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Robinson JP, Rebecca VW, Kircher DA, Silvis MR, Smalley I, Gibney GT, Lastwika KJ, Chen G, Davies MA, Grossman D, Smalley KS, Holmen SL, VanBrocklin MW. Resistance mechanisms to genetic suppression of mutant NRAS in melanoma. Melanoma Res 2017; 27:545-557. [PMID: 29076949 PMCID: PMC5683096 DOI: 10.1097/cmr.0000000000000403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Targeted therapies have revolutionized cancer care, but the development of resistance remains a challenge in the clinic. To identify rational targets for combination strategies, we used an established melanoma mouse model and selected for resistant tumors following genetic suppression of NRAS expression. Complete tumor regression was observed in all mice, but 40% of tumors recurred. Analysis of resistant tumors showed that the most common mechanism of resistance was overexpression and activation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Interestingly, the most commonly overexpressed RTK was Met and inhibition of Met overcame NRAS resistance in this context. Analysis of NRAS mutant human melanoma cells showed enhanced efficacy of cytotoxicity with combined RTK and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibition. In this study, we establish the importance of adaptive RTK signaling in the escape of NRAS mutant melanoma from inhibition of RAS and provide the rationale for combined blockade of RAS and RTK signaling in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vito W. Rebecca
- Department of Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center; University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - David A. Kircher
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Mark R. Silvis
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Inna Smalley
- Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Geoffrey T. Gibney
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington DC, USA
| | - Kristin J. Lastwika
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Guo Chen
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael A. Davies
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Douglas Grossman
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Dermatology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Keiran S.M. Smalley
- Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Sheri L. Holmen
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Matthew W. VanBrocklin
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Shin CH, Robinson JP, Sonnen JA, Welker AE, Yu DX, VanBrocklin MW, Holmen SL. HBEGF promotes gliomagenesis in the context of Ink4a/Arf and Pten loss. Oncogene 2017; 36:4610-4618. [PMID: 28368403 PMCID: PMC5552427 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Revised: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor (HBEGF) is a ligand for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), one of the most commonly amplified receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) in glioblastoma. While HBEGF has been found to be expressed in a subset of malignant gliomas, its sufficiency for glioma initiation has not been evaluated. In this study, we demonstrate that HBEGF can initiate glioblastoma (GBM) in mice in the context of Ink4a/Arf and Pten loss, and that these tumors are similar to the classical GBM subtype observed in patients. Isogenic astrocytes from these mice showed activation not only of Egfr but also the RTK Axl in response to HBEGF stimulation. Deletion of either Egfr or Axl decreased the tumorigenic properties of HBEGF transformed cells; however only EGFR was able to rescue the phenotype in cells lacking both RTKs indicating that Egfr is required for activation of Axl in this context. Silencing of HBEGF in vivo resulted in tumor regression and significantly increased survival suggesting that HBEGF may be a clinically relevant target.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Shin
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - J P Robinson
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA
| | - J A Sonnen
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - A E Welker
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - D X Yu
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - M W VanBrocklin
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - S L Holmen
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Activated MEK cooperates with Cdkn2a and Pten loss to promote the development and maintenance of melanoma. Oncogene 2017; 36:3842-3851. [PMID: 28263969 PMCID: PMC5501768 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2016.526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Revised: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The development of targeted inhibitors, vemurafenib and dabrafenib, has led to improved clinical outcome for melanoma patients with BRAFV600E mutations. Although the initial response to these inhibitors can be dramatic, sometimes causing complete tumor regression, the majority of melanomas eventually become resistant. Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) mutations are found in primary melanomas and frequently reported in BRAF melanomas that develop resistance to targeted therapy; however, melanoma is a molecularly heterogeneous cancer, and which mutations are drivers and which are passengers remains to be determined. In this study, we demonstrate that in BRAFV600E melanoma cell lines, activating MEK mutations drive resistance and contribute to suboptimal growth of melanoma cells following the withdrawal of BRAF inhibition. In this manner, the cells are drug-addicted, suggesting that melanoma cells evolve a ‘just right’ level of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and the additive effects of MEK and BRAF mutations are counterproductive. We also used a novel mouse model of melanoma to demonstrate that several of these MEK mutants promote the development, growth and maintenance of melanoma in vivo in the context of Cdkn2a and Pten loss. By utilizing a genetic approach to control mutant MEK expression in vivo, we were able to induce tumor regression and significantly increase survival; however, after a long latency, all tumors subsequently became resistant. These data suggest that resistance to BRAF or MEK inhibitors is probably inevitable, and novel therapeutic approaches are needed to target dormant tumors.
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A MEK/PI3K/HDAC inhibitor combination therapy for KRAS mutant pancreatic cancer cells. Oncotarget 2016; 6:15814-27. [PMID: 26158412 PMCID: PMC4599239 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 06/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive, metastatic disease with limited treatment options. Factors contributing to the metastatic predisposition and therapy resistance in pancreatic cancer are not well understood. Here, we used a mouse model of KRAS-driven pancreatic carcinogenesis to define distinct subtypes of PDAC metastasis: epithelial, mesenchymal and quasi-mesenchymal. We examined pro-survival signals in these cells and the therapeutic response differences between them. Our data indicate that the initiation and maintenance of the transformed state are separable, and that KRAS dependency is not a fundamental constant of KRAS-initiated tumors. Moreover, some cancer cells can shuttle between the KRAS dependent (drug-sensitive) and independent (drug-tolerant) states and thus escape extinction. We further demonstrate that inhibition of KRAS signaling alone via co-targeting the MAPK and PI3K pathways fails to induce extensive tumor cell death and, therefore, has limited efficacy against PDAC. However, the addition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors greatly improves outcomes, reduces the self-renewal of cancer cells, and blocks cancer metastasis in vivo. Our results suggest that targeting HDACs in combination with KRAS or its effector pathways provides an effective strategy for the treatment of PDAC.
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Jiang C, Song T, Li J, Ao F, Gong X, Lu Y, Zhang C, Chen L, Liu Y, He H, Huang O. RAS Promotes Proliferation and Resistances to Apoptosis in Meningioma. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:779-787. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-9763-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Yeh ES, Vernon-Grey A, Martin H, Chodosh LA. Tetracycline-regulated mouse models of cancer. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2014; 2014:pdb.top069823. [PMID: 25275112 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.top069823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) have proven essential to the study of mammalian gene function in both development and disease. However, traditional constitutive transgenic mouse model systems are limited by the temporal and spatial characteristics of the experimental promoter used to drive transgene expression. To address this limitation, considerable effort has been dedicated to developing conditional and inducible mouse model systems. Although a number of approaches to generating inducible GEMMs have been pursued, several have been restricted by toxic or undesired physiological side effects of the compounds used to activate gene expression. The development of tetracycline (tet)-dependent regulatory systems has allowed for circumvention of these issues resulting in the widespread adoption of these systems as an invaluable tool for modeling the complex nature of cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth S Yeh
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Ann Vernon-Grey
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Heather Martin
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Lewis A Chodosh
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
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Robinson GL, Robinson JP, Lastwika KJ, Holmen SL, Vanbrocklin MW. Akt signaling accelerates tumor recurrence following ras inhibition in the context of ink4a/arf loss. Genes Cancer 2014; 4:476-85. [PMID: 24386508 DOI: 10.1177/1947601913513268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2013] [Accepted: 10/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant activation of the RAS signaling pathway contributes to nearly all human cancers, including gliomas. To determine the dependence of high-grade gliomas on this signaling pathway, we developed a doxycycline-regulated KRas glioma mouse model. Using this model we previously demonstrated that inhibition of KRas expression in gliomas induced by activated KRas and Akt results in complete tumor regression. We have also shown that, in the context of Ink4a/Arf loss, abrogation of KRas signaling is sufficient to decrease tumor burden but resistance ensues. In this study, we sought to determine the effect of activated Akt signaling in combination with activated KRas and loss of Ink4a/Arf on the growth and recurrence of brain tumors following suppression of KRas expression. We observed significant tumor formation in Ink4a/Arf(lox/lox) mice injected with retroviruses containing tetracycline responsive element (TRE)-KRas, Tet-off, Akt, and Cre. Abrogation of KRas signaling resulted in significant tumor regression; however, resistance developed after a relatively short latency. Tumor recurrence occurred more rapidly and the tumors were more aggressive in the presence of activated Akt signaling compared with loss of Ink4a/Arf alone suggesting that this pathway contributes to tumor progression in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma L Robinson
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA ; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - James P Robinson
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA ; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Sheri L Holmen
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA ; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Matthew W Vanbrocklin
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA ; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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Wang J, Zheng X, Zeng G, Zhou Y, Yuan H. Purified vitexin compound 1 inhibits growth and angiogenesis through activation of FOXO3a by inactivation of Akt in hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Mol Med 2013; 33:441-8. [PMID: 24337611 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2013.1587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitexins, isolated from the seeds of the Chinese herb Vitex negundo, is known to exert antitumor activity in cancer xenograft models and cell lines. The aim of the current study was to examine whether the Akt/forkhead box protein O3a (FOXO3a) pathway mediates the biological effects of purified vitexin compound 1 (VB-1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The effect of VB-1 on the viability of the HCC cell lines HepG2, Hep3B, Huh-7 and the human embryonic liver cells L-02 was investigated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Growth inhibition was assessed by clonogenic assay, and cell cycle arrest was investigated using flow cytometry. Inhibition of angiogenesis was evaluated using a matrigel in vitro HUVEC tube formation assay. The effects on the Akt/FOXO3a pathway were detected by western blotting. VB-1 suppressed the proliferation of HepG2, Hep3B, Huh-7 cells, but had little effect on L-02 cells. VB-1 inhibited anchorage-dependent and -independent HepG2 cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner by induction of cell cycle arrest at G1/G0. VB-1 also reduced the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), resulting in the inhibition of endothelial tube formation. Phosphorylated Akt and its downstream effector FOXO3a were downregulated in VB-1-treated HepG2 cells. Knockdown of Akt1 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) enhanced growth inhibition, and silencing FOXO3a by siRNA attenuated this action. VB-1 inhibited growth and induced cell cycle arrest at G1/G0 by regulating the Akt/FOXO3a pathway. The findings suggested that VB-1 is a potentially promising candidate for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangang Wang
- Department of Cardiology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
| | - Xingxing Zheng
- Department of Cardiology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
| | - Guangyao Zeng
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
| | - Yingjun Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
| | - Hong Yuan
- Department of Cardiology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
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