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Toma MM, Skorski T. Star wars against leukemia: attacking the clones. Leukemia 2024:10.1038/s41375-024-02369-6. [PMID: 39223295 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-024-02369-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Leukemia, although most likely starts as a monoclonal genetic/epigenetic anomaly, is a polyclonal disease at manifestation. This polyclonal nature results from ongoing evolutionary changes in the genome/epigenome of leukemia cells to promote their survival and proliferation advantages. We discuss here how genetic and/or epigenetic aberrations alter intracellular microenvironment in individual leukemia clones and how extracellular microenvironment selects the best fitted clones. This dynamic polyclonal composition of leukemia makes designing an effective therapy a challenging task especially because individual leukemia clones often display substantial differences in response to treatment. Here, we discuss novel therapeutic approach employing single cell multiomics to identify and eradicate all individual clones in a patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika M Toma
- Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Tomasz Skorski
- Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA.
- Department of Cancer and Cellular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Nuclear Dynamics and Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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2
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Ramirez-Otero MA, Costanzo V. "Bridging the DNA divide": Understanding the interplay between replication- gaps and homologous recombination proteins RAD51 and BRCA1/2. DNA Repair (Amst) 2024; 141:103738. [PMID: 39084178 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2024.103738] [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: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
A key but often neglected component of genomic instability is the emergence of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) gaps during DNA replication in the absence of functional homologous recombination (HR) proteins, such as RAD51 and BRCA1/2. Research in prokaryotes has shed light on the dual role of RAD51's bacterial ortholog, RecA, in HR and the protection of replication forks, emphasizing its essential role in preventing the formation of ssDNA gaps, which is vital for cellular viability. This phenomenon was corroborated in eukaryotic cells deficient in HR, where the formation of ssDNA gaps within newly synthesized DNA and their subsequent processing by the MRE11 nuclease were observed. Without functional HR proteins, cells employ alternative ssDNA gap-filling mechanisms to ensure survival, though this compensatory response can compromise genomic stability. A notable example is the involvement of the translesion synthesis (TLS) polymerase POLζ, along with the repair protein POLθ, in the suppression of replicative ssDNA gaps. Persistent ssDNA gaps may result in replication fork collapse, chromosomal anomalies, and cell death, which contribute to cancer progression and resistance to therapy. Elucidating the processes that avert ssDNA gaps and safeguard replication forks is critical for enhancing cancer treatment approaches by exploiting the vulnerabilities of cancer cells in these pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vincenzo Costanzo
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hematology-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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3
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Ito F, Li Z, Minakhin L, Chandramouly G, Tyagi M, Betsch R, Krais JJ, Taberi B, Vekariya U, Calbert M, Skorski T, Johnson N, Chen XS, Pomerantz RT. Structural basis for a Polθ helicase small-molecule inhibitor revealed by cryo-EM. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7003. [PMID: 39143110 PMCID: PMC11324745 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51351-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA polymerase theta (Polθ) is a DNA helicase-polymerase protein that facilitates DNA repair and is synthetic lethal with homology-directed repair (HDR) factors. Thus, Polθ is a promising precision oncology drug-target in HDR-deficient cancers. Here, we characterize the binding and mechanism of action of a Polθ helicase (Polθ-hel) small-molecule inhibitor (AB25583) using cryo-EM. AB25583 exhibits 6 nM IC50 against Polθ-hel, selectively kills BRCA1/2-deficient cells, and acts synergistically with olaparib in cancer cells harboring pathogenic BRCA1/2 mutations. Cryo-EM uncovers predominantly dimeric Polθ-hel:AB25583 complex structures at 3.0-3.2 Å. The structures reveal a binding-pocket deep inside the helicase central-channel, which underscores the high specificity and potency of AB25583. The cryo-EM structures in conjunction with biochemical data indicate that AB25583 inhibits the ATPase activity of Polθ-hel helicase via an allosteric mechanism. These detailed structural data and insights about AB25583 inhibition pave the way for accelerating drug development targeting Polθ-hel in HDR-deficient cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiaki Ito
- Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Ziyuan Li
- Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Leonid Minakhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Gurushankar Chandramouly
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Mrityunjay Tyagi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Robert Betsch
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - John J Krais
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Bernadette Taberi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Umeshkumar Vekariya
- Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Marissa Calbert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Tomasz Skorski
- Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Neil Johnson
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Xiaojiang S Chen
- Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, CA, 90089, USA.
| | - Richard T Pomerantz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA.
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4
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Lin X, Soni A, Hessenow R, Sun Y, Mladenov E, Guberina M, Stuschke M, Iliakis G. Talazoparib enhances resection at DSBs and renders HR-proficient cancer cells susceptible to Polθ inhibition. Radiother Oncol 2024; 200:110475. [PMID: 39147034 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2024.110475] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The PARP inhibitor (PARPi), Talazoparib (BMN673), effectively and specifically radiosensitizes cancer cells. Radiosensitization is mediated by a shift in the repair of ionizing radiation (IR)-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) toward PARP1-independent, alternative end-joining (alt-EJ). DNA polymerase theta (Polθ) is a key component of this PARP1-independent alt-EJ pathway and we show here that its inhibition can further radiosensitize talazoparib-treated cells. The purpose of the present work is to explore mechanisms and dynamics underpinning enhanced talazoparib radiosensitization by Polθ inhibitors in HR-proficient cancer cells. METHODS AND MATERIALS Radiosensitization to PARPis, talazoparib, olaparib, rucaparib and veliparib was assessed by clonogenic survival. Polθ-proficient and -deficient cells were treated with PARPis and/or with the Polθ inhibitors ART558 or novobiocin. The role of DNA end-resection was studied by down-regulating CtIP and MRE11 expression using siRNAs. DSB repair was assessed by scoring γH2AX foci. The formation of chromosomal abnormalities was assessed as evidence of alt-EJ function using G2-specific cytogenetic analysis. RESULTS Talazoparib exerted pronounced radiosensitization that varied among the tested cancer cell lines; however, radiosensitization was undetectable in normal cells. Other commonly used PARPis, olaparib, veliparib, or rucaparib were ineffective radiosensitizers under our experimental conditions. Although genetic ablation or pharmacological inhibition of Polθ only mildly radiosensitized cancer cells, talazoparib-treated cells were markedly further radiosensitized. Mechanistically, talazoparib shunted DSBs to Polθ-dependent alt-EJ by enhancing DNA end-resection in a CtIP- and MRE11-dependent manner - an effect detectable at low, but not high IR doses. Chromosomal translocation analysis in talazoparib-treated cells exposed to Polθ inhibitors suggested that PARP1- and Polθ-dependent alt-EJ pathways may complement, but also back up each other. CONCLUSION We propose that talazoparib promotes low-dose, CtIP/MRE11-dependent resection and increases the reliance of irradiated HR-proficient cancer cells, on Polθ-mediated alt-EJ. The combination of Polθ inhibitors with talazoparib suppresses this option and causes further radiosensitization. The results suggest that Polθ inhibition may be exploited to maximize talazoparib radiosensitization of HR-proficient tumors in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xixi Lin
- Division of Experimental Radiation Biology, Department of Radiation Therapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany; Institute of Medical Radiation Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Aashish Soni
- Division of Experimental Radiation Biology, Department of Radiation Therapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany; Institute of Medical Radiation Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany.
| | - Razan Hessenow
- West German Proton Therapy Center Essen (WPE), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Yanjie Sun
- Institute of Medical Radiation Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany; West German Proton Therapy Center Essen (WPE), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Emil Mladenov
- Division of Experimental Radiation Biology, Department of Radiation Therapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany; Institute of Medical Radiation Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Maja Guberina
- Department of Radiation Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site University Hospital Essen, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Martin Stuschke
- Division of Experimental Radiation Biology, Department of Radiation Therapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany; Department of Radiation Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site University Hospital Essen, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - George Iliakis
- Division of Experimental Radiation Biology, Department of Radiation Therapy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany; Institute of Medical Radiation Biology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany.
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5
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Clark A, Villarreal MR, Huang SB, Jayamohan S, Rivas P, Hussain SS, Ybarra M, Osmulski P, Gaczynska ME, Shim EY, Smith T, Gupta YK, Yang X, Delma CR, Natarajan M, Lai Z, Wang LJ, Michalek JE, Higginson DS, Ikeno Y, Ha CS, Chen Y, Ghosh R, Kumar AP. Targeting S6K/NFκB/SQSTM1/Polθ signaling to suppress radiation resistance in prostate cancer. Cancer Lett 2024; 597:217063. [PMID: 38925361 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.217063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
In this study we have identified POLθ-S6K-p62 as a novel druggable regulator of radiation response in prostate cancer. Despite significant advances in delivery, radiotherapy continues to negatively affect treatment outcomes and quality of life due to resistance and late toxic effects to the surrounding normal tissues such as bladder and rectum. It is essential to develop new and effective strategies to achieve better control of tumor. We found that ribosomal protein S6K (RPS6KB1) is elevated in human prostate tumors, and contributes to resistance to radiation. As a downstream effector of mTOR signaling, S6K is known to be involved in growth regulation. However, the impact of S6K signaling on radiation response has not been fully explored. Here we show that loss of S6K led to formation of smaller tumors with less metastatic ability in mice. Mechanistically we found that S6K depletion reduced NFκB and SQSTM1 (p62) reporter activity and DNA polymerase θ (POLθ) that is involved in alternate end-joining repair. We further show that the natural compound berberine interacts with S6K in a in a hitherto unreported novel mode and that pharmacological inhibition of S6K with berberine reduces Polθ and downregulates p62 transcriptional activity via NFκB. Loss of S6K or pre-treatment with berberine improved response to radiation in prostate cancer cells and prevented radiation-mediated resurgence of PSA in animals implanted with prostate cancer cells. Notably, silencing POLQ in S6K overexpressing cells enhanced response to radiation suggesting S6K sensitizes prostate cancer cells to radiation via POLQ. Additionally, inhibition of autophagy with CQ potentiated growth inhibition induced by berberine plus radiation. These observations suggest that pharmacological inhibition of S6K with berberine not only downregulates NFκB/p62 signaling to disrupt autophagic flux but also decreases Polθ. Therefore, combination treatment with radiation and berberine inhibits autophagy and alternate end-joining DNA repair, two processes associated with radioresistance leading to increased radiation sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Clark
- Departments of Molecular Medicine, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Michelle R Villarreal
- Departments of Molecular Medicine, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Shih-Bo Huang
- Departments of Molecular Medicine, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Sridharan Jayamohan
- Departments of Molecular Medicine, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Paul Rivas
- Departments of Molecular Medicine, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Suleman S Hussain
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Meagan Ybarra
- Departments of Molecular Medicine, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Pawel Osmulski
- Departments of Molecular Medicine, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Maria E Gaczynska
- Departments of Molecular Medicine, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Eun Yong Shim
- Departments of Molecular Medicine, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Tyler Smith
- Departments of Molecular Medicine, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Yogesh K Gupta
- Departments of Greehey Children's Cancer Institute, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Yang
- Departments of Molecular Medicine, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Caroline R Delma
- Departments of Pathology, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Mohan Natarajan
- Departments of Pathology, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Zhao Lai
- Departments of Molecular Medicine, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA; Departments of Greehey Children's Cancer Institute, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA; Departments of Mays Cancer Center, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Li-Ju Wang
- Departments of Greehey Children's Cancer Institute, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Joel E Michalek
- Departments of Mays Cancer Center, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA; Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Daniel S Higginson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yuji Ikeno
- Departments of Pathology, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA; Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA; Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital (STVHCS), Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Chul Soo Ha
- Departments of Mays Cancer Center, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Yidong Chen
- Departments of Greehey Children's Cancer Institute, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA; Departments of Mays Cancer Center, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Rita Ghosh
- Departments of Molecular Medicine, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA; Departments of Urology, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA; Departments of Pharmacology, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
| | - Addanki P Kumar
- Departments of Molecular Medicine, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA; Departments of Urology, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA; Departments of Pharmacology, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA; Departments of Mays Cancer Center, Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA; Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital (STVHCS), Long School of Medicine, The University of Texas Health San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
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6
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Bazan Russo TD, Mujacic C, Di Giovanni E, Vitale MC, Ferrante Bannera C, Randazzo U, Contino S, Bono M, Gristina V, Galvano A, Perez A, Badalamenti G, Russo A, Bazan V, Incorvaia L. Polθ: emerging synthetic lethal partner in homologous recombination-deficient tumors. Cancer Gene Ther 2024:10.1038/s41417-024-00815-2. [PMID: 39122831 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-024-00815-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
The most remarkable finding in synthetic lethality (SL) is the hypersensitivity to PARP inhibitors (PARPis) of the tumors harboring defects in genes involved in homologous repair (HR) such as BRCA1/2. Despite initial responsiveness to PARPi, the penetrance of the synthetic lethal interactions between BRCA1/2 genes and PARPi is incomplete. Thus, a significant proportion of HR-defective tumors experience intrinsic or acquired resistance, representing a key challenge of clinical research. An expanded concept of SL is opening new ways and includes novel forms of genetic interactions, investigating not only traditional SL of pairs genes but also SL between biological pathways that regulate the same essential survival cell function. In this context, recent research showed that HR and theta-mediated end-joining (TMEJ) pathways exhibit SL. DNA polymerase theta (Polθ) is encoded by the POLQ gene and is a key component of the TMEJ, an essential backup pathway, intrinsically mutagenic, to repair resected double-strand breaks (DSBs) when the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and HR are impaired. Polθ is broadly expressed in normal tissues, overexpressed in several cancers, and typically associated with poor outcomes and shorter relapse-free survival. Notably, HR-deficient tumor cells present the characteristic mutational signatures of the error-prone TMEJ pathway. According to this observation, the loss of HR proteins, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, contributes to increasing the TMEJ-specific genomic profile, suggesting synthetic lethal interactions between loss of the POLQ and HR genes, and resulting in the emerging interest for Polθ as a potential therapeutic target in BRCA1/2-associated tumors.This review summarizes the converging roles of the POLQ and HR genes in DNA DSB repair, the early-stage clinical trials using Polθ inhibitor to treat HR-defective tumors and to overcome BRCA-reversion mutations responsible for therapeutic resistance, and the novel pleiotropic effects of Polθ, paving the way for the development of unexplored synthetic lethality strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tancredi Didier Bazan Russo
- Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Clarissa Mujacic
- Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Emilia Di Giovanni
- Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria Concetta Vitale
- Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Carla Ferrante Bannera
- Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Ugo Randazzo
- Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Silvia Contino
- Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marco Bono
- Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Valerio Gristina
- Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Galvano
- Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Perez
- Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Badalamenti
- Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Antonio Russo
- Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Viviana Bazan
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Lorena Incorvaia
- Department of Precision Medicine in Medical, Surgical and Critical Care (Me.Pre.C.C.), Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
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7
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Liu W, Cao H, Wang J, Elmusrati A, Han B, Chen W, Zhou P, Li X, Keysar S, Jimeno A, Wang CY. Histone-methyltransferase KMT2D deficiency impairs the Fanconi anemia/BRCA pathway upon glycolytic inhibition in squamous cell carcinoma. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6755. [PMID: 39117659 PMCID: PMC11310337 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50861-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Histone lysine methyltransferase 2D (KMT2D) is the most frequently mutated epigenetic modifier in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the role of KMT2D in HNSCC tumorigenesis and whether its mutations confer any therapeutic vulnerabilities remain unknown. Here we show that KMT2D deficiency promotes HNSCC growth through increasing glycolysis. Additionally, KMT2D loss decreases the expression of Fanconi Anemia (FA)/BRCA pathway genes under glycolytic inhibition. Mechanistically, glycolytic inhibition facilitates the occupancy of KMT2D to the promoter/enhancer regions of FA genes. KMT2D loss reprograms the epigenomic landscapes of FA genes by transiting their promoter/enhancer states from active to inactive under glycolytic inhibition. Therefore, combining the glycolysis inhibitor 2-DG with DNA crosslinking agents or poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors preferentially inhibits tumor growth of KMT2D-deficient mouse HNSCC and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) harboring KMT2D-inactivating mutations. These findings provide an epigenomic basis for developing targeted therapies for HNSCC patients with KMT2D-inactivating mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, Division of Oral and Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hongchao Cao
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, Division of Oral and Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, Division of Oral and Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Areeg Elmusrati
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, Division of Oral and Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bing Han
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, Division of Oral and Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Wei Chen
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, Division of Oral and Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ping Zhou
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, Division of Oral and Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Xiyao Li
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, Division of Oral and Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stephen Keysar
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Antonio Jimeno
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Cun-Yu Wang
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, Division of Oral and Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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8
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Wang J, Sadeghi CA, Le LV, Le Bouteiller M, Frock RL. ATM and 53BP1 regulate alternative end joining-mediated V(D)J recombination. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn4682. [PMID: 39083600 PMCID: PMC11290492 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn4682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
G0-G1 phase alternative end joining (A-EJ) is a recently defined mutagenic pathway characterized by resected deletion and translocation joints that are predominantly direct and are distinguished from A-EJ in cycling cells that rely much more on microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ). Using chemical and genetic approaches, we systematically evaluate potential A-EJ factors and DNA damage response (DDR) genes to support this mechanism by mapping the repair fates of RAG1/2-initiated double-strand breaks in the context of Igκ locus V-J recombination and chromosome translocation. Our findings highlight a polymerase theta-independent Parp1-XRCC1/LigIII axis as central A-EJ components, supported by 53BP1 in the context of an Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-activated DDR. Mechanistically, we demonstrate varied changes in short-range resection, MMEJ, and translocation, imposed by compromising specific DDR activities, which include polymerase alpha, Ataxia-telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR), DNA2, and Mre11. This study advances our understanding of DNA damage repair within the 53BP1 regulatory domain and the RAG1/2 postcleavage complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinglong Wang
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Cheyenne A. Sadeghi
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Long V. Le
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Marie Le Bouteiller
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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9
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Cheung A, Chenoweth AM, Johansson A, Laddach R, Guppy N, Trendell J, Esapa B, Mavousian A, Navarro-Llinas B, Haider S, Romero-Clavijo P, Hoffmann RM, Andriollo P, Rahman KM, Jackson P, Tsoka S, Irshad S, Roxanis I, Grigoriadis A, Thurston DE, Lord CJ, Tutt ANJ, Karagiannis SN. Anti-EGFR Antibody-Drug Conjugate Carrying an Inhibitor Targeting CDK Restricts Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Growth. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:3298-3315. [PMID: 38772416 PMCID: PMC11292198 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-3110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Anti-EGFR antibodies show limited response in breast cancer, partly due to activation of compensatory pathways. Furthermore, despite the clinical success of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors in hormone receptor-positive tumors, aggressive triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) are largely resistant due to CDK2/cyclin E expression, whereas free CDK2 inhibitors display normal tissue toxicity, limiting their therapeutic application. A cetuximab-based antibody drug conjugate (ADC) carrying a CDK inhibitor selected based on oncogene dysregulation, alongside patient subgroup stratification, may provide EGFR-targeted delivery. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Expressions of G1/S-phase cell cycle regulators were evaluated alongside EGFR in breast cancer. We conjugated cetuximab with CDK inhibitor SNS-032, for specific delivery to EGFR-expressing cells. We assessed ADC internalization and its antitumor functions in vitro and in orthotopically grown basal-like/TNBC xenografts. RESULTS Transcriptomic (6,173 primary, 27 baseline, and matched post-chemotherapy residual tumors), single-cell RNA sequencing (150,290 cells, 27 treatment-naïve tumors), and spatial transcriptomic (43 tumor sections, 22 TNBCs) analyses confirmed expression of CDK2 and its cyclin partners in basal-like/TNBCs, associated with EGFR. Spatiotemporal live-cell imaging and super-resolution confocal microscopy demonstrated ADC colocalization with late lysosomal clusters. The ADC inhibited cell cycle progression, induced cytotoxicity against high EGFR-expressing tumor cells, and bystander killing of neighboring EGFR-low tumor cells, but minimal effects on immune cells. Despite carrying a small molar fraction (1.65%) of the SNS-032 inhibitor, the ADC restricted EGFR-expressing spheroid and cell line/patient-derived xenograft tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS Exploiting EGFR overexpression, and dysregulated cell cycle in aggressive and treatment-refractory tumors, a cetuximab-CDK inhibitor ADC may provide selective and efficacious delivery of cell cycle-targeted agents to basal-like/TNBCs, including chemotherapy-resistant residual disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Cheung
- Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, Guy’s Cancer Centre, London, United Kingdom
- St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences & KHP Centre for Translational Medicine, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alicia M. Chenoweth
- Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, Guy’s Cancer Centre, London, United Kingdom
- St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences & KHP Centre for Translational Medicine, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Annelie Johansson
- Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, Guy’s Cancer Centre, London, United Kingdom
- Cancer Bioinformatics, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, Guy’s Cancer Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Roman Laddach
- St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences & KHP Centre for Translational Medicine, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Informatics, Faculty of Natural, Mathematical and Engineering Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Naomi Guppy
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Trendell
- Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, Guy’s Cancer Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamina Esapa
- St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences & KHP Centre for Translational Medicine, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Antranik Mavousian
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Blanca Navarro-Llinas
- Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, Guy’s Cancer Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Syed Haider
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pablo Romero-Clavijo
- St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences & KHP Centre for Translational Medicine, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ricarda M. Hoffmann
- St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences & KHP Centre for Translational Medicine, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Andriollo
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Khondaker M. Rahman
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Jackson
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sophia Tsoka
- Department of Informatics, Faculty of Natural, Mathematical and Engineering Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sheeba Irshad
- Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, Guy’s Cancer Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ioannis Roxanis
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anita Grigoriadis
- Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, Guy’s Cancer Centre, London, United Kingdom
- Cancer Bioinformatics, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, Guy’s Cancer Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - David E. Thurston
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J. Lord
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew N. J. Tutt
- Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, Guy’s Cancer Centre, London, United Kingdom
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sophia N. Karagiannis
- Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, Guy’s Cancer Centre, London, United Kingdom
- St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences & KHP Centre for Translational Medicine, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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10
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Kulkarni S, Gajjar K, Madhusudan S. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor therapy and mechanisms of resistance in epithelial ovarian cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1414112. [PMID: 39135999 PMCID: PMC11317305 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1414112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Advanced epithelial ovarian cancer is the commonest cause of gynaecological cancer deaths. First-line treatment for advanced disease includes a combination of platinum-taxane chemotherapy (post-operatively or peri-operatively) and maximal debulking surgery whenever feasible. Initial response rate to chemotherapy is high (up to 80%) but most patients will develop recurrence (approximately 70-90%) and succumb to the disease. Recently, poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibition (by drugs such as Olaparib, Niraparib or Rucaparib) directed synthetic lethality approach in BRCA germline mutant or platinum sensitive disease has generated real hope for patients. PARP inhibitor (PARPi) maintenance therapy can prolong survival but therapeutic response is not sustained due to intrinsic or acquired secondary resistance to PARPi therapy. Reversion of BRCA1/2 mutation can lead to clinical PARPi resistance in BRCA-germline mutated ovarian cancer. However, in the more common platinum sensitive sporadic HGSOC, the clinical mechanisms of development of PARPi resistance remains to be defined. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the current status of PARPi and the mechanisms of resistance to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanat Kulkarni
- Department of Medicine, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, West Bromwich, United Kingdom
| | - Ketankumar Gajjar
- Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Srinivasan Madhusudan
- Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Oncology, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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11
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Previtali V, Bagnolini G, Ciamarone A, Ferrandi G, Rinaldi F, Myers SH, Roberti M, Cavalli A. New Horizons of Synthetic Lethality in Cancer: Current Development and Future Perspectives. J Med Chem 2024; 67:11488-11521. [PMID: 38955347 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, synthetic lethality has been recognized as a solid paradigm for anticancer therapies. The discovery of a growing number of synthetic lethal targets has led to a significant expansion in the use of synthetic lethality, far beyond poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors used to treat BRCA1/2-defective tumors. In particular, molecular targets within DNA damage response have provided a source of inhibitors that have rapidly reached clinical trials. This Perspective focuses on the most recent progress in synthetic lethal targets and their inhibitors, within and beyond the DNA damage response, describing their design and associated therapeutic strategies. We will conclude by discussing the current challenges and new opportunities for this promising field of research, to stimulate discussion in the medicinal chemistry community, allowing the investigation of synthetic lethality to reach its full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viola Previtali
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Greta Bagnolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciamarone
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Ferrandi
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Rinaldi
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Samuel Harry Myers
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Marinella Roberti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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12
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Choi S, Bae HG, Jo DG, Kim WY. The Role of IRF9 Upregulation in Modulating Sensitivity to Olaparib and Platinum-Based Chemotherapies in Breast Cancer. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:959. [PMID: 39062738 PMCID: PMC11276373 DOI: 10.3390/genes15070959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are targeted therapies that accumulate DNA damage by interfering with DNA repair mechanisms and are approved for treating several cancers with BRCA1/2 mutations. In this study, we utilized CRISPR-dCas9 interference screening to identify genes regulating sensitivity to PARP inhibitors in breast cancer cell lines. Our findings indicated that the interferon (IFN) signaling gene IRF9 was critically involved in modulating sensitivity to these inhibitors. We revealed that the loss of IRF9 leads to increased resistance to the PARP inhibitor in MDA-MB-468 cells, and a similar desensitization was observed in another breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231. Further analysis indicated that while the basal expression of IRF9 did not correlate with the response to the PARP inhibitor olaparib, its transcriptional induction was significantly associated with increased sensitivity to the DNA-damaging agent cisplatin in the NCI-60 cell line panel. This finding suggests a mechanistic link between IRF9 induction and cellular responses to DNA damage. Additionally, data from the METABRIC patient tissue study revealed a complex network of IFN-responsive gene expressions postchemotherapy, with seven upregulated genes, including IRF9, and three downregulated genes. These findings underscore the intricate role of IFN signaling in the cellular response to chemotherapy. Collectively, our CRISPR screening data and subsequent bioinformatic analyses suggest that IRF9 is a novel biomarker for sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents, such as olaparib and platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents. Our findings for IRF9 not only enhance our understanding of the genetic basis of drug sensitivity, but also elucidate the role of IRF9 as a critical effector within IFN signaling pathways, potentially influencing the association between the host immune system and chemotherapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- SeokGyeong Choi
- College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea;
| | - Han-Gyu Bae
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; (H.-G.B.); (D.-G.J.)
| | - Dong-Gyu Jo
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; (H.-G.B.); (D.-G.J.)
| | - Woo-Young Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea;
- Muscle Physiome Research Center, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea
- Drug Information Research Institute, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea
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13
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Li X, Zou L. BRCAness, DNA gaps, and gain and loss of PARP inhibitor-induced synthetic lethality. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e181062. [PMID: 39007266 PMCID: PMC11245158 DOI: 10.1172/jci181062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the tumor-suppressor genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 resulting in BRCA1/2 deficiency are frequently identified in breast, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, and other cancers. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPis) selectively kill BRCA1/2-deficient cancer cells by inducing synthetic lethality, providing an effective biomarker-guided strategy for targeted cancer therapy. However, a substantial fraction of cancer patients carrying BRCA1/2 mutations do not respond to PARPis, and most patients develop resistance to PARPis over time, highlighting a major obstacle to PARPi therapy in the clinic. Recent studies have revealed that changes of specific functional defects of BRCA1/2-deficient cells, particularly their defects in suppressing and protecting single-stranded DNA gaps, contribute to the gain or loss of PARPi-induced synthetic lethality. These findings not only shed light on the mechanism of action of PARPis, but also lead to revised models that explain how PARPis selectively kill BRCA-deficient cancer cells. Furthermore, new mechanistic principles of PARPi sensitivity and resistance have emerged from these studies, generating potentially useful guidelines for predicting the PARPi response and design therapies for overcoming PARPi resistance. In this Review, we will discuss these recent studies and put them in context with the classic views of PARPi-induced synthetic lethality, aiming to stimulate the development of new therapeutic strategies to overcome PARPi resistance and improve PARPi therapy.
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14
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Dibitetto D, Widmer CA, Rottenberg S. PARPi, BRCA, and gaps: controversies and future research. Trends Cancer 2024:S2405-8033(24)00134-1. [PMID: 39004561 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.06.008] [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: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, various poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPis) have been approved for the treatment of several cancers to target the vulnerability of homologous recombination (HR) deficiency (e.g., due to BRCA1/2 dysfunction). In this review we analyze the ongoing debates and recent breakthroughs in the use of PARPis for BRCA1/2-deficient cancers, juxtaposing the 'double-strand break (DSB)' and 'single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) gap' models of synthetic lethality induced by PARPis. We spotlight the complexity of this interaction, highlighting emerging research on the role of DNA polymerase theta (POLθ) and ssDNA gaps in shaping therapy responses. We scrutinize the clinical ramifications of these findings, especially concerning PARPi efficacy and resistance mechanisms, underscoring the heterogeneity of BRCA-mutated tumors and the urgent need for advanced research to bridge the gap between laboratory models and patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Dibitetto
- Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Bern Center for Precision Medicine and Cancer Therapy Research Cluster, Department for Biomedical Research, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Molecular Oncology and DNA Damage Response Laboratory, Department of Experimental Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milan, Italy.
| | - Carmen A Widmer
- Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Bern Center for Precision Medicine and Cancer Therapy Research Cluster, Department for Biomedical Research, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sven Rottenberg
- Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Bern Center for Precision Medicine and Cancer Therapy Research Cluster, Department for Biomedical Research, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Division of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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15
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Sfeir A. Obscure DNA sequences unveil a new cancer target. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024:10.1038/s41594-024-01347-x. [PMID: 38977900 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01347-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Agnel Sfeir
- Molecular Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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16
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Hu Q, Espejo Valle-Inclán J, Dahiya R, Guyer A, Mazzagatti A, Maurais EG, Engel JL, Lu H, Davis AJ, Cortés-Ciriano I, Ly P. Non-homologous end joining shapes the genomic rearrangement landscape of chromothripsis from mitotic errors. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5611. [PMID: 38965240 PMCID: PMC11224358 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49985-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Mitotic errors generate micronuclei entrapping mis-segregated chromosomes, which are susceptible to catastrophic fragmentation through chromothripsis. The reassembly of fragmented chromosomes by error-prone DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair generates diverse genomic rearrangements associated with human diseases. How specific repair pathways recognize and process these lesions remains poorly understood. Here we use CRISPR/Cas9 to systematically inactivate distinct DSB repair pathways and interrogate the rearrangement landscape of fragmented chromosomes. Deletion of canonical non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) components substantially reduces complex rearrangements and shifts the rearrangement landscape toward simple alterations without the characteristic patterns of chromothripsis. Following reincorporation into the nucleus, fragmented chromosomes localize within sub-nuclear micronuclei bodies (MN bodies) and undergo ligation by NHEJ within a single cell cycle. In the absence of NHEJ, chromosome fragments are rarely engaged by alternative end-joining or recombination-based mechanisms, resulting in delayed repair kinetics, persistent 53BP1-labeled MN bodies, and cell cycle arrest. Thus, we provide evidence supporting NHEJ as the exclusive DSB repair pathway generating complex rearrangements from mitotic errors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Hu
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jose Espejo Valle-Inclán
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Rashmi Dahiya
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Alison Guyer
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alice Mazzagatti
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Elizabeth G Maurais
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Justin L Engel
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Huiming Lu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Anthony J Davis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Isidro Cortés-Ciriano
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Peter Ly
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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17
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Kunihisa T, Inubushi S, Tanino H, Hoffman RM. Induction of the DNA-Repair Gene POLQ only in BRCA1-mutant Breast-Cancer Cells by Methionine Restriction. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2024; 21:399-404. [PMID: 38944428 PMCID: PMC11215430 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20458] [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: 03/23/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM BRCA1/2 mutations in breast cancer cells impair homologous recombination and promote alternative end joining (Alt-EJ) for DNA-damage repair. DNA polymerase theta, encoded by POLQ, plays a crucial role in Alt-EJ, making it a potential therapeutic target, particularly in BRCA1/2-mutant cancers. Methionine restriction is a promising approach to target cancer cells due to their addiction to this amino acid. The present study investigated the expression of POLQ in BRCA1/2 wild-type and BRCA1-mutant breast cancer cells under methionine restriction. MATERIALS AND METHODS POLQ mRNA expression was measured using qRT-PCR in BRCA1/2 wild-type (MDA-MB-231) and BRCA1- mutant (HCC1937 and MDA-MB-436) breast-cancer cells under normal, or serum-restricted, or serum- and methionine-restricted conditions. RESULTS Compared to BRCA1/2 wild-type cells, BRCA1-mutant cells displayed significantly higher basal POLQ expression in normal medium. Methionine restriction further increased POLQ expression in the BRCA1-mutant cells but decreased it in the BRCA1/2 wild-type cells. CONCLUSION The present findings suggest that methionine restriction showed differential effects on POLQ expression, potentially impacting Alt-EJ activity, in BRCA1/2 wild-type and BRCA1-mutant breast-cancer cells. Further investigation is needed to explore the potential of combining methionine restriction with DNA-repair inhibitors, such as PARP inhibitors, to overcome drug resistance in BRCA1/2 mutant cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomonari Kunihisa
- Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Sachiko Inubushi
- Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Tanino
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Robert M Hoffman
- AntiCancer Inc, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.;
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, U.S.A
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18
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Pinto MF, Sirina J, Holliday ND, McWhirter CL. High-throughput kinetics in drug discovery. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2024; 29:100170. [PMID: 38964171 DOI: 10.1016/j.slasd.2024.100170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
The importance of a drug's kinetic profile and interplay of structure-kinetic activity with PK/PD has long been appreciated in drug discovery. However, technical challenges have often limited detailed kinetic characterization of compounds to the latter stages of projects. This review highlights the advances that have been made in recent years in techniques, instrumentation, and data analysis to increase the throughput of detailed kinetic and mechanistic characterization, enabling its application earlier in the drug discovery process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Filipa Pinto
- Artios Pharma Ltd, B940, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, United Kingdom
| | - Julija Sirina
- Excellerate Bioscience Ltd, 21 The Triangle, NG2 Business Park, Nottingham, NG2 1AE, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas D Holliday
- Excellerate Bioscience Ltd, 21 The Triangle, NG2 Business Park, Nottingham, NG2 1AE, United Kingdom; School of Life Sciences, The Medical School, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, United Kingdom
| | - Claire L McWhirter
- Artios Pharma Ltd, B940, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, United Kingdom.
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19
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Miramova A, Gartner A, Ivanov D. How to sensitize glioblastomas to temozolomide chemotherapy: a gap-centered view. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1436563. [PMID: 39011394 PMCID: PMC11246897 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1436563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Temozolomide (TMZ) is a methylating agent used as the first-line drug in the chemotherapy of glioblastomas. However, cancer cells eventually acquire resistance, necessitating the development of TMZ-potentiating therapy agents. TMZ induces several DNA base adducts, including O 6 -meG, 3-meA, and 7-meG. TMZ cytotoxicity stems from the ability of these adducts to directly (3-meA) or indirectly (O 6 -meG) impair DNA replication. Although TMZ toxicity is generally attributed to O 6 -meG, other alkylated bases can be similarly important depending on the status of various DNA repair pathways of the treated cells. In this mini-review we emphasize the necessity to distinguish TMZ-sensitive glioblastomas, which do not express methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and are killed by the futile cycle of mismatch repair (MMR) of the O 6 -meG/T pairs, vs. TMZ-resistant MGMT-positive or MMR-negative glioblastomas, which are selected in the course of the treatment and are killed only at higher TMZ doses by the replication-blocking 3-meA. These two types of cells can be TMZ-sensitized by inhibiting different DNA repair pathways. However, in both cases, the toxic intermediates appear to be ssDNA gaps, a vulnerability also seen in BRCA-deficient cancers. PARP inhibitors (PARPi), which were initially developed to treat BRCA1/2-deficient cancers by synthetic lethality, were re-purposed in clinical trials to potentiate the effects of TMZ. We discuss how the recent advances in our understanding of the genetic determinants of TMZ toxicity might lead to new approaches for the treatment of glioblastomas by inhibiting PARP1 and other enzymes involved in the repair of alkylation damage (e.g., APE1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alila Miramova
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Anton Gartner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School for Health Sciences and Technology, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Republic of Korea
- Center for Genomic Integrity, Institute for Basic Science, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Dmitri Ivanov
- Center for Genomic Integrity, Institute for Basic Science, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
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20
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Laverty DJ, Gupta SK, Bradshaw GA, Hunter AS, Carlson BL, Calmo NM, Chen J, Tian S, Sarkaria JN, Nagel ZD. ATM inhibition exploits checkpoint defects and ATM-dependent double strand break repair in TP53-mutant glioblastoma. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5294. [PMID: 38906885 PMCID: PMC11192742 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49316-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Determining the balance between DNA double strand break repair (DSBR) pathways is essential for understanding treatment response in cancer. We report a method for simultaneously measuring non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), homologous recombination (HR), and microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ). Using this method, we show that patient-derived glioblastoma (GBM) samples with acquired temozolomide (TMZ) resistance display elevated HR and MMEJ activity, suggesting that these pathways contribute to treatment resistance. We screen clinically relevant small molecules for DSBR inhibition with the aim of identifying improved GBM combination therapy regimens. We identify the ATM kinase inhibitor, AZD1390, as a potent dual HR/MMEJ inhibitor that suppresses radiation-induced phosphorylation of DSBR proteins, blocks DSB end resection, and enhances the cytotoxic effects of TMZ in treatment-naïve and treatment-resistant GBMs with TP53 mutation. We further show that a combination of G2/M checkpoint deficiency and reliance upon ATM-dependent DSBR renders TP53 mutant GBMs hypersensitive to TMZ/AZD1390 and radiation/AZD1390 combinations. This report identifies ATM-dependent HR and MMEJ as targetable resistance mechanisms in TP53-mutant GBM and establishes an approach for simultaneously measuring multiple DSBR pathways in treatment selection and oncology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Laverty
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jiajia Chen
- Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
- Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | | | | | - Zachary D Nagel
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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21
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Ito F, Li Z, Minakhin L, Khant HA, Pomerantz RT, Chen XS. Structural Basis for Polθ-Helicase DNA Binding and Microhomology-Mediated End-Joining. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.07.597860. [PMID: 38895274 PMCID: PMC11185775 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.07.597860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) present a critical threat to genomic integrity, often precipitating genomic instability and oncogenesis. Repair of DSBs predominantly occurs through homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). In HR-deficient cells, DNA polymerase theta (Polθ) becomes critical for DSB repair via microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ), also termed theta-mediated end joining (TMEJ). Thus, Polθ is synthetically lethal with BRCA1/2 and other HR factors, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target in HR-deficient cancers. However, the molecular mechanisms governing Polθ-mediated MMEJ remain poorly understood. Here we present a series of cryo-electron microscopy structures of the Polθ helicase domain (Polθ-hel) in complex with DNA containing 3'-overhang. The structures reveal the sequential conformations adopted by Polθ-hel during the critical phases of DNA binding, microhomology searching, and microhomology annealing. The stepwise conformational changes within the Polθ-hel subdomains and its functional dimeric state are pivotal for aligning the 3'-overhangs, facilitating the microhomology search and subsequent annealing necessary for DSB repair via MMEJ. Our findings illustrate the essential molecular switches within Polθ-hel that orchestrate the MMEJ process in DSB repair, laying the groundwork for the development of targeted therapies against the Polθ-hel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiaki Ito
- Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 90089, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095, USA
| | - Ziyuan Li
- Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 90089, USA
| | - Leonid Minakhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Htet A. Khant
- USC Center of Excellence for Nano-Imaging, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Richard T. Pomerantz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Xiaojiang S. Chen
- Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, 90089, USA
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22
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Gadgil RY, Rider SD, Shrestha R, Alhawach V, Hitch D, Leffak M. Microsatellite break-induced replication generates highly mutagenized extrachromosomal circular DNAs. NAR Cancer 2024; 6:zcae027. [PMID: 38854437 PMCID: PMC11161834 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcae027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Extrachromosomal circular DNAs (eccDNAs) are produced from all regions of the eucaryotic genome. We used inverse PCR of non-B microsatellites capable of forming hairpin, triplex, quadruplex and AT-rich structures integrated at a common ectopic chromosomal site to show that these non-B DNAs generate highly mutagenized eccDNAs by replication-dependent mechanisms. Mutagenesis occurs within the non-B DNAs and extends several kilobases bidirectionally into flanking and nonallelic DNA. Each non-B DNA exhibits a different pattern of mutagenesis, while sister clones containing the same non-B DNA also display distinct patterns of recombination, microhomology-mediated template switching and base substitutions. Mutations include mismatches, short duplications, long nontemplated insertions, large deletions and template switches to sister chromatids and nonallelic chromosomes. Drug-induced replication stress or the depletion of DNA repair factors Rad51, the COPS2 signalosome subunit or POLη change the pattern of template switching and alter the eccDNA mutagenic profiles. We propose an asynchronous capture model based on break-induced replication from microsatellite-induced DNA double strand breaks to account for the generation and circularization of mutagenized eccDNAs and the appearance of genomic homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) scars. These results may help to explain the appearance of tumor eccDNAS and their roles in neoantigen production, oncogenesis and resistance to chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rujuta Yashodhan Gadgil
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
| | - S Dean Rider
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
| | - Resha Shrestha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
| | - Venicia Alhawach
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
| | - David C Hitch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
| | - Michael Leffak
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
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23
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Schreuder A, Wendel TJ, Dorresteijn CGV, Noordermeer SM. (Single-stranded DNA) gaps in understanding BRCAness. Trends Genet 2024:S0168-9525(24)00100-8. [PMID: 38789375 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.04.013] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
The tumour-suppressive roles of BRCA1 and 2 have been attributed to three seemingly distinct functions - homologous recombination, replication fork protection, and single-stranded (ss)DNA gap suppression - and their relative importance is under debate. In this review, we examine the origin and resolution of ssDNA gaps and discuss the recent advances in understanding the role of BRCA1/2 in gap suppression. There are ample data showing that gap accumulation in BRCA1/2-deficient cells is linked to genomic instability and chemosensitivity. However, it remains unclear whether there is a causative role and the function of BRCA1/2 in gap suppression cannot unambiguously be dissected from their other functions. We therefore conclude that the three functions of BRCA1 and 2 are closely intertwined and not mutually exclusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Schreuder
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Leiden, The Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tiemen J Wendel
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Leiden, The Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Carlo G V Dorresteijn
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sylvie M Noordermeer
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Leiden, The Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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24
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Yuan B, Bi C, Tian Y, Wang J, Jin Y, Alsayegh K, Tehseen M, Yi G, Zhou X, Shao Y, Romero FV, Fischle W, Izpisua Belmonte JC, Hamdan S, Huang Y, Li M. Modulation of the microhomology-mediated end joining pathway suppresses large deletions and enhances homology-directed repair following CRISPR-Cas9-induced DNA breaks. BMC Biol 2024; 22:101. [PMID: 38685010 PMCID: PMC11059712 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01896-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing often induces unintended, large genomic rearrangements, posing potential safety risks. However, there are no methods for mitigating these risks. RESULTS Using long-read individual-molecule sequencing (IDMseq), we found the microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ) DNA repair pathway plays a predominant role in Cas9-induced large deletions (LDs). We targeted MMEJ-associated genes genetically and/or pharmacologically and analyzed Cas9-induced LDs at multiple gene loci using flow cytometry and long-read sequencing. Reducing POLQ levels or activity significantly decreases LDs, while depleting or overexpressing RPA increases or reduces LD frequency, respectively. Interestingly, small-molecule inhibition of POLQ and delivery of recombinant RPA proteins also dramatically promote homology-directed repair (HDR) at multiple disease-relevant gene loci in human pluripotent stem cells and hematopoietic progenitor cells. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal the contrasting roles of RPA and POLQ in Cas9-induced LD and HDR, suggesting new strategies for safer and more precise genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baolei Yuan
- Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Chongwei Bi
- Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Yeteng Tian
- Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Jincheng Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, College of Chemistry, College of Engineering, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiqing Jin
- Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Khaled Alsayegh
- Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Present address: King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNG-HA), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Tehseen
- Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Gang Yi
- Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Xuan Zhou
- Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Fernanda Vargas Romero
- Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Wolfgang Fischle
- Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte
- Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Altos Labs, Inc, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Samir Hamdan
- Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Yanyi Huang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, College of Chemistry, College of Engineering, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Institute for Cell Analysis, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mo Li
- Bioscience Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- Bioengineering Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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25
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Zerio CJ, Bai Y, Sosa-Alvarado BA, Guzi T, Lander GC. Human polymerase theta helicase positions DNA microhomologies for double-strand break repair. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.26.591388. [PMID: 38712090 PMCID: PMC11071473 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.26.591388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
DNA double-strand breaks occur in all human cells on a daily basis and must be repaired with high fidelity to minimize genomic instability1. Deficiencies in high-fidelity DNA repair by homologous recombination lead to dependence on DNA polymerase theta, which identifies DNA microhomologies in 3' single-stranded DNA overhangs and anneals them to initiate error-prone double-strand break repair. The resulting genomic instability is associated with numerous cancers, thereby making this polymerase an attractive therapeutic target2,3. However, despite the biomedical importance of polymerase theta, the molecular details of how it initiates DNA break repair remain unclear4,5. Here we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of the polymerase theta helicase domain bound to microhomology-containing DNA, revealing DNA-induced rearrangements of the helicase that enable DNA repair. Our structures show that DNA-bound helicase dimers facilitate a microhomology search that positions 3' single-stranded DNA ends in proximity to align complementary base pairs and anneal DNA microhomology. We define the molecular determinants that enable the polymerase theta helicase domain to identify and pair DNA microhomologies to initiate mutagenic DNA repair, providing mechanistic insights into therapeutic targeting of these interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Zerio
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research; La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Gabriel C. Lander
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research; La Jolla, CA, USA
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26
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Fijen C, Drogalis Beckham L, Terino D, Li Y, Ramsden DA, Wood RD, Doublié S, Rothenberg E. Sequential requirements for distinct Polθ domains during theta-mediated end joining. Mol Cell 2024; 84:1460-1474.e6. [PMID: 38640894 PMCID: PMC11031631 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
DNA polymerase θ (Polθ) plays a central role in a DNA double-strand break repair pathway termed theta-mediated end joining (TMEJ). TMEJ functions by pairing short-sequence "microhomologies" (MHs) in single-stranded DNA at each end of a break and subsequently initiating DNA synthesis. It is not known how the Polθ helicase domain (HD) and polymerase domain (PD) operate to bring together MHs and facilitate repair. To resolve these transient processes in real time, we utilized in vitro single-molecule FRET approaches and biochemical analyses. We find that the Polθ-HD mediates the initial capture of two ssDNA strands, bringing them in close proximity. The Polθ-PD binds and stabilizes pre-annealed MHs to form a synaptic complex (SC) and initiate repair synthesis. Individual synthesis reactions show that Polθ is inherently non-processive, accounting for complex mutational patterns during TMEJ. Binding of Polθ-PD to stem-loop-forming sequences can substantially limit synapsis, depending on the available dNTPs and sequence context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carel Fijen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - Lea Drogalis Beckham
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Dante Terino
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yuzhen Li
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77230, USA
| | - Dale A Ramsden
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Richard D Wood
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77230, USA
| | - Sylvie Doublié
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Eli Rothenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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27
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Fried W, Tyagi M, Minakhin L, Chandramouly G, Tredinnick T, Ramanjulu M, Auerbacher W, Calbert M, Rusanov T, Hoang T, Borisonnik N, Betsch R, Krais JJ, Wang Y, Vekariya UM, Gordon J, Morton G, Kent T, Skorski T, Johnson N, Childers W, Chen XS, Pomerantz RT. Discovery of a small-molecule inhibitor that traps Polθ on DNA and synergizes with PARP inhibitors. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2862. [PMID: 38580648 PMCID: PMC10997755 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46593-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The DNA damage response (DDR) protein DNA Polymerase θ (Polθ) is synthetic lethal with homologous recombination (HR) factors and is therefore a promising drug target in BRCA1/2 mutant cancers. We discover an allosteric Polθ inhibitor (Polθi) class with 4-6 nM IC50 that selectively kills HR-deficient cells and acts synergistically with PARP inhibitors (PARPi) in multiple genetic backgrounds. X-ray crystallography and biochemistry reveal that Polθi selectively inhibits Polθ polymerase (Polθ-pol) in the closed conformation on B-form DNA/DNA via an induced fit mechanism. In contrast, Polθi fails to inhibit Polθ-pol catalytic activity on A-form DNA/RNA in which the enzyme binds in the open configuration. Remarkably, Polθi binding to the Polθ-pol:DNA/DNA closed complex traps the polymerase on DNA for more than forty minutes which elucidates the inhibitory mechanism of action. These data reveal a unique small-molecule DNA polymerase:DNA trapping mechanism that induces synthetic lethality in HR-deficient cells and potentiates the activity of PARPi.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Fried
- Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mrityunjay Tyagi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Leonid Minakhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Gurushankar Chandramouly
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Taylor Tredinnick
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Mercy Ramanjulu
- Recombination Therapeutics, Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - William Auerbacher
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Marissa Calbert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
- Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Timur Rusanov
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | | | | | - Robert Betsch
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - John J Krais
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Yifan Wang
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Umeshkumar M Vekariya
- Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cancer and Cellular Biology, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John Gordon
- Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - George Morton
- Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research, Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tatiana Kent
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Tomasz Skorski
- Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cancer and Cellular Biology, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Neil Johnson
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Wayne Childers
- Recombination Therapeutics, Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
- Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research, Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Xiaojiang S Chen
- Molecular and Computational Biology, Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Recombination Therapeutics, Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA
| | - Richard T Pomerantz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA.
- Recombination Therapeutics, Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, Doylestown, PA, 18902, USA.
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28
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Wang Y, Wang C, Liu J, Sun D, Meng F, Zhang M, Aliper A, Ren F, Zhavoronkov A, Ding X. Discovery of 3-hydroxymethyl-azetidine derivatives as potent polymerase theta inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 103:117662. [PMID: 38493730 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Inhibition of the low fidelity DNA polymerase Theta (Polθ) is emerging as an attractive, synthetic-lethal antitumor strategy in BRCA-deficient tumors. Here we report the AI-enabled development of 3-hydroxymethyl-azetidine derivatives as a novel class of Polθ inhibitors featuring central scaffolding rings. Structure-based drug design first identified A7 as a lead compound, which was further optimized to the more potent derivative B3 and the metabolically stable deuterated compound C1. C1 exhibited significant antiproliferative properties in DNA repair-compromised cells and demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetics, showcasing that 3-hydroxymethyl-azetidine is an effective bio-isostere of pyrrolidin-3-ol and emphasizing the potential of AI in medicinal chemistry for precise molecular modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazhou Wang
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 901, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 901, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jinxin Liu
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 901, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Deheng Sun
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 901, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Fanye Meng
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 901, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Man Zhang
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 901, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Alex Aliper
- Insilico Medicine AI Limited, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi 145748, United Arab Emirates
| | - Feng Ren
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 901, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Alex Zhavoronkov
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 901, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China; Insilico Medicine AI Limited, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi 145748, United Arab Emirates
| | - Xiao Ding
- Insilico Medicine Shanghai Ltd, Suite 901, Tower C, Changtai Plaza, 2889 Jinke Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 201203, China.
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Harvey-Jones E, Raghunandan M, Robbez-Masson L, Magraner-Pardo L, Alaguthurai T, Yablonovitch A, Yen J, Xiao H, Brough R, Frankum J, Song F, Yeung J, Savy T, Gulati A, Alexander J, Kemp H, Starling C, Konde A, Marlow R, Cheang M, Proszek P, Hubank M, Cai M, Trendell J, Lu R, Liccardo R, Ravindran N, Llop-Guevara A, Rodriguez O, Balmana J, Lukashchuk N, Dorschner M, Drusbosky L, Roxanis I, Serra V, Haider S, Pettitt SJ, Lord CJ, Tutt ANJ. Longitudinal profiling identifies co-occurring BRCA1/2 reversions, TP53BP1, RIF1 and PAXIP1 mutations in PARP inhibitor-resistant advanced breast cancer. Ann Oncol 2024; 35:364-380. [PMID: 38244928 DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2024.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Resistance to therapies that target homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) in breast cancer limits their overall effectiveness. Multiple, preclinically validated, mechanisms of resistance have been proposed, but their existence and relative frequency in clinical disease are unclear, as is how to target resistance. PATIENTS AND METHODS Longitudinal mutation and methylation profiling of circulating tumour (ct)DNA was carried out in 47 patients with metastatic BRCA1-, BRCA2- or PALB2-mutant breast cancer treated with HRD-targeted therapy who developed progressive disease-18 patients had primary resistance and 29 exhibited response followed by resistance. ctDNA isolated at multiple time points in the patient treatment course (before, on-treatment and at progression) was sequenced using a novel >750-gene intron/exon targeted sequencing panel. Where available, matched tumour biopsies were whole exome and RNA sequenced and also used to assess nuclear RAD51. RESULTS BRCA1/2 reversion mutations were present in 60% of patients and were the most prevalent form of resistance. In 10 cases, reversions were detected in ctDNA before clinical progression. Two new reversion-based mechanisms were identified: (i) intragenic BRCA1/2 deletions with intronic breakpoints; and (ii) intragenic BRCA1/2 secondary mutations that formed novel splice acceptor sites, the latter being confirmed by in vitro minigene reporter assays. When seen before commencing subsequent treatment, reversions were associated with significantly shorter time to progression. Tumours with reversions retained HRD mutational signatures but had functional homologous recombination based on RAD51 status. Although less frequent than reversions, nonreversion mechanisms [loss-of-function (LoF) mutations in TP53BP1, RIF1 or PAXIP1] were evident in patients with acquired resistance and occasionally coexisted with reversions, challenging the notion that singular resistance mechanisms emerge in each patient. CONCLUSIONS These observations map the prevalence of candidate drivers of resistance across time in a clinical setting, information with implications for clinical management and trial design in HRD breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Harvey-Jones
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Guy's Hospital Cancer Centre, King's College London, UK; The City of London Cancer Research UK Centre at King's College London, UK
| | - M Raghunandan
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - L Robbez-Masson
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - L Magraner-Pardo
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - T Alaguthurai
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Guy's Hospital Cancer Centre, King's College London, UK
| | | | - J Yen
- Guardant Health Inc., Redwood City, USA
| | - H Xiao
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - R Brough
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - J Frankum
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - F Song
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - J Yeung
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - T Savy
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - A Gulati
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - J Alexander
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - H Kemp
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - C Starling
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - A Konde
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - R Marlow
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - M Cheang
- Clinical Trials and Statistics Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - P Proszek
- Clinical Genomics, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK
| | - M Hubank
- Clinical Genomics, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK
| | - M Cai
- Guardant Health Inc., Redwood City, USA
| | - J Trendell
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Guy's Hospital Cancer Centre, King's College London, UK
| | - R Lu
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Guy's Hospital Cancer Centre, King's College London, UK
| | - R Liccardo
- The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Guy's Hospital Cancer Centre, King's College London, UK
| | - N Ravindran
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | | | - O Rodriguez
- Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Balmana
- Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | - I Roxanis
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - V Serra
- Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - S Haider
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - S J Pettitt
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
| | - C J Lord
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
| | - A N J Tutt
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; The Breast Cancer Now Research Unit, Guy's Hospital Cancer Centre, King's College London, UK; The City of London Cancer Research UK Centre at King's College London, UK.
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30
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Yang Y, Li Z, Wang Y, Gao J, Meng Y, Wang S, Zhao X, Tang C, Yang W, Li Y, Bao J, Fan X, Tang J, Yang J, Wu C, Qin M, Wang L. The regulatory relationship between NAMPT and PD-L1 in cancer and identification of a dual-targeting inhibitor. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:885-903. [PMID: 38448544 PMCID: PMC11018795 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00051-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a heterogeneous disease. Although both tumor metabolism and tumor immune microenvironment are recognized as driving factors in tumorigenesis, the relationship between them is still not well-known, and potential combined targeting approaches remain to be identified. Here, we demonstrated a negative correlation between the expression of NAMPT, an NAD+ metabolism enzyme, and PD-L1 expression in various cancer cell lines. A clinical study showed that a NAMPTHigh PD-L1Low expression pattern predicts poor prognosis in patients with various cancers. In addition, pharmacological inhibition of NAMPT results in the transcription upregulation of PD-L1 by SIRT-mediated acetylation change of NF-κB p65, and blocking PD-L1 would induce NAMPT expression through a HIF-1-dependent glycolysis pathway. Based on these findings, we designed and synthesized a dual NAMPT/PD-L1 targeting compound, LZFPN-90, which inhibits cell growth in a NAMPT-dependent manner and blocks the cell cycle, subsequently inducing apoptosis. Under co-culture conditions, LZFPN-90 treatment contributes to the proliferation and activation of T cells and blocks the growth of cancer cells. Using mice bearing genetically manipulated tumors, we confirmed that LZFPN-90 exerted target-dependent antitumor activities, affecting metabolic processes and the immune system. In conclusion, our results demonstrate the relevance of NAD+-related metabolic processes in antitumor immunity and suggest that co-targeting NAD+ metabolism and PD-L1 represents a promising therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi, PR China
| | - Zefei Li
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Yidong Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi, PR China
| | - Jiwei Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi, PR China
| | - Yangyang Meng
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Simeng Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi, PR China
| | - Xiaoyao Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi, PR China
| | - Chengfang Tang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi, PR China
| | - Weiming Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi, PR China
| | - Yingjia Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi, PR China
| | - Jie Bao
- Research Program in Systems Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00290, Finland
| | - Xinyu Fan
- Department of Pharmacy, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 110004, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Jing Tang
- Research Program in Systems Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00290, Finland
| | - Jingyu Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi, PR China
| | - Chunfu Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi, PR China
| | - Mingze Qin
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China.
| | - Lihui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China.
- Benxi Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Benxi, PR China.
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31
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Giudice E, Huang TT, Nair JR, Zurcher G, McCoy A, Nousome D, Radke MR, Swisher EM, Lipkowitz S, Ibanez K, Donohue D, Malys T, Lee MJ, Redd B, Levy E, Rastogi S, Sato N, Trepel JB, Lee JM. The CHK1 inhibitor prexasertib in BRCA wild-type platinum-resistant recurrent high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma: a phase 2 trial. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2805. [PMID: 38555285 PMCID: PMC10981752 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47215-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The multi-cohort phase 2 trial NCT02203513 was designed to evaluate the clinical activity of the CHK1 inhibitor (CHK1i) prexasertib in patients with breast or ovarian cancer. Here we report the activity of CHK1i in platinum-resistant high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) with measurable and biopsiable disease (cohort 5), or without biopsiable disease (cohort 6). The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary outcomes were safety and progression-free survival (PFS). 49 heavily pretreated patients were enrolled (24 in cohort 5, 25 in cohort 6). Among the 39 RECISTv1.1-evaluable patients, ORR was 33.3% in cohort 5 and 28.6% in cohort 6. Primary endpoint was not evaluable due to early stop of the trial. The median PFS was 4 months in cohort 5 and 6 months in cohort 6. Toxicity was manageable. Translational research was an exploratory endpoint. Potential biomarkers were investigated using pre-treatment fresh biopsies and serial blood samples. Transcriptomic analysis revealed high levels of DNA replication-related genes (POLA1, POLE, GINS3) associated with lack of clinical benefit [defined post-hoc as PFS < 6 months]. Subsequent preclinical experiments demonstrated significant cytotoxicity of POLA1 silencing in combination with CHK1i in platinum-resistant HGSOC cell line models. Therefore, POLA1 expression may be predictive for CHK1i resistance, and the concurrent POLA1 inhibition may improve the efficacy of CHK1i monotherapy in this hard-to-treat population, deserving further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Giudice
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Tzu-Ting Huang
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jayakumar R Nair
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Grant Zurcher
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Ann McCoy
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Darryl Nousome
- Center for Cancer Research Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Marc R Radke
- Department of Ob/Gyn, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | | | - Stanley Lipkowitz
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Kristen Ibanez
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Duncan Donohue
- Statistical Consulting and Scientific Programming Group, Computer and Statistical Services, Data Management Services, Inc. (a BRMI company), NCI, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Tyler Malys
- Statistical Consulting and Scientific Programming Group, Computer and Statistical Services, Data Management Services, Inc. (a BRMI company), NCI, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Min-Jung Lee
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Bernadette Redd
- Clinical Image Processing Service, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Elliot Levy
- Interventional Radiology, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Shraddha Rastogi
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Nahoko Sato
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jane B Trepel
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jung-Min Lee
- Women's Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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32
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Kannan S, Gillespie SW, Picking WL, Picking WD, Lorson CL, Singh K. Inhibitors against DNA Polymerase I Family of Enzymes: Novel Targets and Opportunities. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:204. [PMID: 38666816 PMCID: PMC11048162 DOI: 10.3390/biology13040204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
DNA polymerases replicate cellular genomes and/or participate in the maintenance of genome integrity. DNA polymerases sharing high sequence homology with E. coli DNA polymerase I (pol I) have been grouped in Family A. Pol I participates in Okazaki fragment maturation and in bacterial genome repair. Since its discovery in 1956, pol I has been extensively studied, primarily to gain deeper insights into the mechanism of DNA replication. As research on DNA polymerases advances, many novel functions of this group of polymerases are being uncovered. For example, human DNA polymerase θ (a Family A DNA pol) has been shown to synthesize DNA using RNA as a template, a function typically attributed to retroviral reverse transcriptase. Increased interest in drug discovery against pol θ has emerged due to its roles in cancer. Likewise, Pol I family enzymes also appear attractive as drug-development targets against microbial infections. Development of antimalarial compounds targeting apicoplast apPOL, an ortholog of Pol I, further extends the targeting of this family of enzymes. Here, we summarize reported drug-development efforts against Family A polymerases and future perspective regarding these enzymes as antibiotic targets. Recently developed techniques, such as artificial intelligence, can be used to facilitate the development of new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saathvik Kannan
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (S.K.); (S.W.G.); (W.L.P.); (W.D.P.); (C.L.L.)
| | - Samuel W. Gillespie
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (S.K.); (S.W.G.); (W.L.P.); (W.D.P.); (C.L.L.)
| | - Wendy L. Picking
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (S.K.); (S.W.G.); (W.L.P.); (W.D.P.); (C.L.L.)
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - William D. Picking
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (S.K.); (S.W.G.); (W.L.P.); (W.D.P.); (C.L.L.)
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Christian L. Lorson
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (S.K.); (S.W.G.); (W.L.P.); (W.D.P.); (C.L.L.)
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Kamal Singh
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (S.K.); (S.W.G.); (W.L.P.); (W.D.P.); (C.L.L.)
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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33
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Ma L, Chen W, Yang M, Ha S, Xiong S, Zhu J, Xiang H, Luo G. Discovery and Proof of Concept of Potent Dual Polθ/PARP Inhibitors for Efficient Treatment of Homologous Recombination-Deficient Tumors. J Med Chem 2024; 67:3606-3625. [PMID: 38375763 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
DNA polymerase theta (Polθ) has recently emerged as a new attractive synthetic lethal target involved in DNA damage repair. Inactivating Polθ alone or in combination with PARP inhibitors has demonstrated substantial therapeutic potential against tumors with homologous recombination (HR) defects such as alternation of BRCA genes. Herein, we report the design and proof of concept of a highly potent dual Polθ/PARP inhibitor 25d, which exhibited low nanomolar inhibitory activities against both Polθ and PARP1. Compared to combination treatment, 25d demonstrated superior antitumor efficacy in both MDA-MB-436 cells and xenografts by inducing more DNA damage and apoptosis. Importantly, 25d retained sensitivity in PARP inhibitor-resistant MDA-MB-436 cells with 53BP1 defect. Altogether, these findings illustrate the potential advantages of 25d, a first-in-class dual Polθ/PARP inhibitor, over monotherapy in treating HR-deficient tumors, including those with acquired PARP inhibitor resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luyu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, P. R. China
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, P. R. China
| | - Ming Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, P. R. China
| | - Si Ha
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, P. R. China
| | - Shuangshuang Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, P. R. China
| | - Jiacheng Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, P. R. China
| | - Hua Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, P. R. China
| | - Guoshun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, P. R. China
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Rajendra E, Grande D, Mason B, Di Marcantonio D, Armstrong L, Hewitt G, Elinati E, Galbiati A, Boulton SJ, Heald RA, Smith GCM, Robinson HMR. Quantitative, titratable and high-throughput reporter assays to measure DNA double strand break repair activity in cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:1736-1752. [PMID: 38109306 PMCID: PMC10899754 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Repair of DNA damage is essential for the maintenance of genome stability and cell viability. DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) constitute a toxic class of DNA lesion and multiple cellular pathways exist to mediate their repair. Robust and titratable assays of cellular DSB repair (DSBR) are important to functionally interrogate the integrity and efficiency of these mechanisms in disease models as well as in response to genetic or pharmacological perturbations. Several variants of DSBR reporters are available, however these are often limited by throughput or restricted to specific cellular models. Here, we describe the generation and validation of a suite of extrachromosomal reporter assays that can efficiently measure the major DSBR pathways of homologous recombination (HR), classical nonhomologous end joining (cNHEJ), microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ) and single strand annealing (SSA). We demonstrate that these assays can be adapted to a high-throughput screening format and that they are sensitive to pharmacological modulation, thus providing mechanistic and quantitative insights into compound potency, selectivity, and on-target specificity. We propose that these reporter assays can serve as tools to dissect the interplay of DSBR pathway networks in cells and will have broad implications for studies of DSBR mechanisms in basic research and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eeson Rajendra
- Artios Pharma Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
| | - Diego Grande
- Artios Pharma Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
| | - Bethany Mason
- Artios Pharma Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
| | | | - Lucy Armstrong
- Artios Pharma Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
| | | | - Elias Elinati
- Artios Pharma Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
| | | | - Simon J Boulton
- Artios Pharma Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Robert A Heald
- Artios Pharma Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
| | - Graeme C M Smith
- Artios Pharma Ltd, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3FH, UK
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35
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Kanev PB, Atemin A, Stoynov S, Aleksandrov R. PARP1 roles in DNA repair and DNA replication: The basi(c)s of PARP inhibitor efficacy and resistance. Semin Oncol 2024; 51:2-18. [PMID: 37714792 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2023.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Genome integrity is under constant insult from endogenous and exogenous sources. In order to cope, eukaryotic cells have evolved an elaborate network of DNA repair that can deal with diverse lesion types and exhibits considerable functional redundancy. PARP1 is a major sensor of DNA breaks with established and putative roles in a number of pathways within the DNA repair network, including repair of single- and double-strand breaks as well as protection of the DNA replication fork. Importantly, PARP1 is the major target of small-molecule PARP inhibitors (PARPi), which are employed in the treatment of homologous recombination (HR)-deficient tumors, as the latter are particularly susceptible to the accumulation of DNA damage due to an inability to efficiently repair highly toxic double-strand DNA breaks. The clinical success of PARPi has fostered extensive research into PARP biology, which has shed light on the involvement of PARP1 in various genomic transactions. A major goal within the field has been to understand the relationship between catalytic inhibition and PARP1 trapping. The specific consequences of inhibition and trapping on genomic stability as a basis for the cytotoxicity of PARP inhibitors remain a matter of debate. Finally, PARP inhibition is increasingly recognized for its capacity to elicit/modulate anti-tumor immunity. The clinical potential of PARP inhibition is, however, hindered by the development of resistance. Hence, extensive efforts are invested in identifying factors that promote resistance or sensitize cells to PARPi. The current review provides a summary of advances in our understanding of PARP1 biology, the mechanistic nature, and molecular consequences of PARP inhibition, as well as the mechanisms that give rise to PARPi resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petar-Bogomil Kanev
- Laboratory of Genomic Stability, Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Aleksandar Atemin
- Laboratory of Genomic Stability, Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Stoyno Stoynov
- Laboratory of Genomic Stability, Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.
| | - Radoslav Aleksandrov
- Laboratory of Genomic Stability, Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.
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Liu G, Jin K, Liu Z, Su X, Xu Z, Li B, Xu J, Chang Y, Wang Y, Zhu Y, Xu L, Xu J, Wang Z, Liu H, Zhang W. POLQ identifies a better response subset to immunotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer with high PD-L1. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e6962. [PMID: 38457207 PMCID: PMC10922026 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Though programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) has been used in predicting the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), it is insufficient as a single biomarker. As a key effector of an intrinsically mutagenic microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ) pathway, DNA polymerase theta (POLQ) was overexpressed in various malignancies, whose expression might have an influence on genomic stability, therefore altering the sensitivity to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. METHODS A total of 1304 patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) from six independent cohorts were included in this study. The Zhongshan Hospital (ZSHS) cohort (n = 134), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort (n = 391), and the Neo-cohort (n = 148) were included for the investigation of chemotherapeutic response. The IMvigor210 cohort (n = 234) and the UNC-108 cohort (n = 89) were used for the assessment of immunotherapeutic response. In addition, the relationship between POLQ and the immune microenvironment was assessed, and GSE32894 (n = 308) was used only for the evaluation of the immune microenvironment. RESULTS We identified POLQhigh PD-L1high patients could benefit more from immunotherapy and platinum-based chemotherapy. Further analysis revealed that high POLQ expression was linked to chromosome instability and higher tumor mutational burden (TMB), which might elicit the production of neoantigens. Further, high POLQ expression was associated with an active tumor immune microenvironment with abundant infiltration of immune effector cells and molecules. CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrated that high POLQ expression was correlated with chromosome instability and antitumor immune microenvironment in MIBC, and the combination of POLQ and PD-L1 could be used as a superior companion biomarker for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ge Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Kaifeng Jin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Zhaopei Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Department of UrologyFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghaiChina
| | - Xiaohe Su
- NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Ziyue Xu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Bingyu Li
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jingtong Xu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yuan Chang
- Department of UrologyFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghaiChina
| | - Yiwei Wang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ninth People's HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Yu Zhu
- Department of UrologyFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghaiChina
| | - Le Xu
- Department of Urology, Ruijin HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Jiejie Xu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugate Research, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Zewei Wang
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Hailong Liu
- Department of Urology, Xinhua HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Weijuan Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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He Y, Chen Y, Li Z, Wu C. The m 6A demethylase FTO targets POLQ to promote ccRCC cell proliferation and genome stability maintenance. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:30. [PMID: 38270643 PMCID: PMC10810938 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05541-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM As the first identified m6A demethylase, FTO has been implicated in the progression of various cancers. However, the specific mechanism of FTO in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains incompletely understood. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential molecular mechanisms influencing the progression of ccRCC. METHODS We initially assessed the expression of FTO in tumor and adjacent tissues using TCGA database, RT-qPCR, and Western blot. We then conducted CCK-8, cell cycle analysis, and colony formation assay to investigate the impact of FTO on ccRCC cell proliferation. MeRIP-seq and RNA-seq were employed to identify potential downstream targets of FTO in ccRCC, and these findings were further validated through dual-luciferase reporter assays and MeRIP-qPCR. Then, DNA damage and cell death were assessed separately through gammaH2AX immunofluorescence detection and the LIVE/DEAD Fixable Dead Cell Stain assay, respectively. Subsequently, we identified downstream pathways influenced by FTO's regulation of POLQ through TCGA database analysis and GSEA enrichment analysis. Validation was carried out through Western blot. RESULTS FTO is highly expressed in ccRCC tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, ROC curve demonstrates that FTO contributes to the diagnosis of ccRCC. FTO modulates m6A modification, consequently influencing the expression of POLQ, thus facilitating cell proliferation and maintaining genome stability in ccRCC. CONCLUSION FTO could potentially serve as a diagnostic marker for ccRCC. FTO promotes the progression of ccRCC by regulating m6A modification, making the inhibition of FTO a potential novel therapeutic strategy in ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichen He
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, China
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, China
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, China
| | - Yimeng Chen
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, China
| | - Zhengsheng Li
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, China
| | - Changping Wu
- Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, China.
- Institute of Cell Therapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, China.
- Department of Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, 213003, China.
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38
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Gadgil RY, Rider SD, Shrestha R, Alhawach V, Hitch DC, Leffak M. Microsatellite break-induced replication generates highly mutagenized extrachromosomal circular DNAs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.12.575055. [PMID: 38260482 PMCID: PMC10802558 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.12.575055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Extrachromosomal circular DNAs (eccDNAs) are produced from all regions of the eucaryotic genome. In tumors, highly transcribed eccDNAs have been implicated in oncogenesis, neoantigen production and resistance to chemotherapy. Here we show that unstable microsatellites capable of forming hairpin, triplex, quadruplex and AT-rich structures generate eccDNAs when integrated at a common ectopic site in human cells. These non-B DNA prone microsatellites form eccDNAs by replication-dependent mechanisms. The microsatellite-based eccDNAs are highly mutagenized and display template switches to sister chromatids and to nonallelic chromosomal sites. High frequency mutagenesis occurs within the eccDNA microsatellites and extends bidirectionally for several kilobases into flanking DNA and nonallelic DNA. Mutations include mismatches, short duplications, longer nontemplated insertions and large deletions. Template switching leads to recurrent deletions and recombination domains within the eccDNAs. Template switching events are microhomology-mediated, but do not occur at all potential sites of complementarity. Each microsatellite exhibits a distinct pattern of recombination, microhomology choice and base substitution signature. Depletion of Rad51, the COPS2 signalosome subunit or POLη alter the eccDNA mutagenic profiles. We propose an asynchronous capture model based on break-induced replication from microsatellite-induced DNA breaks for the generation and circularization of mutagenized eccDNAs and genomic homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) scars.
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39
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Boulton SJ. Extraordinary collateral mutagenesis induced by CX-5461. Nat Genet 2024; 56:12-13. [PMID: 38129540 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01611-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Simon J Boulton
- DSB Repair Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
- Artios Pharma, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK.
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40
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Yueh WT, Glass DJ, Johnson N. Brca1 Mouse Models: Functional Insights and Therapeutic Opportunities. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168372. [PMID: 37979908 PMCID: PMC10882579 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Brca1 mouse models were first reported in the mid-1990's shortly after cloning the human gene. Since then, many mouse models with a range of mutations have been generated, some mimic patient mutations, others are designed to probe specific protein domains and functions. In this review, we discuss early and recent studies using engineered Brca1 mouse alleles, and their implications for understanding Brca1 protein function in the context of DNA repair, tumorigenesis, and anti-cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ting Yueh
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - David J Glass
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Neil Johnson
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA.
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41
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Stracker TH, Osagie OI, Escorcia FE, Citrin DE. Exploiting the DNA Damage Response for Prostate Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:83. [PMID: 38201511 PMCID: PMC10777950 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010083] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancers that progress despite androgen deprivation develop into castration-resistant prostate cancer, a fatal disease with few treatment options. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of prostate cancer subtypes and alterations in the DNA damage response (DDR) that can predispose to the development of prostate cancer and affect its progression. We identify barriers to conventional treatments, such as radiotherapy, and discuss the development of new therapies, many of which target the DDR or take advantage of recurring genetic alterations in the DDR. We place this in the context of advances in understanding the genetic variation and immune landscape of CRPC that could help guide their use in future treatment strategies. Finally, we discuss several new and emerging agents that may advance the treatment of lethal disease, highlighting selected clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis H. Stracker
- Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (O.I.O.); (F.E.E.); (D.E.C.)
| | - Oloruntoba I. Osagie
- Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (O.I.O.); (F.E.E.); (D.E.C.)
| | - Freddy E. Escorcia
- Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (O.I.O.); (F.E.E.); (D.E.C.)
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Deborah E. Citrin
- Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (O.I.O.); (F.E.E.); (D.E.C.)
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42
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Bader AS, Bushell M. iMUT-seq: high-resolution DSB-induced mutation profiling reveals prevalent homologous-recombination dependent mutagenesis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8419. [PMID: 38110444 PMCID: PMC10728174 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44167-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the most mutagenic form of DNA damage, and play a significant role in cancer biology, neurodegeneration and aging. However, studying DSB-induced mutagenesis is limited by our current approaches. Here, we describe iMUT-seq, a technique that profiles DSB-induced mutations at high-sensitivity and single-nucleotide resolution around endogenous DSBs. By depleting or inhibiting 20 DSB-repair factors we define their mutational signatures in detail, revealing insights into the mechanisms of DSB-induced mutagenesis. Notably, we find that homologous-recombination (HR) is more mutagenic than previously thought, inducing prevalent base substitutions and mononucleotide deletions at distance from the break due to DNA-polymerase errors. Simultaneously, HR reduces translocations, suggesting a primary role of HR is specifically the prevention of genomic rearrangements. The results presented here offer fundamental insights into DSB-induced mutagenesis and have significant implications for our understanding of cancer biology and the development of DDR-targeting chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo S Bader
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK.
- Cancer Research UK/CI, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK.
- The Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Biochemistry, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Martin Bushell
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK.
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK.
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43
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Ryan CJ, Devakumar LPS, Pettitt SJ, Lord CJ. Complex synthetic lethality in cancer. Nat Genet 2023; 55:2039-2048. [PMID: 38036785 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01557-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
The concept of synthetic lethality has been widely applied to identify therapeutic targets in cancer, with varying degrees of success. The standard approach normally involves identifying genetic interactions between two genes, a driver and a target. In reality, however, most cancer synthetic lethal effects are likely complex and also polygenic, being influenced by the environment in addition to involving contributions from multiple genes. By acknowledging and delineating this complexity, we describe in this article how the success rate in cancer drug discovery and development could be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colm J Ryan
- Conway Institute and School of Computer Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Lovely Paul Solomon Devakumar
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
| | - Stephen J Pettitt
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
| | - Christopher J Lord
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
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44
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Mai N, Abuhadra N, Jhaveri K. Molecularly Targeted Therapies for Triple Negative Breast Cancer: History, Advances, and Future Directions. Clin Breast Cancer 2023; 23:784-799. [PMID: 37336650 DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2023.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains the subtype with poorest prognosis. Despite the subtype's heterogeneity, there is still a paucity in effective targeted therapeutics that offer both good efficacy and tolerability, and chemotherapy remains the backbone of modern TNBC therapy. In the past few years, immunotherapy as well as novel therapeutic modalities like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have shown clinical benefit and have been FDA approved in various clinical stages of unselected TNBC. However, there has not been similar advancement in molecularly targeted therapies, especially when compared to advancements seen in hormone receptor (HR)-positive or HER2-positive breast cancer. PARP inhibitors have been approved for BRCA-mutated TNBC, but responses are short-lived, and resistance remains a barrier for current treatment. PI3K pathway inhibitors approved in HR+ breast cancer has not worked for TNBC and continue to have significant dose-limiting adverse effects. EGFR inhibition has been thoroughly explored in TNBC, but all trials so far have shown minimal efficacy. Nevertheless, despite these setbacks, current research in targeted therapy for TNBC holds great promise in overcoming the barriers of the past and developing novel therapeutic approaches for the future. In this review, we describe molecular targets both identified and validated in the treatment of TNBC, discuss the historical efforts towards development of targeted agents and current areas of improvement, and address promising advances that have the potential to improve outcomes in this heterogenous and aggressive breast cancer subtype. Immunotherapy, ADCs, and AR targeting will be discussed in separate reviews of this edition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Mai
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Nour Abuhadra
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Komal Jhaveri
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
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45
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van Vugt MATM, Tijsterman M. POLQ to the rescue for double-strand break repair during mitosis. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2023; 30:1828-1830. [PMID: 37996664 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01168-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcel A T M van Vugt
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Marcel Tijsterman
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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46
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Veneziani AC, Gonzalez-Ochoa E, Alqaisi H, Madariaga A, Bhat G, Rouzbahman M, Sneha S, Oza AM. Heterogeneity and treatment landscape of ovarian carcinoma. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2023; 20:820-842. [PMID: 37783747 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-023-00819-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Ovarian carcinoma is characterized by heterogeneity at the molecular, cellular and anatomical levels, both spatially and temporally. This heterogeneity affects response to surgery and/or systemic therapy, and also facilitates inherent and acquired drug resistance. As a consequence, this tumour type is often aggressive and frequently lethal. Ovarian carcinoma is not a single disease entity and comprises various subtypes, each with distinct complex molecular landscapes that change during progression and therapy. The interactions of cancer and stromal cells within the tumour microenvironment further affects disease evolution and response to therapy. In past decades, researchers have characterized the cellular, molecular, microenvironmental and immunological heterogeneity of ovarian carcinoma. Traditional treatment approaches have considered ovarian carcinoma as a single entity. This landscape is slowly changing with the increasing appreciation of heterogeneity and the recognition that delivering ineffective therapies can delay the development of effective personalized approaches as well as potentially change the molecular and cellular characteristics of the tumour, which might lead to additional resistance to subsequent therapy. In this Review we discuss the heterogeneity of ovarian carcinoma, outline the current treatment landscape for this malignancy and highlight potentially effective therapeutic strategies in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C Veneziani
- Division of Medical Oncology and Haematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eduardo Gonzalez-Ochoa
- Division of Medical Oncology and Haematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Husam Alqaisi
- Division of Medical Oncology and Haematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ainhoa Madariaga
- Medical Oncology Department, 12 De Octubre University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gita Bhat
- Division of Medical Oncology and Haematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marjan Rouzbahman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Suku Sneha
- Division of Medical Oncology and Haematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amit M Oza
- Division of Medical Oncology and Haematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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47
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Ronson GE, Starowicz K, Anthony EJ, Piberger AL, Clarke LC, Garvin AJ, Beggs AD, Whalley CM, Edmonds MJ, Beesley JFJ, Morris JR. Mechanisms of synthetic lethality between BRCA1/2 and 53BP1 deficiencies and DNA polymerase theta targeting. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7834. [PMID: 38030626 PMCID: PMC10687250 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43677-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A synthetic lethal relationship exists between disruption of polymerase theta (Polθ), and loss of either 53BP1 or homologous recombination (HR) proteins, including BRCA1; however, the mechanistic basis of these observations are unclear. Here we reveal two distinct mechanisms of Polθ synthetic lethality, identifying dual influences of 1) whether Polθ is lost or inhibited, and 2) the underlying susceptible genotype. Firstly, we find that the sensitivity of BRCA1/2- and 53BP1-deficient cells to Polθ loss, and 53BP1-deficient cells to Polθ inhibition (ART558) requires RAD52, and appropriate reduction of RAD52 can ameliorate these phenotypes. We show that in the absence of Polθ, RAD52 accumulations suppress ssDNA gap-filling in G2/M and encourage MRE11 nuclease accumulation. In contrast, the survival of BRCA1-deficient cells treated with Polθ inhibitor are not restored by RAD52 suppression, and ssDNA gap-filling is prevented by the chemically inhibited polymerase itself. These data define an additional role for Polθ, reveal the mechanism underlying synthetic lethality between 53BP1, BRCA1/2 and Polθ loss, and indicate genotype-dependent Polθ inhibitor mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- George E Ronson
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology and Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Katarzyna Starowicz
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology and Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- Adthera Bio, Lyndon House, 62 Hagley Road, Birmingham, B16 8PE, UK
| | - Elizabeth J Anthony
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology and Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Ann Liza Piberger
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology and Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Lucy C Clarke
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology and Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- West Midlands Regional Genetics Laboratory, Birmingham Women's Hospital, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham, B15 2TG, UK
| | - Alexander J Garvin
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology and Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Andrew D Beggs
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology and Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- Genomics Birmingham, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Celina M Whalley
- Genomics Birmingham, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Matthew J Edmonds
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology and Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- Certara Insight, Danebrook Court, Oxford Office Village, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, OX5 1LQ, UK
| | - James F J Beesley
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology and Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Joanna R Morris
- Birmingham Centre for Genome Biology and Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
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48
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Krais JJ, Glass DJ, Chudoba I, Wang Y, Feng W, Simpson D, Patel P, Liu Z, Neumann-Domer R, Betsch RG, Bernhardy AJ, Bradbury AM, Conger J, Yueh WT, Nacson J, Pomerantz RT, Gupta GP, Testa JR, Johnson N. Genetic separation of Brca1 functions reveal mutation-dependent Polθ vulnerabilities. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7714. [PMID: 38001070 PMCID: PMC10673838 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43446-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Homologous recombination (HR)-deficiency induces a dependency on DNA polymerase theta (Polθ/Polq)-mediated end joining, and Polθ inhibitors (Polθi) are in development for cancer therapy. BRCA1 and BRCA2 deficient cells are thought to be synthetic lethal with Polθ, but whether distinct HR gene mutations give rise to equivalent Polθ-dependence, and the events that drive lethality, are unclear. In this study, we utilized mouse models with separate Brca1 functional defects to mechanistically define Brca1-Polθ synthetic lethality. Surprisingly, homozygous Brca1 mutant, Polq-/- cells were viable, but grew slowly and had chromosomal instability. Brca1 mutant cells proficient in DNA end resection were significantly more dependent on Polθ for viability; here, treatment with Polθi elevated RPA foci, which persisted through mitosis. In an isogenic system, BRCA1 null cells were defective, but PALB2 and BRCA2 mutant cells exhibited active resection, and consequently stronger sensitivity to Polθi. Thus, DNA end resection is a critical determinant of Polθi sensitivity in HR-deficient cells, and should be considered when selecting patients for clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J Krais
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA.
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| | - David J Glass
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
- Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Ilse Chudoba
- MetaSystems Probes, GmbH, Industriestr, 68804, Altlussheim, Germany
| | - Yifan Wang
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Wanjuan Feng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Dennis Simpson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Pooja Patel
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Zemin Liu
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Ryan Neumann-Domer
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Robert G Betsch
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Andrea J Bernhardy
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Alice M Bradbury
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Jason Conger
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Wei-Ting Yueh
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Joseph Nacson
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Richard T Pomerantz
- Thomas Jefferson University, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Gaorav P Gupta
- Cancer Control and Prevention Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Joseph R Testa
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
- Cancer Control and Prevention Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Neil Johnson
- Nuclear Dynamics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA.
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49
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Rubio-Contreras D, Gómez-Herreros F. TDP1 suppresses chromosomal translocations and cell death induced by abortive TOP1 activity during gene transcription. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6940. [PMID: 37945566 PMCID: PMC10636166 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42622-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA topoisomerase I (TOP1) removes torsional stress by transiently cutting one DNA strand. Such cuts are rejoined by TOP1 but can occasionally become abortive generating permanent protein-linked single strand breaks (SSBs). The repair of these breaks is initiated by tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1), a conserved enzyme that unlinks the TOP1 peptide from the DNA break. Additionally, some of these SSBs can result in double strand breaks (DSBs) either during replication or by a poorly understood transcription-associated process. In this study, we identify these DSBs as a source of genome rearrangements, which are suppressed by TDP1. Intriguingly, we also provide a mechanistic explanation for the formation of chromosomal translocations unveiling an error-prone pathway that relies on the MRN complex and canonical non-homologous end-joining. Collectively, these data highlight the threat posed by TOP1-induced DSBs during transcription and demonstrate the importance of TDP1-dependent end-joining in protecting both gene transcription and genome stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Rubio-Contreras
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013, Seville, Spain
- Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Fernando Gómez-Herreros
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013, Seville, Spain.
- Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012, Seville, Spain.
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50
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Jacobson DH, Pan S, Fisher J, Secrier M. Multi-scale characterisation of homologous recombination deficiency in breast cancer. Genome Med 2023; 15:90. [PMID: 37919776 PMCID: PMC10621207 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-023-01239-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Homologous recombination is a robust, broadly error-free mechanism of double-strand break repair, and deficiencies lead to PARP inhibitor sensitivity. Patients displaying homologous recombination deficiency can be identified using 'mutational signatures'. However, these patterns are difficult to reliably infer from exome sequencing. Additionally, as mutational signatures are a historical record of mutagenic processes, this limits their utility in describing the current status of a tumour. METHODS We apply two methods for characterising homologous recombination deficiency in breast cancer to explore the features and heterogeneity associated with this phenotype. We develop a likelihood-based method which leverages small insertions and deletions for high-confidence classification of homologous recombination deficiency for exome-sequenced breast cancers. We then use multinomial elastic net regression modelling to develop a transcriptional signature of heterogeneous homologous recombination deficiency. This signature is then applied to single-cell RNA-sequenced breast cancer cohorts enabling analysis of homologous recombination deficiency heterogeneity and differential patterns of tumour microenvironment interactivity. RESULTS We demonstrate that the inclusion of indel events, even at low levels, improves homologous recombination deficiency classification. Whilst BRCA-positive homologous recombination deficient samples display strong similarities to those harbouring BRCA1/2 defects, they appear to deviate in microenvironmental features such as hypoxic signalling. We then present a 228-gene transcriptional signature which simultaneously characterises homologous recombination deficiency and BRCA1/2-defect status, and is associated with PARP inhibitor response. Finally, we show that this signature is applicable to single-cell transcriptomics data and predict that these cells present a distinct milieu of interactions with their microenvironment compared to their homologous recombination proficient counterparts, typified by a decreased cancer cell response to TNFα signalling. CONCLUSIONS We apply multi-scale approaches to characterise homologous recombination deficiency in breast cancer through the development of mutational and transcriptional signatures. We demonstrate how indels can improve homologous recombination deficiency classification in exome-sequenced breast cancers. Additionally, we demonstrate the heterogeneity of homologous recombination deficiency, especially in relation to BRCA1/2-defect status, and show that indications of this feature can be captured at a single-cell level, enabling further investigations into interactions between DNA repair deficient cells and their tumour microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel H Jacobson
- UCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, Paul O'Gorman Building, 72 Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Shi Pan
- UCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Jasmin Fisher
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, Paul O'Gorman Building, 72 Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Maria Secrier
- UCL Genetics Institute, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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