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Tomkova M, McClellan MJ, Crevel G, Shahid AM, Mozumdar N, Tomek J, Shepherd E, Cotterill S, Schuster-Böckler B, Kriaucionis S. Human DNA polymerase ε is a source of C>T mutations at CpG dinucleotides. Nat Genet 2024:10.1038/s41588-024-01945-x. [PMID: 39390083 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01945-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
C-to-T transitions in CpG dinucleotides are the most prevalent mutations in human cancers and genetic diseases. These mutations have been attributed to deamination of 5-methylcytosine (5mC), an epigenetic modification found on CpGs. We recently linked CpG>TpG mutations to replication and hypothesized that errors introduced by polymerase ε (Pol ε) may represent an alternative source of mutations. Here we present a new method called polymerase error rate sequencing (PER-seq) to measure the error spectrum of DNA polymerases in isolation. We find that the most common human cancer-associated Pol ε mutant (P286R) produces an excess of CpG>TpG errors, phenocopying the mutation spectrum of tumors carrying this mutation and deficiencies in mismatch repair. Notably, we also discover that wild-type Pol ε has a sevenfold higher error rate when replicating 5mCpG compared to C in other contexts. Together, our results from PER-seq and human cancers demonstrate that replication errors are a major contributor to CpG>TpG mutagenesis in replicating cells, fundamentally changing our understanding of this important disease-causing mutational mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marketa Tomkova
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | | | - Gilles Crevel
- Molecular and Cellular Sciences, St George's University London, London, UK
| | | | - Nandini Mozumdar
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jakub Tomek
- Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Emelie Shepherd
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sue Cotterill
- Molecular and Cellular Sciences, St George's University London, London, UK
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2
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Tran P, Mishra P, Williams LG, Moskalenko R, Sharma S, Nilsson AK, Watt DL, Andersson P, Bergh A, Pursell ZF, Chabes A. Altered dNTP pools accelerate tumor formation in mice. Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae843. [PMID: 39360631 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae843] [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: 09/10/2024] [Accepted: 09/17/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Alterations in deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) pools have been linked to increased mutation rates and genome instability in unicellular organisms and cell cultures. However, the role of dNTP pool changes in tumor development in mammals remains unclear. In this study, we present a mouse model with a point mutation at the allosteric specificity site of ribonucleotide reductase, RRM1-Y285A. This mutation reduced ribonucleotide reductase activity, impairing the synthesis of deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP) and deoxyguanosine triphosphate (dGTP). Heterozygous Rrm1+/Y285A mice exhibited distinct alterations in dNTP pools across various organs, shorter lifespans and earlier tumor onset compared with wild-type controls. Mutational spectrum analysis of tumors revealed two distinct signatures, one resembling a signature extracted from a human cancer harboring a mutation of the same amino acid residue in ribonucleotide reductase, RRM1Y285C. Our findings suggest that mutations in enzymes involved in dNTP metabolism can serve as drivers of cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phong Tran
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Linnaeus väg 6, Umeå, SE 90736, Sweden
| | - Pradeep Mishra
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Linnaeus väg 6, Umeå, SE 90736, Sweden
| | - Leonard G Williams
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Roman Moskalenko
- Department of Pathology, Sumy State University, Kharkivska st. 116, Sumy 40007, Ukraine
| | - Sushma Sharma
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Linnaeus väg 6, Umeå, SE 90736, Sweden
| | - Anna Karin Nilsson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Linnaeus väg 6, Umeå, SE 90736, Sweden
| | - Danielle L Watt
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Linnaeus väg 6, Umeå, SE 90736, Sweden
- School of Medicine and School of Dental Medicine, UConn Health, 300 UConn Health Blvd, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Pernilla Andersson
- Pathology Unit, Department of Medical Biosciences, Umeå University, Daniel Naezéns väg 6M, Umeå, SE 90737, Sweden
| | - Anders Bergh
- Pathology Unit, Department of Medical Biosciences, Umeå University, Daniel Naezéns väg 6M, Umeå, SE 90737, Sweden
| | - Zachary F Pursell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
- Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Andrei Chabes
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Linnaeus väg 6, Umeå, SE 90736, Sweden
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3
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Ren P, Zhang J, Vijg J. Somatic mutations in aging and disease. GeroScience 2024; 46:5171-5189. [PMID: 38488948 PMCID: PMC11336144 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01113-3] [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: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Time always leaves its mark, and our genome is no exception. Mutations in the genome of somatic cells were first hypothesized to be the cause of aging in the 1950s, shortly after the molecular structure of DNA had been described. Somatic mutation theories of aging are based on the fact that mutations in DNA as the ultimate template for all cellular functions are irreversible. However, it took until the 1990s to develop the methods to test if DNA mutations accumulate with age in different organs and tissues and estimate the severity of the problem. By now, numerous studies have documented the accumulation of somatic mutations with age in normal cells and tissues of mice, humans, and other animals, showing clock-like mutational signatures that provide information on the underlying causes of the mutations. In this review, we will first briefly discuss the recent advances in next-generation sequencing that now allow quantitative analysis of somatic mutations. Second, we will provide evidence that the mutation rate differs between cell types, with a focus on differences between germline and somatic mutation rate. Third, we will discuss somatic mutational signatures as measures of aging, environmental exposure, and activities of DNA repair processes. Fourth, we will explain the concept of clonally amplified somatic mutations, with a focus on clonal hematopoiesis. Fifth, we will briefly discuss somatic mutations in the transcriptome and in our other genome, i.e., the genome of mitochondria. We will end with a brief discussion of a possible causal contribution of somatic mutations to the aging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peijun Ren
- Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Jie Zhang
- Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jan Vijg
- Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
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4
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Guasch MB, Krapivsky PL, Antal T. Error-induced extinction in a multi-type critical birth-death process. J Math Biol 2024; 89:36. [PMID: 39222150 PMCID: PMC11369052 DOI: 10.1007/s00285-024-02134-4] [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: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Extreme mutation rates in microbes and cancer cells can result in error-induced extinction (EEX), where every descendant cell eventually acquires a lethal mutation. In this work, we investigate critical birth-death processes with n distinct types as a birth-death model of EEX in a growing population. Each type-i cell divides independently ( i ) → ( i ) + ( i ) or mutates ( i ) → ( i + 1 ) at the same rate. The total number of cells grows exponentially as a Yule process until a cell of type-n appears, which cell type can only divide or die at rate one. This makes the whole process critical and hence after the exponentially growing phase eventually all cells die with probability one. We present large-time asymptotic results for the general n-type critical birth-death process. We find that the mass function of the number of cells of type-k has algebraic and stationary tail( size ) - 1 - χ k , withχ k = 2 1 - k , for k = 2 , ⋯ , n , in sharp contrast to the exponential tail of the first type. The same exponents describe the tail of the asymptotic survival probability( time ) - ξ k . We present applications of the results for studying extinction due to intolerable mutation rates in biological populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meritxell Brunet Guasch
- School of Mathematics and Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, UK.
| | - P L Krapivsky
- Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, 87501, USA
| | - Tibor Antal
- School of Mathematics and Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD, UK
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5
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Ambrosini M, Rousseau B, Manca P, Artz O, Marabelle A, André T, Maddalena G, Mazzoli G, Intini R, Cohen R, Cercek A, Segal NH, Saltz L, Varghese AM, Yaeger R, Nusrat M, Goldberg Z, Ku GY, El Dika I, Margalit O, Grinshpun A, Murtaza Kasi P, Schilsky R, Lutfi A, Shacham-Shmueli E, Khan Afghan M, Weiss L, Westphalen CB, Conca V, Decker B, Randon G, Elez E, Fakih M, Schrock AB, Cremolini C, Jayachandran P, Overman MJ, Lonardi S, Pietrantonio F. Immune checkpoint inhibitors for POLE or POLD1 proofreading-deficient metastatic colorectal cancer. Ann Oncol 2024; 35:643-655. [PMID: 38777726 DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2024.03.009] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND POLE and POLD1 proofreading deficiency (POLE/D1pd) define a rare subtype of ultramutated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC; over 100 mut/Mb). Disease-specific data about the activity and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in POLE/D1pd mCRC are lacking and it is unknown whether outcomes may be different from mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR)/microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) mCRCs treated with ICIs. PATIENTS AND METHODS In this global study, we collected 27 patients with mCRC harboring POLE/D1 mutations leading to proofreading deficiency and treated with anti-programmed cell death-ligand 1 alone +/- anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 agents. We collected clinicopathological and genomic characteristics, response, and survival outcomes after ICIs of POLE/D1pd mCRC and compared them with a cohort of 610 dMMR/MSI-H mCRC patients treated with ICIs. Further genomic analyses were carried out in an independent cohort of 7241 CRCs to define POLE and POLD1pd molecular profiles and mutational signatures. RESULTS POLE/D1pd was associated with younger age, male sex, fewer RAS/BRAF driver mutations, and predominance of right-sided colon cancers. Patients with POLE/D1pd mCRC showed a significantly higher overall response rate (ORR) compared to dMMR/MSI-H mCRC (89% versus 54%; P = 0.01). After a median follow-up of 24.9 months (interquartile range: 11.3-43.0 months), patients with POLE/D1pd showed a significantly superior progression-free survival (PFS) compared to dMMR/MSI-H mCRC [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.08-0.74, P = 0.01] and superior overall survival (OS) (HR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.12-1.18, P = 0.09). In multivariable analyses including the type of DNA repair defect, POLE/D1pd was associated with significantly improved PFS (HR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.04-0.69, P = 0.013) and OS (HR = 0.24, 95% CI 0.06-0.98, P = 0.047). Molecular profiling showed that POLE/D1pd tumors have higher tumor mutational burden (TMB). Responses were observed in both subtypes and were associated with the intensity of POLE/D1pd signature. CONCLUSIONS Patients with POLE/D1pd mCRC showed more favorable outcomes compared to dMMR/MSI-H mCRC to treatment with ICIs in terms of tumor response and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ambrosini
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - B Rousseau
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - P Manca
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - O Artz
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - A Marabelle
- Department of Therapeutic Innovation and Phase 1 clinical trials, Inserm, Gustave Roussy, Université Paris Saclay, Villejuif
| | - T André
- Sorbonne Université and Department of Medical Oncology, Hôpital Saint Antoine, Paris, France
| | - G Maddalena
- Istituto Oncologico Veneto, IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - G Mazzoli
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - R Intini
- Istituto Oncologico Veneto, IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - R Cohen
- Sorbonne Université and Department of Medical Oncology, Hôpital Saint Antoine, Paris, France
| | - A Cercek
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - N H Segal
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - L Saltz
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - A M Varghese
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - R Yaeger
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - M Nusrat
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - Z Goldberg
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - G Y Ku
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - I El Dika
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - O Margalit
- Oncology Department, Sheba Medical Center and Tel-Aviv University Medicine Faculty, Tel-Aviv
| | - A Grinshpun
- Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah Medical Center, and Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | | | - A Lutfi
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City
| | - E Shacham-Shmueli
- Oncology Department, Sheba Medical Center and Tel-Aviv University Medicine Faculty, Tel-Aviv
| | - M Khan Afghan
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City
| | - L Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine III and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Klinikum Grosshadern, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - C B Westphalen
- Department of Internal Medicine III and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Klinikum Grosshadern, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - V Conca
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - B Decker
- Foundation Medicine, Cambridge, USA
| | - G Randon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - E Elez
- Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Fakih
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte
| | - A B Schrock
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - C Cremolini
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - P Jayachandran
- Division of Medical Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - M J Overman
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - S Lonardi
- Istituto Oncologico Veneto, IRCCS, Padua, Italy
| | - F Pietrantonio
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
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6
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Holder AM, Dedeilia A, Sierra-Davidson K, Cohen S, Liu D, Parikh A, Boland GM. Defining clinically useful biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitors in solid tumours. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:498-512. [PMID: 38867074 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-024-00705-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Although more than a decade has passed since the approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of melanoma and non-small-cell lung, breast and gastrointestinal cancers, many patients still show limited response. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved biomarkers include programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PDL1) expression, microsatellite status (that is, microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H)) and tumour mutational burden (TMB), but these have limited utility and/or lack standardized testing approaches for pan-cancer applications. Tissue-based analytes (such as tumour gene signatures, tumour antigen presentation or tumour microenvironment profiles) show a correlation with immune response, but equally, these demonstrate limited efficacy, as they represent a single time point and a single spatial assessment. Patient heterogeneity as well as inter- and intra-tumoural differences across different tissue sites and time points represent substantial challenges for static biomarkers. However, dynamic biomarkers such as longitudinal biopsies or novel, less-invasive markers such as blood-based biomarkers, radiomics and the gut microbiome show increasing potential for the dynamic identification of ICI response, and patient-tailored predictors identified through neoadjuvant trials or novel ex vivo tumour models can help to personalize treatment. In this Perspective, we critically assess the multiple new static, dynamic and patient-specific biomarkers, highlight the newest consortia and trial efforts, and provide recommendations for future clinical trials to make meaningful steps forwards in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M Holder
- Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Sonia Cohen
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Liu
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aparna Parikh
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Genevieve M Boland
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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7
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Németh E, Szüts D. The mutagenic consequences of defective DNA repair. DNA Repair (Amst) 2024; 139:103694. [PMID: 38788323 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2024.103694] [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: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Multiple separate repair mechanisms safeguard the genome against various types of DNA damage, and their failure can increase the rate of spontaneous mutagenesis. The malfunction of distinct repair mechanisms leads to genomic instability through different mutagenic processes. For example, defective mismatch repair causes high base substitution rates and microsatellite instability, whereas homologous recombination deficiency is characteristically associated with deletions and chromosome instability. This review presents a comprehensive collection of all mutagenic phenotypes associated with the loss of each DNA repair mechanism, drawing on data from a variety of model organisms and mutagenesis assays, and placing greatest emphasis on systematic analyses of human cancer datasets. We describe the latest theories on the mechanism of each mutagenic process, often explained by reliance on an alternative repair pathway or the error-prone replication of unrepaired, damaged DNA. Aided by the concept of mutational signatures, the genomic phenotypes can be used in cancer diagnosis to identify defective DNA repair pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eszter Németh
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dávid Szüts
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
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8
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Andrianova MA, Seplyarskiy VB, Terradas M, Sánchez-Heras AB, Mur P, Soto JL, Aiza G, Borràs E, Kondrashov FA, Kondrashov AS, Bazykin GA, Valle L. Discovery of recessive effect of human polymerase δ proofreading deficiency through mutational analysis of POLD1-mutated normal and cancer cells. Eur J Hum Genet 2024; 32:837-845. [PMID: 38658779 PMCID: PMC11219999 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-024-01598-8] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Constitutional heterozygous pathogenic variants in the exonuclease domain of POLE and POLD1, which affect the proofreading activity of the corresponding polymerases, cause a cancer predisposition syndrome characterized by increased risk of gastrointestinal polyposis, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer and other tumor types. The generally accepted explanation for the connection between the disruption of the proofreading activity of polymerases epsilon and delta and cancer development is through an increase in the somatic mutation rate. Here we studied an extended family with multiple members heterozygous for the pathogenic POLD1 variant c.1421T>C p.(Leu474Pro), which segregates with the polyposis and cancer phenotypes. Through the analysis of mutational patterns of patient-derived fibroblasts colonies and de novo mutations obtained by parent-offspring comparisons, we concluded that heterozygous POLD1 L474P just subtly increases the somatic and germline mutation burden. In contrast, tumors developed in individuals with a heterozygous mutation in the exonuclease domain of POLD1, including L474P, have an extremely high mutation rate (>100 mut/Mb) associated with signature SBS10d. We solved this contradiction through the observation that tumorigenesis involves somatic inactivation of the wildtype POLD1 allele. These results imply that exonuclease deficiency of polymerase delta has a recessive effect on mutation rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Andrianova
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vladimir B Seplyarskiy
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mariona Terradas
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell Program, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Beatriz Sánchez-Heras
- Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of Valencia Region (FISABIO), Elche Health Department, Elche, Spain
- Medical Oncology Department, Cancer Genetic Counseling Unit. Elche University Hospital, Elche, Spain
| | - Pilar Mur
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell Program, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Health of Catalonia, Catalan Cancer Plan, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Luis Soto
- Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of Valencia Region (FISABIO), Elche Health Department, Elche, Spain
- Molecular Genetics Unit, Elche University Hospital, Elche, Spain
| | - Gemma Aiza
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell Program, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emma Borràs
- Molecular Genetics Unit, Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa, Terrassa, Spain
| | - Fyodor A Kondrashov
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria
- Evolutionary and Synthetic Biology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Alexey S Kondrashov
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Georgii A Bazykin
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Laura Valle
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell Program, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain.
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9
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Wang Y, Gao L, Ma B, Shi J, Yin Z, Zhu W, Chen H. Accelerated clinical response achieved by combining short-term tumor-directed photodynamic therapy with immunotherapy-based systemic therapies in synchronous colorectal cancer with MSI-H and POLE mutation: a case report. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1402334. [PMID: 39007151 PMCID: PMC11239333 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1402334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic sequencing has revolutionized immunotherapy in colorectal cancer (CRC). Recent clinical trials have revealed a positive response to immunotherapy-based systemic therapies in CRC patient subgroups with microsatellite instability (MSI)-High or DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE) mutation. However, the unsatisfactory response rates was the major limitation in real-world practice of the precision immunotherapy in CRC. Adding photodynamic therapy (PDT) to systemic immunotherapy has showed synergetic anti-tumor effect by modulating tumor microenvironment, while the eligible patient's subgroups which would benefit from this combination remained equivocal. Here we reported a synchronous colorectal cancer patient with MSI-High and POLE mutation who had accelerated response in less than 2 cycles (42 days) of immunotherapy-based systemic therapies after tumor-directed PDT and has remained progression-free by far. This case enlightened the synergetic effect of PDT in immunotherapy-treated CRC patients, with the MSI and POLE-mutation status as predictors of survival benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Wang
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lei Gao
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Bin Ma
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianming Shi
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhenyu Yin
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Weidong Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, Lintao County People’s Hospital in Gansu Province, Lintao, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory Of Environmental Oncology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
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10
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Li Y, Zhu R, Jin J, Guo H, Zhang J, He Z, Liang T, Guo L. Exploring the Role of Clustered Mutations in Carcinogenesis and Their Potential Clinical Implications in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6744. [PMID: 38928450 PMCID: PMC11203652 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126744] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Abnormal cell proliferation and growth leading to cancer primarily result from cumulative genome mutations. Single gene mutations alone do not fully explain cancer onset and progression; instead, clustered mutations-simultaneous occurrences of multiple mutations-are considered to be pivotal in cancer development and advancement. These mutations can affect different genes and pathways, resulting in cells undergoing malignant transformation with multiple functional abnormalities. Clustered mutations influence cancer growth rates, metastatic potential, and drug treatment sensitivity. This summary highlights the various types and characteristics of clustered mutations to understand their associations with carcinogenesis and discusses their potential clinical significance in cancer. As a unique mutation type, clustered mutations may involve genomic instability, DNA repair mechanism defects, and environmental exposures, potentially correlating with responsiveness to immunotherapy. Understanding the characteristics and underlying processes of clustered mutations enhances our comprehension of carcinogenesis and cancer progression, providing new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; (Y.L.); (R.Z.); (H.G.); (J.Z.)
| | - Rui Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; (Y.L.); (R.Z.); (H.G.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jiaming Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China; (J.J.); (Z.H.)
| | - Haochuan Guo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; (Y.L.); (R.Z.); (H.G.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jiaxi Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; (Y.L.); (R.Z.); (H.G.); (J.Z.)
| | - Zhiheng He
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China; (J.J.); (Z.H.)
| | - Tingming Liang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; (Y.L.); (R.Z.); (H.G.); (J.Z.)
| | - Li Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China; (J.J.); (Z.H.)
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11
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Sawant A, Shi F, Lopes EC, Hu Z, Abdelfattah S, Baul J, Powers J, Hinrichs CS, Rabinowitz JD, Chan CS, Lattime EC, Ganesan S, White E. Immune Checkpoint Blockade Delays Cancer and Extends Survival in Murine DNA Polymerase Mutator Syndromes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.10.597960. [PMID: 38915517 PMCID: PMC11195045 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.10.597960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Mutations in polymerases Pold1 and Pole exonuclease domains in humans are associated with increased cancer incidence, elevated tumor mutation burden (TMB) and response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Although ICB is approved for treatment of several cancers, not all tumors with elevated TMB respond. Here we generated Pold1 and Pole proofreading mutator mice and show that ICB treatment of mice with high TMB tumors did not improve survival as only a subset of tumors responded. Similarly, introducing the mutator alleles into mice with Kras/p53 lung cancer did not improve survival, however, passaging mutator tumor cells in vitro without immune editing caused rejection in immune-competent hosts, demonstrating the efficiency by which cells with antigenic mutations are eliminated. Finally, ICB treatment of mutator mice earlier, before observable tumors delayed cancer onset, improved survival, and selected for tumors without aneuploidy, suggesting the use of ICB in individuals at high risk for cancer prevention. Highlights Germline somatic and conditional Pold1 and Pole exonuclease domain mutations in mice produce a mutator phenotype. Spontaneous cancers arise in mutator mice that have genomic features comparable to human tumors with these mutations.ICB treatment of mutator mice with tumors did not improve survival as only a subset of tumors respond. Introduction of the mutator alleles into an autochthonous mouse lung cancer model also did not produce immunogenic tumors, whereas passaging mutator tumor cells in vitro caused immune rejection indicating efficient selection against antigenic mutations in vivo . Prophylactic ICB treatment delayed cancer onset, improved survival, and selected for tumors with no aneuploidy.
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12
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Chatsirisupachai K, de Magalhães JP. Somatic mutations in human ageing: New insights from DNA sequencing and inherited mutations. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 96:102268. [PMID: 38490496 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102268] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The accumulation of somatic mutations is a driver of cancer and has long been associated with ageing. Due to limitations in quantifying mutation burden with age in non-cancerous tissues, the impact of somatic mutations in other ageing phenotypes is unclear. Recent advances in DNA sequencing technologies have allowed the large-scale quantification of somatic mutations in ageing tissues. These studies have revealed a gradual accumulation of mutations in normal tissues with age as well as a substantial clonal expansion driven mostly by cancer-related mutations. Nevertheless, it is difficult to envision how the burden and stochastic nature of age-related somatic mutations identified so far can explain most ageing phenotypes that develop gradually. Studies across species have also found that longer-lived species have lower somatic mutation rates, though these could be due to selective pressures acting on other phenotypes such as perhaps cancer. Recent studies in patients with higher somatic mutation burden and no signs of accelerated ageing further question the role of somatic mutations in ageing. Overall, with a few exceptions like cancer, recent DNA sequencing studies and inherited mutations do not support the idea that somatic mutations accumulating with age drive ageing phenotypes, and the phenotypic role, if any, of somatic mutations in ageing remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasit Chatsirisupachai
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK; European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - João Pedro de Magalhães
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK; Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham, UK.
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13
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Zheng S, Donnelly ED, Strauss JB. Race, Prevalence of POLE and POLD1 Alterations, and Survival Among Patients With Endometrial Cancer. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2351906. [PMID: 38231514 PMCID: PMC10794941 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.51906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Black patients with endometrial cancer (EC) in the United States have higher mortality than patients of other races with EC. The prevalence of POLE and POLD1 pathogenic alterations in patients of different races with EC are not well studied. Objective To explore the prevalence of and outcomes associated with POLE and POLD1 alterations in differential racial groups. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study incorporated the largest available data set of patients with EC, including American Association for Cancer Research Project GENIE (Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange; 5087 participants), Memorial Sloan Kettering-Metastatic Events and Tropisms (1315 participants), and the Cancer Genome Atlas Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (517 participants), collected from 2015 to 2023, 2013 to 2021, and 2006 to 2012, respectively. The prevalence of and outcomes associated with POLE or POLD1 alterations in EC were evaluated across self-reported racial groups. Exposure Patients of different racial groups with EC and with or without POLE or POLD1 alterations. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was overall survival. Data on demographic characteristics, POLE and POLD1 alteration status, histologic subtype, tumor mutation burden, fraction of genome altered, and microsatellite instability score were collected. Results A total of 6919 EC cases were studied, of whom 444 (6.4%), 694 (10.0%), and 4869 (70.4%) patients were self-described as Asian, Black, and White, respectively. Within these large data sets, Black patients with EC exhibited a lower weighted average prevalence of pathogenic POLE alterations (0.5% [3 of 590 cases]) compared with Asian (6.1% [26 of 424]) or White (4.6% [204 of 4520]) patients. By contrast, the prevalence of POLD1 pathogenic alterations was 5.0% (21 cases), 3.2% (19 cases), and 5.6% (255 cases) in Asian, Black, and White patients with EC, respectively. Patients with POLD1 alterations had better outcomes regardless of race, histology, and TP53 alteration status. For a total of 241 clinically annotated Black patients with EC, a composite biomarker panel of either POLD1 or POLE alterations identified 7.1% (17 patients) with positive outcomes (1 event at 70 months follow up) in the small sample of available patients. Conclusions and Relevance In this retrospective clinicopathological study of patients of different racial groups with EC, a composite biomarker panel of either POLD1 or POLE alteration could potentially guide treatment de-escalation, which is especially relevant for Black patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhua Zheng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Eric D. Donnelly
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jonathan B. Strauss
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
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14
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El Hajj J, Reddy S, Verma N, Huang EH, Kazmi SM. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in pMMR/MSS Colorectal Cancer. J Gastrointest Cancer 2023; 54:1017-1030. [PMID: 37009977 DOI: 10.1007/s12029-023-00927-2] [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] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors have recently replaced over chemotherapy as the first-line treatment for microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR/MSI-H) stage 4 colorectal cancers. Considering this success, many studies have tried to replicate the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, either as a single agent or in combination with other therapeutic agents, in the treatment of proficient mismatch repair (pMMR/MSS) stage 4 colorectal cancers. This review summarizes the seminal clinical data about the immune checkpoint inhibitors used in pMMR/MSS colorectal cancers and some future directions. RESULTS Studies concerning the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors as a single agent or in combination with other immune checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy have proven inefficient in the treatment of pMMR/MSS colorectal cancer. However, a small subset of patients with pMMR/MSS colorectal cancer who has a mutation in POLE and POLD1 enzymes may respond to immunotherapy. Moreover, patients without liver metastasis appear to have a better chance of response. New immune checkpoint targets are being identified, such as VISTA, TIGIT, LAG3, STING signal pathway, and BTLA, and studies are ongoing to determine their efficiency in this disease type. CONCLUSION Immune checkpoint inhibitor-based regimens have not yet shown any meaningful positive outcomes for most pMMR/MSS colorectal cancers. A beneficial effect among a minority of these patients has been observed, but concrete biomarkers of response are lacking. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of immune resistance should guide further research for overcoming these obstacles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna El Hajj
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Sarah Reddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Nilesh Verma
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Emina H Huang
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Syed M Kazmi
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
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15
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Crevel G, Kearsey S, Cotterill S. A simple bypass assay for DNA polymerases shows that cancer-associated hypermutating variants exhibit differences in vitro. FEBS J 2023; 290:5744-5758. [PMID: 37592814 PMCID: PMC10953417 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16936] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Errors made by DNA polymerases contribute to both natural variation and, in extreme cases, genome instability and its associated diseases. Recently, the importance of polymerase misincorporation in disease has been highlighted by the identification of cancer-associated polymerase variants with mutations in the exonuclease domain. A subgroup of these variants have a hypermutation phenotype in tumours, and when modelled in yeast, they show mutation rates in excess of that seen with polymerase with simple loss of proofreading activity. We have developed a bypass assay to rapidly determine the tendency of a polymerase to misincorporate in vitro. We have used the assay to compare misincorporation by wild-type, exonuclease-defective and two hypermutating human DNA polymerase ε variants, P286R and V411L. The assay clearly distinguished between the misincorporation rates of wild-type, exonuclease dead and P286R polymerases. However, the V411L polymerase showed misincorporation rate comparable to the exonuclease dead enzyme rather than P286R, suggesting that there may be some differences in the way that these variants cause hypermutation. Using this assay, misincorporation opposite a templated C nucleotide was consistently higher than for other nucleotides, and this caused predominantly C-to-T transitions. This is consistent with the observation that C-to-T transitions are commonly seen in DNA polymerase ε mutant tumours.
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16
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Mur P, Viana-Errasti J, García-Mulero S, Magraner-Pardo L, Muñoz IG, Pons T, Capellá G, Pineda M, Feliubadaló L, Valle L. Recommendations for the classification of germline variants in the exonuclease domain of POLE and POLD1. Genome Med 2023; 15:85. [PMID: 37848928 PMCID: PMC10580551 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-023-01234-y] [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: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Germline variants affecting the proofreading activity of polymerases epsilon and delta cause a hereditary cancer and adenomatous polyposis syndrome characterized by tumors with a high mutational burden and a specific mutational spectrum. In addition to the implementation of multiple pieces of evidence for the classification of gene variants, POLE and POLD1 variant classification is particularly challenging given that non-disruptive variants affecting the proofreading activity of the corresponding polymerase are the ones associated with cancer. In response to an evident need in the field, we have developed gene-specific variant classification recommendations, based on the ACMG/AMP (American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular Pathology) criteria, for the assessment of non-disruptive variants located in the sequence coding for the exonuclease domain of the polymerases. METHODS A training set of 23 variants considered pathogenic or benign was used to define the usability and strength of the ACMG/AMP criteria. Population frequencies, computational predictions, co-segregation data, phenotypic and tumor data, and functional results, among other features, were considered. RESULTS Gene-specific variant classification recommendations for non-disruptive variants located in the exonuclease domain of POLE and POLD1 were defined. The resulting recommendations were applied to 128 exonuclease domain variants reported in the literature and/or public databases. A total of 17 variants were classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic, and 17 as benign or likely benign. CONCLUSIONS Our recommendations, with room for improvement in the coming years as more information become available on carrier families, tumor molecular characteristics and functional assays, are intended to serve the clinical and scientific communities and help improve diagnostic performance, avoiding variant misclassifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Mur
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
- Program in Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology (Oncobell), IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Health of Catalonia, Catalan Cancer Plan, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Julen Viana-Errasti
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Program in Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology (Oncobell), IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra García-Mulero
- Department of Health of Catalonia, Catalan Cancer Plan, Barcelona, Spain
- Unit of Biomarkers and Susceptibility, Oncology Data Analytics Program (ODAP), Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lorena Magraner-Pardo
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, UK
| | - Inés G Muñoz
- Protein Crystallography Unit, Structural Biology Program, Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Tirso Pons
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, National Center for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC), Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gabriel Capellá
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Program in Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology (Oncobell), IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Pineda
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Program in Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology (Oncobell), IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Lidia Feliubadaló
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Program in Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology (Oncobell), IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Valle
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
- Program in Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology (Oncobell), IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain.
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Zhang Y, Wang X, Zhu Y, Liang C, Zhao L, Meng Q, Yin JC, Shi Y, Wang F, Qin F, Xuan J. Case Report: Cancer spectrum and genetic characteristics of a de novo germline POLD1 p.L606M variant-induced polyposis syndrome. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1222873. [PMID: 37746257 PMCID: PMC10516538 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1222873] [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: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Germline variations in the DNA polymerase genes, POLE and POLD1, can lead to a hereditary cancer syndrome that is characterized by frequent gastrointestinal polyposis and multiple primary malignant tumors. However, because of its rare occurrence, this disorder has not been extensively studied. In this report, we present the case of a 22-year-old female patient who had been diagnosed with gastrointestinal polyposis, breast fibroadenoma, multiple primary colorectal cancers, and glioblastoma (grade IV) within a span of 4 years. Next-generation sequencing analysis revealed a germline variant in POLD1 (c.1816C>A; p.L606M). In silico analysis using protein functional predicting software, including SIFT, Polyphen, GERP++, and CADD, further confirmed the pathogenicity of POLD1 p.L606M (classified as ACMG grade Class 4). In line with polymerase deficiency, both rectal cancer and glioblastoma tissues exhibited a high tumor mutation burden, with 16.9 muts/Mb and 347.1 muts/Mb, respectively. Interestingly, the patient has no family history of cancer, and gene examination of both parents confirms that this is a de novo germline variant. Therefore, molecular screening for POLD1 may be necessary for patients with such a cancer spectrum, regardless of their family history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaolu Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuning Zhu
- Department of Pathology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chong Liang
- Department of Neurosurgery Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lijun Zhao
- Medical Science Liaison, Genetron Health Inc., Beijing, China
| | - Qi Meng
- Geneseeq Research Institute, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiani C. Yin
- Geneseeq Research Institute, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuqian Shi
- Geneseeq Research Institute, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fufeng Wang
- Geneseeq Research Institute, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feng Qin
- Cancer Center, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Ji Xuan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University, School of Medicine, Nanjing, China
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18
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Strauss JD, Pursell ZF. Replication DNA polymerases, genome instability and cancer therapies. NAR Cancer 2023; 5:zcad033. [PMID: 37388540 PMCID: PMC10304742 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcad033] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been over a decade since the initial identification of exonuclease domain mutations in the genes encoding the catalytic subunits of replication DNA polymerases ϵ and δ (POLE and POLD1) in tumors from highly mutated endometrial and colorectal cancers. Interest in studying POLE and POLD1 has increased significantly since then. Prior to those landmark cancer genome sequencing studies, it was well documented that mutations in replication DNA polymerases that reduced their DNA synthesis accuracy, their exonuclease activity or their interactions with other factors could lead to increased mutagenesis, DNA damage and even tumorigenesis in mice. There are several recent, well-written reviews of replication DNA polymerases. The aim of this review is to gather and review in some detail recent studies of DNA polymerases ϵ and δ as they pertain to genome instability, cancer and potential therapeutic treatments. The focus here is primarily on recent informative studies on the significance of mutations in genes encoding their catalytic subunits (POLE and POLD1), mutational signatures, mutations in associated genes, model organisms, and the utility of chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibition in polymerase mutant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliet D Strauss
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, 70118 LA, USA
| | - Zachary F Pursell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, 70118 LA, USA
- Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, 70118 LA, USA
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19
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Labrousse G, Vande Perre P, Parra G, Jaffrelot M, Leroy L, Chibon F, Escudie F, Selves J, Hoffmann JS, Guimbaud R, Lutzmann M. The hereditary N363K POLE exonuclease mutant extends PPAP tumor spectrum to glioblastomas by causing DNA damage and aneuploidy in addition to increased mismatch mutagenicity. NAR Cancer 2023; 5:zcad011. [PMID: 36915289 PMCID: PMC10006997 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcad011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The exonuclease domain of DNA polymerases epsilon's catalytic subunit (POLE) removes misincorporated nucleotides, called proofreading. POLE-exonuclease mutations cause colorectal- and endometrial cancers with an extreme burden of single nucleotide substitutions. We recently reported that particularly the hereditary POLE exonuclease mutation N363K predisposes in addition to aggressive giant cell glioblastomas. We knocked-in this mutation homozygously into human cell lines and compared its properties to knock-ins of the likewise hereditary POLE L424V mutation and to a complete proofreading-inactivating mutation (exo-null). We found that N363K cells have higher mutation rates as both L424V- or exo-null mutant cells. In contrast to L424V cells, N363K cells expose a growth defect, replication stress and DNA damage. In non-transformed cells, these burdens lead to aneuploidy but macroscopically normal nuclei. In contrast, transformed N363K cells phenocopy the enlarged and disorganized nuclei of giant cell glioblastomas. Taken together, our data characterize a POLE exonuclease domain mutant that not only causes single nucleotide hypermutation, but in addition DNA damage and chromosome instability, leading to an extended tumor spectrum. Our results expand the understanding of the polymerase exonuclease domain and suggest that an assessment of both the mutational potential and the genetic instability might refine classification and treatment of POLE-mutated tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Labrousse
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, CRCT, 2 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31000Toulouse, France
| | - Pierre Vande Perre
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, CRCT, 2 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31000Toulouse, France
- Oncogenetics Department, Institute Claudius Regaud, IUCT-Oncopole, Toulouse, France
| | - Genis Parra
- Center for Genomic Analysis, CNAG, Carrer de Baldiri Reixac 4, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marion Jaffrelot
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, CRCT, 2 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31000Toulouse, France
- Oncogenetics Department, Institute Claudius Regaud, IUCT-Oncopole, Toulouse, France
- Department of Digestive Oncology, IUCT Rangueil-Larrey, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Laura Leroy
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, CRCT, 2 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31000Toulouse, France
| | - Frederic Chibon
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, CRCT, 2 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31000Toulouse, France
| | - Frederic Escudie
- Laboratoire d’Excellence Toulouse Cancer (TOUCAN), Laboratoire de Pathologie, Institut Universitaire du Cancer-Toulouse, Oncopole, 1 Avenue Irene-Joliot-Curie, 31059Toulouse, France
| | - Janick Selves
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, CRCT, 2 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31000Toulouse, France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence Toulouse Cancer (TOUCAN), Laboratoire de Pathologie, Institut Universitaire du Cancer-Toulouse, Oncopole, 1 Avenue Irene-Joliot-Curie, 31059Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Sebastien Hoffmann
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, CRCT, 2 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31000Toulouse, France
- Laboratoire d’Excellence Toulouse Cancer (TOUCAN), Laboratoire de Pathologie, Institut Universitaire du Cancer-Toulouse, Oncopole, 1 Avenue Irene-Joliot-Curie, 31059Toulouse, France
| | - Rosine Guimbaud
- Oncogenetics Department, Institute Claudius Regaud, IUCT-Oncopole, Toulouse, France
- Department of Digestive Oncology, IUCT Rangueil-Larrey, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Malik Lutzmann
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, CRCT, 2 Avenue Hubert Curien, 31000Toulouse, France
- Institute of Human Genetics, IGH, UMR 9002, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, University of Montpellier, 34396Montpellier, France
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20
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Vijg J, Schumacher B, Abakir A, Antonov M, Bradley C, Cagan A, Church G, Gladyshev VN, Gorbunova V, Maslov AY, Reik W, Sharifi S, Suh Y, Walsh K. Mitigating age-related somatic mutation burden. Trends Mol Med 2023:S1471-4914(23)00072-2. [PMID: 37121869 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Genomes are inherently unstable and require constant DNA repair to maintain their genetic information. However, selective pressure has optimized repair mechanisms in somatic cells only to allow transmitting genetic information to the next generation, not to maximize sequence integrity long beyond the reproductive age. Recent studies have confirmed that somatic mutations, due to errors during genome repair and replication, accumulate in tissues and organs of humans and model organisms. Here, we describe recent advances in the quantitative analysis of somatic mutations in vivo. We also review evidence for or against a possible causal role of somatic mutations in aging. Finally, we discuss options to prevent, delay or eliminate de novo, random somatic mutations as a cause of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Vijg
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Center for Single-Cell Omics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
| | - Björn Schumacher
- Institute for Genome Stability in Aging and Disease, University and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Abdulkadir Abakir
- Altos Labs Cambridge Institute of Science, Granta Park, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Alex Cagan
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - George Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vadim N Gladyshev
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Vera Gorbunova
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA
| | - Alexander Y Maslov
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Wolf Reik
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK; Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK; Altos Labs Cambridge Institute of Science, Granta Park, Cambridge, UK; Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Yousin Suh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kenneth Walsh
- Hematovascular Biology Center, Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
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21
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Demidova EV, Serebriiskii IG, Vlasenkova R, Kelow S, Andrake MD, Hartman TR, Kent T, Virtucio J, Rosen GL, Pomerantz RT, Dunbrack RL, Golemis EA, Hall MJ, Chen DYT, Daly MB, Arora S. Candidate variants in DNA replication and repair genes in early-onset renal cell carcinoma patients referred for germline testing. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:212. [PMID: 37095444 PMCID: PMC10123997 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09310-8] [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: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early-onset renal cell carcinoma (eoRCC) is typically associated with pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) in RCC familial syndrome genes. However, most eoRCC patients lack PGVs in familial RCC genes and their genetic risk remains undefined. METHODS Here, we analyzed biospecimens from 22 eoRCC patients that were seen at our institution for genetic counseling and tested negative for PGVs in RCC familial syndrome genes. RESULTS Analysis of whole-exome sequencing (WES) data found enrichment of candidate pathogenic germline variants in DNA repair and replication genes, including multiple DNA polymerases. Induction of DNA damage in peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) significantly elevated numbers of [Formula: see text]H2AX foci, a marker of double-stranded breaks, in PBMCs from eoRCC patients versus PBMCs from matched cancer-free controls. Knockdown of candidate variant genes in Caki RCC cells increased [Formula: see text]H2AX foci. Immortalized patient-derived B cell lines bearing the candidate variants in DNA polymerase genes (POLD1, POLH, POLE, POLK) had DNA replication defects compared to control cells. Renal tumors carrying these DNA polymerase variants were microsatellite stable but had a high mutational burden. Direct biochemical analysis of the variant Pol δ and Pol η polymerases revealed defective enzymatic activities. CONCLUSIONS Together, these results suggest that constitutional defects in DNA repair underlie a subset of eoRCC cases. Screening patient lymphocytes to identify these defects may provide insight into mechanisms of carcinogenesis in a subset of genetically undefined eoRCCs. Evaluation of DNA repair defects may also provide insight into the cancer initiation mechanisms for subsets of eoRCCs and lay the foundation for targeting DNA repair vulnerabilities in eoRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena V Demidova
- Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
- Kazan Federal University, Kazan, 420008, Russia
| | - Ilya G Serebriiskii
- Kazan Federal University, Kazan, 420008, Russia
- Program in Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Ramilia Vlasenkova
- Kazan Federal University, Kazan, 420008, Russia
- Program in Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Simon Kelow
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Mark D Andrake
- Program in Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Tiffiney R Hartman
- Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
- Arcadia University, Glenside, PA, USA
| | - Tatiana Kent
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - James Virtucio
- Ecological and Evolutionary Signal-Processing and Informatics Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Gail L Rosen
- Ecological and Evolutionary Signal-Processing and Informatics Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Richard T Pomerantz
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Roland L Dunbrack
- Program in Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Erica A Golemis
- Program in Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
- Department of Cancer and Cellular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Michael J Hall
- Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - David Y T Chen
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - Mary B Daly
- Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA.
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA.
| | - Sanjeevani Arora
- Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA.
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22
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Kadyrova LY, Mieczkowski PA, Kadyrov FA. Genome-wide contributions of the MutSα- and MutSβ-dependent DNA mismatch repair pathways to the maintenance of genetic stability in S. cerevisiae. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104705. [PMID: 37059180 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system is a major DNA repair system that suppresses inherited and sporadic cancers in humans. In eukaryotes the MutSα-dependent and MutSβ-dependent MMR pathways correct DNA polymerase errors. Here, we investigated these two pathways on a whole-genome level in S. cerevisiae. We found that inactivation of MutSα-dependent MMR by deletion of the MSH6 gene increases the genome-wide mutation rate by ∼17-fold, and loss of MutSβ-dependent MMR via deletion of MSH3 elevates the genome-wide mutation rate by ∼4-fold. We also found that MutSα-dependent MMR does not show a preference for protecting coding or noncoding DNA from mutations, whereas MutSβ-dependent MMR preferentially protects noncoding DNA from mutations. The most frequent mutations in the msh6Δ strain are C>T transitions, whereas 1-6-bp deletions are the most common genetic alterations in the msh3Δ strain. Strikingly, MutSα-dependent MMR is more important than MutSβ-dependent MMR for protection from 1-bp insertions, while MutSβ-dependent MMR has a more critical role in the defense against 1-bp deletions and 2-6-bp indels. We also determined that a mutational signature of yeast MSH6 loss is similar to mutational signatures of human MMR deficiency. Furthermore, our analysis showed that compared to other 5'-NCN-3' trinucleotides, 5'-GCA-3' trinucleotides are at the highest risk of accumulating C>T transitions at the central position in the msh6Δ cells and that the presence of a G/A base at the -1 position is important for the efficient MutSα-dependent suppression of C>T transitions. Our results highlight key differences between the roles of the MutSα-dependent and MutSβ-dependent MMR pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyudmila Y Kadyrova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
| | - Piotr A Mieczkowski
- Department of Genetics, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Farid A Kadyrov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA.
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23
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Yuyukina SK, Zharkov DO. Mechanisms of Coronavirus Genome Stability As Potential Targets for Antiviral Drugs. HERALD OF THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 2022; 92:470-478. [PMID: 36091852 PMCID: PMC9447942 DOI: 10.1134/s1019331622040256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it necessary to create antivirals active against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. One of the widely used strategies to fight off viral infections is the use of modified nucleoside analogues that inhibit viral replication by incorporating DNA or RNA into the growing chain, thus stopping its synthesis. The difficulty of using this method of treatment in the case of SARS-CoV-2 is that coronaviruses have an effective mechanism for maintaining genome stability. Its central element is the nsp14 protein, which is characterized by exonuclease activity, due to which incorrectly included and noncanonical nucleotides are removed from the 3' end of the growing RNA chain. Inhibitors of nsp14 exonuclease and nucleoside analogues resistant to its action are viewed as potential targets for anticoronavirus therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. K. Yuyukina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - D. O. Zharkov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
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24
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Barbari SR, Beach AK, Markgren JG, Parkash V, Moore E, Johansson E, Shcherbakova PV. Enhanced polymerase activity permits efficient synthesis by cancer-associated DNA polymerase ϵ variants at low dNTP levels. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:8023-8040. [PMID: 35822874 PMCID: PMC9371911 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Amino acid substitutions in the exonuclease domain of DNA polymerase ϵ (Polϵ) cause ultramutated tumors. Studies in model organisms suggested pathogenic mechanisms distinct from a simple loss of exonuclease. These mechanisms remain unclear for most recurrent Polϵ mutations. Particularly, the highly prevalent V411L variant remained a long-standing puzzle with no detectable mutator effect in yeast despite the unequivocal association with ultramutation in cancers. Using purified four-subunit yeast Polϵ, we assessed the consequences of substitutions mimicking human V411L, S459F, F367S, L424V and D275V. While the effects on exonuclease activity vary widely, all common cancer-associated variants have increased DNA polymerase activity. Notably, the analog of Polϵ-V411L is among the strongest polymerases, and structural analysis suggests defective polymerase-to-exonuclease site switching. We further show that the V411L analog produces a robust mutator phenotype in strains that lack mismatch repair, indicating a high rate of replication errors. Lastly, unlike wild-type and exonuclease-dead Polϵ, hyperactive variants efficiently synthesize DNA at low dNTP concentrations. We propose that this characteristic could promote cancer cell survival and preferential participation of mutator polymerases in replication during metabolic stress. Our results support the notion that polymerase fitness, rather than low fidelity alone, is an important determinant of variant pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie R Barbari
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Annette K Beach
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Joel G Markgren
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Vimal Parkash
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Elizabeth A Moore
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Erik Johansson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, SE-90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Polina V Shcherbakova
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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25
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Kohzaki M. Mammalian Resilience Revealed by a Comparison of Human Diseases and Mouse Models Associated With DNA Helicase Deficiencies. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:934042. [PMID: 36032672 PMCID: PMC9403131 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.934042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintaining genomic integrity is critical for sustaining individual animals and passing on the genome to subsequent generations. Several enzymes, such as DNA helicases and DNA polymerases, are involved in maintaining genomic integrity by unwinding and synthesizing the genome, respectively. Indeed, several human diseases that arise caused by deficiencies in these enzymes have long been known. In this review, the author presents the DNA helicases associated with human diseases discovered to date using recent analyses, including exome sequences. Since several mouse models that reflect these human diseases have been developed and reported, this study also summarizes the current knowledge regarding the outcomes of DNA helicase deficiencies in humans and mice and discusses possible mechanisms by which DNA helicases maintain genomic integrity in mammals. It also highlights specific diseases that demonstrate mammalian resilience, in which, despite the presence of genomic instability, patients and mouse models have lifespans comparable to those of the general population if they do not develop cancers; finally, this study discusses future directions for therapeutic applications in humans that can be explored using these mouse models.
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26
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Ma X, Dong L, Liu X, Ou K, Yang L. POLE/POLD1 mutation and tumor immunotherapy. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2022; 41:216. [PMID: 35780178 PMCID: PMC9250176 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02422-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
POLE and POLD1 encode the catalytic and proofreading subunits of DNA polymerase ε and polymerase δ, and play important roles in DNA replication and proofreading. POLE/POLD1 exonuclease domain mutations lead to loss of proofreading function, which causes the accumulation of mutant genes in cells. POLE/POLD1 mutations are not only closely related to tumor formation, but are also a potential molecular marker for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy in pan-carcinomatous species. The association of POLE/POLD1 mutation, ultra-high mutation load, and good prognosis have recently become the focus of clinical research. This article reviews the function of POLE/POLD1, its relationship with deficient mismatch repair/high microsatellite instability, and the role of POLE/POLD1 mutation in the occurrence and development of various tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Lin Dong
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Xiu Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Kai Ou
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
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27
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Functional landscapes of POLE and POLD1 mutations in checkpoint blockade-dependent antitumor immunity. Nat Genet 2022; 54:996-1012. [PMID: 35817971 PMCID: PMC10181095 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-022-01108-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Defects in pathways governing genomic fidelity have been linked to improved response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy (ICB). Pathogenic POLE/POLD1 mutations can cause hypermutation, yet how diverse mutations in POLE/POLD1 influence antitumor immunity following ICB is unclear. Here, we comprehensively determined the effect of POLE/POLD1 mutations in ICB and elucidated the mechanistic impact of these mutations on tumor immunity. Murine syngeneic tumors harboring Pole/Pold1 functional mutations displayed enhanced antitumor immunity and were sensitive to ICB. Patients with POLE/POLD1 mutated tumors harboring telltale mutational signatures respond better to ICB than patients harboring wild-type or signature-negative tumors. A mutant POLE/D1 function-associated signature-based model outperformed several traditional approaches for identifying POLE/POLD1 mutated patients that benefit from ICB. Strikingly, the spectrum of mutational signatures correlates with the biochemical features of neoantigens. Alterations that cause POLE/POLD1 function-associated signatures generate T cell receptor (TCR)-contact residues with increased hydrophobicity, potentially facilitating T cell recognition. Altogether, the functional landscapes of POLE/POLD1 mutations shape immunotherapy efficacy.
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28
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Justice JL, Needham JM, Verhalen B, Jiang M, Thompson SR. BK Polyomavirus Requires the Mismatch Repair Pathway for DNA Damage Response Activation. J Virol 2022; 96:e0202821. [PMID: 35389233 PMCID: PMC9044952 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02028-21] [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: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BK polyomavirus (PyV) infects the genitourinary tract of >90% of the adult population. Immunosuppression increases the risk of viral reactivation, making BKPyV a leading cause of graft failure in kidney transplant recipients. Polyomaviruses have a small double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genome that requires host replication machinery to amplify the viral genome. Specifically, polyomaviruses promote S phase entry and delay S phase exit by activating the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway via an uncharacterized mechanism requiring viral replication. BKPyV infection elevates expression of MutSα, a mismatch repair (MMR) pathway protein complex that senses and repairs DNA mismatches and can activate the DDR. Thus, we investigated the role of the MMR pathway by silencing the MutSα component, Msh6, in BKPyV-infected primary cells. This resulted in severe DNA damage that correlated with weak DNA damage response activation and a failure to arrest the cell cycle to prevent mitotic entry during infection. Furthermore, silencing Msh6 expression resulted in significantly fewer infectious viral particles due to significantly lower levels of VP2, a minor capsid protein important for trafficking during subsequent infections. Since viral assembly occurs in the nucleus, our findings are consistent with a model in which entry into mitosis disrupts viral assembly due to nuclear envelope breakdown, which disperses VP2 throughout the cell, reducing its availability for encapsidation into viral particles. Thus, the MMR pathway may be required to activate the ATR (ATM-Rad3-related) pathway during infection to maintain a favorable environment for both viral replication and assembly. IMPORTANCE Since there are no therapeutics that target BKPyV reactivation in organ transplant patients, it is currently treated by decreasing immunosuppression to allow the natural immune system to fight the viral infection. Antivirals would significantly improve patient outcomes since reducing immunosuppression carries the risk of graft failure. PyVs activate the DDR, for which there are several promising inhibitors. However, a better understanding of how PyVs activate the DDR and what role the DDR plays during infection is needed. Here, we show that a component of the mismatch repair pathway is required for DDR activation during PyV infection. These findings show that the mismatch repair pathway is important for DDR activation during PyV infection and that inhibiting the DDR reduces viral titers by generating less infectious virions that lack the minor capsid protein VP2, which is important for viral trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua L. Justice
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Jason M. Needham
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Brandy Verhalen
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Mengxi Jiang
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Sunnie R. Thompson
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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29
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Polymerase Epsilon-Associated Ultramutagenesis in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14061467. [PMID: 35326618 PMCID: PMC8946778 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
With advances in next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, efforts have been made to develop personalized medicine, targeting the specific genetic makeup of an individual. Somatic or germline DNA Polymerase epsilon (PolE) mutations cause ultramutated (>100 mutations/Mb) cancer. In contrast to mismatch repair-deficient hypermutated (>10 mutations/Mb) cancer, PolE-associated cancer is primarily microsatellite stable (MSS) In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of this PolE-associated ultramutated tumor. We describe its molecular characteristics, including the mutation sites and mutation signature of this type of tumor and the mechanism of its ultramutagenesis. We discuss its good clinical prognosis and elucidate the mechanism for enhanced immunogenicity with a high tumor mutation burden, increased neoantigen load, and enriched tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. We also provide the rationale for immune checkpoint inhibitors in PolE-mutated tumors.
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30
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Durando ML, Menghani SV, Baumann JL, Robles DG, Day TA, Vaziri C, Scott AJ. Four-Year Disease-Free Remission in a Patient With POLE Mutation-Associated Colorectal Cancer Treated Using Anti-PD-1 Therapy. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2022; 20:218-223. [PMID: 35276675 DOI: 10.6004/jnccn.2021.7115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The stability of the human genome depends upon a delicate balance between replication by high- and low-fidelity DNA polymerases. Aberrant replication by error-prone polymerases or loss of function of high-fidelity polymerases predisposes to genetic instability and, in turn, cancer. DNA polymerase epsilon (Pol ε) is a high-fidelity, processive polymerase that is responsible for the majority of leading strand synthesis, and mutations in Pol ε have been increasingly associated with various human malignancies. The clinical significance of Pol ε mutations, including how and whether they should influence management decisions, remains poorly understood. In this report, we describe a 24-year-old man with an aggressive stage IV high-grade, poorly differentiated colon carcinoma who experienced a dramatic response to single-agent checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy after rapidly progressing on standard chemotherapy. His response was complete and durable and has been maintained for more than 48 months. Genetic testing revealed a P286R mutation in the endonuclease domain of POLE and an elevated tumor mutational burden of 126 mutations per megabase, both of which have been previously associated with response to immunotherapy. Interestingly, tumor staining for PD-L1 was negative. This case study highlights the importance of genetic profiling of both early and late-stage cancers, the clinical significance of POLE mutations, and how the interplay between genetic instability and immune-checkpoint blockade can impact clinical decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Durando
- 1Banner-University Medical Center Tucson, Tucson, Arizona.,2Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine.,3University of Arizona Cancer Center
| | | | - Jessica L Baumann
- 5Department of Pathology, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, Tucson, Arizona.,6Now with Roche Tissue Diagnostics, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Danny G Robles
- 1Banner-University Medical Center Tucson, Tucson, Arizona.,7Department of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Tovah A Day
- 8Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts; and
| | - Cyrus Vaziri
- 9Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Aaron J Scott
- 1Banner-University Medical Center Tucson, Tucson, Arizona.,2Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine.,3University of Arizona Cancer Center
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31
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Abstract
DNA repair and DNA damage signaling pathways are critical for the maintenance of genomic stability. Defects of DNA repair and damage signaling contribute to tumorigenesis, but also render cancer cells vulnerable to DNA damage and reliant on remaining repair and signaling activities. Here, we review the major classes of DNA repair and damage signaling defects in cancer, the genomic instability that they give rise to, and therapeutic strategies to exploit the resulting vulnerabilities. Furthermore, we discuss the impacts of DNA repair defects on both targeted therapy and immunotherapy, and highlight emerging principles for targeting DNA repair defects in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Hopkins
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA
| | - Li Lan
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
| | - Lee Zou
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
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32
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Garmezy B, Gheeya J, Lin HY, Huang Y, Kim T, Jiang X, Thein KZ, Pilié PG, Zeineddine F, Wang W, Shaw KR, Rodon J, Shen JP, Yuan Y, Meric-Bernstam F, Chen K, Yap TA. Clinical and Molecular Characterization of POLE Mutations as Predictive Biomarkers of Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Advanced Cancers. JCO Precis Oncol 2022; 6:e2100267. [PMID: 35108036 PMCID: PMC8820927 DOI: 10.1200/po.21.00267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE DNA polymerase epsilon is critical to DNA proofreading and replication. Mutations in POLE have been associated with hypermutated tumors and antitumor response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. We present a clinicopathologic analysis of patients with advanced cancers harboring POLE mutations, the pattern of co-occurring mutations, and their response to ICI therapy within the context of mutation pathogenicity. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of next-generation sequencing data at MD Anderson Cancer Center to identify patient tumors with POLE mutations and their co-occurring mutations. The pathogenicity of each mutation was annotated using InterVar and ClinVar. Differences in therapeutic response to ICI, survival, and co-occurring mutations were reported by POLE pathogenicity status. RESULTS Four hundred fifty-eight patient tumors with POLE mutations were identified from 14,229 next-generation sequencing reports; 15.0% of POLE mutations were pathogenic, 15.9% benign, and 69.1% variant of unknown significance. Eighty-two patients received either programmed death 1 or programmed death ligand-1 inhibitors as monotherapy or in combination with cytotoxic T-cell lymphocyte-4 inhibitors. Patients with pathogenic POLE mutations had improved clinical benefit rate (82.4% v 30.0%; P = .013), median progression-free survival (15.1 v 2.2 months; P < .001), overall survival (29.5 v 6.8 months; P < .001), and longer treatment duration (median 15.5 v 2.5 months; P < .001) compared to those with benign variants. Progression-free survival and overall survival remained superior when adjusting for number of co-occurring mutations (≥ 10 v < 10) and/or microsatellite instability status (proficient mismatch repair v deficient mismatch repair). The number of comutations was not associated with response to ICI (clinical benefit v progressive disease: median 13 v 11 comutations; P = .18). CONCLUSION Pathogenic POLE mutations were associated with clinical benefit to ICI therapy. Further studies are warranted to validate POLE mutation as a predictive biomarker of ICI therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Garmezy
- Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Jinesh Gheeya
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Heather Y. Lin
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Yuefan Huang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Taebeom Kim
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Xianli Jiang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Kyaw Z. Thein
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I Clinical Trials Program), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Patrick G. Pilié
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Fadl Zeineddine
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Wanlin Wang
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I Clinical Trials Program), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Kenna R. Shaw
- Khalifa Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Jordi Rodon
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I Clinical Trials Program), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - John Paul Shen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Ying Yuan
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Funda Meric-Bernstam
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I Clinical Trials Program), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Khalifa Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Ken Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Timothy A. Yap
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I Clinical Trials Program), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Khalifa Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- The Institute for Applied Cancer Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
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33
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Endutkin AV, Yatsenko DD, Zharkov DO. Effect of DNA Methylation on the 3'→5' Exonuclease Activity of Major Human Abasic Site Endonuclease APEX1. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2022; 87:10-20. [PMID: 35491018 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297922010023] [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: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonucleases are the key enzymes in the DNA base excision repair, as they hydrolyze the phosphodiester bond in the AP site formed after removal of the damaged base. Major human AP endonuclease APEX1 also possesses the 3'-phosphodiesterase and 3'→5' exonuclease activities. The biological role of the latter has not been established yet; it is assumed that it corrects DNA synthesis errors during DNA repair. If DNA is damaged at the 3'-side of 5-methylcytosine (mC) residue, the 3'→5' exonuclease activity can change the epigenetic methylation status of the CpG dinucleotide. It remains unclear whether the 3'→5' exonuclease activity of APEX1 contributes to the active epigenetic demethylation or, on the contrary, is limited in the case of methylated CpG dinucleotides in order to preserve the epigenetic status upon repair of accidental DNA damage. Here, we report the results of the first systematic study on the efficiency of removal of 3'-terminal nucleotides from the substrates modeling DNA repair intermediates in the CpG dinucleotides. The best substrates for the 3'→5' exonuclease activity of APEX1 were oligonucleotides with the 3'-terminal bases non-complementary to the template, while the worst substrates contained mC. The presence of mC in the complementary strand significantly reduced the reaction rate even for the non-complementary 3'-ends. Therefore, the efficiency of the 3'→5' exonuclease reaction catalyzed by APEX1 is limited in the case of the methylated CpG dinucleotides, which likely reflects the need to preserve the epigenetic status during DNA repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton V Endutkin
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Darya D Yatsenko
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Dmitry O Zharkov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
- Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
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34
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Zhao S, Wei C, Tang H, Ding H, Han B, Chen S, Song X, Gu Q, Zhang Y, Liu W, Wang J. Elevated DNA Polymerase Delta 1 Expression Correlates With Tumor Progression and Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:736363. [PMID: 34868924 PMCID: PMC8632622 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.736363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objective Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and the DNA polymerase delta (POLD) family is significantly related to cancer prognosis. This study aimed to explore the significance of the POLD family in HCC via the DNA damage repair (DDR) pathway. Methods Data mining was conducted using bioinformatics methods. RNA sequencing and clinicopathological data were collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas, GTEx database and the Gumz Renal cohort. Statistical analyses were also performed in cancer samples (n>12,000) and the Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities (AHYMUN, n=107) cohort. Results The POLD family (POLD1-4) was identified as the most important functional component of the DDR pathway. Based on the analysis of independent cohorts, we found significantly elevated POLD expression in HCC compared with normal tissues. Second, we investigated the prognostic implication of elevated POLD1 expression in HCC and pan-cancers, revealing that increased POLD1 levels were correlated to worse prognoses for HCC patients. Additionally, we identified 11 hub proteins interacting closely with POLD proteins in base excision repair, protein-DNA complex and mismatch repair signaling pathways. Moreover, POLD1 mutation functioned as an independent biomarker to predict the benefit of targeted treatment. Importantly, POLD1 expression was associated with immune checkpoint molecules, including CD274, CD80, CD86, CTLA4, PDCD1 and TCGIT, and facilitated an immune-excluded tumor microenvironment. Additionally, we confirmed that elevated POLD1 expression was closely correlated with the aggressive progression and poor prognosis of HCC in the real-world AHYMUN cohort. Conclusion We identified a significant association between elevated POLD1 expression and poor patient survival and immune-excluded tumor microenvironment of HCC. Together, these findings indicate that POLD1 provides a valuable biomarker to guide the molecular diagnosis and development of novel targeted therapeutic strategies for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zhao
- Department of Transplantation, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Cuicui Wei
- Department of Outpatient, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Haijia Tang
- Department of Integrated Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Han Ding
- Department of Transplantation, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bing Han
- Department of Transplantation, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuxian Chen
- Department of Oncology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoling Song
- Department of General Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Gu
- Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yichi Zhang
- Department of Transplantation, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wangrui Liu
- Department of Outpatient, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China.,Department of General Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Transplantation, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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35
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Zhou ZX, Lujan SA, Burkholder AB, St. Charles J, Dahl J, Farrell CE, Williams JS, Kunkel TA. How asymmetric DNA replication achieves symmetrical fidelity. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2021; 28:1020-1028. [PMID: 34887558 PMCID: PMC8815454 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-021-00691-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Accurate DNA replication of an undamaged template depends on polymerase selectivity for matched nucleotides, exonucleolytic proofreading of mismatches, and removal of remaining mismatches via DNA mismatch repair (MMR). DNA polymerases (Pols) δ and ε have 3'-5' exonucleases into which mismatches are partitioned for excision in cis (intrinsic proofreading). Here we provide strong evidence that Pol δ can extrinsically proofread mismatches made by itself and those made by Pol ε, independently of both Pol δ's polymerization activity and MMR. Extrinsic proofreading across the genome is remarkably efficient. We report, with unprecedented accuracy, in vivo contributions of nucleotide selectivity, proofreading, and MMR to the fidelity of DNA replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We show that extrinsic proofreading by Pol δ improves and balances the fidelity of the two DNA strands. Together, we depict a comprehensive picture of how nucleotide selectivity, proofreading, and MMR cooperate to achieve high and symmetrical fidelity on the two strands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Xiong Zhou
- Genome Integrity & Structural Biology Laboratory, NIH/NIEHS, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Scott A. Lujan
- Genome Integrity & Structural Biology Laboratory, NIH/NIEHS, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Adam B. Burkholder
- Integrative Bioinformatics Support Group, NIH/NIEHS, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jordan St. Charles
- Genome Integrity & Structural Biology Laboratory, NIH/NIEHS, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Joseph Dahl
- Genome Integrity & Structural Biology Laboratory, NIH/NIEHS, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Corinne E. Farrell
- Genome Integrity & Structural Biology Laboratory, NIH/NIEHS, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jessica S. Williams
- Genome Integrity & Structural Biology Laboratory, NIH/NIEHS, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Thomas A. Kunkel
- Genome Integrity & Structural Biology Laboratory, NIH/NIEHS, DHHS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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36
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Zharkov DO, Yudkina AV, Riesebeck T, Loshchenova PS, Mostovich EA, Dianov GL. Boron-containing nucleosides as tools for boron-neutron capture therapy. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:4668-4682. [PMID: 34765286 PMCID: PMC8569357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the significant progress in cancer cure, the development of new approaches to cancer therapy is still of great importance since many deadly tumors remain untreatable. Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), proposed more than eighty years ago, is still considered a potentially advantageous approach. Irradiation of cells containing 10B isotopes with epithermal neutrons and the consequent decay of boron nuclei releases particles that deposit high energy along a very short path, inflicting heavy damage on the target cells but sparing the neighbouring tissue. Delivery and preferential accumulation of boron in cancer cells are the major obstacles that slow down the clinical use of BNCT. Since DNA damage caused by irradiation is the major reason for cell death, the incorporation of boron-containing nucleotides into the DNA of cancer cells may significantly increase the efficacy of BNCT. In this review, we discuss the current state of knowledge in the synthesis of boron-containing nucleosides and their application for BNCT with a special focus on their possible incorporation into genomic DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry O Zharkov
- Novosibirsk State University2 Pirogova Street, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
- SB RAS Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine8 Lavrentieva Avenue, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Anna V Yudkina
- Novosibirsk State University2 Pirogova Street, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
- SB RAS Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine8 Lavrentieva Avenue, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Tim Riesebeck
- Novosibirsk State University2 Pirogova Street, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Polina S Loshchenova
- Novosibirsk State University2 Pirogova Street, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
- SB RAS Institute of Cytology and Genetics10 Lavrentieva Avenue, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Evgeny A Mostovich
- Novosibirsk State University2 Pirogova Street, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Grigory L Dianov
- Novosibirsk State University2 Pirogova Street, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
- SB RAS Institute of Cytology and Genetics10 Lavrentieva Avenue, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
- Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research BuildingOxford OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom
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37
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Robinson PS, Coorens THH, Palles C, Mitchell E, Abascal F, Olafsson S, Lee BCH, Lawson ARJ, Lee-Six H, Moore L, Sanders MA, Hewinson J, Martin L, Pinna CMA, Galavotti S, Rahbari R, Campbell PJ, Martincorena I, Tomlinson I, Stratton MR. Increased somatic mutation burdens in normal human cells due to defective DNA polymerases. Nat Genet 2021; 53:1434-1442. [PMID: 34594041 PMCID: PMC8492474 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00930-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Mutation accumulation in somatic cells contributes to cancer development and is proposed as a cause of aging. DNA polymerases Pol ε and Pol δ replicate DNA during cell division. However, in some cancers, defective proofreading due to acquired POLE/POLD1 exonuclease domain mutations causes markedly elevated somatic mutation burdens with distinctive mutational signatures. Germline POLE/POLD1 mutations cause familial cancer predisposition. Here, we sequenced normal tissue and tumor DNA from individuals with germline POLE/POLD1 mutations. Increased mutation burdens with characteristic mutational signatures were found in normal adult somatic cell types, during early embryogenesis and in sperm. Thus human physiology can tolerate ubiquitously elevated mutation burdens. Except for increased cancer risk, individuals with germline POLE/POLD1 mutations do not exhibit overt features of premature aging. These results do not support a model in which all features of aging are attributable to widespread cell malfunction directly resulting from somatic mutation burdens accrued during life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip S Robinson
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Claire Palles
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | | | | | - Bernard C H Lee
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
- Hereditary Gastrointestinal Cancer Genetic Diagnosis Laboratory, Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | | | | | | | - Mathijs A Sanders
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
- Department of Haematology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Lynn Martin
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Claudia M A Pinna
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Sara Galavotti
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | | | | | - Ian Tomlinson
- Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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38
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Ying J, Yang L, Yin JC, Xia G, Xing M, Chen X, Pang J, Wu Y, Bao H, Wu X, Shao Y, Zhu L, Cheng X. Additive effects of variants of unknown significance in replication repair-associated DNA polymerase genes on mutational burden and prognosis across diverse cancers. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-002336. [PMID: 34479923 PMCID: PMC8420654 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Defects in replication repair-associated DNA polymerases often manifest an ultra-high tumor mutational burden (TMB), which is associated with higher probabilities of response to immunotherapies. The functional and clinical implications of different polymerase variants remain unclear. METHODS Targeted next-generation sequencing using a 425-cancer gene panel, which covers all exonic regions of three polymerase genes (POLE, POLD1, and POLH), was conducted in a cohort of 12,266 patients across 16 different tumor types from January 2017 to January 2019. Prognostication of POL variant-positive patients was performed using a cohort of 4679 patients from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets. RESULTS The overall prevalence of somatic and germline polymerase variants was 4.2% (95% CI 3.8% to 4.5%) and 0.7% (95% CI 0.5% to 0.8%), respectively, with highest frequencies in endometrial, urinary, prostate, and colorectal cancers (CRCs). While most germline polymerase variants showed no clear functional consequences, we identified a candidate p.T466A affecting the exonuclease domain of POLE, which might be underlying the early onset in a case with childhood CRC. Low frequencies of known hot-spot somatic mutations in POLE were detected and were associated with younger age, the male sex, and microsatellite stability. In both the panel and TCGA cohorts, POLE drivers exhibited high frequencies of alterations in genes in the DNA damage and repair (DDR) pathways, including BRCA2, ATM, MSH6, and ATR. Variants of unknown significance (VUS) of different polymerase domains showed variable penetrance with those in the exonuclease domain of POLE and POLD1 displaying high TMB. VUS in POL genes exhibited an additive effect as carriers of multiple VUS had exponentially increased TMB and prolonged overall survival. Similar to cases with driver mutations, the TMB-high POL VUS samples showed DDR pathway involvement and polymerase hypermutation signatures. Combinatorial analysis of POL and DDR pathway status further supported the potential additive effects of POL VUS and DDR pathway genes and revealed distinct prognostic subclasses that were independent of cancer type and TMB. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate the pathogenicity and additive prognostic value of POL VUS and DDR pathway gene alterations and suggest that genetic testing may be warranted in patients with diverse solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieer Ying
- Department of Abdominal Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jiani C Yin
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guojie Xia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Huzhou, Huzhou, China
| | - Minyan Xing
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Haining, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoxi Chen
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiaohui Pang
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yong Wu
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hua Bao
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xue Wu
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yang Shao
- Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lingjun Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Sir Run Run Hospital Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiangdong Cheng
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China .,Department of Gastric Surgery, Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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39
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Arbel M, Liefshitz B, Kupiec M. DNA damage bypass pathways and their effect on mutagenesis in yeast. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 45:5896953. [PMID: 32840566 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
What is the origin of mutations? In contrast to the naïve notion that mutations are unfortunate accidents, genetic research in microorganisms has demonstrated that most mutations are created by genetically encoded error-prone repair mechanisms. However, error-free repair pathways also exist, and it is still unclear how cells decide when to use one repair method or the other. Here, we summarize what is known about the DNA damage tolerance mechanisms (also known as post-replication repair) for perhaps the best-studied organism, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We describe the latest research, which has established the existence of at least two error-free and two error-prone inter-related mechanisms of damage tolerance that compete for the handling of spontaneous DNA damage. We explore what is known about the induction of mutations by DNA damage. We point to potential paradoxes and to open questions that still remain unanswered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matan Arbel
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Batia Liefshitz
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Martin Kupiec
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel
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40
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Soriano I, Vazquez E, De Leon N, Bertrand S, Heitzer E, Toumazou S, Bo Z, Palles C, Pai CC, Humphrey TC, Tomlinson I, Cotterill S, Kearsey SE. Expression of the cancer-associated DNA polymerase ε P286R in fission yeast leads to translesion synthesis polymerase dependent hypermutation and defective DNA replication. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009526. [PMID: 34228709 PMCID: PMC8284607 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatic and germline mutations in the proofreading domain of the replicative DNA polymerase ε (POLE-exonuclease domain mutations, POLE-EDMs) are frequently found in colorectal and endometrial cancers and, occasionally, in other tumours. POLE-associated cancers typically display hypermutation, and a unique mutational signature, with a predominance of C > A transversions in the context TCT and C > T transitions in the context TCG. To understand better the contribution of hypermutagenesis to tumour development, we have modelled the most recurrent POLE-EDM (POLE-P286R) in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Whole-genome sequencing analysis revealed that the corresponding pol2-P287R allele also has a strong mutator effect in vivo, with a high frequency of base substitutions and relatively few indel mutations. The mutations are equally distributed across different genomic regions, but in the immediate vicinity there is an asymmetry in AT frequency. The most abundant base-pair changes are TCT > TAT transversions and, in contrast to human mutations, TCG > TTG transitions are not elevated, likely due to the absence of cytosine methylation in fission yeast. The pol2-P287R variant has an increased sensitivity to elevated dNTP levels and DNA damaging agents, and shows reduced viability on depletion of the Pfh1 helicase. In addition, S phase is aberrant and RPA foci are elevated, suggestive of ssDNA or DNA damage, and the pol2-P287R mutation is synthetically lethal with rad3 inactivation, indicative of checkpoint activation. Significantly, deletion of genes encoding some translesion synthesis polymerases, most notably Pol κ, partially suppresses pol2-P287R hypermutation, indicating that polymerase switching contributes to this phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Soriano
- ZRAB, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Enrique Vazquez
- Genomics Unit, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Nagore De Leon
- ZRAB, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ellen Heitzer
- Institute of Human Genetics, Diagnostic & Research Center for Molecular BioMedicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Sophia Toumazou
- ZRAB, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Zhihan Bo
- ZRAB, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Palles
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Chen-Chun Pai
- MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy C. Humphrey
- MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Tomlinson
- Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sue Cotterill
- St. George’s, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, Tooting, London, United Kingdom
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Díaz-Gay M, Alexandrov LB. Unraveling the genomic landscape of colorectal cancer through mutational signatures. Adv Cancer Res 2021; 151:385-424. [PMID: 34148618 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2021.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer, along with most other cancer types, is driven by somatic mutations. Characteristic patterns of somatic mutations, known as mutational signatures, arise as a result of the activities of different mutational processes. Mutational signatures have diverse origins, including exogenous and endogenous sources. In the case of colorectal cancer, the analysis of mutational signatures has elucidated specific signatures for classically associated DNA repair deficiencies, namely mismatch repair (leading to microsatellite instability), base excision repair (due to MUTYH or NTHL1 mutations), and polymerase proofreading (due to POLE and POLD1 exonuclease domain mutations). Additional signatures also play a role in colorectal cancer, including those related to normal aging and those associated with gut microbiota, as well as a number of signatures with unknown etiologies. This chapter provides an overview of the current knowledge of mutational signatures, with a focus on colorectal cancer and on the recently reported signatures in physiologically normal and inflammatory bowel disease-affected somatic colon tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Díaz-Gay
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Department of Bioengineering, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Ludmil B Alexandrov
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Department of Bioengineering, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States; Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.
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Wisdom AJ, Kirsch DG. Dissecting the Functional Significance of DNA Polymerase Mutations in Cancer. Cancer Res 2021; 80:5459-5461. [PMID: 33323408 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-3241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
DNA polymerase mutations can cause hypermutant cancers, but the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and the impact of various DNA polymerase mutations on treatment response is poorly understood. In this issue of Cancer Research, Galati and colleagues investigate the effects of cancer-associated DNA polymerase ϵ (Pole) mutations on tumorigenesis and response to immune checkpoint blockade. They describe novel genetically engineered mouse models harboring cancer-associated Pole mutations and examine the effects of these mutations on tumorigenesis, the tumor mutational landscape, and the tumor immune microenvironment. Integrating this information with an emerging understanding of how different tumor mutations influence the response to immunotherapy may aid in prediction, diagnosis, and treatment of Pole-mutant tumors.See related article by Galati et al., p. 5606.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy J Wisdom
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - David G Kirsch
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. .,Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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Fuchs J, Cheblal A, Gasser SM. Underappreciated Roles of DNA Polymerase δ in Replication Stress Survival. Trends Genet 2021; 37:476-487. [PMID: 33608117 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent structural analysis of Fe-S centers in replication proteins and insights into the structure and function of DNA polymerase δ (DNA Pol δ) subunits have shed light on the key role played by this polymerase at replication forks under stress. The sequencing of cancer genomes reveals multiple point mutations that compromise the activity of POLD1, the DNA Pol δ catalytic subunit, whereas the loci encoding the accessory subunits POLD2 and POLD3 are amplified in a very high proportion of human tumors. Consistently, DNA Pol δ is key for the survival of replication stress and is involved in multiple long-patch repair pathways. Synthetic lethality arises from compromising the function and availability of the noncatalytic subunits of DNA Pol δ under conditions of replication stress, opening the door to novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeannette Fuchs
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anais Cheblal
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 90, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Susan M Gasser
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 90, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
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Alvarado-Cruz I, Meas R, Paluri SLA, Carufe KEW, Khan M, Sweasy JB. The double-edged sword of cancer mutations: exploiting neoepitopes for the fight against cancer. Mutagenesis 2021; 35:69-78. [PMID: 31880305 DOI: 10.1093/mutage/gez049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Defects in DNA repair have been linked to the accumulation of somatic mutations in tumours. These mutations can promote oncogenesis; however, recent developments have indicated that they may also lead to a targeted immune response against the tumour. This response is initiated by the development of new antigenic epitopes (neoepitopes) arising from mutations in protein-coding genes that are processed and then presented on the surface of tumour cells. These neoepitopes are unique to the tumour, thus enabling lymphocytes to launch an immune response against the cancer cells. Immunotherapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) and tumour-derived vaccines, have been shown to enhance the immunogenic response to cancers and have led to complete remission in some cancer patients. There are tumours that are not responsive to immunotherapy or conventional tumour therapeutics; therefore, there is a push for new treatments to combat these unresponsive cancers. Recently, combinatorial treatments have been developed to further utilise the immune system in the fight against cancer. These treatments have the potential to exploit the defects in DNA repair by inducing more DNA damage and mutations. This can potentially lead to the expression of high levels of neoepitopes on the surface of tumour cells that will stimulate an immunological response. Overall, exploiting DNA repair defects in tumours may provide an edge in this long fight against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rithy Meas
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | | | - Mohammed Khan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UA College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
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He J, Ouyang W, Zhao W, Shao L, Li B, Liu B, Wang D, Han-Zhang H, Zhang Z, Shao L, Li W. Distinctive genomic characteristics in POLE/POLD1-mutant cancers can potentially predict beneficial clinical outcomes in patients who receive immune checkpoint inhibitor. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:129. [PMID: 33569431 PMCID: PMC7867935 DOI: 10.21037/atm-20-7553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background Mutations in POLE /POLD1 proofreading domain can cause deficiencies in DNA repair, conferring ultramutated cancer phenotypes. Preliminary clinical studies have revealed an association between POLE/POLD1 mutations and beneficial clinical outcomes to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy This study aims to investigate the genomic characteristics of POLE/POLD-mutant tumors and the prognostic value of POLE/POLD mutation for ICI treatment. Methods Genomic data of 21,074 patients with 23 cancer types were retrieved from Burning Rock variant database (BR VarDB). The prevalence and spectra of POLE and POLD1 mutations were assessed and compared with that in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) samples. The correlations of POLE/POLD1 mutation with tumor mutational burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI) were investigated. The prognostic value of POLE/POLD1 mutations was also explored in 2,487 ICI-treated patients from published studies. Results BR VarDB samples displayed a similar mutational prevalence of POLE (3.2% vs. 3.2%) and POLD1 (1.4% vs. 1.6%, P=0.248) versusTCGA samples, but a slightly lower frequency of POLE and POLD1 co-mutations (0.21% vs. 0.43%, P<0.001). POLE/POLD1-mutant tumors harbored increased TCT→TAT and TCG→TTG transversions, and genomic signatures associated with DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency and ultra-hypermuation. Furthermore, tumors with POLE/POLD1 proofreading mutation showed a significantly higher TMB than tumors with non-proofreading mutations (P<0.01), although both possessed a higher TMB than POLE/POLD1 wild-type (WT) tumors (P<0.0001 and P<0.0001, respectively). MSI was commonly observed in tumors harboring dominant clone of POLE/POLD1 mutation (10.2%), but occurred rarely in POLE/POLD1 WT tumors (0.5%) and tumors with accumulating sub-cloned POLE/POLD1 mutation (0%). Survival analysis revealed that POLE/POLD1 mutation was not independently correlated with longer survival after adjusting for TMB and other factors (HR =0.86, P=0.372). However, patients harboring POLE/POLD1 mutation demonstrated a higher response rate than patients with POLE/ POLD1 WT tumors (35.2% vs. 19.6%, P=0.0165). Conclusions We delineated distinctive genomic characteristics in POLE/POLD1-mutant tumors, suggesting the potential predictive role of POLE/POLD1 mutations, especially those in the proofreading domain, for beneficial outcomes of immunotherapy. Our results also suggest that MSI caused by a loss-of-function mutation in the MMR pathway tends to result from POLE/POLD1 proofreading deficiency in POLE/POLD1-mutant tumors with MSI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjun He
- Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease Research of Zhejiang Province, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Ouyang
- Department of Oncology, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Zhuzhou, China
| | - Wugan Zhao
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lin Shao
- Burning Rock Biotech, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bing Li
- Burning Rock Biotech, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bihao Liu
- Department of Urology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dejuan Wang
- Department of Urology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | | | | | - Wencai Li
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Galati MA, Hodel KP, Gams MS, Sudhaman S, Bridge T, Zahurancik WJ, Ungerleider NA, Park VS, Ercan AB, Joksimovic L, Siddiqui I, Siddaway R, Edwards M, de Borja R, Elshaer D, Chung J, Forster VJ, Nunes NM, Aronson M, Wang X, Ramdas J, Seeley A, Sarosiek T, Dunn GP, Byrd JN, Mordechai O, Durno C, Martin A, Shlien A, Bouffet E, Suo Z, Jackson JG, Hawkins CE, Guidos CJ, Pursell ZF, Tabori U. Cancers from Novel Pole-Mutant Mouse Models Provide Insights into Polymerase-Mediated Hypermutagenesis and Immune Checkpoint Blockade. Cancer Res 2020; 80:5606-5618. [PMID: 32938641 PMCID: PMC8218238 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-0624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
POLE mutations are a major cause of hypermutant cancers, yet questions remain regarding mechanisms of tumorigenesis, genotype-phenotype correlation, and therapeutic considerations. In this study, we establish mouse models harboring cancer-associated POLE mutations P286R and S459F, which cause rapid albeit distinct time to cancer initiation in vivo, independent of their exonuclease activity. Mouse and human correlates enabled novel stratification of POLE mutations into three groups based on clinical phenotype and mutagenicity. Cancers driven by these mutations displayed striking resemblance to the human ultrahypermutation and specific signatures. Furthermore, Pole-driven cancers exhibited a continuous and stochastic mutagenesis mechanism, resulting in intertumoral and intratumoral heterogeneity. Checkpoint blockade did not prevent Pole lymphomas, but rather likely promoted lymphomagenesis as observed in humans. These observations provide insights into the carcinogenesis of POLE-driven tumors and valuable information for genetic counseling, surveillance, and immunotherapy for patients. SIGNIFICANCE: Two mouse models of polymerase exonuclease deficiency shed light on mechanisms of mutation accumulation and considerations for immunotherapy.See related commentary by Wisdom and Kirsch p. 5459.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A Galati
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karl P Hodel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Miki S Gams
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sumedha Sudhaman
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Taylor Bridge
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Walter J Zahurancik
- The Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Nathan A Ungerleider
- Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Vivian S Park
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Ayse B Ercan
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lazar Joksimovic
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Iram Siddiqui
- Department of Pediatric Laboratory Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert Siddaway
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melissa Edwards
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard de Borja
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dana Elshaer
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jiil Chung
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Victoria J Forster
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nuno M Nunes
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melyssa Aronson
- The Familial Gastrointestinal Cancer Registry at the Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Disease, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xia Wang
- H Lee Moffitt Cancer Centre and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jagadeesh Ramdas
- Department of Pediatrics, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania
| | - Andrea Seeley
- Department of Pediatrics, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Gavin P Dunn
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Jonathan N Byrd
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Oz Mordechai
- Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Carol Durno
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alberto Martin
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adam Shlien
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric Bouffet
- Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zucai Suo
- The Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - James G Jackson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Cynthia E Hawkins
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Program in Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatric Laboratory Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cynthia J Guidos
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zachary F Pursell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Uri Tabori
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Rousseau B, Vidal J, Diaz LA. Evaluation of POLE/POLD1 Variants as Potential Biomarkers for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment Outcomes. JAMA Oncol 2020; 6:589-590. [PMID: 32134429 DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.0065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Benoît Rousseau
- Department of Medicine, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Joana Vidal
- Department of Medicine, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luis A Diaz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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Reha-Krantz LJ, Goodman MF. John W. (Jan) Drake: A Biochemical View of a Geneticist Par Excellence. Genetics 2020; 216:827-836. [PMID: 33268388 PMCID: PMC7768258 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.120.303813] [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: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
John W. Drake died 02-02-2020, a mathematical palindrome, which he would have enjoyed, given his love of "word play and logic," as stated in his obituary and echoed by his family, friends, students, and colleagues. Many aspects of Jan's career have been reviewed previously, including his early years as a Caltech graduate student, and when he was editor-in-chief, with the devoted assistance of his wife Pam, of this journal for 15 impactful years. During his editorship, he raised the profile of GENETICS as the flagship journal of the Genetics Society of America and inspired and contributed to the creation of the Perspectives column, coedited by Jim Crow and William Dove. At the same time, Jan was building from scratch the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics on the newly established Research Triangle Park campus of the National Institute of Environmental Health Science, which he headed for 30 years. This commentary offers a unique perspective on Jan's legacy; we showcase Jan's 1969 benchmark discovery of antimutagenic T4 DNA polymerases and the research by three generations (and counting) of scientists whose research stems from that groundbreaking discovery. This is followed by a brief discussion of Jan's passion: his overriding interest in analyzing mutation rates across species. Several anecdotal stories are included to bring alive one of Jan's favorite phrases, "to think like a geneticist." We feature Jan's genetical approach to mutation studies, along with the biochemistry of DNA polymerase function, our area of expertise. But in the end, we acknowledge, as Jan did, that genetics, also known as in vivo biochemistry, prevails.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda J Reha-Krantz
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Myron F Goodman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089
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Pavlov YI, Zhuk AS, Stepchenkova EI. DNA Polymerases at the Eukaryotic Replication Fork Thirty Years after: Connection to Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E3489. [PMID: 33255191 PMCID: PMC7760166 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies on tumor genomes revealed that mutations in genes of replicative DNA polymerases cause a predisposition for cancer by increasing genome instability. The past 10 years have uncovered exciting details about the structure and function of replicative DNA polymerases and the replication fork organization. The principal idea of participation of different polymerases in specific transactions at the fork proposed by Morrison and coauthors 30 years ago and later named "division of labor," remains standing, with an amendment of the broader role of polymerase δ in the replication of both the lagging and leading DNA strands. However, cancer-associated mutations predominantly affect the catalytic subunit of polymerase ε that participates in leading strand DNA synthesis. We analyze how new findings in the DNA replication field help elucidate the polymerase variants' effects on cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youri I. Pavlov
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases and Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Saint-Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Anna S. Zhuk
- International Laboratory of Computer Technologies, ITMO University, 197101 Saint Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Elena I. Stepchenkova
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Saint-Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia;
- Laboratory of Mutagenesis and Genetic Toxicology, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Saint-Petersburg Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia
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50
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Bulock CR, Xing X, Shcherbakova PV. Mismatch repair and DNA polymerase δ proofreading prevent catastrophic accumulation of leading strand errors in cells expressing a cancer-associated DNA polymerase ϵ variant. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:9124-9134. [PMID: 32756902 PMCID: PMC7498342 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Substitutions in the exonuclease domain of DNA polymerase ϵ cause ultramutated human tumors. Yeast and mouse mimics of the most common variant, P286R, produce mutator effects far exceeding the effect of Polϵ exonuclease deficiency. Yeast Polϵ-P301R has increased DNA polymerase activity, which could underlie its high mutagenicity. We aimed to understand the impact of this increased activity on the strand-specific role of Polϵ in DNA replication and the action of extrinsic correction systems that remove Polϵ errors. Using mutagenesis reporters spanning a well-defined replicon, we show that both exonuclease-deficient Polϵ (Polϵ-exo−) and Polϵ-P301R generate mutations in a strictly strand-specific manner, yet Polϵ-P301R is at least ten times more mutagenic than Polϵ-exo− at each location analyzed. Thus, the cancer variant remains a dedicated leading-strand polymerase with markedly low accuracy. We further show that P301R substitution is lethal in strains lacking Polδ proofreading or mismatch repair (MMR). Heterozygosity for pol2-P301R is compatible with either defect but causes strong synergistic increases in the mutation rate, indicating that Polϵ-P301R errors are corrected by Polδ proofreading and MMR. These data reveal the unexpected ease with which polymerase exchange occurs in vivo, allowing Polδ exonuclease to prevent catastrophic accumulation of Polϵ-P301R-generated errors on the leading strand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea R Bulock
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Xuanxuan Xing
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Polina V Shcherbakova
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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