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Shen J, Su X, Wang S, Wang Z, Zhong C, Huang Y, Duan S. RhoJ: an emerging biomarker and target in cancer research and treatment. Cancer Gene Ther 2024:10.1038/s41417-024-00792-6. [PMID: 38858534 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-024-00792-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
RhoJ is a Rho GTPase that belongs to the Cdc42 subfamily and has a molecular weight of approximately 21 kDa. It can activate the p21-activated kinase family either directly or indirectly, influencing the activity of various downstream effectors and playing a role in regulating the cytoskeleton, cell movement, and cell cycle. RhoJ's expression and activity are controlled by multiple upstream factors at different levels, including expression, subcellular localization, and activation. High RhoJ expression is generally associated with a poor prognosis for cancer patients and is mainly due to an increased number of tumor blood vessels and abnormal expression in malignant cells. RhoJ promotes tumor progression through several pathways, particularly in tumor angiogenesis and drug resistance. Clinical data also indicates that high RhoJ expression is closely linked to the pathological features of tumor malignancy. There are various cancer treatment methods that target RhoJ signaling, such as direct binding to inhibit the RhoJ effector pocket, inhibiting RhoJ expression, blocking RhoJ upstream and downstream signals, and indirectly inhibiting RhoJ's effect. RhoJ is an emerging cancer biomarker and a significant target for future cancer clinical research and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinze Shen
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xinming Su
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shana Wang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zehua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chenming Zhong
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yi Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Shiwei Duan
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Jahid S, Ortega JA, Vuong LM, Acquistapace IM, Hachey SJ, Flesher JL, La Serra MA, Brindani N, La Sala G, Manigrasso J, Arencibia JM, Bertozzi SM, Summa M, Bertorelli R, Armirotti A, Jin R, Liu Z, Chen CF, Edwards R, Hughes CCW, De Vivo M, Ganesan AK. Structure-based design of CDC42 effector interaction inhibitors for the treatment of cancer. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110641. [PMID: 35385746 PMCID: PMC9127750 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
CDC42 family GTPases (RHOJ, RHOQ, CDC42) are upregulated but rarely mutated in cancer and control both the ability of tumor cells to invade surrounding tissues and the ability of endothelial cells to vascularize tumors. Here, we use computer-aided drug design to discover a chemical entity (ARN22089) that has broad activity against a panel of cancer cell lines, inhibits S6 phosphorylation and MAPK activation, activates pro-inflammatory and apoptotic signaling, and blocks tumor growth and angiogenesis in 3D vascularized microtumor models (VMT) in vitro. Additionally, ARN22089 has a favorable pharmacokinetic profile and can inhibit the growth of BRAF mutant mouse melanomas and patient-derived xenografts in vivo. ARN22089 selectively blocks CDC42 effector interactions without affecting the binding between closely related GTPases and their downstream effectors. Taken together, we identify a class of therapeutic agents that influence tumor growth by modulating CDC42 signaling in both the tumor cell and its microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohail Jahid
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Jose A Ortega
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Linh M Vuong
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Isabella Maria Acquistapace
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Stephanie J Hachey
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Jessica L Flesher
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Maria Antonietta La Serra
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Brindani
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppina La Sala
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Jacopo Manigrasso
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Jose M Arencibia
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Sine Mandrup Bertozzi
- Analytical Chemistry and Translational Pharmacology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Summa
- Analytical Chemistry and Translational Pharmacology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Rosalia Bertorelli
- Analytical Chemistry and Translational Pharmacology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Armirotti
- Analytical Chemistry and Translational Pharmacology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Rongsheng Jin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Zheng Liu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Chi-Fen Chen
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Robert Edwards
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Christopher C W Hughes
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Marco De Vivo
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy.
| | - Anand K Ganesan
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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