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Danielli SG, Wei Y, Dyer MA, Stewart E, Sheppard H, Wachtel M, Schäfer BW, Patel AG, Langenau DM. Single cell transcriptomic profiling identifies tumor-acquired and therapy-resistant cell states in pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6307. [PMID: 39060228 PMCID: PMC11282092 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50527-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a pediatric tumor that resembles undifferentiated muscle cells; yet the extent to which cell state heterogeneity is shared with human development has not been described. Using single-cell/nucleus RNA sequencing from patient tumors, patient-derived xenografts, primary in vitro cultures, and cell lines, we identify four dominant muscle-lineage cell states: progenitor, proliferative, differentiated, and ground cells. We stratify these RMS cells/nuclei along the continuum of human muscle development and show that they share expression patterns with fetal/embryonal myogenic precursors rather than postnatal satellite cells. Fusion-negative RMS (FN-RMS) have a discrete stem cell hierarchy that recapitulates fetal muscle development and contain therapy-resistant FN-RMS progenitors that share transcriptomic similarity with bipotent skeletal mesenchymal cells. Fusion-positive RMS have tumor-acquired cells states, including a neuronal cell state, that are not found in myogenic development. This work identifies previously underappreciated cell state heterogeneity including unique treatment-resistant and tumor-acquired cell states that differ across RMS subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara G Danielli
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Yun Wei
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michael A Dyer
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Elizabeth Stewart
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Heather Sheppard
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Marco Wachtel
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Beat W Schäfer
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Anand G Patel
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - David M Langenau
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA.
- Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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2
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Liu JH, Qi M, Huang WH, Sha Y, Zhang F. The magnetic resonance characteristics of sinonasal rhabdomyosarcoma in adults: analysis of 27 cases and comparison with pathological subtypes. BMC Med Imaging 2023; 23:98. [PMID: 37507673 PMCID: PMC10375770 DOI: 10.1186/s12880-023-01062-x] [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: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sinonasal rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) in adults is extremely rare, and early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to improve the patient's prognosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of sinonasal RMS in adults and analyze the correlations between the imaging features and pathological subtypes. METHODS We reviewed 27 patients with pathologically proven RMS of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, including embryonal RMS (ERMS) in 14 patients, alveolar RMS (ARMS) in seven patients, and mixed-type RMS in six patients. Conventional MRI was performed in all 27 patients, and high-resolution diffusion-weighted imaging was conducted in 25 patients. The tumor location, size, morphological features, signal intensity, texture, contrast enhancement characteristics, lymph node metastases, apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs), and involvement of local soft tissues were independently assessed by two authors. RESULTS On MR imaging, sinonasal RMS appeared isointense on T1-weighted imaging in 21 cases (77.8%) and heterogeneously hyperintense on T2-weighted imaging in 18 patients (66.7%). After enhancement, the tumors were heterogeneously enhanced in 24 cases (88.9%). Botryoid enhancement with multiple small rings resembling bunches of grapes was found in 15 cases (55.6%). Mucosal invasion of the maxillary sinus was identified in 51.9% patients. Skull and orbit involvement were found in 55.6% and 81.5% patients, respectively. Lymph node metastasis was seen in 18 cases (66.7%). There were significant differences in botryoid enhancement (P = 0.044) and skull involvement (P = 0.044) among different histological subtypes. The mean ADC value of RMS was 0.73 ± 0.082 × 10-3 mm2/s, and there was no significant difference among different histological subtypes. CONCLUSIONS Some characteristic MRI findings such as botryoid enhancement in the ethmoid sinus, involvement of the orbit and skull, and a lower ADC value can provide important clues for preoperative diagnosis of sinonasal RMS in adults. Further, botryoid enhancement was more common in ERMS, while skull involvement was more common in ARMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Hua Liu
- Department of Radiology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, No. 83 Fenyang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Meng Qi
- Department of Radiology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, No. 83 Fenyang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Wen-Hu Huang
- Department of Radiology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, No. 83 Fenyang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Yan Sha
- Department of Radiology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, No. 83 Fenyang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Fang Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, No. 83 Fenyang Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200031, China.
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3
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Liu YT, Romero C, Xiao X, Guo L, Zhou X, Applebaum MA, Xu L, Skapek SX. Methyltransferase Inhibition Enables Tgf β Driven Induction of CDKN2A and B in Cancer Cells. Mol Cell Biol 2023; 43:115-129. [PMID: 36941772 PMCID: PMC10038032 DOI: 10.1080/10985549.2023.2186074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
CDKN2A/B deletion or silencing is common across human cancer, reinforcing the general importance of bypassing its tumor suppression in cancer formation or progression. In rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and neuroblastoma, two common childhood cancers, the three CDKN2A/B transcripts are independently expressed to varying degrees, but one, ARF, is uniformly silenced. Although TGFβ induces certain CDKN2A/B transcripts in HeLa cells, it was unable to do so in five tested RMS lines unless the cells were pretreated with a broadly acting methyltransferase inhibitor, DZNep, or one targeting EZH2. CDKN2A/B induction by TGFβ correlated with de novo appearance of three H3K27Ac peaks within a 20 kb cis element ∼150 kb proximal to CDKN2A/B. Deleting that segment prevented their induction by TGFβ but not a basal increase driven by methyltransferase inhibition alone. Expression of two CDKN2A/B transcripts was enhanced by dCas9/CRISPR activation targeting either the relevant promoter or the 20 kb cis elements, and this "precise" manipulation diminished RMS cell propagation in vitro. Our findings show crosstalk between methyltransferase inhibition and TGFβ-dependent activation of a remote enhancer to reverse CDKN2A/B silencing. Though focused on CDKN2A/B here, such crosstalk may apply to other TGFβ-responsive genes and perhaps govern this signaling protein's complex effects promoting or blocking cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Ting Liu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Celeste Romero
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Xue Xiao
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Lei Guo
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Xiaoyun Zhou
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Mark A. Applebaum
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Lin Xu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Population and Data Sciences, Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Stephen X. Skapek
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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4
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Wei Y, Qin Q, Yan C, Hayes MN, Garcia SP, Xi H, Do D, Jin AH, Eng TC, McCarthy KM, Adhikari A, Onozato ML, Spentzos D, Neilsen GP, Iafrate AJ, Wexler LH, Pyle AD, Suvà ML, Dela Cruz F, Pinello L, Langenau DM. Single-cell analysis and functional characterization uncover the stem cell hierarchies and developmental origins of rhabdomyosarcoma. NATURE CANCER 2022; 3:961-975. [PMID: 35982179 PMCID: PMC10430812 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-022-00414-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a common childhood cancer that shares features with developing skeletal muscle. Yet, the conservation of cellular hierarchy with human muscle development and the identification of molecularly defined tumor-propagating cells has not been reported. Using single-cell RNA-sequencing, DNA-barcode cell fate mapping and functional stem cell assays, we uncovered shared tumor cell hierarchies in RMS and human muscle development. We also identified common developmental stages at which tumor cells become arrested. Fusion-negative RMS cells resemble early myogenic cells found in embryonic and fetal development, while fusion-positive RMS cells express a highly specific gene program found in muscle cells transiting from embryonic to fetal development at 7-7.75 weeks of age. Fusion-positive RMS cells also have neural pathway-enriched states, suggesting less-rigid adherence to muscle-lineage hierarchies. Finally, we identified a molecularly defined tumor-propagating subpopulation in fusion-negative RMS that shares remarkable similarity to bi-potent, muscle mesenchyme progenitors that can make both muscle and osteogenic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Wei
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Qian Qin
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Chuan Yan
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Madeline N Hayes
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sara P Garcia
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Haibin Xi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Do
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alexander H Jin
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tiffany C Eng
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Karin M McCarthy
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Abhinav Adhikari
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Maristela L Onozato
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Dimitrios Spentzos
- Center for Sarcoma and Connective Tissue Oncology, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gunnlaugur P Neilsen
- Center for Sarcoma and Connective Tissue Oncology, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A John Iafrate
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Leonard H Wexler
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - April D Pyle
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mario L Suvà
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Filemon Dela Cruz
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Luca Pinello
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA.
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
| | - David M Langenau
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA.
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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5
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Patel AG, Chen X, Huang X, Clay MR, Komorova N, Krasin MJ, Pappo A, Tillman H, Orr BA, McEvoy J, Gordon B, Blankenship K, Reilly C, Zhou X, Norrie JL, Karlstrom A, Yu J, Wodarz D, Stewart E, Dyer MA. The myogenesis program drives clonal selection and drug resistance in rhabdomyosarcoma. Dev Cell 2022; 57:1226-1240.e8. [PMID: 35483358 PMCID: PMC9133224 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a pediatric cancer with features of skeletal muscle; patients with unresectable or metastatic RMS fare poorly due to high rates of disease recurrence. Here, we use single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing to show that RMS tumors recapitulate the spectrum of embryonal myogenesis. Using matched patient samples from a clinical trial and orthotopic patient-derived xenografts (O-PDXs), we show that chemotherapy eliminates the most proliferative component with features of myoblasts within embryonal RMS; after treatment, the immature population with features of paraxial mesoderm expands to reconstitute the developmental hierarchy of the original tumor. We discovered that this paraxial mesoderm population is dependent on EGFR signaling and is sensitive to EGFR inhibitors. Taken together, these data serve as a proof of concept that targeting each developmental state in embryonal RMS is an effective strategy for improving outcomes by preventing disease recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand G Patel
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Michael R Clay
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Natalia Komorova
- Department of Mathematics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Matthew J Krasin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Alberto Pappo
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Heather Tillman
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Brent A Orr
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Justina McEvoy
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Brittney Gordon
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Kaley Blankenship
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Colleen Reilly
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jackie L Norrie
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Asa Karlstrom
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jiyang Yu
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Dominik Wodarz
- Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention, Program in Public Health, Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Elizabeth Stewart
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA; Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Michael A Dyer
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
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6
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Genetic Characterization, Current Model Systems and Prognostic Stratification in PAX Fusion-Negative vs. PAX Fusion-Positive Rhabdomyosarcoma. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12101500. [PMID: 34680895 PMCID: PMC8535289 DOI: 10.3390/genes12101500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and adolescents and accounts for approximately 2% of soft tissue sarcomas in adults. It is subcategorized into distinct subtypes based on histological features and fusion status (PAX-FOXO1/VGLL2/NCOA2). Despite advances in our understanding of the pathobiological and molecular landscape of RMS, the prognosis of these tumors has not significantly improved in recent years. Developing a better understanding of genetic abnormalities and risk stratification beyond the fusion status are crucial to developing better therapeutic strategies. Herein, we aim to highlight the genetic pathways/abnormalities involved, specifically in fusion-negative RMS, assess the currently available model systems to study RMS pathogenesis, and discuss available prognostic factors as well as their importance for risk stratification to achieve optimal therapeutic management.
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7
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Expression of oncogenic HRAS in human Rh28 and RMS-YM rhabdomyosarcoma cells leads to oncogene-induced senescence. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16505. [PMID: 34389744 PMCID: PMC8363632 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95355-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common pediatric soft tissue sarcoma. The two predominant histologic variants of RMS, embryonal and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (eRMS and aRMS, respectively), carry very different prognoses. While eRMS is associated with an intermediate prognosis, the 5-year survival rate of aRMS is less than 30%. The RMS subtypes are also different at the molecular level-eRMS frequently has multiple genetic alterations, including mutations in RAS and TP53, whereas aRMS often has chromosomal translocations resulting in PAX3-FOXO1 or PAX7-FOXO1 fusions, but otherwise has a "quiet" genome. Interestingly, mutations in RAS are rarely found in aRMS. In this study, we explored the role of oncogenic RAS in aRMS. We found that while ectopic oncogenic HRAS expression was tolerated in the human RAS-driven eRMS cell line RD, it was detrimental to cell growth and proliferation in the human aRMS cell line Rh28. Growth inhibition was mediated by oncogene-induced senescence and associated with increased RB pathway activity and expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p16 and p21. Unexpectedly, the human eRMS cell line RMS-YM, a RAS wild-type eRMS cell line, also exhibited growth inhibition in response to oncogenic HRAS in a manner similar to aRMS Rh28 cells. This work suggests that oncogenic RAS is expressed in a context-dependent manner in RMS and may provide insight into the differential origins and therapeutic opportunities for RMS subtypes.
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8
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Martin-Giacalone BA, Weinstein PA, Plon SE, Lupo PJ. Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma: Epidemiology and Genetic Susceptibility. J Clin Med 2021; 10:2028. [PMID: 34065162 PMCID: PMC8125975 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10092028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma in children, yet little is known about its etiology. Studies that examine either environmental exposures or germline genetic predisposition in RMS have begun to identify factors that contribute to this malignancy. Here, we summarize epidemiological reports of RMS incidence in terms of several factors, including age at diagnosis, biological sex, and geographic location. We then describe findings from association studies, which explore the role of parental exposures, birth and perinatal characteristics, and childhood exposures in RMS. Further, we discuss RMS predisposition syndromes and large-scale sequencing studies that have further identified RMS-associated genes. Finally, we propose future directions of study, which aim to advance our understanding of the origin of RMS and can provide knowledge for novel RMS therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey A. Martin-Giacalone
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (B.A.M.-G.); (P.A.W.); (S.E.P.)
- Program in Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - P. Adam Weinstein
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (B.A.M.-G.); (P.A.W.); (S.E.P.)
- Genetics and Genomics Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sharon E. Plon
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (B.A.M.-G.); (P.A.W.); (S.E.P.)
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Philip J. Lupo
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (B.A.M.-G.); (P.A.W.); (S.E.P.)
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9
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Kannan S, Lock I, Ozenberger BB, Jones KB. Genetic drivers and cells of origin in sarcomagenesis. J Pathol 2021; 254:474-493. [DOI: 10.1002/path.5617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarmishta Kannan
- Departments of Orthopaedics and Oncological Sciences Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Ian Lock
- Departments of Orthopaedics and Oncological Sciences Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Benjamin B Ozenberger
- Departments of Orthopaedics and Oncological Sciences Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Kevin B Jones
- Departments of Orthopaedics and Oncological Sciences Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City UT USA
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10
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Cell-cell fusion of mesenchymal cells with distinct differentiations triggers genomic and transcriptomic remodelling toward tumour aggressiveness. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21634. [PMID: 33303824 PMCID: PMC7729932 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78502-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell–cell fusion is a physiological process that is hijacked during oncogenesis and promotes tumour evolution. The main known impact of cell fusion is to promote the formation of metastatic hybrid cells following fusion between mobile leucocytes and proliferating tumour cells. We show here that cell fusion between immortalized myoblasts and transformed fibroblasts, through genomic instability and expression of a specific transcriptomic profile, leads to emergence of hybrid cells acquiring dissemination properties. This is associated with acquisition of clonogenic ability by fused cells. In addition, by inheriting parental properties, hybrid tumours were found to mimic the histological characteristics of a specific histotype of sarcomas: undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas with incomplete muscular differentiation. This finding suggests that cell fusion, as macroevolution event, favours specific sarcoma development according to the differentiation lineage of parent cells.
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11
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Yohe ME, Heske CM, Stewart E, Adamson PC, Ahmed N, Antonescu CR, Chen E, Collins N, Ehrlich A, Galindo RL, Gryder BE, Hahn H, Hammond S, Hatley ME, Hawkins DS, Hayes MN, Hayes-Jordan A, Helman LJ, Hettmer S, Ignatius MS, Keller C, Khan J, Kirsch DG, Linardic CM, Lupo PJ, Rota R, Shern JF, Shipley J, Sindiri S, Tapscott SJ, Vakoc CR, Wexler LH, Langenau DM. Insights into pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma research: Challenges and goals. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2019; 66:e27869. [PMID: 31222885 PMCID: PMC6707829 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.27869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Overall survival rates for pediatric patients with high-risk or relapsed rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) have not improved significantly since the 1980s. Recent studies have identified a number of targetable vulnerabilities in RMS, but these discoveries have infrequently translated into clinical trials. We propose streamlining the process by which agents are selected for clinical evaluation in RMS. We believe that strong consideration should be given to the development of combination therapies that add biologically targeted agents to conventional cytotoxic drugs. One example of this type of combination is the addition of the WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 to the conventional cytotoxic chemotherapeutics, vincristine and irinotecan.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Nabil Ahmed
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | | | | | | | | | - Rene L. Galindo
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | | | - Heidi Hahn
- University Medical Center Gӧttingen, Gӧttingen, Germany
| | | | - Mark E. Hatley
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Douglas S. Hawkins
- Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98105
| | - Madeline N. Hayes
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02114
| | | | - Lee J. Helman
- Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027
| | | | | | - Charles Keller
- Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR 97005
| | - Javed Khan
- National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | | | | | - Philip J. Lupo
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Rossella Rota
- Children’s Hospital Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Janet Shipley
- The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | - David M. Langenau
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02114
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12
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Codenotti S, Faggi F, Ronca R, Chiodelli P, Grillo E, Guescini M, Megiorni F, Marampon F, Fanzani A. Caveolin-1 enhances metastasis formation in a human model of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma through Erk signaling cooperation. Cancer Lett 2019; 449:135-144. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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13
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Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and represents a high-grade neoplasm of skeletal myoblast-like cells. Decades of clinical and basic research have gradually improved our understanding of the pathophysiology of RMS and helped to optimize clinical care. The two major subtypes of RMS, originally characterized on the basis of light microscopic features, are driven by fundamentally different molecular mechanisms and pose distinct clinical challenges. Curative therapy depends on control of the primary tumour, which can arise at many distinct anatomical sites, as well as controlling disseminated disease that is known or assumed to be present in every case. Sophisticated risk stratification for children with RMS incorporates various clinical, pathological and molecular features, and that information is used to guide the application of multifaceted therapy. Such therapy has historically included cytotoxic chemotherapy as well as surgery, ionizing radiation or both. This Primer describes our current understanding of RMS epidemiology, disease susceptibility factors, disease mechanisms and elements of clinical care, including diagnostics, risk-based care of newly diagnosed and relapsed disease and the prevention and management of late effects in survivors. We also outline potential opportunities to further translate new biological insights into improved clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen X Skapek
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Andrea Ferrari
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Abha A Gupta
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Philip J Lupo
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Erin Butler
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Janet Shipley
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Belmont, UK
| | - Frederic G Barr
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Douglas S Hawkins
- Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington, and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
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14
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Mohamed AD, Shah N, Hettmer S, Vargesson N, Wackerhage H. Analysis of the relationship between the KRAS G12V oncogene and the Hippo effector YAP1 in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15674. [PMID: 30353028 PMCID: PMC6199242 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33852-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Persistent hyperactivity of the Hippo effector YAP in activated satellite cells is sufficient to cause embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) in mice. In humans, YAP is abundant and nuclear in the majority of ERMS cases, and high YAP expression is associated with poor survival. However, YAP1 is rarely mutated in human ERMS. Instead, the most common mutations in ERMS are oncogenic RAS mutations. First, to compare YAP1 S127A and KRAS G12V-driven rhabdomyosarcomas, we re-analysed gene expression microarray datasets from mouse rhabdomyosarcomas caused by these genes. This revealed that only 20% of the up or downregulated genes are identical, suggesting substantial differences in gene expression between YAP and KRAS-driven rhabdomyosarcomas. As oncogenic RAS has been linked to YAP in other types of cancer, we also tested whether KRAS G12V alone or in combination with loss of p53 and p16 activates YAP in myoblasts. We found that neither KRAS G12V alone nor KRAS G12V combined with loss of p53 and p16 activated Yap or Yap/Taz-Tead1-4 transcriptional activity in C2C12 myoblasts or U57810 cells. In conclusion, whilst oncogenic KRAS mutation might activate Yap in other cell types, we could find no evidence for this in myoblasts because the expression of KRAS G12V expression did not change Yap/Taz activity in myoblasts and there was a limited overlap in gene expression between KRAS G12V and YAP1 S127A-driven tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdalla D Mohamed
- University of Aberdeen, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, Scotland.
- Institute of Developmental Genetics Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environment and Health Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, D-85764, Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Nupur Shah
- University of Aberdeen, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, Scotland
| | - Simone Hettmer
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Neil Vargesson
- University of Aberdeen, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, Scotland
| | - Henning Wackerhage
- University of Aberdeen, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, Scotland
- Technical University of Munich, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Georg-Brauchle Ring 60-62, 80992, Munich, Germany
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15
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Yohe ME, Gryder BE, Shern JF, Song YK, Chou HC, Sindiri S, Mendoza A, Patidar R, Zhang X, Guha R, Butcher D, Isanogle KA, Robinson CM, Luo X, Chen JQ, Walton A, Awasthi P, Edmondson EF, Difilippantonio S, Wei JS, Zhao K, Ferrer M, Thomas CJ, Khan J. MEK inhibition induces MYOG and remodels super-enhancers in RAS-driven rhabdomyosarcoma. Sci Transl Med 2018; 10:eaan4470. [PMID: 29973406 PMCID: PMC8054766 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aan4470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The RAS isoforms are frequently mutated in many types of human cancers, including PAX3/PAX7 fusion-negative rhabdomyosarcoma. Pediatric RMS arises from skeletal muscle progenitor cells that have failed to differentiate normally. The role of mutant RAS in this differentiation blockade is incompletely understood. We demonstrate that oncogenic RAS, acting through the RAF-MEK [mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase]-ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) MAPK effector pathway, inhibits myogenic differentiation in rhabdomyosarcoma by repressing the expression of the prodifferentiation myogenic transcription factor, MYOG. This repression is mediated by ERK2-dependent promoter-proximal stalling of RNA polymerase II at the MYOG locus. Small-molecule screening with a library of mechanistically defined inhibitors showed that RAS-driven RMS is vulnerable to MEK inhibition. MEK inhibition with trametinib leads to the loss of ERK2 at the MYOG promoter and releases the transcriptional stalling of MYOG expression. MYOG subsequently opens chromatin and establishes super-enhancers at genes required for late myogenic differentiation. Furthermore, trametinib, in combination with an inhibitor of IGF1R, potently decreases rhabdomyosarcoma cell viability and slows tumor growth in xenograft models. Therefore, this combination represents a potential therapeutic for RAS-mutated rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marielle E Yohe
- Oncogenomics Section, Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Berkley E Gryder
- Oncogenomics Section, Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jack F Shern
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Young K Song
- Oncogenomics Section, Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hsien-Chao Chou
- Oncogenomics Section, Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sivasish Sindiri
- Oncogenomics Section, Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Arnulfo Mendoza
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Rajesh Patidar
- Oncogenomics Section, Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Xiaohu Zhang
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Rajarashi Guha
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Donna Butcher
- Pathology/Histotechnology Laboratory, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Kristine A Isanogle
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, NIH, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Christina M Robinson
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, NIH, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Xiaoling Luo
- Collaborative Protein Technology Resource, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jin-Qiu Chen
- Collaborative Protein Technology Resource, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ashley Walton
- Oncogenomics Section, Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Parirokh Awasthi
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, NIH, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Elijah F Edmondson
- Pathology/Histotechnology Laboratory, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Simone Difilippantonio
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, NIH, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Jun S Wei
- Oncogenomics Section, Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Keji Zhao
- Systems Biology Center, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marc Ferrer
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Craig J Thomas
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Oncogenomics Section, Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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16
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Cell growth potential drives ferroptosis susceptibility in rhabdomyosarcoma and myoblast cell lines. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2018; 144:1717-1730. [DOI: 10.1007/s00432-018-2699-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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17
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Akaike K, Suehara Y, Kohsaka S, Hayashi T, Tanabe Y, Kazuno S, Mukaihara K, Toda-Ishii M, Kurihara T, Kim Y, Okubo T, Hayashi Y, Takamochi K, Takahashi F, Kaneko K, Ladanyi M, Saito T. PPP2R1A regulated by PAX3/FOXO1 fusion contributes to the acquisition of aggressive behavior in PAX3/FOXO1-positive alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Oncotarget 2018; 9:25206-25215. [PMID: 29861864 PMCID: PMC5982774 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
To better characterize the oncogenic role of the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein in the acquisition of aggressive behavior in ARMS, we employed a proteomic approach using a PAX3-FOXO1 knockdown system in ARMS cell lines. This approach revealed a protein list consisting of 107 consistently upregulated and 114 consistently downregulated proteins that were expected to be regulated by PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein. Furthermore, we identified 16 upregulated and 17 downregulated critical proteins based on a data-mining analysis. We also evaluated the function of PPP2R1A in ARMS cells. The PPP2R1A expression was upregulated at both the mRNA and protein levels by PAX3-FOXO1 silencing. The silencing of PPP2R1A significantly increased the cell growth of all four ARMS cells, suggesting that PPP2R1A still has a tumor suppressive function in ARMS cells; however, the native expression of PPP2R1A was low in the presence of PAX3-FOXO1. In addition, the activation of PP2A-part of which was encoded by PPP2R1A-by FTY720 treatment in ARMS cell lines inhibited cell growth. On the human phospho-kinase array analysis of 46 specific Ser/Thr or Tyr phosphorylation sites on 39 selected proteins, eNOS, AKT1/2/3, RSK1/2/3 and STAT3 phosphorylation were decreased by FTY-720 treatment. These findings suggest that PPP2R1A is a negatively regulated by PAX3-FOXO1 in ARMS. The activation of PP2A-probably in combination with kinase inhibitors-may represent a therapeutic target in ARMS. We believe that the protein expression profile associated with PAX3-FOXO1 would be valuable for discovering new therapeutic targets in ARMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Akaike
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Human Pathology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Suehara
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinji Kohsaka
- Department of Medical Genomics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuo Hayashi
- Department of Human Pathology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yu Tanabe
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Saiko Kazuno
- Laboratory of Proteomics and Biomolecular Science, Research Support Center, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenta Mukaihara
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Midori Toda-Ishii
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taisei Kurihara
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Youngji Kim
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taketo Okubo
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhide Hayashi
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Gunma Children's Medical Center, Shibukawa, Gunma, Japan
| | - Kazuya Takamochi
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumiyuki Takahashi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuo Kaneko
- Department of Human Pathology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Marc Ladanyi
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tsuyoshi Saito
- Department of Human Pathology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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18
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Slemmons KK, Crose LES, Riedel S, Sushnitha M, Belyea B, Linardic CM. A Novel Notch-YAP Circuit Drives Stemness and Tumorigenesis in Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma. Mol Cancer Res 2017; 15:1777-1791. [PMID: 28923841 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-17-0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a cancer characterized by skeletal muscle features, is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma of childhood. While low- and intermediate-risk groups have seen improved outcomes, high-risk patients still face a 5-year survival rate of <30%, a statistic that has not changed in over 40 years. Understanding the biologic underpinnings of RMS is critical. The developmental pathways of Notch and YAP have been identified as potent but independent oncogenic signals that support the embryonal variant of RMS (eRMS). Here, the cross-talk between these pathways and the impact on eRMS tumorigenesis is reported. Using human eRMS cells grown as three-dimensional (3D) rhabdospheres, which enriches in stem cells, it was found that Notch signaling transcriptionally upregulates YAP1 gene expression and YAP activity. Reciprocally, YAP transcriptionally upregulates the Notch ligand genes JAG1 and DLL1 and the core Notch transcription factor RBPJ This bidirectional circuit boosts expression of key stem cell genes, including SOX2, which is functionally required for eRMS spheres. Silencing this circuit for therapeutic purposes may be challenging, because the inhibition of one node (e.g., pharmacologic Notch blockade) can be rescued by upregulation of another (constitutive YAP expression). Instead, dual inhibition of Notch and YAP is necessary. Finally, supporting the existence of this circuit beyond a model system, nuclear Notch and YAP protein expression are correlated in human eRMS tumors, and YAP suppression in vivo decreases Notch signaling and SOX2 expression.Implications: This study identifies a novel oncogenic signaling circuit driving eRMS stemness and tumorigenesis, and provides evidence and rationale for combination therapies co-targeting Notch and YAP. Mol Cancer Res; 15(12); 1777-91. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine K Slemmons
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Lisa E S Crose
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Stefan Riedel
- Duke Summer Research Opportunity Program, Duke University Graduate School, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Manuela Sushnitha
- Summer Undergraduate Research in Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Brian Belyea
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Corinne M Linardic
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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19
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Fanzani A, Poli M. Iron, Oxidative Damage and Ferroptosis in Rhabdomyosarcoma. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18081718. [PMID: 28783123 PMCID: PMC5578108 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18081718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent data have indicated a fundamental role of iron in mediating a non-apoptotic and non-necrotic oxidative form of programmed cell death termed ferroptosis that requires abundant cytosolic free labile iron to promote membrane lipid peroxidation. Different scavenger molecules and detoxifying enzymes, such as glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), have been shown to overwhelm or exacerbate ferroptosis depending on their expression magnitude. Ferroptosis is emerging as a potential weapon against tumor growth since it has been shown to potentiate cell death in some malignancies. However, this mechanism has been poorly studied in Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a myogenic tumor affecting childhood and adolescence. One of the main drivers of RMS genesis is the Retrovirus Associated DNA Sequences/Extracellular signal Regulated Kinases (RAS/ERK)signaling pathway, the deliberate activation of which correlates with tumor aggressiveness and oxidative stress levels. Since recent studies have indicated that treatment with oxidative inducers can significantly halt RMS tumor progression, in this review we covered different aspects, ranging from iron metabolism in carcinogenesis and tumor growth, to mechanisms of iron-mediated cell death, to highlight the potential role of ferroptosis in counteracting RMS growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Fanzani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (DMMT), University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - Maura Poli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (DMMT), University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
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20
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Yang Y, Yang R, Roth M, Piperdi S, Zhang W, Dorfman H, Rao P, Park A, Tripathi S, Freeman C, Zhang Y, Sowers R, Rosenblum J, Geller D, Hoang B, Gill J, Gorlick R. Genetically transforming human osteoblasts to sarcoma: development of an osteosarcoma model. Genes Cancer 2017; 8:484-494. [PMID: 28435520 PMCID: PMC5396624 DOI: 10.18632/genesandcancer.133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in children and young adults. Although histologically defined by the presence of malignant osteoid, the tumor possesses lineage multipotency suggesting it could be derived from a cell anywhere on the differentiation pathway between a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and a mature osteoblast. To determine if preosteoblasts (pOB) could be the cell of origin differentiated MSCs were transformed with defined genetic elements. MSCs and pOB differentiated from the same MSCs were serially transformed with the oncogenes hTERT, SV40 large T antigen and H-Ras. Assays were performed to determine their tumorigenic properties, differentiation capacity and histologic appearance. When subcutaneously implanted in immunocompromised mice, cell lines derived from transformed MSC and pOB formed tumors in 4 weeks. In contrast to the transformed MSC, the pOB tumors demonstrated a histological appearance characteristic of osteosarcoma. The cell lines derived from the transformed pOB only had osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potential, but not adipogenic ones. However, the transformed MSC cells and standard osteosarcoma cell lines maintained their tri-lineage differentiation capacity. The inability of the transformed pOB cell line to undergo adipogenic differentiation, may suggest that osteosarcoma is derived from a cell intermediate in differentiation between an MSC and a pOB, with partial commitment to the osteoblastic lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.,Current affiliations: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Musculoskeletal Tumor Center, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Yang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Michael Roth
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Sajida Piperdi
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Wendong Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Howard Dorfman
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.,Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Pulivarthi Rao
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Amy Park
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Sandeep Tripathi
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Carrie Freeman
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Yunjia Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca Sowers
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Jeremy Rosenblum
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - David Geller
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Bang Hoang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan Gill
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Richard Gorlick
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.,Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.,Current affiliations: Pediatrics Administration, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Children's Cancer Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
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21
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Pandey PR, Chatterjee B, Olanich ME, Khan J, Miettinen MM, Hewitt SM, Barr FG. PAX3-FOXO1 is essential for tumour initiation and maintenance but not recurrence in a human myoblast model of rhabdomyosarcoma. J Pathol 2017; 241:626-637. [PMID: 28138962 DOI: 10.1002/path.4867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The PAX3-FOXO1 fusion gene is generated by a 2;13 chromosomal translocation and is a characteristic feature of an aggressive subset of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). To dissect the mechanism of oncogene action during RMS tumourigenesis and progression, doxycycline-inducible PAX3-FOXO1 and constitutive MYCN expression constructs were introduced into immortalized human myoblasts. Although myoblasts expressing PAX3-FOXO1 or MYCN alone were not transformed in focus formation assays, combined PAX3-FOXO1 and MYCN expression resulted in transformation. Following intramuscular injection into immunodeficient mice, myoblasts expressing PAX3-FOXO1 and MYCN formed rapidly growing RMS tumours, whereas myoblasts expressing only PAX3-FOXO1 formed tumours after a longer latency period. Doxycycline withdrawal in myoblasts expressing inducible PAX3-FOXO1 and constitutive MYCN following tumour formation in vivo or focus formation in vitro resulted in tumour regression or smaller foci associated with myogenic differentiation and cell death. Following regression, most tumours recurred in the absence of doxycycline. Analysis of recurrent tumours revealed a subset without PAX3-FOXO1 expression, and cell lines derived from these recurrent tumours showed transformation in the absence of doxycycline. The doxycycline-independent oncogenicity in these recurrent tumour-derived lines persisted even after PAX3-FOXO1 was inactivated with a CRISPR/Cas9 editing strategy. Whereas cell lines derived from primary tumours were dependent on PAX3-FOXO1 and differentiated following doxycycline withdrawal, recurrent tumour-derived cells without PAX3-FOXO1 expression did not differentiate under these conditions. These findings indicate that PAX3-FOXO1 collaborates with MYCN during early RMS tumourigenesis to dysregulate proliferation and inhibit myogenic differentiation and cell death. Although most cells in the primary tumours are dependent on PAX3-FOXO1, recurrent tumours can develop by a PAX3-FOXO1-independent mechanism, in which rare cells are postulated to acquire secondary transforming events that were activated or selected by initial PAX3-FOXO1 expression. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puspa R Pandey
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Bishwanath Chatterjee
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mary E Olanich
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Markku M Miettinen
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Stephen M Hewitt
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Frederic G Barr
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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22
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Wang X, Song L, Chong V, Wang Y, Li J, Xian J. Multiparametric MRI findings of sinonasal rhabdomyosarcoma in adults with comparison to carcinoma. J Magn Reson Imaging 2016; 45:998-1004. [PMID: 27648498 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.25484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To identify magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of sinonasal rhabdomyosarcoma in adults, including diffusion-weighted (DW) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI features as compared with carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty-four patients were included in this study, including 12 sinonasal rhabdomyosarcomas and 52 sinonasal carcinomas. MRI was completed in all 64 patients with a 3T MR scanner. Conventional MR (nonenhanced and static contrast-enhanced) imaging features, DCE-MRI parameters, and the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were analyzed by two authors independently (X.Y.W. and Y.Z.W.). RESULTS Compared with gray matter, sinonasal rhabdomyosarcomas appeared isointense on T1 -weighted images in 11 cases (91.7%, 11 of 12), and hyperintense on T2 -weighted images in 9 patients (75%, 9 of 12). After contrast, sinonasal rhabdomyosarcomas showed inhomogeneous enhancement in 10 cases (83.3%, 10 of 12). Skull involvement was found in eight patients (66.7%) with rhabdomyosarcomas. On T2 -weighted images, sinonasal carcinomas demonstrated isointense in 31 cases (59.6%, 31/52), hyperintense in 14 (26.9%, 14/52), and hypointense in 7 (13.5%, 7/52). Skull involvement was detected in 14 cases (14/52, 26.9%). There were significant differences in T2 signal intensity (P = 0.005) and skull involvement (P = 0.016) between sinonasal rhabdomyosarcoma and carcinomas. There was a marginal difference in time to peak enhancement (P = 0.061), while no difference in time to maximum enhancement (P = 0.403), maximum contrast index (P = 0.368), and time-intensity curve types (P = 0.138) between rhabdomyosarcoma and carcinomas. The ADCs of sinonasal rhabdomyosarcoma were significantly lower than those of sinonasal carcinomas (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION A multiparametric approach using conventional MRI with added ADCs had the potential to improve the diagnostic accuracy of sinonasal rhabdomyosarcoma in adults. Evidence level: 4 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;45:998-1004.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyan Wang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Liyuan Song
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Vincent Chong
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Yongzhe Wang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Junfang Xian
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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23
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McKinnon T, Venier R, Dickson BC, Kabaroff L, Alkema M, Chen L, Shern JF, Yohe ME, Khan J, Gladdy RA. Kras activation in p53-deficient myoblasts results in high-grade sarcoma formation with impaired myogenic differentiation. Oncotarget 2016; 6:14220-32. [PMID: 25992772 PMCID: PMC4546462 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
While genomic studies have improved our ability to classify sarcomas, the molecular mechanisms involved in the formation and progression of many sarcoma subtypes are unknown. To better understand developmental origins and genetic drivers involved in rhabdomyosarcomagenesis, we describe a novel sarcoma model system employing primary murine p53-deficient myoblasts that were isolated and lentivirally transduced with KrasG12D. Myoblast cell lines were characterized and subjected to proliferation, anchorage-independent growth and differentiation assays to assess the effects of transgenic KrasG12D expression. KrasG12D overexpression transformed p53−/− myoblasts as demonstrated by an increased anchorage-independent growth. Induction of differentiation in parental myoblasts resulted in activation of key myogenic regulators. In contrast, Kras-transduced myoblasts had impaired terminal differentiation. p53−/− myoblasts transformed by KrasG12D overexpression resulted in rapid, reproducible tumor formation following orthotopic injection into syngeneic host hindlimbs. Pathological analysis revealed high-grade sarcomas with myogenic differentiation based on the expression of muscle-specific markers, such as Myod1 and Myog. Gene expression patterns of murine sarcomas shared biological pathways with RMS gene sets as determined by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and were 61% similar to human RMS as determined by metagene analysis. Thus, our novel model system is an effective means to model high-grade sarcomas along the RMS spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy McKinnon
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rosemarie Venier
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Brendan C Dickson
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Leah Kabaroff
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Manon Alkema
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Li Chen
- Genetics Branch, Oncogenomics Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Institute of Health, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Jack F Shern
- Genetics Branch, Oncogenomics Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Institute of Health, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Marielle E Yohe
- Genetics Branch, Oncogenomics Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Institute of Health, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, Oncogenomics Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Institute of Health, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Rebecca A Gladdy
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.,Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Cancer Stem Cell Program, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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24
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Ciccarelli C, Vulcano F, Milazzo L, Gravina GL, Marampon F, Macioce G, Giampaolo A, Tombolini V, Di Paolo V, Hassan HJ, Zani BM. Key role of MEK/ERK pathway in sustaining tumorigenicity and in vitro radioresistance of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma stem-like cell population. Mol Cancer 2016; 15:16. [PMID: 26897742 PMCID: PMC4761200 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-016-0501-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 02/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The identification of signaling pathways that affect the cancer stem-like phenotype may provide insights into therapeutic targets for combating embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the MEK/ERK pathway in controlling the cancer stem-like phenotype using a model of rhabdospheres derived from the embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cell line (RD). METHODS Rhabdospheres enriched in cancer stem like cells were obtained growing RD cells in non adherent condition in stem cell medium. Stem cell markers were evaluated by FACS analysis and immunoblotting. ERK1/2, myogenic markers, proteins of DNA repair and bone marrow X-linked kinase (BMX) expression were evaluated by immunoblotting analysis. Radiation was delivered using an x-6 MV photon linear accelerator. Xenografts were obtained in NOD/SCID mice by subcutaneously injection of rhabdosphere cells or cells pretreated with U0126 in stem cell medium. RESULTS MEK/ERK inhibitor U0126 dramatically prevented rhabdosphere formation and down-regulated stem cell markers CD133, CXCR4 and Nanog expression, but enhanced ALDH, MAPK phospho-active p38 and differentiative myogenic markers. By contrast, MAPK p38 inhibition accelerated rhabdosphere formation and enhanced phospho-active ERK1/2 and Nanog expression. RD cells, chronically treated with U0126 and then xeno-transplanted in NOD/SCID mice, delayed tumor development and reduced tumor mass when compared with tumor induced by rhabdosphere cells. U0126 intraperitoneal administration to mice bearing rhabdosphere-derived tumors inhibited tumor growth . The MEK/ERK pathway role in rhabdosphere radiosensitivity was investigated in vitro. Disassembly of rhabdospheres was induced by both radiation or U0126, and further enhanced by combined treatment. In U0126-treated rhabdospheres, the expression of the stem cell markers CD133 and CXCR4 decreased and dropped even more markedly following combined treatment. The expression of BMX, a negative regulator of apoptosis, also decreased following combined treatment, which suggests an increase in radiosensitivity of rhabdosphere cells. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that the MEK/ERK pathway plays a prominent role in maintaining the stem-like phenotype of RD cells, their survival and their innate radioresistance. Thus, therapeutic strategies that target cancer stem cells, which are resistant to traditional cancer therapies, may benefit from MEK/ERK inhibition combined with traditional radiotherapy, thereby providing a promising therapy for embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmela Ciccarelli
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, Coppito 2, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
| | - Francesca Vulcano
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | - Luisa Milazzo
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Luca Gravina
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, Coppito 2, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
| | - Francesco Marampon
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, Coppito 2, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
| | - Giampiero Macioce
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | - Adele Giampaolo
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Virginia Di Paolo
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedic, Section of Histology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Hamisa Jane Hassan
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | - Bianca Maria Zani
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, Coppito 2, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
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25
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Slemmons KK, Crose LES, Rudzinski E, Bentley RC, Linardic CM. Role of the YAP Oncoprotein in Priming Ras-Driven Rhabdomyosarcoma. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0140781. [PMID: 26496700 PMCID: PMC4619859 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a cancer characterized by features of skeletal muscle histogenesis, is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood and adolescence. Survival for high-risk groups is less than 30% at 5 years. RMS also occurs during adulthood, with a lower incidence but higher mortality. Recently, mutational profiling has revealed a correlation between activating Ras mutations in the embryonal (eRMS) and pleomorphic (pRMS) histologic variants of RMS, and a poorer outcome for those patients. Independently, the YAP transcriptional coactivator, an oncoprotein kept in check by the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway, is upregulated in eRMS. Here we show that YAP promotes cell proliferation and antagonizes apoptosis and myogenic differentiation of human RMS cells bearing oncogenic Ras mutations in cell culture studies in vitro and in murine xenografts in vivo. Pharmacologic inhibition of YAP by the benzoporphyrin derivative verteporfin decreased cell proliferation and tumor growth in vivo. To interrogate the temporal contribution of YAP in eRMS tumorigenesis, we used a primary human cell-based genetic model of Ras-driven RMS. Constitutively active YAP functioned as an early genetic lesion, permitting bypass of senescence and priming myoblasts to tolerate subsequent expression of hTERT and oncogenic Ras, which were necessary and sufficient to generate murine xenograft tumors mimicking RMS in vivo. This work provides evidence for cooperation between YAP and oncogenic Ras in RMS tumorigenesis, laying the foundation for preclinical co-targeting of these pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine K. Slemmons
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Lisa E. S. Crose
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Erin Rudzinski
- Department of Laboratories, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Rex C. Bentley
- Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Corinne M. Linardic
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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26
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Hedrick E, Crose L, Linardic CM, Safe S. Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Inhibit Rhabdomyosarcoma by Reactive Oxygen Species-Dependent Targeting of Specificity Protein Transcription Factors. Mol Cancer Ther 2015; 14:2143-53. [PMID: 26162688 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-15-0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The two major types of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) are predominantly diagnosed in children, namely embryonal (ERMS) and alveolar (ARMS) RMS, and patients are treated with cytotoxic drugs, which results in multiple toxic side effects later in life. Therefore, development of innovative chemotherapeutic strategies is imperative, and a recent genomic analysis suggested the potential efficacy of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-inducing agents. Here, we demonstrate the efficacy of the potent histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, panobinostat and vorinostat, as agents that inhibit RMS tumor growth in vivo, induce apoptosis, and inhibit invasion of RD and Rh30 RMS cell lines. These effects are due to epigenetic repression of cMyc, which leads to decreased expression of cMyc-regulated miRs-17, -20a, and -27a; upregulation of ZBTB4, ZBTB10, and ZBTB34; and subsequent downregulation of Sp transcription factors. We also show that inhibition of RMS cell growth, survival and invasion, and repression of Sp transcription factors by the HDAC inhibitors are independent of histone acetylation but reversible after cotreatment with the antioxidant glutathione. These results show a novel ROS-dependent mechanism of antineoplastic activity for panobinostat and vorinostat that lies outside of their canonical HDAC-inhibitory activity and demonstrates the potential clinical utility for treating RMS patients with ROS-inducing agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Hedrick
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Lisa Crose
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Corinne M Linardic
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Stephen Safe
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center, Houston, Texas.
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27
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Kashi VP, Hatley ME, Galindo RL. Probing for a deeper understanding of rhabdomyosarcoma: insights from complementary model systems. Nat Rev Cancer 2015; 15:426-39. [PMID: 26105539 PMCID: PMC4599785 DOI: 10.1038/nrc3961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a mesenchymal malignancy composed of neoplastic primitive precursor cells that exhibit histological features of myogenic differentiation. Despite intensive conventional multimodal therapy, patients with high-risk RMS typically suffer from aggressive disease. The lack of directed therapies against RMS emphasizes the need to further uncover the molecular underpinnings of the disease. In this Review, we discuss the notable advances in the model systems now available to probe for new RMS-targetable pathogenetic mechanisms, and the possibilities for enhanced RMS therapeutics and improved clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkatesh P Kashi
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-9072, USA
| | - Mark E Hatley
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
| | - Rene L Galindo
- 1] Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-9072, USA. [2] Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-9148, USA. [3] Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-9063, USA
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28
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Cavin-1 and Caveolin-1 are both required to support cell proliferation, migration and anchorage-independent cell growth in rhabdomyosarcoma. J Transl Med 2015; 95:585-602. [PMID: 25822667 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2015.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Revised: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a childhood soft tissue tumor with broad expression of markers that are typically found in skeletal muscle. Cavin-1 is a recently discovered protein actively cooperating with Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) in the morphogenesis of caveolae and whose role in cancer is drawing increasing attention. Using a combined in silico and in vitro analysis here we show that Cavin-1 is expressed in myogenic RMS tumors as well as in human and primary mouse RMS cultures, exhibiting a broad subcellular localization, ranging from nuclei and cytosol to plasma membrane. In particular, the coexpression and plasma membrane interaction between Cavin-1 and Cav-1 characterized the proliferation of human and mouse RMS cell cultures, while a downregulation of their expression levels was observed during the myogenic differentiation. Knockdown of Cavin-1 or Cav-1 in the human RD and RH30 cells led to impairment of cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, loss of Cavin-1 in RD cells impaired the anchorage-independent cell growth in soft agar. While the loss of Cavin-1 did not affect the Cav-1 protein levels in RMS cells, Cav-1 overexpression and knockdown triggered a rise or depletion of Cavin-1 protein levels in RD cells, respectively, in turn reflecting on increased or decreased cell proliferation, migration and anchorage-independent cell growth. Collectively, these data indicate that the interaction between Cavin-1 and Cav-1 underlies the cell growth and migration in myogenic tumors.
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29
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Development of genetically flexible mouse models of sarcoma using RCAS-TVA mediated gene delivery. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94817. [PMID: 24733554 PMCID: PMC3986235 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal malignancies and unfortunately there are limited functional genomics platforms to assess the molecular pathways contributing to sarcomagenesis. Thus, novel model systems are needed to validate which genes should be targeted for therapeutic intervention. We hypothesized that delivery of oncogenes into mouse skeletal muscle using a retroviral (RCAS-TVA) system would result in sarcomagenesis. We also sought to determine if the cell type transformed (mesenchymal progenitors vs. terminally differentiated tissues) would influence sarcoma biology. Cells transduced with RCAS vectors directing the expression of oncoproteins KrasG12D, c-Myc and/or Igf2 were injected into the hindlimbs of mice that expressed the retroviral TVA receptor in neural/mesenchymal progenitors, skeletal/cardiac muscle or ubiquitously (N-tva, AKE and BKE strains respectively). Disrupting the G1 checkpoint CDKN2 (p16/p19-/-) resulted in sarcoma in 30% of p16/p19-/- xN-tva mice with a median latency of 23 weeks (range 8-40 weeks). A similar incidence occurred in p16/p19-/- xBKE mice (32%), however, a shorter median latency (10.4 weeks) was observed. p16/p19-/- xAKE mice also developed sarcomas (24% incidence; median 9 weeks) yet 31% of mice also developed lung sarcomas. Gene-anchored PCR demonstrated retroviral DNA integration in 86% of N-tva, 93% of BKE and 88% of AKE tumors. KrasG12D was the most frequent oncogene isolated. Oncogene delivery by the RCAS-TVA system can generate sarcomas in mice with a defective cell cycle checkpoint. Sarcoma biology differed between the different RCAS models we created, likely due to the cell population being transformed. This genetically flexible system will be a valuable tool for sarcoma research.
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30
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Faggi F, Mitola S, Sorci G, Riuzzi F, Donato R, Codenotti S, Poliani PL, Cominelli M, Vescovi R, Rossi S, Calza S, Colombi M, Penna F, Costelli P, Perini I, Sampaolesi M, Monti E, Fanzani A. Phosphocaveolin-1 enforces tumor growth and chemoresistance in rhabdomyosarcoma. PLoS One 2014; 9:e84618. [PMID: 24427291 PMCID: PMC3888403 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2013] [Accepted: 11/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) can ambiguously behave as either tumor suppressor or oncogene depending on its phosphorylation state and the type of cancer. In this study we show that Cav-1 was phosphorylated on tyrosine 14 (pCav-1) by Src-kinase family members in various human cell lines and primary mouse cultures of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most frequent soft-tissue sarcoma affecting childhood. Cav-1 overexpression in the human embryonal RD or alveolar RH30 cells yielded increased pCav-1 levels and reinforced the phosphorylation state of either ERK or AKT kinase, respectively, in turn enhancing in vitro cell proliferation, migration, invasiveness and chemoresistance. In contrast, reducing the pCav-1 levels by administration of a Src-kinase inhibitor or through targeted Cav-1 silencing counteracted the malignant in vitro phenotype of RMS cells. Consistent with these results, xenotransplantation of Cav-1 overexpressing RD cells into nude mice resulted in substantial tumor growth in comparison to control cells. Taken together, these data point to pCav-1 as an important and therapeutically valuable target for overcoming the progression and multidrug resistance of RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiorella Faggi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
| | - Stefania Mitola
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Sorci
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
| | - Francesca Riuzzi
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
| | - Rosario Donato
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
| | - Silvia Codenotti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
| | - Pietro Luigi Poliani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Manuela Cominelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Raffaella Vescovi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefania Rossi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefano Calza
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marina Colombi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Fabio Penna
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
| | - Paola Costelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
| | - Ilaria Perini
- Stem Cell Research Institute, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maurilio Sampaolesi
- Stem Cell Research Institute, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium
- Human Anatomy Section, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
| | - Eugenio Monti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Fanzani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy
- * E-mail:
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Distinct and overlapping sarcoma subtypes initiated from muscle stem and progenitor cells. Cell Rep 2013; 5:933-40. [PMID: 24239359 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2013.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2013] [Revised: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 10/11/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children, whereas undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is one of the most common soft tissue sarcomas diagnosed in adults. To investigate the myogenic cell(s) of origin of these sarcomas, we used Pax7-CreER and MyoD-CreER mice to transform Pax7(+) and MyoD(+) myogenic progenitors by expressing oncogenic Kras(G12D) and deleting Trp53 in vivo. Pax7-CreER mice developed RMS and UPS, whereas MyoD-CreER mice developed UPS. Using gene set enrichment analysis, RMS and UPS each clustered specifically within their human counterparts. These results suggest that RMS and UPS have distinct and overlapping cells of origin within the muscle lineage. Taking them together, we have established mouse models of soft tissue sarcoma from muscle stem and progenitor cells.
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Jothi M, Mal M, Keller C, Mal AK. Small molecule inhibition of PAX3-FOXO1 through AKT activation suppresses malignant phenotypes of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:2663-74. [PMID: 24107448 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-13-0277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma comprises a rare highly malignant tumor presumed to be associated with skeletal muscle lineage in children. The hallmark of the majority of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is a chromosomal translocation that generates the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein, which is an oncogenic transcription factor responsible for the development of the malignant phenotype of this tumor. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells are dependent on the oncogenic activity of PAX3-FOXO1, and its expression status in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma tumors correlates with worst patient outcome, suggesting that blocking this activity of PAX3-FOXO1 may be an attractive therapeutic strategy against this fusion-positive disease. In this study, we screened small molecule chemical libraries for inhibitors of PAX3-FOXO1 transcriptional activity using a cell-based readout system. We identified the Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPases (SERCA) inhibitor thapsigargin as an effective inhibitor of PAX3-FOXO1. Subsequent experiments in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells showed that activation of AKT by thapsigargin inhibited PAX3-FOXO1 activity via phosphorylation. Moreover, this AKT activation appears to be associated with the effects of thapsigargin on intracellular calcium levels. Furthermore, thapsigargin inhibited the binding of PAX3-FOXO1 to target genes and subsequently promoted its proteasomal degradation. In addition, thapsigargin treatment decreases the growth and invasive capacity of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells while inducing apoptosis in vitro. Finally, thapsigargin can suppress the growth of an alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma xenograft tumor in vivo. These data reveal that thapsigargin-induced activation of AKT is an effective mechanism to inhibit PAX3-FOXO1 and a potential agent for targeted therapy against alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathivanan Jothi
- Corresponding Author: Asoke K. Mal, Department of Cell Stress Biology, BLSC-L3-319 Roswell Park Cancer Institute Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263.
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Storer NY, White RM, Uong A, Price E, Nielsen GP, Langenau DM, Zon LI. Zebrafish rhabdomyosarcoma reflects the developmental stage of oncogene expression during myogenesis. Development 2013; 140:3040-50. [PMID: 23821038 DOI: 10.1242/dev.087858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a pediatric malignancy thought to arise from the uncontrolled proliferation of myogenic cells. Here, we have generated models of rhabdomyosarcoma in the zebrafish by inducing oncogenic KRAS(G12D) expression at different stages during muscle development. Several zebrafish promoters were used, including the cdh15 and rag2 promoters, which drive gene expression in early muscle progenitors, and the mylz2 promoter, which is expressed in differentiating myoblasts. The tumors that developed differed in their ability to recapitulate normal myogenesis. cdh15:KRAS(G12D) and rag2:KRAS(G12D) fish developed tumors that displayed an inability to complete muscle differentiation as determined by histological appearance and gene expression analyses. By contrast, mylz2:KRAS(G12D) tumors more closely resembled mature skeletal muscle and were most similar to well-differentiated human rhabdomyosarcoma in terms of gene expression. mylz2:KRAS(G12D) fish showed significantly improved survival compared with cdh15:KRAS(G12D) and rag2:KRAS(G12D) fish. Tumor-propagating activity was enriched in myf5-expressing cell populations within all of the tumor types. Our results demonstrate that oncogenic KRAS(G12D) expression at different stages during muscle development has profound effects on the ability of tumor cells to recapitulate normal myogenesis, altering the tumorigenic capability of these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narie Y Storer
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Moriarity BS, Rahrmann EP, Keng VW, Manlove LS, Beckmann DA, Wolf NK, Khurshid T, Bell JB, Largaespada DA. Modular assembly of transposon integratable multigene vectors using RecWay assembly. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:e92. [PMID: 23444141 PMCID: PMC3632113 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Studying complex biological processes such as cancer development, stem cell induction and transdifferentiation requires the modulation of multiple genes or pathways at one time in a single cell. Herein, we describe straightforward methods for rapid and efficient assembly of bacterial marker free multigene cassettes containing up to six complementary DNAs/short hairpin RNAs. We have termed this method RecWay assembly, as it makes use of both Cre recombinase and the commercially available Gateway cloning system. Further, because RecWay assembly uses truly modular components, it allows for the generation of randomly assembled multigene vector libraries. These multigene vectors are integratable, and later excisable, using the highly efficient piggyBac (PB) DNA transposon system. Moreover, we have dramatically improved the expression of stably integrated multigene vectors by incorporation of insulator elements to prevent promoter interference seen with multigene vectors. We demonstrate that insulated multigene PB transposons can stably integrate and faithfully express up to five fluorescent proteins and the puromycin-thymidine kinase resistance gene in vitro, with up to 70-fold higher gene expression compared with analogous uninsulated vectors. RecWay assembly of multigene transposon vectors allows for widely applicable modelling of highly complex biological processes and can be easily performed by other research laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Branden S Moriarity
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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Olanich ME, Barr FG. A call to ARMS: targeting the PAX3-FOXO1 gene in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2013; 17:607-23. [PMID: 23432728 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2013.772136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Expression of fusion oncoproteins generated by recurrent chromosomal translocations represents a major tumorigenic mechanism characteristic of multiple cancers, including one-third of all sarcomas. Oncogenic fusion genes provide novel targets for therapeutic intervention. The PAX3-FOXO1 oncoprotein in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is presented as a paradigm to examine therapeutic strategies for targeting sarcoma-associated fusion genes. AREAS COVERED This review discusses the role of PAX3-FOXO1 in ARMS tumors. Besides evaluating various approaches to molecularly target PAX3-FOXO1 itself, this review highlights therapeutically attractive downstream genes activated by PAX3-FOXO1. EXPERT OPINION Oncogenic fusion proteins represent desirable therapeutic targets because their expression is specific to tumor cells, but these fusions generally characterize rare malignancies. Full development and testing of potential drugs targeted to these fusions are complicated by the small numbers of patients in these disease categories. Although efforts to develop targeted therapies against fusion proteins should continue, molecular targets that are applicable to a broader tumor landscape should be pursued. A shift of the traditional paradigm to view therapeutic intervention as target-specific rather than tumor-specific will help to circumvent the challenges posed by rare tumors and maximize the possibility of developing successful new treatments for patients with these rare translocation-associated sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Olanich
- National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research, Laboratory of Pathology , Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Zanola A, Rossi S, Faggi F, Monti E, Fanzani A. Rhabdomyosarcomas: an overview on the experimental animal models. J Cell Mol Med 2012; 16:1377-91. [PMID: 22225829 PMCID: PMC3823208 DOI: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2011.01518.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are aggressive childhood soft-tissue malignancies deriving from mesenchymal progenitors that are committed to muscle-specific lineages. Despite the histopathological signatures associated with three main histological variants, termed embryonal, alveolar and pleomorphic, a plethora of genetic and molecular changes are recognized in RMS. Over the years, exposure to carcinogens or ionizing radiations and gene-targeting approaches in vivo have greatly contributed to disclose some of the mechanisms underlying RMS onset. In this review, we describe the principal distinct features associated with RMS variants and focus on the current available experimental animal models to point out the molecular determinants cooperating with RMS development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Zanola
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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Van Gaal JC, De Bont ES, Kaal SE, Versleijen-Jonkers Y, van der Graaf WT. Building the bridge between rhabdomyosarcoma in children, adolescents and young adults: The road ahead. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2012; 82:259-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2011.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2011] [Revised: 06/29/2011] [Accepted: 06/30/2011] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
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Crose LES, Etheridge KT, Chen C, Belyea B, Talbot LJ, Bentley RC, Linardic CM. FGFR4 blockade exerts distinct antitumorigenic effects in human embryonal versus alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Clin Cancer Res 2012; 18:3780-90. [PMID: 22648271 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-10-3063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a malignancy with features of skeletal muscle, and the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood. Survival for high-risk groups is approximately 30% at 5 years and there are no durable therapies tailored to its genetic aberrations. During genetic modeling of the common RMS variants, embryonal RMS (eRMS) and alveolar RMS (aRMS), we noted that the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) was upregulated as an early event in aRMS. Herein, we evaluated the expression of FGFR4 in eRMS compared with aRMS, and whether FGFR4 had similar or distinct roles in their tumorigenesis. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Human RMS cell lines and tumor tissue were analyzed for FGFR4 expression by immunoblot and immunohistochemistry. Genetic and pharmacologic loss-of-function of FGFR4 using virally transduced short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and the FGFR small-molecule inhibitor PD173074, respectively, were used to study the role of FGFR4 in RMS cell lines in vitro and xenografts in vivo. Expression of the antiapoptotic protein BCL2L1 was also examined. RESULTS FGFR4 is expressed in both RMS subtypes, but protein expression is higher in aRMS. The signature aRMS gene fusion product, PAX3-FOXO1, induced FGFR4 expression in primary human myoblasts. In eRMS, FGFR4 loss-of-function reduced cell proliferation in vitro and xenograft formation in vivo. In aRMS, it diminished cell survival in vitro. In myoblasts and aRMS, FGFR4 was necessary and sufficient for expression of BCL2L1 whereas in eRMS, this induction was not observed, suggesting differential FGFR4 signaling. CONCLUSION These studies define dichotomous roles for FGFR4 in RMS subtypes, and support further study of FGFR4 as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa E S Crose
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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Ignatius MS, Chen E, Elpek NM, Fuller AZ, Tenente IM, Clagg R, Liu S, Blackburn JS, Linardic CM, Rosenberg AE, Nielsen PG, Mempel TR, Langenau DM. In vivo imaging of tumor-propagating cells, regional tumor heterogeneity, and dynamic cell movements in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Cancer Cell 2012; 21:680-693. [PMID: 22624717 PMCID: PMC3381357 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2012.03.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2011] [Revised: 02/06/2012] [Accepted: 03/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) is an aggressive pediatric sarcoma of muscle. Here, we show that ERMS-propagating potential is confined to myf5+ cells and can be visualized in live, fluorescent transgenic zebrafish. During early tumor growth, myf5+ ERMS cells reside adjacent normal muscle fibers. By late-stage ERMS, myf5+ cells are reorganized into distinct regions separated from differentiated tumor cells. Time-lapse imaging of late-stage ERMS revealed that myf5+ cells populate newly formed tumor only after seeding by highly migratory myogenin+ ERMS cells. Moreover, myogenin+ ERMS cells can enter the vasculature, whereas myf5+ ERMS-propagating cells do not. Our data suggest that non-tumor-propagating cells likely have important supportive roles in cancer progression and facilitate metastasis.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Animals, Genetically Modified
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Cell Movement
- Disease Progression
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, SCID
- Microscopy, Confocal
- Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton
- Myogenic Regulatory Factor 5/genetics
- Myogenic Regulatory Factor 5/metabolism
- Myogenin/genetics
- Myogenin/metabolism
- Neoplasm Invasiveness
- Neoplasm Transplantation
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/pathology
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal/blood supply
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal/genetics
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal/metabolism
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal/pathology
- Time Factors
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Zebrafish/genetics
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
- Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Myron S Ignatius
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Eleanor Chen
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Natalie M Elpek
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Adam Z Fuller
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Inês M Tenente
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, 4099-003 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ryan Clagg
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Sali Liu
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jessica S Blackburn
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Corinne M Linardic
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pharmacology, and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Andrew E Rosenberg
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Petur G Nielsen
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Thorsten R Mempel
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - David M Langenau
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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Abstract
Caveolins are scaffolding proteins that play a pivotal role in numerous processes, including caveolae biogenesis, vesicular transport, cholesterol homeostasis and regulation of signal transduction. There are three different isoforms (Cav-1, -2 and -3) that form homo- and hetero-aggregates at the plasma membrane and modulate the activity of a number of intracellular binding proteins. Cav-1 and Cav-3, in particular, are respectively expressed in the reserve elements (e.g. satellite cells) and in mature myofibres of skeletal muscle and their expression interplay characterizes the switch from muscle precursors to differentiated elements. Recent findings have shown that caveolins are also expressed in rhabdomyosarcoma, a group of heterogeneous childhood soft-tissue sarcomas in which the cancer cells seem to derive from progenitors that resemble myogenic cells. In this review, we will focus on the role of caveolins in rhabdomyosarcomas and on their potential use as markers of the degree of differentiation in these paediatric tumours. Given that the function of Cav-1 as tumour conditional gene in cancer has been well-established, we will also discuss the relationship between Cav-1 and the progression of rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Rossi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy Department of Pathology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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Speck-Planche A, Kleandrova VV, Luan F, Cordeiro MND. Fragment-based QSAR model toward the selection of versatile anti-sarcoma leads. Eur J Med Chem 2011; 46:5910-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2011.09.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2011] [Revised: 09/24/2011] [Accepted: 09/29/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Sarcomas induced in discrete subsets of prospectively isolated skeletal muscle cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:20002-7. [PMID: 22135462 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1111733108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft-tissue sarcomas are heterogeneous cancers that can present with tissue-specific differentiation markers. To examine the cellular basis for this histopathological variation and to identify sarcoma-relevant molecular pathways, we generated a chimeric mouse model in which sarcoma-associated genetic lesions can be introduced into discrete, muscle-resident myogenic and mesenchymal cell lineages. Expression of Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene [Kras(G12V)] and disruption of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A; p16p19) in prospectively isolated satellite cells gave rise to pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcomas (MyoD-, Myogenin- and Desmin-positive), whereas introduction of the same oncogenetic hits in nonmyogenic progenitors induced pleomorphic sarcomas lacking myogenic features. Transcriptional profiling demonstrated that myogenic and nonmyogenic Kras; p16p19(null) sarcomas recapitulate gene-expression signatures of human rhabdomyosarcomas and identified a cluster of genes that is concordantly up-regulated in both mouse and human sarcomas. This cluster includes genes associated with Ras and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, a finding consistent with activation of the Ras and mTOR pathways both in Kras; p16p19(null) sarcomas and in 26-50% of human rhabdomyosarcomas surveyed. Moreover, chemical inhibition of Ras or mTOR signaling arrested the growth of mouse Kras; p16p19(null) sarcomas and of human rhabdomyosarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, these data demonstrate the critical importance of lineage commitment within the tumor cell-of-origin in determining sarcoma histotype and introduce an experimental platform for rapid dissection of sarcoma-relevant cellular and molecular events.
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Belyea BC, Naini S, Bentley RC, Linardic CM. Inhibition of the Notch-Hey1 axis blocks embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma tumorigenesis. Clin Cancer Res 2011; 17:7324-36. [PMID: 21948088 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-11-1004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood and remains refractory to combined-modality therapy in patients with high risk disease. In skeletal myogenesis, Notch signaling prevents muscle differentiation and promotes proliferation of satellite cell progeny. Given its physiologic role in myogenesis and oncogenic role in other human cancers, we hypothesized that aberrant Notch signaling may contribute to RMS tumorigenesis and present novel therapeutic opportunities. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Human RMS cell lines and tumors were evaluated by immunoblot, IHC, and RT-PCR to measure Notch ligand, receptor, and target gene expression. Manipulation of Notch signaling was accomplished using genetic and pharmacologic approaches. In vitro cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation were assessed using colorimetric MTT and BrdU assays, and biochemical/morphologic changes after incubation in differentiation-promoting media, respectively. In vivo tumorigenesis was assessed using xenograft formation in SCID/beige mice. RESULTS Notch signaling is upregulated in human RMS cell lines and tumors compared with primary skeletal muscle, especially in the embryonal (eRMS) subtype. Inhibition of Notch signaling using Notch1 RNAi or γ-secretase inhibitors reduced eRMS cell proliferation in vitro. Hey1 RNAi phenocopied Notch1 loss and permitted modest myogenic differentiation, while overexpression of an activated Notch moiety, ICN1, promoted eRMS cell proliferation and rescued pharmacologic inhibition. Finally, Notch inhibition using RNAi or γ-secretase inhibitors blocked tumorigenesis in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Aberrant Notch-Hey1 signaling contributes to eRMS by impeding differentiation and promoting proliferation. The efficacy of Notch pathway inhibition in vivo supports the development of Notch-Hey1 axis inhibitors in the treatment of eRMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C Belyea
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
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44
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Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a morphologically and clinically heterogeneous group of malignant tumors that resemble developing skeletal muscle and is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma in children and adolescents. The most prominent sites involve head and neck structures (~40%), genito-urinary track (~25%), and extremities (~20%). Embryonal (ERMS) and alveolar (ARMS) are the two major RMS subtypes that are distinct in their morphology and genetic make-up. The prognosis for this cancer depends strongly on tumor size, location, staging, and child's age. In general, ERMS has a more favorable outcome, whereas the mortality rate remains high in patients with ARMS, because of its aggressive and metastatic nature. Over the past two decades, researchers have made concerted efforts to delineate genetic and epigenetic changes associated with RMS pathogenesis. These molecular signatures have presented golden opportunities to design targeted therapies for treating this aggressive cancer. This article highlights recent advances in understanding the molecular pathogenesis of RMS, and addresses promising research areas for further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Wang
- Department of Oral Biology and Center for Molecular Biology of Oral Diseases, University of Illinois at Chicago, 801 South Paulina Street, RM530CB, m/c 860, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
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Rengaswamy V, Kontny U, Rössler J. New approaches for pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma drug discovery: targeting combinatorial signaling. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2011; 6:1103-25. [PMID: 22646865 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2011.611498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are rare heterogeneous pediatric tumors that are treated by surgery, chemotherapy and irradiation. New therapeutic approaches are needed, especially in the advanced stages to target the pro-oncogenic signals. Exploring the molecular interactions of the regulatory signals and their roles in the developmental aspects of different subtypes of RMS is essential to identify potential targets and develop new therapeutic drugs. AREAS COVERED Insights into different drug discovery approaches are discussed with specific emphasis on gene expression profiling, fusion protein, role of small interfering RNA (siRNA)- and microRNA (miRNA)-based discovery approaches, targeting cancer stem cells, and in vitro and in vivo model systems. Targeting some overexpressed signals along with the possibilities of combination therapy of validated drug targets is discussed. Additionally, methods to overcome the limitations of discovery-based research are briefly discussed. EXPERT OPINION Due to drug resistance, ineffective therapy in advanced stages and relapse, there is a demand to explore new drug targets and discovery approaches. Implementing miRNA-based profiling would reveal the extent of miR-based regulation, various biomarkers and potential targets in RMS. A suitable combination of innovative techniques and the use of model systems might assist the identification and validation of novel targets and drug discovery methods. Combining specific drugs along with type-specific target inhibition of overexpressed mRNAs through siRNA approaches would enable the development of personalized therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkatesh Rengaswamy
- University Hospital Freiburg, Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Clinic IV: Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Mathildenstr. 1, 79106 Freiburg , Germany +49 761 270 43000 ; +49 761 270 45180 ;
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46
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Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), an aggressive malignant neoplasm that shows features of skeletal muscle, is the most common soft tissue tumor of childhood. In children, the major subtypes are embryonal and alveolar. Although localized disease responds to a multimodal treatment, the prognosis for patients with high-risk features and metastasis remains dismal. Several in vivo models of RMS have been developed in mouse, human xenografts, zebrafish, and Drosophila to better understand the underlying mechanisms governing malignancy. The findings so far have indicated the potential role of skeletal muscle precursor cells in malignant transformation. To better understand histogenesis and different aspects of tumorigenesis in RMS, we have previously developed a robust zebrafish model of kRAS-induced RMS, which shares morphologic and immunophenotypic features with the human counterpart. Cross-species mircroarray comparisons confirm that conserved genetic pathways drive RMS growth. The ease for ex vivo manipulation allows the development of different transgenic and co-injection strategies to induce tumor formation in zebrafish. In contrast to other vertebrate model systems, the tumor onset in zebrafish is short, allowing for efficient study of different tumor processes including tumor growth, self-renewal, and maintenance.
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47
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Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are very heterogeneous tumors that can be divided into three major groups: alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, and pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma. Concerted efforts over the past a decade have led to an understanding of the genetic underpinnings of many human tumors through genetically engineered models; however, left largely behind in this effort have been rare tumors with poorly understood chromosomal abnormalities including the vast majority of RMS lacking a pathognomonic translocation, i.e. fusion-negative RMS. In this chapter, we review the characteristic genetic abnormalities associated with human RMS and the genetically engineered animal models for these fusion-negative RMS. We explore not only how specific combinations of mutations and cell of origin give rise to different histologically and biologically distinguishable pediatric and adult RMS subtypes, but we also examine how tumor cell phenotype (and tumor "stem" cell phenotype) can vary markedly from the cell of origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Kikuchi
- Department of Pediatrics, Pape' Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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48
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Saab R, Spunt SL, Skapek SX. Myogenesis and rhabdomyosarcoma the Jekyll and Hyde of skeletal muscle. Curr Top Dev Biol 2011; 94:197-234. [PMID: 21295688 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-380916-2.00007-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma, a neoplasm composed of skeletal myoblast-like cells, represents the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. The application of intensive chemotherapeutics and refined surgical and radiation therapy approaches have improved survival for children with localized disease over the past 3 decades; however, these approaches have not improved the dismal outcome for children with metastatic and recurrent rhabdomyosarcoma. Elegant studies have defined the molecular mechanisms driving skeletal muscle lineage commitment and differentiation, and the machinery that couples differentiation with irreversible cell proliferation arrest. Further, detailed molecular analyses indicate that rhabdomyosarcoma cells have lost the capacity to fully differentiate when challenged to do so in experimental models. We review the intersection of normal skeletal muscle developmental biology and the molecular genetic defects in rhabdomyosarcoma with the underlying premise that understanding how the differentiation process has gone awry will lead to new treatment strategies aimed at promoting myogenic differentiation and concomitant cell cycle arrest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raya Saab
- Children's Cancer Center of Lebanon, Department of Pediatrics, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
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Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcomas are soft tissue sarcomas of mesenchymal origin. Unlike rhabdomyosarcomas observed in paediatric patients which typically respond well to chemotherapeutic treatment, adults generally present with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcomas that are typically associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, understanding the molecular biology that gives rise to pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcomas is critical. In this issue of The Journal of Pathology, Doyle and colleagues have generated elegant tissue-specific Cre/loxP-dependent mouse models that mimic pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma development in humans. In this report, the authors employed KRas(G12V)-expressing mouse models that concomitantly either express mutant p53 (p53R172H) or have deleted the p53 gene. Mice that express mutant p53 have decreased survival with development of aggressive metastases as compared to mice that have simply lost wild-type p53. The data presented herein provide the first in vivo evidence that in rhabdomyosarcomas, expression of mutant p53 results in a more aggressive p53R172H-dependent gain-of-function phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Post
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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50
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Singh S, Vinson C, Gurley CM, Nolen GT, Beggs ML, Nagarajan R, Wagner EF, Parham DM, Peterson CA. Impaired Wnt signaling in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cells from p53/c-fos double mutant mice. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2010; 177:2055-66. [PMID: 20829439 DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.091195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a primitive neoplasm with a poorly understood etiology that exhibits features of fetal skeletal muscle. It represents the most frequent malignant soft tissue sarcoma affecting the pediatric population and is often treated very aggressively. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma constitute the two major subtypes and exhibit different molecular features. We investigated one potential molecular basis for ERMS by using cells derived from tumors produced in p53(-/-)/c-fos(-/-) mice. This model closely recapitulates the timing, location, molecular markers, and histology seen in human ERMS. A combined chromatin immunoprecipitation/promoter microarray approach was used to identify promoters bound by the c-Jun-containing AP-1 complex in the tumor-derived cells that lacked c-Fos. Identification of the Wnt2 gene and its overexpression in ERMS cells was confirmed in human rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines and prompted further analysis of the Wnt signaling pathway. Contrary to our expectations, the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was down-regulated in ERMS cells compared with normal myoblasts, and activating this pathway promoted myogenic differentiation. Furthermore, the identification of both survivin and sfrp2 through promoter and expression analyses suggested that increased resistance to apoptosis was associated with the inhibition of the Wnt signaling pathway. These results suggest that altered AP-1 activity that leads to the down-regulation of the Wnt pathway may contribute to the inhibition of myogenic differentiation and resistance to apoptosis in ERMS cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalini Singh
- Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
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