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Zhang H, Yue X, Chen Z, Liu C, Wu W, Zhang N, Liu Z, Yang L, Jiang Q, Cheng Q, Luo P, Liu G. Define cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment: new opportunities in cancer immunotherapy and advances in clinical trials. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:159. [PMID: 37784082 PMCID: PMC10544417 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01860-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite centuries since the discovery and study of cancer, cancer is still a lethal and intractable health issue worldwide. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have gained much attention as a pivotal component of the tumor microenvironment. The versatility and sophisticated mechanisms of CAFs in facilitating cancer progression have been elucidated extensively, including promoting cancer angiogenesis and metastasis, inducing drug resistance, reshaping the extracellular matrix, and developing an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Owing to their robust tumor-promoting function, CAFs are considered a promising target for oncotherapy. However, CAFs are a highly heterogeneous group of cells. Some subpopulations exert an inhibitory role in tumor growth, which implies that CAF-targeting approaches must be more precise and individualized. This review comprehensively summarize the origin, phenotypical, and functional heterogeneity of CAFs. More importantly, we underscore advances in strategies and clinical trials to target CAF in various cancers, and we also summarize progressions of CAF in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinghai Yue
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhe Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Central Hospital of Zhuzhou, Zhuzhou, China
| | - Wantao Wu
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zaoqu Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Liping Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qing Jiang
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Quan Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Peng Luo
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
- Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Guodong Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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Peng L, Tan J, Xiong W, Zhang L, Wang Z, Yuan R, Li Z, Chen X. Deciphering ligand-receptor-mediated intercellular communication based on ensemble deep learning and the joint scoring strategy from single-cell transcriptomic data. Comput Biol Med 2023; 163:107137. [PMID: 37364528 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cell-cell communication in a tumor microenvironment is vital to tumorigenesis, tumor progression and therapy. Intercellular communication inference helps understand molecular mechanisms of tumor growth, progression and metastasis. METHODS Focusing on ligand-receptor co-expressions, in this study, we developed an ensemble deep learning framework, CellComNet, to decipher ligand-receptor-mediated cell-cell communication from single-cell transcriptomic data. First, credible LRIs are captured by integrating data arrangement, feature extraction, dimension reduction, and LRI classification based on an ensemble of heterogeneous Newton boosting machine and deep neural network. Next, known and identified LRIs are screened based on single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data in certain tissues. Finally, cell-cell communication is inferred by incorporating scRNA-seq data, the screened LRIs, a joint scoring strategy that combines expression thresholding and expression product of ligands and receptors. RESULTS The proposed CellComNet framework was compared with four competing protein-protein interaction prediction models (PIPR, XGBoost, DNNXGB, and OR-RCNN) and obtained the best AUCs and AUPRs on four LRI datasets, elucidating the optimal LRI classification ability. CellComNet was further applied to analyze intercellular communication in human melanoma and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissues. The results demonstrate that cancer-associated fibroblasts highly communicate with melanoma cells and endothelial cells strong communicate with HNSCC cells. CONCLUSIONS The proposed CellComNet framework efficiently identified credible LRIs and significantly improved cell-cell communication inference performance. We anticipate that CellComNet can contribute to anticancer drug design and tumor-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihong Peng
- School of Computer Science, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou, 412007, Hunan, China; College of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou, 412007, Hunan, China
| | - Jingwei Tan
- School of Computer Science, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou, 412007, Hunan, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- School of Computer Science, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou, 412007, Hunan, China
| | - Li Zhang
- School of Information and Control Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhao Wang
- School of Computer Science, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou, 412007, Hunan, China
| | - Ruya Yuan
- School of Computer Science, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou, 412007, Hunan, China
| | - Zejun Li
- School of Computer Science, Hunan Institute of Technology, Hengyang, 421002, Hunan, China.
| | - Xing Chen
- School of Science, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China.
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Filipescu D, Carcamo S, Agarwal A, Tung N, Humblin É, Goldberg MS, Vyas NS, Beaumont KG, Demircioglu D, Sridhar S, Ghiraldini FG, Capparelli C, Aplin AE, Salmon H, Sebra R, Kamphorst AO, Merad M, Hasson D, Bernstein E. MacroH2A restricts inflammatory gene expression in melanoma cancer-associated fibroblasts by coordinating chromatin looping. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:1332-1345. [PMID: 37605008 PMCID: PMC10495263 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01208-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
MacroH2A has established tumour suppressive functions in melanoma and other cancers, but an unappreciated role in the tumour microenvironment. Using an autochthonous, immunocompetent mouse model of melanoma, we demonstrate that mice devoid of macroH2A variants exhibit increased tumour burden compared with wild-type counterparts. MacroH2A-deficient tumours accumulate immunosuppressive monocytes and are depleted of functional cytotoxic T cells, characteristics consistent with a compromised anti-tumour response. Single cell and spatial transcriptomics identify increased dedifferentiation along the neural crest lineage of the tumour compartment and increased frequency and activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts following macroH2A loss. Mechanistically, macroH2A-deficient cancer-associated fibroblasts display increased myeloid chemoattractant activity as a consequence of hyperinducible expression of inflammatory genes, which is enforced by increased chromatin looping of their promoters to enhancers that gain H3K27ac. In summary, we reveal a tumour suppressive role for macroH2A variants through the regulation of chromatin architecture in the tumour stroma with potential implications for human melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Filipescu
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Saul Carcamo
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Bioinformatics for Next Generation Sequencing Facility, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aman Agarwal
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Bioinformatics for Next Generation Sequencing Facility, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Navpreet Tung
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Étienne Humblin
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew S Goldberg
- Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nikki S Vyas
- Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kristin G Beaumont
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deniz Demircioglu
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Bioinformatics for Next Generation Sequencing Facility, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Subhasree Sridhar
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Flavia G Ghiraldini
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Claudia Capparelli
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrew E Aplin
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hélène Salmon
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Institut Curie, INSERM, U932, and PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Robert Sebra
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alice O Kamphorst
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Miriam Merad
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dan Hasson
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Bioinformatics for Next Generation Sequencing Facility, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emily Bernstein
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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Kharouf N, Flanagan TW, Hassan SY, Shalaby H, Khabaz M, Hassan SL, Megahed M, Haikel Y, Santourlidis S, Hassan M. Tumor Microenvironment as a Therapeutic Target in Melanoma Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3147. [PMID: 37370757 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123147] [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: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of the tumor microenvironment in tumor growth and therapy has recently attracted more attention in research and drug development. The ability of the microenvironment to trigger tumor maintenance, progression, and resistance is the main cause for treatment failure and tumor relapse. Accumulated evidence indicates that the maintenance and progression of tumor cells is determined by components of the microenvironment, which include stromal cells (endothelial cells, fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells, and immune cells), extracellular matrix (ECM), and soluble molecules (chemokines, cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular vesicles). As a solid tumor, melanoma is not only a tumor mass of monolithic tumor cells, but it also contains supporting stroma, ECM, and soluble molecules. Melanoma cells are continuously in interaction with the components of the microenvironment. In the present review, we focus on the role of the tumor microenvironment components in the modulation of tumor progression and treatment resistance as well as the impact of the tumor microenvironment as a therapeutic target in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naji Kharouf
- Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université de Strasbourg, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1121, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Department of Endodontics and Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Thomas W Flanagan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Sofie-Yasmin Hassan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Hosam Shalaby
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Marla Khabaz
- Department of Production, Beta Factory for Veterinary Pharmaceutical Industries, Damascus 0100, Syria
| | - Sarah-Lilly Hassan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Mosaad Megahed
- Clinic of Dermatology, University Hospital of Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Youssef Haikel
- Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université de Strasbourg, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1121, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Department of Endodontics and Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Pôle de Médecine et Chirurgie Bucco-Dentaire, Hôpital Civil, Hôpitaux Universitaire de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Simeon Santourlidis
- Epigenetics Core Laboratory, Institute of Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Mohamed Hassan
- Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université de Strasbourg, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1121, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Department of Endodontics and Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Research Laboratory of Surgery-Oncology, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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5
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Alver TN, Heintz K, Hovig E, Bøe SL. Cooperative induction of receptor tyrosine kinases contributes to adaptive MAPK drug resistance in melanoma through the PI3K pathway. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2023; 6:e1736. [PMID: 36251678 PMCID: PMC9940011 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Vemurafenib-induced drug resistance in melanoma has been linked to receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) upregulation. The MITF and SOX10 genes play roles as master regulators of melanocyte and melanoma development. Here, we aimed to explore the complex mechanisms behind the MITF/SOX10-controlled RTK-induced drug resistance in melanoma. To achieve this, we used a number of molecular techniques, including melanoma patient data from TCGA, vemurafenib-resistant melanoma cell lines, and knock-down studies. The melanoma cell lines were classified as proliferative or invasive based upon their MITF/AXL expression activity. We measured the change of expression activity for MITF/SOX10 and their receptor (AXL/ERBB3) and ligand (NRG1/GAS6) targets known to be involved in RTK-induced drug resistance after vemurafenib treatment. We find that melanoma cell lines characterized as proliferative (high MITF low AXL), transform into an invasive (low MITF, high AXL) cell state after vemurafenib resistance, indicating novel feedback loops and advanced compensatory regulation mechanisms between the master regulators, receptors, and ligands involved in vemurafenib-induced resistance. Together, our data disclose fine-tuned mechanisms involved in RTK-facilitated vemurafenib resistance that will be challenging to overcome by using single drug targeting strategies against melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tine Norman Alver
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer ResearchOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer ResearchOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Faculty of MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Karen‐Marie Heintz
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer ResearchOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Faculty of MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Eivind Hovig
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer ResearchOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Department of InformaticsUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Sigurd L. Bøe
- Department of Medical BiochemistryOslo University Hospital, The Norwegian Radium HospitalOsloNorway
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Liu C, Zhang M, Yan X, Ni Y, Gong Y, Wang C, Zhang X, Wan L, Yang H, Ge C, Li Y, Zou W, Huang R, Li X, Sun B, Liu B, Yue J, Yu J. Single-cell dissection of cellular and molecular features underlying human cervical squamous cell carcinoma initiation and progression. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd8977. [PMID: 36706185 PMCID: PMC9882988 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add8977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CESC) is a prototypical human cancer with well-characterized pathological stages of initiation and progression. However, high-resolution knowledge of the transcriptional programs underlying each stage of CESC is lacking, and important questions remain. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of 76,911 individual cells from 13 samples of human cervical tissues at various stages of malignancy, illuminating the transcriptional tumorigenic trajectory of cervical epithelial cells and revealing key factors involved in CESC initiation and progression. In addition, we found significant correlations between the abundance of specific myeloid, lymphoid, and endothelial cell populations and the progression of CESC, which were also associated with patients' prognosis. Last, we demonstrated the tumor-promoting function of matrix cancer-associated fibroblasts via the NRG1-ERBB3 pathway in CESC. This study provides a valuable resource and deeper insights into CESC initiation and progression, which is helpful in refining CESC diagnosis and for the design of optimal treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
- Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Xinlong Yan
- Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Yanli Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Senior Department of Hematology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Yandong Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Senior Department of Hematology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Cong Wang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Xiaoling Zhang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Lingfei Wan
- Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Chen Ge
- Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Yunqiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Senior Department of Hematology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Wenxue Zou
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Rui Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Xiaohui Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Bing Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Bing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Senior Department of Hematology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Jinbo Yue
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Jinming Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
- Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
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Garcia-Rendueles MER, Krishnamoorthy G, Saqcena M, Acuña-Ruiz A, Revilla G, de Stanchina E, Knauf JA, Lester R, Xu B, Ghossein RA, Fagin JA. Yap governs a lineage-specific neuregulin1 pathway-driven adaptive resistance to RAF kinase inhibitors. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:213. [PMID: 36476495 PMCID: PMC9730579 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01676-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inactivation of the Hippo pathway promotes Yap nuclear translocation, enabling execution of a transcriptional program that induces tissue growth. Genetic lesions of Hippo intermediates only identify a minority of cancers with illegitimate YAP activation. Yap has been implicated in resistance to targeted therapies, but the mechanisms by which YAP may impact adaptive resistance to MAPK inhibitors are unknown. METHODS We screened 52 thyroid cancer cell lines for illegitimate nuclear YAP localization by immunofluorescence and fractionation of cell lysates. We engineered a doxycycline (dox)-inducible thyroid-specific mouse model expressing constitutively nuclear YAPS127A, alone or in combination with endogenous expression of either HrasG12V or BrafV600E. We also generated cell lines expressing dox-inducible sh-miR-E-YAP and/or YAPS127A. We used cell viability, invasion assays, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, qRT-PCRs, flow cytometry and cell sorting, high-throughput bulk RNA sequencing and in vivo tumorigenesis to investigate YAP dependency and response of BRAF-mutant cells to vemurafenib. RESULTS We found that 27/52 thyroid cancer cell lines had constitutively aberrant YAP nuclear localization when cultured at high density (NU-YAP), which rendered them dependent on YAP for viability, invasiveness and sensitivity to the YAP-TEAD complex inhibitor verteporfin, whereas cells with confluency-driven nuclear exclusion of YAP (CYT-YAP) were not. Treatment of BRAF-mutant thyroid cancer cells with RAF kinase inhibitors resulted in YAP nuclear translocation and activation of its transcriptional output. Resistance to vemurafenib in BRAF-mutant thyroid cells was driven by YAP-dependent NRG1, HER2 and HER3 activation across all isogenic human and mouse thyroid cell lines tested, which was abrogated by silencing YAP and relieved by pan-HER kinase inhibitors. YAP activation induced analogous changes in BRAF melanoma, but not colorectal cells. CONCLUSIONS YAP activation in thyroid cancer generates a dependency on this transcription factor. YAP governs adaptive resistance to RAF kinase inhibitors and induces a gene expression program in BRAFV600E-mutant cells encompassing effectors in the NRG1 signaling pathway, which play a central role in the insensitivity to MAPK inhibitors in a lineage-dependent manner. HIPPO pathway inactivation serves as a lineage-dependent rheostat controlling the magnitude of the adaptive relief of feedback responses to MAPK inhibitors in BRAF-V600E cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria E. R. Garcia-Rendueles
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA ,grid.482878.90000 0004 0500 5302IMDEA Food Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gnana Krishnamoorthy
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Mahesh Saqcena
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Adrian Acuña-Ruiz
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Giovanna Revilla
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Elisa de Stanchina
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Antitumor Assessment Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Jeffrey A. Knauf
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA ,grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Rona Lester
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Bin Xu
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA ,grid.5386.8000000041936877XWeill-Cornell Medical College, New York, NY USA
| | - Ronald A. Ghossein
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA ,grid.5386.8000000041936877XWeill-Cornell Medical College, New York, NY USA
| | - James A. Fagin
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA ,grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA ,grid.5386.8000000041936877XWeill-Cornell Medical College, New York, NY USA
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8
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Caksa S, Baqai U, Aplin AE. The future of targeted kinase inhibitors in melanoma. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 239:108200. [PMID: 35513054 PMCID: PMC10187889 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is a cancer of the pigment-producing cells of the body and its incidence is rising. Targeted inhibitors that act against kinases in the MAPK pathway are approved for BRAF-mutant metastatic cutaneous melanoma and increase patients' survival. Response to these therapies is limited by drug resistance and is less durable than with immune checkpoint inhibition. Conversely, rare melanoma subtypes have few therapeutic options for advanced disease and MAPK pathway targeting agents show minimal anti-tumor effects. Nevertheless, there is a future for targeted kinase inhibitors in melanoma: in new applications such as adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy and in novel combinations with immunotherapies or other targeted therapies. Pre-clinical studies continue to identify tumor dependencies and their corresponding actionable drug targets, paving the way for rational targeted kinase inhibitor combinations as a personalized medicine approach for melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Signe Caksa
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Usman Baqai
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Andrew E Aplin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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9
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Li S, Liu T, Liu H, Zhai X, Cao T, Yu H, Hong W, Lin X, Li M, Huang Y, Xiao J. Integrated driver mutations profile of chinese gastrointestinal-natural killer/T-cell lymphoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:976762. [PMID: 36059700 PMCID: PMC9434212 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.976762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background One of the most common nasal external sites in extranodal Natural Killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) is in the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Despite this, reports on gastrointestinal-Natural Killer/T-cell lymphoma (GI-NKTCL) are very few. To obtain a better understanding of this manifestation of NKTCL, we conducted a retrospective study on GI-NKTCL to analyze its clinical features, genomic changes and immune infiltration. Methods We retrospectively collected patients diagnosed with GI-NKTCL in the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from 2010 to 2020. From this cohort we obtained mutation data via whole exome sequencing. Results Genomic analysis from 15 patients with GI-NKTCL showed that the most common driving mutations were ARID1B(14%, 2/15), ERBB3(14%, 2/15), POT1(14%, 2/15), and TP53(14%, 2/15). In addition, we found the most common gene mutation in patients with GI-NKTCL to be RETSAT(29%, 4/15) and SNRNP70(21%, 3/15), and the most common hallmark pathway mutations to be G2M checkpoint pathway (10/15, 66.7%), E2F targets (8/15, 53.3%), estrogen response late (7/15, 46.7%), estrogen response early (7/15, 46.7%), apoptosis (7/15, 46.7%) and TNFA signaling via NFKB (7/15, 46.7%). In the ICIs-Miao cohort, SNRNP7-wild-type (WT) melanoma patients had significantly prolonged overall survival (OS) time compared with SNRNP7 mutant type (MT) melanoma patients. In the TCGA-UCEC cohort, the patients with RETSAT-MT or SNRNP7-MT had significantly increased expression of immune checkpoint molecules and upregulation of inflammatory immune cells. Conclusions In this study, we explored GI-NKTCL by means of genomic analysis, and identified the most common mutant genes (RETSAT and SNRNP70), pathway mutations (G2M checkpoint and E2F targets) in GI-NKTCL patients. Also, we explored the association between the common mutant genes and immune infiltration. Our aim is that our exploration of these genomic changes will aid in the discovery of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for those with GI-NKTCL, and finally provide a theoretical basis for improving the treatment and prognosis of patients with GI-NKTCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingzhi Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Medical Hematology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hailing Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhai
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Taiyuan Cao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongen Yu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wanjia Hong
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoru Lin
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yan Huang, ; Jian Xiao,
| | - Jian Xiao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yan Huang, ; Jian Xiao,
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10
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Mazurkiewicz J, Simiczyjew A, Dratkiewicz E, Pietraszek-Gremplewicz K, Majkowski M, Kot M, Ziętek M, Matkowski R, Nowak D. Melanoma cells with diverse invasive potential differentially induce the activation of normal human fibroblasts. Cell Commun Signal 2022; 20:63. [PMID: 35538545 PMCID: PMC9092709 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-022-00871-x] [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: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The tumor microenvironment consists of stromal cells, extracellular matrix, and physicochemical properties (e.g., oxygenation, acidification). An important element of the tumor niche are cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). They may constitute up to 80% of the tumor mass and share some features with myofibroblasts involved in the process of wound healing. CAFs can facilitate cancer progression. However, their interaction with melanoma cells is still poorly understood.
Methods We obtained CAFs using conditioned media derived from primary and metastatic melanoma cells, and via co-culture with melanoma cells on Transwell inserts. Using 2D and 3D wound healing assays and Transwell invasion method we evaluated CAFs’ motile activities, while coverslips with FITC-labeled gelatin, gelatin zymography, and fluorescence-based activity assay were employed to determine the proteolytic activity of the examined cells. Western Blotting method was used for the identification of CAFs’ markers as well as estimation of the mediators of MMPs’ (matrix metalloproteinases) expression levels. Lastly, CAFs’ secretome was evaluated with cytokine and angiogenesis proteomic arrays, and lactate chemiluminescence-based assay. Results Acquired FAP-α/IL6-positive CAFs exhibited elevated motility expressed as increased migration and invasion ratio, as well as higher proteolytic activity (area of digestion, MMP2, MMP14). Furthermore, fibroblasts activated by melanoma cells showed upregulation of the MMPs’ expression mediators’ levels (pERK, p-p38, CD44, RUNX), enhanced secretion of lactate, several cytokines (IL8, IL6, CXCL1, CCL2, ICAM1), and proteins related to angiogenesis (GM-CSF, DPPIV, VEGFA, PIGF). Conclusions Observed changes in CAFs’ biology were mainly driven by highly aggressive melanoma cells (A375, WM9, Hs294T) compared to the less aggressive WM1341D cells and could promote melanoma invasion, as well as impact inflammation, angiogenesis, and acidification of the tumor niche. Interestingly, different approaches to CAFs acquisition seem to complement each other showing interactions between studied cells. Video Abstract
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-022-00871-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Mazurkiewicz
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Aleksandra Simiczyjew
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Ewelina Dratkiewicz
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Michał Majkowski
- Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Magdalena Kot
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Marcin Ziętek
- Department of Oncology and Division of Surgical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413, Wrocław, Poland.,Wroclaw Comprehensive Cancer Center, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Rafał Matkowski
- Department of Oncology and Division of Surgical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413, Wrocław, Poland.,Wroclaw Comprehensive Cancer Center, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Dorota Nowak
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
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11
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Bae J, Choi YS, Cho G, Jang SJ. The Patient-Derived Cancer Organoids: Promises and Challenges as Platforms for Cancer Discovery. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092144. [PMID: 35565273 PMCID: PMC9105149 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The cancer burden is rapidly increasing in most countries, and thus, new anticancer drugs for effective cancer therapy must be developed. Cancer model systems that recapitulate the biological processes of human cancers are one of the cores of the drug development process. PDCO has emerged as a unique model that preserves the genetic, physiological, and histologic characteristics of original cancer, including inter- and intratumoral heterogeneities. Due to these advantages, the PCDO model is increasingly investigated for anticancer drug screening and efficacy testing, preclinical patient stratification, and precision medicine for selecting the most effective anticancer therapy for patients. Here, we review the prospects and limitations of PDCO compared to the conventional cancer models. With advances in culture success rates, co-culture systems with the tumor microenvironment, organoid-on-a-chip technology, and automation technology, PDCO will become the most promising model to develop anticancer drugs and precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- JuneSung Bae
- Department of Research and Development, OncoClew Co., Ltd., Seoul 04778, Korea; (J.B.); (Y.S.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Yun Sik Choi
- Department of Research and Development, OncoClew Co., Ltd., Seoul 04778, Korea; (J.B.); (Y.S.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Gunsik Cho
- Department of Research and Development, OncoClew Co., Ltd., Seoul 04778, Korea; (J.B.); (Y.S.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Se Jin Jang
- Department of Research and Development, OncoClew Co., Ltd., Seoul 04778, Korea; (J.B.); (Y.S.C.); (G.C.)
- Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea
- Asan Center for Cancer Genome Discovery, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Seoul 05505, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-498-2644; Fax: +82-2-498-2655
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12
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Bête Noire of Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapy: CAF-Mediated Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14061519. [PMID: 35326670 PMCID: PMC8946545 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Tumor cells struggle to survive following treatment. The struggle ends in either of two ways. The drug combination used for the treatment blocks the proliferation of tumor cells and initiates apoptosis of cells, which is a win for the patient, or tumor cells resist the effect of the drug combination used for the treatment and continue to evade the effect of anti-tumor drugs, which is a bête noire of therapy. Cancer-associated fibroblasts are the most abundant non-transformed element of the microenvironment in solid tumors. Tumor cells play a direct role in establishing the cancer-associated fibroblasts’ population in its microenvironment. Since cancer-associated fibroblasts are activated by tumor cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts show unconditional servitude to tumor cells in their effort to resist treatment. Thus, cancer-associated fibroblasts, as the critical or indispensable component of resistance to the treatment, are one of the most logical targets within tumors that eventually progress despite therapy. We evaluate the participatory role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in the development of drug resistance in solid tumors. In the future, we will establish the specific mode of action of cancer-associated fibroblasts in solid tumors, paving the way for cancer-associated-fibroblast-inclusive personalized therapy. Abstract In tumor cells’ struggle for survival following therapy, they resist treatment. Resistance to therapy is the outcome of well-planned, highly efficient adaptive strategies initiated and utilized by these transformed tumor cells. Cancer cells undergo several reprogramming events towards adapting this opportunistic behavior, leading them to gain specific survival advantages. The strategy involves changes within the transformed tumors cells as well as in their neighboring non-transformed extra-tumoral support system, the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the components of the TME that is used by tumor cells to achieve resistance to therapy. CAFs are diverse in origin and are the most abundant non-transformed element of the microenvironment in solid tumors. Cells of an established tumor initially play a direct role in the establishment of the CAF population for its own microenvironment. Like their origin, CAFs are also diverse in their functions in catering to the pro-tumor microenvironment. Once instituted, CAFs interact in unison with both tumor cells and all other components of the TME towards the progression of the disease and the worst outcome. One of the many functions of CAFs in influencing the outcome of the disease is their participation in the development of resistance to treatment. CAFs resist therapy in solid tumors. A tumor–CAF relationship is initiated by tumor cells to exploit host stroma in favor of tumor progression. CAFs in concert with tumor cells and other components of the TME are abettors of resistance to treatment. Thus, this liaison between CAFs and tumor cells is a bête noire of therapy. Here, we portray a comprehensive picture of the modes and functions of CAFs in conjunction with their role in orchestrating the development of resistance to different chemotherapies and targeted therapies in solid tumors. We investigate the various functions of CAFs in various solid tumors in light of their dialogue with tumor cells and the two components of the TME, the immune component, and the vascular component. Acknowledgment of the irrefutable role of CAFs in the development of treatment resistance will impact our future strategies and ability to design improved therapies inclusive of CAFs. Finally, we discuss the future implications of this understanding from a therapeutic standpoint and in light of currently ongoing and completed CAF-based NIH clinical trials.
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13
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Dent P, Booth L, Poklepovic A, Kirkwood JM. Neratinib kills B-RAF V600E melanoma via ROS-dependent autophagosome formation and death receptor signaling. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2021; 35:66-77. [PMID: 34482636 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma cells expressing mutant B-RAF V600E are susceptible to treatment with the combination of a B-RAF inhibitor and a MEK1/2 inhibitor. We investigated the impact of the ERBB family and MAP4K inhibitor neratinib on the biology of PDX isolates of cutaneous melanoma expressing B-RAF V600E. Neratinib synergized with HDAC inhibitors to kill melanoma cells at their physiologic concentrations. Neratinib activated ATM, AMPK, ULK1, and PERK and inactivated mTORC1/2, ERK1/2, eIF2 alpha, and STAT3. Neratinib increased expression of Beclin1, ATG5, CD95, and FAS-L and decreased levels of multiple toxic BH3 domain proteins, MCL1, BCL-XL, FLIP-s, and ERBB1/2/4. ATG13 S318 phosphorylation and autophagosome formation was dependent upon ATM, and activation of ATM was dependent on reactive oxygen species. Reduced expression of ERBB1/2/4 required autophagosome formation and reduced MCL1/BCL-XL levels required eIF2 alpha phosphorylation. Maximal levels of eIF2 alpha phosphorylation required signaling by ATM-AMPK and autophagosome formation. Knock down of eIF2 alpha, CD95, FAS-L, Beclin1, and ATG5 or over-expression of FLIP-s significantly reduced killing. Combined knock down of Beclin1 and CD95 abolished cell death. Our data demonstrate that PDX melanoma cells expressing B-RAF V600E are susceptible to being killed by neratinib and more so when combined with HDACi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Dent
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Laurence Booth
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Andrew Poklepovic
- Department of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - John M Kirkwood
- Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program, Hillman Cancer Research Pavilion Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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14
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Guardia C, Bianchini G, Arpí-LLucià O, Menendez S, Casadevall D, Galbardi B, Dugo M, Servitja S, Montero JC, Soria-Jiménez L, Sabbaghi M, Peña R, Madoz-Gúrpide J, Lloveras B, Lluch A, Eroles P, Arribas J, Pandiella A, Gianni L, Rojo F, Rovira A, Albanell J. Preclinical and Clinical Characterization of Fibroblast-derived Neuregulin-1 on Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab Activity in HER2-positive Breast Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:5096-5108. [PMID: 34385295 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-2915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To characterize expression of neuregulin-1 (NRG1), an HER3 ligand, in HER2-positive breast cancer and its relation with the efficacy of trastuzumab with or without pertuzumab. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Characterization of NRG1 expression in tumor cell lines, in tumor specimens, and in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Patient-derived CAFs were used to investigate NRG1 impact on the activity of trastuzumab with or without pertuzumab in HER2-positive breast cancer cells. The relationship between NRG1 expression and pathologic response to anti-HER2-based neoadjuvant therapy was assessed in a retrospective patient cohort and in the NeoSphere trial. RESULTS NRG1 was expressed in HER2-positive breast cancer-derived fibroblasts at significantly higher levels than in cancer cells. NRG1 and the conditioned media (CM) from CAFs phosphorylated HER3 and AKT in cancer cells and mediated trastuzumab resistance. Stable genetic depletion of NRG1 from CAFs overcame trastuzumab resistance. Pertuzumab effectively suppressed trastuzumab resistance mediated by either NRG1 or CAF's CM. NRG1 engaged an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition that was prevented by trastuzumab and pertuzumab. In clinical samples, stromal and/or tumor cell expression of NRG1 determined by immunohistochemistry was uncommon (13.2%) yet significantly linked with residual disease following trastuzumab-based neoadjuvant therapy. In the NeoSphere trial, the magnitude of the difference of pathologic complete response rates favoring the pertuzumab arm was higher in the NRG1-high group. CONCLUSIONS CAF-derived NRG1 mediates trastuzumab resistance through HER3/AKT, which might be reverted by pertuzumab. In patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, high expression of NRG1 was associated to poor response to trastuzumab, but not in combination with pertuzumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Guardia
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Oriol Arpí-LLucià
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Menendez
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Casadevall
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Barbara Galbardi
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Dugo
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Sonia Servitja
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Luis Soria-Jiménez
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - MohammadA Sabbaghi
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raul Peña
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Madoz-Gúrpide
- Department of Pathology, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz-CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Belen Lloveras
- Department of Pathology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Lluch
- INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Hospital Clínico de Valencia-CIBERONC, Universitat de València, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pilar Eroles
- INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Hospital Clínico de Valencia-CIBERONC, Universitat de València, Barcelona, Spain.,INCLIVA, Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Joaquin Arribas
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Preclinical Research Program, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBERONC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Atanasio Pandiella
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, IBSAL-CSIC-CIBERONC, Salamanca, Spain
| | | | - Federico Rojo
- Department of Pathology, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz-CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Rovira
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Albanell
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain. .,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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15
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Li H, Yang L, Lai Y, Wang X, Han X, Liu S, Wang D, Li X, Hu N, Kong Y, Si L, Li Z. Genetic alteration of Chinese patients with rectal mucosal melanoma. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:623. [PMID: 34044811 PMCID: PMC8161925 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08383-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rectal mucosal melanoma (RMM) is a rare and highly aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. Due to the rarity of RMM, there are few studies focusing on its genetic mechanism. This retrospective study aimed to analyze the genetic spectrum and prognosis of RMM in China and lay a foundation for targeted therapy. Methods 36 patients with primary RMM from Peking University Cancer Hospital were enrolled in this study. The Next-generation sequencing (NGS) data of the tumor samples were fitted into the TruSight™ Oncology 500 (TSO500) Docker pipeline to detect genomic variants. Then, the univariate and multivariate Cox hazard analysis were performed to evaluate the correlations of the variants with the overall survival (OS), along with Kaplan-Meier and log-rank test to determine their significance. Results BRAF mutations, NRG1 deletions and mitotic index were significant prognostic factors in the univariate analysis. In multivariable analysis of the OS-related prognostic factors in primary RMM patients, it revealed 2 significant alterations: BRAF mutations [HR 7.732 (95%CI: 1.735–34.456), P = 0.007] and NRG1 deletions [HR 14.976 (95%CI: 2.305–97.300), P = 0.005]. Conclusions This is the first study to show genetic alterations exclusively to Chinese patients with RMM. We confirmed genetic alterations of RMM differ from cutaneous melanoma (CM). Our study indicates that BRAF and NRG1 were correlated with a poor prognostic of RMM and may be potential therapeutic targets for RMM treatment. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08383-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Fucheng Road No.52, Haidian District, Peking, 100142, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Lujing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Fucheng Road No.52, Haidian District, Peking, 100142, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yumei Lai
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Fucheng Road No.52, Haidian District, Peking, 100142, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xintong Wang
- ChosenMed Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100176, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyin Han
- Computer Network Information Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, People's Republic of China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyao Liu
- ChosenMed Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100176, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongliang Wang
- ChosenMed Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100176, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojuan Li
- ChosenMed Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100176, People's Republic of China
| | - Nana Hu
- ChosenMed Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100176, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Kong
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Fucheng Road No.52, Haidian District, 100142, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lu Si
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Renal Cancer and Melanoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Fucheng Road No.52, Haidian District, 100142, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhongwu Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Fucheng Road No.52, Haidian District, Peking, 100142, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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16
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Hosseinkhani N, Derakhshani A, Shadbad MA, Argentiero A, Racanelli V, Kazemi T, Mokhtarzadeh A, Brunetti O, Silvestris N, Baradaran B. The Role of V-Domain Ig Suppressor of T Cell Activation (VISTA) in Cancer Therapy: Lessons Learned and the Road Ahead. Front Immunol 2021; 12:676181. [PMID: 34093577 PMCID: PMC8172140 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.676181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoints (ICs) have pivotal roles in regulating immune responses. The inhibitory ICs in the tumor microenvironment (TME) have been implicated in the immune evasion of tumoral cells. Therefore, identifying and targeting these inhibitory ICs might be critical for eliminating tumoral cells. V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is a novel inhibitory IC that is expressed on myeloid cells, lymphoid cells, and tumoral cells; therefore, VISTA can substantially regulate innate and adaptive anti-tumoral immune responses. Besides, growing evidence indicates that VISTA blockade can enhance the sensitivity of tumoral cells to conventional IC-based immunotherapy, e.g., cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors. In this regard, the current study aimed to review the current evidence about the structure and expression pattern of VISTA, its role in TME, the clinicopathological significance of VISTA, and its prognostic values in various cancers. Besides, this review intended to collect the lessons from the recent pre-clinical and clinical studies and propose a strategy to overcome tumor immune-resistance states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Negar Hosseinkhani
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Afshin Derakhshani
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II" of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Mahdi Abdoli Shadbad
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Antonella Argentiero
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II" of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Vito Racanelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Aldo Moro University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Tohid Kazemi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ahad Mokhtarzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Oronzo Brunetti
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II" of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Nicola Silvestris
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II" of Bari, Bari, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Aldo Moro University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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17
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Booth L, West C, Von Hoff D, Kirkwood JM, Dent P. GZ17-6.02 Interacts With [MEK1/2 and B-RAF Inhibitors] to Kill Melanoma Cells. Front Oncol 2021; 11:656453. [PMID: 33898322 PMCID: PMC8061416 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.656453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We defined the lethal interaction between the novel therapeutic GZ17-6.02 and the standard of care combination of the MEK1/2 inhibitor trametinib and the B-RAF inhibitor dabrafenib in PDX isolates of cutaneous melanoma expressing a mutant B-RAF V600E protein. GZ17-6.02 interacted with trametinib/dabrafenib in an additive fashion to kill melanoma cells. Regardless of prior vemurafenib resistance, the drugs when combined interacted to prolong ATM S1981/AMPK T172 and eIF2α S51 phosphorylation and prolong the reduced phosphorylation of JAK2 Y1007, STAT3 Y705 and STAT5 Y694. In vemurafenib-resistant cells GZ17-6.02 caused a prolonged reduction in mTORC1 S2448, mTORC2 S2481 and ULK1 S757 phosphorylation; regardless of vemurafenib resistance, GZ17-6.02 caused a prolonged elevation in CD95 and FAS-L expression. Knock down of eIF2α, Beclin1, ATG5, ATM, AMPKα, CD95 or FADD significantly reduced the ability of GZ17-6.02 to kill as a single agent or when combined with the kinase inhibitors. Expression of activated mTOR, activated STAT3, activated MEK1 or activated AKT significantly reduced the ability of GZ17-6.02 to kill as a single agent or when combined with kinase inhibitors; protective effects that were significantly less pronounced in cells treated with trametinib/dabrafenib. Regardless of vemurafenib resistance, the drugs alone or in combination all reduced the expression of PD-L1 and increased the levels of MHCA, which was linked to degradation of multiple HDAC proteins. Our findings support the use of GZ17-6.02 in combination with trametinib/dabrafenib in the treatment of melanomas expressing mutant B-RAF V600E proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Booth
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Cameron West
- Genzada Pharmaceuticals, Sterling, KS, United States
| | - Daniel Von Hoff
- Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGEN), Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - John M Kirkwood
- Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program, Hillman Cancer Research Pavilion Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Paul Dent
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
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18
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Rosenbaum SR, Knecht M, Mollaee M, Zhong Z, Erkes DA, McCue PA, Chervoneva I, Berger AC, Lo JA, Fisher DE, Gershenwald JE, Davies MA, Purwin TJ, Aplin AE. FOXD3 Regulates VISTA Expression in Melanoma. Cell Rep 2021; 30:510-524.e6. [PMID: 31940493 PMCID: PMC6995351 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.12.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have improved patient survival in melanoma, but the innate resistance of many patients necessitates the investigation of alternative immune targets. Many immune checkpoint proteins lack proper characterization, including V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA). VISTA expression on immune cells can suppress T cell activity; however, few studies have investigated its expression and regulation in cancer cells. In this study, we observe that VISTA is expressed in melanoma patient samples and cell lines. Tumor cell-specific expression of VISTA promotes tumor onset in vivo, associated with increased intratumoral T regulatory cells, and enhanced PDL-1 expression on tumor-infiltrating macrophages. VISTA transcript levels are regulated by the stemness factor Forkhead box D3 (FOXD3). BRAF inhibition upregulates FOXD3 and reduces VISTA expression. Overall, this study demonstrates melanoma cell expression of VISTA and its regulation by FOXD3, contributing to the rationale for therapeutic strategies that combine targeted inhibitors with immune checkpoint blockade. VISTA is an understudied immune checkpoint protein. Through the analysis of patient samples and studies in mouse models, Rosenbaum et al. investigate the functional consequences of VISTA expression on melanoma cells. Furthermore, they demonstrate that the BRAF-regulated transcription factor FOXD3 negatively regulates VISTA expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheera R Rosenbaum
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Meghan Knecht
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Mehri Mollaee
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Zhijiu Zhong
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Dan A Erkes
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Peter A McCue
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Inna Chervoneva
- Division of Biostatistics in the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Adam C Berger
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Jennifer A Lo
- Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - David E Fisher
- Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jeffrey E Gershenwald
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael A Davies
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Timothy J Purwin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Andrew E Aplin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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19
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Han Y, Yu X, Yin Y, Lv Z, Jia C, Liao Y, Sun H, Liu T, Cong L, Fei Z, Fu D, Cong X, Qu S. Identification of Potential BRAF Inhibitor Joint Therapy Targets in PTC based on WGCAN and DCGA. J Cancer 2021; 12:1779-1791. [PMID: 33613767 PMCID: PMC7890315 DOI: 10.7150/jca.51551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
As the most common mutation in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), B-type Raf kinase V600E mutation (BRAFV600E ) has become an important target for the clinical treatment of PTC. However, the clinical application still faces the problem of resistance to BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi). Therefore, exploring BRAFV600E-associated prognostic factors to providing potential joint targets is important for combined targeted therapy with BRAFi. In this study, we combined transcript data and clinical information from 199 BRAF wild-type (BRAFWT ) patients and 283 BRAFV600E mutant patients collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and screened 455 BRAFV600E- associated genes through differential analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Based on these BRAFV600E -associated genes, we performed functional enrichment analysis and co-expression differential analysis and constructed a core co-expression network. Next, genes in the differential co-expression network were used to predict drugs for therapy in the crowd extracted expression of differential signatures (CREEDS) database, and the key genes were selected based on the hub co-expression network through survival analyses and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. Finally, we obtained eight BRAFV600E -associated biomarkers with both prognostic and diagnostic values as potential BRAFi joint targets, including FN1, MET, SLC34A2, NGEF, TBC1D2, PLCD3, PROS1, and NECTIN4. Among these genes, FN1, MET, PROS1, and TBC1D2 were validated through GEO database. Two novel biomarkers, PROS1 and TBC1D2, were further validated by qRT-PCR experiment. Besides, we obtained four potential targeted drugs that could be used in combination with BRAFi to treat PTC, including MET inhibitor, ERBB3 inhibitor, anti-NaPi2b antibody-drug conjugate, and carboplatin through literature review. The study provided potential drug targets for combination therapy with BRAFi for PTC to overcome the drug resistance for BRAFi.
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Affiliation(s)
- YaLi Han
- Shanghai Center for Thyroid Disease, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - XiaQing Yu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - YuZhen Yin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongwei Lv
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - ChengYou Jia
- Shanghai Center for Thyroid Disease, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yina Liao
- Shanghai Center for Thyroid Disease, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongyan Sun
- Department of biobank, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Tie Liu
- Department of biobank, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Lele Cong
- Department of biobank, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - ZhaoLiang Fei
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Da Fu
- Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianling Cong
- Department of biobank, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Shen Qu
- Shanghai Center for Thyroid Disease, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
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20
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Mazurkiewicz J, Simiczyjew A, Dratkiewicz E, Ziętek M, Matkowski R, Nowak D. Stromal Cells Present in the Melanoma Niche Affect Tumor Invasiveness and Its Resistance to Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:E529. [PMID: 33430277 PMCID: PMC7825728 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is a highly metastatic type of cancer, which arises frequently from transformed pigment cells and melanocytes as a result of long-term UV radiation exposure. In recent years, the incidence of newly diagnosed melanoma patients reached 5% of all cancer cases. Despite the development of novel targeted therapies directed against melanoma-specific markers, patients' response to treatment is often weak or short-term due to a rapid acquisition of drug resistance. Among the factors affecting therapy effectiveness, elements of the tumor microenvironment play a major role. Melanoma niche encompasses adjacent cells, such as keratinocytes, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), adipocytes, and immune cells, as well as components of the extracellular matrix and tumor-specific physicochemical properties. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge concerning the influence of cancer-associated cells (keratinocytes, CAFs, adipocytes) on the process of melanomagenesis, tumor progression, invasiveness, and the emergence of drug resistance in melanoma. We also address how melanoma can alter the differentiation and activation status of cells present in the tumor microenvironment. Understanding these complex interactions between malignant and cancer-associated cells could improve the development of effective antitumor therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Mazurkiewicz
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland; (A.S.); (E.D.); (D.N.)
| | - Aleksandra Simiczyjew
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland; (A.S.); (E.D.); (D.N.)
| | - Ewelina Dratkiewicz
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland; (A.S.); (E.D.); (D.N.)
| | - Marcin Ziętek
- Department of Oncology and Division of Surgical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland; (M.Z.); (R.M.)
- Wroclaw Comprehensive Cancer Center, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Rafał Matkowski
- Department of Oncology and Division of Surgical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland; (M.Z.); (R.M.)
- Wroclaw Comprehensive Cancer Center, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Dorota Nowak
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland; (A.S.); (E.D.); (D.N.)
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21
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Beauchamp RL, Erdin S, Witt L, Jordan JT, Plotkin SR, Gusella JF, Ramesh V. mTOR kinase inhibition disrupts neuregulin 1-ERBB3 autocrine signaling and sensitizes NF2-deficient meningioma cellular models to IGF1R inhibition. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100157. [PMID: 33273014 PMCID: PMC7949095 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.014960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Meningiomas (MNs), arising from the arachnoid/meningeal layer, are nonresponsive to chemotherapies, with ∼50% showing loss of the Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) tumor suppressor gene. Previously, we established NF2 loss activates mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) signaling, leading to clinical trials for NF2 and MN. Recently our omics studies identified activated ephrin (EPH) receptor and Src family kinases upon NF2 loss. Here, we report increased expression of several ligands in NF2-null human arachnoidal cells (ACs) and the MN cell line Ben-Men-1, particularly neuregulin-1/heregulin (NRG1), and confirm increased NRG1 secretion and activation of V-ERB-B avian erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 3 (ERBB3) receptor kinase. Conditioned-medium from NF2-null ACs or exogenous NRG1 stimulated ERBB3, EPHA2, and mTORC1/2 signaling, suggesting pathway crosstalk. NF2-null cells treated with an ERBB3-neutralizing antibody partially downregulated mTOR pathway activation but showed no effect on viability. mTORC1/2 inhibitor treatment decreased NRG1 expression and downregulated ERBB3 while re-activating pAkt T308, suggesting a mechanism independent of NRG1-ERBB3 but likely involving activation of another upstream receptor kinase. Transcriptomics after mTORC1/2 inhibition confirmed decreased ERBB3/ERBB4 while revealing increased expression of insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGF1R). Drug treatment co-targeting mTORC1/2 and IGF1R/insulin receptor attenuated pAkt T308 and showed synergistic effects on viability. Our findings indicate potential autocrine signaling where NF2 loss leads to secretion/activation of NRG1-ERBB3 signaling. mTORC1/2 inhibition downregulates NRG1-ERBB3, while upregulating pAkt T308 through an adaptive response involving IGF1R/insulin receptor and co-targeting these pathways may prove effective for treatment of NF2-deficient MN.
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MESH Headings
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/pharmacology
- Autocrine Communication/genetics
- Benzamides/pharmacology
- Benzoxazoles/pharmacology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Movement/drug effects
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Humans
- Lapatinib/pharmacology
- Meningeal Neoplasms/genetics
- Meningeal Neoplasms/metabolism
- Meningeal Neoplasms/pathology
- Meningioma/genetics
- Meningioma/metabolism
- Meningioma/pathology
- Morpholines/pharmacology
- Neuregulin-1/antagonists & inhibitors
- Neuregulin-1/genetics
- Neuregulin-1/metabolism
- Neurofibromin 2/deficiency
- Neurofibromin 2/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism
- Pyrazoles/pharmacology
- Pyrimidines/pharmacology
- Receptor, EphA2/genetics
- Receptor, EphA2/metabolism
- Receptor, ErbB-3/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, ErbB-3/genetics
- Receptor, ErbB-3/metabolism
- Receptor, IGF Type 1/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, IGF Type 1/genetics
- Receptor, IGF Type 1/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Sirolimus/pharmacology
- TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
- TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics
- TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism
- Transcriptome
- Triazines/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta L Beauchamp
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Serkan Erdin
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Luke Witt
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Justin T Jordan
- Department of Neurology and Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Scott R Plotkin
- Department of Neurology and Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James F Gusella
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Vijaya Ramesh
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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22
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HER3-Receptor-Mediated STAT3 Activation Plays a Central Role in Adaptive Resistance toward Vemurafenib in Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123761. [PMID: 33327495 PMCID: PMC7764938 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The major obstacle for the long-term success of targeted therapies in melanoma is the occurrence of resistance. Here, we present a new mechanism of targeted therapy resistance in melanoma where the treatment with the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib causes an increased activation of HER3 via shed ligands. This is followed by an activation of STAT3 via HER3 and results in the expression of the STAT3 target gene SOX2. Pharmacological inhibition of HERs sensitizes melanoma cells toward vemurafenib treatment. Thus, blocking HER family members and especially HER3 in addition to targeted therapy treatment might prevent the occurrence of resistance. Abstract Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer that is often characterized by activating mutations in the Mitogen-Activated Protein (MAP) kinase pathway, causing hyperproliferation of the cancer cells. Thus, inhibitors targeting this pathway were developed. These inhibitors are initially very effective, but the occurrence of resistance eventually leads to a failure of the therapy and is the major obstacle for clinical success. Therefore, investigating the mechanisms causing resistance and discovering ways to overcome them is essential for the success of therapy. Here, we observed that treatment of melanoma cells with the B-Raf Proto-Oncogene, Serine/Threonine Kinase (BRAF) inhibitor vemurafenib caused an increased cell surface expression and activation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) by shed ligands. HER3 promoted the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) resulting in upregulation of the STAT3 target gene SRY-Box Transcription Factor 2 (SOX2) and survival of the cancer cells. Pharmacological blocking of HER led to a diminished STAT3 activation and increased sensitivity toward vemurafenib. Moreover, HER blocking sensitized vemurafenib-resistant cells to drug treatment. We conclude that the inhibition of the STAT3 upstream regulator HER might help to overcome melanoma therapy resistance toward targeted therapies.
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23
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Tumor Microenvironment: Implications in Melanoma Resistance to Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12102870. [PMID: 33036192 PMCID: PMC7601592 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The response to pharmacological treatments is deeply influenced by the tight interactions between the tumor cells and the microenvironment. In this review we describe, for melanoma, the most important mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapy and immunotherapy mediated by the components of the microenvironment. In addition, we briefly describe the most recent therapeutic advances for this pathology. The knowledge of molecular mechanisms, which are underlying of drug resistance, is fundamental for the development of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of melanoma patients. Abstract Antitumor therapies have made great strides in recent decades. Chemotherapy, aggressive and unable to discriminate cancer from healthy cells, has given way to personalized treatments that, recognizing and blocking specific molecular targets, have paved the way for targeted and effective therapies. Melanoma was one of the first tumor types to benefit from this new care frontier by introducing specific inhibitors for v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), v-kit Hardy–Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KIT), and, recently, immunotherapy. However, despite the progress made in the melanoma treatment, primary and/or acquired drug resistance remains an unresolved problem. The molecular dynamics that promote this phenomenon are very complex but several studies have shown that the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays, certainly, a key role. In this review, we will describe the new melanoma treatment approaches and we will analyze the mechanisms by which TME promotes resistance to targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
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24
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Kodet O, Kučera J, Strnadová K, Dvořánková B, Štork J, Lacina L, Smetana K. Cutaneous melanoma dissemination is dependent on the malignant cell properties and factors of intercellular crosstalk in the cancer microenvironment (Review). Int J Oncol 2020; 57:619-630. [PMID: 32705148 PMCID: PMC7384852 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2020.5090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma has been steadily increasing worldwide for several decades. This phenomenon seems to follow the trend observed in many types of malignancies caused by multiple significant factors, including ageing. Despite the progress in cutaneous malignant melanoma therapeutic options, the curability of advanced disease after metastasis represents a serious challenge for further research. In this review, we summarise data on the microenvironment of cutaneous malignant melanoma with emphasis on intercellular signalling during the disease progression. Malignant melanocytes with features of neural crest stem cells interact with non‑malignant populations within this microenvironment. We focus on representative bioactive factors regulating this intercellular crosstalk. We describe the possible key factors and signalling cascades responsible for the high complexity of the melanoma microenvironment and its premetastatic niches. Furthermore, we present the concept of melanoma early becoming a systemic disease. This systemic effect is presented as a background for the new horizons in the therapy of cutaneous melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondřej Kodet
- Institute of Anatomy, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 128 00 Prague 2
- Department of Dermatovenereology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, 120 00 Prague
- Biotechnology and Biomedicine Center of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University in Vestec (BIOCEV), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 252 50 Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Kučera
- Institute of Anatomy, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 128 00 Prague 2
- Department of Dermatovenereology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, 120 00 Prague
| | - Karolína Strnadová
- Institute of Anatomy, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 128 00 Prague 2
- Biotechnology and Biomedicine Center of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University in Vestec (BIOCEV), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 252 50 Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Dvořánková
- Institute of Anatomy, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 128 00 Prague 2
- Biotechnology and Biomedicine Center of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University in Vestec (BIOCEV), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 252 50 Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Štork
- Department of Dermatovenereology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, 120 00 Prague
| | - Lukáš Lacina
- Institute of Anatomy, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 128 00 Prague 2
- Department of Dermatovenereology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, 120 00 Prague
- Biotechnology and Biomedicine Center of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University in Vestec (BIOCEV), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 252 50 Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Smetana
- Institute of Anatomy, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 128 00 Prague 2
- Biotechnology and Biomedicine Center of the Academy of Sciences and Charles University in Vestec (BIOCEV), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 252 50 Vestec, Czech Republic
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Becco P, Gallo S, Poletto S, Frascione MPM, Crotto L, Zaccagna A, Paruzzo L, Caravelli D, Carnevale-Schianca F, Aglietta M. Melanoma Brain Metastases in the Era of Target Therapies: An Overview. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061640. [PMID: 32575838 PMCID: PMC7352598 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is the third most common type of tumor that causes brain metastases. Patients with cerebral involvement have a dismal prognosis and their treatment is an unmet medical need. Brain involvement is a multistep process involving several signaling pathways such as Janus kinase/signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (JAK/STAT), Phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Protein Kinase B (PI3K/AKT), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN). Recently therapy that targets the MAPK signaling (BRAF/MEK inhibitors) and immunotherapy (anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1 agents) have changed the therapeutic approaches to stage IV melanoma. In contrast, there are no solid data about patients with brain metastases, who are usually excluded from clinical trials. Retrospective data showed that BRAF-inhibitors, alone or in combination with MEK-inhibitors have interesting clinical activity in this setting. Prospective data about the combinations of BRAF/MEK inhibitors have been recently published, showing an improved overall response rate. Short intracranial disease control is still a challenge. Several attempts have been made in order to improve it with combinations between local and systemic therapies. Immunotherapy approaches seem to retain promising activity in the treatment of melanoma brain metastasis as showed by the results of clinical trials investigating the combination of anti-CTL4 (Ipilimumab) and anti-PD1(Nivolumab). Studies about the combination or the sequential approach of target therapy and immunotherapy are ongoing, with immature results. Several clinical trials are ongoing trying to explore new approaches in order to overcome tumor resistance. At this moment the correct therapeutic choices for melanoma with intracranial involvement is still a challenge and new strategies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Becco
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
| | - Susanna Gallo
- Ospedale Mauriziano Umberto I-Largo Turati 62, 10128 Torino, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Stefano Poletto
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, Italy
| | - Mirko Pio Manlio Frascione
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, Italy
| | - Luca Crotto
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
| | - Alessandro Zaccagna
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
| | - Luca Paruzzo
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, Italy
| | - Daniela Caravelli
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
| | - Fabrizio Carnevale-Schianca
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
| | - Massimo Aglietta
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, Italy
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Targeting BRD/BET proteins inhibits adaptive kinome upregulation and enhances the effects of BRAF/MEK inhibitors in melanoma. Br J Cancer 2020; 122:789-800. [PMID: 31932756 PMCID: PMC7078299 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-019-0724-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background BRAF-mutant melanoma patients respond to BRAF inhibitors and MEK inhibitors (BRAFi/MEKi), but drug-tolerant cells persist, which may seed disease progression. Adaptive activation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) has been associated with melanoma cell drug tolerance following targeted therapy. While co-targeting individual RTKs can enhance the efficacy of BRAFi/MEKi effects, it remains unclear how to broadly target multiple RTKs to achieve more durable tumour growth inhibition. Methods The blockage of adaptive RTK responses by the new BET inhibitor (BETi), PLX51107, was measured by RPPA and Western blot. Melanoma growth was evaluated in vitro by colony assay and EdU staining, as well as in skin reconstructs, xenografts and PDX models following BRAFi, MEKi and/or PLX51107 treatment. Results Treatment with PLX51107 limited BRAFi/MEKi upregulation of ErbB3 and PDGFR-β expression levels. Similar effects were observed following BRD2/4 depletion. In stage III melanoma patients, expression of BRD2/4 was strongly correlated with ErbB3. PLX51107 enhanced the effects of BRAFi/MEKi on inhibiting melanoma growth in vitro, in human skin reconstructs and in xenografts in vivo. Continuous triple drug combination treatment resulted in significant weight loss in mice, but intermittent BETi combined with continuous BRAFi/MEKi treatment was tolerable and improved durable tumour inhibition outcomes. Conclusions Together, our data suggest that intermittent inhibition of BET proteins may improve the duration of responses following BRAFi/MEKi treatment in BRAF-mutant melanoma.
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Bellei B, Picardo M. Premature cell senescence in human skin: Dual face in chronic acquired pigmentary disorders. Ageing Res Rev 2020; 57:100981. [PMID: 31733332 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2019.100981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Although senescence was originally described as an in vitro acquired cellular characteristic, it was recently recognized that senescence is physiologically and pathologically involved in aging and age-related diseases in vivo. The definition of cellular senescence has expanded to include the growth arrest caused by various cellular stresses, including DNA damage, inadequate mitochondria function, activated oncogene or tumor suppressor genes and oxidative stress. While senescence in normal aging involves various tissues over time and contributes to a decline in tissue function even with healthy aging, disease-induced premature senescence may be restricted to one or a few organs triggering a prolonged and more intense rate of accumulation of senescent cells than in normal aging. Organ-specific high senescence rate could lead to chronic diseases, especially in post-mitotic rich tissue. Recently, two opposite acquired pathological conditions related to skin pigmentation were described to be associated with premature senescence: vitiligo and melasma. In both cases, it was demonstrated that pathological dysfunctions are not restricted to melanocytes, the cell type responsible for melanin production and transport to surrounding keratinocytes. Similar to physiological melanogenesis, dermal and epidermal cells contribute directly and indirectly to deregulate skin pigmentation as a result of complex intercellular communication. Thus, despite senescence usually being reported as a uniform phenotype sharing the expression of characteristic markers, skin senescence involving mainly the dermal compartment and its paracrine function could be associated with the disappearance of melanocytes in vitiligo lesions and with the exacerbated activity of melanocytes in the hyperpigmentation spots of melasma. This suggests that the difference may arise in melanocyte intrinsic differences and/or in highly defined microenvironment peculiarities poorly explored at the current state of the art. A similar dualistic phenotype has been attributed to intratumoral stromal cells as cancer-associated fibroblasts presenting a senescent-like phenotype which influence the behavior of neoplastic cells in either a tumor-promoting or tumor-inhibiting manner. Here, we present a framework dissecting senescent-related molecular alterations shared by vitiligo and melasma patients and we also discuss disease-specific differences representing new challenges for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Bellei
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Physiopathology and Integrated Center for Metabolomics Research, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Mauro Picardo
- Laboratory of Cutaneous Physiopathology and Integrated Center for Metabolomics Research, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Heregulin expression and its clinical implication for patients with EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer treated with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19501. [PMID: 31862929 PMCID: PMC6925200 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55939-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are standard therapy for EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Preclinically, HER3 ligand heregulin induces resistance to EGFR-TKIs, whereas the pan-human EGFR family inhibitor afatinib remains effective. Here, we examined whether soluble heregulin levels have clinical implications for EGFR-mutant NSCLC treated with EGFR-TKIs. Soluble heregulin was immunologically measured in plasma from EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients. Cutoff values were determined by 1-year PFS ROC curve. The relationship between soluble heregulin and PFS following EGFR-TKI therapy was analyzed by Cox proportional hazards model. Seventy-three patients were enrolled: 44 were treated with 1st-generation and 29 with 2nd-generation EGFR-TKIs. Soluble heregulin levels varied (range: 274-7,138 pg/mL, median: 739 pg/mL). Among patients treated with 1st-generation EGFR-TKIs, those with high heregulin (n = 20, >800 pg/mL) had a tendency for shorter PFS than those with low heregulin (n = 24, <800 pg/mL), with median PFS of 322 and 671 days, respectively. Cox proportional hazards model also indicated a trend toward resistance against 1st-generation EGFR-TKIs (HR: 1.825, 95% CI: 0.865-4.318) but not against 2nd-generation EGFR-TKIs. Soluble heregulin potentially correlates with resistance to EGFR-TKIs but not 2nd-generation EGFR-TKIs in patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC.
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ErbB3 Phosphorylation as Central Event in Adaptive Resistance to Targeted Therapy in Metastatic Melanoma: Early Detection in CTCs during Therapy and Insights into Regulation by Autocrine Neuregulin. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11101425. [PMID: 31557826 PMCID: PMC6826737 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11101425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years the introduction of target therapies with BRAF and MEK inhibitors (MAPKi) and of immunotherapy with anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies have dramatically improved survival of metastatic melanoma patients. Despite these changes drug resistance remains a major hurdle. Several mechanisms are at the basis of drug resistance. Particular attention has been devoted over the last years to unravel mechanisms at the basis of adaptive/non genetic resistance occurring in BRAF mutated melanomas upon treatment with to MAPKi. In this paper we focus on the involvement of activation of ErbB3 receptor following early exposure of melanoma cells to BRAF or MEK inhibitors, and the following induction of PI3K/AKT pathway. Although different mechanisms have been invoked in the past at the basis of this activation we show here with a combination of approaches that autocrine production of neuregulin by melanoma cells is a major factor responsible for ErbB3 phosphorylation and downstream AKT activation. Interestingly the kinetic of neuregulin production and of the ensuing ErbB3 phosphorylation is different in different melanoma cell lines which underscores the high degree of tumor heterogeneity. Moreover, heterogeneity is further highlighted by the evidence that in different cell lines neuregulin upregulation can occur at the transcriptional or at the post-transcritpional level. Finally we complement our study by showing with a liquid biopsy assay that circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from melanoma patients undergo upregulation of ErbB3 phosphorylation in vivo shortly after initiation of therapy.
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31
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Almeida FV, Douglass SM, Fane ME, Weeraratna AT. Bad company: Microenvironmentally mediated resistance to targeted therapy in melanoma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2019; 32:237-247. [PMID: 30216694 PMCID: PMC6727967 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This review will focus on the role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in the development of drug resistance in melanoma. Resistance to mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors (MAPKi) in melanoma is observed months after treatment, a phenomenon that is often attributed to the incredible plasticity of melanoma cells but may also depend on the TME. The TME is unique in its cellular composition-it contains fibroblasts, immune cells, endothelial cells, adipocytes, and among others. In addition, the TME provides "non-homeostatic" levels of oxygen, nutrients (hypoxia and metabolic stress), and extracellular matrix proteins, creating a pro-tumorigenic niche that drives resistance to MAPKi treatment. In this review, we will focus on how changes in the tumor microenvironment regulate MAPKi resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe V Almeida
- Immunology, Microenvironment & Metastasis Program, Melanoma Research Center. Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Stephen M. Douglass
- Immunology, Microenvironment & Metastasis Program, Melanoma Research Center. Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Mitchell E. Fane
- Immunology, Microenvironment & Metastasis Program, Melanoma Research Center. Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
| | - Ashani T. Weeraratna
- Immunology, Microenvironment & Metastasis Program, Melanoma Research Center. Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia PA 19104, USA
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Capparelli C, Purwin TJ, Heilman SA, Chervoneva I, McCue PA, Berger AC, Davies MA, Gershenwald JE, Krepler C, Aplin AE. ErbB3 Targeting Enhances the Effects of MEK Inhibitor in Wild-Type BRAF/NRAS Melanoma. Cancer Res 2018; 78:5680-5693. [PMID: 30115691 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-1001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 06/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
MEK-ERK1/2 signaling is elevated in melanomas that are wild-type for both BRAF and NRAS (WT/WT), but patients are insensitive to MEK inhibitors. Stromal-derived growth factors may mediate resistance to targeted inhibitors, and optimizing the use of targeted inhibitors for patients with WT/WT melanoma is a clinical unmet need. Here, we studied adaptive responses to MEK inhibition in WT/WT cutaneous melanoma. The Cancer Genome Atlas data set and tumor microarray studies of WT/WT melanomas showed that high levels of neuregulin-1 (NRG1) were associated with stromal content and ErbB3 signaling. Of growth factors implicated in resistance to targeted inhibitors, NRG1 was effective at mediating resistance to MEK inhibitors in patient-derived WT/WT melanoma cells. Furthermore, ErbB3/ErbB2 signaling was adaptively upregulated following MEK inhibition. Patient-derived cancer-associated fibroblast studies demonstrated that stromal-derived NRG1 activated ErbB3/ErbB2 signaling and enhanced resistance to a MEK inhibitor. ErbB3- and ErbB2-neutralizing antibodies blocked the protective effects of NRG1 in vitro and cooperated with the MEK inhibitor to delay tumor growth in both cell line and patient-derived xenograft models. These results highlight tumor microenvironment regulation of targeted inhibitor resistance in WT/WT melanoma and provide a rationale for combining MEK inhibitors with anti-ErbB3/ErbB2 antibodies in patients with WT/WT cutaneous melanoma, for whom there are no effective targeted therapy options.Significance: This work suggests a mechanism by which NRG1 regulates the sensitivity of WT NRAS/BRAF melanomas to MEK inhibitors and provides a rationale for combining MEK inhibitors with anti-ErbB2/ErbB3 antibodies in these tumors. Cancer Res; 78(19); 5680-93. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Capparelli
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Timothy J Purwin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Shea A Heilman
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Inna Chervoneva
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Peter A McCue
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Adam C Berger
- Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Michael A Davies
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jeffrey E Gershenwald
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Clemens Krepler
- The Wistar Institute, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, Melanoma Research Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Andrew E Aplin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. .,Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Kodack DP, Farago AF, Dastur A, Held MA, Dardaei L, Friboulet L, von Flotow F, Damon LJ, Lee D, Parks M, Dicecca R, Greenberg M, Kattermann KE, Riley AK, Fintelmann FJ, Rizzo C, Piotrowska Z, Shaw AT, Gainor JF, Sequist LV, Niederst MJ, Engelman JA, Benes CH. Primary Patient-Derived Cancer Cells and Their Potential for Personalized Cancer Patient Care. Cell Rep 2018; 21:3298-3309. [PMID: 29241554 PMCID: PMC5745232 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.11.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Personalized cancer therapy is based on a patient's tumor lineage, histopathology, expression analyses, and/or tumor DNA or RNA analysis. Here, we aim to develop an in vitro functional assay of a patient's living cancer cells that could complement these approaches. We present methods for developing cell cultures from tumor biopsies and identify the types of samples and culture conditions associated with higher efficiency of model establishment. Toward the application of patient-derived cell cultures for personalized care, we established an immunofluorescence-based functional assay that quantifies cancer cell responses to targeted therapy in mixed cell cultures. Assaying patient-derived lung cancer cultures with this method showed promise in modeling patient response for diagnostic use. This platform should allow for the development of co-clinical trial studies to prospectively test the value of drug profiling on tumor-biopsy-derived cultures to direct patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P Kodack
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Anna F Farago
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Anahita Dastur
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Matthew A Held
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Leila Dardaei
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Luc Friboulet
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | | | - Leah J Damon
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Dana Lee
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Melissa Parks
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Richard Dicecca
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Max Greenberg
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | | | - Amanda K Riley
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | | | - Coleen Rizzo
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Zofia Piotrowska
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Alice T Shaw
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Justin F Gainor
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Lecia V Sequist
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | | | | | - Cyril H Benes
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02129, USA.
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Geuijen CAW, De Nardis C, Maussang D, Rovers E, Gallenne T, Hendriks LJA, Visser T, Nijhuis R, Logtenberg T, de Kruif J, Gros P, Throsby M. Unbiased Combinatorial Screening Identifies a Bispecific IgG1 that Potently Inhibits HER3 Signaling via HER2-Guided Ligand Blockade. Cancer Cell 2018; 33:922-936.e10. [PMID: 29763625 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
HER2-driven cancers require phosphatidylinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling through HER3 to promote tumor growth and survival. The therapeutic benefit of HER2-targeting agents, which depend on PI3K/Akt inhibition, can be overcome by hyperactivation of the heregulin (HRG)/HER3 pathway. Here we describe an unbiased phenotypic combinatorial screening approach to identify a bispecific immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) antibody against HER2 and HER3. In tumor models resistant to HER2-targeting agents, the bispecific IgG1 potently inhibits the HRG/HER3 pathway and downstream PI3K/Akt signaling via a "dock & block" mechanism. This bispecific IgG1 is a potentially effective therapy for breast cancer and other tumors with hyperactivated HRG/HER3 signaling.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bispecific/administration & dosage
- Antibodies, Bispecific/pharmacology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin G/administration & dosage
- Immunoglobulin G/pharmacology
- MCF-7 Cells
- Mice
- Models, Molecular
- Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Neoplasms/metabolism
- Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism
- Protein Binding/drug effects
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism
- Receptor, ErbB-2/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, ErbB-2/chemistry
- Receptor, ErbB-3/chemistry
- Receptor, ErbB-3/metabolism
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Camilla De Nardis
- Crystal and Structural Chemistry, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Piet Gros
- Crystal and Structural Chemistry, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Liu M, Solomon W, Cespedes JC, Wilson NO, Ford B, Stiles JK. Neuregulin-1 attenuates experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) pathogenesis by regulating ErbB4/AKT/STAT3 signaling. J Neuroinflammation 2018; 15:104. [PMID: 29636063 PMCID: PMC5894207 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-018-1147-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human cerebral malaria (HCM) is a severe form of malaria characterized by sequestration of infected erythrocytes (IRBCs) in brain microvessels, increased levels of circulating free heme and pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, brain swelling, vascular dysfunction, coma, and increased mortality. Neuregulin-1β (NRG-1) encoded by the gene NRG1, is a member of a family of polypeptide growth factors required for normal development of the nervous system and the heart. Utilizing an experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) model (Plasmodium berghei ANKA in C57BL/6), we reported that NRG-1 played a cytoprotective role in ECM and that circulating levels were inversely correlated with ECM severity. Intravenous infusion of NRG-1 reduced ECM mortality in mice by promoting a robust anti-inflammatory response coupled with reduction in accumulation of IRBCs in microvessels and reduced tissue damage. Methods In the current study, we examined how NRG-1 treatment attenuates pathogenesis and mortality associated with ECM. We examined whether NRG-1 protects against CXCL10- and heme-induced apoptosis using human brain microvascular endothelial (hCMEC/D3) cells and M059K neuroglial cells. hCMEC/D3 cells grown in a monolayer and a co-culture system with 30 μM heme and NRG-1 (100 ng/ml) were used to examine the role of NRG-1 on blood brain barrier (BBB) integrity. Using the in vivo ECM model, we examined whether the reduction of mortality was associated with the activation of ErbB4 and AKT and inactivation of STAT3 signaling pathways. For data analysis, unpaired t test or one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s or Bonferroni’s post test was applied. Results We determined that NRG-1 protects against cell death/apoptosis of human brain microvascular endothelial cells and neroglial cells, the two major components of BBB. NRG-1 treatment improved heme-induced disruption of the in vitro BBB model consisting of hCMEC/D3 and human M059K cells. In the ECM murine model, NRG-1 treatment stimulated ErbB4 phosphorylation (pErbB4) followed by activation of AKT and inactivation of STAT3, which attenuated ECM mortality. Conclusions Our results indicate a potential pathway by which NRG-1 treatment maintains BBB integrity in vitro, attenuates ECM-induced tissue injury, and reduces mortality. Furthermore, we postulate that augmenting NRG-1 during ECM therapy may be an effective adjunctive therapy to reduce CNS tissue injury and potentially increase the effectiveness of current anti-malaria therapy against human cerebral malaria (HCM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingli Liu
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta, GA, 30310, USA.
| | - Wesley Solomon
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta, GA, 30310, USA
| | - Juan Carlos Cespedes
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta, GA, 30310, USA
| | - Nana O Wilson
- Fogarty Global Health Fellow (UJMT), Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta, GA, 30310, USA
| | - Byron Ford
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California-Riverside School of Medicine, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Jonathan K Stiles
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta, GA, 30310, USA.
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36
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Watson SS, Dane M, Chin K, Tatarova Z, Liu M, Liby T, Thompson W, Smith R, Nederlof M, Bucher E, Kilburn D, Whitman M, Sudar D, Mills GB, Heiser LM, Jonas O, Gray JW, Korkola JE. Microenvironment-Mediated Mechanisms of Resistance to HER2 Inhibitors Differ between HER2+ Breast Cancer Subtypes. Cell Syst 2018; 6:329-342.e6. [PMID: 29550255 PMCID: PMC5927625 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2018.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Revised: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Extrinsic signals are implicated in breast cancer resistance to HER2-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). To examine how microenvironmental signals influence resistance, we monitored TKI-treated breast cancer cell lines grown on microenvironment microarrays composed of printed extracellular matrix proteins supplemented with soluble proteins. We tested ~2,500 combinations of 56 soluble and 46 matrix microenvironmental proteins on basal-like HER2+ (HER2E) or luminal-like HER2+ (L-HER2+) cells treated with the TKIs lapatinib or neratinib. In HER2E cells, hepatocyte growth factor, a ligand for MET, induced resistance that could be reversed with crizotinib, an inhibitor of MET. In L-HER2+ cells, neuregulin1-β1 (NRG1β), a ligand for HER3, induced resistance that could be reversed with pertuzumab, an inhibitor of HER2-HER3 heterodimerization. The subtype-specific responses were also observed in 3D cultures and murine xenografts. These results, along with bioinformatic pathway analysis and siRNA knockdown experiments, suggest different mechanisms of resistance specific to each HER2+ subtype: MET signaling for HER2E and HER2-HER3 heterodimerization for L-HER2+ cells.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Databases, Genetic
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Genes, erbB-2/drug effects
- Genes, erbB-2/genetics
- Genes, erbB-2/physiology
- High-Throughput Screening Assays/methods
- Humans
- Lapatinib/pharmacology
- MCF-7 Cells
- Mice
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met/antagonists & inhibitors
- Quinazolines/pharmacology
- Quinolines/pharmacology
- Receptor, ErbB-2/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, ErbB-3/antagonists & inhibitors
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects
- Tumor Microenvironment/genetics
- Tumor Microenvironment/physiology
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer S Watson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Mark Dane
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Koei Chin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Zuzana Tatarova
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Moqing Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Tiera Liby
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Wallace Thompson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Rebecca Smith
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Michel Nederlof
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Quantitative Imaging Systems LLC, 1410 NW Kearney Street, #1114, Portland, OR 97209, USA
| | - Elmar Bucher
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - David Kilburn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Matthew Whitman
- Department of Radiology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Damir Sudar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Quantitative Imaging Systems LLC, 1410 NW Kearney Street, #1114, Portland, OR 97209, USA
| | - Gordon B Mills
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Laura M Heiser
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Oliver Jonas
- Department of Radiology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joe W Gray
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
| | - James E Korkola
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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Hartsough EJ, Kugel CH, Vido MJ, Berger AC, Purwin TJ, Goldberg A, Davies MA, Schiewer MJ, Knudsen KE, Bollag G, Aplin AE. Response and Resistance to Paradox-Breaking BRAF Inhibitor in Melanomas In Vivo and Ex Vivo. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 17:84-95. [PMID: 29133617 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-0705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
FDA-approved BRAF inhibitors produce high response rates and improve overall survival in patients with BRAF V600E/K-mutant melanoma, but are linked to pathologies associated with paradoxical ERK1/2 activation in wild-type BRAF cells. To overcome this limitation, a next-generation paradox-breaking RAF inhibitor (PLX8394) has been designed. Here, we show that by using a quantitative reporter assay, PLX8394 rapidly suppressed ERK1/2 reporter activity and growth of mutant BRAF melanoma xenografts. Ex vivo treatment of xenografts and use of a patient-derived explant system (PDeX) revealed that PLX8394 suppressed ERK1/2 signaling and elicited apoptosis more effectively than the FDA-approved BRAF inhibitor, vemurafenib. Furthermore, PLX8394 was efficacious against vemurafenib-resistant BRAF splice variant-expressing tumors and reduced splice variant homodimerization. Importantly, PLX8394 did not induce paradoxical activation of ERK1/2 in wild-type BRAF cell lines or PDeX. Continued in vivo dosing of xenografts with PLX8394 led to the development of acquired resistance via ERK1/2 reactivation through heterogeneous mechanisms; however, resistant cells were found to have differential sensitivity to ERK1/2 inhibitor. These findings highlight the efficacy of a paradox-breaking selective BRAF inhibitor and the use of PDeX system to test the efficacy of therapeutic agents. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(1); 84-95. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Hartsough
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Curtis H Kugel
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Michael J Vido
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Adam C Berger
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Timothy J Purwin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Allison Goldberg
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Michael A Davies
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Matthew J Schiewer
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Karen E Knudsen
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Andrew E Aplin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. .,Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
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38
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Abstract
Inhibition of the BRAF/MAPK pathway belongs to the standard therapies for patients with activating BRAFV600E/K mutations. However, even in well-responding tumors, anti-tumorigenic effect and clinical benefit are only transient, and the original tumors often relapse. This demonstrates that there are remaining residual tumors, which have withstood therapy-induced apoptosis and which have the potential to resume growth. Although BRAF mutant melanoma cells seem to depend on BRAF/MAPK signaling, the inhibition of this pathway triggers several events, which modulate the tumor as well as the tumor niche. After a certain adaptation period, this can turn out to be beneficial for tumor growth and metastasis-even in cases of good initial tumor response. This review sheds light on the biology of BRAF/MEK inhibitor-sensitive melanoma cells, which survive targeted therapy and will address the crosstalk signaling events occurring in BRAF mutant melanomas when the BRAF/MAPK pathway is fully blocked. The knowledge of these events is important for potential future drug combinations, which enhance the inhibitory effect of BRAF/MEK inhibition, particularly in patients not eligible for immune therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Meierjohann
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany. .,Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
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39
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Alvarado D, Ligon GF, Lillquist JS, Seibel SB, Wallweber G, Neumeister VM, Rimm DL, McMahon G, LaVallee TM. ErbB activation signatures as potential biomarkers for anti-ErbB3 treatment in HNSCC. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0181356. [PMID: 28723928 PMCID: PMC5517012 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) accounts for 3–5% of all tumor types and remains an unmet medical need with only two targeted therapies approved to date. ErbB3 (HER3), the kinase-impaired member of the EGFR/ErbB family, has been implicated as a disease driver in a number of solid tumors, including a subset of HNSCC. Here we show that the molecular components required for ErbB3 activation, including its ligand neuregulin-1 (NRG1), are highly prevalent in HNSCC and that HER2, but not EGFR, is the major activating ErbB3 kinase partner. We demonstrate that cetuximab treatment primarily inhibits the ERK signaling pathway and KTN3379, an anti-ErbB3 monoclonal antibody, inhibits the AKT signaling pathway, and that dual ErbB receptor inhibition results in enhanced anti-tumor activity in HNSCC models. Surprisingly, we found that while NRG1 is required for ErbB3 activation, it was not sufficient to fully predict for KTN3379 activity. An evaluation of HNSCC patient samples demonstrated that NRG1 expression was significantly associated with expression of the EGFR ligands amphiregulin (AREG) and transforming growth factor α (TGFα). Furthermore, NRG1-positive HNSCC cell lines that secreted high levels of AREG and TGFα or contained high levels of EGFR homodimers (H11D) demonstrated a better response to KTN3379. Although ErbB3 and EGFR activation are uncoupled at the receptor level, their respective signaling pathways are linked through co-expression of their respective ligands. We propose that NRG1 expression and EGFR activation signatures may enrich for improved efficacy of anti-ErbB3 therapeutic mAb approaches when combined with EGFR-targeting therapies in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Alvarado
- Kolltan Pharmaceuticals., New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Gwenda F. Ligon
- Kolltan Pharmaceuticals., New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Jay S. Lillquist
- Kolltan Pharmaceuticals., New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Scott B. Seibel
- Kolltan Pharmaceuticals., New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Gerald Wallweber
- Monogram Biosciences, Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings, South San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Veronique M. Neumeister
- Yale Pathology Tissue Services, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - David L. Rimm
- Yale Pathology Tissue Services, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Gerald McMahon
- Kolltan Pharmaceuticals., New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
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40
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Ebbing EA, Steins A, Fessler E, Stathi P, Lesterhuis WJ, Krishnadath KK, Vermeulen L, Medema JP, Bijlsma MF, van Laarhoven HWM. Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Cells and Xenograft Tumors Exposed to Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 2 and 3 Inhibitors Activate Transforming Growth Factor Beta Signaling, Which Induces Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition. Gastroenterology 2017; 153:63-76.e14. [PMID: 28286209 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Revised: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Drugs that inhibit the erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2 or HER2) are the standard treatment of patients with different types of cancer, including HER2-overexpressing gastroesophageal tumors. Unfortunately, cancer cells become resistant to these drugs, so overall these drugs provide little benefit to patients with these tumors. We investigated mechanisms that mediate resistance of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) cells and patient-derived xenograft tumors to ERBB inhibitors. METHODS We cultured primary tumor cells, isolated from EAC patient samples, and OE19 and OE33 EAC cell lines with trastuzumab (an inhibitor of HER2), with or without pertuzumab (which inhibits dimerization of HER2 with HER3) or a specific antibody against HER3 (anti-HER3). HER2 was knocked down by expression of small hairpin RNAs. In addition, cells were incubated with NRG1-β, a mediator of HER2-HER3 signaling, or A83-01, an inhibitor of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling. Cells were analyzed for markers of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) using flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. We performed limiting dilution, transwell, and cell viability assays to study the functional effects of HER2 and HER3 inhibition and reactivation. We analyzed publicly available EAC gene expression datasets to correlate expression of ERBB genes with genes encoding epithelial and mesenchymal proteins. NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG) mice were given subcutaneous injections of AMC-EAC-007B cells and also given injections of single or combined inhibitors; growth of these patient-derived xenograft tumors was quantified. RESULTS EAC cells incubated with trastuzumab decreased expression of epithelial markers (CD24, CD29, and CDH1) and increased expression of mesenchymal markers (CXCR4, VIM, ZEB1, SNAI2, and CDH2), compared with cells not exposed to trastuzumab, indicating induction of EMT. Addition of NRG1-β to these cells restored their epithelial phenotype. Incubation of EAC cells with trastuzumab and pertuzumab accelerated the expression of EMT markers, compared with cells incubated with trastuzumab alone. EAC cells cultured for 2 months with a combination of trastuzumab and pertuzumab became resistant to chemotherapeutic agents (5-fluoruracil, carboplatin, cisplatin, eribulin, and paclitaxel), based on their continued viability, which was accompanied with an enhanced migratory capacity in transwell assays and clonogenicity in limiting dilution analyses. In comparisons of EAC gene expression patterns, we associated high expression of ERBB3 with an epithelial gene expression signature; expression of TGFβ correlated with expression of EMT-related genes, and we found an inverse correlation between expression of TGFB1 and ERBB3. EAC cells incubated with ERBB inhibitors began to secrete ligands for the TGFβ receptor and underwent EMT. Incubation of EAC cells with trastuzumab, followed by 10 days of incubation with the TGFβ receptor inhibitor in the presence of trastuzumab, caused cells to regain an epithelial phenotype. EAC patient-derived xenograft tumors grew more slowly in mice given the combination of trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and the TGFβ inhibitor than in mice given single agents or a combination of trastuzumab and pertuzumab. Tumors exposed to trastuzumab and pertuzumab expressed EMT markers and were poorly differentiated, whereas tumors exposed to the combination of trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and the TGFβ inhibitor expressed epithelial markers and were more differentiated. CONCLUSIONS EAC cells become resistant to trastuzumab and pertuzumab by activating TGFβ signaling, which induces EMT. Agents that block TGFβ signaling can increase the anti-tumor efficacies of trastuzumab and pertuzumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva A Ebbing
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Department of Medical Oncology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Anne Steins
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Department of Medical Oncology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Evelyn Fessler
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Phylicia Stathi
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Department of Medical Oncology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Kausilia K Krishnadath
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Louis Vermeulen
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Paul Medema
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Cancer Genomics Center, Center for Molecular Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten F Bijlsma
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hanneke W M van Laarhoven
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Department of Medical Oncology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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41
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Le Clorennec C, Bazin H, Dubreuil O, Larbouret C, Ogier C, Lazrek Y, Garambois V, Poul MA, Mondon P, Barret JM, Mathis G, Prost JF, Pèlegrin A, Chardès T. Neuregulin 1 Allosterically Enhances the Antitumor Effects of the Noncompeting Anti-HER3 Antibody 9F7-F11 by Increasing Its Binding to HER3. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 16:1312-1323. [PMID: 28507002 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-16-0886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Exploratory clinical trials using therapeutic anti-HER3 antibodies strongly suggest that neuregulin (NRG1; HER3 ligand) expression at tumor sites is a predictive biomarker of anti-HER3 antibody efficacy in cancer. We hypothesized that in NRG1-expressing tumors, where the ligand is present before antibody treatment, anti-HER3 antibodies that do not compete with NRG1 for receptor binding have a higher receptor-neutralizing action than antibodies competing with the ligand for binding to HER3. Using time-resolved-fluorescence energy transfer (TR-FRET), we demonstrated that in the presence of recombinant NRG1, binding of 9F7-F11 (a nonligand-competing anti-HER3 antibody) to HER3 is increased, whereas that of ligand-competing anti-HER3 antibodies (H4B-121, U3-1287, Ab#6, Mab205.10.2, and MOR09825) is decreased. Moreover, 9F7-F11 showed higher efficacy than antibodies that compete with the ligand for binding to HER3. Specifically, 9F7-F11 inhibition of cell proliferation and of HER3/AKT/ERK1/2 phosphorylation as well as 9F7-F11-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity were higher in cancer cells preincubated with recombinant NRG1 compared with cells directly exposed to the anti-HER3 antibody. This translated in vivo into enhanced growth inhibition of NRG1-expressing BxPC3 pancreatic, A549 lung, and HCC-1806 breast cell tumor xenografts in mice treated with 9F7-F11 compared with H4B-121. Conversely, both antibodies had similar antitumor effect in NRG1-negative HPAC pancreatic carcinoma cells. In conclusion, the allosteric modulator 9F7-F11 shows increased anticancer effectiveness in the presence of NRG1 and thus represents a novel treatment strategy for NRG1-addicted tumors. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(7); 1312-23. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Le Clorennec
- IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,INSERM U1194, Montpellier, France.,Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,ICM, Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Christel Larbouret
- IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,INSERM U1194, Montpellier, France.,Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,ICM, Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, France
| | - Charline Ogier
- IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,INSERM U1194, Montpellier, France.,Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,ICM, Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, France
| | - Yassamine Lazrek
- IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,INSERM U1194, Montpellier, France.,Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,ICM, Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, France
| | - Véronique Garambois
- IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,INSERM U1194, Montpellier, France.,Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,ICM, Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, France
| | - Marie-Alix Poul
- IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,INSERM U1194, Montpellier, France.,Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,ICM, Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, France
| | | | | | | | | | - André Pèlegrin
- IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,INSERM U1194, Montpellier, France.,Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,ICM, Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, France
| | - Thierry Chardès
- IRCM, Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Montpellier, France. .,INSERM U1194, Montpellier, France.,Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,ICM, Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, France
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Zhang T, Suryawanshi YR, Kordish DH, Woyczesczyk HM, Jeng D, Essani K. Tanapoxvirus lacking a neuregulin-like gene regresses human melanoma tumors in nude mice. Virus Genes 2017; 53:52-62. [PMID: 27738905 PMCID: PMC5300959 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-016-1402-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Neuregulin (NRG), an epidermal growth factor is known to promote the growth of various cell types, including human melanoma cells through ErbB family of tyrosine kinases receptors. Tanapoxvirus (TPV)-encoded protein TPV-15L, a functional mimic of NRG, also acts through ErbB receptors. Here, we show that the TPV-15L protein promotes melanoma proliferation. TPV recombinant generated by deleting the 15L gene (TPVΔ15L) showed replication ability similar to that of wild-type TPV (wtTPV) in owl monkey kidney cells, human lung fibroblast (WI-38) cells, and human melanoma (SK-MEL-3) cells. However, a TPV recombinant with both 15L and the thymidine kinase (TK) gene 66R ablated (TPVΔ15LΔ66R) replicated less efficiently compared to TPVΔ15L and the parental virus. TPVΔ15L exhibited more robust tumor regression in the melanoma-bearing nude mice compared to other TPV recombinants. Our results indicate that deletion of TPV-15L gene product which facilitates the growth of human melanoma cells can be an effective strategy to enhance the oncolytic potential of TPV for the treatment of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Zhang
- Laboratory of Virology, Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA
| | - Yogesh R Suryawanshi
- Laboratory of Virology, Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA
| | - Dennis H Kordish
- Laboratory of Virology, Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA
| | - Helene M Woyczesczyk
- Laboratory of Virology, Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA
| | - David Jeng
- Laboratory of Virology, Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA
| | - Karim Essani
- Laboratory of Virology, Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA.
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Circulating heregulin level is associated with the efficacy of patritumab combined with erlotinib in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer 2017; 105:1-6. [PMID: 28236978 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2016.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Revised: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Patritumab is a fully human anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) antibody that blocks activation by its ligand, heregulin (HRG). Preclinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of patritumab in aberrantly high HRG-expressing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the phase II randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind study HERALD (n=212 patients with NSCLC), patritumab plus erlotinib did not improve progression-free survival (PFS) compared with placebo plus erlotinib. The current study examined whether soluble HRG (sHRG) level in serum correlated with the efficacy of patritumab plus erlotinib. MATERIALS AND METHODS Serum was obtained from participants prior to treatment (n=202). sHRG level was measured using a validated quantitative immune assay, and correlations with survival were blindly assessed. RESULTS sHRG level was various (-1346-11,772pg/mL). Participants were divided into the sHRG-high or -low subgroups at the concentration defining near the third quartile, 980pg/mL. Patritumab plus erlotinib significantly improved PFS relative to placebo in the sHRG-high subgroup (n=46, hazard ratio 0.42 [0.19-0.96], p=0.0327). In contrast, the HRG-low subgroup (n=148) had no improvement in PFS with patritumab. CONCLUSION sHRG seems to be a predictive biomarker for the efficacy of patritumab plus erlotinib in NSCLC patients.
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Ebbing EA, Medema JP, Damhofer H, Meijer SL, Krishnadath KK, van Berge Henegouwen MI, Bijlsma MF, van Laarhoven HWM. ADAM10-mediated release of heregulin confers resistance to trastuzumab by activating HER3. Oncotarget 2016; 7:10243-54. [PMID: 26863569 PMCID: PMC4891117 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 01/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinases of the HER-family are involved in the development and progression of multiple epithelial tumors, and have consequently become widely used targets for new anti-cancer therapies. Trastuzumab, an antibody against HER2, has shown potent growth inhibitory effects on HER2 overexpressing tumors, including gastro-esophageal cancer, however, resistance to this therapy is inevitable. Unfortunately, a paucity of data on the cellular mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapeutic agents exists in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Using primary established HER2-overexpressing cultures and patient-derived xenograft models, we now reveal a novel resistance mechanism to trastuzumab in esophageal cancer: In response to trastuzumab, both HER3 and the metalloprotease ADAM10 are simultaneously upregulated. The proteolytic activity of the latter then releases the HER3 ligand heregulin from the cell surface to activate HER3 and confer resistance to trastuzumab by inducing compensatory growth factor receptor signaling. Blocking either HER3 or ADAM10 effectively reverts the acquired resistance to trastuzumab. Our data thus provide strategies to inhibit this signaling and circumvent resistance to trastuzumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva A Ebbing
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical Oncology, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Paul Medema
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Cancer Genomics Center, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Helene Damhofer
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sybren L Meijer
- Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kausilia K Krishnadath
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Maarten F Bijlsma
- Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Emmons MF, Faião-Flores F, Smalley KSM. The role of phenotypic plasticity in the escape of cancer cells from targeted therapy. Biochem Pharmacol 2016; 122:1-9. [PMID: 27349985 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2016.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Targeted therapy has proven to be beneficial at producing significant responses in patients with a wide variety of cancers. Despite initially impressive responses, most individuals ultimately fail these therapies and show signs of drug resistance. Very few patients are ever cured. Emerging evidence suggests that treatment of cancer cells with kinase inhibitors leads a minor population of cells to undergo a phenotypic switch to a more embryonic-like state. The adoption of this state, which is analogous to an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, is associated with drug resistance and increased tumor aggressiveness. In this commentary we will provide a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms that underlie the embryonic reversion that occurs on targeted cancer therapy and will review potential novel therapeutic strategies designed to eradicate the escaping cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael F Emmons
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Fernanda Faião-Flores
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA; The Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA; The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA.
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Fedorenko IV, Smalley KSM. The complexity of microenvironment-mediated drug resistance. Genes Cancer 2015; 6:367-8. [PMID: 26622938 PMCID: PMC4633163 DOI: 10.18632/genesandcancer.82] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Inna V Fedorenko
- Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
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