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Kim B, Lee S, Moon KC. Papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity: a clinicopathologic study of 43 cases with a focus on the expression of KRAS signaling pathway downstream effectors. Hum Pathol 2023; 142:1-6. [PMID: 37797754 DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2023.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity (PRNRP) is a renal tumor with frequent KRAS mutations. In this study, we aimed to report the clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical characteristics of PRNRP and the protein expression of various KRAS signaling pathway downstream effectors in PRNRP. PRNRP samples from patients who underwent surgical resection at Seoul National University Hospital over an 11-year period (January 2011 to December 2021) were analyzed. We identified 43 PRNRPs, defined as papillary renal tumors with a thin papillary architecture, eosinophilic finely granular cytoplasm, and apical nuclear position. Immunohistochemistry revealed typical characteristics of PRNRP, including exclusively positive GATA3 (43/43); highly positive L1CAM (43/43), PAX8 (43/43), and EMA (43/43); and low positive AMACR (4/43), RCC (1/43), and vimentin (1/43). KRAS signaling pathway effectors, such as p-ERK, RalA, and RalB, were highly expressed in PRNRP compared to papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) with low or high nuclear grade (P < .001, all). Compared to pRCC with high nuclear grade, patients with PRNRP exhibited significantly longer progression-free survival (P < .001). PRNRP showed the best clinical outcome, with no disease progression in any of the cases. Our study analyzed the largest number of PRNRP cases and is the first to analyze the association between PRNRP and the KRAS downstream signaling pathway. PRNRP was found at a high frequency among all papillary renal tumors (43/207) and demonstrated a very good prognosis. PRNRP showed high GATA3, L1CAM, PAX8, and EMA protein expression as well as high p-ERK, RalA, and RalB protein expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohyun Kim
- Department of Pathology, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Seokhyeon Lee
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Chul Moon
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; Kidney Research Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
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2
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Khawaja H, Briggs R, Latimer CH, Rassel M, Griffin D, Hanson L, Bardelli A, Di Nicolantonio F, McDade SS, Scott CJ, Lambe S, Maurya M, Lindner AU, Prehn JH, Sousa J, Winnington C, LaBonte MJ, Ross S, Van Schaeybroeck S. Bcl-xL Is a Key Mediator of Apoptosis Following KRASG12C Inhibition in KRASG12C-mutant Colorectal Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2023; 22:135-149. [PMID: 36279564 PMCID: PMC9808374 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-22-0301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Novel covalent inhibitors of KRASG12C have shown limited response rates in patients with KRASG12C-mutant (MT) colorectal cancer. Thus, novel KRASG12C inhibitor combination strategies that can achieve deep and durable responses are needed. Small-molecule KRASG12C inhibitors AZ'1569 and AZ'8037 were used. To identify novel candidate combination strategies for AZ'1569, we performed RNA sequencing, siRNA, and high-throughput drug screening. Top hits were validated in a panel of KRASG12CMT colorectal cancer cells and in vivo. AZ'1569-resistant colorectal cancer cells were generated and characterized. We found that response to AZ'1569 was heterogeneous across the KRASG12CMT models. AZ'1569 was ineffective at inducing apoptosis when used as a single agent or combined with chemotherapy or agents targeting the EGFR/KRAS/AKT axis. Using a systems biology approach, we identified the antiapoptotic BH3-family member BCL2L1/Bcl-xL as a top hit mediating resistance to AZ'1569. Further analyses identified acute increases in the proapoptotic protein BIM following AZ'1569 treatment. ABT-263 (navitoclax), a pharmacologic Bcl-2 family inhibitor that blocks the ability of Bcl-xL to bind and inhibit BIM, led to dramatic and universal apoptosis when combined with AZ'1569. Furthermore, this combination also resulted in dramatically attenuated tumor growth in KRASG12CMT xenografts. Finally, AZ'1569-resistant cells showed amplification of KRASG12C, EphA2/c-MET activation, increased proinflammatory chemokine profile and cross-resistance to several targeted agents. Importantly, KRAS amplification and AZ'1569 resistance were reversible upon drug withdrawal, arguing strongly for the use of drug holidays in the case of KRAS amplification. Taken together, combinatorial targeting of Bcl-xL and KRASG12C is highly effective, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with KRASG12CMT colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajrah Khawaja
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Briggs
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Cheryl H. Latimer
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Mustasin Rassel
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Daryl Griffin
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | | | - Alberto Bardelli
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Torino, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Frederica Di Nicolantonio
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Torino, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Simon S. McDade
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J. Scott
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Shauna Lambe
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Manisha Maurya
- Precision Medicine Centre of Excellence, Health Sciences Building, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas U. Lindner
- Centre of Systems Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Jochen H.M. Prehn
- Centre of Systems Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Jose Sousa
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.,Personal Health Data Science Group, Sano. Centre for Computational Personalised Medicine, Krakow, Poland
| | - Chris Winnington
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Melissa J. LaBonte
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sandra Van Schaeybroeck
- Drug Resistance Group, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.,Corresponding Author: Sandra Van Schaeybroeck, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Lisburn Road 97, Belfast BT9 7AE, United Kingdom. Phone: 4428-9097-2954; Fax: 4428-9097-2776; E-mail:
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3
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Richardson DS, Spehar JM, Han DT, Chakravarthy PA, Sizemore ST. The RAL Enigma: Distinct Roles of RALA and RALB in Cancer. Cells 2022; 11:cells11101645. [PMID: 35626682 PMCID: PMC9139244 DOI: 10.3390/cells11101645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RALA and RALB are highly homologous small G proteins belonging to the RAS superfamily. Like other small GTPases, the RALs are molecular switches that can be toggled between inactive GDP-bound and active GTP-bound states to regulate diverse and critical cellular functions such as vesicle trafficking, filopodia formation, mitochondrial fission, and cytokinesis. The RAL paralogs are activated and inactivated by a shared set of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) and utilize similar sets of downstream effectors. In addition to their important roles in normal cell biology, the RALs are known to be critical mediators of cancer cell survival, invasion, migration, and metastasis. However, despite their substantial similarities, the RALs often display striking functional disparities in cancer. RALA and RALB can have redundant, unique, or even antagonistic functions depending on cancer type. The molecular basis for these discrepancies remains an important unanswered question in the field of cancer biology. In this review we examine the functions of the RAL paralogs in normal cellular physiology and cancer biology with special consideration provided to situations where the roles of RALA and RALB are non-redundant.
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Vogelmann A, Schiedel M, Wössner N, Merz A, Herp D, Hammelmann S, Colcerasa A, Komaniecki G, Hong JY, Sum M, Metzger E, Neuwirt E, Zhang L, Einsle O, Groß O, Schüle R, Lin H, Sippl W, Jung M. Development of a NanoBRET assay to validate dual inhibitors of Sirt2-mediated lysine deacetylation and defatty-acylation that block prostate cancer cell migration. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:468-485. [PMID: 35441145 PMCID: PMC8985159 DOI: 10.1039/d1cb00244a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sirtuin2 (Sirt2) with its NAD+-dependent deacetylase and defatty-acylase activities plays a central role in the regulation of specific cellular functions. Dysregulation of Sirt2 activity has been associated with the pathogenesis of many diseases, thus making Sirt2 a promising target for pharmaceutical intervention. Herein, we present new high affinity Sirt2 selective Sirtuin-Rearranging Ligands (SirReals) that inhibit both Sirt2-dependent deacetylation and defatty-acylation in vitro and in cells. We show that simultaneous inhibition of both Sirt2 activities results in strongly reduced levels of the oncoprotein c-Myc and an inhibition of cancer cell migration. Furthermore, we describe the development of a NanoBRET-based assay for Sirt2, thereby providing a method to study cellular target engagement for Sirt2 in a straightforward and accurately quantifiable manner. Applying this assay, we could confirm cellular Sirt2 binding of our new Sirt2 inhibitors and correlate their anticancer effects with their cellular target engagement. Sirt2 inhibitors that show simultaneous inhibition of Sirt2 deacetylase and defatty-acylase activity block prostate cancer cell migration and their target engagement is shown by a newly developed NanoBRET assay.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- A Vogelmann
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg Albertstraße 25 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - M Schiedel
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Straße 10 91058 Erlangen Germany
| | - N Wössner
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg Albertstraße 25 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - A Merz
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg Albertstraße 25 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - D Herp
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg Albertstraße 25 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - S Hammelmann
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg Albertstraße 25 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - A Colcerasa
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg Albertstraße 25 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - G Komaniecki
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University Ithaca NY 14853 USA
| | - J Y Hong
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University Ithaca NY 14853 USA
| | - M Sum
- Department of Urology and Center for Clinical Research, University of Freiburg Medical Center Breisacher Strasse 66 79106 Freiburg Germany
| | - E Metzger
- Department of Urology and Center for Clinical Research, University of Freiburg Medical Center Breisacher Strasse 66 79106 Freiburg Germany
| | - E Neuwirt
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg 79106 Freiburg Germany
- CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - L Zhang
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Freiburg Albertstraße 21 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - O Einsle
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Freiburg Albertstraße 21 79104 Freiburg Germany
| | - O Groß
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg 79106 Freiburg Germany
- CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg Germany
- Center for Basics in NeuroModulation (NeuroModulBasics), Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg 79106 Freiburg Germany
| | - R Schüle
- Department of Urology and Center for Clinical Research, University of Freiburg Medical Center Breisacher Strasse 66 79106 Freiburg Germany
- CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg Germany
| | - H Lin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University Ithaca NY 14853 USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University Ithaca NY 14853 USA
| | - W Sippl
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Halle-Wittenberg Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3 06120 Halle Germany
| | - M Jung
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg Albertstraße 25 79104 Freiburg Germany
- CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg Germany
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Low-Level Endothelial TRAIL-Receptor Expression Obstructs the CNS-Delivery of Angiopep-2 Functionalised TRAIL-Receptor Agonists for the Treatment of Glioblastoma. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26247582. [PMID: 34946664 PMCID: PMC8706683 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26247582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant and aggressive form of glioma and is associated with a poor survival rate. Latest generation Tumour Necrosis Factor Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL)-based therapeutics potently induce apoptosis in cancer cells, including GBM cells, by binding to death receptors. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a major obstacle for these biologics to enter the central nervous system (CNS). We therefore investigated if antibody-based fusion proteins that combine hexavalent TRAIL and angiopep-2 (ANG2) moieties can be developed, with ANG2 promoting receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT) across the BBB. We demonstrate that these fusion proteins retain the potent apoptosis induction of hexavalent TRAIL-receptor agonists. Importantly, blood-brain barrier cells instead remained highly resistant to this fusion protein. Binding studies indicated that ANG2 is active in these constructs but that TRAIL-ANG2 fusion proteins bind preferentially to BBB endothelial cells via the TRAIL moiety. Consequently, transport studies indicated that TRAIL-ANG2 fusion proteins can, in principle, be shuttled across BBB endothelial cells, but that low TRAIL receptor expression on BBB endothelial cells interferes with efficient transport. Our work therefore demonstrates that TRAIL-ANG2 fusion proteins remain highly potent in inducing apoptosis, but that therapeutic avenues will require combinatorial strategies, such as TRAIL-R masking, to achieve effective CNS transport.
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6
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Ma C, Zhang X, Zhao X, Zhang N, Zhou S, Zhang Y, Li P. Predicting the Survival and Immune Landscape of Colorectal Cancer Patients Using an Immune-Related lncRNA Pair Model. Front Genet 2021; 12:690530. [PMID: 34552614 PMCID: PMC8451271 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.690530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that immune-related long non-coding ribonucleic acids (irlncRNAs) can be used as prognostic indicators of overall survival (OS) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Our aim in this research, therefore, was to construct a risk model using irlncRNA pairs with no requirement for a specific expression level, in hope of reliably predicting the prognosis and immune landscape of CRC patients. Methods Clinical and transcriptome profiling data of CRC patients downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were analyzed to identify differentially expressed (DE) irlncRNAs. The irlncRNA pairs significantly correlated with the prognosis of patients were screened out by univariable Cox regression analysis and a prognostic model was constructed by Lasso and multivariate Cox regression analyses. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was then plotted, with the area under the curve calculated to confirm the reliability of the model. Based on the optimal cutoff value, CRC patients in the high- or low-risk groups were distinguished, laying the ground for evaluating the risk model from the following perspectives: survival, clinicopathological traits, tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), antitumor drug efficacy, kinase inhibitor efficacy, and molecules related to immune checkpoints. Results A prognostic model consisting of 15 irlncRNA pairs was constructed, which was found to have a high correlation with patient prognosis in a cohort from the TCGA (p < 0.001, HR = 1.089, 95% CI [1.067-1.112]). According to both univariate and multivariate Cox analyses, this model could be used as an independent prognostic indicator in the TCGA cohort (p < 0.001). Effective differentiation between high- and low-risk patients was also accomplished, on the basis of aggressive clinicopathological characteristics, sensitivity to antitumor drugs, and kinase inhibitors, the tumor immune infiltration status, and the expression levels of specific molecules related to immune checkpoints. Conclusion The prognostic model established with irlncRNA pairs is a promising indicator for prognosis prediction in CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Ma
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China.,Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics Beijing Proteome Research Center National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Xudong Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Sixin Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yonghui Zhang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China.,Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Peiyu Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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Rio-Vilariño A, del Puerto-Nevado L, García-Foncillas J, Cebrián A. Ras Family of Small GTPases in CRC: New Perspectives for Overcoming Drug Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3757. [PMID: 34359657 PMCID: PMC8345156 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13153757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer remains among the cancers with the highest incidence, prevalence, and mortality worldwide. Although the development of targeted therapies against the EGFR and VEGFR membrane receptors has considerably improved survival in these patients, the appearance of resistance means that their success is still limited. Overactivation of several members of the Ras-GTPase family is one of the main actors in both tumour progression and the lack of response to cytotoxic and targeted therapies. This fact has led many resources to be devoted over the last decades to the development of targeted therapies against these proteins. However, they have not been as successful as expected in their move to the clinic so far. In this review, we will analyse the role of these Ras-GTPases in the emergence and development of colorectal cancer and their relationship with resistance to targeted therapies, as well as the status and new advances in the design of targeted therapies against these proteins and their possible clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jesús García-Foncillas
- Translational Oncology Division, Hospital Universitario Fundación Jimenez Diaz, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.R.-V.); (L.d.P.-N.)
| | - Arancha Cebrián
- Translational Oncology Division, Hospital Universitario Fundación Jimenez Diaz, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (A.R.-V.); (L.d.P.-N.)
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McCann C, Kerr EM. Metabolic Reprogramming: A Friend or Foe to Cancer Therapy? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3351. [PMID: 34283054 PMCID: PMC8267696 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance is a major cause of cancer treatment failure, effectively driven by processes that promote escape from therapy-induced cell death. The mechanisms driving evasion of apoptosis have been widely studied across multiple cancer types, and have facilitated new and exciting therapeutic discoveries with the potential to improve cancer patient care. However, an increasing understanding of the crosstalk between cancer hallmarks has highlighted the complexity of the mechanisms of drug resistance, co-opting pathways outside of the canonical "cell death" machinery to facilitate cell survival in the face of cytotoxic stress. Rewiring of cellular metabolism is vital to drive and support increased proliferative demands in cancer cells, and recent discoveries in the field of cancer metabolism have uncovered a novel role for these programs in facilitating drug resistance. As a key organelle in both metabolic and apoptotic homeostasis, the mitochondria are at the forefront of these mechanisms of resistance, coordinating crosstalk in the event of cellular stress, and promoting cellular survival. Importantly, the appreciation of this role metabolism plays in the cytotoxic response to therapy, and the ability to profile metabolic adaptions in response to treatment, has encouraged new avenues of investigation into the potential of exploiting metabolic addictions to improve therapeutic efficacy and overcome drug resistance in cancer. Here, we review the role cancer metabolism can play in mediating drug resistance, and the exciting opportunities presented by imposed metabolic vulnerabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emma M. Kerr
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Rd, BT9 7AE Belfast, Ireland;
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