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Ito T. Molecular pathology of small cell lung cancer: Overview from studies on neuroendocrine differentiation regulated by ASCL1 and Notch signaling. Pathol Int 2024; 74:239-251. [PMID: 38607250 DOI: 10.1111/pin.13426] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Pulmonary neuroendocrine (NE) cells are rare airway epithelial cells. The balance between Achaete-scute complex homolog 1 (ASCL1) and hairy and enhancer of split 1, one of the target molecules of the Notch signaling pathway, is crucial for NE differentiation. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive lung tumor, characterized by rapid cell proliferation, a high metastatic potential, and the acquisition of resistance to treatment. The subtypes of SCLC are defined by the expression status of NE cell-lineage transcription factors, such as ASCL1, which roles are supported by SRY-box 2, insulinoma-associated protein 1, NK2 homeobox 1, and wingless-related integration site signaling. This network reinforces NE differentiation and may induce the characteristic morphology and chemosensitivity of SCLC. Notch signaling mediates cell-fate decisions, resulting in an NE to non-NE fate switch. The suppression of NE differentiation may change the histological type of SCLC to a non-SCLC morphology. In SCLC with NE differentiation, Notch signaling is typically inactive and genetically or epigenetically regulated. However, Notch signaling may be activated after chemotherapy, and, in concert with Yes-associated protein signaling and RE1-silencing transcription factor, suppresses NE differentiation, producing intratumor heterogeneity and chemoresistance. Accumulated information on the molecular mechanisms of SCLC will contribute to further advances in the control of this recalcitrant cancer.
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Grants
- 20H03691 Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan
- 18K19489 Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan
- 16590318 Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan
- 25460439 Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan
- Smoking Research Foundation, Japan
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaaki Ito
- Department of Medical Technology, Kumamoto Health Science University Faculty of Health Sciences, Kumamoto, Japan
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto, Japan
- Department of Brain Morphogenesis, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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2
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D'Antona S, Porro D, Gallivanone F, Bertoli G. Characterization of cell cycle, inflammation, and oxidative stress signaling role in non-communicable diseases: Insights into genetic variants, microRNAs and pathways. Comput Biol Med 2024; 174:108346. [PMID: 38581999 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) significantly impact global health, contributing to over 70% of premature deaths, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). These diseases have complex and multifactorial origins, involving genetic, epigenetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. While Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) is widely recognized as a valuable tool for identifying variants associated with complex phenotypes; the multifactorial nature of NCDs necessitates a more comprehensive exploration, encompassing not only the genetic but also the epigenetic aspect. For this purpose, we employed a bioinformatics-multiomics approach to examine the genetic and epigenetic characteristics of NCDs (i.e. colorectal cancer, coronary atherosclerosis, squamous cell lung cancer, psoriasis, type 2 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis), aiming to identify novel biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. Leveraging GWAS summary statistics, we pinpointed Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) independently associated with each NCD. Subsequently, we identified genes linked to cell cycle, inflammation and oxidative stress mechanisms, revealing shared genes across multiple diseases, suggesting common functional pathways. From an epigenetic perspective, we identified microRNAs (miRNAs) with regulatory functions targeting these genes of interest. Our findings underscore critical genetic pathways implicated in these diseases. In colorectal cancer, the dysregulation of the "Cytokine Signaling in Immune System" pathway, involving LAMA5 and SMAD7, regulated by Hsa-miR-21-5p, Hsa-miR-103a-3p, and Hsa-miR-195-5p, emerged as pivotal. In coronary atherosclerosis, the pathway associated with "binding of TCF/LEF:CTNNB1 to target gene promoters" displayed noteworthy implications, with the MYC factor controlled by Hsa-miR-16-5p as a potential regulatory factor. Squamous cell lung carcinoma analysis revealed significant pathways such as "PTK6 promotes HIF1A stabilization," regulated by Hsa-let-7b-5p. In psoriasis, the "Endosomal/Vacuolar pathway," involving HLA-C and Hsa-miR-148a-3p and Hsa-miR-148b-3p, was identified as crucial. Type 2 Diabetes implicated the "Regulation of TP53 Expression" pathway, controlled by Hsa-miR-106a-5p and Hsa-miR-106b-5p. In conclusion, our study elucidates the genetic framework and molecular mechanisms underlying NCDs, offering crucial insights into potential genetic/epigenetic biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. The specificity of pathways and related miRNAs in different pathologies highlights promising candidates for further clinical validation, with the potential to advance personalized treatments and alleviate the global burden of NCDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore D'Antona
- Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council, Via F.lli Cervi 93, 20054, Milan, Italy
| | - Danilo Porro
- Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council, Via F.lli Cervi 93, 20054, Milan, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesca Gallivanone
- Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council, Via F.lli Cervi 93, 20054, Milan, Italy
| | - Gloria Bertoli
- Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council, Via F.lli Cervi 93, 20054, Milan, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, Italy.
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3
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Biswas S, Kang K, Ng KP, Radivoyevitch T, Schalper K, Zhang H, Lindner DJ, Thomas A, MacPherson D, Gastman B, Schrump DS, Wong KK, Velcheti V, Saunthararajah Y. Neuroendocrine lineage commitment of small cell lung cancers can be leveraged into p53-independent non-cytotoxic therapy. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113016. [PMID: 37597186 PMCID: PMC10528072 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113016] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Small cell lung cancers (SCLCs) rapidly resist cytotoxic chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatments. New, non-cross-resistant therapies are thus needed. SCLC cells are committed into neuroendocrine lineage then maturation arrested. Implicating DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in the maturation arrests, we find (1) the repression mark methylated CpG, written by DNMT1, is retained at suppressed neuroendocrine-lineage genes, even as other repression marks are erased; (2) DNMT1 is recurrently amplified, whereas Ten-Eleven-Translocation 2 (TET2), which functionally opposes DNMT1, is deleted; (3) DNMT1 is recruited into neuroendocrine-lineage master transcription factor (ASCL1, NEUROD1) hubs in SCLC cells; and (4) DNMT1 knockdown activated ASCL1-target genes and released SCLC cell-cycling exits by terminal lineage maturation, which are cycling exits that do not require the p53/apoptosis pathway used by cytotoxic chemotherapy. Inhibiting DNMT1/corepressors with clinical compounds accordingly extended survival of mice with chemorefractory and ICI-refractory, p53-null, disseminated SCLC. Lineage commitment of SCLC cells can hence be leveraged into non-cytotoxic therapy able to treat chemo/ICI-refractory SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudipta Biswas
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Kai Kang
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Kwok Peng Ng
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Tomas Radivoyevitch
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Kurt Schalper
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Hua Zhang
- Thoracic Oncology Program, Langone-Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Daniel J Lindner
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Anish Thomas
- Experimental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | - Brian Gastman
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - David S Schrump
- Thoracic Epigenetics Section, Thoracic Surgery Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kwok-Kin Wong
- Thoracic Oncology Program, Langone-Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Vamsidhar Velcheti
- Thoracic Oncology Program, Langone-Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - Yogen Saunthararajah
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Department of Hematology and Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
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4
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Martin-Vega A, Earnest S, Augustyn A, Wichaidit C, Gazdar A, Girard L, Peyton M, Kollipara RK, Minna JD, Johnson JE, Cobb MH. ASCL1-ERK1/2 Axis: ASCL1 restrains ERK1/2 via the dual specificity phosphatase DUSP6 to promote survival of a subset of neuroendocrine lung cancers. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.15.545148. [PMID: 37398419 PMCID: PMC10312738 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.15.545148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factor achaete-scute complex homolog 1 (ASCL1) is a lineage oncogene that is central for the growth and survival of small cell lung cancers (SCLC) and neuroendocrine non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC-NE) that express it. Targeting ASCL1, or its downstream pathways, remains a challenge. However, a potential clue to overcoming this challenage has been information that SCLC and NSCLC-NE that express ASCL1 exhibit extremely low ERK1/2 activity, and efforts to increase ERK1/2 activity lead to inhibition of SCLC growth and surival. Of course, this is in dramatic contrast to the majority of NSCLCs where high activity of the ERK pathway plays a major role in cancer pathogenesis. A major knowledge gap is defining the mechanism(s) underlying the low ERK1/2 activity in SCLC, determining if ERK1/2 activity and ASCL1 function are inter-related, and if manipulating ERK1/2 activity provides a new therapeutic strategy for SCLC. We first found that expression of ERK signaling and ASCL1 have an inverse relationship in NE lung cancers: knocking down ASCL1 in SCLCs and NE-NSCLCs increased active ERK1/2, while inhibition of residual SCLC/NSCLC-NE ERK1/2 activity with a MEK inhibitor increased ASCL1 expression. To determine the effects of ERK activity on expression of other genes, we obtained RNA-seq from ASCL1-expressing lung tumor cells treated with an ERK pathway MEK inhibitor and identified down-regulated genes (such as SPRY4, ETV5, DUSP6, SPRED1) that potentially could influence SCLC/NSCLC-NE tumor cell survival. This led us to discover that genes regulated by MEK inhibition suppress ERK activation and CHIP-seq demonstrated these are bound by ASCL1. In addition, SPRY4, DUSP6, SPRED1 are known suppressors of the ERK1/2 pathway, while ETV5 regulates DUSP6. Survival of NE lung tumors was inhibited by activation of ERK1/2 and a subset of ASCL1-high NE lung tumors expressed DUSP6. Because the dual specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6) is an ERK1/2-selective phosphatase that inactivates these kinases and has a pharmacologic inhibitor, we focused mechanistic studies on DUSP6. These studies showed: Inhibition of DUSP6 increased active ERK1/2, which accumulated in the nucleus; pharmacologic and genetic inhibition of DUSP6 affected proliferation and survival of ASCL1-high NE lung cancers; and that knockout of DUSP6 "cured" some SCLCs while in others resistance rapidly developed indicating a bypass mechanism was activated. Thus, our findings fill this knowledge gap and indicate that combined expression of ASCL1, DUSP6 and low phospho-ERK1/2 identify some neuroendocrine lung cancers for which DUSP6 may be a therapeutic target.
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5
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Zhang H, Yang Y, Li X, Yuan X, Chu Q. Targeting the Notch signaling pathway and the Notch ligand, DLL3, in small cell lung cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 159:114248. [PMID: 36645960 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive and poorly differentiated cancer with high-grade neuroendocrine (NE) features, accounting for approximately 15 % of all lung cancers. For decades, chemotherapy and radiotherapy have predominated the treatment strategy for SCLC, but relapses ensue quickly and result in poor survival of patients. Immunotherapy has brought novel insights, yet the efficacy is still restricted to a limited population with SCLC. Notch signaling is identified to play a key role in the initiation and development of SCLC, and the Notch ligand, Delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3) is found broadly and specifically expressed in SCLC cells. Thus, Notch signaling is under active exploration as a potential therapeutic target in SCLC. Herein, we summarized and updated the functional relevance of Notch signaling in SCLC, discussed Notch signaling-targeted therapy for SCLC and the correspondent preclinical and clinical trials, and investigated the promising synergy effects of Notch signaling targeted therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China.
| | - Yunkai Yang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China.
| | - Xuchang Li
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China.
| | - Xun Yuan
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China.
| | - Qian Chu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China.
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6
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Transcriptional Profiling Reveals Mesenchymal Subtypes of Small Cell Lung Cancer with Activation of the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Worse Clinical Outcomes. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225600. [PMID: 36428693 PMCID: PMC9688413 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
While molecular subtypes of small cell lung cancers (SCLC) based on neuroendocrine (NE) and non-NE transcriptional regulators have been established, the association between these molecular subtypes and recently recognized SCLC-inflamed (SCLC-I) tumors is less understood. In this study, we used gene expression profiles of SCLC primary tumors and cell lines to discover and characterize SCLC-M (mesenchymal) tumors distinct from SCLC-I tumors for molecular features, clinical outcomes, and cross-species developmental trajectories. SCLC-M tumors show elevated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) and YAP1 activity but a low level of anticancer immune activity and worse clinical outcomes than SCLC-I tumors. The prevalence of SCLC-M tumors was 3.2-7.4% in primary SCLC cohorts, which was further confirmed by immunohistochemistry in an independent cohort. Deconvoluted gene expression of tumor epithelial cells showed that EMT and increased immune function are tumor-intrinsic characteristics of SCLC-M and SCLC-I subtypes, respectively. Cross-species analysis revealed that human primary SCLC tumors recapitulate the NE-to-non-NE progression murine model providing insight into the developmental relationships among SCLC subtypes, e.g., early NE (SCLC-A and -N)- vs. late non-NE tumors (SCLC-M and -P). Newly identified SCLC-M tumors are biologically and clinically distinct from SCLC-I tumors which should be taken into account for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
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7
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Kelenis DP, Rodarte KE, Kollipara RK, Pozo K, Choudhuri SP, Spainhower KB, Wait SJ, Stastny V, Oliver TG, Johnson JE. Inhibition of Karyopherin β1-Mediated Nuclear Import Disrupts Oncogenic Lineage-Defining Transcription Factor Activity in Small Cell Lung Cancer. Cancer Res 2022; 82:3058-3073. [PMID: 35748745 PMCID: PMC9444950 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-3713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Genomic studies support the classification of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) into subtypes based on the expression of lineage-defining transcription factors ASCL1 and NEUROD1, which together are expressed in ∼86% of SCLC. ASCL1 and NEUROD1 activate SCLC oncogene expression, drive distinct transcriptional programs, and maintain the in vitro growth and oncogenic properties of ASCL1 or NEUROD1-expressing SCLC. ASCL1 is also required for tumor formation in SCLC mouse models. A strategy to inhibit the activity of these oncogenic drivers may therefore provide both a targeted therapy for the predominant SCLC subtypes and a tool to investigate the underlying lineage plasticity of established SCLC tumors. However, there are no known agents that inhibit ASCL1 or NEUROD1 function. In this study, we identify a novel strategy to pharmacologically target ASCL1 and NEUROD1 activity in SCLC by exploiting the nuclear localization required for the function of these transcription factors. Karyopherin β1 (KPNB1) was identified as a nuclear import receptor for both ASCL1 and NEUROD1 in SCLC, and inhibition of KPNB1 led to impaired ASCL1 and NEUROD1 nuclear accumulation and transcriptional activity. Pharmacologic targeting of KPNB1 preferentially disrupted the growth of ASCL1+ and NEUROD1+ SCLC cells in vitro and suppressed ASCL1+ tumor growth in vivo, an effect mediated by a combination of impaired ASCL1 downstream target expression, cell-cycle activity, and proteostasis. These findings broaden the support for targeting nuclear transport as an anticancer therapeutic strategy and have implications for targeting lineage-transcription factors in tumors beyond SCLC. SIGNIFICANCE The identification of KPNB1 as a nuclear import receptor for lineage-defining transcription factors in SCLC reveals a viable therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Demetra P. Kelenis
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Kathia E. Rodarte
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Rahul K. Kollipara
- McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Karine Pozo
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA,Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | | | - Kyle B. Spainhower
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Sarah J. Wait
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Victor Stastny
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Trudy G. Oliver
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Jane E. Johnson
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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Miyakawa K, Miyashita N, Horie M, Terasaki Y, Tanaka H, Urushiyama H, Fukuda K, Okabe Y, Ishii T, Kuwahara N, Suzuki HI, Nagase T, Saito A. ASCL1 regulates super-enhancer-associated miRNAs to define molecular subtypes of small cell lung cancer. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:3932-3946. [PMID: 35789143 PMCID: PMC9633298 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive neuroendocrine tumor with dismal prognosis. Recently, molecular subtypes of SCLC have been defined by the expression status of ASCL1, NEUROD1, YAP1, and POU2F3 transcription regulators. ASCL1 is essential for neuroendocrine differentiation and is expressed in the majority of SCLC. Although previous studies investigated ASCL1 target genes in SCLC cells, ASCL1‐mediated regulation of miRNAs and its relationship to molecular subtypes remain poorly explored. Here, we performed genome‐wide profiling of chromatin modifications (H3K27me3, H3K4me3, and H3K27ac) by CUT&Tag assay and ASCL1 knockdown followed by RNA sequencing and miRNA array analyses in SCLC cells. ASCL1 could preferentially regulate genes associated with super‐enhancers (SEs) defined by enrichment of H3K27ac marking. Moreover, ASCL1 positively regulated several SE‐associated miRNAs, such as miR‐7, miR‐375, miR‐200b‐3p, and miR‐429, leading to repression of their targets, whereas ASCL1 suppressed miR‐455‐3p, an abundant miRNA in other molecular subtypes. We further elucidated unique patterns of SE‐associated miRNAs in different SCLC molecular subtypes, highlighting subtype‐specific miRNA networks with functional relevance. Notably, we found apparent de‐repression of common target genes of different miRNAs following ASCL1 knockdown, suggesting combinatorial action of multiple miRNAs underlying molecular heterogeneity of SCLC (e.g., co‐targeting of YAP1 by miR‐9 and miR‐375). Our comprehensive analyses provide novel insights into SCLC pathogenesis and a clue to understanding subtype‐dependent phenotypic differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuko Miyakawa
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoya Miyashita
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masafumi Horie
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Terasaki
- Department of Analytic Human Pathology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidenori Tanaka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Urushiyama
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kensuke Fukuda
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yugo Okabe
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Ishii
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Division for Health Service Promotion, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naomi Kuwahara
- Department of Analytic Human Pathology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi I Suzuki
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.,Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE), Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takahide Nagase
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Saito
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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9
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Jin Y, Zhao Q, Zhu W, Feng Y, Xiao T, Zhang P, Jiang L, Hou Y, Guo C, Huang H, Chen Y, Tong X, Cao J, Li F, Zhu X, Qin J, Gao D, Liu XY, Zhang H, Chen L, Thomas RK, Wong KK, Zhang L, Wang Y, Hu L, Ji H. Identification of TAZ as the essential molecular switch in orchestrating SCLC phenotypic transition and metastasis. Natl Sci Rev 2022; 9:nwab232. [PMID: 35967587 PMCID: PMC9365451 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwab232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a recalcitrant cancer characterized by high metastasis. However, the exact cell type contributing to metastasis remains elusive. Using a Rb1 L/L /Trp53 L/L mouse model, we identify the NCAMhiCD44lo/- subpopulation as the SCLC metastasizing cell (SMC), which is progressively transitioned from the non-metastasizing NCAMloCD44hi cell (non-SMC). Integrative chromatin accessibility and gene expression profiling studies reveal the important role of the SWI/SNF complex, and knockout of its central component, Brg1, significantly inhibits such phenotypic transition and metastasis. Mechanistically, TAZ is silenced by the SWI/SNF complex during SCLC malignant progression, and its knockdown promotes SMC transition and metastasis. Importantly, ectopic TAZ expression reversely drives SMC-to-non-SMC transition and alleviates metastasis. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analyses identify SMC as the dominant subpopulation in human SCLC metastasis, and immunostaining data show a positive correlation between TAZ and patient prognosis. These data uncover high SCLC plasticity and identify TAZ as the key molecular switch in orchestrating SCLC phenotypic transition and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujuan Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Qiqi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Weikang Zhu
- Center for Excellence in Mathematical Sciences, National Center for Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Key Laboratory of Management, Decision and Information System, Hua Loo-Keng Center for Mathematical Sciences, Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yan Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Tian Xiao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine of Tumor, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shenzhen University Health Sciences Center, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Liyan Jiang
- Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yingyong Hou
- Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Chenchen Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Hsinyi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yabin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xinyuan Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jiayu Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Fei Li
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xueliang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Jun Qin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Dong Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xin-Yuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Luonan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Roman K Thomas
- Department of Translational Genomics, Center of Integrated Oncology Cologne-Bonn, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne 50931, Germany
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne 50937, Germany
| | - Kwok-Kin Wong
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Lei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Center for Excellence in Mathematical Sciences, National Center for Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Key Laboratory of Management, Decision and Information System, Hua Loo-Keng Center for Mathematical Sciences, Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Liang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Hongbin Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
- School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
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10
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Batchu S, Hakim A, Henry OS, Madzo J, Atabek U, Spitz FR, Hong YK. Transcriptome-guided resolution of tumor microenvironment interactions in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma subtypes. J Endocrinol Invest 2022; 45:989-998. [PMID: 35088383 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-021-01729-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PCPG) are rare catecholamine-secreting endocrine tumors deriving from chromaffin cells of the embryonic neural crest. Although distinct molecular PCPG subtypes have been elucidated, certain characteristics of these tumors have yet to be fully examined, namely the tumor microenvironment (TME). To further understand tumor-stromal interactions in PCPG subtypes, the present study deconvoluted bulk tumor gene expression to examine ligand-receptor interactions. METHODS RNA-sequencing data primary solid PCPG tumors were derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Tumor purity was estimated using two robust algorithms. The tumor purity estimates and bulk tumor expression values allowed for non-negative linear regression to predict the average expression of each gene in the stromal and tumor compartments for each PCPG molecular subtype. The predicted expression values were then used in conjunction with a previously curated ligand-receptor database and scoring system to evaluate top ligand-receptor interactions. RESULTS Across all PCPG subtypes compared to normal samples, tumor-to-tumor signaling between bone morphogenic proteins 7 (BMP7) and 15 (BMP15) and cognate receptors ACVR2B and BMPR1B was increased. In addition, tumor-to-stroma signaling was enriched for interactions between predicted tumor-originating delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3) and predicted stromal NOTCH receptors. Stroma-to-tumor signaling was enriched for interactions between ephrins A1 and A4 with ephrin receptors EphA5, EphA7, and EphA8. Pseudohypoxia subtype tumors displayed increased predicted stromal expression of genes related to immune-exhausted T-cell response, including those for inhibitory receptors HAVCR2 and CTLA4. CONCLUSION The current exploratory study predicted stromal and tumor through compartmental deconvolution and yielded previously unrecognized interactions and putative biomarkers in PCPG.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Batchu
- Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, 401 Broadway, Camden, NJ, 08103, USA.
| | - A Hakim
- Department of Surgery, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - O S Henry
- Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, 401 Broadway, Camden, NJ, 08103, USA
| | - J Madzo
- Coriell Institute, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - U Atabek
- Department of Surgery, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - F R Spitz
- Department of Surgery, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Y K Hong
- Department of Surgery, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, USA
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11
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Wang WZ, Shulman A, Amann JM, Carbone DP, Tsichlis PN. Small cell lung cancer: Subtypes and therapeutic implications. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:543-554. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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12
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Ito T, Kudoh S, Fujino K, Sanada M, Tenjin Y, Saito H, Nakaishi-Fukuchi Y, Kameyama H, Ichimura T, Udaka N, Kudo N, Matsuo A, Sato Y. Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cells and Small Cell Lung Carcinoma: Immunohistochemical Study Focusing on Mechanisms of Neuroendocrine Differentiation. Acta Histochem Cytochem 2022; 55:75-83. [PMID: 35821751 PMCID: PMC9253501 DOI: 10.1267/ahc.22-00031] [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: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation has been histochemically detected in normal and cancer tissues and cells. Immunohistochemical analyses have provided a more detailed understanding of NE biology and pathology. Pulmonary NE cells are a rare lung epithelial type, and small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCLC) is a high-grade NE tumor. Pulmonary NE and SCLC cells share common mechanisms for NE differentiation. Neural or NE cell lineage-specific transcription factors, such as achaete-scute homologue 1 (Ascl1) and insulinoma-associated protein 1 (INSM1), are crucial for the development of pulmonary NE cells, and NE differentiation is influenced by the balance between Ascl1 and the suppressive neural transcription factor, hairy-enhancer of split 1, a representative target molecule of the Notch signaling pathway. In this review, we discuss the importance of Ascl1 and INSM1 in identifying pulmonary NE and SCLC cells and introduce Ascl1-related molecules detected by comparative RNA-sequence analyses. The molecular classification of SCLC based on the expression of lineage-specific transcription or co-transcription factors, including ASCL1, NEUROD1, POU2F3, and YAP1, was recently proposed. We attempted to characterize these 4 SCLC subtypes using integrated immunohistochemical studies, which will provide insights into the molecular characteristics of these subtypes and clarify the inter- and intratumor heterogeneities of SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaaki Ito
- Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Science Kumamoto Health Science University
| | - Shinji Kudoh
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences
| | - Kosuke Fujino
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences
| | - Mune Sanada
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences
| | - Yuki Tenjin
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences
| | - Haruki Saito
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences
| | - Yuko Nakaishi-Fukuchi
- Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Science Kumamoto Health Science University
| | - Hiroki Kameyama
- Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Science Kumamoto Health Science University
| | | | - Naoko Udaka
- Division of Surgical Pathology, Yokohama City University Hospital
| | - Noritaka Kudo
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences
| | - Akira Matsuo
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences
| | - Younosuke Sato
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences
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13
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Drapkin BJ, Rudin CM. Advances in Small-Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) Translational Research. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2021; 11:cshperspect.a038240. [PMID: 32513672 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a038240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Over the past several years, we have witnessed a resurgence of interest in the biology and therapeutic vulnerabilities of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). This has been driven in part through the development of a more extensive array of representative models of disease, including a diverse variety of genetically engineered mouse models and human tumor xenografts. Herein, we review recent progress in SCLC model development, and consider some of the particularly active avenues of translational research in SCLC, including interrogation of intratumoral heterogeneity, insights into the cell of origin and oncogenic drivers, mechanisms of chemoresistance, and new therapeutic opportunities including biomarker-directed targeted therapies and immunotherapies. Whereas SCLC remains a highly lethal disease, these new avenues of translational research, bringing together mechanism-based preclinical and clinical research, offer new hope for patients with SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J Drapkin
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Charles M Rudin
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
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14
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Uccella S, La Rosa S, Metovic J, Marchiori D, Scoazec JY, Volante M, Mete O, Papotti M. Genomics of High-Grade Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Well-Differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumor with High-Grade Features (G3 NET) and Neuroendocrine Carcinomas (NEC) of Various Anatomic Sites. Endocr Pathol 2021; 32:192-210. [PMID: 33433884 DOI: 10.1007/s12022-020-09660-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
High-grade neuroendocrine neoplasms (HG-NENs) are clinically aggressive diseases, the classification of which has recently been redefined. They now include both poorly differentiated NENs (neuroendocrine carcinoma, NECs) and high proliferating well-differentiated NENs (called grade 3 neuroendocrine tumors, G3 NETs, in the digestive system). In the last decade, the "molecular revolution" that has affected all fields of medical oncology has also shed light in the understanding of HG NENs heterogeneity and has provided new diagnostic and therapeutic tools, useful in the management of these malignancies. Considering the kaleidoscopic aspects of HG NENs in various anatomical sites, this review systematically addresses the genomic landscape of such neoplasm throughout the more common thoracic and digestive locations, as well as it will consider other rare but not exceptional primary sites, including the skin, the head and neck, and the urogenital system. The revision of the available literature will then be oriented to understand the translational relevance of molecular data, by analyzing conceptual issues, clinicopathological correlations, and unmet needs in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Uccella
- Pathology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
| | - Stefano La Rosa
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jasna Metovic
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Deborah Marchiori
- Pathology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Jean-Yves Scoazec
- Department of Pathology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Paris, France
| | - Marco Volante
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Ozgur Mete
- Department of Pathology, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mauro Papotti
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
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15
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Metovic J, Barella M, Harari S, Pattini L, Albini A, Sonzogni A, Veronesi G, Papotti M, Pelosi G. Clinical implications of lung neuroendocrine neoplasm classification. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2020; 21:377-387. [PMID: 33306420 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2021.1862654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the lung (Lung NENs) encompass NE tumors (NETs), which are in turn split into typical and atypical carcinoids, and NE carcinomas (NECs), which group together small-cell carcinoma and large-cell NE carcinoma. This classification is the current basis for orienting the daily practice of these patients, with diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive inferences. AREAS COVERED The clinical implications of lung NEN classification are addressed according to three converging perspectives, which were dissected through an extensive literature overview: (1) how to put intratumor heterogeneity into the context of the current classification; (2) how to contextualize immunohistochemistry markers to improve diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy prediction; and (3) how to use immuno-oncology strategies for life-threatening NECs, which still account for 90% or more of lung NENs. EXPERT OPINION We provide practical insights to account for intratumor heterogeneity, practice the choice of immunohistochemistry markers, and emphasize once again the added value of immuno-oncology in the setting of personalized medicine of lung NENs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasna Metovic
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Marco Barella
- Inter-Hospital Pathology Division, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Sergio Harari
- Department of Medical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Division of Pneumology, San Giuseppe Hospital, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Linda Pattini
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico Di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Adriana Albini
- Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Angiogenesis, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelica Sonzogni
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Veronesi
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, San Raffaele Scientific Institute - IRCCS, Milan, Italy.,School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Papotti
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pelosi
- Inter-Hospital Pathology Division, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy.,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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16
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Tenjin Y, Matsuura K, Kudoh S, Usuki S, Yamada T, Matsuo A, Sato Y, Saito H, Fujino K, Wakimoto J, Ichimura T, Kohrogi H, Sakagami T, Niwa H, Ito T. Distinct transcriptional programs of SOX2 in different types of small cell lung cancers. J Transl Med 2020; 100:1575-1588. [PMID: 32801334 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-020-00479-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
SOX2 is recognized as an oncogene in human small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which is an aggressive neuroendocrine (NE) tumor. However, the role of SOX2 in SCLC is not completely understood, and strategies to selectively target SOX2 in SCLC cells remain elusive. Here, we show, using next-generation sequencing, that SOX2 expressed in the ASCL1-high SCLC (SCLC-A) subtype cell line is dependent on ASCL1, which is a lineage-specific transcriptional factor, and is involved in NE differentiation and tumorigenesis. ASCL1 recruits SOX2, which promotes INSM1 and WNT11 expression. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that SCLC tissue samples expressed SOX2, ASCL1, and INSM1 in 18 out of the 30 cases (60%). Contrary to the ASCL1-SOX2 signaling axis controlling SCLC biology in the SCLC-A subtype, SOX2 targets distinct genes such as those related to the Hippo pathway in the ASCL1-negative, YAP1-high SCLC (SCLC-Y) subtype. Although SOX2 knockdown experiments suppressed NE differentiation and cell proliferation in the SCLC-A subtype, they did not sufficiently impair the growth of the SCLC-Y subtype cell lines in vitro and ex vivo. The present results support the importance of the ASCL1-SOX2 axis as a main subtype of SCLC, and suggest the therapeutic potential of targeting the ASCL1-SOX2 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Tenjin
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Kumi Matsuura
- Department of Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology, Kumamoto University, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Shinji Kudoh
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Shingo Usuki
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center (LILA), Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Yamada
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.,Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Akira Matsuo
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Younosuke Sato
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Haruki Saito
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Kosuke Fujino
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.,Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Joeji Wakimoto
- Division of Pathology, Minami Kyushu National Hospital, Kagoshima, 899-5293, Japan
| | - Takaya Ichimura
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, 350-0495, Japan
| | - Hirotsugu Kohrogi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Omuta Tenryo Hospital, Tenryo 1-100, Omuta, Fukuoka, 836-8556, Japan
| | - Takuro Sakagami
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Niwa
- Department of Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology, Kumamoto University, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Takaaki Ito
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.
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17
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Wei J, Liu L, Guo Y, Zhang J, Wang X, Dong J, Xing P, Ying J, Yang L, Li J. Clinicopathological features and prognostic implications of ASCL1 expression in surgically resected small cell lung cancer. Thorac Cancer 2020; 12:40-47. [PMID: 33191657 PMCID: PMC7779202 DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.13705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the most aggressive lung cancers. Treatment of SCLC has remained unchanged during the past decades. Preclinical studies have revealed ASCL1 as a transcription regulator in the neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation and carcinogenesis of SCLC. However, there are few studies on correlation of ASCL1 expression and clinicopathological factors in resected SCLCs. Here, we aimed to analyze the ASCL1 expression of SCLC and investigate its associations with clinicopathological factors and survival. Methods A total of 247 surgically resected pure SCLC specimens were included in this retrospective study, all of which were processed using tissue microarrays for immunohistochemistry analysis of ASCL1. A total of 48 of 247 cases were tested by NanoString for mRNA expression analysis on 50 SCLC related genes. Statistical analysis was performed using R studio and SPSS software. Results NE scores of 48 pure SCLC specimens were calculated by analyzing 50 preselected genes. A significant correlation between NE score with both ASCL1 mRNA expression and ASCL1 protein expression were observed. For the entire cohort of 247 patients, ASCL1 was highly expressed in 42.5% of pure SCLC patients according to IHC results. Significant differences were observed between ASCL1 high and low expression groups in variables including staging, lymph node metastasis, nerve invasion and overall survival. Conclusions In limited staged pure SCLC, ASCL1 expression was positively correlated with NE signature, pTNM stage, nerve invasion and OS. ASCL1 may therefore serve as a potential biomarker to predict prognosis as well as in the selection of patients for therapies targeting ASCL1‐regulated downstream molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiacong Wei
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Li Liu
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yiying Guo
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jinyao Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jiyan Dong
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Puyuan Xing
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jianming Ying
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Junling Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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18
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Miyashita N, Horie M, Mikami Y, Urushiyama H, Fukuda K, Miyakawa K, Matsuzaki H, Makita K, Morishita Y, Harada H, Backman M, Lindskog C, Brunnström H, Micke P, Nagase T, Saito A. ASCL1 promotes tumor progression through cell-autonomous signaling and immune modulation in a subset of lung adenocarcinoma. Cancer Lett 2020; 489:121-132. [PMID: 32534174 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The master regulator of neuroendocrine differentiation, achaete-scute complex homolog 1 (ASCL1) defines a subgroup of lung adenocarcinoma. However, the mechanistic role of ASCL1 in lung tumorigenesis and its relation to the immune microenvironment is principally unknown. Here, the immune landscape of ASCL1-positive lung adenocarcinomas was characterized by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, ASCL1 was transduced in mouse lung adenocarcinoma cell lines and comparative RNA-sequencing and secretome analyses were performed. The effects of ASCL1 on tumorigenesis were explored in an orthotopic syngeneic transplantation model. ASCL1-positive lung adenocarcinomas revealed lower infiltration of CD8+, CD4+, CD20+, and FOXP3+ lymphocytes and CD163+ macrophages indicating an immune desert phenotype. Ectopic ASCL1 upregulated cyclin transcript levels, stimulated cell proliferation, and enhanced tumor growth in mice. ASCL1 suppressed secretion of chemokines, including CCL20, CXCL2, CXCL10, and CXCL16, indicating effects on immune cell trafficking. In accordance with lower lymphocytes infiltration, ASCL1-positive lung adenocarcinomas demonstrated lower abundance of CXCR3-and CCR6-expressing cells. In conclusion, ASCL1 mediates its tumor-promoting effect not only through cell-autonomous signaling but also by modulating chemokine production and immune responses. These findings suggest that ASCL1-positive tumors represent a clinically relevant lung cancer entity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Miyashita
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Masafumi Horie
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan; Department of Cancer Genome Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yu Mikami
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan; Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Hirokazu Urushiyama
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Kensuke Fukuda
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Kazuko Miyakawa
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Matsuzaki
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Kosuke Makita
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan; Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Yasuyuki Morishita
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Harada
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Max Backman
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Lindskog
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hans Brunnström
- Lund University, Laboratory Medicine Region Skåne, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Pathology, SE-22185, Lund, Sweden
| | - Patrick Micke
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, SE-75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Takahide Nagase
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Akira Saito
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan; Division for Health Service Promotion, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
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19
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Ikematsu Y, Tanaka K, Toyokawa G, Ijichi K, Ando N, Yoneshima Y, Iwama E, Inoue H, Tagawa T, Nakanishi Y, Okamoto I. NEUROD1 is highly expressed in extensive-disease small cell lung cancer and promotes tumor cell migration. Lung Cancer 2020; 146:97-104. [PMID: 32526603 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2020.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) manifests high-grade neuroendocrine features, and the transcription factors ASCL1 and NEUROD1 play an important role in the survival and growth as well as contribute to the heterogeneity of SCLC cells. The relative abundance of ASCL1 and NEUROD1 mRNAs differs among human SCLC cell lines, but the expression pattern of the encoded proteins in clinical SCLC specimens and its relation to clinicopathologic characteristics of patients have been unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed tumor specimens collected from 95 previously untreated SCLC patients between June 1988 and December 2017 for ASCL1 and NEUROD1 expression by immunohistochemical staining. We also examined the effects of overexpression or depletion of NEUROD1 on cell migration in SCLC cell lines. RESULTS Overall survival did not differ significantly between SCLC patients with a high or low expression score for ASCL1 or NEUROD1 in their tumor samples. The staining score for NEUROD1 was significantly higher in extensive-disease (ED) samples than in limited-disease (LD) samples (median of 160 versus 80 out of a maximum of 300, P = 0.0389), and the proportion of tumors with an ASCL1highNEUROD1low phenotype was smaller for ED-SCLC. Overexpression or depletion of NEUROD1 in SCLC cell lines promoted or attenuated cell migratory activity, respectively. CONCLUSION Our clinical and experimental data indicate that the expression of NEUROD1 is increased in ED-SCLC and promotes the migration of SCLC cells. NEUROD1 might thus contribute to metastasis in ED-SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Ikematsu
- Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kentaro Tanaka
- Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
| | - Goji Toyokawa
- Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kayo Ijichi
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Nobuhisa Ando
- Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yasuto Yoneshima
- Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Eiji Iwama
- Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Inoue
- Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Tetsuzo Tagawa
- Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoichi Nakanishi
- Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Isamu Okamoto
- Research Institute for Diseases of the Chest, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
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20
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Significance of achaete-scute complex homologue 1 (ASCL1) in pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas; RNA sequence analyses using small cell lung cancer cells and Ascl1-induced pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma cells. Histochem Cell Biol 2020; 153:443-456. [PMID: 32170367 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-020-01863-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
ASCL1 is one of the master transcription factors of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). To investigate the significance of ASCL1 in pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma, we performed 2 comparative RNA-seq studies between H69 (ASCL1-positive, classical type SCLC) and H69AR (ASCL1-negative, variant type SCLC) and between ASCL1-transfected A549 adenocarcinoma cell lines (A549(ASCL1+) cell lines) and A549(control) cell lines. RNA-seq analyses revealed that 940 genes were significantly different between the H69 and H69AR cell lines, and 728 between the A549(ASCL1+) and A549(control) cell lines. In total, 120 common genes between these analyses were selected as candidate ASCL1-related genes, and included genes with various cellular functions, such as neural development, secretion, growth, and morphology. Their expression degrees in three classical and two variant SCLC cell lines, two A549(ASCL1+) and two A549(control) cell lines were subjected to quantitative PCR analyses. Since the candidate ASCL1-related genes were strongly expressed in the classical SCLC and A549(ASCL1+) cell lines and more weakly expressed in the variant SCLC and A549(control) cell lines, the ASCL1-related 7 molecules INSM1, ISL1, SYT4, KCTD16, SEZ6, MS4A8, and COBL were further selected. These molecules suggested diverse functions for A549(ASCL1+): INSM1 and ISL1 are transcription factors associated with neuroendocrine differentiation, while SYT4, KTCD16, and SEZ6 may be related to neurosecretory functions and MS4A8 and COBL to cell growth and morphology. An immunohistochemistry of these seven molecules was performed on lung carcinoma tissues and the xenotransplanted tumors of A549(ASCL1+), and they were preferentially and positively stained in ASCL1-postive tumor tissues.
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21
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Tenjin Y, Nakamura K, Ishizuka S, Saruwatari K, Sato R, Tomita Y, Saeki S, Ichiyasu H, Fujii K, Ito T, Sakagami T. Small Cell Lung Cancer Derived from Adenocarcinoma with Mutant Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Provides a Signature of Transcriptional Alteration in Tumor Cells. Intern Med 2019; 58:3261-3265. [PMID: 31292388 PMCID: PMC6911746 DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.2988-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) transformation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant adenocarcinoma (ADC) during EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment is an example of a rare subset of acquired drug resistance. We herein report the case of a 75-year-old man treated with afatinib who was then diagnosed with SCLC transformation. After two years of successful treatment with afatinib, the tumor relapsed, and a re-biopsy revealed SCLC harboring EGFR exon 19 deletion. We encountered a case of transcriptional alteration, potentially important for SCLC transformation of EGFR mutant lung ADC, that was recognized via the expression of NOTCH, ASCL1 and RB1 on immunohistochemical staining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Tenjin
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Japan
- Departments of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Nakamura
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Japan
| | - Shiho Ishizuka
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Japan
| | - Koichi Saruwatari
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Japan
| | - Ryo Sato
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Japan
| | - Yusuke Tomita
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Japan
| | - Sho Saeki
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Japan
| | - Hidenori Ichiyasu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Fujii
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Japan
| | - Takaaki Ito
- Departments of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Japan
| | - Takuro Sakagami
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Japan
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22
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Tenjin Y, Kudoh S, Kubota S, Yamada T, Matsuo A, Sato Y, Ichimura T, Kohrogi H, Sashida G, Sakagami T, Ito T. Ascl1-induced Wnt11 regulates neuroendocrine differentiation, cell proliferation, and E-cadherin expression in small-cell lung cancer and Wnt11 regulates small-cell lung cancer biology. J Transl Med 2019; 99:1622-1635. [PMID: 31231131 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-019-0277-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The involvement of Wnt signaling in human lung cancer remains unclear. This study investigated the role of Wnt11 in neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation, cell proliferation, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Immunohistochemical staining of resected specimens showed that Wnt11 was expressed at higher levels in SCLCs than in non-SCLCs; 58.8% of SCLC, 5.2% of adenocarcinoma (ADC), and 23.5% of squamous cell carcinoma tissues stained positive for Wnt11. A positive relationship was observed between Achaete-scute complex homolog 1 (Ascl1) and Wnt11 expression in SCLC cell lines, and this was supported by transcriptome data from SCLC tissue. The expression of Wnt11 and some NE markers increased after the transfection of ASCL1 into the A549 ADC cell line. Knockdown of Ascl1 downregulated Wnt11 expression in SCLC cell lines. Ascl1 regulated Wnt11 expression via lysine H3K27 acetylation at the enhancer region of the WNT11 gene. Wnt11 controlled NE differentiation, cell proliferation, and E-cadherin expression under the regulation of Ascl1 in SCLC cell lines. The phosphorylation of AKT and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase markedly increased after transfection of WNT11 into the SBC3 SCLC cell line, which suggests that Wnt11 promotes cell proliferation in SCLC cell lines. Ascl1 plays an important role in regulating the Wnt signaling pathway and is one of the driver molecules of Wnt11 in human SCLC. Ascl1 and Wnt11 may employ a cooperative mechanism to control the biology of SCLC. The present results indicate the therapeutic potential of targeting the Ascl1-Wnt11 signaling axis and support the clinical utility of Wnt11 as a biological marker in SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Tenjin
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Shinji Kudoh
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Sho Kubota
- Laboratory of Transcriptional Regulation in Leukemogenesis, International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Yamada
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.,Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Akira Matsuo
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Younosuke Sato
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Takaya Ichimura
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, 350-0495, Japan
| | - Hirotsugu Kohrogi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Omuta Tenryo Hospital, Tenryo 1-100, Omuta, Fukuoka, 836-8556, Japan
| | - Goro Sashida
- Laboratory of Transcriptional Regulation in Leukemogenesis, International Research Center for Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Takuro Sakagami
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Takaaki Ito
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Honjo 1-1-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.
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23
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Tada M, Sumi T, Tanaka Y, Hirai S, Yamaguchi M, Miyajima M, Niki T, Takahashi H, Watanabe A, Sakuma Y. MCL1 inhibition enhances the therapeutic effect of MEK inhibitors in KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma cells. Lung Cancer 2019; 133:88-95. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2019.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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24
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Furuta M, Sakakibara-Konishi J, Kikuchi H, Yokouchi H, Nishihara H, Minemura H, Harada M, Yamazaki S, Akie K, Fujita Y, Takamura K, Kojima T, Harada T, Minami Y, Watanabe N, Oizumi S, Suzuki H, Nishimura M, Dosaka-Akita H, Isobe H. Analysis of DLL3 and ASCL1 in Surgically Resected Small Cell Lung Cancer (HOT1702). Oncologist 2019; 24:e1172-e1179. [PMID: 31068386 DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2018-0676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Delta-like protein 3 (DLL3) is a Notch ligand that has an important role in the tumorigenesis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Recently, rovalpituzumab tesirine (Rova-T), a DLL3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate, has been developed for treating SCLC. DLL3 is a transcriptional target of the achaete-scute homolog-1 (ASCL1) transcription factor, which is involved in pulmonary neuroendocrine cell development. However, the relationship between DLL3 and/or ASCL1 expression and the clinical features of SCLC remains unknown, especially for early-stage resected SCLC. This study aimed to investigate the expression of DLL3 and ASCL1 in resected SCLC samples using immunohistochemical analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We collected 95 surgically resected SCLC samples, which were formalin fixed and paraffin embedded. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed to investigate the correlation between the expression of either DLL3 or ASCL1 and clinicopathological features of study patients. RESULTS Seventy-seven (83%) of 93 immunohistochemically evaluable samples were positive for DLL3 (expression in ≥1% of tumor cells), and DLL3-high expression (≥75%) was observed in 44 samples (47%). Sixty-one (64%) of 95 samples were positive for ASCL1 (expression in ≥5% of tumor cells). A positive correlation was observed between DLL3 and ASCL1 expression. DLL3 and ASCL1 expression were not associated with survival in SCLC patients. DLL3 was more prevalent in patients with advanced clinical disease. CONCLUSION DLL3 and ASCL1 were highly expressed in patients with surgically resected SCLC. DLL3 and ASCL1 may be targets for the treatment of SCLC. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE This article examines the relationship between delta-like protein 3 (DLL3) and achaete-scute homolog-1 (ASCL1) protein expression with the clinical features of 95 surgically resected small cell lung cancer (SCLC). DLL3 is attracting attention because rovalpituzumab tesirine (Rova-T), a DLL3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate, was developed recently. DLL3 and ASCL1 were highly expressed in patients with surgically resected SCLC. DLL3 and ASCL1 may be targets for the treatment of early-stage SCLC, including with Rova-T.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megumi Furuta
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Jun Sakakibara-Konishi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hajime Kikuchi
- First Department of Medicine, Obihiro Kosei Hospital, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yokouchi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Hokkaido Cancer Center, Sapporo, Japan
| | | | - Hiroyuki Minemura
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Masao Harada
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Hokkaido Cancer Center, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Shigeo Yamazaki
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Keiyukai Sapporo Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kenji Akie
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Sapporo City General Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yuka Fujita
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Asahikawa Medical Center, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Kei Takamura
- First Department of Medicine, Obihiro Kosei Hospital, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Kojima
- Department of Medical Oncology, KKR Sapporo Medical Center, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Harada
- Center for Respiratory Diseases, Japan Community Health Care Organization (JCHO) Hokkaido Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Minami
- Respiratory Center, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Naomi Watanabe
- Department of Internal Medicine, Sunagawa City Medical Center, Sunagawa, Japan
| | - Satoshi Oizumi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Hokkaido Cancer Center, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Suzuki
- Department of Chest Surgery, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Masaharu Nishimura
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hirotoshi Dosaka-Akita
- Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Isobe
- Department of Medical Oncology, KKR Sapporo Medical Center, Sapporo, Japan
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25
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Furuta M, Kikuchi H, Shoji T, Takashima Y, Kikuchi E, Kikuchi J, Kinoshita I, Dosaka-Akita H, Sakakibara-Konishi J. DLL3 regulates the migration and invasion of small cell lung cancer by modulating Snail. Cancer Sci 2019; 110:1599-1608. [PMID: 30874360 PMCID: PMC6501010 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Delta‐like protein 3 (DLL3) is a ligand of Notch signaling, which mediates cell‐fate decisions and is tumor‐suppressive or oncogenic depending on the cellular context. Previous studies show that DLL3 is highly expressed in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) but not in normal lung tissue, suggesting that DLL3 might be associated with neuroendocrine tumorigenesis. However, its role in SCLC remains unclear. To investigate the role of DLL3 in tumorigenesis in SCLC, we performed loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function assays using SCLC cell lines. In vitro analysis of cell migration and invasion by transwell assay showed that DLL3 knockdown reduced migration and invasion of SCLC cells, whereas DLL3 overexpression increased these activities. In addition, DLL3 positively regulated SNAI1 expression and knockdown of SNAI1 attenuated the migration and invasion ability of SCLC cells. Moreover, upregulated DLL3 expression induced subcutaneous tumor growth in mouse models. These results indicate that DLL3 promoted tumor growth, migration and invasion in an SCLC model by modulating SNAI1/Snail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megumi Furuta
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hajime Kikuchi
- First Department of Medicine, JA Obihiro Kosei Hospital, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Tetsuaki Shoji
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yuta Takashima
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Eiki Kikuchi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Junko Kikuchi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Ichiro Kinoshita
- Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hirotoshi Dosaka-Akita
- Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Jun Sakakibara-Konishi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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26
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Puca L, Gavyert K, Sailer V, Conteduca V, Dardenne E, Sigouros M, Isse K, Kearney M, Vosoughi A, Fernandez L, Pan H, Motanagh S, Hess J, Donoghue AJ, Sboner A, Wang Y, Dittamore R, Rickman D, Nanus DM, Tagawa ST, Elemento O, Mosquera JM, Saunders L, Beltran H. Delta-like protein 3 expression and therapeutic targeting in neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Sci Transl Med 2019; 11:eaav0891. [PMID: 30894499 PMCID: PMC6525633 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aav0891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Histologic transformation to small cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer occurs in a subset of patients with advanced prostate cancer as a mechanism of treatment resistance. Rovalpituzumab tesirine (SC16LD6.5) is an antibody-drug conjugate that targets delta-like protein 3 (DLL3) and was initially developed for small cell lung cancer. We found that DLL3 is expressed in most of the castration-resistant neuroendocrine prostate cancer (CRPC-NE) (36 of 47, 76.6%) and in a subset of castration-resistant prostate adenocarcinomas (7 of 56, 12.5%). It shows minimal to no expression in localized prostate cancer (1 of 194) and benign prostate (0 of 103). DLL3 expression correlates with neuroendocrine marker expression, RB1 loss, and aggressive clinical features. DLL3 in circulating tumor cells was concordant with matched metastatic biopsy (87%). Treatment of DLL3-expressing prostate cancer xenografts with a single dose of SC16LD6.5 resulted in complete and durable responses, whereas DLL3-negative models were insensitive. We highlight a patient with neuroendocrine prostate cancer with a meaningful clinical and radiologic response to SC16LD6.5 when treated on a phase 1 trial. Overall, our findings indicate that DLL3 is preferentially expressed in CRPC-NE and provide rationale for targeting DLL3 in patients with DLL3-positive metastatic prostate cancer.
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MESH Headings
- Aged
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/pharmacology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use
- Benzodiazepinones/pharmacology
- Benzodiazepinones/therapeutic use
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/genetics
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/pathology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Genetic Heterogeneity
- Humans
- Immunoconjugates/pharmacology
- Immunoconjugates/therapeutic use
- Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics
- Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism
- Male
- Membrane Proteins/genetics
- Membrane Proteins/metabolism
- Mice
- Molecular Targeted Therapy
- Neoplastic Cells, Circulating/metabolism
- Neoplastic Cells, Circulating/pathology
- Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics
- Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology
- Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/drug therapy
- Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/genetics
- Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/pathology
- Time Factors
- Treatment Outcome
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Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Puca
- Division of Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork Presbyterian, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Katie Gavyert
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork Presbyterian, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Verena Sailer
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork Presbyterian, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Vincenza Conteduca
- Division of Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, 47014 Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Etienne Dardenne
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Michael Sigouros
- Division of Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kumiko Isse
- AbbVie Stemcentrx LLC, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | - Aram Vosoughi
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork Presbyterian, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | | | - Heng Pan
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork Presbyterian, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Samaneh Motanagh
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork Presbyterian, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Judy Hess
- Division of Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Adam J Donoghue
- Division of Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Andrea Sboner
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork Presbyterian, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yuzhuo Wang
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | | | - David Rickman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - David M Nanus
- Division of Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork Presbyterian, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Scott T Tagawa
- Division of Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork Presbyterian, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Olivier Elemento
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork Presbyterian, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Juan Miguel Mosquera
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork Presbyterian, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Laura Saunders
- AbbVie Stemcentrx LLC, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Himisha Beltran
- Division of Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA.
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork Presbyterian, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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Sun B, Tu J, Liang Q, Cheng X, Fan X, Li Y, Wallbank RW, Yang M. Expression of mammalian ASH1 and ASH4 in Drosophila reveals opposing functional roles in neurogenesis. Gene 2019; 688:132-139. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Park JW, Lee JK, Sheu KM, Wang L, Balanis NG, Nguyen K, Smith BA, Cheng C, Tsai BL, Cheng D, Huang J, Kurdistani SK, Graeber TG, Witte ON. Reprogramming normal human epithelial tissues to a common, lethal neuroendocrine cancer lineage. Science 2019; 362:91-95. [PMID: 30287662 DOI: 10.1126/science.aat5749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The use of potent therapies inhibiting critical oncogenic pathways active in epithelial cancers has led to multiple resistance mechanisms, including the development of highly aggressive, small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNC). SCNC patients have a dismal prognosis due in part to a limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving this malignancy and the lack of effective treatments. Here, we demonstrate that a common set of defined oncogenic drivers reproducibly reprograms normal human prostate and lung epithelial cells to small cell prostate cancer (SCPC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), respectively. We identify shared active transcription factor binding regions in the reprogrammed prostate and lung SCNCs by integrative analyses of epigenetic and transcriptional landscapes. These results suggest that neuroendocrine cancers arising from distinct epithelial tissues may share common vulnerabilities that could be exploited for the development of drugs targeting SCNCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Wook Park
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - John K Lee
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Katherine M Sheu
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Liang Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Nikolas G Balanis
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kim Nguyen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Bryan A Smith
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Chen Cheng
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Brandon L Tsai
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Donghui Cheng
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jiaoti Huang
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Siavash K Kurdistani
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Molecular Biology Institute, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Thomas G Graeber
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. .,Molecular Biology Institute, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Owen N Witte
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. .,Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Molecular Biology Institute, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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29
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Molecular therapy using siRNA: Recent trends and advances of multi target inhibition of cancer growth. Int J Biol Macromol 2018; 116:880-892. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.05.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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30
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An Integrative Analysis of Transcriptome and Epigenome Features of ASCL1-Positive Lung Adenocarcinomas. J Thorac Oncol 2018; 13:1676-1691. [PMID: 30121393 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2018.07.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A subgroup of lung adenocarcinoma shows neuroendocrine differentiation and expression of achaete-scute family bHLH transcription factor 1 (ASCL1), common to high-grade neuroendocrine tumors, small-cell lung cancer and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. METHODS The aim of this study was to characterize clinical and molecular features of ASCL1-positive lung adenocarcinoma by using recent transcriptome profiling in multiple patient cohorts and genome-wide epigenetic profiling including data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. RESULTS The ASCL1-positive subtype of lung adenocarcinoma developed preferentially in current or former smokers and usually did not harbor EGFR mutations. In transcriptome profiling, this subtype overlapped with the recently proposed proximal-proliferative molecular subtype. Gene expression profiling of ASCL1-positive cases suggested generally poor immune cell infiltration and none of the tumors were positive for programmed cell death ligand 1 protein expression. Genome-wide methylation analysis showed global DNA hypomethylation in ASCL1-positive cases. ASCL1 was associated with super-enhancers in ASCL1-positive lung adenocarcinoma cells, and ASCL1 silencing suppressed other super-enhancer-associated genes, suggesting that ASCL1 acts as a master transcriptional regulator. This was further reinforced by the essential roles of ASCL1 in cell proliferation, survival, and cell cycle control. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that ASCL1 defines a subgroup of lung adenocarcinoma with distinct molecular features by driving super-enhancer-mediated transcriptional programs.
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31
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An integrative transcriptome analysis reveals a functional role for thyroid transcription factor-1 in small cell lung cancer. J Pathol 2018; 246:154-165. [DOI: 10.1002/path.5109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Revised: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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32
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Giaimo BD, Borggrefe T. Introduction to Molecular Mechanisms in Notch Signal Transduction and Disease Pathogenesis. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1066:3-30. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-89512-3_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Caswell DR, Chuang CH, Ma RK, Winters IP, Snyder EL, Winslow MM. Tumor Suppressor Activity of Selenbp1, a Direct Nkx2-1 Target, in Lung Adenocarcinoma. Mol Cancer Res 2018; 16:1737-1749. [PMID: 30002193 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-18-0392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The Nkx2-1 transcription factor promotes differentiation of lung epithelial lineages and suppresses malignant progression of lung adenocarcinoma. However, targets of Nkx2-1 that limit tumor growth and progression remain incompletely understood. Here, direct Nkx2-1 targets are identified whose expression correlates with Nkx2-1 activity in human lung adenocarcinoma. Selenium-binding protein 1 (Selenbp1), an Nkx2-1 effector that limits phenotypes associated with lung cancer growth and metastasis, was investigated further. Loss- and gain-of-function approaches demonstrate that Nkx2-1 is required and sufficient for Selenbp1 expression in lung adenocarcinoma cells. Interestingly, Selenbp1 knockdown also reduced Nkx2-1 expression and Selenbp1 stabilized Nkx2-1 protein levels in a heterologous system, suggesting that these genes function in a positive feedback loop. Selenbp1 inhibits clonal growth and migration and suppresses growth of metastases in an in vivo transplant model. Genetic inactivation of Selenbp1, using CRISPR/Cas9, also enhanced primary tumor growth in autochthonous lung adenocarcinoma mouse models. Collectively, these data demonstrate that Selenbp1 is a direct target of Nkx2-1, which inhibits lung adenocarcinoma growth in vivo Implications: Selenbp1 is an important suppressor of lung tumor growth that functions in a positive feedback loop with Nkx2-1, and whose loss is associated with worse patient outcome. Mol Cancer Res; 16(11); 1737-49. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah R Caswell
- Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Chen-Hua Chuang
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Rosanna K Ma
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Ian P Winters
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Eric L Snyder
- Department of Pathology and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Monte M Winslow
- Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California. .,Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.,Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.,Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
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34
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Zhang S, Li M, Ji H, Fang Z. Landscape of transcriptional deregulation in lung cancer. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:435. [PMID: 29866045 PMCID: PMC5987572 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4828-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung cancer is a very heterogeneous disease that can be pathologically classified into different subtypes including small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and large-cell carcinoma (LCC). Although much progress has been made towards the oncogenic mechanism of each subtype, transcriptional circuits mediating the upstream signaling pathways and downstream functional consequences remain to be systematically studied. RESULTS Here we trained a one-class support vector machine (OC-SVM) model to establish a general transcription factor (TF) regulatory network containing 325 TFs and 18724 target genes. We then applied this network to lung cancer subtypes and identified those deregulated TFs and downstream targets. We found that the TP63/SOX2/DMRT3 module was specific to LUSC, corresponding to squamous epithelial differentiation and/or survival. Moreover, the LEF1/MSC module was specifically activated in LUAD and likely to confer epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, known important for cancer malignant progression and metastasis. The proneural factor, ASCL1, was specifically up-regulated in SCLC which is known to have a neuroendocrine phenotype. Also, ID2 was differentially regulated between SCLC and LUSC, with its up-regulation in SCLC linking to energy supply for fast mitosis and its down-regulation in LUSC linking to the attenuation of immune response. We further described the landscape of TF regulation among the three major subtypes of lung cancer, highlighting their functional commonalities and specificities. CONCLUSIONS Our approach uncovered the landscape of transcriptional deregulation in lung cancer, and provided a useful resource of TF regulatory network for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Zhang
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai, China
- Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai, 200031 China
| | - Mingfa Li
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongbin Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai, China
- Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai, 200031 China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai, 200120 China
| | - Zhaoyuan Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai, China
- Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai, 200031 China
- Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, 200031 China
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35
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Iida Y, Masuda S, Nakanishi Y, Shimizu T, Nishimaki H, Takahashi M, Hikichi M, Maruoka S, Gon Y, Takahashi N, Hashimoto S. Clinicopathological characteristics of thyroid transcription factor 1-negative small cell lung cancers. Hum Pathol 2018; 79:127-134. [PMID: 29787820 DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2018.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Revised: 04/29/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Limitations in obtaining surgically resected or biopsy samples of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) tumors make comprehensive biological analyses difficult. The loss of thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) has been associated with the aggressive behavior of non-small cell lung cancer; however, clinicopathological features of TTF-1-negative SCLC remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of TTF-1-negative SCLC. We studied the associations between the expression of TTF-1 and the clinicopathological factors associated with SCLC, including survival and expression of neuroendocrine markers (synaptophysin, chromogranin A, and CD56), neuroendocrine cell-specific transcription factors (ASCL1, BRN2), a proliferation marker (Ki-67 labeling index), and an oncogene (NF1B). Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections of SCLC tumors were subjected to immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses. In a case-control cohort matched for basic clinical factors, expression of ProGRP, synaptophysin, chromogranin A, and ASCL1 was significantly decreased in TTF-1-negative SCLC samples. In contrast, there was no significant correlation between Ki-67 labeling index and TTF-1. In a larger serial case cohort, TTF-1-negative SCLC cases were older at diagnosis, but there was no significant difference in the overall survival of patients with TTF-1-negative and TTF-1-positive SCLC. In conclusion, TTF-1-negative SCLC showed decreased neuroendocrine differentiation, and significantly worse clinical outcomes were not observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Iida
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Shinobu Masuda
- Division of Oncologic Pathology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan.
| | - Yoko Nakanishi
- Division of Oncologic Pathology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Shimizu
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Haruna Nishimaki
- Division of Oncologic Pathology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Mai Takahashi
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Mari Hikichi
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Shuichiro Maruoka
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Gon
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Noriaki Takahashi
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
| | - Shu Hashimoto
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
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Czapiewski P, Kunc M, Haybaeck J. Genetic and molecular alterations in olfactory neuroblastoma: implications for pathogenesis, prognosis and treatment. Oncotarget 2018; 7:52584-52596. [PMID: 27256979 PMCID: PMC5239575 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB, Esthesioneuroblastoma) is an infrequent neoplasm of the head and neck area derived from olfactory neuroepithelium. Despite relatively good prognosis a subset of patients shows recurrence, progression and/or metastatic disease, which requires additional treatment. However, neither prognostic nor predictive factors are well specified. Thus, we performed a literature search for the currently available data on disturbances in molecular pathways, cytogenetic changes and results gained by next generation sequencing (NGS) approaches in ONB in order to gain an overview of genetic alterations which might be useful for treating patients with ONB. We present briefly ONB molecular pathogenesis and propose potential therapeutic targets and prognostic factors. Possible therapeutic targets in ONB include: receptor tyrosine kinases (c-kit, PDGFR-b, TrkB; EGFR); somatostatin receptor; FGF-FGFR1 signaling; Sonic hedgehog pathway; apoptosis-related pathways (Bcl-2, TRAIL) and neoangiogenesis (VEGF; KDR). Furthermore, we compare high- and low-grade ONB, and describe its frequent mimicker: sinonasal neuroendocrine carcinoma. ONB is often a therapeutic challenge, so our goal should be the implementation of acquired knowledge into clinical practice, especially at pretreated, recurrent and metastatic stages. Moreover, the multicenter molecular studies are needed to increase the amount of available data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Czapiewski
- Department of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Michał Kunc
- Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Johannes Haybaeck
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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Sabari JK, Lok BH, Laird JH, Poirier JT, Rudin CM. Unravelling the biology of SCLC: implications for therapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2017; 14:549-561. [PMID: 28534531 PMCID: PMC5843484 DOI: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2017.71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 292] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy associated with a poor prognosis. First-line treatment has remained unchanged for decades, and a paucity of effective treatment options exists for recurrent disease. Nonetheless, advances in our understanding of SCLC biology have led to the development of novel experimental therapies. Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have shown promise in preclinical models, and are under clinical investigation in combination with cytotoxic therapies and inhibitors of cell-cycle checkpoints.Preclinical data indicate that targeting of histone-lysine N-methyltransferase EZH2, a regulator of chromatin remodelling implicated in acquired therapeutic resistance, might augment and prolong chemotherapy responses. High expression of the inhibitory Notch ligand Delta-like protein 3 (DLL3) in most SCLCs has been linked to expression of Achaete-scute homologue 1 (ASCL1; also known as ASH-1), a key transcription factor driving SCLC oncogenesis; encouraging preclinical and clinical activity has been demonstrated for an anti-DLL3-antibody-drug conjugate. The immune microenvironment of SCLC seems to be distinct from that of other solid tumours, with few tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes and low levels of the immune-checkpoint protein programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1). Nonetheless, immunotherapy with immune-checkpoint inhibitors holds promise for patients with this disease, independent of PD-L1 status. Herein, we review the progress made in uncovering aspects of the biology of SCLC and its microenvironment that are defining new therapeutic strategies and offering renewed hope for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua K Sabari
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
| | - Benjamin H Lok
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 300 East 66th Street, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - James H Laird
- New York University School of Medicine, 550 1st Avenue, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | - John T Poirier
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
| | - Charles M Rudin
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, USA
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38
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Takagi S, Ishikawa Y, Mizutani A, Iwasaki S, Matsumoto S, Kamada Y, Nomura T, Nakamura K. LSD1 Inhibitor T-3775440 Inhibits SCLC Cell Proliferation by Disrupting LSD1 Interactions with SNAG Domain Proteins INSM1 and GFI1B. Cancer Res 2017; 77:4652-4662. [PMID: 28667074 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-16-3502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Revised: 05/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
T-3775440 is an irreversible inhibitor of the chromatin demethylase LSD1, which exerts antiproliferative effects by disrupting the interaction between LSD1 and GFI1B, a SNAG domain transcription factor, inducing leukemia cell transdifferentiation. Here, we describe the anticancer effects and mechanism of action of T-3775440 in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). T-3775440 inhibited proliferation of SCLC cells in vitro and retarded SCLC tumor growth in vivo T-3775440 disrupted the interaction between LSD1 and the transcriptional repressor INSM1, thereby inhibiting expression of neuroendocrine-associated genes, such as ASCL1 INSM1 silencing phenocopied the effects of T-3775440 on gene expression and cell proliferation, consistent with the likelihood T-3775440 mediated its effects in SCLC by inhibiting INSM1. T-3775440 also inhibited proliferation of an SCLC cell line that overexpressed GFI1B, rather than INSM1, by disrupting the interaction between LSD1 and GFI1B. Taken together, our results argue that LSD1 plays an important role in neuroendocrine-associated transcription and cell proliferation of SCLC via interactions with the SNAG domain proteins INSM1 and GFI1B. Targeting these critical interactions with LSD1 inhibitors offers a novel rational strategy to therapeutically manage SCLC. Cancer Res; 77(17); 4652-62. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Takagi
- Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
| | - Yoshinori Ishikawa
- Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Akio Mizutani
- Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shinji Iwasaki
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics Research Laboratories, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Satoru Matsumoto
- Integrated Technology Research Laboratories, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yusuke Kamada
- Biomolecular Research Laboratories, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Nomura
- Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kazuhide Nakamura
- Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, Pharmaceutical Research Division, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
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Ma H, Du X, Zhang S, Wang Q, Yin Y, Qiu X, Da P, Yue H, Wu H, Xu F. Achaete-scute complex homologue-1 promotes development of laryngocarcinoma via facilitating the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation. Tumour Biol 2017; 39:1010428317705752. [PMID: 28618959 DOI: 10.1177/1010428317705752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Laryngeal cancer is one of the most common fatal cancers among head and neck carcinomas, whose mechanism, however, remains unclear. The proneural basic-helix-loop-helix protein achaete-scute complex homologue-1, a member of the basic helix-loop-helix family, plays a very important role in many cancers. This study aims to explore the clinical value and mechanism of achaete-scute complex homologue-1 in laryngeal cancer. Methods including Cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometry, Transwell invasion assays, and scratch assay were adopted to further explore the bio-function of achaete-scute complex homologue-1, whose expression was examined in fresh and paraffin chip of laryngeal carcinoma tissues by means of western blot and immunohistochemistry, after the interference of achaete-scute complex homologue-1; achaete-scute complex homologue-1, an overexpression in laryngeal carcinoma whose carcinogenicity potential was confirmed via western blot, was correlative with T classification (p = 0.002), histological differentiation (p = 0.000), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.000), and poor survival (p = 0.000). Multivariate analysis shows that achaete-scute complex homologue-1 overexpression is an independent prognostic factor unfavorable to laryngeal carcinoma patients (p = 0.000). Moreover, knocking down achaete-scute complex homologue-1 expression could significantly suppress the proliferation, migration, and invasion of laryngeal carcinoma cell in vitro and disorder epithelial-mesenchymal transformation-associated protein expression. Achaete-scute complex homologue-1 plays an important role in the genesis and progression of laryngeal carcinoma and may act as a potential biomarker for therapeutic target and prognostic prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaci Ma
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xiaodong Du
- 2 Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Shu Zhang
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yong Yin
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xiaoxia Qiu
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Peng Da
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Huijun Yue
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Hao Wu
- 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Fenglei Xu
- 3 Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
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40
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Truong N, Chun SM, Kim TI, Suh YA, Jang SJ. Hypermethylation of adjacent CpG sites is negatively correlated with the expression of lineage oncogene ASCL1 in pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors. Tumour Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1177/1010428317706225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nhung Truong
- Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sung Min Chun
- Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Asan Center for Cancer Genome Discovery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Tae Im Kim
- Asan Center for Cancer Genome Discovery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young Ah Suh
- Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Se Jin Jang
- Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Asan Center for Cancer Genome Discovery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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41
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Horie M, Saito A, Ohshima M, Suzuki HI, Nagase T. YAP and TAZ modulate cell phenotype in a subset of small cell lung cancer. Cancer Sci 2016; 107:1755-1766. [PMID: 27627196 PMCID: PMC5198951 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Revised: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive and metastatic malignancy that shows rapid development of chemoresistance and a high rate of recurrence. Recent genome and transcriptome studies have provided the whole landscape of genomic alterations and gene expression changes in SCLC. In light of the inter‐individual heterogeneity of SCLC, subtyping of SCLC might be helpful for prediction of therapeutic response and prognosis. Based on the transcriptome data of SCLC cell lines, we undertook transcriptional network‐defined SCLC classification and identified a unique SCLC subgroup characterized by relatively high expression of Hippo pathway regulators Yes‐associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ‐binding motif (TAZ) (YAP/TAZ subgroup). The YAP/TAZ subgroup displayed adherent cell morphology, lower expression of achaete‐scute complex homolog 1 (ASCL1) and neuroendocrine markers, and higher expression of laminin and integrin. YAP knockdown caused cell morphological alteration reminiscent of floating growth pattern in many SCLC cell lines, and microarray analyses revealed a subset of genes regulated by YAP, including Ajuba LIM protein (AJUBA). AJUBA also contributed to cell morphology regulation. Of clinical importance, SCLC cell lines of the YAP/TAZ subgroup showed unique patterns of drug sensitivity. Our findings shed light on a subtype of SCLC with YAP and TAZ expression, and delineate molecular networks underlying the heterogeneity of SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masafumi Horie
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Division for Health Service Promotion, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Saito
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Division for Health Service Promotion, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Ohshima
- Department of Biochemistry, Ohu University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Koriyama, Japan
| | - Hiroshi I Suzuki
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Takahide Nagase
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Ito T, Kudoh S, Ichimura T, Fujino K, Hassan WAMA, Udaka N. Small cell lung cancer, an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like cancer: significance of inactive Notch signaling and expression of achaete-scute complex homologue 1. Hum Cell 2016; 30:1-10. [DOI: 10.1007/s13577-016-0149-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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43
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Naizhen X, Linnoila RI, Kimura S. Co-expression of Achaete-Scute Homologue-1 and Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide during NNK-Induced Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Hyperplasia and Carcinogenesis in Hamsters. J Cancer 2016; 7:2124-2131. [PMID: 27877229 PMCID: PMC5118677 DOI: 10.7150/jca.16399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2016] [Accepted: 08/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Achaete-scute homologue-1 or ASCL1 (MASH1, hASH1) plays roles in neural development and pulmonary neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation, and it is expressed in certain lung cancers. This study was aimed to assess whether and/or how ASCL1 plays a role in 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)-induced pulmonary NE hyperplasia and carcinogenesis in hamsters. Hamsters were injected 3 times weekly with either NNK or solvent alone (control) for treatment periods of 6 and 24 weeks, both without and with 6-week recovery. Immunohistochemical analysis was carried out to examine the expressions of ASCL1, CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide), secretoglobin SCGB1A1 (club [Clara] cell specific 10 kD protein, CC10, CCSP), synaptophysin (SYP), and PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen). The number of ASCL1-expressing NE foci per airway increased from 0.8 in controls to 1.6 and 2.0 during NNK exposure for 6 and 24 weeks, respectively, and the number of cells per foci doubled after NNK exposure. Most ASCL1-expressing cells in NEBs (neuroepithelial bodies) were also CGRP immunoreactive; NNK enhanced this co-expression with CGRP, a NE marker with known proliferation-promoting properties. NNK also increased PCNA expression within NE foci. NNK-induced tumors showed no immunoreactivity for NE markers. This study confirms ASCL1 as an excellent marker for pulmonary NE cells and demonstrates CGRP co-expression in ASCL1-positive NEB cells participating in NNK-induced NE hyperplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Naizhen
- Cell and Cancer Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - R. Ilona Linnoila
- Cell and Cancer Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Shioko Kimura
- Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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Santamaría Nuñez G, Robles CMG, Giraudon C, Martínez-Leal JF, Compe E, Coin F, Aviles P, Galmarini CM, Egly JM. Lurbinectedin Specifically Triggers the Degradation of Phosphorylated RNA Polymerase II and the Formation of DNA Breaks in Cancer Cells. Mol Cancer Ther 2016; 15:2399-2412. [PMID: 27630271 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-16-0172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We have defined the mechanism of action of lurbinectedin, a marine-derived drug exhibiting a potent antitumor activity across several cancer cell lines and tumor xenografts. This drug, currently undergoing clinical evaluation in ovarian, breast, and small cell lung cancer patients, inhibits the transcription process through (i) its binding to CG-rich sequences, mainly located around promoters of protein-coding genes; (ii) the irreversible stalling of elongating RNA polymerase II (Pol II) on the DNA template and its specific degradation by the ubiquitin/proteasome machinery; and (iii) the generation of DNA breaks and subsequent apoptosis. The finding that inhibition of Pol II phosphorylation prevents its degradation and the formation of DNA breaks after drug treatment underscores the connection between transcription elongation and DNA repair. Our results not only help to better understand the high specificity of this drug in cancer therapy but also improve our understanding of an important transcription regulation mechanism. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(10); 2399-412. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gema Santamaría Nuñez
- Cell Biology and Pharmacogenomics Department, Pharmamar SA, Colmenar Viejo, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Mario Genes Robles
- Department of Functional Genomics and Cancer, IGBMC, CNRS/INSERM/University of Strasbourg, C. U. Strasbourg, France
| | - Christophe Giraudon
- Department of Functional Genomics and Cancer, IGBMC, CNRS/INSERM/University of Strasbourg, C. U. Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Emmanuel Compe
- Department of Functional Genomics and Cancer, IGBMC, CNRS/INSERM/University of Strasbourg, C. U. Strasbourg, France
| | - Frédéric Coin
- Department of Functional Genomics and Cancer, IGBMC, CNRS/INSERM/University of Strasbourg, C. U. Strasbourg, France
| | - Pablo Aviles
- Cell Biology and Pharmacogenomics Department, Pharmamar SA, Colmenar Viejo, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos María Galmarini
- Cell Biology and Pharmacogenomics Department, Pharmamar SA, Colmenar Viejo, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Jean-Marc Egly
- Department of Functional Genomics and Cancer, IGBMC, CNRS/INSERM/University of Strasbourg, C. U. Strasbourg, France
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Borromeo MD, Savage TK, Kollipara RK, He M, Augustyn A, Osborne JK, Girard L, Minna JD, Gazdar AF, Cobb MH, Johnson JE. ASCL1 and NEUROD1 Reveal Heterogeneity in Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Tumors and Regulate Distinct Genetic Programs. Cell Rep 2016; 16:1259-1272. [PMID: 27452466 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.06.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 314] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Revised: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is a high-grade pulmonary neuroendocrine tumor. The transcription factors ASCL1 and NEUROD1 play crucial roles in promoting malignant behavior and survival of human SCLC cell lines. Here, we find that ASCL1 and NEUROD1 identify heterogeneity in SCLC, bind distinct genomic loci, and regulate mostly distinct genes. ASCL1, but not NEUROD1, is present in mouse pulmonary neuroendocrine cells, and only ASCL1 is required in vivo for tumor formation in mouse models of SCLC. ASCL1 targets oncogenic genes including MYCL1, RET, SOX2, and NFIB while NEUROD1 targets MYC. ASCL1 and NEUROD1 regulate different genes that commonly contribute to neuronal function. ASCL1 also regulates multiple genes in the NOTCH pathway including DLL3. Together, ASCL1 and NEUROD1 distinguish heterogeneity in SCLC with distinct genomic landscapes and distinct gene expression programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Borromeo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Trisha K Savage
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Rahul K Kollipara
- McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Min He
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Alexander Augustyn
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jihan K Osborne
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Luc Girard
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - John D Minna
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Adi F Gazdar
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Melanie H Cobb
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jane E Johnson
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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46
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Pietanza MC, Byers LA, Minna JD, Rudin CM. Small cell lung cancer: will recent progress lead to improved outcomes? Clin Cancer Res 2016; 21:2244-55. [PMID: 25979931 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-14-2958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine malignancy with a unique natural history characterized by a short doubling time, high growth fraction, and early development of widespread metastases. Although a chemotherapy- and radiation-sensitive disease, SCLC typically recurs rapidly after primary treatment, with only 6% of patients surviving 5 years from diagnosis. This disease has been notable for the absence of major improvements in its treatment: Nearly four decades after the introduction of a platinum-etoposide doublet, therapeutic options have remained virtually unchanged, with correspondingly little improvement in survival rates. Here, we summarize specific barriers and challenges inherent to SCLC research and care that have limited progress in novel therapeutic development to date. We discuss recent progress in basic and translational research, especially in the development of mouse models, which will provide insights into the patterns of metastasis and resistance in SCLC. Opportunities in clinical research aimed at exploiting SCLC biology are reviewed, with an emphasis on ongoing trials. SCLC has been described as a recalcitrant cancer, for which there is an urgent need for accelerated progress. The NCI convened a panel of laboratory and clinical investigators interested in SCLC with a goal of defining consensus recommendations to accelerate progress in the treatment of SCLC, which we summarize here.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Catherine Pietanza
- Thoracic Oncology Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
| | - Lauren Averett Byers
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - John D Minna
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Charles M Rudin
- Thoracic Oncology Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
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47
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Ida L, Yamaguchi T, Yanagisawa K, Kajino T, Shimada Y, Suzuki M, Takahashi T. Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1, a target of NKX2-1/TTF-1 lineage-survival oncogene, inhibits apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1-mediated pro-apoptotic signaling in lung adenocarcinoma. Cancer Sci 2016; 107:155-61. [PMID: 26661061 PMCID: PMC4768386 DOI: 10.1111/cas.12858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously identified receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) as a transcriptional target of the NKX2-1/TTF-1 lineage-survival oncogene in lung adenocarcinoma. ROR1 consequently sustains a favorable balance between pro-survival phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B and pro-apoptotic apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1)-p38MAPK signaling. In contrast to recent advances in understanding how ROR1 sustains pro-survival signaling, the mechanism of ROR1 repression of pro-apoptotic signaling remains rather elusive. In the present study, we investigated the underlying mechanism of ROR1-mediated inhibition of the ASK1-p38MAPK signaling pathway. Growth inhibition mediated by siROR1 was partially but significantly alleviated by ASK1 co-knockdown in lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. Also, ASK1 phosphorylation at Thr845, which reflects its activated state, was clearly inhibited by ROR1 overexpression in both steady state and oxidative stress-elicited conditions in MSTO-211H cells. In addition, we found that ROR1 was physically associated with ASK1 at the C-terminal serine threonine-rich domain of ROR1. Furthermore, ROR1 kinase activity was shown to be required to repress the ASK1-p38 axis and oxidative stress-induced cell death. The present findings thus support our notion that ROR1 sustains lung adenocarcinoma survival, at least in part, through direct physical interaction with ASK1 and consequential repression of the pro-apoptotic ASK1-p38 axis in a ROR1 kinase activity-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Ida
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tomoya Yamaguchi
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Yanagisawa
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Taisuke Kajino
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yukako Shimada
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Motoshi Suzuki
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takashi Takahashi
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
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48
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Fujino K, Motooka Y, Hassan WA, Ali Abdalla MO, Sato Y, Kudoh S, Hasegawa K, Niimori-Kita K, Kobayashi H, Kubota I, Wakimoto J, Suzuki M, Ito T. Insulinoma-Associated Protein 1 Is a Crucial Regulator of Neuroendocrine Differentiation in Lung Cancer. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2015; 185:3164-77. [PMID: 26482608 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2015.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Revised: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Insulinoma-associated protein 1 (INSM1) is expressed exclusively in embryonic developing neuroendocrine (NE) tissues. INSM1 gene expression is specific for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), along with achaete-scute homolog-like 1 (ASCL1) and several NE molecules, such as chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and neural cell adhesion molecule 1. However, the underlying biological role of INSM1 in lung cancer remains largely unknown. We first showed that surgically resected SCLC samples specifically expressed INSM1. Forced expression of the INSM1 gene in adenocarcinoma cell lines (H358 and H1975) induced the expression of ASCL1, brain-2 (BRN2), chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and neural cell adhesion molecule 1; in contrast, knockdown of the INSM1 gene by siRNA in SCLC (H69 and H889) decreased their expression. However, forced/knockdown expression of ASCL1 and BRN2 did not affect INSM1 expression. A chromatin immunoprecipitation study revealed that INSM1 bound to the promoter region of the ASCL1 gene. A xenotransplantation assay using tet-on INSM1 gene-transfected adenocarcinoma cell lines demonstrated that INSM1 induced NE differentiation and growth inhibition. Furthermore, we found that INSM1 was not expressed in non-small-cell lung cancer and some SCLC cell lines expressing Notch1-Hes1. By forced/knockdown expression of Notch1 or Hes1 genes, we revealed that Notch1-Hes1 signaling suppressed INSM1, as well as ASCL1 and BRN2. INSM1, expressed exclusively in SCLC, is a crucial regulator of NE differentiation in SCLCs, and is regulated by the Notch1-Hes1 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Fujino
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yamato Motooka
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Wael A Hassan
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismaileya, Egypt
| | - Mohamed O Ali Abdalla
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan; Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismaileya, Egypt
| | - Yonosuke Sato
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Shinji Kudoh
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Koki Hasegawa
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Kanako Niimori-Kita
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hironori Kobayashi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kumamoto Saishunso Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Ichiro Kubota
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Pathology, National Hospital Organization Minami-Kyushu Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Joeji Wakimoto
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Pathology, National Hospital Organization Minami-Kyushu Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Makoto Suzuki
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Takaaki Ito
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
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49
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Saunders LR, Bankovich AJ, Anderson WC, Aujay MA, Bheddah S, Black K, Desai R, Escarpe PA, Hampl J, Laysang A, Liu D, Lopez-Molina J, Milton M, Park A, Pysz MA, Shao H, Slingerland B, Torgov M, Williams SA, Foord O, Howard P, Jassem J, Badzio A, Czapiewski P, Harpole DH, Dowlati A, Massion PP, Travis WD, Pietanza MC, Poirier JT, Rudin CM, Stull RA, Dylla SJ. A DLL3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate eradicates high-grade pulmonary neuroendocrine tumor-initiating cells in vivo. Sci Transl Med 2015; 7:302ra136. [PMID: 26311731 PMCID: PMC4934375 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aac9459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 407] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The high-grade pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC), remain among the most deadly malignancies. Therapies that effectively target and kill tumor-initiating cells (TICs) in these cancers should translate to improved patient survival. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumors serve as excellent models to study tumor biology and characterize TICs. Increased expression of delta-like 3 (DLL3) was discovered in SCLC and LCNEC PDX tumors and confirmed in primary SCLC and LCNEC tumors. DLL3 protein is expressed on the surface of tumor cells but not in normal adult tissues. A DLL3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), SC16LD6.5, comprised of a humanized anti-DLL3 monoclonal antibody conjugated to a DNA-damaging pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer toxin, induced durable tumor regression in vivo across multiple PDX models. Serial transplantation experiments executed with limiting dilutions of cells provided functional evidence confirming that the lack of tumor recurrence after SC16LD6.5 exposure resulted from effective targeting of DLL3-expressing TICs. In vivo efficacy correlated with DLL3 expression, and responses were observed in PDX models initiated from patients with both limited and extensive-stage disease and were independent of their sensitivity to standard-of-care chemotherapy regimens. SC16LD6.5 effectively targets and eradicates DLL3-expressing TICs in SCLC and LCNEC PDX tumors and is a promising first-in-class ADC for the treatment of high-grade pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Amy Laysang
- Stemcentrx Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - David Liu
- Stemcentrx Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | - Milly Milton
- Stemcentrx Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Albert Park
- Stemcentrx Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | - Hui Shao
- Stemcentrx Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | | | | | - Orit Foord
- Stemcentrx Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Philip Howard
- Spirogen (a member of the AstraZeneca Group), London W2 6BD, UK
| | - Jacek Jassem
- Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk 82-300, Poland
| | | | | | | | - Afshin Dowlati
- Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Pierre P Massion
- Thoracic Program, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Tennessee Valley Healthcare Systems, Nashville Campus, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | | | - M Catherine Pietanza
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA. Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - J T Poirier
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA. Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Charles M Rudin
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | | | - Scott J Dylla
- Stemcentrx Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
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Lenhart R, Kirov S, Desilva H, Cao J, Lei M, Johnston K, Peterson R, Schweizer L, Purandare A, Ross-Macdonald P, Fairchild C, Wong T, Wee S. Sensitivity of Small Cell Lung Cancer to BET Inhibition Is Mediated by Regulation of ASCL1 Gene Expression. Mol Cancer Ther 2015; 14:2167-74. [PMID: 26253517 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-15-0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The BET (bromodomain and extra-terminal) proteins bind acetylated histones and recruit protein complexes to promote transcription elongation. In hematologic cancers, BET proteins have been shown to regulate expression of MYC and other genes that are important to disease pathology. Pharmacologic inhibition of BET protein binding has been shown to inhibit tumor growth in MYC-dependent cancers, such as multiple myeloma. In this study, we demonstrate that small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells are exquisitely sensitive to growth inhibition by the BET inhibitor JQ1. JQ1 treatment has no impact on MYC protein expression, but results in downregulation of the lineage-specific transcription factor ASCL1. SCLC cells that are sensitive to JQ1 are also sensitive to ASCL1 depletion by RNAi. Chromatin immunoprecipitation studies confirmed the binding of the BET protein BRD4 to the ASCL1 enhancer, and the ability of JQ1 to disrupt the interaction. The importance of ASCL1 as a potential driver oncogene in SCLC is further underscored by the observation that ASCL1 is overexpressed in >50% of SCLC specimens, an extent greater than that observed for other putative oncogenes (MYC, MYCN, and SOX2) previously implicated in SCLC. Our studies have provided a mechanistic basis for the sensitivity of SCLC to BET inhibition and a rationale for the clinical development of BET inhibitors in this disease with high unmet medical need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Lenhart
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Stefan Kirov
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, New Jersey
| | | | - Jian Cao
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Ming Lei
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, New Jersey
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Tai Wong
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Susan Wee
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, New Jersey.
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