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Dupuy M, Lamoureux F, Mullard M, Postec A, Regnier L, Baud’huin M, Georges S, Brounais-Le Royer B, Ory B, Rédini F, Verrecchia F. Ewing sarcoma from molecular biology to the clinic. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1248753. [PMID: 37752913 PMCID: PMC10518617 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1248753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In Europe, with an incidence of 7.5 cases per million, Ewing sarcoma (ES) is the second most common primary malignant bone tumor in children, adolescents and young adults, after osteosarcoma. Since the 1980s, conventional treatment has been based on the use of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapeutic agents combined with surgical resection of the tumor when possible. These treatments have increased the patient survival rate to 70% for localized forms, which drops drastically to less than 30% when patients are resistant to chemotherapy or when pulmonary metastases are present at diagnosis. However, the lack of improvement in these survival rates over the last decades points to the urgent need for new therapies. Genetically, ES is characterized by a chromosomal translocation between a member of the FET family and a member of the ETS family. In 85% of cases, the chromosomal translocation found is (11; 22) (q24; q12), between the EWS RNA-binding protein and the FLI1 transcription factor, leading to the EWS-FLI1 fusion protein. This chimeric protein acts as an oncogenic factor playing a crucial role in the development of ES. This review provides a non-exhaustive overview of ES from a clinical and biological point of view, describing its main clinical, cellular and molecular aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryne Dupuy
- Nantes Université, Inserm UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, CRCI2NA, Université d'Angers, Nantes, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Franck Verrecchia
- Nantes Université, Inserm UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, CRCI2NA, Université d'Angers, Nantes, France
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2
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Regulation of Metastasis in Ewing Sarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194902. [PMID: 36230825 PMCID: PMC9563756 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is a type of bone and soft tissue tumor in children and adolescents. Over 85% of cases are caused by the expression of fusion protein EWSR1-FLI1 generated by chromosome translocation. Acting as a potent chimeric oncoprotein, EWSR1-FLI1 binds to chromatin, changes the epigenetic states, and thus alters the expression of a large set of genes. Several studies have revealed that the expression level of EWSR1-FLI1 is variable and dynamic within and across different EwS cell lines and primary tumors, leading to tumoral heterogeneity. Cells with high EWSR1-FLI1 expression (EWSR1-FLI1-high) proliferate in an exponential manner, whereas cells with low EWSR1-FLI1 expression (EWSR1-FLI1-low) tend to have a strong propensity to migrate, invade, and metastasize. Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The continuous evolution of EwS research has revealed some of the molecular underpinnings of this dissemination process. In this review, we discuss the molecular signatures that contribute to metastasis.
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3
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Liquid-liquid phase separation in tumor biology. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:221. [PMID: 35803926 PMCID: PMC9270353 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01076-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a novel principle for explaining the precise spatial and temporal regulation in living cells. LLPS compartmentalizes proteins and nucleic acids into micron-scale, liquid-like, membraneless bodies with specific functions, which were recently termed biomolecular condensates. Biomolecular condensates are executors underlying the intracellular spatiotemporal coordination of various biological activities, including chromatin organization, genomic stability, DNA damage response and repair, transcription, and signal transduction. Dysregulation of these cellular processes is a key event in the initiation and/or evolution of cancer, and emerging evidence has linked the formation and regulation of LLPS to malignant transformations in tumor biology. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the detailed mechanisms of biomolecular condensate formation and biophysical function and review the recent major advances toward elucidating the multiple mechanisms involved in cancer cell pathology driven by aberrant LLPS. In addition, we discuss the therapeutic perspectives of LLPS in cancer research and the most recently developed drug candidates targeting LLPS modulation that can be used to combat tumorigenesis.
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4
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Taniue K, Akimitsu N. Aberrant phase separation and cancer. FEBS J 2021; 289:17-39. [PMID: 33583140 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic cells are intracellularly divided into numerous compartments or organelles, which coordinate specific molecules and biological reactions. Membrane-bound organelles are physically separated by lipid bilayers from the surrounding environment. Biomolecular condensates, also referred to membraneless organelles, are micron-scale cellular compartments that lack membranous enclosures but function to concentrate proteins and RNA molecules, and these are involved in diverse processes. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) driven by multivalent weak macromolecular interactions is a critical principle for the formation of biomolecular condensates, and a multitude of combinations among multivalent interactions may drive liquid-liquid phase transition (LLPT). Dysregulation of LLPS and LLPT leads to aberrant condensate and amyloid formation, which causes many human diseases, including neurodegeneration and cancer. Here, we describe recent findings regarding abnormal forms of biomolecular condensates and aggregation via aberrant LLPS and LLPT of cancer-related proteins in cancer development driven by mutation and fusion of genes. Moreover, we discuss the regulatory mechanisms by which aberrant LLPS and LLPT occur in cancer and the drug candidates targeting these mechanisms. Further understanding of the molecular events regulating how biomolecular condensates and aggregation form in cancer tissue is critical for the development of therapeutic strategies against tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenzui Taniue
- Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, Japan.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Japan
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5
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YAP/TAZ inhibition reduces metastatic potential of Ewing sarcoma cells. Oncogenesis 2021; 10:2. [PMID: 33419969 PMCID: PMC7794350 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-020-00294-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is a highly metastatic bone cancer characterized by the ETS fusion oncoprotein EWS-FLI1. EwS cells are phenotypically highly plastic and switch between functionally distinct cell states dependent on EWS-FLI1 fluctuations. Whereas EWS-FLI1high cells proliferate, EWS-FLI1low cells are migratory and invasive. Recently, we reported activation of MRTFB and TEAD, effectors of RhoA and Hippo signalling, upon low EWS-FLI1, orchestrating key steps of the EwS migratory gene expression program. TEAD and its co-activators YAP and TAZ are commonly overexpressed in cancer, providing attractive therapeutic targets. We find TAZ levels to increase in the migratory EWS-FLI1low state and to associate with adverse prognosis in EwS patients. We tested the effects of the potent YAP/TAZ/TEAD complex inhibitor verteporfin on EwS cell migration in vitro and on metastasis in vivo. Verteporfin suppressed expression of EWS-FLI1 regulated cytoskeletal genes involved in actin signalling to the extracellular matrix, effectively blocked F-actin and focal-adhesion assembly and inhibited EwS cell migration at submicromolar concentrations. In a mouse EwS xenograft model, verteporfin treatment reduced relapses at the surgical site and delayed lung metastasis. These data suggest that YAP/TAZ pathway inhibition may prevent EwS cell dissemination and metastasis, justifying further preclinical development of YAP/TAZ inhibitors for EwS treatment.
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6
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Preliminary Study on β3-Adrenoreceptor as Predictor Marker of Relapse in Ewing Sarcoma Patients. Biomedicines 2020; 8:biomedicines8100413. [PMID: 33066095 PMCID: PMC7600453 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8100413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is a paediatric aggressive malignant tumour of bones and soft tissues. Multidisciplinary chemotherapies, surgical resection, and radiation represent the only strategies counteracting the disease, however spreading and relapse of disease still remain a clinical issue. Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are an important feature of EWS but the prognostic significance has not been, yet, clarified. CTCs have been found both in patients with localized disease and in those who recur or metastasize. The identification of markers that can detect recurrences and metastasis remains an important challenge for research. Unfortunately, even most of patients with localized cancer relapsed and the reason has not yet been fully understood. In this clinical study on EWS patients, we evaluated the expression of CD99 antigen and beta-3 adrenergic receptor (β3-AR) on CTCs and bioptic derived cells by flow cytometry. The preliminary data revealed a higher β3-AR expression on cells derived from metastatic or relapsed patients, suggesting a role for the β3-AR as a possible predictive maker of disease recurrence in both patients with metastatic and localized disease.
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7
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El Hadidy N, Uversky VN. Intrinsic Disorder of the BAF Complex: Roles in Chromatin Remodeling and Disease Development. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20215260. [PMID: 31652801 PMCID: PMC6862534 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20215260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The two-meter-long DNA is compressed into chromatin in the nucleus of every cell, which serves as a significant barrier to transcription. Therefore, for processes such as replication and transcription to occur, the highly compacted chromatin must be relaxed, and the processes required for chromatin reorganization for the aim of replication or transcription are controlled by ATP-dependent nucleosome remodelers. One of the most highly studied remodelers of this kind is the BRG1- or BRM-associated factor complex (BAF complex, also known as SWItch/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) complex), which is crucial for the regulation of gene expression and differentiation in eukaryotes. Chromatin remodeling complex BAF is characterized by a highly polymorphic structure, containing from four to 17 subunits encoded by 29 genes. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the role of BAF complex in chromatin remodeling and also to use literature mining and a set of computational and bioinformatics tools to analyze structural properties, intrinsic disorder predisposition, and functionalities of its subunits, along with the description of the relations of different BAF complex subunits to the pathogenesis of various human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nashwa El Hadidy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC07, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC07, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
- Laboratory of New Methods in Biology, Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center "Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences", Pushchino, 142290 Moscow Region, Russia.
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8
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Tsafou K, Tiwari PB, Forman-Kay JD, Metallo SJ, Toretsky JA. Targeting Intrinsically Disordered Transcription Factors: Changing the Paradigm. J Mol Biol 2018; 430:2321-2341. [PMID: 29655986 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Increased understanding of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and protein regions has revolutionized our view of the relationship between protein structure and function. Data now support that IDPs can be functional in the absence of a single, fixed, three-dimensional structure. Due to their dynamic morphology, IDPs have the ability to display a range of kinetics and affinity depending on what the system requires, as well as the potential for large-scale association. Although several studies have shed light on the functional properties of IDPs, the class of intrinsically disordered transcription factors (TFs) is still poorly characterized biophysically due to their combination of ordered and disordered sequences. In addition, TF modulation by small molecules has long been considered a difficult or even impossible task, limiting functional probe development. However, with evolving technology, it is becoming possible to characterize TF structure-function relationships in unprecedented detail and explore avenues not available or not considered in the past. Here we provide an introduction to the biophysical properties of intrinsically disordered TFs and we discuss recent computational and experimental efforts toward understanding the role of intrinsically disordered TFs in biology and disease. We describe a series of successful TF targeting strategies that have overcome the perception of the "undruggability" of TFs, providing new leads on drug development methodologies. Lastly, we discuss future challenges and opportunities to enhance our understanding of the structure-function relationship of intrinsically disordered TFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Tsafou
- Department of Oncology and Pediatrics, Georgetown University, 3970 Reservoir Road Northwest, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - P B Tiwari
- Department of Oncology and Pediatrics, Georgetown University, 3970 Reservoir Road Northwest, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - J D Forman-Kay
- Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - S J Metallo
- Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - J A Toretsky
- Department of Oncology and Pediatrics, Georgetown University, 3970 Reservoir Road Northwest, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
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9
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McBride MJ, Kadoch C. Disruption of mammalian SWI/SNF and polycomb complexes in human sarcomas: mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities. J Pathol 2018; 244:638-649. [PMID: 29359803 DOI: 10.1002/path.5042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Soft-tissue sarcomas are increasingly characterized and subclassified by genetic abnormalities that represent underlying drivers of their pathology. Hallmark tumor suppressor gene mutations and pathognomonic gene fusions collectively account for approximately one-third of all sarcomas. These genetic abnormalities most often result in global transcriptional misregulation via disruption of protein regulatory complexes which govern chromatin architecture. Specifically, alterations to mammalian SWI/SNF (mSWI/SNF or BAF) ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes and polycomb repressive complexes cause disease-specific changes in chromatin architecture and gene expression across a number of sarcoma subtypes. Understanding the functions of chromatin regulatory complexes and the mechanisms underpinning their roles in oncogenesis will be required for the design and development of new therapeutic strategies in sarcomas. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J McBride
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Chemical Biology Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Cigall Kadoch
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
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10
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Boulay G, Sandoval GJ, Riggi N, Iyer S, Buisson R, Naigles B, Awad ME, Rengarajan S, Volorio A, McBride MJ, Broye LC, Zou L, Stamenkovic I, Kadoch C, Rivera MN. Cancer-Specific Retargeting of BAF Complexes by a Prion-like Domain. Cell 2017; 171:163-178.e19. [PMID: 28844694 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 295] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alterations in transcriptional regulators can orchestrate oncogenic gene expression programs in cancer. Here, we show that the BRG1/BRM-associated factor (BAF) chromatin remodeling complex, which is mutated in over 20% of human tumors, interacts with EWSR1, a member of a family of proteins with prion-like domains (PrLD) that are frequent partners in oncogenic fusions with transcription factors. In Ewing sarcoma, we find that the BAF complex is recruited by the EWS-FLI1 fusion protein to tumor-specific enhancers and contributes to target gene activation. This process is a neomorphic property of EWS-FLI1 compared to wild-type FLI1 and depends on tyrosine residues that are necessary for phase transitions of the EWSR1 prion-like domain. Furthermore, fusion of short fragments of EWSR1 to FLI1 is sufficient to recapitulate BAF complex retargeting and EWS-FLI1 activities. Our studies thus demonstrate that the physical properties of prion-like domains can retarget critical chromatin regulatory complexes to establish and maintain oncogenic gene expression programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaylor Boulay
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Gabriel J Sandoval
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Nicolo Riggi
- Institute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sowmya Iyer
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Rémi Buisson
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Beverly Naigles
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Mary E Awad
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Shruthi Rengarajan
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Angela Volorio
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Institute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Matthew J McBride
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Liliane C Broye
- Institute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lee Zou
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Ivan Stamenkovic
- Institute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cigall Kadoch
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Miguel N Rivera
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
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11
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Radic-Sarikas B, Tsafou KP, Emdal KB, Papamarkou T, Huber KVM, Mutz C, Toretsky JA, Bennett KL, Olsen JV, Brunak S, Kovar H, Superti-Furga G. Combinatorial Drug Screening Identifies Ewing Sarcoma-specific Sensitivities. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 16:88-101. [PMID: 28062706 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-16-0235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2016] [Revised: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Improvements in survival for Ewing sarcoma pediatric and adolescent patients have been modest over the past 20 years. Combinations of anticancer agents endure as an option to overcome resistance to single treatments caused by compensatory pathways. Moreover, combinations are thought to lessen any associated adverse side effects through reduced dosing, which is particularly important in childhood tumors. Using a parallel phenotypic combinatorial screening approach of cells derived from three pediatric tumor types, we identified Ewing sarcoma-specific interactions of a diverse set of targeted agents including approved drugs. We were able to retrieve highly synergistic drug combinations specific for Ewing sarcoma and identified signaling processes important for Ewing sarcoma cell proliferation determined by EWS-FLI1 We generated a molecular target profile of PKC412, a multikinase inhibitor with strong synergistic propensity in Ewing sarcoma, revealing its targets in critical Ewing sarcoma signaling routes. Using a multilevel experimental approach including quantitative phosphoproteomics, we analyzed the molecular rationale behind the disease-specific synergistic effect of simultaneous application of PKC412 and IGF1R inhibitors. The mechanism of the drug synergy between these inhibitors is different from the sum of the mechanisms of the single agents. The combination effectively inhibited pathway crosstalk and averted feedback loop repression, in EWS-FLI1-dependent manner. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(1); 88-101. ©2016 AACR.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antigens, CD
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Computational Biology/methods
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drug Discovery
- Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
- Drug Interactions
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
- Humans
- Molecular Targeted Therapy
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/antagonists & inhibitors
- Phosphorylation
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Proteomics/methods
- Proto-Oncogene Protein c-fli-1/antagonists & inhibitors
- RNA-Binding Protein EWS/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, IGF Type 1
- Receptor, Insulin/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Somatomedin/antagonists & inhibitors
- Sarcoma, Ewing/drug therapy
- Sarcoma, Ewing/genetics
- Sarcoma, Ewing/metabolism
- Sarcoma, Ewing/pathology
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Staurosporine/analogs & derivatives
- Staurosporine/pharmacology
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Branka Radic-Sarikas
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kalliopi P Tsafou
- Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC
| | - Kristina B Emdal
- Proteomics Program, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Theodore Papamarkou
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Kilian V M Huber
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cornelia Mutz
- Children's Cancer Research Institute, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeffrey A Toretsky
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC
| | - Keiryn L Bennett
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jesper V Olsen
- Proteomics Program, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren Brunak
- Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Heinrich Kovar
- Children's Cancer Research Institute, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Giulio Superti-Furga
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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12
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Zhang N, Liu H, Yue G, Zhang Y, You J, Wang H. Molecular Heterogeneity of Ewing Sarcoma as Detected by Ion Torrent Sequencing. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0153546. [PMID: 27077911 PMCID: PMC4831808 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (ES) is the second most common malignant bone and soft tissue tumor in children and adolescents. Despite advances in comprehensive treatment, patients with ES metastases still suffer poor outcomes, thus, emphasizing the need for detailed genetic profiles of ES patients to identify suitable molecular biomarkers for improved prognosis and development of effective and targeted therapies. In this study, the next generation sequencing Ion AmpliSeq™ Cancer Hotspot Panel v2 was used to identify cancer-related gene mutations in the tissue samples from 20 ES patients. This platform targeted 207 amplicons of 2800 loci in 50 cancer-related genes. Among the 20 tissue specimens, 62 nonsynonymous hotspot mutations were identified in 26 cancer-related genes, revealing the molecular heterogeneity of ES. Among these, five novel mutations in cancer-related genes (KDR, STK11, MLH1, KRAS, and PTPN11) were detected in ES, and these mutations were confirmed with traditional Sanger sequencing. ES patients with KDR, STK11, and MLH1 mutations had higher Ki-67 proliferation indices than the ES patients lacking such mutations. Notably, more than half of the ES patients harbored one or two possible ‘druggable’ mutations that have been previously linked to a clinical cancer treatment option. Our results provided the foundation to not only elucidate possible mechanisms involved in ES pathogenesis but also indicated the utility of Ion Torrent sequencing as a sensitive and cost-effective tool to screen key oncogenes and tumor suppressors in order to develop personalized therapy for ES patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Zhang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Department of Pathology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Haijing Liu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Department of Pathology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Guanjun Yue
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Department of Pathology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Department of Pathology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiangfeng You
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Department of Pathology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.,Department of Pathology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
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13
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Structure-function based molecular relationships in Ewing's sarcoma. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:798426. [PMID: 25688366 PMCID: PMC4320925 DOI: 10.1155/2015/798426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2014] [Revised: 08/30/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Ewing's Sarcoma Oncogene (ews) on chromosome 22q12 is encoding a ubiquitously expressed RNA-binding protein (EWS) with unknown function that is target of tumor-specific chromosomal translocations in Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors. A model of transcription complex was proposed in which the heterodimer Rpb4/7 binds to EAD, connecting it to Core RNA Pol II. The DNA-binding domain, provided by EFP, is bound to the promoter. Rpb4/7 binds RNA, stabilizing the transcription complex. The complex Rpb4/7 can stabilize the preinitiation complexes by converting the conformation of RNA Pol II. EWS may change its conformation, so that NTD becomes accessible. Two different mechanisms of interaction between EWS and RNA Pol II are proposed: (I) an intermolecular EWS-EWS interaction between two molecules, pushing conformation from “closed” to “open” state, or (II) an intramolecular interaction inside the molecule of EWS, pushing conformation of the molecule from “closed” to “open” state. The modified forms of EWS may interact with Pol II subunits hsRpb5 and hsRpb7. The EWS and EFPs binding partners are described schematically in a model, an attempt to link the transcription with the splicing. The proposed model helps to understand the functional molecular interactions in cancer, to find new partners and ways to treat cancer.
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Ross KA, Smyth NA, Murawski CD, Kennedy JG. The biology of ewing sarcoma. ISRN ONCOLOGY 2013; 2013:759725. [PMID: 23346417 PMCID: PMC3549336 DOI: 10.1155/2013/759725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2012] [Accepted: 12/16/2012] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Objective. The goal of this study was to review the current literature on the biology of Ewing's sarcoma, including current treatments and the means by which an understanding of biological mechanisms could impact future treatments. Methods. A search of PubMed and The Cochrane Collaboration was performed. Both preclinical and clinical evidence was considered, but specific case reports were not. Primary research articles and reviews were analyzed with an emphasis on recent publications. Results. Ewing sarcoma is associated with specific chromosomal translocations and the resulting transcripts/proteins. Knowledge of the biology of Ewing sarcoma has been growing but has yet to significantly impact or produce new treatments. Localized cases have seen improvements in survival rates, but the same cannot be said of metastatic and recurrent cases. Standard surgical, radiation, and chemotherapy treatments are reaching their efficacy limits. Conclusion. Improving prognosis likely lies in advancing biomarkers and early diagnosis, determining a cell(s) of origin, and developing effective molecular therapeutics and antiangiogenic agents. Preclinical evidence suggests the utility of molecular therapies for Ewing sarcoma. Early clinical results also reveal potential for novel treatments but require further development and evaluation before widespread use can be advocated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keir A. Ross
- Hospital for Special Surgery, 523 East 72nd Street, Suite 507, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Niall A. Smyth
- Hospital for Special Surgery, 523 East 72nd Street, Suite 507, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | | | - John G. Kennedy
- Hospital for Special Surgery, 523 East 72nd Street, Suite 507, New York, NY 10021, USA
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