1
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Wang B, Li Y, Kou C, Sun J, Xu X. Mining Database for the Clinical Significance and Prognostic Value of ESRP1 in Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:4985014. [PMID: 32964032 PMCID: PMC7492958 DOI: 10.1155/2020/4985014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epithelial splicing regulatory protein 1 (ESRP1) has been described as an RNA-binding protein involved in cancer development. However, the expression and regulatory network of ESRP1 in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) remain unclear. METHODS From the sequencing data of 103 CMM samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas database, the expression level of ESRP1 and its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed using the Oncomine 4.5, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), and UALCAN tools, while LinkedOmics was used to identify differential gene expression with ESRP1 and to analyze Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Gene enrichment analysis examined target networks of kinases, miRNAs, and transcription factors. Finally, TIMER was used to analyze the relationship between ESRP1 and tumor immune cell infiltration. RESULTS We found that ESRP1 was lowly expressed in CMM tissues, and a low level of ESRP1 expression correlated with better overall survival. Expression of this gene was linked to functional networks involving the condensed chromosomes, epidermal development, and translation initiation. Functional network analysis suggested that ESRP1 regulated ribosome metabolism, drug metabolism, and chemical carcinogenesis via pathways involving several cancer-related kinases, miRNAs, and transcription factors. Furthermore, our results suggested that ESRP1 played an important role in regulating tumor-associated macrophage polarization, dendritic cell infiltration, Treg cells, and T cell exhaustion. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates ESRP1 expression, prognostic value, and potential regulatory networks in CMM, thereby shedding light on the clinical significance of ESRP1, and provides a novel biomarker for determining prognosis and immune infiltration in CMM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baihe Wang
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 12 Jiangwangmiao Street, Nanjing 210042, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Qingdao Municipal Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Caixia Kou
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 12 Jiangwangmiao Street, Nanjing 210042, China
| | - Jianfang Sun
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 12 Jiangwangmiao Street, Nanjing 210042, China
| | - Xiulian Xu
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 12 Jiangwangmiao Street, Nanjing 210042, China
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2
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Strub T, Ballotti R, Bertolotto C. The "ART" of Epigenetics in Melanoma: From histone "Alterations, to Resistance and Therapies". Theranostics 2020; 10:1777-1797. [PMID: 32042336 PMCID: PMC6993228 DOI: 10.7150/thno.36218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer. It originates from melanocytic cells and can also arise at other body sites. Early diagnosis and appropriate medical care offer excellent prognosis with up to 5-year survival rate in more than 95% of all patients. However, long-term survival rate for metastatic melanoma patients remains at only 5%. Indeed, malignant melanoma is known for its notorious resistance to most current therapies and is characterized by both genetic and epigenetic alterations. In cutaneous melanoma (CM), genetic alterations have been implicated in drug resistance, yet the main cause of this resistance seems to be non-genetic in nature with a change in transcription programs within cell subpopulations. This change can adapt and escape targeted therapy and immunotherapy cytotoxic effects favoring relapse. Because they are reversible in nature, epigenetic changes are a growing focus in cancer research aiming to prevent or revert the drug resistance with current therapies. As such, the field of epigenetic therapeutics is among the most active area of preclinical and clinical research with effects of many classes of epigenetic drugs being investigated. Here, we review the multiplicity of epigenetic alterations, mainly histone alterations and chromatin remodeling in both cutaneous and uveal melanomas, opening opportunities for further research in the field and providing clues to specifically control these modifications. We also discuss how epigenetic dysregulations may be exploited to achieve clinical benefits for the patients, the limitations of these therapies, and recent data exploring this potential through combinatorial epigenetic and traditional therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Strub
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, Inserm, C3M, France
- Biology and pathologies of melanocytes, Equipe labellisée ARC 2019, C3M, team 1, France
| | - Robert Ballotti
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, Inserm, C3M, France
- Biology and pathologies of melanocytes, Equipe labellisée ARC 2019, C3M, team 1, France
| | - Corine Bertolotto
- Université Nice Côte d'Azur, Inserm, C3M, France
- Biology and pathologies of melanocytes, Equipe labellisée ARC 2019, C3M, team 1, France
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3
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Jiao JX, Jiao LJ, Yang S, Zhao YJ. Knockdown of aristaless-like homeobox1 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in melanoma cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 511:105-110. [PMID: 30773258 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.02.050] [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: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Aristaless-like homeobox1 (ALX1), a member of the ALX family, is capable of mediating survival and development of mesenchyme-derived elements in vertebrates and its mutation will prevent the fusion of frontonasal and maxillary elements. Recently, ALX1 has been reported to be associated with cancer progression. However, the specific roles of ALX1 in melanoma remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression pattern and biological functions of ALX1 in melanoma. We found that ALX1 was highly expressed in melanoma tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of ALX1 suppressed the proliferation and invasion of melanoma cells. Furthermore, we showed that ALX1 knockdown reversed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in melanoma cells, which might be attributed to inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Taken together, this study provided a new insight into the role of ALX1 as a therapeutic target for melanoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Xia Jiao
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, 014010, China
| | - Lin-Jun Jiao
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, 014010, China
| | - Sen Yang
- Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, 014010, China
| | - Yan-Jun Zhao
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, 014010, China.
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4
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Strub T, Ghiraldini FG, Carcamo S, Li M, Wroblewska A, Singh R, Goldberg MS, Hasson D, Wang Z, Gallagher SJ, Hersey P, Ma'ayan A, Long GV, Scolyer RA, Brown B, Zheng B, Bernstein E. SIRT6 haploinsufficiency induces BRAF V600E melanoma cell resistance to MAPK inhibitors via IGF signalling. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3440. [PMID: 30143629 PMCID: PMC6109055 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05966-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
While multiple mechanisms of BRAFV600-mutant melanoma resistance to targeted MAPK signaling inhibitors (MAPKi) have been reported, the epigenetic regulation of this process remains undetermined. Here, using a CRISPR–Cas9 screen targeting chromatin regulators, we discover that haploinsufficiency of the histone deacetylase SIRT6 allows melanoma cell persistence in the presence of MAPKi. Haploinsufficiency, but not complete loss of SIRT6 promotes IGFBP2 expression via increased chromatin accessibility, H3K56 acetylation at the IGFBP2 locus, and consequent activation of the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and downstream AKT signaling. Combining a clinically applicable IGF-1Ri with BRAFi overcomes resistance of SIRT6 haploinsufficient melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Using matched melanoma samples derived from patients receiving dabrafenib + trametinib, we identify IGFBP2 as a potential biomarker for MAPKi resistance. Our study has not only identified an epigenetic mechanism of drug resistance, but also provides insights into a combinatorial therapy that may overcome resistance to standard-of-care therapy for BRAFV600-mutant melanoma patients. The epigenetic mechanisms of melanoma drug resistance are poorly understood. Here, the authors develop a CRISPR-Cas9 screen targeting epigenetic regulators and discover that SIRT6 haploinsufficiency induces BRAFV600E melanoma cell resistance to MAPK inhibitors via IGF signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Strub
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.,Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Flavia G Ghiraldini
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.,Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Saul Carcamo
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.,Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Man Li
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Aleksandra Wroblewska
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Bioinformatics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Rajendra Singh
- Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.,Department of Pathology, Mount Sinai Center for Bioinformatics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Matthew S Goldberg
- Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.,Department of Pathology, Mount Sinai Center for Bioinformatics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Dan Hasson
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.,Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Zichen Wang
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Bioinformatics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Stuart J Gallagher
- Centenary Institute, Camperdown NSW 2050, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Melanoma Institute Australia, Wollstonecraft NSW 2065, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Peter Hersey
- Centenary Institute, Camperdown NSW 2050, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Melanoma Institute Australia, Wollstonecraft NSW 2065, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Avi Ma'ayan
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Bioinformatics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Georgina V Long
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Wollstonecraft NSW 2065, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia.,Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2065, Australia
| | - Richard A Scolyer
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Wollstonecraft NSW 2065, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia.,Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Brian Brown
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai Center for Bioinformatics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.,Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Bin Zheng
- Centenary Institute, Camperdown NSW 2050, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Emily Bernstein
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA. .,Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA. .,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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5
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Pappalardo F, Russo G, Candido S, Pennisi M, Cavalieri S, Motta S, McCubrey JA, Nicoletti F, Libra M. Computational Modeling of PI3K/AKT and MAPK Signaling Pathways in Melanoma Cancer. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0152104. [PMID: 27015094 PMCID: PMC4807832 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malignant melanoma is an aggressive tumor of the skin and seems to be resistant to current therapeutic approaches. Melanocytic transformation is thought to occur by sequential accumulation of genetic and molecular alterations able to activate the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK (MAPK) and/or the PI3K/AKT (AKT) signalling pathways. Specifically, mutations of B-RAF activate MAPK pathway resulting in cell cycle progression and apoptosis prevention. According to these findings, MAPK and AKT pathways may represent promising therapeutic targets for an otherwise devastating disease. RESULT Here we show a computational model able to simulate the main biochemical and metabolic interactions in the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways potentially involved in melanoma development. Overall, this computational approach may accelerate the drug discovery process and encourages the identification of novel pathway activators with consequent development of novel antioncogenic compounds to overcome tumor cell resistance to conventional therapeutic agents. The source code of the various versions of the model are available as S1 Archive.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giulia Russo
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - Saverio Candido
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - Marzio Pennisi
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Catania, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Santo Motta
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Catania, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - James A. McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America
| | - Ferdinando Nicoletti
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - Massimo Libra
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95125, Catania, Italy
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6
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Adinolfi B, Romanini A, Vanni A, Martinotti E, Chicca A, Fogli S, Nieri P. Anticancer activity of anandamide in human cutaneous melanoma cells. Eur J Pharmacol 2013; 718:154-9. [PMID: 24041928 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2013.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2013] [Revised: 07/26/2013] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Cannabinoids are implicated in the control of cell proliferation, but little is known about the role of the endocannabinoid system in human malignant melanoma. This study was aimed at characterizing the in vitro antitumor activity of anandamide (AEA) in A375 melanoma cells. The mRNA expression of genes that code for proteins involved in the metabolism and in the mechanism of AEA action was assessed by RT-PCR. Cell viability was tested using WST-1 assay and the apoptotic cell death was determined by measuring caspase 3/7 activities. A375 cells express high levels of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) and G-protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) genes. AEA induced a concentration-dependent cytotoxicity with an IC50 of 5.8 ± 0.7 µM and such an effect was associated to a caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway. AEA cytotoxicity was potentiated by FAAH inhibition (2-fold increase, p<0.05) and mitigated by COX-2 or lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibition (5- and 3-fold decrease, respectively; p<0.01). Blocking CB1 receptors partially decreased AEA cytotoxicity, whereas selective antagonism on the TRPV1 barely affected the mechanism of AEA action. Finally, methyl-β-cyclodextrin, a membrane cholesterol depletory, completely reversed the cytotoxicity induced by the selective GPR55 agonist, O-1602, and AEA. Overall, these findings demonstrate that AEA induces cytotoxicity against human melanoma cells in the micromolar range of concentrations through a complex mechanism, which involves COX-2 and LOX-derived product synthesis and CB1 activation. Lipid raft modulation, probably linked to GPR55 activation, might also have a role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Adinolfi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
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7
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Pópulo H, Tavares S, Faustino A, Nunes JB, Lopes JM, Soares P. GNAQ and BRAF mutations show differential activation of the mTOR pathway in human transformed cells. PeerJ 2013; 1:e104. [PMID: 23904987 PMCID: PMC3728761 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2013] [Accepted: 06/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatic mutations in GNAQ gene were described as being the main oncogenic activation in uveal melanomas, whereas mutations in BRAF gene have been described as a key genetic alteration that contributes to skin melanoma development. We have previously reported differential activation of the MAPK and AKT/mTOR signalling pathways in uveal and skin melanomas harbouring, respectively, GNAQ and BRAF mutations. The aim of this work was to compare the functional effect of GNAQ and BRAF mutations in mTOR and MAPK pathway activation, cell proliferation and apoptosis. In this work, we performed transient transfection of HEK293 cells with BRAFWT, BRAFV 600E, GNAQWT, GNAQQ209P and GNAQQ209L vectors. We treated melanoma cell lines displaying different BRAF and GNAQ mutational status with the mTOR inhibitor RAD001 and with the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126 and evaluated the effects in the growth of the cell lines and in mTOR and MAPK pathway effectors expression. At variance with the significant increase in the level of pmTOR Ser2448 and pS6 Ser235/236 proteins observed in cells transfected with BRAF vectors, no significant alteration in mTOR pathway effectors was observed in cells transfected with the three GNAQ expressing vectors. Also, GNAQ overexpression enhances Stat3 activation, which might mediate GNAQ oncogenic effects. None of the vectors led to significant differences in proliferation or apoptosis in the transfected cell lines. Cell lines harbouring a BRAF mutation were more sensitive to RAD001 treatment. U0126 leads to the reduction of MAPK and mTOR pathways activation in all cell lines tested. Our results indicate that GNAQ and BRAF activation drive distinct intracellular signalling pathways that may be useful for therapeutic decisions in human melanomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Pópulo
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
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8
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Biological evaluation of MR36, a novel non-polyglutamatable thymidylate synthase inhibitor that blocks cell cycle progression in melanoma cell lines. Invest New Drugs 2011; 30:1484-92. [DOI: 10.1007/s10637-011-9733-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2011] [Accepted: 08/09/2011] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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9
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Faião-Flores F, Coelho PRP, Muniz ROR, Souza GS, Arruda-Neto J, Maria DA. Antitumor potential induction and free radicals production in melanoma cells by Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. Appl Radiat Isot 2011; 69:1748-51. [PMID: 21620718 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2011.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2010] [Revised: 04/29/2011] [Accepted: 05/11/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Antiproliferative and oxidative damage effects occurring in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) in normal fibroblasts and melanoma cell lines were analyzed. Melanoma cells and normal fibroblasts were treated with different concentrations of Boronophenylalanine and irradiated with thermal neutron flux. The cellular viability and the oxidative stress were determined. BNCT induced free radicals production and proliferative potential inhibition in melanoma cells. Therefore, this therapeutic technique could be considered efficient to inhibit growth of melanoma with minimal effects on normal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Faião-Flores
- Biochemical and Biophysical Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
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10
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Felicetti F, Errico MC, Segnalini P, Mattia G, Carè A. MicroRNA-221 and -222 pathway controls melanoma progression. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2009; 8:1759-65. [PMID: 18983236 DOI: 10.1586/14737140.8.11.1759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a new family of small noncoding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression. Recent studies demonstrated miRNA involvement in all the main biological processes, including tumor development as a consequence of an aberrant deregulated expression. Growing evidence is showing the capability of miRNA expression profiles to unequivocally distinguish between normal and neoplastic tissues, leading to the identification of new diagnostic and/or prognostic molecular markers. In addition, miRNAs might eventually represent new targets to aim at as innovative therapeutic approaches, particularly relevant in those types of cancer, such as melanoma, which are still lacking effective traditional therapies. In particular, the inhibition of miRNA-221 and -222, which are abnormally expressed in melanoma and favor the induction of the malignant phenotype by downregulating c-KIT receptor and p27Kip, might in the future represent an efficient treatment for translation into the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Felicetti
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore Sanità, Rome, Italy.
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11
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Palmieri G, Capone M, Ascierto ML, Gentilcore G, Stroncek DF, Casula M, Sini MC, Palla M, Mozzillo N, Ascierto PA. Main roads to melanoma. J Transl Med 2009; 7:86. [PMID: 19828018 PMCID: PMC2770476 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-7-86] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2009] [Accepted: 10/14/2009] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The characterization of the molecular mechanisms involved in development and progression of melanoma could be helpful to identify the molecular profiles underlying aggressiveness, clinical behavior, and response to therapy as well as to better classify the subsets of melanoma patients with different prognosis and/or clinical outcome. Actually, some aspects regarding the main molecular changes responsible for the onset as well as the progression of melanoma toward a more aggressive phenotype have been described. Genes and molecules which control either cell proliferation, apoptosis, or cell senescence have been implicated. Here we provided an overview of the main molecular changes underlying the pathogenesis of melanoma. All evidence clearly indicates the existence of a complex molecular machinery that provides checks and balances in normal melanocytes. Progression from normal melanocytes to malignant metastatic cells in melanoma patients is the result of a combination of down- or up-regulation of various effectors acting on different molecular pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Palmieri
- Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Sassari, Italy.
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12
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Casula M, Muggiano A, Cossu A, Budroni M, Caracò C, Ascierto PA, Pagani E, Stanganelli I, Canzanella S, Sini M, Palomba G, Palmieri G. Role of key-regulator genes in melanoma susceptibility and pathogenesis among patients from South Italy. BMC Cancer 2009; 9:352. [PMID: 19799798 PMCID: PMC2763007 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-9-352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2009] [Accepted: 10/03/2009] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Several genetic alterations have been demonstrated to contribute to the development and progression of melanoma. In this study, we further investigated the impact of key-regulator genes in susceptibility and pathogenesis of such a disease. Methods A large series (N = 846) of sporadic and familial cases originating from South Italy was screened for germline mutations in p16CDKN2A, BRCA2, and MC1R genes by DHPLC analysis and automated DNA sequencing. Paired primary melanomas and lymph node metastases from same patients (N = 35) as well as melanoma cell lines (N = 18) were analyzed for somatic mutations in NRAS, BRAF, and p16CDKN2A genes. Results For melanoma susceptibility, investigations at germline level indicated that p16CDKN2A was exclusively mutated in 16/545 (2.9%) non-Sardinian patients, whereas BRCA2 germline mutations were observed in 4/91 (4.4%) patients from North Sardinia only. Two MC1R germline variants, Arg151Cys and Asp294His, were significantly associated with melanoma in Sardinia. Regarding genetic events involved in melanoma pathogenesis at somatic level, mutually-exclusive mutations of NRAS and BRAF genes were observed at quite same rate (about two thirds) in cultured and in vivo melanomas (either primary or metastatic lesions). Conversely, p16CDKN2A gene alterations were observed at increased rates moving from primary to metastatic melanomas and melanoma cell lines. Activation of the ERK gene product was demonstrated to be consistently induced by a combination of molecular alterations (NRAS/BRAF mutations and p16CDKN2A silencing). Conclusion Our findings further clarified that: a) mutation prevalence in melanoma susceptibility genes may vary within each specific geographical area; b) multiple molecular events are accumulating during melanomagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Casula
- Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Sassari, Italy
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13
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Chen M, Osman I, Orlow SJ. Antifolate activity of pyrimethamine enhances temozolomide-induced cytotoxicity in melanoma cells. Mol Cancer Res 2009; 7:703-12. [PMID: 19435820 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-08-0263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Most metastatic melanoma patients fail to respond to available therapy, underscoring the need to develop more effective treatments. We screened 2,000 compounds from the Spectrum Library in human melanoma cell lines to identify compounds that enhanced the cytotoxic effect of temozolomide, a drug used to treat metastatic melanoma. Screening was done with the temozolomide-resistant melanoma cell line SK-MEL-19, and six compounds were identified that had little or no inherent cytotoxicity but significantly enhanced growth-inhibition by temozolomide. These compounds were tested in five additional melanoma cell lines. Cell proliferation and death assays were used to compare the efficacy of single agent temozolomide versus combination treatments. Effects of combination treatment on levels of DNA double-strand breaks, the DNA repair protein O(6)-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase, apoptosis [measured by cleaved caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase], and cell cycle were examined. Pyrimethamine, an antiparasitic, sensitized melanoma cells to temozolomide. Temozolomide combined with Pyrimethamine synergistically inhibited cell proliferation in melanoma cells with combination index values of 0.7 or less. In addition, combination treatment induced cell cycle arrest and increased both DNA damage and apoptosis. The increase in cell death due to combination treatment was rescued by leucovorin. Other folate antagonists were also effective enhancers of temozolomide-induced cytotoxicity, and the effects of antifolates were also evident in gliomas. Our screening approach led to the identification of Pyrimethamine, an orally available drug that efficiently crosses the blood-brain barrier, as a potent enhancer of the efficacy of temozolomide as an antineoplastic agent via inhibition of folate metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Chen
- The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, and the New York University Cancer Institute Clinical Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
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Lacreusette A, Lartigue A, Nguyen J, Barbieux I, Pandolfino M, Paris F, Khammari A, Dréno B, Jacques Y, Blanchard F, Godard A. Relationship between responsiveness of cancer cells to Oncostatin M and/or IL‐6 and survival of stage III melanoma patients treated with tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes. J Pathol 2008; 216:451-9. [DOI: 10.1002/path.2416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A Lacreusette
- INSERM U892, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
- Université de Nantes, UFR Médecine, IFR26, Institut de Biologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
| | - A Lartigue
- INSERM U892, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
- Université de Nantes, UFR Médecine, IFR26, Institut de Biologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
| | | | - I Barbieux
- INSERM U892, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
- Université de Nantes, UFR Médecine, IFR26, Institut de Biologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
| | - M‐C Pandolfino
- INSERM U892, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
- Université de Nantes, UFR Médecine, IFR26, Institut de Biologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
- Unit of Cell and Gene Therapy, CHU de Nantes, Nantes F‐44035, France
| | - F Paris
- INSERM U892, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
- Université de Nantes, UFR Médecine, IFR26, Institut de Biologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
| | - A Khammari
- INSERM U892, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
- Université de Nantes, UFR Médecine, IFR26, Institut de Biologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
- Unit of Skin Cancer, CHU de Nantes, Nantes F‐44093, France
| | - B Dréno
- INSERM U892, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
- Université de Nantes, UFR Médecine, IFR26, Institut de Biologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
- Unit of Cell and Gene Therapy, CHU de Nantes, Nantes F‐44035, France
- Unit of Skin Cancer, CHU de Nantes, Nantes F‐44093, France
| | - Y Jacques
- INSERM U892, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
- Université de Nantes, UFR Médecine, IFR26, Institut de Biologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
| | - F Blanchard
- Université de Nantes, UFR Médecine, IFR26, Institut de Biologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
- INSERM ERI7, Nantes F‐44035, France
| | - A Godard
- INSERM U892, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
- Université de Nantes, UFR Médecine, IFR26, Institut de Biologie, Nantes F‐44035, France
- Laboratoire de Biochimie, CHU de Nantes, Nantes F‐44093, France
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15
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Rass K, Tilgen W. Treatment of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2008; 624:296-318. [PMID: 18348465 DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-77574-6_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of skin cancer is increasing in Caucasian populations worldwide. Treatment approaches for Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) are predominantly curative and surgery can be regarded as standard of care. Nevertheless, novel and less invasive topical therapy modalities like photodynamic therapy or local immune modifiers are in progress. In contrast to NMSC, the mortality of melanoma has not changed considerably over the last years and decades. Melanoma survival mainly depends on primary tumor thickness underlining the importance of primary and secondary prevention by avoidance or early detection of the disease. The chance to cure melanoma patients is steadily decreasing with tumor stage. As the prognosis in distant metastatic disease is still poor, except for single situations therapy approaches are palliative and accompanied by an optimal supportive care of the patients concerned. Albeit removal of localized metastases is currently the most effective approach in metastatic melanoma, chemo- and chemoimmunotherapy has to be regarded as standard treatment in most of the cases. Novel and promising therapeutic options accrue from growing insights in tumor biology and immunology. Not only in melanoma, development and application of targeted therapies currently attract the most attention in the treatment of advanced tumors. First clinical experiences with those antiproliferative, antiangiogenic and proapoptotic agents reveal only moderate antitumoral activity in melanoma, so that future efforts aim at defining more effective combination strategies using chemo-, targeted and vaccination therapy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Knuth Rass
- Clinic for Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, The Saarland University Hospital, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany.
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16
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Felicetti F, Errico MC, Bottero L, Segnalini P, Stoppacciaro A, Biffoni M, Felli N, Mattia G, Petrini M, Colombo MP, Peschle C, Carè A. The promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger-microRNA-221/-222 pathway controls melanoma progression through multiple oncogenic mechanisms. Cancer Res 2008; 68:2745-54. [PMID: 18417445 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-07-2538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 269] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of cutaneous melanoma is steadily increasing. Although several molecular abnormalities have been associated with melanoma progression, the mechanisms underlying the differential gene expression are still largely unknown and targeted therapies are not yet available. Noncoding small RNAs, termed microRNAs (miR), have been recently reported to play important roles in major cellular processes, including those involved in cancer development and progression. We have identified the promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) transcription factor as a repressor of miR-221 and miR-222 by direct binding to their putative regulatory region. Specifically, PLZF silencing in melanomas unblocks miR-221 and miR-222, which in turn controls the progression of the neoplasia through down-modulation of p27Kip1/CDKN1B and c-KIT receptor, leading to enhanced proliferation and differentiation blockade of the melanoma cells, respectively. In vitro and in vivo functional studies, including the use of antisense "antagomir" oligonucleotides, confirmed the key role of miR-221/-222 in regulating the progression of human melanoma; this suggests that targeted therapies suppressing miR-221/-222 may prove beneficial in advanced melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Felicetti
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Palmieri G, Casula M, Sini MC, Ascierto PA, Cossu A. Issues affecting molecular staging in the management of patients with melanoma. J Cell Mol Med 2008; 11:1052-68. [PMID: 17979882 PMCID: PMC4401272 DOI: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2007.00091.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Prediction of metastatic potential remains one of the main goals to be pursued in order to better assess the risk subgroups of patients with melanoma. Detection of occult melanoma cells in peripheral blood (circulating metastatic cells [CMC]) or in sentinel lymph nodes (sentinel node metastatic cells [SNMC]), could significantly contribute to better predict survival in melanoma patients. An overview of the numerous published studies indicate the existence of several drawbacks about either the reliability of the approaches for identification of occult melanoma cells or the clinical value of CMC and SNMC as prognostic factors among melanoma patients. In this sense, characterization of the molecular mechanisms involved in development and progression of melanoma (referred to as melanomagenesis) could contribute to better classify the different subsets of melanoma patients. Increasing evidence suggest that melanoma develops as a result of accumulated abnormalities in genetic pathways within the melanocytic lineage. The different molecular mechanisms may have separate roles or cooperate during all evolutionary phases of melanocytic tumourigenesis, generating different subsets of melanoma patients with distinct aggressiveness, clinical behaviour, and response to therapy. All these features associated with either the dissemination of occult metastatic cells or the melanomagenesis might be useful to adequately manage the melanoma patients with different prognosis as well as to better address the different melanoma subsets toward more appropriate therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Palmieri
- Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Li Punti-Sassari, Italy.
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