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Volegova MP, Brown LE, Banerjee U, Dries R, Sharma B, Kennedy A, Porco JA, George RE. The MYCN 5' UTR as a therapeutic target in neuroblastoma. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114134. [PMID: 38662542 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor MYCN amplification is seen in high-risk neuroblastoma, yet direct targeting of this oncogenic transcription factor has been challenging. Here, we take advantage of the dependence of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cells on increased protein synthesis to inhibit the activity of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A1 (eIF4A1) using an amidino-rocaglate, CMLD012824. Consistent with the role of this RNA helicase in resolving structural barriers in 5' untranslated regions (UTRs), CMLD012824 increased eIF4A1 affinity for polypurine-rich 5' UTRs, including that of the MYCN and associated transcripts with critical roles in cell proliferation. CMLD012824-mediated clamping of eIF4A1 spanned the full lengths of mRNAs, while translational inhibition was mediated through 5' UTR binding in a cap-dependent and -independent manner. Finally, CMLD012824 led to growth inhibition in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma models without generalized toxicity. Our studies highlight the key role of eIF4A1 in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma and demonstrate the therapeutic potential of disrupting its function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina P Volegova
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lauren E Brown
- Boston University, Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston, MA, USA; Boston University, Department of Chemistry, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ushashi Banerjee
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ruben Dries
- Boston University School of Medicine, Computational Biomedicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bandana Sharma
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Alyssa Kennedy
- Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John A Porco
- Boston University, Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston, MA, USA; Boston University, Department of Chemistry, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rani E George
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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2
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Vercouillie N, Ren Z, Terras E, Lammens T. Long Non-Coding RNAs in Neuroblastoma: Pathogenesis, Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5690. [PMID: 38891878 PMCID: PMC11171840 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115690] [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: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is the most common malignant extracranial solid tumor of childhood. Recent studies involving the application of advanced high-throughput "omics" techniques have revealed numerous genomic alterations, including aberrant coding-gene transcript levels and dysfunctional pathways, that drive the onset, growth, progression, and treatment resistance of neuroblastoma. Research conducted in the past decade has shown that long non-coding RNAs, once thought to be transcriptomic noise, play key roles in cancer development. With the recent and continuing increase in the amount of evidence for the underlying roles of long non-coding RNAs in neuroblastoma, the potential clinical implications of these RNAs cannot be ignored. In this review, we discuss their biological mechanisms of action in the context of the central driving mechanisms of neuroblastoma, focusing on potential contributions to the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of this disease. We also aim to provide a clear, integrated picture of future research opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Vercouillie
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.); (Z.R.); (E.T.)
| | - Zhiyao Ren
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.); (Z.R.); (E.T.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eva Terras
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.); (Z.R.); (E.T.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tim Lammens
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.); (Z.R.); (E.T.)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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3
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Zhao M, Shu Y, Gu W, Tang H, Mao J. Author(s)' Reply: Is MYCN Overexpression Associated With Poor Outcome in MYCN Non-Amplified Neuroblastomas? Pediatr Dev Pathol 2024; 27:284-285. [PMID: 38360532 DOI: 10.1177/10935266231221898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Manli Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yan Shu
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weizhong Gu
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hongfeng Tang
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianhua Mao
- Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Hu X, Zhou Y, Hill C, Chen K, Cheng C, Liu X, Duan P, Gu Y, Wu Y, Ewing RM, Li Z, Wu Z, Wang Y. Identification of MYCN non-amplified neuroblastoma subgroups points towards molecular signatures for precision prognosis and therapy stratification. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:1841-1854. [PMID: 38553589 PMCID: PMC7616008 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02666-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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the extensive study of MYCN-amplified neuroblastomas, there is a significant unmet clinical need in MYCN non-amplified cases. In particular, the extent of heterogeneity within the MYCN non-amplified population is unknown. METHODS A total of 1566 samples from 16 datasets were identified in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and ArrayExpress. Characterisation of the subtypes was analysed by ConsensusClusterPlus. Independent predictors for subgrouping were constructed from the single sample predictor based on the multiclassPairs package. Findings were verified using immunohistochemistry and CIBERSORTx analysis. RESULTS We demonstrate that MYCN non-amplified neuroblastomas are heterogeneous and can be classified into 3 subgroups based on their transcriptional signatures. Within these groups, subgroup_2 has the worst prognosis and this group shows a 'MYCN' signature that is potentially induced by the overexpression of Aurora Kinase A (AURKA); whilst subgroup_3 is characterised by an 'inflamed' gene signature. The clinical implications of this subtype classification are significant, as each subtype demonstrates a unique prognosis and vulnerability to investigational therapies. A total of 420 genes were identified as independent subgroup predictors with average balanced accuracy of 0.93 and 0.84 for train and test datasets, respectively. CONCLUSION We propose that transcriptional subtyping may enhance precision prognosis and therapy stratification for patients with MYCN non-amplified neuroblastomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Hu
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Paediatric Research, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yilu Zhou
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Charlotte Hill
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Paediatric Research, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Cheng Cheng
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Paediatric Research, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xiaowei Liu
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Paediatric Research, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Peiwen Duan
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Paediatric Research, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yaoyao Gu
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Paediatric Research, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yeming Wu
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Paediatric Research, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215003, China
| | - Rob M Ewing
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Zhongrong Li
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Zhixiang Wu
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Paediatric Research, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215003, China.
| | - Yihua Wang
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
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Qin X, Lam A, Zhang X, Sengupta S, Iorgulescu JB, Ni H, Das S, Rager M, Zhou Z, Zuo T, Meara GK, Floru AE, Kemet C, Veerapaneni D, Kashy D, Lin L, Lloyd K, Kwok L, Smith KS, Nagaraju RT, Meijers R, Ceol C, Liu CT, Alexandrescu S, Wu CJ, Keskin DB, George RE, Feng H. CKLF instigates a "cold" microenvironment to promote MYCN-mediated tumor aggressiveness. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadh9547. [PMID: 38489372 PMCID: PMC10942121 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh9547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Solid tumors, especially those with aberrant MYCN activation, often harbor an immunosuppressive microenvironment to fuel malignant growth and trigger treatment resistance. Despite this knowledge, there are no effective strategies to tackle this problem. We found that chemokine-like factor (CKLF) is highly expressed by various solid tumor cells and transcriptionally up-regulated by MYCN. Using the MYCN-driven high-risk neuroblastoma as a model system, we demonstrated that as early as the premalignant stage, tumor cells secrete CKLF to attract CCR4-expressing CD4+ cells, inducing immunosuppression and tumor aggression. Genetic depletion of CD4+ T regulatory cells abolishes the immunorestrictive and protumorigenic effects of CKLF. Our work supports that disrupting CKLF-mediated cross-talk between tumor and CD4+ suppressor cells represents a promising immunotherapeutic approach to battling MYCN-driven tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodan Qin
- Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrew Lam
- Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xu Zhang
- Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Satyaki Sengupta
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - J. Bryan Iorgulescu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Department of Hematopathology, Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hongru Ni
- Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sanjukta Das
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubanesw, India
| | - Madison Rager
- Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhenwei Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tao Zuo
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Grace K. Meara
- Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexander E. Floru
- Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chinyere Kemet
- Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Divya Veerapaneni
- Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel Kashy
- Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liang Lin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Lauren Kwok
- Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kaylee S. Smith
- Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Raghavendar T. Nagaraju
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Colorectal and Peritoneal Oncology Centre, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Rob Meijers
- Institute for Protein Innovation, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Craig Ceol
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ching-Ti Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sanda Alexandrescu
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Catherine J. Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Derin B. Keskin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Translational Immunogenomics Laboratory, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Computer Science, Metropolitan College, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Rani E. George
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hui Feng
- Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics and Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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Liu Z, Zhang X, Xu M, Hong JJ, Ciardiello A, Lei H, Shern JF, Thiele CJ. MYCN drives oncogenesis by cooperating with the histone methyltransferase G9a and the WDR5 adaptor to orchestrate global gene transcription. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002240. [PMID: 38547242 PMCID: PMC11003700 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002240] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
MYCN activates canonical MYC targets involved in ribosome biogenesis, protein synthesis, and represses neuronal differentiation genes to drive oncogenesis in neuroblastoma (NB). How MYCN orchestrates global gene expression remains incompletely understood. Our study finds that MYCN binds promoters to up-regulate canonical MYC targets but binds to both enhancers and promoters to repress differentiation genes. MYCN binding also increases H3K4me3 and H3K27ac on canonical MYC target promoters and decreases H3K27ac on neuronal differentiation gene enhancers and promoters. WDR5 facilitates MYCN promoter binding to activate canonical MYC target genes, whereas MYCN recruits G9a to enhancers to repress neuronal differentiation genes. Targeting both MYCN's active and repressive transcriptional activities using both WDR5 and G9a inhibitors synergistically suppresses NB growth. We demonstrate that MYCN cooperates with WDR5 and G9a to orchestrate global gene transcription. The targeting of both these cofactors is a novel therapeutic strategy to indirectly target the oncogenic activity of MYCN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Liu
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Xiyuan Zhang
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Man Xu
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jason J. Hong
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Amanda Ciardiello
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Haiyan Lei
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jack F. Shern
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Carol J. Thiele
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
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7
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Pouliou M, Koutsi MA, Champezou L, Giannopoulou AI, Vatsellas G, Piperi C, Agelopoulos M. MYCN Amplifications and Metabolic Rewiring in Neuroblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4803. [PMID: 37835497 PMCID: PMC10571721 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a disease caused by (epi)genomic and gene expression abnormalities and characterized by metabolic phenotypes that are substantially different from the normal phenotypes of the tissues of origin. Metabolic reprogramming is one of the key features of tumors, including those established in the human nervous system. In this work, we emphasize a well-known cancerous genomic alteration: the amplification of MYCN and its downstream effects in neuroblastoma phenotype evolution. Herein, we extend our previous computational biology investigations by conducting an integrative workflow applied to published genomics datasets and comprehensively assess the impact of MYCN amplification in the upregulation of metabolism-related transcription factor (TF)-encoding genes in neuroblastoma cells. The results obtained first emphasized overexpressed TFs, and subsequently those committed in metabolic cellular processes, as validated by gene ontology analyses (GOs) and literature curation. Several genes encoding for those TFs were investigated at the mechanistic and regulatory levels by conducting further omics-based computational biology assessments applied on published ChIP-seq datasets retrieved from MYCN-amplified- and MYCN-enforced-overexpression within in vivo systems of study. Hence, we approached the mechanistic interrelationship between amplified MYCN and overexpression of metabolism-related TFs in neuroblastoma and showed that many are direct targets of MYCN in an amplification-inducible fashion. These results illuminate how MYCN executes its regulatory underpinnings on metabolic processes in neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialena Pouliou
- Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Ephessiou St., 11527 Athens, Greece; (M.P.); (M.A.K.); (L.C.); (G.V.)
| | - Marianna A. Koutsi
- Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Ephessiou St., 11527 Athens, Greece; (M.P.); (M.A.K.); (L.C.); (G.V.)
| | - Lydia Champezou
- Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Ephessiou St., 11527 Athens, Greece; (M.P.); (M.A.K.); (L.C.); (G.V.)
| | - Angeliki-Ioanna Giannopoulou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 M. Asias Street Bldg 16, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Giannis Vatsellas
- Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Ephessiou St., 11527 Athens, Greece; (M.P.); (M.A.K.); (L.C.); (G.V.)
| | - Christina Piperi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 M. Asias Street Bldg 16, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Marios Agelopoulos
- Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 4 Soranou Ephessiou St., 11527 Athens, Greece; (M.P.); (M.A.K.); (L.C.); (G.V.)
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8
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Yuan Y, Alzrigat M, Rodriguez-Garcia A, Wang X, Bexelius TS, Johnsen JI, Arsenian-Henriksson M, Liaño-Pons J, Bedoya-Reina OC. Target Genes of c-MYC and MYCN with Prognostic Power in Neuroblastoma Exhibit Different Expressions during Sympathoadrenal Development. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4599. [PMID: 37760568 PMCID: PMC10527308 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15184599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of the MYC family of transcription factors c-MYC (encoded by MYC), MYCN, and MYCL is prevalent in most human cancers, with an impact on tumor initiation and progression, as well as response to therapy. In neuroblastoma (NB), amplification of the MYCN oncogene and over-expression of MYC characterize approximately 40% and 10% of all high-risk NB cases, respectively. However, the mechanism and stage of neural crest development in which MYCN and c-MYC contribute to the onset and/or progression of NB are not yet fully understood. Here, we hypothesized that subtle differences in the expression of MYCN and/or c-MYC targets could more accurately stratify NB patients in different risk groups rather than using the expression of either MYC gene alone. We employed an integrative approach using the transcriptome of 498 NB patients from the SEQC cohort and previously defined c-MYC and MYCN target genes to model a multigene transcriptional risk score. Our findings demonstrate that defined sets of c-MYC and MYCN targets with significant prognostic value, effectively stratify NB patients into different groups with varying overall survival probabilities. In particular, patients exhibiting a high-risk signature score present unfavorable clinical parameters, including increased clinical risk, higher INSS stage, MYCN amplification, and disease progression. Notably, target genes with prognostic value differ between c-MYC and MYCN, exhibiting distinct expression patterns in the developing sympathoadrenal system. Genes associated with poor outcomes are mainly found in sympathoblasts rather than in chromaffin cells during the sympathoadrenal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Yuan
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mohammad Alzrigat
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Aida Rodriguez-Garcia
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xueyao Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tomas Sjöberg Bexelius
- Paediatric Oncology Unit, Astrid Lindgren’s Children Hospital, SE-171 64 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John Inge Johnsen
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marie Arsenian-Henriksson
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Judit Liaño-Pons
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Oscar C. Bedoya-Reina
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
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9
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Ataei A, Tahsili M, Hayadokht G, Daneshvar M, Mohammadi Nour S, Soofi A, Masoudi A, Kabiri M, Natami M. Targeting long noncoding RNAs in neuroblastoma: Progress and prospects. Chem Biol Drug Des 2023; 102:640-652. [PMID: 37291742 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14263] [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: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is the third most prevalent tumor that mostly influences infants and young children. Although different treatments have been developed for the treatment of NB, high-risk patients have been reported to have low survival rates. Currently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have shown an attractive potential in cancer research and a party of investigations have been performed to understand mechanisms underlying tumor development through lncRNA dysregulation. Researchers have just newly initiated to exhibit the involvement of lncRNAs in NB pathogenesis. In this review article, we tried to clarify the point we stand with respect to the involvement of lncRNAs in NB. Moreover, implications for the pathologic roles of lncRNAs in the development of NB have been discussed. It seems that some of these lncRNAs have promising potential to be applied as biomarkers for NB prognosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ataei
- School of Medicine, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam, Iran
| | | | - Golsa Hayadokht
- School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | | | | | - Asma Soofi
- Department of Physical Chemistry, School of Chemistry, College of Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Masoudi
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Alied Medical Sciences, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
| | - Maryam Kabiri
- Faculty of Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Natami
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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10
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Xu H, Xiao L, Chen Y, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Gao Y, Man S, Yan N, Zhang M. Effect of CDK7 inhibitor on MYCN-amplified retinoblastoma. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2023; 1866:194964. [PMID: 37536559 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2023.194964] [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: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Retinoblastoma (RB) is a common malignancy that primarily affects pediatric populations. Although a well-known cause of RB is RB1 mutation, MYCN amplification can also lead to the disease, which is a poor prognosis factor. Studies conducted in various tumor types have shown that MYCN inhibition is an effective approach to impede tumor growth. Various indirect approaches have been developed to overcome the difficulty of directly targeting MYCN, such as modulating the super enhancer (SE) upstream of MYCN. The drug used in this study to treat MYCN-amplified RB was THZ1, a CDK7 inhibitor that can effectively suppress transcription by interfering with the activity of SEs. The study findings confirmed the anticancer activity of THZ1 against RB in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Therapy with THZ1 was found to affect numerous genes in RB according to the RNA-seq analysis. Moreover, the gene expression changes induced by THZ1 treatment were enriched in ribosome, endocytosis, cell cycle, apoptosis, etc. Furthermore, the combined analysis of ChIP-Seq and RNA-seq data suggested a potential role of SEs in regulating the expression of critical transcription factors, such as MYCN, OTX2, and SOX4. Moreover, ChIP-qPCR experiments were conducted to confirm the interaction between MYCN and SEs. In conclusion, THZ1 caused substantial changes in gene transcription in RB, resulting in inhibited cell proliferation, interference with the cell cycle, and increased apoptosis. The efficacy of THZ1 is positively correlated with the degree of MYCN amplification and is likely exerted by interfering with MYCN upstream SEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanyue Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China; Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Lirong Xiao
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China; Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Yilin Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Yifan Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Yuzhu Gao
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Shulei Man
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Naihong Yan
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
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11
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Liu Z, Zhang X, Xu M, Hong JJ, Ciardiello A, Lei H, Shern JF, Thiele CJ. MYCN driven oncogenesis involves cooperation with WDR5 to activate canonical MYC targets and G9a to repress differentiation genes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.11.548643. [PMID: 37781575 PMCID: PMC10541123 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.11.548643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
MYCN activates canonical MYC targets involved in ribosome biogenesis, protein synthesis and represses neuronal differentiation genes to drive oncogenesis in neuroblastoma (NB). How MYCN orchestrates global gene expression remains incompletely understood. Our study finds that MYCN binds promoters to up-regulate canonical MYC targets but binds to both enhancers and promoters to repress differentiation genes. MYCN-binding also increases H3K4me3 and H3K27ac on canonical MYC target promoters and decreases H3K27ac on neuronal differentiation gene enhancers and promoters. WDR5 is needed to facilitate MYCN promoter binding to activate canonical MYC target genes, whereas MYCN recruits G9a to enhancers to repress neuronal differentiation genes. Targeting both MYCN's active and repressive transcriptional activities using both WDR5 and G9a inhibitors synergistically suppresses NB growth. We demonstrate that MYCN cooperates with WDR5 and G9a to orchestrate global gene transcription. The targeting of both these cofactors is a novel therapeutic strategy to indirectly target the oncogenic activity of MYCN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Liu
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Xiyuan Zhang
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Man Xu
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jason J. Hong
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Amanda Ciardiello
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Haiyan Lei
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jack F. Shern
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Carol J. Thiele
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
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12
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Fuchs S, Danßmann C, Klironomos F, Winkler A, Fallmann J, Kruetzfeldt LM, Szymansky A, Naderi J, Bernhart SH, Grunewald L, Helmsauer K, Rodriguez-Fos E, Kirchner M, Mertins P, Astrahantseff K, Suenkel C, Toedling J, Meggetto F, Remke M, Stadler PF, Hundsdoerfer P, Deubzer HE, Künkele A, Lang P, Fuchs J, Henssen AG, Eggert A, Rajewsky N, Hertwig F, Schulte JH. Defining the landscape of circular RNAs in neuroblastoma unveils a global suppressive function of MYCN. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3936. [PMID: 37402719 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38747-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a regulatory RNA class. While cancer-driving functions have been identified for single circRNAs, how they modulate gene expression in cancer is not well understood. We investigate circRNA expression in the pediatric malignancy, neuroblastoma, through deep whole-transcriptome sequencing in 104 primary neuroblastomas covering all risk groups. We demonstrate that MYCN amplification, which defines a subset of high-risk cases, causes globally suppressed circRNA biogenesis directly dependent on the DHX9 RNA helicase. We detect similar mechanisms in shaping circRNA expression in the pediatric cancer medulloblastoma implying a general MYCN effect. Comparisons to other cancers identify 25 circRNAs that are specifically upregulated in neuroblastoma, including circARID1A. Transcribed from the ARID1A tumor suppressor gene, circARID1A promotes cell growth and survival, mediated by direct interaction with the KHSRP RNA-binding protein. Our study highlights the importance of MYCN regulating circRNAs in cancer and identifies molecular mechanisms, which explain their contribution to neuroblastoma pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Fuchs
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10178, Berlin, Germany.
- CRCT, Inserm, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, 31037, Toulouse, France.
- Laboratoire d'Excellence Toulouse Cancer-TOUCAN, 31037, Toulouse, France.
| | - Clara Danßmann
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Filippos Klironomos
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Annika Winkler
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jörg Fallmann
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, and Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, University of Leipzig, 04107, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Louisa-Marie Kruetzfeldt
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Annabell Szymansky
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julian Naderi
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephan H Bernhart
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, and Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, University of Leipzig, 04107, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Laura Grunewald
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Konstantin Helmsauer
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the Charité and Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elias Rodriguez-Fos
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the Charité and Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marieluise Kirchner
- Core Unit Proteomics, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Mertins
- Core Unit Proteomics, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kathy Astrahantseff
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christin Suenkel
- Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Hannoversche Straße 28, 10115, Berlin, Germany
- Lonza Drug Product Services, 4057, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Joern Toedling
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fabienne Meggetto
- CRCT, Inserm, CNRS, Université Toulouse III-Paul Sabatier, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, 31037, Toulouse, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence Toulouse Cancer-TOUCAN, 31037, Toulouse, France
| | - Marc Remke
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, and University Hospital Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, and University Hospital Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Peter F Stadler
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, and Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, University of Leipzig, 04107, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Patrick Hundsdoerfer
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Helios Klinikum Berlin-Buch, 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hedwig E Deubzer
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10178, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the Charité and Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Annette Künkele
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Lang
- Department I - General Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Fuchs
- Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Urology, University Children's Hospital, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Anton G Henssen
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the Charité and Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Angelika Eggert
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10178, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Rajewsky
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Systems Biology of Gene Regulatory Elements, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Hannoversche Straße 28, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Falk Hertwig
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johannes H Schulte
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10178, Berlin, Germany.
- Department I - General Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.
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13
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Vlajic K, Pennington Kluger H, Bie W, Merrill BJ, Nonn L, Kajdacsy-Balla A, Tyner AL. Appearance of tuft cells during prostate cancer progression. Oncogene 2023; 42:2374-2385. [PMID: 37386128 PMCID: PMC10374444 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02743-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Tuft cells are chemosensory epithelial cells that increase in number following infection or injury to robustly activate the innate immune response to alleviate or promote disease. Recent studies of castration resistant prostate cancer and its subtype, neuroendocrine prostate cancer, revealed Pou2f3+ populations in mouse models. The transcription factor Pou2f3 is a master regulator of the tuft cell lineage. We show that tuft cells are upregulated early during prostate cancer development, and their numbers increase with progression. Cancer-associated tuft cells in the mouse prostate express DCLK1, COX1, COX2, while human tuft cells express COX1. Mouse and human tuft cells exhibit strong activation of signaling pathways including EGFR and SRC-family kinases. While DCLK1 is a mouse tuft cell marker, it is not present in human prostate tuft cells. Tuft cells that appear in mouse models of prostate cancer display genotype-specific tuft cell gene expression signatures. Using bioinformatic analysis tools and publicly available datasets, we characterized prostate tuft cells in aggressive disease and highlighted differences between tuft cell populations. Our findings indicate that tuft cells contribute to the prostate cancer microenvironment and may promote development of more advanced disease. Further research is needed to understand contributions of tuft cells to prostate cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Vlajic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Hannah Pennington Kluger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Wenjun Bie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Bradley J Merrill
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Larisa Nonn
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
- The Department of Pathology, at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Andre Kajdacsy-Balla
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
- The Department of Pathology, at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Angela L Tyner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
- The University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
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14
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Agarwal P, Glowacka A, Mahmoud L, Bazzar W, Larsson LG, Alzrigat M. MYCN Amplification Is Associated with Reduced Expression of Genes Encoding γ-Secretase Complex and NOTCH Signaling Components in Neuroblastoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:8141. [PMID: 37175848 PMCID: PMC10179553 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098141] [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: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Amplification of the MYCN oncogene is found in ~20% of neuroblastoma (NB) cases and correlates with high-risk disease and poor prognosis. Despite the plethora of studies describing the role of MYCN in NB, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying MYCN's contribution to high-risk disease are not completely understood. Herein, we implemented an integrative approach combining publicly available RNA-Seq and MYCN ChIP-Seq datasets derived from human NB cell lines to define biological processes directly regulated by MYCN in NB. Our approach revealed that MYCN-amplified NB cell lines, when compared to non-MYCN-amplified cell lines, are characterized by reduced expression of genes involved in NOTCH receptor processing, axoneme assembly, and membrane protein proteolysis. More specifically, we found genes encoding members of the γ-secretase complex, which is known for its ability to liberate several intracellular signaling molecules from membrane-bound proteins such as NOTCH receptors, to be down-regulated in MYCN-amplified NB cell lines. Analysis of MYCN ChIP-Seq data revealed an enrichment of MYCN binding at the transcription start sites of genes encoding γ-secretase complex subunits. Notably, using publicly available gene expression data from NB primary tumors, we revealed that the expression of γ-secretase subunits encoding genes and other components of the NOTCH signaling pathway was also reduced in MYCN-amplified tumors and correlated with worse overall survival in NB patients. Genetic or pharmacological depletion of MYCN in NB cell lines induced the expression of γ-secretase genes and NOTCH-target genes. Chemical inhibition of γ-secretase activity dampened the expression of NOTCH-target genes upon MYCN depletion in NB cells. In conclusion, this study defines a set of MYCN-regulated pathways that are specific to MYCN-amplified NB tumors, and it suggests a novel role for MYCN in the suppression of genes of the γ-secretase complex, with an impact on the NOTCH-target gene expression in MYCN-amplified NB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasoon Agarwal
- National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (NBIS), Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Aleksandra Glowacka
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165 Solna, Sweden
| | - Loay Mahmoud
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Wesam Bazzar
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lars-Gunnar Larsson
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mohammad Alzrigat
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165 Solna, Sweden
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Center, Uppsala University, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden
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15
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Pinto N, Naranjo A, Ding X, Zhang FF, Hibbitts E, Kennedy R, Tibbetts R, Wong-Michalak S, Craig DW, Manojlovic Z, Hogarty MD, Kreissman S, Bagatell R, Irwin MS, Park JR, Asgharzadeh S. Impact of Genomic and Clinical Factors on Outcome of Children ≥18 Months of Age with Stage 3 Neuroblastoma with Unfavorable Histology and without MYCN Amplification: A Children's Oncology Group (COG) Report. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:1546-1556. [PMID: 36749880 PMCID: PMC10106446 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-3032] [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: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Patients ≥18 months of age with International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) stage 3 unfavorable histology (UH), MYCN-nonamplified (MYCN-NA) tumors have favorable survival rates compared with other high-risk neuroblastoma populations. The impact of select clinical and biological factors on overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were evaluated. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Patients enrolled on Children's Oncology Group (COG) A3973 (n = 34), ANBL0532 (n = 27), and/or biology protocol ANBL00B1 (n = 72) were analyzed. Tumors with available DNA (n = 65) and RNA (n = 42) were subjected to whole-exome sequencing (WES) and RNA sequencing. WES analyses and gene expression profiling were evaluated for their impact on survival. Multivariate analyses of EFS/OS using significant factors from univariate analyses were performed. RESULTS 5-year EFS/OS for patients treated with high-risk therapy on A3973 and ANBL0532 were 73.0% ± 8.1%/87.9% ± 5.9% and 61.4% ± 10.2%/73.0% ± 9.2%, respectively (P = 0.1286 and P = 0.2180). In the A3973/ANBL0532 cohort, patients with less than partial response (PR; n = 5) at end-induction had poor outcomes (5-year EFS/OS: 0%/20.0% ± 17.9%. Univariate analyses of WES data revealed that subjects whose tumors had chromosome 1p or 11q loss/LOH and chromosome 5 or 9 segmental chromosomal aberrations had inferior EFS compared with those with tumors without these aberrations. Multivariate analysis revealed that 11q loss/LOH was an independent predictor of inferior OS [HR, 3.116 (95% confidence interval, 1.034-9.389), P = 0.0435]. CONCLUSIONS Patients ≥18 months of age at diagnosis who had tumors with UH and MYCN-NA INSS stage 3 neuroblastoma assigned to high-risk therapy had an 81.6% ± 5.3% 5-year OS. Less than PR to induction therapy and chromosome 11q loss/LOH are independent predictors of inferior outcome and identify patients who should be eligible for future high-risk clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navin Pinto
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Arlene Naranjo
- Children’s Oncology Group Data and Statistics Center, Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Xiangming Ding
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Fan F. Zhang
- Children’s Oncology Group Data and Statistics Center, Monrovia, California, USA
| | - Emily Hibbitts
- Children’s Oncology Group Data and Statistics Center, Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Rebekah Kennedy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Rachelle Tibbetts
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Shannon Wong-Michalak
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - David W Craig
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Zarko Manojlovic
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Michael D. Hogarty
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Susan Kreissman
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rochelle Bagatell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Meredith S. Irwin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
| | - Julie R. Park
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Shahab Asgharzadeh
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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16
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Chicco D, Sanavia T, Jurman G. Signature literature review reveals AHCY, DPYSL3, and NME1 as the most recurrent prognostic genes for neuroblastoma. BioData Min 2023; 16:7. [PMID: 36870971 PMCID: PMC9985261 DOI: 10.1186/s13040-023-00325-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a childhood neurological tumor which affects hundreds of thousands of children worldwide, and information about its prognosis can be pivotal for patients, their families, and clinicians. One of the main goals in the related bioinformatics analyses is to provide stable genetic signatures able to include genes whose expression levels can be effective to predict the prognosis of the patients. In this study, we collected the prognostic signatures for neuroblastoma published in the biomedical literature, and noticed that the most frequent genes present among them were three: AHCY, DPYLS3, and NME1. We therefore investigated the prognostic power of these three genes by performing a survival analysis and a binary classification on multiple gene expression datasets of different groups of patients diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Finally, we discussed the main studies in the literature associating these three genes with neuroblastoma. Our results, in each of these three steps of validation, confirm the prognostic capability of AHCY, DPYLS3, and NME1, and highlight their key role in neuroblastoma prognosis. Our results can have an impact on neuroblastoma genetics research: biologists and medical researchers can pay more attention to the regulation and expression of these three genes in patients having neuroblastoma, and therefore can develop better cures and treatments which can save patients' lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Chicco
- Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, M5T 3M7 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tiziana Sanavia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università di Torino, Via Verdi 8, 10124 Turin, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Jurman
- Data Science for Health Unit, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Via Sommarive 18, 38123 Povo (Trento), Italy
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17
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Xu M, Sun M, Zhang X, Nguyen R, Lei H, Shern JF, Thiele CJ, Liu Z. HAND2 Assists MYCN Enhancer Invasion to Regulate a Noradrenergic Neuroblastoma Phenotype. Cancer Res 2023; 83:686-699. [PMID: 36598365 PMCID: PMC10240397 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-2042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Noradrenergic neuroblastoma is characterized by a core transcriptional regulatory circuitry (CRC) comprised of transcription factors (TF) such as PHOX2B, HAND2, and GATA3, which form a network with MYCN. At normal physiologic levels, MYCN mainly binds to promoters but when aberrantly upregulated as in neuroblastoma, MYCN also binds to enhancers. Here, we investigated how MYCN invades enhancers and whether CRC TFs play a role in this process. HAND2 was found to regulate chromatin accessibility and to assist MYCN binding to enhancers. Moreover, HAND2 cooperated with MYCN to compete with nucleosomes to regulate global gene transcription. The cooperative interaction between MYCN and HAND2 could be targeted with an Aurora A kinase inhibitor plus a histone deacetylase inhibitor, resulting in potent downregulation of both MYCN and the CRC TFs and suppression of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma tumor growth. This study identifies cooperation between MYCN and HAND2 in neuroblastoma and demonstrates that simultaneously targeting MYCN and CRC TFs is an effective way to treat this aggressive pediatric tumor. SIGNIFICANCE HAND2 and MYCN compete with nucleosomes to regulate global gene transcription and to drive a malignant neuroblastoma phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Xu
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ming Sun
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Xiyuan Zhang
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Rosa Nguyen
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Haiyan Lei
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jack F. Shern
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Carol J. Thiele
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Zhihui Liu
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
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18
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Comitani F, Nash JO, Cohen-Gogo S, Chang AI, Wen TT, Maheshwari A, Goyal B, Tio ES, Tabatabaei K, Mayoh C, Zhao R, Ho B, Brunga L, Lawrence JEG, Balogh P, Flanagan AM, Teichmann S, Huang A, Ramaswamy V, Hitzler J, Wasserman JD, Gladdy RA, Dickson BC, Tabori U, Cowley MJ, Behjati S, Malkin D, Villani A, Irwin MS, Shlien A. Diagnostic classification of childhood cancer using multiscale transcriptomics. Nat Med 2023; 29:656-666. [PMID: 36932241 PMCID: PMC10033451 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02221-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
The causes of pediatric cancers' distinctiveness compared to adult-onset tumors of the same type are not completely clear and not fully explained by their genomes. In this study, we used an optimized multilevel RNA clustering approach to derive molecular definitions for most childhood cancers. Applying this method to 13,313 transcriptomes, we constructed a pediatric cancer atlas to explore age-associated changes. Tumor entities were sometimes unexpectedly grouped due to common lineages, drivers or stemness profiles. Some established entities were divided into subgroups that predicted outcome better than current diagnostic approaches. These definitions account for inter-tumoral and intra-tumoral heterogeneity and have the potential of enabling reproducible, quantifiable diagnostics. As a whole, childhood tumors had more transcriptional diversity than adult tumors, maintaining greater expression flexibility. To apply these insights, we designed an ensemble convolutional neural network classifier. We show that this tool was able to match or clarify the diagnosis for 85% of childhood tumors in a prospective cohort. If further validated, this framework could be extended to derive molecular definitions for all cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Comitani
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joshua O Nash
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Laboratory of Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah Cohen-Gogo
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Astra I Chang
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Timmy T Wen
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anant Maheshwari
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bipasha Goyal
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Earvin S Tio
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kevin Tabatabaei
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Chelsea Mayoh
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Regis Zhao
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ben Ho
- Laboratory of Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ledia Brunga
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Petra Balogh
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, UK
| | - Adrienne M Flanagan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, UK
- Research Department of Pathology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Annie Huang
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Vijay Ramaswamy
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Johann Hitzler
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jonathan D Wasserman
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rebecca A Gladdy
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre/Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brendan C Dickson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Uri Tabori
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mark J Cowley
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sam Behjati
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - David Malkin
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anita Villani
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Meredith S Irwin
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Adam Shlien
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Laboratory of Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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19
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Cheng C, He T, Chen K, Cai Y, Gu Y, Pan L, Duan P, Wu Y, Wu Z. P300 Interacted With N-Myc and Regulated Its Protein Stability via Altering Its Post-Translational Modifications in Neuroblastoma. Mol Cell Proteomics 2023; 22:100504. [PMID: 36708875 PMCID: PMC9984901 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
MYCN amplification is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in neuroblastoma (NB), but its protein product cannot be directly targeted because of protein structure. Thus, this study aimed to explore novel ways to indirectly target N-Myc by regulating its post-translational modifications (PTMs) and therefore protein stability. N-Myc coimmunoprecipitation combined with HPLC-MS/MS identified 16 PTM residues and 114 potential N-Myc-interacting proteins. Notably, both acetylation and ubiquitination were identified on lysine 199 of N-Myc. We then discovered that p300, which can interact with N-Myc, modulated the protein stability of N-Myc in MYCN-amplified NB cell lines and simultaneously regulated the acetylation level and ubiquitination level on lysine-199 of N-Myc protein in vitro. Furthermore, p300 correlated with poor prognosis in NB patients. Taken together, p300 can be considered as a potential therapeutic target to treat MYCN-amplified NB patients, and other identified PTMs and interacting proteins also provide potential targets for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Cheng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Tian He
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanxia Cai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaoyao Gu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Lijia Pan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Peiwen Duan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Yeming Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China; Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
| | - Zhixiang Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Division of Pediatric Oncology, Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China; Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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20
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A Review of the Regulatory Mechanisms of N-Myc on Cell Cycle. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031141. [PMID: 36770809 PMCID: PMC9920120 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma has obvious heterogeneity. It is one of the few undifferentiated malignant tumors that can spontaneously degenerate into completely benign tumors. However, for its high-risk type, even with various intensive treatment options, the prognosis is still unsatisfactory. At the same time, a large number of research data show that the abnormal amplification and high-level expression of the MYCN gene are positively correlated with the malignant progression, poor prognosis, and mortality of neuroblastoma. In this context, this article explores the role of the N-Myc, MYCN gene expression product on its target genes related to the cell cycle and reveals its regulatory network in promoting tumor proliferation and malignant progression. We hope it can provide ideas and direction for the research and development of drugs targeting N-Myc and its downstream target genes.
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21
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Shinno Y, Takenobu H, Sugino RP, Endo Y, Okada R, Haruta M, Satoh S, Mukae K, Shaliman D, Wada T, Akter J, Ando K, Nakazawa A, Yoshida H, Ohira M, Hishiki T, Kamijo T. Polycomb EZH1 regulates cell cycle/5-fluorouracil sensitivity of neuroblastoma cells in concert with MYCN. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:4193-4206. [PMID: 36052716 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we found that EZH1 depletion in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cells resulted in significant cell death as well as xenograft inhibition. EZH1 depletion decreased the level of H3K27me1; the interaction and protein stabilization of MYCN and EZH1 appear to play roles in epigenetic transcriptional regulation. Transcriptome analysis of EZH1-depleted cells resulted in downregulation of the cell cycle progression-related pathway. In particular, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis revealed downregulation of reactome E2F-mediated regulation of DNA replication along with key genes of this process, TYMS, POLA2, and CCNA1. TYMS and POLA2 were transcriptionally activated by MYCN and EZH1-related epigenetic modification. Treatment with the EZH1/2 inhibitor UNC1999 also induced cell death, decreased H3K27 methylation, and reduced the levels of TYMS in neuroblastoma cells. Previous reports indicated neuroblastoma cells are resistant to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and TYMS (encoding thymidylate synthetase) has been considered the primary site of action for folate analogues. Intriguingly, UNC1999 treatment significantly sensitized MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cells to 5-FU treatment, suggesting that EZH inhibition could be an effective strategy for development of a new epigenetic treatment for neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Shinno
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hisanori Takenobu
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Ryuichi P Sugino
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yuki Endo
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Ryu Okada
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan.,Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Department of Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Masayuki Haruta
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Shunpei Satoh
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kyosuke Mukae
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Dilibaerguli Shaliman
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan.,Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Department of Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Tomoko Wada
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Jesmin Akter
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kiyohiro Ando
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Atsuko Nakazawa
- Department of Clinical Research, Saitama Children's Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hideo Yoshida
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Miki Ohira
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Tomoro Hishiki
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takehiko Kamijo
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan.,Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Department of Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
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22
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Yan Z, Liu Q, Cao Z, Wang J, Zhang H, Liu J, Zou L. Multi-omics integration reveals a six-malignant cell maker gene signature for predicting prognosis in high-risk neuroblastoma. Front Neuroinform 2022; 16:1034793. [DOI: 10.3389/fninf.2022.1034793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundNeuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood, arising from the sympathetic nervous system. High-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB) remains a major therapeutic challenge with low survival rates despite the intensification of therapy. This study aimed to develop a malignant-cell marker gene signature (MMGS) that might serve as a prognostic indicator in HRNB patients.MethodsMulti-omics datasets, including mRNA expression (single-cell and bulk), DNA methylation, and clinical information of HRNB patients, were used to identify prognostic malignant cell marker genes. MMGS was established by univariate Cox analysis, LASSO, and stepwise multivariable Cox regression analysis. Kaplan–Meier (KM) curve and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (tROC) were used to evaluate the prognostic value and performance of MMGS, respectively. MMGS further verified its reliability and accuracy in the independent validation set. Finally, the characteristics of functional enrichment, tumor immune features, and inflammatory activity between different MMGS risk groups were also investigated.ResultsWe constructed a prognostic model consisting of six malignant cell maker genes (MAPT, C1QTNF4, MEG3, NPW, RAMP1, and CDT1), which stratified patients into ultra-high-risk (UHR) and common-high-risk (CHR) group. Patients in the UHR group had significantly worse overall survival (OS) than those in the CHR group. MMGS was verified as an independent predictor for the OS of HRNB patients. The area under the curve (AUC) values of MMGS at 1-, 3-, and 5-year were 0.78, 0.693, and 0.618, respectively. Notably, functional enrichment, tumor immune features, and inflammatory activity analyses preliminarily indicated that the poor prognosis in the UHR group might result from the dysregulation of the metabolic process and immunosuppressive microenvironment.ConclusionThis study established a novel six-malignant cell maker gene prognostic model that can be used to predict the prognosis of HRNB patients, which may provide new insight for the treatment and personalized monitoring of HRNB patients.
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23
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Mañas A, Aaltonen K, Andersson N, Hansson K, Adamska A, Seger A, Yasui H, van den Bos H, Radke K, Esfandyari J, Bhave MS, Karlsson J, Spierings D, Foijer F, Gisselsson D, Bexell D. Clinically relevant treatment of PDX models reveals patterns of neuroblastoma chemoresistance. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabq4617. [PMID: 36306349 PMCID: PMC9616506 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq4617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Chemotherapy resistance and relapses are common in high-risk neuroblastoma (NB). Here, we developed a clinically relevant in vivo treatment protocol mimicking the first-line five-chemotherapy treatment regimen of high-risk NB and applied this protocol to mice with MYCN-amplified NB patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Genomic and transcriptomic analyses were used to reveal NB chemoresistance mechanisms. Intrinsic resistance was associated with high genetic diversity and an embryonic phenotype. Relapsed NB with acquired resistance showed a decreased adrenergic phenotype and an enhanced immature mesenchymal-like phenotype, resembling multipotent Schwann cell precursors. NBs with a favorable treatment response presented a lineage-committed adrenergic phenotype similar to normal neuroblasts. Novel integrated phenotypic gene signatures reflected treatment response and patient prognosis. NB organoids established from relapsed PDX tumors retained drug resistance, tumorigenicity, and transcriptional cell states. This work sheds light on the mechanisms of NB chemotherapy response and emphasizes the importance of transcriptional cell states in chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Mañas
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22381, Sweden
| | - Kristina Aaltonen
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22381, Sweden
| | - Natalie Andersson
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22185, Sweden
| | - Karin Hansson
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22381, Sweden
- Cancer Stem Cell Laboratory, The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Aleksandra Adamska
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22381, Sweden
| | - Alexandra Seger
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22381, Sweden
| | - Hiroaki Yasui
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22185, Sweden
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hilda van den Bos
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, AV, Groningen 9713, Netherlands
| | - Katarzyna Radke
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22381, Sweden
| | - Javanshir Esfandyari
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22381, Sweden
| | - Madhura Satish Bhave
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22381, Sweden
| | - Jenny Karlsson
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22185, Sweden
| | - Diana Spierings
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, AV, Groningen 9713, Netherlands
| | - Floris Foijer
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, AV, Groningen 9713, Netherlands
| | - David Gisselsson
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22185, Sweden
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory Medicine, Skane University Hospital, Lund 22184, Sweden
| | - Daniel Bexell
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund 22381, Sweden
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24
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Shi X, Wang Y, Zhang L, Zhao W, Dai X, Yang YG, Zhang X. Targeting bromodomain and extra-terminal proteins to inhibit neuroblastoma tumorigenesis through regulating MYCN. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1021820. [PMID: 36187481 PMCID: PMC9523081 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1021820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) family proteins play important roles in regulating the expression of multiple proto-oncogenes by recognizing acetylation of histones and non-histone proteins including transcription factors, which subsequently promote tumor cell proliferation, survival, metastasis and immune escape. Therefore, BET family proteins are considered attractive therapeutic targets in various cancers. Currently, blocking of the BET proteins is a widely used therapeutic strategy for MYCN amplified high-risk neuroblastoma. Here, we summarized and reviewed the recent research progresses for the critical function of BET proteins, as an epigenetic reader, on tumorigenesis and the therapeutic potential of the BET/BRD4 inhibitors on MYCN amplified neuroblastoma. We also discussed the combined therapeutic strategies for BET inhibitor-resistant neuroblastoma.
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25
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Roohollahi K, de Jong Y, van Mil SE, Fabius AW, Moll AC, Dorsman JC. High-Level MYCN-Amplified RB1-Proficient Retinoblastoma Tumors Retain Distinct Molecular Signatures. OPHTHALMOLOGY SCIENCE 2022; 2:100188. [PMID: 36245757 PMCID: PMC9559112 DOI: 10.1016/j.xops.2022.100188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yvonne de Jong
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: Yvonne de Jong, PhD, Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, De Boelelaan 1117, 1118, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Saskia E. van Mil
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Annette C. Moll
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Josephine C. Dorsman
- Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Josephine C. Dorsman, PhD, Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, De Boelelaan 1117, 1118, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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26
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Nunes C, Depestel L, Mus L, Keller KM, Delhaye L, Louwagie A, Rishfi M, Whale A, Kara N, Andrews SR, Dela Cruz F, You D, Siddiquee A, Cologna CT, De Craemer S, Dolman E, Bartenhagen C, De Vloed F, Sanders E, Eggermont A, Bekaert SL, Van Loocke W, Bek JW, Dewyn G, Loontiens S, Van Isterdael G, Decaesteker B, Tilleman L, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Vermeirssen V, Van Neste C, Ghesquiere B, Goossens S, Eyckerman S, De Preter K, Fischer M, Houseley J, Molenaar J, De Wilde B, Roberts SS, Durinck K, Speleman F. RRM2 enhances MYCN-driven neuroblastoma formation and acts as a synergistic target with CHK1 inhibition. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn1382. [PMID: 35857500 PMCID: PMC9278860 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn1382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
High-risk neuroblastoma, a pediatric tumor originating from the sympathetic nervous system, has a low mutation load but highly recurrent somatic DNA copy number variants. Previously, segmental gains and/or amplifications allowed identification of drivers for neuroblastoma development. Using this approach, combined with gene dosage impact on expression and survival, we identified ribonucleotide reductase subunit M2 (RRM2) as a candidate dependency factor further supported by growth inhibition upon in vitro knockdown and accelerated tumor formation in a neuroblastoma zebrafish model coexpressing human RRM2 with MYCN. Forced RRM2 induction alleviates excessive replicative stress induced by CHK1 inhibition, while high RRM2 expression in human neuroblastomas correlates with high CHK1 activity. MYCN-driven zebrafish tumors with RRM2 co-overexpression exhibit differentially expressed DNA repair genes in keeping with enhanced ATR-CHK1 signaling activity. In vitro, RRM2 inhibition enhances intrinsic replication stress checkpoint addiction. Last, combinatorial RRM2-CHK1 inhibition acts synergistic in high-risk neuroblastoma cell lines and patient-derived xenograft models, illustrating the therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Nunes
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lisa Depestel
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Liselot Mus
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Louis Delhaye
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Amber Louwagie
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Muhammad Rishfi
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alex Whale
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Neesha Kara
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Filemon Dela Cruz
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daoqi You
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Armaan Siddiquee
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Camila Takeno Cologna
- Metabolomics Expertise Center, Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Metabolomics Expertise Center, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sam De Craemer
- Metabolomics Expertise Center, Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Metabolomics Expertise Center, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emmy Dolman
- Princess Maxima Center, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Christoph Bartenhagen
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne (CMMC), Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology, University Children’s Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Fanny De Vloed
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ellen Sanders
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Aline Eggermont
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah-Lee Bekaert
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wouter Van Loocke
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jan Willem Bek
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Givani Dewyn
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Siebe Loontiens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Bieke Decaesteker
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Laurentijn Tilleman
- NXTGNT, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Vanessa Vermeirssen
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christophe Van Neste
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart Ghesquiere
- Metabolomics Expertise Center, Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Metabolomics Expertise Center, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steven Goossens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sven Eyckerman
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katleen De Preter
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Matthias Fischer
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne (CMMC), Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology, University Children’s Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jon Houseley
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Bram De Wilde
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stephen S. Roberts
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kaat Durinck
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Frank Speleman
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
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Tao L, Mohammad MA, Milazzo G, Moreno-Smith M, Patel TD, Zorman B, Badachhape A, Hernandez BE, Wolf AB, Zeng Z, Foster JH, Aloisi S, Sumazin P, Zu Y, Hicks J, Ghaghada KB, Putluri N, Perini G, Coarfa C, Barbieri E. MYCN-driven fatty acid uptake is a metabolic vulnerability in neuroblastoma. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3728. [PMID: 35764645 PMCID: PMC9240069 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31331-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is a childhood cancer arising from sympatho-adrenal neural crest cells. MYCN amplification is found in half of high-risk NB patients; however, no available therapies directly target MYCN. Using multi-dimensional metabolic profiling in MYCN expression systems and primary patient tumors, we comprehensively characterized the metabolic landscape driven by MYCN in NB. MYCN amplification leads to glycerolipid accumulation by promoting fatty acid (FA) uptake and biosynthesis. We found that cells expressing amplified MYCN depend highly on FA uptake for survival. Mechanistically, MYCN directly upregulates FA transport protein 2 (FATP2), encoded by SLC27A2. Genetic depletion of SLC27A2 impairs NB survival, and pharmacological SLC27A2 inhibition selectively suppresses tumor growth, prolongs animal survival, and exerts synergistic anti-tumor effects when combined with conventional chemotherapies in multiple preclinical NB models. This study identifies FA uptake as a critical metabolic dependency for MYCN-amplified tumors. Inhibiting FA uptake is an effective approach for improving current treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Tao
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Mahmoud A Mohammad
- Department of Pediatrics-Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Food Science and Nutrition Department, National Research Centre, El-Buhouth St., Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt
| | - Giorgio Milazzo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Myrthala Moreno-Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Tajhal D Patel
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Barry Zorman
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Andrew Badachhape
- Department of Radiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Blanca E Hernandez
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Amber B Wolf
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Zihua Zeng
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jennifer H Foster
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Sara Aloisi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Pavel Sumazin
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Youli Zu
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - John Hicks
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ketan B Ghaghada
- Department of Radiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Nagireddy Putluri
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Advanced Technology Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Giovanni Perini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Cristian Coarfa
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Eveline Barbieri
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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28
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Zanotti S, Decaesteker B, Vanhauwaert S, De Wilde B, De Vos WH, Speleman F. Cellular senescence in neuroblastoma. Br J Cancer 2022; 126:1529-1538. [PMID: 35197583 PMCID: PMC9130206 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-022-01755-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a tumour that arises from the sympathoadrenal lineage occurring predominantly in children younger than five years. About half of the patients are diagnosed with high-risk tumours and undergo intensive multi-modal therapy. The success rate of current treatments for high-risk neuroblastoma is disappointingly low and survivors suffer from multiple therapy-related long-term side effects. Most chemotherapeutics drive cancer cells towards cell death or senescence. Senescence has long been considered to represent a terminal non-proliferative state and therefore an effective barrier against tumorigenesis. This dogma, however, has been challenged by recent observations that infer a much more dynamic and reversible nature for this process, which may have implications for the efficacy of therapy-induced senescence-oriented treatment strategies. Neuroblastoma cells in a dormant, senescent-like state may escape therapy, whilst their senescence-associated secretome may promote inflammation and invasiveness, potentially fostering relapse. Conversely, due to its distinct molecular identity, senescence may also represent an opportunity for the development of novel (combination) therapies. However, the limited knowledge on the molecular dynamics and diversity of senescence signatures demands appropriate models to study this process in detail. This review summarises the molecular knowledge about cellular senescence in neuroblastoma and investigates current and future options towards therapeutic exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Zanotti
- grid.5284.b0000 0001 0790 3681Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Antwerp, 2610 Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, Ghent, 9000 Belgium ,grid.510942.bCancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, 9000 Belgium
| | - Bieke Decaesteker
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, Ghent, 9000 Belgium ,grid.510942.bCancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, 9000 Belgium
| | - Suzanne Vanhauwaert
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, Ghent, 9000 Belgium ,grid.510942.bCancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, 9000 Belgium
| | - Bram De Wilde
- grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, Ghent, 9000 Belgium ,grid.5342.00000 0001 2069 7798Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, Ghent, 9000 Belgium ,grid.410566.00000 0004 0626 3303Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, 9000 Belgium
| | - Winnok H. De Vos
- grid.5284.b0000 0001 0790 3681Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Antwerp, 2610 Belgium
| | - Frank Speleman
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, Ghent, 9000, Belgium. .,Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, 9000, Belgium.
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29
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Feng C, Li T, Xiao J, Wang J, Meng X, Niu H, Jiang B, Huang L, Deng X, Yan X, Wu D, Fang Y, Lin Y, Chen F, Wu X, Zhao X, Feng J. Tumor Microenvironment Profiling Identifies Prognostic Signatures and Suggests Immunotherapeutic Benefits in Neuroblastoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:814836. [PMID: 35493068 PMCID: PMC9047956 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.814836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) influences disease initiation and progression. Cross-talks of cells within TME can affect the efficacy of immunotherapies. However, a precise, concise, and comprehensive TME landscape in neuroblastoma (NB) has not been established. Here, we profiled the TME landscape of 498 NB-related patients on a self-curated gene list and identified three prognostic TMEsubgroups. The differentially expressed genes in these three TMEsubgroups were used to construct a genetic signature of the TME landscape and characterize three GeneSubgroups. The subgroup with the worst overall survival prognosis, the TMEsubgroup/GeneSubgroup3, lacked immune cell infiltration and received the highest scores of MYCN- and ALK-related signatures and lowest scores of immune pathways. Additionally, we found that the GeneSubgroup3 might be benefited from anti-GD2 instead of anti-PD-1 therapy. We further created a 48-gene signature, the TMEscore, to infer prognosis and validated it in three independent NB cohorts and a pan-cancer cohort of 9,460 patients. We did RNA-seq on 16 samples and verified that TMEscore was higher in patients with stage 3/4 than stage 1/2 diseases. The TMEscore could also predict responses for several immunotherapies. After adding clinical features, we found that the nomogram-based score system, the TMEIndex, surpassed the current risk system at predicting survivals. Our analysis explained TME at the transcriptome level and paved the way for immunotherapies in NB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenzhao Feng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ting Li
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun Xiao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinyao Meng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huizhong Niu
- Department of General Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Bin Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaogeng Deng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xueqiang Yan
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Wuhan Children’s Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dianming Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children’s Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yifan Fang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children’s Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yu Lin
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children’s Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Feng Chen, ; Xiaojuan Wu, ; Xiang Zhao, ; Jiexiong Feng,
| | - Xiaojuan Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Feng Chen, ; Xiaojuan Wu, ; Xiang Zhao, ; Jiexiong Feng,
| | - Xiang Zhao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Feng Chen, ; Xiaojuan Wu, ; Xiang Zhao, ; Jiexiong Feng,
| | - Jiexiong Feng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Feng Chen, ; Xiaojuan Wu, ; Xiang Zhao, ; Jiexiong Feng,
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30
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Somasundaram DB, Aravindan S, Gupta N, Yu Z, Baker A, Aravindan N. ALK expression, prognostic significance, and its association with MYCN expression in MYCN non-amplified neuroblastoma. World J Pediatr 2022; 18:285-293. [PMID: 35132576 DOI: 10.1007/s12519-022-00517-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh Babu Somasundaram
- Department of Radiation Oncology, BMSB 311C, Radiation Biology Laboratory, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 Stanton L. Young Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | | | | | - Zhongxin Yu
- Department of Pathology, BMSB 311C, Radiation Biology Laboratory, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 Stanton L. Young Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Ashley Baker
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Natarajan Aravindan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, BMSB 311C, Radiation Biology Laboratory, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 Stanton L. Young Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
- Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
- Department of Pathology, BMSB 311C, Radiation Biology Laboratory, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 Stanton L. Young Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
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31
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Gao Y, Volegova M, Nasholm N, Das S, Kwiatkowski N, Abraham BJ, Zhang T, Gray NS, Gustafson C, Krajewska M, George RE. Synergistic Anti-Tumor Effect of Combining Selective CDK7 and BRD4 Inhibition in Neuroblastoma. Front Oncol 2022; 11:773186. [PMID: 35198433 PMCID: PMC8859926 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.773186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) that have critical roles in RNA polymerase II (Pol II)-mediated gene transcription are emerging as therapeutic targets in cancer. We have previously shown that THZ1, a covalent inhibitor of CDKs 7/12/13, leads to cytotoxicity in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma through the downregulation of super-enhancer-associated transcriptional upregulation. Here we determined the effects of YKL-5-124, a novel covalent inhibitor with greater selectivity for CDK7 in neuroblastoma cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We tested YKL-5-124 in MYCN-amplified and nonamplified neuroblastoma cells individually and in combination with other inhibitors in cell line and animal models. Cell viability, target validation, effects on cell cycle and transcription were analyzed. RESULTS CDK7 inhibition with YKL-5-124 did not lead to significant cell death, but resulted in aberrant cell cycle progression especially in MYCN-amplified cells. Unlike THZ1, YKL-5-124 had minimal effects on Pol II C-terminal domain phosphorylation, but significantly inhibited that of the CDK1 and CDK2 cell cycle kinases. Combining YKL-5-124 with the BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 resulted in synergistic cytotoxicity. A distinct MYCN-gene expression signature associated with resistance to BRD4 inhibition was suppressed with the combination. The synergy between YKL-5-124 and JQ1 translated into significant tumor regression in cell line and patient-derived xenograft mouse models of neuroblastoma. CONCLUSIONS The combination of CDK7 and BRD4 inhibition provides a therapeutic option for neuroblastoma and suggests that the addition of YKL-5-124 could improve the therapeutic efficacy of JQ1 and delay resistance to BRD4 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Gao
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Marina Volegova
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Nicole Nasholm
- Department of Pediatrics, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Sanjukta Das
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Nicholas Kwiatkowski
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Brian J Abraham
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Tinghu Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Clay Gustafson
- Department of Pediatrics, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Malgorzata Krajewska
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rani E George
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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32
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Zeng Y, Ramani PD, Gao W, Zhao W. Revealing the heterogeneity in neuroblastoma cells via nanopillar-guided subnuclear deformation. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:2617-2627. [PMID: 35133394 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr04996h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a hard-to-treat childhood cancer that is well known for the heterogeneity of its clinical phenotypes. Although the risk levels of neuroblastoma have been defined from a complex matrix of clinical and tumor biological factors to guide treatment, the accuracy in predicting cancer relapse and related fatality is still poor in many cases, where heterogeneity with subpopulations in highly malignant or drug-resistant tumors is believed to be underestimated by the current analysis methods. Therefore, new technologies to probe neuroblastoma heterogeneity are needed for the improvement of risk stratification. In this study, we introduce the nanopillar-guided subnuclear morphology as an effective indicator for heterogeneity evaluation among individual neuroblastoma cells. Nuclear polymorphisms, especially the generation of subnuclear irregularities, are well-known markers of high cancer metastasis risk and poor prognosis. By quantitatively evaluating the orientation of nanopillar-guided nuclear envelope features in neuroblastoma cells, we identified two subpopulations with differential motilities and EMT marker levels. Moreover, with endogenous expression, cells with high levels of the nuclear structure protein lamin A exhibit anisotropic deformation on nanopillars and migrate faster than low-lamin A cells, indicating a greater potential for metastasis. Overexpression of lamin A, however, reduces both the coherency and migration speed, suggesting that subpopulations with similar lamin A levels may have different metastatic potentials. We further verified that nanopillar-generated nuclear deformation patterns can quantitatively reveal individual cells' responses to anti-cancer drug treatment. Overall, we envision that the nanopillar-based assessment of subnuclear irregularities brings new additions to our toolkits for both precise risk stratification in neuroblastoma and the evaluation of related anti-cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongpeng Zeng
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637457, Singapore.
| | - Priya Dharshana Ramani
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637457, Singapore.
| | - Weibo Gao
- Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 639798 Singapore, Singapore
- The Photonics Institute and Centre for Disruptive Photonic Technologies, Nanyang Technological University, 639798 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wenting Zhao
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637457, Singapore.
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Epigenetic state determines inflammatory sensing in neuroblastoma. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2102358119. [PMID: 35121657 PMCID: PMC8832972 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2102358119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, but many cancers are not impacted by currently available immunotherapeutic strategies. Here, we investigated inflammatory signaling pathways in neuroblastoma, a classically "cold" pediatric cancer. By testing the functional response of a panel of 20 diverse neuroblastoma cell lines to three different inflammatory stimuli, we found that all cell lines have intact interferon signaling, and all but one lack functional cytosolic DNA sensing via cGAS-STING. However, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) sensing via Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) was heterogeneous, as was signaling through other dsRNA sensors and TLRs more broadly. Seven cell lines showed robust response to dsRNA, six of which are in the mesenchymal epigenetic state, while all unresponsive cell lines are in the adrenergic state. Genetically switching adrenergic cell lines toward the mesenchymal state fully restored responsiveness. In responsive cells, dsRNA sensing results in the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, enrichment of inflammatory transcriptomic signatures, and increased tumor killing by T cells in vitro. Using single-cell RNA sequencing data, we show that human neuroblastoma cells with stronger mesenchymal signatures have a higher basal inflammatory state, demonstrating intratumoral heterogeneity in inflammatory signaling that has significant implications for immunotherapeutic strategies in this aggressive childhood cancer.
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34
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Floros KV, Chawla AT, Johnson-Berro MO, Khatri R, Stamatouli AM, Boikos SA, Dozmorov MG, Cowart LA, Faber AC. MYCN upregulates the transsulfuration pathway to suppress the ferroptotic vulnerability in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma. Cell Stress 2022; 6:21-29. [PMID: 35174317 PMCID: PMC8802432 DOI: 10.15698/cst2022.02.264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent, oxidative form of cell death that is countered mainly by glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and the production of glutathione (GSH), which is formed from cysteine. The identification of the cancers that may benefit from pharmacological ferroptotic induction is just emerging. We recently demonstrated that inducing ferroptosis genetically or pharmacologically in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma (NB) is a novel and effective way to kill these cells. MYCN increases iron metabolism and subsequent hydroxyl radicals through increased expression of the transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) and low levels of the ferroportin receptor. To counter increased hydroxyl radicals, MYCN binds to the promoter of SLC3A2 (solute carrier family 3 member 2). SLC3A2 is a subunit of system Xc-, which is the cysteine-glutamate antiporter that exports glutamate and imports cystine. Cystine is converted to cysteine intracellularly. Here, we investigated other ways MYCN may increase cysteine levels. By performing metabolomics in a syngeneic NB cell line either expressing MYCN or GFP, we demonstrate that the transsulfuration pathway is activated by MYCN. Furthermore, we demonstrate that MYCN-amplified NB cell lines and tumors have higher levels of cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS), the rate-limiting enzyme in transsulfuration, which leads to higher levels of the thioether cystathionine (R-S-(2-amino-2-carboxyethyl)-l-homocysteine). In addition, MYCN-amplified NB tumors have high levels of methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), an enzyme that helps salvage methionine following polyamine metabolism. MYCN directly binds to the promoter of MTAP. We propose that MYCN orchestrates both enhanced cystine uptake and enhanced activity of the transsulfuration pathway to counteract increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) from iron-induced Fenton reactions, ultimately contributing to a ferroptosis vulnerability in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos V. Floros
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, VCU School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Ayesha T. Chawla
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, VCU School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Mia O. Johnson-Berro
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, VCU School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Rishabh Khatri
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, VCU School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Angeliki M. Stamatouli
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Sosipatros A. Boikos
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Virginia Commonwealth University and Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Mikhail G. Dozmorov
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - L. Ashley Cowart
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Hunter Holmes McGuire Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Anthony C. Faber
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, VCU School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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35
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Verly IRN, Matser YAH, Leen R, Meinsma R, Fiocco M, Koster J, Volckmann R, Savci-Heijink D, Cangemi G, Barco S, Valentijn LJ, Tytgat GAM, van Kuilenburg ABP. Urinary 3-Methoxytyramine Is a Biomarker for MYC Activity in Patients With Neuroblastoma. JCO Precis Oncol 2022; 6:e2000447. [PMID: 35085004 PMCID: PMC8830522 DOI: 10.1200/po.20.00447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevated urinary 3-methoxytyramine (3MT) level at diagnosis was recently put forward as independent risk factor for poor prognosis in neuroblastoma. Here, we investigated the biologic basis underlying the putative association between elevated 3MT levels and poor prognosis. Elevated urinary 3-methoxytyramine (3MT) at diagnosis is an independent risk factor for poor event-free survival and poor overall survival in neuroblastoma. Our analysis including gene-expression data and urinary 3MT showed that increased urinary 3MT corresponds with tumor MYC activity.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Iedan R N Verly
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Chemistry, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yvette A H Matser
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Chemistry, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - René Leen
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rutger Meinsma
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marta Fiocco
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Mathematical Institute, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Koster
- Department of Oncogenomics, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Richard Volckmann
- Department of Oncogenomics, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dilara Savci-Heijink
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Giuliana Cangemi
- Central Laboratory of Analyses, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Barco
- Central Laboratory of Analyses, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Linda J Valentijn
- Department of Oncogenomics, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - André B P van Kuilenburg
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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36
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Chan T, Chen Y, Tan KT, Wu C, Wu W, Li W, Wang J, Shiue Y, Li C. Biological significance of MYC and CEBPD coamplification in urothelial carcinoma: Multilayered genomic, transcriptional and posttranscriptional positive feedback loops enhance oncogenic glycolysis. Clin Transl Med 2021; 11:e674. [PMID: 34954904 PMCID: PMC8710299 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The aim of this study is to decipher the underlying mechanisms of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein delta (CEBPD)-enhanced glycolysis as well as the biological significance of CEBPD and MYC coamplification in urothelial carcinoma (UC). METHODS In vitro analyses were conducted to examine the effects of altered CEBPD or MYC expression on UC cells. The in vivo effects of CEBPD overexpression in a high-glucose environment on tumour growth were investigated in xenografted induced diabetic severe combined immunodeficiency/beige mice. Data mining was used to cross-validate the associations between CEBPD and MYC copy number and transcriptional expression, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, chromogenic in situ hybridization, and in situ hybridization targeting microRNA were performed on 635 UC patient samples and xenograft samples. UC patient survival in relation to diabetes was validated by using the National Health Insurance Research Database. RESULTS CEBPD and MYC coamplification (29.6%) occurred at a high frequency, MYC expression promoted chromosomal instability, facilitating CEBPD copy number gain and expression. CEBPD promoted glucose uptake and lactate production by upregulating SLC2A1 and HK2, leading to mitochondrial fission, increased extracellular acidification rate and decreased oxygen consumption rate to fuel cell growth. CEBPD upregulated HK2 expression through multiple regulation pathways including MYC stabilization, suppression of FBXW7 transactivation and MYC-independent transcriptional suppression of hsa-miR-429. Clinical and xenografted experiments confirmed the growth advantage of CEBPD in relation to glucose metabolic dysregulation and the significant correlations between the expression of these genes. CONCLUSIONS We confirmed that CEBPD has an oncogenic role in UC by activating AKT signalling and initiating metabolic reprogramming from mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis to satisfy glucose addiction. These novel CEBPD- and MYC-centric multilayered positive feedback loops enhance cancer growth that could complement theranostic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ti‐Chun Chan
- Department of Medical ResearchChi Mei Medical CenterTainanTaiwan
- National Institute of Cancer ResearchNational Health Research InstitutesTainanTaiwan
| | - Yi‐Ting Chen
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry SciencesCollege of Bioscience and BiotechnologyNational Cheng Kung UniversityTainanTaiwan
| | | | | | - Wen‐Jeng Wu
- Graduate Institute of Clinical MedicineCollege of MedicineKaohsiung Medical UniversityKaohsiungTaiwan
- Department of UrologyKaohsiung Medical University HospitalKaohsiungTaiwan
- Department of UrologySchool of MedicineCollege of MedicineKaohsiung Medical UniversityKaohsiungTaiwan
- Department of UrologyMinistry of Health and Welfare Pingtung HospitalPingtungTaiwan
| | - Wei‐Ming Li
- Graduate Institute of Clinical MedicineCollege of MedicineKaohsiung Medical UniversityKaohsiungTaiwan
- Department of UrologyKaohsiung Medical University HospitalKaohsiungTaiwan
- Department of UrologySchool of MedicineCollege of MedicineKaohsiung Medical UniversityKaohsiungTaiwan
- Department of UrologyMinistry of Health and Welfare Pingtung HospitalPingtungTaiwan
| | - Ju‐Ming Wang
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry SciencesCollege of Bioscience and BiotechnologyNational Cheng Kung UniversityTainanTaiwan
| | - Yow‐Ling Shiue
- Institute of Precision MedicineNational Sun Yat‐Sen UniversityKaohsiungTaiwan
- Department of PathologySchool of MedicineCollege of MedicineKaohsiung Medical UniversityKaohsiungTaiwan
| | - Chien‐Feng Li
- Department of Medical ResearchChi Mei Medical CenterTainanTaiwan
- National Institute of Cancer ResearchNational Health Research InstitutesTainanTaiwan
- Institute of Precision MedicineNational Sun Yat‐Sen UniversityKaohsiungTaiwan
- Department of PathologySchool of MedicineCollege of MedicineKaohsiung Medical UniversityKaohsiungTaiwan
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37
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Tao L, Moreno‐Smith M, Ibarra‐García‐Padilla R, Milazzo G, Drolet NA, Hernandez BE, Oh YS, Patel I, Kim JJ, Zorman B, Patel T, Kamal AHM, Zhao Y, Hicks J, Vasudevan SA, Putluri N, Coarfa C, Sumazin P, Perini G, Parchem RJ, Uribe RA, Barbieri E. CHAF1A Blocks Neuronal Differentiation and Promotes Neuroblastoma Oncogenesis via Metabolic Reprogramming. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2005047. [PMID: 34365742 PMCID: PMC8498874 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202005047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) arises from oncogenic disruption of neural crest (NC) differentiation. Treatment with retinoic acid (RA) to induce differentiation has improved survival in some NB patients, but not all patients respond, and most NBs eventually develop resistance to RA. Loss of the chromatin modifier chromatin assembly factor 1 subunit p150 (CHAF1A) promotes NB cell differentiation; however, the mechanism by which CHAF1A drives NB oncogenesis has remained unexplored. This study shows that CHAF1A gain-of-function supports cell malignancy, blocks neuronal differentiation in three models (zebrafish NC, human NC, and human NB), and promotes NB oncogenesis. Mechanistically, CHAF1A upregulates polyamine metabolism, which blocks neuronal differentiation and promotes cell cycle progression. Targeting polyamine synthesis promotes NB differentiation and enhances the anti-tumor activity of RA. The authors' results provide insight into the mechanisms that drive NB oncogenesis and suggest a rapidly translatable therapeutic approach (DFMO plus RA) to enhance the clinical efficacy of differentiation therapy in NB patients.
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38
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De Wyn J, Zimmerman MW, Weichert-Leahey N, Nunes C, Cheung BB, Abraham BJ, Beckers A, Volders PJ, Decaesteker B, Carter DR, Look AT, De Preter K, Van Loocke W, Marshall GM, Durbin AD, Speleman F, Durinck K. MEIS2 Is an Adrenergic Core Regulatory Transcription Factor Involved in Early Initiation of TH-MYCN-Driven Neuroblastoma Formation. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194783. [PMID: 34638267 PMCID: PMC8508013 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Neuroblastoma is a pediatric tumor originating from the sympathetic nervous system responsible for 10–15% of all childhood cancer deaths. Half of all neuroblastoma patients present with high-risk disease, of which nearly 50% relapse and die of their disease. In addition, standard therapies cause serious lifelong side effects and increased risk for secondary tumors. Further research is crucial to better understand the molecular basis of neuroblastomas and to identify novel druggable targets. Neuroblastoma tumorigenesis has to this end been modeled in both mice and zebrafish. Here, we present a detailed dissection of the gene expression patterns that underlie tumor formation in the murine TH-MYCN-driven neuroblastoma model. We identified key factors that are putatively important for neuroblastoma tumor initiation versus tumor progression, pinpointed crucial regulators of the observed expression patterns during neuroblastoma development and scrutinized which factors could be innovative and vulnerable nodes for therapeutic intervention. Abstract Roughly half of all high-risk neuroblastoma patients present with MYCN amplification. The molecular consequences of MYCN overexpression in this aggressive pediatric tumor have been studied for decades, but thus far, our understanding of the early initiating steps of MYCN-driven tumor formation is still enigmatic. We performed a detailed transcriptome landscaping during murine TH-MYCN-driven neuroblastoma tumor formation at different time points. The neuroblastoma dependency factor MEIS2, together with ASCL1, was identified as a candidate tumor-initiating factor and shown to be a novel core regulatory circuit member in adrenergic neuroblastomas. Of further interest, we found a KEOPS complex member (gm6890), implicated in homologous double-strand break repair and telomere maintenance, to be strongly upregulated during tumor formation, as well as the checkpoint adaptor Claspin (CLSPN) and three chromosome 17q loci CBX2, GJC1 and LIMD2. Finally, cross-species master regulator analysis identified FOXM1, together with additional hubs controlling transcriptome profiles of MYCN-driven neuroblastoma. In conclusion, time-resolved transcriptome analysis of early hyperplastic lesions and full-blown MYCN-driven neuroblastomas yielded novel components implicated in both tumor initiation and maintenance, providing putative novel drug targets for MYCN-driven neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolien De Wyn
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (J.D.W.); (C.N.); (A.B.); (P.-J.V.); (B.D.); (K.D.P.); (W.V.L.); (F.S.)
| | - Mark W. Zimmerman
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (M.W.Z.); (N.W.-L.); (A.T.L.)
| | - Nina Weichert-Leahey
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (M.W.Z.); (N.W.-L.); (A.T.L.)
| | - Carolina Nunes
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (J.D.W.); (C.N.); (A.B.); (P.-J.V.); (B.D.); (K.D.P.); (W.V.L.); (F.S.)
| | - Belamy B. Cheung
- Lowy Cancer Research Centre, Children’s Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia; (B.B.C.); (D.R.C.); (G.M.M.)
- School of Women’s and Children’s Health, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Brian J. Abraham
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105-3678, USA;
| | - Anneleen Beckers
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (J.D.W.); (C.N.); (A.B.); (P.-J.V.); (B.D.); (K.D.P.); (W.V.L.); (F.S.)
| | - Pieter-Jan Volders
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (J.D.W.); (C.N.); (A.B.); (P.-J.V.); (B.D.); (K.D.P.); (W.V.L.); (F.S.)
| | - Bieke Decaesteker
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (J.D.W.); (C.N.); (A.B.); (P.-J.V.); (B.D.); (K.D.P.); (W.V.L.); (F.S.)
| | - Daniel R. Carter
- Lowy Cancer Research Centre, Children’s Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia; (B.B.C.); (D.R.C.); (G.M.M.)
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Alfred Thomas Look
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (M.W.Z.); (N.W.-L.); (A.T.L.)
| | - Katleen De Preter
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (J.D.W.); (C.N.); (A.B.); (P.-J.V.); (B.D.); (K.D.P.); (W.V.L.); (F.S.)
| | - Wouter Van Loocke
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (J.D.W.); (C.N.); (A.B.); (P.-J.V.); (B.D.); (K.D.P.); (W.V.L.); (F.S.)
| | - Glenn M. Marshall
- Lowy Cancer Research Centre, Children’s Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia; (B.B.C.); (D.R.C.); (G.M.M.)
- Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Adam D. Durbin
- Department of Oncology, Division of Molecular Oncology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105-3678, USA;
| | - Frank Speleman
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (J.D.W.); (C.N.); (A.B.); (P.-J.V.); (B.D.); (K.D.P.); (W.V.L.); (F.S.)
| | - Kaat Durinck
- Department for Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Medical Research Building (MRB1), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; (J.D.W.); (C.N.); (A.B.); (P.-J.V.); (B.D.); (K.D.P.); (W.V.L.); (F.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-9-332-24-51
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39
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Di Giulio S, Colicchia V, Pastorino F, Pedretti F, Fabretti F, Nicolis di Robilant V, Ramponi V, Scafetta G, Moretti M, Licursi V, Belardinilli F, Peruzzi G, Infante P, Goffredo BM, Coppa A, Canettieri G, Bartolazzi A, Ponzoni M, Giannini G, Petroni M. A combination of PARP and CHK1 inhibitors efficiently antagonizes MYCN-driven tumors. Oncogene 2021; 40:6143-6152. [PMID: 34508175 PMCID: PMC8553625 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-02003-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
MYCN drives aggressive behavior and refractoriness to chemotherapy, in several tumors. Since MYCN inactivation in clinical settings is not achievable, alternative vulnerabilities of MYCN-driven tumors need to be explored to identify more effective and less toxic therapies. We previously demonstrated that PARP inhibitors enhance MYCN-induced replication stress and promote mitotic catastrophe, counteracted by CHK1. Here, we showed that PARP and CHK1 inhibitors synergized to induce death in neuroblastoma cells and in primary cultures of SHH-dependent medulloblastoma, their combination being more effective in MYCN amplified and MYCN overexpressing cells compared to MYCN non-amplified cells. Although the MYCN amplified IMR-32 cell line carrying the p.Val2716Ala ATM mutation showed the highest sensitivity to the drug combination, this was not related to ATM status, as indicated by CRISPR/Cas9-based correction of the mutation. Suboptimal doses of the CHK1 inhibitor MK-8776 plus the PARP inhibitor olaparib led to a MYCN-dependent accumulation of DNA damage and cell death in vitro and significantly reduced the growth of four in vivo models of MYCN-driven tumors, without major toxicities. Our data highlight the combination of PARP and CHK1 inhibitors as a new potential chemo-free strategy to treat MYCN-driven tumors, which might be promptly translated into clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Di Giulio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Colicchia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Department of Biology, University Tor Vergata, 00173, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Pastorino
- Laboratory of Experimental Therapies in Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Flaminia Pedretti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Experimental Therapeutics Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesca Fabretti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Ramponi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Cellular Plasticity and Disease Group, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Giorgia Scafetta
- Pathology Research Laboratory, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, 00189, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Moretti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Licursi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", University La Sapienza, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giovanna Peruzzi
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Infante
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
| | | | - Anna Coppa
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Canettieri
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Armando Bartolazzi
- Pathology Research Laboratory, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, 00189, Rome, Italy
| | - Mirco Ponzoni
- Laboratory of Experimental Therapies in Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giannini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy. .,Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Marialaura Petroni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy
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Tagalakis AD, Jayarajan V, Maeshima R, Ho KH, Syed F, Wu L, Aldossary AM, Munye MM, Mistry T, Ogunbiyi OK, Sala A, Standing JF, Moghimi SM, Stoker AW, Hart SL. Integrin-Targeted, Short Interfering RNA Nanocomplexes for Neuroblastoma Tumor-Specific Delivery Achieve MYCN Silencing with Improved Survival. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2021; 31:2104843. [PMID: 35712226 PMCID: PMC9178728 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202104843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The authors aim to develop siRNA therapeutics for cancer that can be administered systemically to target tumors and retard their growth. The efficacy of systemic delivery of siRNA to tumors with nanoparticles based on lipids or polymers is often compromised by their rapid clearance from the circulation by the liver. Here, multifunctional cationic and anionic siRNA nanoparticle formulations are described, termed receptor-targeted nanocomplexes (RTNs), that comprise peptides for siRNA packaging into nanoparticles and receptor-mediated cell uptake, together with lipids that confer nanoparticles with stealth properties to enhance stability in the circulation, and fusogenic properties to enhance endosomal release within the cell. Intravenous administration of RTNs in mice leads to predominant accumulation in xenograft tumors, with very little detected in the liver, lung, or spleen. Although non-targeted RTNs also enter the tumor, cell uptake appears to be RGD peptide-dependent indicating integrin-mediated uptake. RTNs with siRNA against MYCN (a member of the Myc family of transcription factors) in mice with MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma tumors show significant retardation of xenograft tumor growth and enhanced survival. This study shows that RTN formulations can achieve specific tumor-targeting, with minimal clearance by the liver and so enable delivery of tumor-targeted siRNA therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristides D. Tagalakis
- Department of Genetics and Genomic MedicineUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London30 Guilford StreetLondonWC1N 1EHUK
- Present address:
Department of BiologyEdge Hill UniversityOrmskirkL39 4QPUK
| | - Vignesh Jayarajan
- Department of Genetics and Genomic MedicineUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London30 Guilford StreetLondonWC1N 1EHUK
| | - Ruhina Maeshima
- Department of Genetics and Genomic MedicineUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London30 Guilford StreetLondonWC1N 1EHUK
| | - Kin H. Ho
- Department of InflammationInfection and ImmunityUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London30 Guilford StreetLondonWC1N 1EHUK
| | - Farhatullah Syed
- Department of InflammationInfection and ImmunityUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London30 Guilford StreetLondonWC1N 1EHUK
| | - Lin‐Ping Wu
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology and NanotoxicologyFaculty of Health and Medical SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenUniversitetsparken 2Copenhagen2100Denmark
- Present address:
Guangzhou institute of Biomedicine and HealthChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou510530People's Republic of China
| | - Ahmad M. Aldossary
- Department of Genetics and Genomic MedicineUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London30 Guilford StreetLondonWC1N 1EHUK
- Present address:
National Center for BiotechnologyKing Abdulaziz City for Science and TechnologyRiyadh11442Saudi Arabia
| | - Mustafa M. Munye
- Department of Genetics and Genomic MedicineUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London30 Guilford StreetLondonWC1N 1EHUK
- Present address:
Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult12th Floor Tower Wing, Guy's Hospital, Great Maze PondLondonSE1 9RTUK
| | - Talisa Mistry
- Department of HistopathologyGreat Ormond Street Hospital for ChildrenNHS Foundation TrustLondonWC1N 3JHUK
| | - Olumide Kayode Ogunbiyi
- Department of HistopathologyGreat Ormond Street Hospital for ChildrenNHS Foundation TrustLondonWC1N 3JHUK
| | - Arturo Sala
- Department of Life SciencesBrunel University LondonKingston LaneMiddlesexUB8 3PHUK
| | - Joseph F. Standing
- Department of InflammationInfection and ImmunityUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London30 Guilford StreetLondonWC1N 1EHUK
| | - Seyed M. Moghimi
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology and NanotoxicologyFaculty of Health and Medical SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenUniversitetsparken 2Copenhagen2100Denmark
- Present address:
School of Pharmacy, and Translational and Clinical Research Institute, the Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneNE1 7RUUK
- Present address:
Colorado Center for Nanomedicine and Nanosafety, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraCO80045USA
| | - Andrew W. Stoker
- Department of Developmental Biology and CancerUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London30 Guilford StreetLondonWC1N 1EHUK
| | - Stephen L. Hart
- Department of Genetics and Genomic MedicineUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London30 Guilford StreetLondonWC1N 1EHUK
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Yu Y, Ding J, Zhu S, Alptekin A, Dong Z, Yan C, Zha Y, Ding HF. Therapeutic targeting of both dihydroorotate dehydrogenase and nucleoside transport in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:821. [PMID: 34462431 PMCID: PMC8405683 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04120-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is an integral part of the growth-promoting program driven by the MYC family of oncogenes. However, this reprogramming also imposes metabolic dependencies that could be exploited therapeutically. Here we report that the pyrimidine biosynthetic enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is an attractive therapeutic target for MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer with poor prognosis. Gene expression profiling and metabolomic analysis reveal that MYCN promotes pyrimidine nucleotide production by transcriptional upregulation of DHODH and other enzymes of the pyrimidine-synthesis pathway. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of DHODH suppresses the proliferation and tumorigenicity of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cell lines. Furthermore, we obtain evidence suggesting that serum uridine is a key factor in determining the efficacy of therapeutic agents that target DHODH. In the presence of physiological concentrations of uridine, neuroblastoma cell lines are highly resistant to DHODH inhibition. This uridine-dependent resistance to DHODH inhibitors can be abrogated by dipyridamole, an FDA-approved drug that blocks nucleoside transport. Importantly, dipyridamole synergizes with DHODH inhibition to suppress neuroblastoma growth in animal models. These findings suggest that a combination of targeting DHODH and nucleoside transport is a promising strategy to overcome intrinsic resistance to DHODH-based cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Yu
- Institute of Neural Regeneration and Repair and Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Yichang, Three Gorges University College of Medicine, Yichang, 443000, China
| | - Jane Ding
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, 30912, USA
| | - Shunqin Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Ahmet Alptekin
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, 30912, USA
| | - Zheng Dong
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, 30912, USA
- Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, 30904, USA
| | - Chunhong Yan
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, 30912, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, 30912, USA
| | - Yunhong Zha
- Institute of Neural Regeneration and Repair and Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Yichang, Three Gorges University College of Medicine, Yichang, 443000, China.
| | - Han-Fei Ding
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, 30912, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, 30912, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, 30912, USA.
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Pearson JD, Huang K, Pacal M, McCurdy SR, Lu S, Aubry A, Yu T, Wadosky KM, Zhang L, Wang T, Gregorieff A, Ahmad M, Dimaras H, Langille E, Cole SPC, Monnier PP, Lok BH, Tsao MS, Akeno N, Schramek D, Wikenheiser-Brokamp KA, Knudsen ES, Witkiewicz AK, Wrana JL, Goodrich DW, Bremner R. Binary pan-cancer classes with distinct vulnerabilities defined by pro- or anti-cancer YAP/TEAD activity. Cancer Cell 2021; 39:1115-1134.e12. [PMID: 34270926 PMCID: PMC8981970 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2021.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cancer heterogeneity impacts therapeutic response, driving efforts to discover over-arching rules that supersede variability. Here, we define pan-cancer binary classes based on distinct expression of YAP and YAP-responsive adhesion regulators. Combining informatics with in vivo and in vitro gain- and loss-of-function studies across multiple murine and human tumor types, we show that opposite pro- or anti-cancer YAP activity functionally defines binary YAPon or YAPoff cancer classes that express or silence YAP, respectively. YAPoff solid cancers are neural/neuroendocrine and frequently RB1-/-, such as retinoblastoma, small cell lung cancer, and neuroendocrine prostate cancer. YAP silencing is intrinsic to the cell of origin, or acquired with lineage switching and drug resistance. The binary cancer groups exhibit distinct YAP-dependent adhesive behavior and pharmaceutical vulnerabilities, underscoring clinical relevance. Mechanistically, distinct YAP/TEAD enhancers in YAPoff or YAPon cancers deploy anti-cancer integrin or pro-cancer proliferative programs, respectively. YAP is thus pivotal across cancer, but in opposite ways, with therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel D Pearson
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mt Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3A9, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Katherine Huang
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mt Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Marek Pacal
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mt Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Sean R McCurdy
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mt Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Suying Lu
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mt Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Arthur Aubry
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mt Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3A9, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Tao Yu
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mt Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Kristine M Wadosky
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Letian Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Alex Gregorieff
- Department of Pathology, McGill University and Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, ON H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Mohammad Ahmad
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mt Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Helen Dimaras
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3A9, Canada; The Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Child Health Evaluative Sciences Program, and Center for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Division of Clinical Public Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada
| | - Ellen Langille
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mt Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Susan P C Cole
- Division of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Queen's University Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Philippe P Monnier
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3A9, Canada; Krembil Research Institute, Vision Division, Krembil Discovery Tower, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Benjamin H Lok
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1P5, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Ming-Sound Tsao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Nagako Akeno
- Division of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Daniel Schramek
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mt Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Kathryn A Wikenheiser-Brokamp
- Division of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; The Perinatal Institute Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Erik S Knudsen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Agnieszka K Witkiewicz
- Department of Cancer Genetics and Genomics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Wrana
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mt Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - David W Goodrich
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Rod Bremner
- Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mt Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada; Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3A9, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
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Kawano A, Hazard FK, Chiu B, Naranjo A, LaBarre B, London WB, Hogarty MD, Cohn SL, Maris JM, Park JR, Gastier-Foster JM, Ikegaki N, Shimada H. Stage 4S Neuroblastoma: Molecular, Histologic, and Immunohistochemical Characteristics and Presence of 2 Distinct Patterns of MYCN Protein Overexpression-A Report From the Children's Oncology Group. Am J Surg Pathol 2021; 45:1075-1081. [PMID: 33739795 PMCID: PMC8217390 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000001647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Stage 4S neuroblastoma (4SNB) is associated with spontaneous tumor regression and an excellent prognosis. However, a small group of the patients have a poor prognosis. One hundred eighty-five stage 4SNB cases filed at the Children's Oncology Group Neuroblastoma Pathology Reference Laboratory were studied. MYCN oncogene status [non-amplified (NA) vs. Amplified (A)] determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization, MYC-family (MYCN/MYC) protein expression [no-overexpression(-)/(+/-) vs. overexpression(+)] by immunohistochemistry and histopathology by International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification [Favorable Histology (FH) vs. Unfavorable Histology (UH)] with particular attention to nucleolar hypertrophy [NH(-) vs. (+)] were assessed with patient survival. One hundred forty-seven (79.5%) tumors were MYCN-NA, FH, MYC-family protein(-)/(+/-), and NH(-) with a good prognosis [88.5±3.1% 3-y event-free survival (EFS); 94.1±2.3% 3-y overall survival (OS)]. Among MYCN-NA tumors, 11 demonstrated MYCN protein(+) with a moderate and uniform (M/U) staining pattern: they were FH(10/11), NH(-), 1 showed MYC protein(+) simultaneously, and all patients are alive. Also found were 5 MYC protein(+) and MYCN(-)/(+/-) tumors; they were FH without NH (4/5), and all patients are alive. Among MYCN-A tumors, 18 had MYCN protein(+) with a strong and heterogeneous (S/H) staining pattern, 9 had UH (44.4±23.4% EFS/OS) and 9 had FH (68.6±19.2% EFS/OS), and 15 showed NH(+). Two tumors had MYCN protein(-)/(+/-) despite MYCN-A; both were FH and NH(-), and 1 patient died. S/H staining pattern of MYCN protein overexpression by immunohistochemistry was associated with MYCN amplification, NH(+) and a poor prognosis. In contrast, the M/U staining pattern was associated with MYCN nonamplification and NH(-), and had no adverse prognostic effects for the stage 4SNB patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asuka Kawano
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Chiba, Japan
| | - Florette K. Hazard
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Bill Chiu
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Arlene Naranjo
- Department of Biostatistics, Children’s Oncology Group Statistics and Data Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32607, USA
| | - Brian LaBarre
- Department of Biostatistics, Children’s Oncology Group Statistics and Data Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32607, USA
| | - Wendy B. London
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Michael D. Hogarty
- Division of Oncology and Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Susan L. Cohn
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - John M. Maris
- Division of Oncology and Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Julie R. Park
- Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington School of Medicine and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | | | - Naohiko Ikegaki
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Hiroyuki Shimada
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
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Liu Q, Guo L, Qi H, Lou M, Wang R, Hai B, Xu K, Zhu L, Ding Y, Li C, Xie L, Shen J, Xiang X, Shao J. A MYBL2 complex for RRM2 transactivation and the synthetic effect of MYBL2 knockdown with WEE1 inhibition against colorectal cancer. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:683. [PMID: 34234118 PMCID: PMC8263627 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03969-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Ribonucleotide reductase (RR) is a unique enzyme for the reduction of NDPs to dNDPs, the building blocks for DNA synthesis and thus essential for cell proliferation. Pan-cancer profiling studies showed that RRM2, the small subunit M2 of RR, is abnormally overexpressed in multiple types of cancers; however, the underlying regulatory mechanisms in cancers are still unclear. In this study, through searching in cancer-omics databases and immunohistochemistry validation with clinical samples, we showed that the expression of MYBL2, a key oncogenic transcriptional factor, was significantly upregulated correlatively with RRM2 in colorectal cancer (CRC). Ectopic expression and knockdown experiments indicated that MYBL2 was essential for CRC cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, and cell cycle progression in an RRM2-dependent manner. Mechanistically, MYBL2 directly bound to the promoter of RRM2 gene and promoted its transcription during S-phase together with TAF15 and MuvB components. Notably, knockdown of MYBL2 sensitized CRC cells to treatment with MK-1775, a clinical trial drug for inhibition of WEE1, which is involved in a degradation pathway of RRM2. Finally, mouse xenograft experiments showed that the combined suppression of MYBL2 and WEE1 synergistically inhibited CRC growth with a low systemic toxicity in vivo. Therefore, we propose a new regulatory mechanism for RRM2 transcription for CRC proliferation, in which MYBL2 functions by constituting a dynamic S-phase transcription complex following the G1/early S-phase E2Fs complex. Doubly targeting the transcription and degradation machines of RRM2 could produce a synthetic inhibitory effect on RRM2 level with a novel potential for CRC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Liu
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lijuan Guo
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongyan Qi
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention of China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Meng Lou
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention of China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Boning Hai
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kailun Xu
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention of China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lijun Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease of Zhejiang Province, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yongfeng Ding
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease of Zhejiang Province, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chen Li
- Department of Human Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lingdan Xie
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention of China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jing Shen
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention of China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xueping Xiang
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention of China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Jimin Shao
- Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention of China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
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Wang H, Wang X, Xu L, Zhang J, Cao H. Age related gene DST represents an independent prognostic factor for MYCN non-amplified neuroblastoma. BMC Pediatr 2021; 21:272. [PMID: 34116676 PMCID: PMC8194129 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-021-02753-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background MYCN amplification and age are two critical prognostic factors of pediatric neuroblastoma. Previously, we had revealed the prognosis of MYCN target genes. However, the prognostic effects of age related genes in neuroblastoma are unclear. Methods The prognostic significance of age and MYCN amplification was determined through multivariate cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Genes differentially expressed in MYCN non-amplified younger neuroblastoma patients were identified using Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. The prognostic effects of age related genes ALCAM, CACNA2D3, DST, EPB41L4A and KIF1B in pediatric neuroblastoma patients were determined by Kaplan-Meier survival. Results In a pediatric pan-cancer analysis, age was associated with the overall survival of pediatric B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia, neuroblastoma and wilms tumor in TARGET dataset. Moreover, the prognostic effects of age in neuroblastoma were validated using two independent neuroblastoma cohorts. Furthermore, age and MYCN amplification were independent prognostic factors in pediatric neuroblastoma. Compared with MYCN non-amplified older neuroblastoma patients, MYCN non-amplified younger neuroblastoma patients had better clinical outcomes. ALCAM, CACNA2D3, DST, EPB41L4A and KIF1B were highly expressed in MYCN non-amplified younger neuroblastoma patients. And the higher expression levels of ALCAM, CACNA2D3, DST, EPB41L4A or KIF1B were associated with better prognosis of MYCN non-amplified neuroblastoma patients. DST was an independent prognostic factor in MYCN non-amplified neuroblastoma patients and MYCN non-amplified neuroblastoma younger patients with higher DST expression levels had the best clinical overall survival. Conclusions Age related gene DST was an independent prognostic factor in MYCN non-amplified neuroblastoma. MYCN non-amplified younger neuroblastoma patients with higher DST expression levels had the best clinical overall survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiwei Wang
- Medical Research Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
| | - Xinrui Wang
- Medical Research Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Liangpu Xu
- Medical Research Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Ji Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Medical Genomics, Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Hua Cao
- Medical Research Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
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46
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Kumar S, Singh SK, Rana B, Rana A. Tumor-infiltrating CD8 + T cell antitumor efficacy and exhaustion: molecular insights. Drug Discov Today 2021; 26:951-967. [PMID: 33450394 PMCID: PMC8131230 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Host immunity has an essential role in the clinical management of cancers. Therefore, it is advantageous to choose therapies that can promote tumor cell death and concurrently boost host immunity. The dynamic tumor microenvironment (TME) determines whether an antineoplastic drug will elicit favorable or disparaging immune responses from tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). CD8+ T cells are one of the primary tumor-infiltrating immune cells that deliver antitumor responses. Here, we review the influence of various factors in the TME on CD8+ T cell exhaustion and survival, and possible strategies for restoring CD8+ T cell effector function through immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Kumar
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
| | - Sunil Kumar Singh
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Basabi Rana
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60612, USA; University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Ajay Rana
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60612, USA; University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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Wu X, Nelson M, Basu M, Srinivasan P, Lazarski C, Zhang P, Zheng P, Sandler AD. MYC oncogene is associated with suppression of tumor immunity and targeting Myc induces tumor cell immunogenicity for therapeutic whole cell vaccination. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2020-001388. [PMID: 33757986 PMCID: PMC7993333 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background MYC oncogene is deregulated in 70% of all human cancers and is associated with multiple oncogenic functions including immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. The role of MYC in the immune microenvironment of neuroblastoma and melanoma is investigated and the effect of targeting Myc on immunogenicity of cancer cells is evaluated. Methods Immune cell infiltrates and immunogenic pathway signatures in the context of MYCN amplification were analyzed in human neuroblastoma tumors and in metastatic melanoma. Dose response and cell susceptibility to MYC inhibitors (I-BET726 and JQ1) were determined in mouse cell lines. The influence of downregulating Myc in tumor cells was characterized by immunogenic pathway signatures and functional assays. Myc-suppressed tumor cells were used as whole cell vaccines in preclinical neuroblastoma and melanoma models. Results Analysis of immune phenotype in human neuroblastoma and melanoma tumors revealed that MYCN or c-MYC amplified tumors respectively are associated with suppressed immune cell infiltrates and functional pathways. Targeting Myc in cancer cells with I-BET726 and JQ1 results in cell cycle arrest and induces cell immunogenicity. Combining vaccination of Myc-inhibited tumor cells with checkpoint inhibition induced robust antitumor immunity and resulted in therapeutic cancer vaccine therapy in mouse neuroblastoma tumors. Despite vigorous antitumor immunity in the mouse melanoma model, upregulation of immunosuppressive pathways enabled tumor escape. Conclusions This study demonstrates that the Myc oncogene is an appropriate target for inducing tumor cell immunogenicity and suggests that Myc-suppressed whole tumor cells combined with checkpoint therapy could be used for formulating a personalized therapeutic tumor vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Wu
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Childrens Hospital Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Marie Nelson
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Childrens Hospital Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Mousumi Basu
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Childrens Hospital Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Priya Srinivasan
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Childrens Hospital Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Christopher Lazarski
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Peng Zhang
- Division of Immunotherapy, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Pan Zheng
- Division of Immunotherapy, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Anthony David Sandler
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Childrens Hospital Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA .,Joseph E. Robert Jr. Center for Surgical Care, Childrens National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Ishfaq M, Pham T, Beaman C, Tamayo P, Yu AL, Joshi S. BTK Inhibition Reverses MDSC-Mediated Immunosuppression and Enhances Response to Anti-PDL1 Therapy in Neuroblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:817. [PMID: 33669187 PMCID: PMC7919651 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
MDSCs are immune cells of myeloid lineage that plays a key role in promoting tumor growth. The expansion of MDSCs in tumor-bearing hosts reduces the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T therapies, and hence strategies that deplete or block the recruitment of MDSCs have shown benefit in improving responses to immunotherapy in various cancers, including NB. Ibrutinib, an irreversible molecular inhibitor of BTK, has been widely studied in B cell malignancies, and recently, this drug is repurposed for the treatment of solid tumors. Herein we report that BTK is highly expressed in both granulocytic and monocytic murine MDSCs isolated from mice bearing NB tumors, and its increased expression correlates with a poor relapse-free survival probability of NB patients. Moreover, in vitro treatment of murine MDSCs with ibrutinib altered NO production, decreased mRNA expression of Ido, Arg, Tgfβ, and displayed defects in T-cell suppression. Consistent with these findings, in vivo inhibition of BTK with ibrutinib resulted in reduced MDSC-mediated immune suppression, increased CD8+ T cell infiltration, decreased tumor growth, and improved response to anti-PDL1 checkpoint inhibitor therapy in a murine model of NB. These results demonstrate that ibrutinib modulates immunosuppressive functions of MDSC and can be used either alone or in combination with immunotherapy for augmenting antitumor immune responses in NB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehreen Ishfaq
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093-0815, USA; (M.I.); (C.B.)
| | - Timothy Pham
- Office of Cancer Genomics, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093-0815, USA; (T.P.); (P.T.)
| | - Cooper Beaman
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093-0815, USA; (M.I.); (C.B.)
| | - Pablo Tamayo
- Office of Cancer Genomics, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093-0815, USA; (T.P.); (P.T.)
| | - Alice L. Yu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093-0815, USA;
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 131, Taiwan
| | - Shweta Joshi
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093-0815, USA; (M.I.); (C.B.)
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Szemes M, Melegh Z, Bellamy J, Park JH, Chen B, Greenhough A, Catchpoole D, Malik K. Transcriptomic Analyses of MYCN-Regulated Genes in Anaplastic Wilms' Tumour Cell Lines Reveals Oncogenic Pathways and Potential Therapeutic Vulnerabilities. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:656. [PMID: 33562123 PMCID: PMC7915280 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The MYCN proto-oncogene is deregulated in many cancers, most notably in neuroblastoma, where MYCN gene amplification identifies a clinical subset with very poor prognosis. Gene expression and DNA analyses have also demonstrated overexpression of MYCN mRNA, as well as focal amplifications, copy number gains and presumptive change of function mutations of MYCN in Wilms' tumours with poorer outcomes, including tumours with diffuse anaplasia. Surprisingly, however, the expression and functions of the MYCN protein in Wilms' tumours still remain obscure. In this study, we assessed MYCN protein expression in primary Wilms' tumours using immunohistochemistry of tissue microarrays. We found MYCN protein to be expressed in tumour blastemal cells, and absent in stromal and epithelial components. For functional studies, we used two anaplastic Wilms' tumour cell-lines, WiT49 and 17.94, to study the biological and transcriptomic effects of MYCN depletion. We found that MYCN knockdown consistently led to growth suppression but not cell death. RNA sequencing identified 561 MYCN-regulated genes shared by WiT49 and 17.94 cell-lines. As expected, numerous cellular processes were downstream of MYCN. MYCN positively regulated the miRNA regulator and known Wilms' tumour oncogene LIN28B, the genes encoding methylosome proteins PRMT1, PRMT5 and WDR77, and the mitochondrial translocase genes TOMM20 and TIMM50. MYCN repressed genes including the developmental signalling receptor ROBO1 and the stromal marker COL1A1. Importantly, we found that MYCN also repressed the presumptive Wilms' tumour suppressor gene REST, with MYCN knockdown resulting in increased REST protein and concomitant repression of RE1-Silencing Transcription factor (REST) target genes. Together, our study identifies regulatory axes that interact with MYCN, providing novel pathways for potential targeted therapeutics for poor-prognosis Wilms' tumour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Szemes
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK; (J.B.); (J.H.P.); (B.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Zsombor Melegh
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK;
| | - Jacob Bellamy
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK; (J.B.); (J.H.P.); (B.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Ji Hyun Park
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK; (J.B.); (J.H.P.); (B.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Biyao Chen
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK; (J.B.); (J.H.P.); (B.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Alexander Greenhough
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK; (J.B.); (J.H.P.); (B.C.); (A.G.)
- Department of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Daniel Catchpoole
- The Kids Research Institute, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia;
| | - Karim Malik
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK; (J.B.); (J.H.P.); (B.C.); (A.G.)
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Liu R, Shi P, Wang Z, Yuan C, Cui H. Molecular Mechanisms of MYCN Dysregulation in Cancers. Front Oncol 2021; 10:625332. [PMID: 33614505 PMCID: PMC7886978 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.625332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
MYCN, a member of MYC proto-oncogene family, encodes a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor N-MYC. Abnormal expression of N-MYC is correlated with high-risk cancers and poor prognosis. Initially identified as an amplified oncogene in neuroblastoma in 1983, the oncogenic effect of N-MYC is expanded to multiple neuronal and nonneuronal tumors. Direct targeting N-MYC remains challenge due to its "undruggable" features. Therefore, alternative therapeutic approaches for targeting MYCN-driven tumors have been focused on the disruption of transcription, translation, protein stability as well as synthetic lethality of MYCN. In this review, we summarize the latest advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of MYCN dysregulation in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruochen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Reproductive Medicine Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health (Chongqing Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing Population and Family Planning Science and Technology Research Institute), Chongqing, China
| | - Pengfei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Reproductive Medicine Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health (Chongqing Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing Population and Family Planning Science and Technology Research Institute), Chongqing, China
| | - Zhongze Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Reproductive Medicine Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chaoyu Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Reproductive Medicine Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongjuan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Reproductive Medicine Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health (Chongqing Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing Population and Family Planning Science and Technology Research Institute), Chongqing, China
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