-induced mutations and their cancer effect size in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Oncogene 2019; 38:3475-3487. [PMID: 30647454 PMCID: PMC6499643 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-018-0657-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have revealed the mutational signatures underlying the somatic evolution of cancer, and the prevalences of associated somatic genetic variants. Here we estimate the intensity of positive selection that drives mutations to high frequency in tumors, yielding higher prevalences than expected on the basis of mutation and neutral drift alone. We apply this approach to a sample of 525 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma exomes, producing a rank-ordered list of gene variants by selection intensity. Our results illustrate the complementarity of calculating the intensity of selection on mutations along with tallying the prevalence of individual substitutions in cancer: while many of the most prevalently-altered genes were heavily selected, their relative importance to the cancer phenotype differs from their prevalence and from their P value, with some infrequent variants exhibiting evidence of strong positive selection. Furthermore, we extend our analysis of effect size by quantifying the degree to which mutational processes (such as APOBEC mutagenesis) contributes mutations that are highly selected, driving head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. We calculate the substitutions caused by APOBEC mutagenesis that make the greatest contribution to cancer phenotype among patients. Lastly, we demonstrate via in vitro biochemical experiments that the APOBEC3B protein can deaminate the cytosine bases at two sites whose mutant states are subject to high net realized selection intensities-PIK3CA E545K and E542K. By quantifying the effects of mutations, we deepen the molecular understanding of carcinogenesis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent L Cannataro
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Stephen G Gaffney
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Tomoaki Sasaki
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Natalia Issaeva
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.,Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nicholas K S Grewal
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jennifer R Grandis
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Wendell G Yarbrough
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.,Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Barbara Burtness
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Karen S Anderson
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.,Yale Cancer Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jeffrey P Townsend
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Abstract
Kimura's neutral theory argued that positive selection was not responsible for an appreciable fraction of molecular substitutions. Correspondingly, quantitative analysis reveals that the vast majority of substitutions in cancer genomes are not detectably under selection. Insights from the somatic evolution of cancer reveal that beneficial substitutions in cancer constitute a small but important fraction of the molecular variants. The molecular evolution of cancer community will benefit by incorporating the neutral theory of molecular evolution into their understanding and analysis of cancer evolution-and accepting the use of tractable, predictive models, even when there is some evidence that they are not perfect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeffrey P Townsend
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, New Haven, CT
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Wilkins JF, Cannataro VL, Shuch B, Townsend JP. Analysis of mutation, selection, and epistasis: an informed approach to cancer clinical trials. Oncotarget 2018; 9:22243-22253. [PMID: 29854275 PMCID: PMC5976461 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, drug development efforts and clinical trials to test them are often prioritized by targeting genes with high frequencies of somatic variants among tumors. However, differences in oncogenic mutation rate-not necessarily the effect the variant has on tumor growth-contribute enormously to somatic variant frequency. We argue that decoupling the contributions of mutation and cancer lineage selection to the frequency of somatic variants among tumors is critical to understanding-and predicting-the therapeutic potential of different interventions. To provide an indicator of that strength of selection and therapeutic potential, the frequency at which we observe a given variant across patients must be modulated by our expectation given the mutation rate and target size to provide an indicator of that strength of selection and therapeutic potential. Additionally, antagonistic and synergistic epistasis among mutations also impacts the potential therapeutic benefit of targeted drug development. Quantitative approaches should be fostered that use the known genetic architectures of cancer types, decouple mutation rate, and provide rigorous guidance regarding investment in targeted drug development. By integrating evolutionary principles and detailed mechanistic knowledge into those approaches, we can maximize our ability to identify those targeted therapies most likely to yield substantial clinical benefit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Brian Shuch
- Department of Urology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jeffrey P. Townsend
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|