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Timis T, Bergthorsson JT, Greiff V, Cenariu M, Cenariu D. Pathology and Molecular Biology of Melanoma. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:5575-5597. [PMID: 37504268 PMCID: PMC10377842 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45070352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Almost every death in young patients with an advanced skin tumor is caused by melanoma. Today, with the help of modern treatments, these patients survive longer or can even achieve a cure. Advanced stage melanoma is frequently related with poor prognosis and physicians still find this disease difficult to manage due to the absence of a lasting response to initial treatment regimens and the lack of randomized clinical trials in post immunotherapy/targeted molecular therapy settings. New therapeutic targets are emerging from preclinical data on the genetic profile of melanocytes and from the identification of molecular factors involved in the pathogenesis of malignant transformation. In the current paper, we present the diagnostic challenges, molecular biology and genetics of malignant melanoma, as well as the current therapeutic options for patients with this diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanase Timis
- Department of Oncology, Bistrita Emergency Hospital, 420094 Bistrita, Romania;
- Department of Hematology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Jon Thor Bergthorsson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, University of Iceland, Hofsvallagotu 53, 107 Reykjavík, Iceland;
| | - Victor Greiff
- Department of Immunology, University of Oslo, Oslo University Hospital, 0372 Oslo, Norway;
| | - Mihai Cenariu
- Department of Animal Reproduction, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Calea Manastur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Diana Cenariu
- Medfuture Research Center for Advanced Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Lyon A, Tripathi R, Meeks C, He D, Wu Y, Liu J, Wang C, Chen J, Zhu H, Mukherjee S, Ganguly S, Plattner R. ABL1/2 and DDR1 Drive MEKi Resistance in NRAS-Mutant Melanomas by Stabilizing RAF/MYC/ETS1 and Promoting RAF Homodimerization. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:954. [PMID: 36765910 PMCID: PMC9913232 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030954] [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] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanomas harboring NRAS mutations are a particularly aggressive and deadly subtype. If patients cannot tolerate or the melanomas are insensitive to immune checkpoint blockade, there are no effective 2nd-line treatment options. Drugs targeting the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, which are used for BRAF-mutant melanomas, do little to increase progression-free survival (PFS). Here, using both loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches, we show that ABL1/2 and DDR1 are critical nodes during NRAS-mutant melanoma intrinsic and acquired MEK inhibitor (MEKi) resistance. In some acquired resistance cells, ABL1/2 and DDR1 cooperate to stabilize RAF proteins, activate ERK cytoplasmic and nuclear signaling, repress p27/KIP1 expression, and drive RAF homodimerization. In contrast, other acquired resistance cells depend solely on ABL1/2 for their survival, and are sensitive to highly specific allosteric ABL1/2 inhibitors, which prevent β-catenin nuclear localization and destabilize MYC and ETS1 in an ERK-independent manner. Significantly, targeting ABL1/2 and DDR1 with an FDA-approved anti-leukemic drug, reverses intrinsic MEKi resistance, delays acquisition of acquired resistance, and doubles the survival time in a NRAS-mutant mouse model. These data indicate that repurposing FDA-approved drugs targeting ABL1/2 and DDR1 may be a novel and effective strategy for treating patients with treatment-refractory NRAS-driven melanomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Lyon
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Rakshamani Tripathi
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Christina Meeks
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Daheng He
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource Facility, College of Medicine, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40508, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource Facility, College of Medicine, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40508, USA
| | - Jinpeng Liu
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource Facility, College of Medicine, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40508, USA
| | - Chi Wang
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource Facility, College of Medicine, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40508, USA
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Haining Zhu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Sujata Mukherjee
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Saptadwipa Ganguly
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Rina Plattner
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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Novel treatment strategy for NRAS-mutated melanoma through a selective inhibitor of CD147/VEGFR-2 interaction. Oncogene 2022; 41:2254-2264. [PMID: 35217792 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02244-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
More than 70% of human NRASmut melanomas are resistant to MEK inhibitors highlighting the crucial need for efficient therapeutic strategies for these tumors. CD147, a membrane receptor, is overexpressed in most cancers including melanoma and is associated with poor prognosis. We show here that CD147i, a specific inhibitor of CD147/VEGFR-2 interaction represents a potential therapeutic strategy for NRASmut melanoma cells. It significantly inhibited the malignant properties of NRASmut melanomas ex vivo and in vivo. Importantly, NRASmut patient's-derived xenografts, which were resistant to MEKi, became sensitive when combined with CD147i leading to decreased proliferation ex vivo and tumor regression in vivo. Mechanistic studies revealed that CD147i effects were mediated through STAT3 pathway. These data bring a proof of concept on the impact of the inhibition of CD147/VEGFR-2 interaction on melanoma progression and represents a new therapeutic opportunity for NRASmut melanoma when combined with MEKi.
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Grigore F, Yang H, Hanson ND, VanBrocklin MW, Sarver AL, Robinson JP. BRAF inhibition in melanoma is associated with the dysregulation of histone methylation and histone methyltransferases. Neoplasia 2020; 22:376-389. [PMID: 32629178 PMCID: PMC7338995 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2020.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of mutant BRAF inhibitors has improved the outcome for melanoma patients with BRAFV600E mutations. Although the initial response to these inhibitors can be dramatic, sometimes resulting in complete tumor regression, the majority of melanomas become resistant. To study resistance to BRAF inhibition, we developed a novel mouse model of melanoma using a tetracycline/doxycycline-regulated system that permits control of mutant BRAF expression. Treatment with doxycycline leads to loss of mutant BRAF expression and tumor regression, but tumors recur after a prolonged period of response to treatment. Vemurafenib, encorafenib and dabrafenib induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in BRAF melanoma cell lines; however, a residual population of tumor cells survive. Comparing gene expression in human cell lines and mouse tumors can assist with the identification of novel mechanisms of resistance. Accordingly, we conducted RNA sequencing analysis and immunoblotting on untreated and doxycycline-treated dormant mouse melanomas and human mutant BRAF melanoma cell lines treated with 2 μM vemurafenib for 20 days. We found conserved expression changes in histone methyltransferase genes ASH2, EZH2, PRMT5, SUV39H1, SUV39H2, and SYMD2 in P-ERK low, p-38 high melanoma cells following prolonged BRAF inhibition. Quantitative mass spectrometry, determined a corresponding reduction in histone Lys9 and Lys27 methylation and increase in Lys36 methylation in melanoma cell lines treated with 2 μM vemurafenib for 20 days. Thus, these changes as are part of the initiate response to BRAF inhibition and likely contribute to the survival of melanoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florina Grigore
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, 801 16th Avenue NE, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Hana Yang
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, 801 16th Avenue NE, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Nicholas D Hanson
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, 801 16th Avenue NE, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Matthew W VanBrocklin
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA; Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Aaron L Sarver
- Masonic Cancer Center, 2231 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN 5545, USA; Institute for Health Informatics, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - James P Robinson
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, 801 16th Avenue NE, Austin, MN 55912, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, 2231 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN 5545, USA.
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Combining ERBB family and MET inhibitors is an effective therapeutic strategy in cutaneous malignant melanoma independent of BRAF/NRAS mutation status. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:663. [PMID: 31506424 PMCID: PMC6737096 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1875-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Current treatment modalities for disseminated cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) improve survival; however, relapses are common. A number of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) including EGFR and MET have been reported to be involved in CMM metastasis and in the development of resistance to therapy, targeting the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK pathway). IHC analysis showed that patients with higher MET protein expression had a significantly shorter overall survival. In addition, silencing of MET caused an upregulation of EGFR and p-AKT, which was abrogated by concomitant silencing of MET and EGFR in CMM cells resistant to MAPK-targeting drugs. We therefore explored novel treatment strategies using clinically approved drugs afatinib (ERBB family inhibitor) and crizotinib (MET inhibitor), to simultaneously block MET and ERBB family RTKs. The effects of the combination were assessed in cell culture and spheroid models using established CMM and patient-derived short-term cell lines, and an in vivo xenograft mouse model. The combination had a synergistic effect, promoting cell death, concomitant with a potent downregulation of migratory and invasive capacity independent of their BRAF/NRAS mutational status. Furthermore, the combination attenuated tumor growth rate, as ascertained by the significant reduction of Ki67 expression and induced DNA damage in vivo. Importantly, this combination therapy had minimal therapy-related toxicity in mice. Lastly, the cell cycle G2 checkpoint kinase WEE1 and the RTK IGF1R, non-canonical targets, were altered upon exposure to the combination. Knockdown of WEE1 abrogated the combination-mediated effects on cell migration and proliferation in BRAF mutant BRAF inhibitor-sensitive cells, whereas WEE1 silencing alone inhibited cell migration in NRAS mutant cells. In summary, our results show that afatinib and crizotinib in combination is a promising alternative targeted therapy option for CMM patients, irrespective of BRAF/NRAS mutational status, as well as for cases where resistance has developed towards BRAF inhibitors.
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Abstract
Melanoma is an aggressive and highly metastatic skin cancer, carrying a poor prognosis with a median survival time of 5.3-10 months depending on the stage of disease. Research has advanced our understanding of the underlying pathology of melanoma and strategies to prevent and treat melanoma. Mouse models have been developed to elucidate the molecular, immunological, and cellular mechanisms contributing to proliferation and metastasis of melanoma. This review article aims to provide an overview of various types of murine melanoma models, including xenograft and syngeneic transplantation models, genetically modified models, ultraviolent radiation models, and chemically induced models, and discuss the advantages and limitations of each model.
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