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Goda N, Ito Y, Saito S, Suzuki M, Bai H, Takahashi M, Wakai T, Kawahara M. Hippo pathway inactivation through subcellular localization of NF2/merlin in outer cells of mouse embryos. Development 2024; 151:dev202639. [PMID: 39077779 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
The Hippo pathway plays a crucial role in cell proliferation and differentiation during tumorigenesis, tissue homeostasis and early embryogenesis. Scaffold proteins from the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) family, including neurofibromin 2 (NF2; Merlin), regulate the Hippo pathway through cell polarity. However, the mechanisms underlying Hippo pathway regulation via cell polarity in establishing outer cells remain unclear. In this study, we generated artificial Nf2 mutants in the N-terminal FERM domain (L64P) and examined Hippo pathway activity by assessing the subcellular localization of YAP1 in early embryos expressing these mutant mRNAs. The L64P-Nf2 mutant inhibited NF2 localization around the cell membrane, resulting in YAP1 cytoplasmic translocation in the polar cells. L64P-Nf2 expression also disrupted the apical centralization of both large tumor suppressor 2 (LATS2) and ezrin in the polar cells. Furthermore, Lats2 mutants in the FERM binding domain (L83K) inhibited YAP1 nuclear translocation. These findings demonstrate that NF2 subcellular localization mediates cell polarity establishment involving ezrin centralization. This study provides previously unreported insights into how the orchestration of the cell-surface components, including NF2, LATS2 and ezrin, modulates the Hippo pathway during cell polarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanami Goda
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8589, Japan
| | - Yui Ito
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8589, Japan
| | - Shun Saito
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8589, Japan
| | - Miyabi Suzuki
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8589, Japan
| | - Hanako Bai
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8589, Japan
| | - Masashi Takahashi
- Graduate School of Global Food Resources/Global Center for Food, Land and Water Resources, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8589, Japan
| | - Takuya Wakai
- Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Manabu Kawahara
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8589, Japan
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Yuan R, Wang B, Wang Y, Liu P. Gene Therapy for Neurofibromatosis Type 2-Related Schwannomatosis: Recent Progress, Challenges, and Future Directions. Oncol Ther 2024; 12:257-276. [PMID: 38760612 PMCID: PMC11187037 DOI: 10.1007/s40487-024-00279-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2)-related schwannomatosis is a rare autosomal dominant monogenic disorder caused by mutations in the NF2 gene. The hallmarks of NF2-related schwannomatosis are bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VS). The current treatment options for NF2-related schwannomatosis, such as observation with serial imaging, surgery, radiotherapy, and pharmacotherapies, have shown limited effectiveness and serious complications. Therefore, there is a critical demand for novel effective treatments. Gene therapy, which has made significant advancements in treating genetic diseases, holds promise for the treatment of this disease. This review covers the genetic pathogenesis of NF2-related schwannomatosis, the latest progress in gene therapy strategies, current challenges, and future directions of gene therapy for NF2-related schwannomatosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruofei Yuan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Neural Reconstruction, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Pinan Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100070, China.
- Department of Neural Reconstruction, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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3
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Ruiz-García C, Lassaletta L, López-Larrubia P, Varela-Nieto I, Murillo-Cuesta S. Tumors of the nervous system and hearing loss: Beyond vestibular schwannomas. Hear Res 2024; 447:109012. [PMID: 38703433 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2024.109012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Hearing loss is a common side effect of many tumor treatments. However, hearing loss can also occur as a direct result of certain tumors of the nervous system, the most common of which are the vestibular schwannomas (VS). These tumors arise from Schwann cells of the vestibulocochlear nerve and their main cause is the loss of function of NF2, with 95 % of cases being sporadic and 5 % being part of the rare neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2)-related Schwannomatosis. Genetic variations in NF2 do not fully explain the clinical heterogeneity of VS, and interactions between Schwann cells and their microenvironment appear to be critical for tumor development. Preclinical in vitro and in vivo models of VS are needed to develop prognostic biomarkers and targeted therapies. In addition to VS, other tumors can affect hearing. Meningiomas and other masses in the cerebellopontine angle can compress the vestibulocochlear nerve due to their anatomic proximity. Gliomas can disrupt several neurological functions, including hearing; in fact, glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive subtype, may exhibit early symptoms of auditory alterations. Besides, treatments for high-grade tumors, including chemotherapy or radiotherapy, as well as incomplete resections, can induce long-term auditory dysfunction. Because hearing loss can have an irreversible and dramatic impact on quality of life, it should be considered in the clinical management plan of patients with tumors, and monitored throughout the course of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Ruiz-García
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, La Paz University Hospital. Paseo La Castellana 261, Madrid 28046, Spain; Research in Otoneurosurgery. Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research - IdiPAZ (La Paz University Hospital - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Paseo La Castellana 261, Madrid 28046, Spain; Neuropathology of Hearing and Myelinopathies, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, CSIC-UAM. Arturo Duperier 4, Madrid 28029, Spain; PhD Program in Medicine and Surgery, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Lassaletta
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, La Paz University Hospital. Paseo La Castellana 261, Madrid 28046, Spain; Research in Otoneurosurgery. Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research - IdiPAZ (La Paz University Hospital - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Paseo La Castellana 261, Madrid 28046, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Centre On Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Institute of Health Carlos III, Monforte de Lemos 9-11, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Pilar López-Larrubia
- Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, CSIC-UAM. Arturo Duperier 4, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Isabel Varela-Nieto
- Research in Otoneurosurgery. Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research - IdiPAZ (La Paz University Hospital - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Paseo La Castellana 261, Madrid 28046, Spain; Neuropathology of Hearing and Myelinopathies, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, CSIC-UAM. Arturo Duperier 4, Madrid 28029, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Centre On Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Institute of Health Carlos III, Monforte de Lemos 9-11, Madrid 28029, Spain.
| | - Silvia Murillo-Cuesta
- Research in Otoneurosurgery. Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research - IdiPAZ (La Paz University Hospital - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Paseo La Castellana 261, Madrid 28046, Spain; Neuropathology of Hearing and Myelinopathies, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, CSIC-UAM. Arturo Duperier 4, Madrid 28029, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Centre On Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Institute of Health Carlos III, Monforte de Lemos 9-11, Madrid 28029, Spain.
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4
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Rajan ARD, Huang Y, Stundl J, Chu K, Irodi A, Yang Z, Applegate BE, Bronner ME. Generation of a zebrafish neurofibromatosis model via inducible knockout of nf2. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.23.590787. [PMID: 38712289 PMCID: PMC11071375 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.23.590787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF-2) is a dominantly inherited genetic disorder that results from mutations in the tumor suppressor gene, neurofibromin 2 (NF2) gene. Here, we report the generation of a conditional zebrafish model of neurofibromatosis established by an inducible genetic knockout of nf2a/b, the zebrafish homolog of human NF2. Analysis of nf2a and nf2b expression reveals ubiquitous expression of nf2b in the early embryo, with overlapping expression in the neural crest and its derivatives and in the cranial mesenchyme. In contrast, nf2a displays lower expression levels. Induction of nf2a/b knockout at early stages increases the proliferation of larval Schwann cells and meningeal fibroblasts. Subsequently, in adult zebrafish, nf2a/b knockout triggers the development of a spectrum of tumors, including vestibular schwannomas, spinal schwannomas, meningiomas, and retinal hamartomas, mirroring the tumor manifestations observed in patients with NF-2. Collectively, these findings highlight the generation of a novel zebrafish model that mimics the complexities of the human NF-2 disorder. Consequently, this model holds significant potential for facilitating therapeutic screening and elucidating key driver genes implicated in NF-2 onset.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuanyun Huang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Jan Stundl
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Katelyn Chu
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Anushka Irodi
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Addenbrooke’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Zihan Yang
- University of Southern California, Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brian E. Applegate
- University of Southern California, Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- University of Southern California, Alfred Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Marianne E. Bronner
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
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Staedtke V, Anstett K, Bedwell D, Giovannini M, Keeling K, Kesterson R, Kim Y, Korf B, Leier A, McManus ML, Sarnoff H, Vitte J, Walker JA, Plotkin SR, Wallis D. Gene-targeted therapy for neurofibromatosis and schwannomatosis: The path to clinical trials. Clin Trials 2024; 21:51-66. [PMID: 37937606 DOI: 10.1177/17407745231207970] [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] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Numerous successful gene-targeted therapies are arising for the treatment of a variety of rare diseases. At the same time, current treatment options for neurofibromatosis 1 and schwannomatosis are limited and do not directly address loss of gene/protein function. In addition, treatments have mostly focused on symptomatic tumors, but have failed to address multisystem involvement in these conditions. Gene-targeted therapies hold promise to address these limitations. However, despite intense interest over decades, multiple preclinical and clinical issues need to be resolved before they become a reality. The optimal approaches to gene-, mRNA-, or protein restoration and to delivery to the appropriate cell types remain elusive. Preclinical models that recapitulate manifestations of neurofibromatosis 1 and schwannomatosis need to be refined. The development of validated assays for measuring neurofibromin and merlin activity in animal and human tissues will be critical for early-stage trials, as will the selection of appropriate patients, based on their individual genotypes and risk/benefit balance. Once the safety of gene-targeted therapy for symptomatic tumors has been established, the possibility of addressing a wide range of symptoms, including non-tumor manifestations, should be explored. As preclinical efforts are underway, it will be essential to educate both clinicians and those affected by neurofibromatosis 1/schwannomatosis about the risks and benefits of gene-targeted therapy for these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Staedtke
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kara Anstett
- Department of Neurology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Bedwell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Marco Giovannini
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC), University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kim Keeling
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Robert Kesterson
- Department of Cancer Precision Medicine, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - YooRi Kim
- Gilbert Family Foundation, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Bruce Korf
- Department of Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - André Leier
- Department of Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | | | | | - Jeremie Vitte
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC), University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - James A Walker
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott R Plotkin
- Department of Neurology and Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Deeann Wallis
- Department of Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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6
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Furnari FB, Anastasaki C, Bian S, Fine HA, Koga T, Le LQ, Rodriguez FJ, Gutmann DH. Stem cell modeling of nervous system tumors. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050533. [PMID: 38353122 PMCID: PMC10886724 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Nervous system tumors, particularly brain tumors, represent the most common tumors in children and one of the most lethal tumors in adults. Despite decades of research, there are few effective therapies for these cancers. Although human nervous system tumor cells and genetically engineered mouse models have served as excellent platforms for drug discovery and preclinical testing, they have limitations with respect to accurately recapitulating important aspects of the pathobiology of spontaneously arising human tumors. For this reason, attention has turned to the deployment of human stem cell engineering involving human embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells, in which genetic alterations associated with nervous system cancers can be introduced. These stem cells can be used to create self-assembling three-dimensional cerebral organoids that preserve key features of the developing human brain. Moreover, stem cell-engineered lines are amenable to xenotransplantation into mice as a platform to investigate the tumor cell of origin, discover cancer evolutionary trajectories and identify therapeutic vulnerabilities. In this article, we review the current state of human stem cell models of nervous system tumors, discuss their advantages and disadvantages, and provide consensus recommendations for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank B Furnari
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92037, USA
| | - Corina Anastasaki
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Shan Bian
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 200070 Shanghai, China
| | - Howard A Fine
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Tomoyuki Koga
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Lu Q Le
- Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Fausto J Rodriguez
- Division of Neuropathology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - David H Gutmann
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Alfaifi B, Hinz R, Jackson A, Wadeson A, Pathmanaban ON, Hammerbeck-Ward C, Rutherford SA, King AT, Lewis D, Coope DJ. Evidence for inflammation in normal-appearing brain regions in patients with growing sporadic vestibular schwannoma: A PET study. Neurooncol Adv 2024; 6:vdae094. [PMID: 38962752 PMCID: PMC11221070 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdae094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Nonauditory symptoms can be a prominent feature in patients with sporadic vestibular schwannoma (VS), but the cause of these symptoms is unknown. Inflammation is hypothesized to play a key role in the growth and symptomatic presentation of sporadic VS, and in this study, we investigated through translocator protein (TSPO) positron emission tomography (PET) whether inflammation occurred within the "normal appearing" brain of such patients and its association with tumor growth. Methods Dynamic PET datasets from 15 patients with sporadic VS (8 static and 7 growing) who had been previously imaged using the TSPO tracer [11C](R)-PK11195 were included. Parametric images of [11C](R)-PK11195 binding potential (BPND) and the distribution volume ratio (DVR) were derived and compared across VS growth groups within both contralateral and ipsilateral gray (GM) and white matter (WM) regions. Voxel-wise cluster analysis was additionally performed to identify anatomical regions of increased [11C](R)-PK11195 binding. Results Compared with static tumors, growing VS demonstrated significantly higher cortical (GM, 1.070 vs. 1.031, P = .03) and whole brain (GM & WM, 1.045 vs. 1.006, P = .03) [11C](R)-PK11195 DVR values. The voxel-wise analysis supported the region-based analysis and revealed clusters of high TSPO binding within the precentral, postcentral, and prefrontal cortex in patients with growing VS. Conclusions We present the first in vivo evidence of increased TSPO expression and inflammation within the brains of patients with growing sporadic VS. These results provide a potential mechanistic insight into the development of nonauditory symptoms in these patients and highlight the need for further studies interrogating the role of neuroinflammation in driving VS symptomatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bandar Alfaifi
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Rainer Hinz
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Alan Jackson
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Andrea Wadeson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Omar N Pathmanaban
- Department of Neurosurgery, Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology & Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Charlotte Hammerbeck-Ward
- Department of Neurosurgery, Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Scott A Rutherford
- Department of Neurosurgery, Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Andrew T King
- Department of Neurosurgery, Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Daniel Lewis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - David J Coope
- Department of Neurosurgery, Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Tomanelli M, Florio T, Vargas GC, Pagano A, Modesto P. Domestic Animal Models of Central Nervous System Tumors: Focus on Meningiomas. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2284. [PMID: 38137885 PMCID: PMC10744527 DOI: 10.3390/life13122284] [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: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracranial primary tumors (IPTs) are aggressive forms of malignancies that cause high mortality in both humans and domestic animals. Meningiomas are frequent adult IPTs in humans, dogs, and cats, and both benign and malignant forms cause a decrease in life quality and survival. Surgery is the primary therapeutic approach to treat meningiomas, but, in many cases, it is not resolutive. The chemotherapy and targeted therapy used to treat meningiomas also display low efficacy and many side effects. Therefore, it is essential to find novel pharmacological approaches to increase the spectrum of therapeutic options for meningiomas. This review analyzes the similarities between human and domestic animal (dogs and cats) meningiomas by evaluating the molecular and histological characteristics, diagnosis criteria, and treatment options and highlighting possible research areas to identify novel targets and pharmacological approaches, which are useful for the diagnosis and therapy of this neoplasia to be used in human and veterinary medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Tomanelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy; (G.C.V.); (A.P.)
| | - Tullio Florio
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Internal Medicine (DIMI), University of Genova, 16126 Genova, Italy;
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Gabriela Coronel Vargas
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy; (G.C.V.); (A.P.)
| | - Aldo Pagano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy; (G.C.V.); (A.P.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Paola Modesto
- National Reference Center for Veterinary and Comparative Oncology, Veterinary Medical Research Institute for Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta, 10154 Torino, Italy
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9
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Ghalavand MA, Asghari A, Farhadi M, Taghizadeh-Hesary F, Garshasbi M, Falah M. The genetic landscape and possible therapeutics of neurofibromatosis type 2. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:99. [PMID: 37217995 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-02940-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a genetic condition marked by the development of multiple benign tumors in the nervous system. The most common tumors associated with NF2 are bilateral vestibular schwannoma, meningioma, and ependymoma. The clinical manifestations of NF2 depend on the site of involvement. Vestibular schwannoma can present with hearing loss, dizziness, and tinnitus, while spinal tumor leads to debilitating pain, muscle weakness, or paresthesias. Clinical diagnosis of NF2 is based on the Manchester criteria, which have been updated in the last decade. NF2 is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the NF2 gene on chromosome 22, leading the merlin protein to malfunction. Over half of NF2 patients have de novo mutations, and half of this group are mosaic. NF2 can be managed by surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, monoclonal antibody bevacizumab, and close observation. However, the nature of multiple tumors and the necessity of multiple surgeries over the lifetime, inoperable tumors like meningiomatosis with infiltration of the sinus or in the area of the lower cranial nerves, the complications caused by the operation, the malignancies induced by radiotherapy, and inefficiency of cytotoxic chemotherapy due to the benign nature of NF-related tumors have led a march toward exploring targeted therapies. Recent advances in genetics and molecular biology have allowed identifying and targeting of underlying pathways in the pathogenesis of NF2. In this review, we explain the clinicopathological characteristics of NF2, its genetic and molecular background, and the current knowledge and challenges of implementing genetics to develop efficient therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Amin Ghalavand
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alimohamad Asghari
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Skull Base Research Center, The Five Senses Health Institute, Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Farhadi
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farzad Taghizadeh-Hesary
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Radiation Oncology Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Garshasbi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Masoumeh Falah
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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10
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Dinh CT, Chen S, Nourbakhsh A, Padgett K, Johnson P, Goncalves S, Bracho O, Bas E, Bohorquez J, Monje PV, Fernandez-Valle C, Elsayyad N, Liu X, Welford SM, Telischi F. Single Fraction and Hypofractionated Radiation Cause Cochlear Damage, Hearing Loss, and Reduced Viability of Merlin-Deficient Schwann Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2818. [PMID: 37345155 PMCID: PMC10216287 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15102818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vestibular schwannomas (VS) are benign intracranial tumors caused by loss of function of the merlin tumor suppressor. We tested three hypotheses related to radiation, hearing loss (HL), and VS cell survival: (1) radiation causes HL by injuring auditory hair cells (AHC), (2) fractionation reduces radiation-induced HL, and (3) single fraction and equivalent appropriately dosed multi-fractions are equally effective at controlling VS growth. We investigated the effects of single fraction and hypofractionated radiation on hearing thresholds in rats, cell death pathways in rat cochleae, and viability of human merlin-deficient Schwann cells (MD-SC). METHODS Adult rats received cochlear irradiation with single fraction (0 to 18 Gray [Gy]) or hypofractionated radiation. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing was performed for 24 weeks. AHC viabilities were determined using immunohistochemistry. Neonatal rat cochleae were harvested after irradiation, and gene- and cell-based assays were conducted. MD-SCs were irradiated, and viability assays and immunofluorescence for DNA damage and cell cycle markers were performed. RESULTS Radiation caused dose-dependent and progressive HL in rats and AHC losses by promoting expression of apoptosis-associated genes and proteins. When compared to 12 Gy single fraction, hypofractionation caused smaller ABR threshold and pure tone average shifts and was more effective at reducing MD-SC viability. CONCLUSIONS Investigations into the mechanisms of radiation ototoxicity and VS radiobiology will help determine optimal radiation regimens and identify potential therapies to mitigate radiation-induced HL and improve VS tumor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine T. Dinh
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA (O.B.)
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Si Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Aida Nourbakhsh
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA (O.B.)
| | - Kyle Padgett
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Perry Johnson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Stefania Goncalves
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA (O.B.)
| | - Olena Bracho
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA (O.B.)
| | - Esperanza Bas
- Department of Research Pharmacy, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Jorge Bohorquez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33146, USA
| | - Paula V. Monje
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Cristina Fernandez-Valle
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA;
| | - Nagy Elsayyad
- Allina Health Cancer Institute—Radiation Oncology, St. Paul, MN 55102, USA
| | - Xuezhong Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA (O.B.)
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Scott M. Welford
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Fred Telischi
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA (O.B.)
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33146, USA
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11
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Chiasson-MacKenzie C, Vitte J, Liu CH, Wright EA, Flynn EA, Stott SL, Giovannini M, McClatchey AI. Cellular mechanisms of heterogeneity in NF2-mutant schwannoma. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1559. [PMID: 36944680 PMCID: PMC10030849 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37226-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Schwannomas are common sporadic tumors and hallmarks of familial neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) that develop predominantly on cranial and spinal nerves. Virtually all schwannomas result from inactivation of the NF2 tumor suppressor gene with few, if any, cooperating mutations. Despite their genetic uniformity schwannomas exhibit remarkable clinical and therapeutic heterogeneity, which has impeded successful treatment. How heterogeneity develops in NF2-mutant schwannomas is unknown. We have found that loss of the membrane:cytoskeleton-associated NF2 tumor suppressor, merlin, yields unstable intrinsic polarity and enables Nf2-/- Schwann cells to adopt distinct programs of ErbB ligand production and polarized signaling, suggesting a self-generated model of schwannoma heterogeneity. We validated the heterogeneous distribution of biomarkers of these programs in human schwannoma and exploited the synchronous development of lesions in a mouse model to establish a quantitative pipeline for studying how schwannoma heterogeneity evolves. Our studies highlight the importance of intrinsic mechanisms of heterogeneity across human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Chiasson-MacKenzie
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Jeremie Vitte
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC), University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Ching-Hui Liu
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Emily A Wright
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Flynn
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and BioMEMS Resource Center, Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 114 16th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Shannon L Stott
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and BioMEMS Resource Center, Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 114 16th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Marco Giovannini
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC), University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Andrea I McClatchey
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
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12
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Advances in Targeted Therapy for Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2)-Associated Vestibular Schwannomas. Curr Oncol Rep 2023; 25:531-537. [PMID: 36933171 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-023-01388-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) is an autosomal-dominant genetic disorder characterized by bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VS), meningiomas, ependymomas, spinal and peripheral schwannomas, optic gliomas, and juvenile cataracts. Ongoing studies provide new insight into the role of the NF2 gene and merlin in VS tumorigenesis. RECENT FINDINGS As NF2 tumor biology becomes increasingly understood, therapeutics targeting specific molecular pathways have been developed and evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies. NF2-associated VS are a source of significant morbidity with current treatments including surgery, radiation, and observation. Currently, there are no FDA-approved medical therapies for VS, and the development of selective therapeutics is a high priority. This manuscript reviews NF2 tumor biology and current therapeutics undergoing investigation for treatment of patients with VS.
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13
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Hennigan RF, Thomson CS, Stachowski K, Nassar N, Ratner N. Merlin tumor suppressor function is regulated by PIP2-mediated dimerization. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281876. [PMID: 36809290 PMCID: PMC9942953 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis Type 2 is an inherited disease characterized by Schwann cell tumors of cranial and peripheral nerves. The NF2 gene encodes Merlin, a member of the ERM family consisting of an N-terminal FERM domain, a central α-helical region, and a C-terminal domain. Changes in the intermolecular FERM-CTD interaction allow Merlin to transition between an open, FERM accessible conformation and a closed, FERM-inaccessible conformation, modulating Merlin activity. Merlin has been shown to dimerize, but the regulation and function Merlin dimerization is not clear. We used a nanobody based binding assay to show that Merlin dimerizes via a FERM-FERM interaction, orientated with each C-terminus close to each other. Patient derived and structural mutants show that dimerization controls interactions with specific binding partners, including HIPPO pathway components, and correlates with tumor suppressor activity. Gel filtration experiments showed that dimerization occurs after a PIP2 mediated transition from closed to open conformation monomers. This process requires the first 18 amino acids of the FERM domain and is inhibited by phosphorylation at serine 518. The discovery that active, open conformation Merlin is a dimer represents a new paradigm for Merlin function with implications for the development of therapies designed to compensate for Merlin loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert F. Hennigan
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Craig S. Thomson
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Kye Stachowski
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Nicolas Nassar
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Nancy Ratner
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
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14
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A novel NF2 splicing mutant causes neurofibromatosis type 2 via liquid-liquid phase separation with large tumor suppressor and Hippo pathway. iScience 2022; 25:105275. [PMID: 36300003 PMCID: PMC9589172 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 2 is an autosomal dominant multiple neoplasia syndrome and is usually caused by mutations in the neurofibromin 2 (NF2) gene, which encodes a tumor suppressor and initiates the Hippo pathway. However, the mechanism by which NF2 functions in the Hippo pathway isn’t fully understood. Here we identified a NF2 c.770-784del mutation from a neurofibromatosis type 2 family. MD simulations showed that this mutation significantly changed the structure of the F3 module of the NF2-FERM domain. Functional assays indicated that the NF2 c.770-784del variant formed LLPS in the cytoplasm with LATS to restrain LATS plasma membrane localization and inactivated the Hippo pathway. Besides, this deletion partly caused a skipping of exon 8 and reduced the protein level of NF2, collectively promoting proliferation and tumorigenesis of meningeal cells. We identified an unrecognized mechanism of LLPS and splicing skipping for the NF2-induced Hippo pathway, which provided new insight into the pathogenesis of neurofibromatosis type 2. NF2 c.770-784 deletion is a novel mutation related to Neurofibromatosis type 2 NF2 variant forms LLPS in the cytoplasm with LATS and inhibits the Hippo pathway NF2 variant causes an aberrant skipping of exon 8 and reduces NF2 protein level NF2 variant promotes proliferation and tumorigenesis of meningeal cells
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15
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Dougherty MC, Shibata SB, Clark JJ, Canady FJ, Yates CW, Hansen MR. Reduction of sporadic and neurofibromatosis type 2-associated vestibular schwannoma growth in vitro and in vivo after treatment with the c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor AS602801. J Neurosurg 2022; 138:962-971. [PMID: 36087315 DOI: 10.3171/2022.7.jns22934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Vestibular schwannomas (VSs) are benign nerve sheath tumors that result from mutation in the tumor suppressor gene NF2, with functional loss of the protein merlin. The authors have previously shown that c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is constitutively active in human VS cells and plays a central role in their survival by suppressing accumulation of mitochondrial superoxides, implicating JNK inhibitors as a potential systemic treatment for VS. Thus, the authors hypothesized that the adenosine 5'-triphosphate-competitive JNK inhibitor AS602801 would demonstrate antitumor activity in multiple VS models. METHODS Treatment with AS602801 was tested in primary human VS cultures, human VS xenografts, and a genetic mouse model of schwannoma (Postn-Cre;Nf2flox/flox). Primary human VS cell cultures were established from freshly obtained surgical tumor specimens; treatment group media was enriched with AS602801. VS xenograft tumors were established in male athymic nude mice from freshly collected human tumor. Four weeks postimplantation, a pretreatment MRI scan was obtained, followed by 65 days of AS602801 (n = 18) or vehicle control (n = 19) treatment. Posttreatment MRI scans were used to measure final tumor volume. Tumors were then harvested. Finally, Postn-Cre;Nf2flox/flox mice were treated with AS602801 (n = 10) or a vehicle (n = 13) for 65 days. Posttreatment auditory brainstem responses were obtained. Dorsal root ganglia from Postn-Cre;Nf2flox/flox mice were then harvested. In all models, schwannoma identity was confirmed with anti-S100 staining, cell proliferation was measured with the EdU assay, and cell death was measured with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling staining. All protocols were approved by the local institutional review board and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees. RESULTS Treatment with AS602801 decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis in primary human VS cultures. The systemic administration of AS602801 in mice with human VS xenografts reduced tumor volume and cell proliferation. Last, the AS602801-treated Postn-Cre;Nf2flox/flox mice demonstrated decreased cell proliferation in glial cells in the dorsal root ganglia. However, AS602801 did not significantly delay hearing loss in Postn-Cre;Nf2flox/flox mice up to 3 months posttreatment. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest that JNK inhibition with AS602801 suppresses growth of sporadic and neurofibromatosis type 2-associated VSs. As such, AS602801 is a potential systemic therapy for VS and warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Seiji B Shibata
- 2Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; and
| | - J Jason Clark
- 2Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; and
| | - Franklin J Canady
- 2Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; and
| | - Charles W Yates
- 3Department of Otolaryngology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Marlan R Hansen
- 2Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; and
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16
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Prabhakar S, Beauchamp RL, Cheah PS, Yoshinaga A, Haidar EA, Lule S, Mani G, Maalouf K, Stemmer-Rachamimov A, Jung DH, Welling DB, Giovannini M, Plotkin SR, Maguire CA, Ramesh V, Breakefield XO. Gene replacement therapy in a schwannoma mouse model of neurofibromatosis type 2. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 26:169-180. [PMID: 35846573 PMCID: PMC9263409 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Loss of function of the neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) tumor suppressor gene leads to the formation of schwannomas, meningiomas, and ependymomas, comprising ∼50% of all sporadic cases of primary nervous system tumors. NF2 syndrome is an autosomal dominant condition, with bi-allelic inactivation of germline and somatic alleles resulting in loss of function of the encoded protein merlin and activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway signaling in NF2-deficient cells. Here we describe a gene replacement approach through direct intratumoral injection of an adeno-associated virus vector expressing merlin in a novel human schwannoma model in nude mice. In culture, the introduction of an AAV1 vector encoding merlin into CRISPR-modified human NF2-null arachnoidal cells (ACs) or Schwann cells (SCs) was associated with decreased size and mTORC1 pathway activation consistent with restored merlin activity. In vivo, a single injection of AAV1-merlin directly into human NF2-null SC-derived tumors growing in the sciatic nerve of nude mice led to regression of tumors over a 10-week period, associated with a decrease in dividing cells and an increase in apoptosis, in comparison with vehicle. These studies establish that merlin re-expression via gene replacement in NF2-null schwannomas is sufficient to cause tumor regression, thereby potentially providing an effective treatment for NF2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Prabhakar
- Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Roberta L. Beauchamp
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Pike See Cheah
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, JALAN UNIVERSITI 1 Serdang, 43400 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Akiko Yoshinaga
- Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Edwina Abou Haidar
- Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Sevda Lule
- Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Gayathri Mani
- Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Katia Maalouf
- Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Anat Stemmer-Rachamimov
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - David H. Jung
- Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - D. Bradley Welling
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Marco Giovannini
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC), University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Scott R. Plotkin
- Department of Neurology and Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Casey A. Maguire
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and NeuroDiscovery Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Vijaya Ramesh
- Department of Neurology and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Xandra O. Breakefield
- Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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17
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Huegel J, Dinh CT, Martinelli M, Bracho O, Rosario R, Hardin H, Estivill M, Griswold A, Gultekin S, Liu XZ, Fernandez-Valle C. CUDC907, a dual phosphoinositide-3 kinase/histone deacetylase inhibitor, promotes apoptosis of NF2 Schwannoma cells. Oncotarget 2022; 13:890-904. [PMID: 35875610 PMCID: PMC9295707 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) is a rare tumor disorder caused by pathogenic variants of the merlin tumor suppressor encoded by NF2. Patients develop vestibular schwannomas (VS), peripheral schwannomas, meningiomas, and ependymomas. There are no approved drug therapies for NF2. Previous work identified phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) as a druggable target. Here we screened PI3K pathway inhibitors for efficacy in reducing viability of human schwannoma cells. The lead compound, CUDC907, a dual histone deacetylase (HDAC)/PI3K inhibitor, was further evaluated for its effects on isolated and nerve-grafted schwannoma model cells, and primary VS cells. CUDC907 (3 nM IG50) reduced human merlin deficient Schwann cell (MD-SC) viability and was 5-100 fold selective for MD over WT-SCs. CUDC907 (10 nM) promoted cell cycle arrest and caspase-3/7 activation within 24 h in human MD-SCs. Western blots confirmed a dose-dependent increase in acetylated lysine and decreases in pAKT and YAP. CUDC907 decreased tumor growth rate by 44% in a 14-day treatment regimen, modulated phospho-target levels, and decreased YAP levels. In five primary VS, CUDC907 decreased viability, induced caspase-3/7 cleavage, and reduced YAP levels. Its efficacy correlated with basal phospho-HDAC2 levels. CUDC907 has cytotoxic activity in NF2 schwannoma models and primary VS cells and is a candidate for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julianne Huegel
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Christine T. Dinh
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Maria Martinelli
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Olena Bracho
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Rosa Rosario
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Haley Hardin
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Michael Estivill
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Anthony Griswold
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Sakir Gultekin
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Xue-Zhong Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Cristina Fernandez-Valle
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
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18
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Effect of AR42 in Primary Vestibular Schwannoma Cells and a Xenograft Model of Vestibular Schwannoma. Otol Neurotol 2022; 43:694-701. [PMID: 35761463 DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000003556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS AR42, a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, reduces viability of primary vestibular schwannoma (VS) cells and delays tumor progression and hearing loss (HL) in a xenograft model of VS. BACKGROUND The impact of HDAC expression on AR42 response in primary VS cells is unknown, as well as the effects of AR42 on VS-associated HL and imbalance. METHODS Primary human VS cells (n = 7) were treated with AR42 (0-3.0 μM), and viability assays were conducted. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting for phosphorylated-HDAC2 (pHDAC2) were performed on tumor chunks. Pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in Fischer rats using mass spectrometry. Merlin-deficient Schwann cells were grafted onto cochleovestibular nerves of immunodeficient rats and treated with vehicle (n=7) or AR42 (25 mg/kg/day for 4weeks; n=12). Tumor bioluminescence imaging, auditory brainstem response (ABR), and rotarod tests were conducted to 6weeks. Final tumor weight and toxicities were measured. RESULTS AR42 caused dose-dependent reductions in viability of VS cells. Tumors with higher pHDAC2:HDAC2 ratios had greater reductions in viability with AR42. On pharmacokinetic studies, AR42 reached peak levels in nerve ~24 hours after oral administration. Although AR42-treated rats demonstrated mean ABR threshold shifts ~10 to 20 dB lower than controls, this did not persist nor reach significance. When compared to controls, AR42 did not affect tumor bioluminescence, tumor weight, and rotarod measurements. CONCLUSIONS Response of primary VS cells to AR42 may be influenced by pHDAC2 expression in tumor. Although AR42 may delay HL in our xenograft model, it did not halt tumor growth or vestibular dysfunction. Further investigations are warranted to evaluate the AR42 effectiveness in NF2-associated VS.
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19
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Zhao F, Chen Y, Li SW, Zhang J, Zhang S, Zhao XB, Yang ZJ, Wang B, He QY, Wang LM, Xu L, Liu PN. Novel patient-derived xenograft and cell line models for therapeutic screening in NF2-associated schwannoma. J Pathol 2022; 257:620-634. [PMID: 35394061 DOI: 10.1002/path.5908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of schwannomas in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is extremely unsatisfactory, and innovative therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. However, the lack of clinically relevant NF2-associated schwannoma models has severely hampered drug discovery in this rare disease. Here, we report the first establishment and characterization of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and cell line models of NF2-associated schwannoma, which recapitulate the morphological and histopathological features of patient tumors, retain patient NF2 mutations, and maintain gene expression profiles resembling patient tumor profiles with the preservation of multiple key signaling pathways commonly dysregulated in human schwannomas. Using gene expression profiling, we identified elevated PI3K/AKT/mTOR networks in human NF2-associated vestibular schwannomas. Using high-throughput screening of 157 inhibitors targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways in vitro, we identified a dozen inhibitors (such as BEZ235, LY2090314, and AZD8055) with significant growth-suppressive effects. Interestingly, we observed that three cell lines displayed differential therapeutic responses to PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors. Furthermore, we demonstrated two orally bioavailable inhibitors AZD8055 and PQR309 suppressed NF2-associated schwannoma growth both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our novel patient-derived models of NF2-associated schwannoma closely mimic the phenotypes and genotypes of patient tumors, making them reliable preclinical tools for testing novel personalized therapies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu Zhao
- Department of Neural Reconstruction, Beijing Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System Injury, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Chen
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shi-Wei Li
- Department of Neural Reconstruction, Beijing Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System Injury, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Neural Reconstruction, Beijing Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System Injury, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shun Zhang
- Department of Neural Reconstruction, Beijing Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System Injury, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Bin Zhao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Yang
- Department of Neural Reconstruction, Beijing Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System Injury, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qi-Yang He
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lei-Ming Wang
- Departments of Pathology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Pi-Nan Liu
- Department of Neural Reconstruction, Beijing Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System Injury, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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20
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Spatial Distribution and Long-Term Alterations of Peripheral Nerve Lesions in Schwannomatosis. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12040780. [PMID: 35453828 PMCID: PMC9029522 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12040780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To examine the spatial distribution and long-term alterations of peripheral nerve lesions in patients with schwannomatosis by in vivo high-resolution magnetic resonance neurography (MRN). Methods In this prospective study, the lumbosacral plexus as well as the right sciatic, tibial, and peroneal nerves were examined in 15 patients diagnosed with schwannomatosis by a standardized MRN protocol at 3 Tesla. Micro-, intermediate- and macrolesions were assessed according to their number, diameter and spatial distribution. Moreover, in nine patients, peripheral nerve lesions were compared to follow-up examinations after 39 to 71 months. Results In comparison to intermediate and macrolesions, microlesions were the predominant lesion entity at the level of the proximal (p < 0.001), mid- (p < 0.001), and distal thigh (p < 0.01). Compared to the proximal calf level, the lesion number was increased at the proximal (p < 0.05), mid- (p < 0.01), and distal thigh level (p < 0.01), while between the different thigh levels, no differences in lesion numbers were found. In the follow-up examinations, the lesion number was unchanged for micro-, intermediate and macrolesions. The diameter of lesions in the follow-up examination was decreased for microlesions (p < 0.01), not different for intermediate lesions, and increased for macrolesions (p < 0.01). Conclusion Microlesions represent the predominant type of peripheral nerve lesion in schwannomatosis and show a rather consistent distribution pattern in long-term follow-up. In contrast to the accumulation of nerve lesions, primarily in the distal nerve segments in NF2, the lesion numbers in schwannomatosis peak at the mid-thigh level. Towards more distal portions, the lesion number markedly decreases, which is considered as a general feature of other types of small fiber neuropathy.
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21
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Ota Y, Liao E, Capizzano AA, Baba A, Kurokawa R, Kurokawa M, Srinivasan A. Neurofibromatosis type 2 versus sporadic vestibular schwannoma: The utility of MR diffusion and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging. J Neuroimaging 2022; 32:554-560. [PMID: 35037337 DOI: 10.1111/jon.12966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The goal of this study was to assess the utility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) to distinguish sporadic vestibular schwannomas (VSs) from those related to neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 265 patients pathologically diagnosed with VSs between January 2015 and October 2020 in a single institution. There were 28 patients (male: 19, female: 9; age 11-67 years) including 23 sporadic and five NF2-related VSs, who had pretreatment DWI and DCE-MRI. Normalized mean apparent diffusion coefficient (nADCmean) and DCE-MRI parameters along with tumor characteristics were compared between sporadic and NF2-related VSs as appropriate. The diagnostic performances were calculated based on the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the values that showed significant differences. To identify significant modalities, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed using nADCmean and the combination of statistically significant DCE-MRI parameters. RESULTS NADCmean, fractional volume of extracellular space (Ve), and forward volume transfer constant (Ktrans) were significantly different between sporadic and NF2-related VSs (nADCmean: median 1.62 vs. 1.16, P = .002; Ve: median 0.40 vs. 0.66, P = .007; Ktrans: median 0.17 vs. 0.33, P = .007), whereas fractional plasma volume (Vp), reverse reflux rate constant (Kep), and tumor characteristics were not. The diagnostic performances of nADCmean, Ve, and Ktrans were 0.93, 0.90, and 0.90 area under the curves with cutoffs of 1.46, 0.51, and 0.29, respectively. nADCmean and the combination of Ve and Ktrans were both chosen as significant differentiators by multivariate logistic regression analysis (P = .027). CONCLUSIONS DWI and DCE-MRI are both promising modalities to distinguish sporadic and NF2-related VSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiaki Ota
- Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Eric Liao
- Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Aristides A Capizzano
- Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Akira Baba
- Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Ryo Kurokawa
- Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mariko Kurokawa
- Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Ashok Srinivasan
- Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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22
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Maze EA, Agit B, Reeves S, Hilton DA, Parkinson DB, Laraba L, Ercolano E, Kurian KM, Hanemann CO, Belshaw RD, Ammoun S. Human endogenous retrovirus type K promotes proliferation and confers sensitivity to anti-retroviral drugs in Merlin-negative schwannoma and meningioma. Cancer Res 2021; 82:235-247. [PMID: 34853069 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-3857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Deficiency of the tumour suppressor Merlin causes development of schwannoma, meningioma, and ependymoma tumours, which can occur spontaneously or in the hereditary disease neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). Merlin mutations are also relevant in a variety of other tumours. Surgery and radiotherapy are current first-line treatments; however, tumours frequently recur with limited treatment options. Here, we use human Merlin-negative schwannoma and meningioma primary cells to investigate the involvement of the endogenous retrovirus HERV-K in tumour development. HERV-K proteins previously implicated in tumorigenesis were overexpressed in schwannoma and all meningioma grades, and disease-associated CRL4DCAF1 and YAP/TEAD pathways were implicated in this overexpression. In normal Schwann cells, ectopic overexpression of HERV-K Env increased proliferation and upregulated expression of c-Jun and pERK1/2, which are key components of known tumorigenic pathways in schwannoma, JNK/c-Jun and RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK. Furthermore, FDA-approved retroviral protease inhibitors ritonavir, atazanavir, and lopinavir reduced proliferation of schwannoma and grade I meningioma cells. These results identify HERV-K as a critical regulator of progression in Merlin-deficient tumours and offer potential strategies for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel A Maze
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Plymouth University
| | - Bora Agit
- Faculty of Health Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Plymouth University
| | - Shona Reeves
- Faculty of Health Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Plymouth University
| | - David A Hilton
- Faculty of Health Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Plymouth University
| | - David B Parkinson
- Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry
| | - Liyam Laraba
- Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry
| | | | - Kathreena M Kurian
- Department of Neuropathology, Brain Tumour Research Group, Frenchay Hospital, University of Bristol
| | - C Oliver Hanemann
- Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry
| | | | - Sylwia Ammoun
- Faculty of Health Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Plymouth University
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23
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Sanchez LD, Bui A, Klesse LJ. Targeted Therapies for the Neurofibromatoses. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13236032. [PMID: 34885143 PMCID: PMC8657309 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13236032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past several years, management of the tumors associated with the neurofibromatoses has been recognized to often require approaches that are distinct from their spontaneous counterparts. Focus has shifted to therapy aimed at minimizing symptoms given the risks of persistent, multiple tumors and new tumor growth. In this review, we will highlight the translation of preclinical data to therapeutic trials for patients with neurofibromatosis, particularly neurofibromatosis type 1 and neurofibromatosis type 2. Successful inhibition of MEK for patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 and progressive optic pathway gliomas or plexiform neurofibromas has been a significant advancement in patient care. Similar success for the malignant NF1 tumors, such as high-grade gliomas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, has not yet been achieved; nor has significant progress been made for patients with either neurofibromatosis type 2 or schwannomatosis, although efforts are ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren D. Sanchez
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA;
| | - Ashley Bui
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA;
| | - Laura J. Klesse
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA;
- Correspondence:
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24
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Godel T, Bäumer P, Farschtschi S, Püschel K, Hofstadler B, Heiland S, Gelderblom M, Bendszus M, Hagel C, Mautner VF. Long-term Follow-up and Histological Correlation of Peripheral Nervous System Alterations in Neurofibromatosis Type 2. Clin Neuroradiol 2021; 32:277-285. [PMID: 34652463 PMCID: PMC8894150 DOI: 10.1007/s00062-021-01102-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Purpose To examine long-term alterations of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and the peripheral nerve in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) by in vivo high-resolution magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) and their correlation to histology. Methods In this prospective study the lumbosacral DRG, the right sciatic, tibial, and peroneal nerves were examined in 6 patients diagnosed with NF2 and associated polyneuropathy (PNP) by a standardized MRN protocol at 3 T. Volumes of DRG L3–S2 as well as peripheral nerve lesions were assessed and compared to follow-up examinations after 14–100 months. In one patient, imaging findings were further correlated to histology. Results Follow-up MRN examination showed a non-significant increase of volume for the DRG L3: +0.41% (p = 0.10), L4: +22.41% (p = 0.23), L5: +3.38% (p = 0.09), S1: +10.63% (p = 0.05) and S2: +1.17% (p = 0.57). Likewise, peripheral nerve lesions were not significantly increased regarding size (2.18 mm2 vs. 2.15 mm2, p = 0.89) and number (9.00 vs. 9.33, p = 0.36). Histological analyses identified schwannomas as the major correlate of both DRG hyperplasia and peripheral nerve lesions. For peripheral nerve microlesions additionally clusters of onion-bulb formations were identified. Conclusion Peripheral nervous system alterations seem to be constant or show only a minor increase in adult NF2. Thus, symptoms of PNP may not primarily attributed to the initial schwannoma growth but to secondary long-term processes, with symptoms only occurring if a certain threshold is exceeded. Histology identified grouped areas of Schwann cell proliferations as the correlate of DRG hyperplasia, while for peripheral nerve lesions different patterns could be found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Godel
- Department of Neuroradiology, Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Philipp Bäumer
- Department of Neuroradiology, Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Center for Radiology dia.log, Vinzenz-von-Paul Str. 8, 84503, Altötting, Germany
| | - Said Farschtschi
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Püschel
- Department of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Barbara Hofstadler
- Department of Neuroradiology, Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabine Heiland
- Department of Neuroradiology, Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mathias Gelderblom
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Bendszus
- Department of Neuroradiology, Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Hagel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Victor-Felix Mautner
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
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25
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Welling DB, Collier KA, Burns SS, Oblinger JL, Shu E, Miles‐Markley BA, Hofmeister CC, Makary MS, Slone HW, Blakeley JO, Mansouri SA, Neff BA, Jackler RK, Mortazavi A, Chang L. Early phase clinical studies of AR-42, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, for neurofibromatosis type 2-associated vestibular schwannomas and meningiomas. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol 2021; 6:1008-1019. [PMID: 34667843 PMCID: PMC8513424 DOI: 10.1002/lio2.643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Two pilot studies of AR-42, a pan-histone deacetylase inhibitor, in human neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), vestibular schwannomas (VS), and meningiomas are presented. Primary endpoints included safety, and intra-tumoral pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD). METHODS Pilot 1 is a subset analysis of a phase 1 study of AR-42 in solid tumors, which included NF2 or sporadic meningiomas. Tumor volumes and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) are reported (NCT01129193).Pilot 2 is a phase 0 surgical study of AR-42 assessing intra-tumoral PK and PD. AR-42 was administered for 3 weeks pre-operatively. Plasma and tumor drug concentrations and p-AKT expression were measured (NCT02282917). RESULTS Pilot 1: Five patients with NF2 and two with sporadic meningiomas experienced a similar incidence of TRAEs to the overall phase I trial. The six evaluable patients had 15 tumors (8 VS, 7 meningiomas). On AR-42, tumor volume increased in six, remained stable in eight, and decreased in one tumor. The annual percent growth rate decreased in eight, remained stable in three, and increased in four tumors. Pilot 2: Four patients with sporadic VS and one patient with meningioma experienced no grade 3/4 toxicities. Expression of p-AKT decreased in three of four VS. All tumors had higher AR-42 concentrations than plasma. CONCLUSIONS AR-42 is safe. Tumor volumes showed a mixed response, but most slowed growth. On a 40-mg regimen, drug concentrated in tumors and growth pathways were suppressed in most tumors, suggesting this may be a well-tolerated and effective dose. A phase 2 study of AR-42 for NF2-associated tumors appears warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 1b, 4.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Bradley Welling
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck SurgeryHarvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Massachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Katharine A. Collier
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal MedicineThe Ohio State University College of Medicine and the Comprehensive Cancer CenterColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Sarah S. Burns
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood diseasesAbigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's HospitalColumbusOhioUSA
- Department of PediatricsThe Ohio State University College of MedicineColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Janet L. Oblinger
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood diseasesAbigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's HospitalColumbusOhioUSA
- Department of PediatricsThe Ohio State University College of MedicineColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Edina Shu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck SurgeryHarvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Massachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Beth A. Miles‐Markley
- Department of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck SurgeryThe Ohio State University College of MedicineColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Craig C. Hofmeister
- Department of Hematology & OncologyWinship Cancer Institute of Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Mina S. Makary
- Department of RadiologyThe Ohio State University College of MedicineColumbusOhioUSA
| | - H. Wayne Slone
- Department of RadiologyThe Ohio State University College of MedicineColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Jaishri O. Blakeley
- Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & OncologyJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - S. Alireza Mansouri
- Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & OncologyJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Brian A. Neff
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck SurgeryMayo ClinicRochesterMinnesotaUSA
| | - Robert K. Jackler
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck SurgeryStanford UniversityPalo AltoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Amir Mortazavi
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal MedicineThe Ohio State University College of Medicine and the Comprehensive Cancer CenterColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Long‐Sheng Chang
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood diseasesAbigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's HospitalColumbusOhioUSA
- Department of PediatricsThe Ohio State University College of MedicineColumbusOhioUSA
- Department of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck SurgeryThe Ohio State University College of MedicineColumbusOhioUSA
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26
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Sun D, Xie XP, Zhang X, Wang Z, Sait SF, Iyer SV, Chen YJ, Brown R, Laks DR, Chipman ME, Shern JF, Parada LF. Stem-like cells drive NF1-associated MPNST functional heterogeneity and tumor progression. Cell Stem Cell 2021; 28:1397-1410.e4. [PMID: 34010628 PMCID: PMC8349880 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
NF1-associated malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are the major cause of mortality in neurofibromatosis. MPNSTs arise from benign peripheral nerve plexiform neurofibromas that originate in the embryonic neural crest cell lineage. Using reporter transgenes that label early neural crest lineage cells in multiple NF1 MPNST mouse models, we discover and characterize a rare MPNST cell population with stem-cell-like properties, including quiescence, that is essential for tumor initiation and relapse. Following isolation of these cells, we derive a cancer-stem-cell-specific gene expression signature that includes consensus embryonic neural crest genes and identify Nestin as a marker for the MPNST cell of origin. Combined targeting of cancer stem cells along with antimitotic chemotherapy yields effective tumor inhibition and prolongs survival. Enrichment of the cancer stem cell signature in cognate human tumors supports the generality and relevance of cancer stem cells to MPNST therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daochun Sun
- Brain Tumor Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Cancer Biology & Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Xuanhua P Xie
- Brain Tumor Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Cancer Biology & Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Xiyuan Zhang
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Zilai Wang
- Brain Tumor Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Cancer Biology & Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sameer Farouk Sait
- Brain Tumor Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Cancer Biology & Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Swathi V Iyer
- Brain Tumor Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Cancer Biology & Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yu-Jung Chen
- Brain Tumor Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Cancer Biology & Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Rebecca Brown
- Brain Tumor Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Cancer Biology & Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Dan R Laks
- Brain Tumor Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Cancer Biology & Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mollie E Chipman
- Brain Tumor Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Cancer Biology & Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jack F Shern
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Luis F Parada
- Brain Tumor Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Cancer Biology & Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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27
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Chang LS, Oblinger JL, Smith AE, Ferrer M, Angus SP, Hawley E, Petrilli AM, Beauchamp RL, Riecken LB, Erdin S, Poi M, Huang J, Bessler WK, Zhang X, Guha R, Thomas C, Burns SS, Gilbert TSK, Jiang L, Li X, Lu Q, Yuan J, He Y, Dixon SAH, Masters A, Jones DR, Yates CW, Haggarty SJ, La Rosa S, Welling DB, Stemmer-Rachamimov AO, Plotkin SR, Gusella JF, Guinney J, Morrison H, Ramesh V, Fernandez-Valle C, Johnson GL, Blakeley JO, Clapp DW. Brigatinib causes tumor shrinkage in both NF2-deficient meningioma and schwannoma through inhibition of multiple tyrosine kinases but not ALK. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252048. [PMID: 34264955 PMCID: PMC8282008 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) is an autosomal dominant genetic syndrome caused by mutations in the NF2 tumor suppressor gene resulting in multiple schwannomas and meningiomas. There are no FDA approved therapies for these tumors and their relentless progression results in high rates of morbidity and mortality. Through a combination of high throughput screens, preclinical in vivo modeling, and evaluation of the kinome en masse, we identified actionable drug targets and efficacious experimental therapeutics for the treatment of NF2 related schwannomas and meningiomas. These efforts identified brigatinib (ALUNBRIG®), an FDA-approved inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases including ALK, to be a potent inhibitor of tumor growth in established NF2 deficient xenograft meningiomas and a genetically engineered murine model of spontaneous NF2 schwannomas. Surprisingly, neither meningioma nor schwannoma cells express ALK. Instead, we demonstrate that brigatinib inhibited multiple tyrosine kinases, including EphA2, Fer and focal adhesion kinase 1 (FAK1). These data demonstrate the power of the de novo unbiased approach for drug discovery and represents a major step forward in the advancement of therapeutics for the treatment of NF2 related malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long-Sheng Chang
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Janet L. Oblinger
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Abbi E. Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Marc Ferrer
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Steven P. Angus
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Eric Hawley
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Alejandra M. Petrilli
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Lake Nona-Orlando, Florida, United States of America
| | - Roberta L. Beauchamp
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Department of Neurology, Center for Genomic Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | - Serkan Erdin
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Department of Neurology, Center for Genomic Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ming Poi
- Division of Pharmacy Practice and Science, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Jie Huang
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Waylan K. Bessler
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Xiaohu Zhang
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rajarshi Guha
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Craig Thomas
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sarah S. Burns
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Thomas S. K. Gilbert
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Qingbo Lu
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jin Yuan
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Yongzheng He
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Shelley A. H. Dixon
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Andrea Masters
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - David R. Jones
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Charles W. Yates
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head/Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Stephen J. Haggarty
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Department of Neurology, Center for Genomic Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Salvatore La Rosa
- Children’s Tumor Foundation, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - D. Bradley Welling
- Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Anat O. Stemmer-Rachamimov
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Scott R. Plotkin
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Department of Neurology, Center for Genomic Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - James F. Gusella
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Justin Guinney
- Sage Bionetworks, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Helen Morrison
- Leibniz Institute on Aging–Fritz-Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Vijaya Ramesh
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Department of Neurology, Center for Genomic Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Cristina Fernandez-Valle
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Lake Nona-Orlando, Florida, United States of America
| | - Gary L. Johnson
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Jaishri O. Blakeley
- Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - D. Wade Clapp
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
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28
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Primi MC, Rangarajan ES, Patil DN, Izard T. Conformational flexibility determines the Nf2/merlin tumor suppressor functions. Matrix Biol Plus 2021; 12:100074. [PMID: 34337379 PMCID: PMC8318988 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbplus.2021.100074] [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: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The Neurofibromatosis type 2 gene encodes the Nf2/merlin tumor suppressor protein that is responsible for the regulation of cell proliferation. Once activated, Nf2/merlin modulates adhesive signaling pathways and thereby inhibits cell growth. Nf2/merlin controls oncogenic gene expression by modulating the Hippo pathway. By responding to several physical and biochemical stimuli, Hippo signaling determines contact inhibition of proliferation as well as organ size. The large tumor suppressor (LATS) serine/threonine-protein kinase is the key enzyme in the highly conserved kinase cascade that negatively regulates the activity and localization of the transcriptional coactivators Yes-associated protein (YAP) and its paralogue transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ). Nf2/merlin belongs to the band 4.1, ezrin, radixin, moesin (FERM) gene family that links the actin cytoskeleton to adherens junctions, remodels adherens junctions during epithelial morphogenesis and maintains organized apical surfaces on the plasma cell membrane. Nf2/merlin and ERM proteins have a globular N-terminal cloverleaf head domain, the FERM domain, that binds to the plasma membrane, a central α-helical domain, and a tail domain that binds to its head domain. Here we present the high-resolution crystal structure of Nf2/merlin bound to LATS1 which shows that LATS1 binding to Nf2/merlin displaces the Nf2/merlin tail domain and causes an allosteric shift in the Nf2/merlin α-helix that extends from its FERM domain. This is consistent with the fact that full-length Nf2/merlin binds LATS1 ~10-fold weaker compared to LATS1 binding to the Nf2/merlin-PIP2 complex. Our data increase our understanding of Nf2/merlin biology by providing mechanistic insights into the Hippo pathway that are relevant to several diseases in particular oncogenic features that are associated with cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina C Primi
- Cell Adhesion Laboratory, Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter 33458, FL, United States
| | - Erumbi S Rangarajan
- Cell Adhesion Laboratory, Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter 33458, FL, United States
| | - Dipak N Patil
- Cell Adhesion Laboratory, Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter 33458, FL, United States
| | - Tina Izard
- Cell Adhesion Laboratory, Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter 33458, FL, United States
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29
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Hawley E, Gehlhausen J, Karchugina S, Chow HY, Araiza-Olivera D, Radu M, Smith A, Burks C, Jiang L, Li X, Bessler W, Masters A, Edwards D, Burgin C, Jones D, Yates C, Clapp DW, Chernoff J, Park SJ. PAK1 inhibition reduces tumor size and extends the lifespan of mice in a genetically engineered mouse model of Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2). Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:1607-1617. [PMID: 34075397 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis Type II (NF2) is an autosomal dominant cancer predisposition syndrome in which germline haploinsufficiency at the NF2 gene confers a greatly increased propensity for tumor development arising from tissues of neural crest derived origin. NF2 encodes the tumor suppressor, Merlin, and its biochemical function is incompletely understood. One well established function of Merlin is as a negative regulator of group A serine/threonine p21 activated kinases (PAKs). In these studies we explore the role of PAK1 and its closely related paralog, PAK2, both pharmacologically and genetically, in Merlin deficient Schwann cells and in a genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM) that develops spontaneous vestibular and spinal schwannomas. We demonstrate that PAK1 and PAK2 are both hyper activated in Merlin deficient murine schwannomas. In preclinical trials, a pan Group A PAK inhibitor, FRAX-1036, transiently reduced PAK1 and PAK2 phosphorylation in vitro, but had insignificant efficacy in vivo. NVS-PAK1-1, a PAK1 selective inhibitor, had a greater but still minimal effect on our GEMM phenotype. However, genetic ablation of Pak1 but not Pak2 reduced tumor formation in our NF2 GEMM. Moreover, germline genetic deletion of Pak1 was well tolerated while conditional deletion of Pak2 in Schwann cells resulted in significant morbidity and mortality. These data support the further development of PAK1-specific small molecule inhibitors and the therapeutic targeting of PAK1 in vestibular schwannomas and argue against PAK1 and PAK2 existing as functionally redundant protein isoforms in Schwann cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Hawley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Jeffrey Gehlhausen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Sofiia Karchugina
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Hoi-Yee Chow
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Maria Radu
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Abbi Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Ciersten Burks
- Department of Otolaryngology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Waylan Bessler
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Andrea Masters
- Clinical Pharmacology Analytical Core, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Donna Edwards
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Callie Burgin
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - David Jones
- Clinical Pharmacology Analytical Core, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Charles Yates
- Department of Otolaryngology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - D Wade Clapp
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.,Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Jonathan Chernoff
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Su-Jung Park
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
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30
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Alberca CD, Papale LA, Madrid A, Gianatiempo O, Cánepa ET, Alisch RS, Chertoff M. Perinatal protein malnutrition results in genome-wide disruptions of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine at regions that can be restored to control levels by an enriched environment. Epigenetics 2020; 16:1085-1101. [PMID: 33172347 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2020.1841871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal malnutrition remains one of the major adversities affecting brain development and long-term mental health outcomes, increasing the risk to develop anxiety and depressive disorders. We have previously shown that malnutrition-induced anxiety-like behaviours can be rescued by a social and sensory stimulation (enriched environment) in male mice. Here, we expand these findings to adult female mice and profiled genome-wide ventral hippocampal 5hmC levels related to malnutrition-induced anxiety-like behaviours and their rescue by an enriched environment. This approach revealed 508 differentially hydroxymethylated genes associated with protein malnutrition and that several genes (N = 34) exhibited a restored 5hmC abundance to control levels following exposure to an enriched environment, including genes involved in neuronal functions like dendrite outgrowth, axon guidance, and maintenance of neuronal circuits (e.g. Fltr3, Itsn1, Lman1, Lsamp, Nav, and Ror1) and epigenetic mechanisms (e.g. Hdac9 and Dicer1). Sequence motif predictions indicated that 5hmC may be modulating the binding of transcription factors for several of these transcripts, suggesting a regulatory role for 5hmC in response to perinatal malnutrition and exposure to an enriched environment. Together, these findings establish a role for 5hmC in early-life malnutrition and reveal genes linked to malnutrition-induced anxious behaviours that are mitigated by an enriched environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina D Alberca
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Laboratorio de Neuroepigenetica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ligia A Papale
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Andy Madrid
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.,Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Octavio Gianatiempo
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Laboratorio de Neuroepigenetica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales - CONICET (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Eduardo T Cánepa
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Laboratorio de Neuroepigenetica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales - CONICET (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Reid S Alisch
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Mariela Chertoff
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Laboratorio de Neuroepigenetica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales - CONICET (IQUIBICEN), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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31
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Chen Z, Li S, Mo J, Hawley E, Wang Y, He Y, Brosseau JP, Shipman T, Clapp DW, Carroll TJ, Le LQ. Schwannoma development is mediated by Hippo pathway dysregulation and modified by RAS/MAPK signaling. JCI Insight 2020; 5:141514. [PMID: 32960816 PMCID: PMC7605536 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.141514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Schwannomas are tumors of the Schwann cells that cause chronic pain, numbness, and potentially life-threatening impairment of vital organs. Despite the identification of causative genes, including NF2 (Merlin), INI1/SMARCB1, and LZTR1, the exact molecular mechanism of schwannoma development is still poorly understood. Several studies have identified Merlin as a key regulator of the Hippo, MAPK, and PI3K signaling pathways; however, definitive evidence demonstrating the importance of these pathways in schwannoma pathogenesis is absent. Here, we provide direct genetic evidence that dysregulation of the Hippo pathway in the Schwann cell lineage causes development of multiple schwannomas in mice. We found that canonical Hippo signaling through the effectors YAP/TAZ is required for schwannomagenesis and that MAPK signaling modifies schwannoma formation. Furthermore, cotargeting YAP/TAZ transcriptional activity and MAPK signaling demonstrated a synergistic therapeutic effect on schwannomas. Our new model provides a tractable platform to dissect the molecular mechanisms underpinning schwannoma formation and the role of combinatorial targeted therapy in schwannoma treatment. Canonical Hippo signaling through the effectors YAP/TAZ is required for the development of peripheral nervous system tumors of Schwann cells, and MAPK signaling modifies schwannoma formation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stephen Li
- Department of Dermatology and.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Juan Mo
- Department of Dermatology and
| | - Eric Hawley
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Yongzheng He
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | | | - D Wade Clapp
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Thomas J Carroll
- Department of Molecular Biology.,Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, and
| | - Lu Q Le
- Department of Dermatology and.,Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, and.,Comprehensive Neurofibromatosis Clinic, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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32
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Kersigo J, Gu L, Xu L, Pan N, Vijayakuma S, Jones T, Shibata SB, Fritzsch B, Hansen MR. Effects of Neurod1 Expression on Mouse and Human Schwannoma Cells. Laryngoscope 2020; 131:E259-E270. [PMID: 32438526 DOI: 10.1002/lary.28671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective was to explore the effect of the proneuronal transcription factor neurogenic differentiation 1 (Neurod1, ND1) on Schwann cells (SC) and schwannoma cell proliferation. METHODS Using a variety of transgenic mouse lines, we investigated how expression of Neurod1 effects medulloblastoma (MB) growth, schwannoma tumor progression, vestibular function, and SC cell proliferation. Primary human vestibular schwannoma (VS) cell cultures were transduced with adenoviral vectors expressing Neurod1. Cell proliferation was assessed by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) uptake. STUDY DESIGN Basic science investigation. RESULTS Expression of Neurod1 reduced the growth of slow-growing but not fast-growing MB models. Gene transfer of Neurod1 in human schwannoma cultures significantly reduced cell proliferation in dose-dependent way. Deletion of the neurofibromatosis type 2 (Nf2) tumor-suppressor gene via Cre expression in SCs led to increased intraganglionic SC proliferation and mildly reduced vestibular sensory-evoked potentials (VsEP) responses compared to age-matched wild-type littermates. The effect of Neurod1-induced expression on intraganglionic SC proliferation in animals lacking Nf2 was mild and highly variable. Sciatic nerve axotomy significantly increased SC proliferation in wild-type and Nf2-null animals, and expression of Neurod1 reduced the proliferative capacity of both wild-type and Nf2-null SCs following nerve injury. CONCLUSION Expression of Neurod1 reduces slow-growing MB progression and reduces human SC proliferation in primary VS cultures. In a genetic mouse model of schwannomas, we find some effects of Neurod1 expression; however, the high variability indicates that more tightly regulated Neurod1 expression levels that mimic our in vitro data are needed to fully validate Neurod1 effects on schwannoma progression. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE NA Laryngoscope, 131:E259-E270, 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Kersigo
- Department of Biology, University of Lowa, Lowa City, Lowa, U.S.A
| | - Lintao Gu
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Lowa, Lowa City, Lowa, U.S.A.,Decibel Pharmaceutical, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A
| | - Linjing Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Lowa, Lowa City, Lowa, U.S.A
| | - Ning Pan
- Department of Biology, University of Lowa, Lowa City, Lowa, U.S.A.,Department of Special Education & Communication Disorders, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.A
| | - Sarath Vijayakuma
- Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Timothy Jones
- Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Seiji B Shibata
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Lowa, Lowa City, Lowa, U.S.A
| | - Bernd Fritzsch
- Department of Biology, University of Lowa, Lowa City, Lowa, U.S.A.,Department of Otolaryngology, University of Lowa, Lowa City, Lowa, U.S.A
| | - Marlan R Hansen
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Lowa, Lowa City, Lowa, U.S.A
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33
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Coy S, Rashid R, Stemmer-Rachamimov A, Santagata S. An update on the CNS manifestations of neurofibromatosis type 2. Acta Neuropathol 2020; 139:643-665. [PMID: 31161239 PMCID: PMC7038792 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-019-02029-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type II (NF2) is a tumor predisposition syndrome characterized by the development of distinctive nervous system lesions. NF2 results from loss-of-function alterations in the NF2 gene on chromosome 22, with resultant dysfunction of its protein product merlin. NF2 is most commonly associated with the development of bilateral vestibular schwannomas; however, patients also have a predisposition to development of other tumors including meningiomas, ependymomas, and peripheral, spinal, and cranial nerve schwannomas. Patients may also develop other characteristic manifestations such as ocular lesions, neuropathies, meningioangiomatosis, and glial hamartia. NF2 has a highly variable clinical course, with some patients exhibiting a severe phenotype and development of multiple tumors at an early age, while others may be nearly asymptomatic throughout their lifetime. Despite the high morbidity associated with NF2 in severe cases, management of NF2-associated lesions primarily consists of surgical resection and treatment of symptoms, and there are currently no FDA-approved systemic therapies that address the underlying biology of the syndrome. Refinements to the diagnostic criteria of NF2 have been proposed over time due to increasing understanding of clinical and molecular data. Large-population studies have demonstrated that some features such as the development of gliomas and neurofibromas, currently included as diagnostic criteria, may require further clarification and modification. Meanwhile, burgeoning insights into the molecular biology of NF2 have shed light on the etiology and highly variable severity of the disease and suggested numerous putative molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. Here, we review the clinicopathologic features of NF2, current understanding of the molecular biology of NF2, particularly with regard to central nervous system lesions, ongoing therapeutic studies, and avenues for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Coy
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, BTM8002P, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rumana Rashid
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, BTM8002P, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Laboratory for Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Program in Therapeutic Science, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anat Stemmer-Rachamimov
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sandro Santagata
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Hale Building for Transformative Medicine, BTM8002P, 60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Laboratory for Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Program in Therapeutic Science, Boston, MA, USA.
- Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA, USA.
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34
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Sagers JE, Beauchamp RL, Zhang Y, Vasilijic S, Wu L, DeSouza P, Seist R, Zhou W, Xu L, Ramesh V, Stankovic KM. Combination therapy with mTOR kinase inhibitor and dasatinib as a novel therapeutic strategy for vestibular schwannoma. Sci Rep 2020; 10:4211. [PMID: 32144278 PMCID: PMC7060236 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60156-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is an inherited disorder characterized by bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VS) that arise from neoplastic Schwann cells (SCs). NF2-associated VSs are often accompanied by meningioma (MN), and the majority of NF2 patients show loss of the NF2 tumor suppressor. mTORC1 and mTORC2-specific serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) are constitutively activated in MN with loss of NF2. In a recent high-throughput kinome screen in NF2-null human arachnoidal and meningioma cells, we showed activation of EPH RTKs, c-KIT, and SFK members independent of mTORC1/2 activation. Subsequently, we demonstrated in vitro and in vivo efficacy of combination therapy with the dual mTORC1/2 inhibitor AZD2014 and the multi-kinase inhibitor dasatinib. For these reasons, we investigated activated mTORC1/2 and EPH receptor-mediated signaling in sporadic and NF2-associated VS. Using primary human VS cells and a mouse allograft model of schwannoma, we evaluated the dual mTORC1/2 inhibitor AZD2014 and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib as monotherapies and in combination. Escalating dose-response experiments on primary VS cells grown from 15 human tumors show that combination therapy with AZD2014 and dasatinib is more effective at reducing metabolic activity than either drug alone and exhibits a therapeutic effect at a physiologically reasonable concentration (~0.1 µM). In vivo, while AZD2014 and dasatinib each inhibit tumor growth alone, the effect of combination therapy exceeds that of either drug. Co-targeting the mTOR and EPH receptor pathways with these or similar compounds may constitute a novel therapeutic strategy for VS, a condition for which there is no FDA-approved pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Sagers
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratories and Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.,Harvard Program in Therapeutic Science, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Roberta L Beauchamp
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Yanling Zhang
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430023, China
| | - Sasa Vasilijic
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratories and Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Limeng Wu
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Patrick DeSouza
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Richard Seist
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratories and Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Wenjianlong Zhou
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Lei Xu
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
| | - Vijaya Ramesh
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. .,Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
| | - Konstantina M Stankovic
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratories and Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. .,Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. .,Harvard Program in Therapeutic Science, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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Hannan CJ, Lewis D, O'Leary C, Donofrio CA, Evans DG, Roncaroli F, Brough D, King AT, Coope D, Pathmanaban ON. The inflammatory microenvironment in vestibular schwannoma. Neurooncol Adv 2020; 2:vdaa023. [PMID: 32642684 PMCID: PMC7212860 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdaa023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Vestibular schwannomas are tumors arising from the vestibulocochlear nerve at the cerebellopontine angle. Their proximity to eloquent brainstem structures means that the pathology itself and the treatment thereof can be associated with significant morbidity. The vast majority of these tumors are sporadic, with the remainder arising as a result of the genetic syndrome Neurofibromatosis Type 2 or, more rarely, LZTR1-related schwannomatosis. The natural history of these tumors is extremely variable, with some tumors not displaying any evidence of growth, others demonstrating early, persistent growth and a small number growing following an extended period of indolence. Emerging evidence now suggests that far from representing Schwann cell proliferation only, the tumor microenvironment is complex, with inflammation proposed to play a key role in their growth. In this review, we provide an overview of this new evidence, including the role played by immune cell infiltration, the underlying molecular pathways involved, and biomarkers for detecting this inflammation in vivo. Given the limitations of current treatments, there is a pressing need for novel therapies to aid in the management of this condition, and we conclude by proposing areas for future research that could lead to the development of therapies targeted toward inflammation in vestibular schwannoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathal John Hannan
- Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.,Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Daniel Lewis
- Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Claire O'Leary
- Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.,Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Carmine A Donofrio
- Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Dafydd Gareth Evans
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester University Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.,Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Federico Roncaroli
- Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.,Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - David Brough
- Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Andrew Thomas King
- Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.,Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - David Coope
- Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.,Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Omar Nathan Pathmanaban
- Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, Salford Royal Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.,Division of Cell Matrix Biology & Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Perez ER, Bracho O, Ein L, Szczupak M, Monje PV, Fernandez-Valle C, Alshaiji A, Ivan M, Morcos J, Liu XZ, Hoffer M, Eshraghi A, Angeli S, Telischi F, Dinh CT. Fluorescent Detection of Merlin-deficient Schwann Cells and Primary Human Vestibular Schwannoma Cells Using Sodium Fluorescein. Otol Neurotol 2019; 39:1053-1059. [PMID: 30001282 DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000001895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Merlin-deficient Schwann cells (MD-SC) and primary human vestibular schwannoma (VS) cells exhibit selective uptake of sodium-fluorescein (SF), allowing for fluorescent detection and improved visualization of tumor cells, when compared with Schwann cells (SC). BACKGROUND SF is a fluorescent compound used for fluorescence-guided resection of gliomas. The utility of SF for VS surgery has not been assessed. METHODS Mouse MD-SCs and rat SCs were cultured on 96-well plates at different cell densities and treated with SF at several drug concentrations and durations. Relative fluorescence units (RFU) were measured using a fluorometer to determine optimal treatment parameters in vitro. Subsequently, a four-point Likert scale for fluorescence visualization of pelleted cells was created and validated. Blinded observers rated SF-treated primary human VS and SC cultures, which were developed from deidentified specimens obtained from live and cadaveric donors, respectively. RESULTS In contrast to SCs that showed low levels of fluorescence, MD-SCs demonstrated dose-dependent increases in RFUs when treated with incremental dosages of SF as well as longer treatment and fluorescent excitation times. In addition, RFUs were higher at greater MD-SC densities. The Likert scale for fluorescence visualization was validated using nine blinded observers and there were excellent inter- and intrarater reliabilities (intraclass coefficients of 0.989 and >0.858, respectively). Using the Likert scale, human VS treated with SF received higher scores than human SCs (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Mouse MD-SC and human VS cells demonstrate preferential uptake of SF when compared with normal primary SCs. Observers detected differences in fluorescence using the validated Likert scale. Further investigations into the utility of SF-guidance in VS surgery are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Paula V Monje
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami
| | - Cristina Fernandez-Valle
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
| | | | - Michael Ivan
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami
| | - Jacques Morcos
- Department of Otolaryngology.,The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami
| | | | - Michael Hoffer
- Department of Otolaryngology.,The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami
| | | | | | - Fred Telischi
- Department of Otolaryngology.,The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami
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Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Microsurgical implantation of mouse merlin-deficient Schwann cells (MD-SC) into the cerebellopontine angle of immunodeficient rats will initiate tumor formation, hearing loss, and vestibular dysfunction. BACKGROUND The progress in identifying effective drug therapies for treatment of Neurofibromatosis type II (NF2) is limited by the availability of animal models of VS that develop hearing loss and imbalance. METHODS A microsurgical technique for implanting MD-SCs onto the cochleovestibular nerve of rats was developed. Ten Rowett Nude rats were implanted with either ∼10 MD-SCs expressing luciferase (N = 5) or vehicle (N = 5). Rats received bioluminescence imaging, auditory brainstem response testing, and were observed for head tilt every 2 weeks after surgery, for a total of 6 weeks. Tumors were harvested and processed with hematoxylin & eosin staining and immunohistochemistry was performed for S100. RESULTS Rats implanted with MD-SCs developed significantly higher tumor bioluminescence measurements and hearing threshold shifts at multiple frequencies by the 4th and 6th weeks post-implantation, compared with control rats. Rats implanted with MD-SCs also developed gross tumor. The tumor volume was significantly greater than nerve volumes obtained from rats in the control group. All rats with tumors developed a head tilt, while control rats had no signs of vestibular dysfunction. Tumors demonstrated histological features of schwannoma and express S100. CONCLUSION Using this microsurgical technique, this xenograft rat model of VS develops tumors involving the cochleovestibular nerve, shifts in hearing thresholds, and vestibular dysfunction. This animal model can be used to investigate tumor-mediated hearing loss and perform preclinical drug studies for NF2.
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Bommakanti K, Iyer JS, Stankovic KM. Cochlear histopathology in human genetic hearing loss: State of the science and future prospects. Hear Res 2019; 382:107785. [PMID: 31493568 PMCID: PMC6778517 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2019.107785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is an extraordinarily common disability, affecting 466 million people across the globe. Half of these incidents are attributed to genetic mutations that disrupt the structure and function of the cochlea. The human cochlea's interior cannot be imaged or biopsied without damaging hearing; thus, everything known about the morphologic correlates of hereditary human deafness comes from histopathologic studies conducted in either cadaveric human temporal bone specimens or animal models of genetic deafness. The purpose of the present review is to a) summarize the findings from all published histopathologic studies conducted in human temporal bones with known SNHL-causing genetic mutations, and b) compare the reported phenotypes of human vs. mouse SNHL caused by the same genetic mutation. The fact that human temporal bone histopathologic analysis has been reported for only 22 of the nearly 200 identified deafness-causing genes suggests a great need for alternative and improved techniques for studying human hereditary deafness; in light of this, the present review concludes with a summary of promising future directions, specifically in the fields of high resolution cochlear imaging, intracochlear fluid biopsy, and gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Bommakanti
- Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Eaton Peabody Laboratories and Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA; University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Janani S Iyer
- Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Eaton Peabody Laboratories and Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA; Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Konstantina M Stankovic
- Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Eaton Peabody Laboratories and Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA; Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Program in Therapeutic Science, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Burks CA, Rhodes SD, Bessler WK, Chen S, Smith A, Gehlhausen JR, Hawley ET, Jiang L, Li X, Yuan J, Lu Q, Jacobsen M, Sandusky GE, Jones DR, Clapp DW, Blakeley JO. Ketotifen Modulates Mast Cell Chemotaxis to Kit-Ligand, but Does Not Impact Mast Cell Numbers, Degranulation, or Tumor Behavior in Neurofibromas of Nf1-Deficient Mice. Mol Cancer Ther 2019; 18:2321-2330. [PMID: 31527226 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-19-0123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is one of the most common genetic tumor predisposition syndromes in humans. Mutant NF1 results in dysregulated RAS allowing neoplasms throughout the neuroaxis. Plexiform neurofibromas (pNF) afflict up to 50% of patients with NF1. They are complex tumors of the peripheral nerve that cause major morbidity via nerve dysregulation and mortality via conversion to malignant sarcoma. Genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) of NF1 provide valuable insights for the identification of therapies that have utility in people with pNF. Preclinical studies in GEMMs implicate mast cells and the c-Kit/Kit ligand pathway in pNF tumorigenesis. Kit ligand is a potent chemokine secreted by tumorigenic, Nf1-deficient Schwann cells. Ketotifen is an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis and asthma that promotes mast cell stabilization and has been used in prior case studies to treat or prevent pNFs. This study investigated the effect of ketotifen on mast cell infiltration and degranulation in the presence and absence of Kit ligand provocation and the effect of ketotifen on shrinking or preventing pNF formation in the Nf1flox/flox ;PostnCre + GEMM. Ketotifen decreased mast cell infiltration in response to exogenous Kit ligand administration, but did not affect mast cell degranulation. Importantly, ketotifen did not reduce mast cells numbers or activity in pNF and did not prevent pNF formation or decrease the volume of established pNF despite administration of pharmacologically active doses. These findings suggest that ketotifen has limited use as monotherapy to prevent or reduce pNF burden in the setting of Nf1 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciersten A Burks
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Steven D Rhodes
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Waylan K Bessler
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Shi Chen
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Abbi Smith
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | | | - Eric T Hawley
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Li Jiang
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Jin Yuan
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Qingbo Lu
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Max Jacobsen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - George E Sandusky
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - David R Jones
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - D Wade Clapp
- Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indianapolis, Indiana. .,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Jaishri O Blakeley
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. .,Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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MR Neurography: Normative Values in Correlation to Demographic Determinants in Children and Adolescents. Clin Neuroradiol 2019; 30:671-677. [DOI: 10.1007/s00062-019-00834-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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Godel T, Bäumer P, Farschtschi S, Gugel I, Kronlage M, Hofstadler B, Heiland S, Gelderblom M, Bendszus M, Mautner VF. Peripheral nervous system alterations in infant and adult neurofibromatosis type 2. Neurology 2019; 93:e590-e598. [PMID: 31300546 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000007898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the involvement of dorsal root ganglia and peripheral nerves in children with neurofibromatosis type 2 compared to healthy controls and symptomatic adults by in vivo high-resolution magnetic resonance neurography. METHODS In this prospective multicenter study, the lumbosacral dorsal root ganglia and sciatic, tibial, and peroneal nerves were examined in 9 polyneuropathy-negative children diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 2 by a standardized magnetic resonance neurography protocol at 3T. Volumes of dorsal root ganglia L3 to S2 and peripheral nerve lesions were assessed and compared to those of 29 healthy children. Moreover, dorsal root ganglia volumes and peripheral nerve lesions were compared to those of 14 adults with neurofibromatosis type 2. RESULTS Compared to healthy controls, dorsal root ganglia hypertrophy was a consistent finding in children with neurofibromatosis type 2 (L3 +255%, L4 +289%, L5 +250%, S1 +257%, and S2 +218%, p < 0.001) with an excellent diagnostic accuracy. Moreover, peripheral nerve lesions occurred with a high frequency in those children compared to healthy controls (18.89 ± 11.11 vs 0.90 ± 1.08, p < 0.001). Children and adults with neurofibromatosis type 2 showed nonsignificant differences in relative dorsal root ganglia hypertrophy rates (p = 0.85) and peripheral nerve lesions (p = 0.28). CONCLUSIONS Alterations of peripheral nerve segments occur early in the course of neurofibromatosis type 2 and are evident even in children not clinically affected by peripheral polyneuropathy. While those early alterations show similar characteristics compared to adults with neurofibromatosis type 2, the findings of this study suggest that secondary processes might be responsible for the development and severity of associated polyneuropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Godel
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (T.G., P.B., M.K., B.H., S.H., M.B.), Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital; Center for Radiology dia.log (P.B.),Altötting; Department of Neurology (S.F., M.G., V.-F.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg; and Department of Neurosurgery (I.G.), Tübingen University Hospital, Germany.
| | - Philipp Bäumer
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (T.G., P.B., M.K., B.H., S.H., M.B.), Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital; Center for Radiology dia.log (P.B.),Altötting; Department of Neurology (S.F., M.G., V.-F.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg; and Department of Neurosurgery (I.G.), Tübingen University Hospital, Germany
| | - Said Farschtschi
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (T.G., P.B., M.K., B.H., S.H., M.B.), Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital; Center for Radiology dia.log (P.B.),Altötting; Department of Neurology (S.F., M.G., V.-F.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg; and Department of Neurosurgery (I.G.), Tübingen University Hospital, Germany
| | - Isabel Gugel
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (T.G., P.B., M.K., B.H., S.H., M.B.), Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital; Center for Radiology dia.log (P.B.),Altötting; Department of Neurology (S.F., M.G., V.-F.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg; and Department of Neurosurgery (I.G.), Tübingen University Hospital, Germany
| | - Moritz Kronlage
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (T.G., P.B., M.K., B.H., S.H., M.B.), Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital; Center for Radiology dia.log (P.B.),Altötting; Department of Neurology (S.F., M.G., V.-F.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg; and Department of Neurosurgery (I.G.), Tübingen University Hospital, Germany
| | - Barbara Hofstadler
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (T.G., P.B., M.K., B.H., S.H., M.B.), Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital; Center for Radiology dia.log (P.B.),Altötting; Department of Neurology (S.F., M.G., V.-F.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg; and Department of Neurosurgery (I.G.), Tübingen University Hospital, Germany
| | - Sabine Heiland
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (T.G., P.B., M.K., B.H., S.H., M.B.), Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital; Center for Radiology dia.log (P.B.),Altötting; Department of Neurology (S.F., M.G., V.-F.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg; and Department of Neurosurgery (I.G.), Tübingen University Hospital, Germany
| | - Mathias Gelderblom
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (T.G., P.B., M.K., B.H., S.H., M.B.), Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital; Center for Radiology dia.log (P.B.),Altötting; Department of Neurology (S.F., M.G., V.-F.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg; and Department of Neurosurgery (I.G.), Tübingen University Hospital, Germany
| | - Martin Bendszus
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (T.G., P.B., M.K., B.H., S.H., M.B.), Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital; Center for Radiology dia.log (P.B.),Altötting; Department of Neurology (S.F., M.G., V.-F.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg; and Department of Neurosurgery (I.G.), Tübingen University Hospital, Germany
| | - Victor-Felix Mautner
- From the Department of Neuroradiology (T.G., P.B., M.K., B.H., S.H., M.B.), Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital; Center for Radiology dia.log (P.B.),Altötting; Department of Neurology (S.F., M.G., V.-F.M.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg; and Department of Neurosurgery (I.G.), Tübingen University Hospital, Germany
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Hennigan RF, Fletcher JS, Guard S, Ratner N. Proximity biotinylation identifies a set of conformation-specific interactions between Merlin and cell junction proteins. Sci Signal 2019; 12:12/578/eaau8749. [PMID: 31015291 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aau8749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 2 is an inherited, neoplastic disease associated with schwannomas, meningiomas, and ependymomas and that is caused by inactivation of the tumor suppressor gene NF2 The NF2 gene product, Merlin, has no intrinsic catalytic activity; its tumor suppressor function is mediated through the proteins with which it interacts. We used proximity biotinylation followed by mass spectrometry and direct binding assays to identify proteins that associated with wild-type and various mutant forms of Merlin in immortalized Schwann cells. We defined a set of 52 proteins in close proximity to wild-type Merlin. Most of the Merlin-proximal proteins were components of cell junctional signaling complexes, suggesting that additional potential interaction partners may exist in adherens junctions, tight junctions, and focal adhesions. With mutant forms of Merlin that cannot bind to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) or that constitutively adopt a closed conformation, we confirmed a critical role for PIP2 binding in Merlin function and identified a large cohort of proteins that specifically interacted with Merlin in the closed conformation. Among these proteins, we identified a previously unreported Merlin-binding protein, apoptosis-stimulated p53 protein 2 (ASPP2, also called Tp53bp2), that bound to closed-conformation Merlin predominately through the FERM domain. Our results demonstrate that Merlin is a component of cell junctional mechanosensing complexes and defines a specific set of proteins through which it acts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert F Hennigan
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
| | - Jonathan S Fletcher
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Steven Guard
- Department of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Nancy Ratner
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
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A cerebellopontine angle mouse model for the investigation of tumor biology, hearing, and neurological function in NF2-related vestibular schwannoma. Nat Protoc 2019; 14:541-555. [PMID: 30617350 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-018-0105-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type II (NF2) is a disease that lacks effective therapies. NF2 is characterized by bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VSs) that cause progressive and debilitating hearing loss, leading to social isolation and increased rates of depression. A major limitation in NF2 basic and translational research is the lack of animal models that allow the full spectrum of research into the biology and molecular mechanisms of NF2 tumor progression, as well as the effects on neurological function. In this protocol, we describe how to inject schwannoma cells into the mouse brain cerebellopontine angle (CPA) region. We also describe how to apply state-of-the-art intravital imaging and hearing assessment techniques to study tumor growth and hearing loss. In addition, ataxia, angiogenesis, and tumor-stroma interaction assays can be applied, and the model can be used to test the efficacy of novel therapeutic approaches. By studying the disease from every angle, this model offers the potential to unravel the basic biological underpinnings of NF2 and to develop novel therapeutics to control this devastating disease. Our protocol can be adapted to study other diseases within the CPA, including meningiomas, lipomas, vascular malformations, hemangiomas, epidermoid cysts, cerebellar astrocytomas, and metastatic lesions. The entire surgical procedure takes ~45 min per mouse and allows for subsequent longitudinal imaging, as well as neurological and hearing assessment, for up to 2 months.
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Gehlhausen JR, Hawley E, Wahle BM, He Y, Edwards D, Rhodes SD, Lajiness JD, Staser K, Chen S, Yang X, Yuan J, Li X, Jiang L, Smith A, Bessler W, Sandusky G, Stemmer-Rachamimov A, Stuhlmiller TJ, Angus SP, Johnson GL, Nalepa G, Yates CW, Wade Clapp D, Park SJ. A proteasome-resistant fragment of NIK mediates oncogenic NF-κB signaling in schwannomas. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 28:572-583. [PMID: 30335132 PMCID: PMC6489415 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 09/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Schwannomas are common, highly morbid and medically untreatable tumors that can arise in patients with germ line as well as somatic mutations in neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). These mutations most commonly result in the loss of function of the NF2-encoded protein, Merlin. Little is known about how Merlin functions endogenously as a tumor suppressor and how its loss leads to oncogenic transformation in Schwann cells (SCs). Here, we identify nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB)-inducing kinase (NIK) as a potential drug target driving NF-κB signaling and Merlin-deficient schwannoma genesis. Using a genomic approach to profile aberrant tumor signaling pathways, we describe multiple upregulated NF-κB signaling elements in human and murine schwannomas, leading us to identify a caspase-cleaved, proteasome-resistant NIK kinase domain fragment that amplifies pathogenic NF-κB signaling. Lentiviral-mediated transduction of this NIK fragment into normal SCs promotes proliferation, survival, and adhesion while inducing schwannoma formation in a novel in vivo orthotopic transplant model. Furthermore, we describe an NF-κB-potentiated hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) to MET proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase (c-Met) autocrine feed-forward loop promoting SC proliferation. These innovative studies identify a novel signaling axis underlying schwannoma formation, revealing new and potentially druggable schwannoma vulnerabilities with future therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R Gehlhausen
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Eric Hawley
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Benjamin Mark Wahle
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Yongzheng He
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Donna Edwards
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Steven D Rhodes
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jacquelyn D Lajiness
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Karl Staser
- Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Shi Chen
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Xianlin Yang
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jin Yuan
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Li Jiang
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Abbi Smith
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Waylan Bessler
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - George Sandusky
- Department of Pathology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | | | - Steven P Angus
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Gary L Johnson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Grzegorz Nalepa
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Charles W Yates
- Department of Otolaryngology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - D Wade Clapp
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Su-Jung Park
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Abstract
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are rare and aggressive soft-tissue sarcomas with dismal prognosis. Complete resection, which is the only known definitive therapy, is not feasible with every tumor, and local recurrence after surgery is another challenge to successful treatment. Treatments used with other sarcoma types have not proven beneficial to MPNST patients. Targeted therapies blocking several signaling pathways known to drive MPNST pathogenesis have also not improved patient outcomes in clinical trials. This review discusses existing therapies and targeted chemotherapeutic options currently being tested clinically, and potential therapeutic avenues identified in preclinical studies that include targeting signaling pathways such as the HIPPO-YAP pathway and epigenetic mechanisms as well as multi-agent strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lai Man Natalie Wu
- Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Qing Richard Lu
- Division of Experimental Hematology & Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
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Cho JH, Oh AY, Park S, Kang SM, Yoon MH, Woo TG, Hong SD, Hwang J, Ha NC, Lee HY, Park BJ. Loss of NF2 Induces TGFβ Receptor 1–mediated Noncanonical and Oncogenic TGFβ Signaling: Implication of the Therapeutic Effect of TGFβ Receptor 1 Inhibitor on NF2 Syndrome. Mol Cancer Ther 2018; 17:2271-2284. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-1210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Allaway R, Angus SP, Beauchamp RL, Blakeley JO, Bott M, Burns SS, Carlstedt A, Chang LS, Chen X, Clapp DW, Desouza PA, Erdin S, Fernandez-Valle C, Guinney J, Gusella JF, Haggarty SJ, Johnson GL, La Rosa S, Morrison H, Petrilli AM, Plotkin SR, Pratap A, Ramesh V, Sciaky N, Stemmer-Rachamimov A, Stuhlmiller TJ, Talkowski ME, Welling DB, Yates CW, Zawistowski JS, Zhao WN. Traditional and systems biology based drug discovery for the rare tumor syndrome neurofibromatosis type 2. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197350. [PMID: 29897904 PMCID: PMC5999111 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) is a rare tumor suppressor syndrome that manifests with multiple schwannomas and meningiomas. There are no effective drug therapies for these benign tumors and conventional therapies have limited efficacy. Various model systems have been created and several drug targets have been implicated in NF2-driven tumorigenesis based on known effects of the absence of merlin, the product of the NF2 gene. We tested priority compounds based on known biology with traditional dose-concentration studies in meningioma and schwann cell systems. Concurrently, we studied functional kinome and gene expression in these cells pre- and post-treatment to determine merlin deficient molecular phenotypes. Cell viability results showed that three agents (GSK2126458, Panobinostat, CUDC-907) had the greatest activity across schwannoma and meningioma cell systems, but merlin status did not significantly influence response. In vivo, drug effect was tumor specific with meningioma, but not schwannoma, showing response to GSK2126458 and Panobinostat. In culture, changes in both the transcriptome and kinome in response to treatment clustered predominantly based on tumor type. However, there were differences in both gene expression and functional kinome at baseline between meningioma and schwannoma cell systems that may form the basis for future selective therapies. This work has created an openly accessible resource (www.synapse.org/SynodosNF2) of fully characterized isogenic schwannoma and meningioma cell systems as well as a rich data source of kinome and transcriptome data from these assay systems before and after treatment that enables single and combination drug discovery based on molecular phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Steve P. Angus
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Roberta L. Beauchamp
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Jaishri O. Blakeley
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Marga Bott
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Lake Nona-Orlando, FL, United States of America
| | - Sarah S. Burns
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | | | - Long-Sheng Chang
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Xin Chen
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - D. Wade Clapp
- Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Patrick A. Desouza
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Serkan Erdin
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Cristina Fernandez-Valle
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Lake Nona-Orlando, FL, United States of America
| | | | - James F. Gusella
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Stephen J. Haggarty
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Gary L. Johnson
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | | | - Helen Morrison
- Leibniz-Institute on Aging–Fritz-Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Alejandra M. Petrilli
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Lake Nona-Orlando, FL, United States of America
| | - Scott R. Plotkin
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Abhishek Pratap
- Sage Bionetworks, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Vijaya Ramesh
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Noah Sciaky
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Anat Stemmer-Rachamimov
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Tim J. Stuhlmiller
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Michael E. Talkowski
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - D. Bradley Welling
- Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Charles W. Yates
- Indiana University, School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States of America
| | - Jon S. Zawistowski
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Wen-Ning Zhao
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
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48
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Godel T, Mautner VF, Farschtschi S, Pham M, Schwarz D, Kronlage M, Gugel I, Heiland S, Bendszus M, Bäumer P. Dorsal root ganglia volume differentiates schwannomatosis and neurofibromatosis 2. Ann Neurol 2018; 83:854-857. [PMID: 29469988 DOI: 10.1002/ana.25191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Schwannomatosis and neurofibromatosis type 2 are hereditary tumor syndromes, and peripheral neuropathy has been reported in both. We prospectively applied in vivo morphometric measurement of dorsal root ganglia volume in 16 schwannomatosis patients, 14 neurofibromatosis type 2 patients, and 26 healthy controls by magnetic resonance neurography. Compared to healthy controls, dorsal root ganglia hypertrophy was a consistent finding in neurofibromatosis type 2 (L3, + 267%; L4, + 235%; L5, + 241%; S1, + 300%; S2, + 242%; Bonferroni-adjusted p < 0.001) but not in schwannomatosis. Dorsal root ganglia may be a vulnerable site in origination of areflexia and sensory loss and a useful diagnostic marker in neurofibromatosis type 2. Ann Neurol 2018;83:854-857.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Godel
- Department of Neuroradiology, Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg
| | | | - Said Farschtschi
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg
| | - Mirko Pham
- Department of Neuroradiology, Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg.,Department of Neuroradiology, Würzburg University Hospital, Würzburg
| | - Daniel Schwarz
- Department of Neuroradiology, Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg
| | - Moritz Kronlage
- Department of Neuroradiology, Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg
| | - Isabel Gugel
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tübingen University Hospital, Tübingen
| | - Sabine Heiland
- Department of Neuroradiology, Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg
| | - Martin Bendszus
- Department of Neuroradiology, Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg
| | - Philipp Bäumer
- Department of Neuroradiology, Neurological University Clinic, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg.,Department of Radiology, German Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Germany
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49
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Wu LMN, Deng Y, Wang J, Zhao C, Wang J, Rao R, Xu L, Zhou W, Choi K, Rizvi TA, Remke M, Rubin JB, Johnson RL, Carroll TJ, Stemmer-Rachamimov AO, Wu J, Zheng Y, Xin M, Ratner N, Lu QR. Programming of Schwann Cells by Lats1/2-TAZ/YAP Signaling Drives Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumorigenesis. Cancer Cell 2018; 33:292-308.e7. [PMID: 29438698 PMCID: PMC5813693 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2018.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are highly aggressive Schwann cell (SC)-lineage-derived sarcomas. Molecular events driving SC-to-MPNST transformation are incompletely understood. Here, we show that human MPNSTs exhibit elevated HIPPO-TAZ/YAP expression, and that TAZ/YAP hyperactivity in SCs caused by Lats1/2 loss potently induces high-grade nerve-associated tumors with full penetrance. Lats1/2 deficiency reprograms SCs to a cancerous, progenitor-like phenotype and promotes hyperproliferation. Conversely, disruption of TAZ/YAP activity alleviates tumor burden in Lats1/2-deficient mice and inhibits human MPNST cell proliferation. Moreover, genome-wide profiling reveals that TAZ/YAP-TEAD1 directly activates oncogenic programs, including platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) signaling. Co-targeting TAZ/YAP and PDGFR pathways inhibits tumor growth. Thus, our findings establish a previously unrecognized convergence between Lats1/2-TAZ/YAP signaling and MPNST pathogenesis, revealing potential therapeutic targets in these untreatable tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lai Man Natalie Wu
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Yaqi Deng
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Jincheng Wang
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Chuntao Zhao
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Jiajia Wang
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Rohit Rao
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Lingli Xu
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenhao Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kwangmin Choi
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Tilat A Rizvi
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Marc Remke
- Departments of Pediatric Oncology, Neuropathology, Hematology, and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany; Department of Pediatric Neuro-Oncogenomics, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
| | - Joshua B Rubin
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Randy L Johnson
- Department of Cancer Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Thomas J Carroll
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Anat O Stemmer-Rachamimov
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jianqiang Wu
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Yi Zheng
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Mei Xin
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Nancy Ratner
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Q Richard Lu
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Key Laboratory of Birth Defects, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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50
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Nf2 Mutation in Schwann Cells Delays Functional Neural Recovery Following Injury. Neuroscience 2018; 374:205-213. [PMID: 29408605 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.01.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Merlin is the protein product of the NF2 tumor suppressor gene. Germline NF2 mutation leads to neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), characterized by multiple intracranial and spinal schwannomas. Patients with NF2 also frequently develop peripheral neuropathies. While the role of merlin in SC neoplasia is well established, its role in SC homeostasis is less defined. Here we explore the role of merlin in SC responses to nerve injury and their ability to support axon regeneration. We performed sciatic nerve crush in wild-type (WT) and in P0SchΔ39-121 transgenic mice that express a dominant negative Nf2 isoform in SCs. Recovery of nerve function was assessed by measuring mean contact paw area on a pressure pad 7, 21, 60, and 90 days following nerve injury and by nerve conduction assays at 90 days following injury. After 90 days, the nerves were harvested and axon regeneration was quantified stereologically. Myelin ultrastructure was analyzed by electron microscopy. Functional studies showed delayed nerve regeneration in Nf2 mutant mice compared to the WT mice. Delayed neural recovery correlated with a reduced density of regenerated axons and increased endoneurial space in mutants compared to WT mice. Nevertheless, functional and nerve conduction measures ultimately recovered to similar levels in WT and Nf2 mutant mice, while there was a small (∼17%) reduction in the percent of regenerated axons in the Nf2 mutant mice. The data suggest that merlin function in SCs regulates neural ultrastructure and facilitates neural regeneration, in addition to its role in SC neoplasia.
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