1
|
Chittavanich P, Saengwimol D, Roytrakul S, Rojanaporn D, Chaitankar V, Srimongkol A, Anurathapan U, Hongeng S, Kaewkhaw R. Ceftriaxone exerts antitumor effects in MYCN-driven retinoblastoma and neuroblastoma by targeting DDX3X for translation repression. Mol Oncol 2024; 18:918-938. [PMID: 37975412 PMCID: PMC10994227 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13553] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
MYCN proto-oncogene, bHLH transcription factor (MYCN) amplification is associated with aggressive retinoblastoma (RB) and neuroblastoma (NB) cancer recurrence that is resistant to chemotherapies. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify new therapeutic tools. This study aimed to evaluate the potential repurposing of ceftriaxone for the treatment of MYCN-amplified RB and NB, based on the clinical observations that the drug was serendipitously found to decrease the volume of the MYCN-driven RB subtype. Using patient-derived tumor organoids and tumor cell lines, we demonstrated that ceftriaxone is a potent and selective growth inhibitor targeting MYCN-driven RB and NB cells. Profiling of drug-induced transcriptomic changes, cell-cycle progression, and apoptotic death indicated cell-cycle arrest and death of drug-treated MYCN-amplified tumor cells. Drug target identification, using an affinity-based proteomic and molecular docking approach, and functional studies of the target proteins revealed that ceftriaxone targeted DEAD-box helicase 3 X-linked (DDX3X), thereby inhibiting translation in MYCN-amplified tumors but not in MYCN-nonamplified cells. The data suggest the feasibility of repurposing ceftriaxone as an anticancer drug and provide insights into the mechanism of drug action, highlighting DDX3X as a potential target for treating MYCN-driven tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pamorn Chittavanich
- Program in Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi HospitalMahidol UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - Duangporn Saengwimol
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi HospitalMahidol UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - Sittiruk Roytrakul
- Functional Proteomics Technology Laboratory, National Center for Genetic Engineering and BiotechnologyNational Science and Technology Development AgencyPathum ThaniThailand
| | - Duangnate Rojanaporn
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi HospitalMahidol UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - Vijender Chaitankar
- Biodata Mining and Discovery Section, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Atthapol Srimongkol
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi HospitalMahidol UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - Usanarat Anurathapan
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi HospitalMahidol UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - Suradej Hongeng
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi HospitalMahidol UniversityBangkokThailand
| | - Rossukon Kaewkhaw
- Program in Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi HospitalMahidol UniversityBangkokThailand
- Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi HospitalMahidol UniversitySamut PrakanThailand
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dolfini D, Gnesutta N, Mantovani R. Expression and function of NF-Y subunits in cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189082. [PMID: 38309445 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189082] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
NF-Y is a Transcription Factor (TF) targeting the CCAAT box regulatory element. It consists of the NF-YB/NF-YC heterodimer, each containing an Histone Fold Domain (HFD), and the sequence-specific subunit NF-YA. NF-YA expression is associated with cell proliferation and absent in some post-mitotic cells. The review summarizes recent findings impacting on cancer development. The logic of the NF-Y regulome points to pro-growth, oncogenic genes in the cell-cycle, metabolism and transcriptional regulation routes. NF-YA is involved in growth/differentiation decisions upon cell-cycle re-entry after mitosis and it is widely overexpressed in tumors, the HFD subunits in some tumor types or subtypes. Overexpression of NF-Y -mostly NF-YA- is oncogenic and decreases sensitivity to anti-neoplastic drugs. The specific roles of NF-YA and NF-YC isoforms generated by alternative splicing -AS- are discussed, including the prognostic value of their levels, although the specific molecular mechanisms of activity are still to be deciphered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diletta Dolfini
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Nerina Gnesutta
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Roberto Mantovani
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, Milano 20133, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
East P, Kelly GP, Biswas D, Marani M, Hancock DC, Creasy T, Sachsenmeier K, Swanton C, Downward J, de Carné Trécesson S. RAS oncogenic activity predicts response to chemotherapy and outcome in lung adenocarcinoma. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5632. [PMID: 36163168 PMCID: PMC9512813 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33290-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Activating mutations in KRAS occur in 32% of lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD). Despite leading to aggressive disease and resistance to therapy in preclinical studies, the KRAS mutation does not predict patient outcome or response to treatment, presumably due to additional events modulating RAS pathways. To obtain a broader measure of RAS pathway activation, we developed RAS84, a transcriptional signature optimised to capture RAS oncogenic activity in LUAD. We report evidence of RAS pathway oncogenic activation in 84% of LUAD, including 65% KRAS wild-type tumours, falling into four groups characterised by coincident alteration of STK11/LKB1, TP53 or CDKN2A, suggesting that the classifications developed when considering only KRAS mutant tumours have significance in a broader cohort of patients. Critically, high RAS activity patient groups show adverse clinical outcome and reduced response to chemotherapy. Patient stratification using oncogenic RAS transcriptional activity instead of genetic alterations could ultimately assist in clinical decision-making.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip East
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Gavin P Kelly
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Dhruva Biswas
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Michela Marani
- Oncogene Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - David C Hancock
- Oncogene Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Todd Creasy
- Oncology Data Science, Oncology Research and Development, AstraZeneca, 200 Orchard Ridge Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, USA
| | - Kris Sachsenmeier
- Oncology Research and Development, AstraZeneca, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Waltham, MA, 02451, USA
| | - Charles Swanton
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Julian Downward
- Oncogene Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
- Lung Cancer Group, Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, London, SW3 6JB, UK.
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Du R, Sullivan DK, Azizian NG, Liu Y, Li Y. Inhibition of ERAD synergizes with FTS to eradicate pancreatic cancer cells. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:237. [PMID: 33676427 PMCID: PMC7937230 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-07967-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the most lethal cancers, is driven by oncogenic KRAS mutations. Farnesyl thiosalicylic acid (FTS), also known as salirasib, is a RAS inhibitor that selectively dislodges active RAS proteins from cell membrane, inhibiting downstream signaling. FTS has demonstrated limited therapeutic efficacy in PDAC patients despite being well tolerated. Methods To improve the efficacy of FTS in PDAC, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR synthetic lethality screen to identify genetic targets that synergize with FTS treatment. Among the top candidates, multiple genes in the endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein degradation (ERAD) pathway were identified. The role of ERAD inhibition in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of FTS was further investigated in pancreatic cancer cells using pharmaceutical and genetic approaches. Results In murine and human PDAC cells, FTS induced unfolded protein response (UPR), which was further augmented upon treatment with a chemical inhibitor of ERAD, Eeyarestatin I (EerI). Combined treatment with FTS and EerI significantly upregulated the expression of UPR marker genes and induced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, CRISPR-based genetic ablation of the key ERAD components, HRD1 and SEL1L, sensitized PDAC cells to FTS treatment. Conclusion Our study reveals a critical role for ERAD in therapeutic response of FTS and points to the modulation of UPR as a novel approach to improve the efficacy of FTS in PDAC treatment. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-07967-6.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rong Du
- Center for Immunotherapy Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, 10065, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Delaney K Sullivan
- UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Nancy G Azizian
- Center for Immunotherapy Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Yuanhui Liu
- Center for Immunotherapy Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Yulin Li
- Center for Immunotherapy Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Splice switching an oncogenic ratio of SmgGDS isoforms as a strategy to diminish malignancy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:3627-3636. [PMID: 32019878 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1914153117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The chaperone protein SmgGDS promotes cell-cycle progression and tumorigenesis in human breast and nonsmall cell lung cancer. Splice variants of SmgGDS, named SmgGDS-607 and SmgGDS-558, facilitate the activation of oncogenic members of the Ras and Rho families of small GTPases through membrane trafficking via regulation of the prenylation pathway. SmgGDS-607 interacts with newly synthesized preprenylated small GTPases, while SmgGDS-558 interacts with prenylated small GTPases. We determined that cancer cells have a high ratio of SmgGDS-607:SmgGDS-558 (607:558 ratio), and this elevated ratio is associated with reduced survival of breast cancer patients. These discoveries suggest that targeting SmgGDS splicing to lower the 607:558 ratio may be an effective strategy to inhibit the malignant phenotype generated by small GTPases. Here we report the development of a splice-switching oligonucleotide, named SSO Ex5, that lowers the 607:558 ratio by altering exon 5 inclusion in SmgGDS pre-mRNA (messenger RNA). Our results indicate that SSO Ex5 suppresses the prenylation of multiple small GTPases in the Ras, Rho, and Rab families and inhibits ERK activity, resulting in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, the unfolded protein response, and ultimately apoptotic cell death in breast and lung cancer cell lines. Furthermore, intraperitoneal (i.p.) delivery of SSO Ex5 in MMTV-PyMT mice redirects SmgGDS splicing in the mammary gland and slows tumorigenesis in this aggressive model of breast cancer. Taken together, our results suggest that the high 607:558 ratio is required for optimal small GTPase prenylation, and validate this innovative approach of targeting SmgGDS splicing to diminish malignancy in breast and lung cancer.
Collapse
|
6
|
Dai Q, Zhang C, Yuan Z, Sun Q, Jiang Y. Current discovery strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma therapeutics. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2019; 15:243-258. [DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2020.1696769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Qiuzi Dai
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China
- National & Local United Engineering Lab for Personalized Anti-tumor Drugs, The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, the Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, PR China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Cunlong Zhang
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, PR China
- National & Local United Engineering Lab for Personalized Anti-tumor Drugs, Shenzhen Kivita Innovative Drug Discovery Institute, The Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Zigao Yuan
- National & Local United Engineering Lab for Personalized Anti-tumor Drugs, The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, the Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, PR China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, PR China
- National & Local United Engineering Lab for Personalized Anti-tumor Drugs, Shenzhen Kivita Innovative Drug Discovery Institute, The Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Qinsheng Sun
- National & Local United Engineering Lab for Personalized Anti-tumor Drugs, The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, the Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, PR China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, PR China
- National & Local United Engineering Lab for Personalized Anti-tumor Drugs, Shenzhen Kivita Innovative Drug Discovery Institute, The Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Yuyang Jiang
- National & Local United Engineering Lab for Personalized Anti-tumor Drugs, The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, the Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, PR China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, PR China
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Li L, Li M, Xu S, Bu W, Zhang M, Gu H, Chen X. Is Ras a potential target in treatment against cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma? J Cancer 2018; 9:3373-3381. [PMID: 30271499 PMCID: PMC6160676 DOI: 10.7150/jca.25083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyperactive retrovirus-associated DNA sequence (Ras) genes have been found in human cancers and are involved in cancer pathogenesis. Salirasib, one anti-Ras compound, was reported to exhibit antitumoral effects, but its role remains unclear in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). In our study, salirasib treatment led to deregulation of c-Raf, ERK and Akt signaling, blockage of MTOR signaling, interruption on Beclin 1-related autophagy regulation, activation of apoptosis and down-regulation of some cell cycle regulatory proteins in primary human epidermal keratinocyte (HEK)s, but did not exhibit similar effects in the human cSCC cell line COLO-16. MEK inhibitor U0126 can lead to dephosphorylation of MTOR and Rictor in COLO-16 cells; however, c-Raf was not yet down-regulated after salirasib treatment in the presence of U0126. Furthermore, we verified that the Ras activity could be suppressed by salirasib, and there was no loss-of-function mutation in c-Raf in HEKs and COLO-16 cells. In summary, salirasib does not exhibit antitumoral effects in the cSCC cells in assays in vitro. We speculated that the disability of signaling transmission from Ras to c-Raf in COLO-16 cells might contribute to the ineffective performance of salirasib.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, 210042, China
| | - Min Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, 210042, China
| | - Song Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, 210042, China
| | - Wenbo Bu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, 210042, China
| | - Mengli Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, 210042, China
| | - Heng Gu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, 210042, China
| | - Xu Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, 210042, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lang L, Shay C, Zhao X, Teng Y. Combined targeting of Arf1 and Ras potentiates anticancer activity for prostate cancer therapeutics. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2017; 36:112. [PMID: 28830537 PMCID: PMC5568197 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-017-0583-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background Although major improvements have been made in surgical management, chemotherapeutic, and radiotherapeutic of prostate cancer, many prostate cancers remain refractory to treatment with standard agents. Therefore, the identification of new molecular targets in cancer progression and development of novel therapeutic strategies to target them are very necessary for achieving better survival for patients with prostate cancer. Activation of small GTPases such as Ras and Arf1 is a critical component of the signaling pathways for most of the receptors shown to be upregulated in advanced prostate cancer. Methods The drug effects on cell proliferation were measured by CellTiter 96® AQueous One Solution Cell Proliferation Assay. The drug effects on cell migration and invasion were determined by Radius™ 24-well and Matrigel-coated Boyden chambers. The drug effects on apoptosis were assessed by FITC Annexin V Apoptosis Detection Kit with 7-AAD and Western blot with antibodies against cleaved PARP and Caspase 3. A NOD/SCID mouse model generated by subcutaneous injection was used to assess the in vivo drug efficacy in tumor growth. ERK activation and tumor cell proliferation in xenografts were examined by immunohistochemistry. Results We show that Exo2, a small-molecule inhibitor that reduces Arf1 activation, effectively suppresses prostate cancer cell proliferation by blocking ERK1/2 activation. Exo2 also has other effects, inhibiting migration and invasion of PCa cells and inducing apoptosis. The Ras inhibitor salirasib augments Exo2-induced cytotoxicity in prostate cancer cells partially by enhancing the suppression of ERK1/2 phosphorylation. In a xenograft mouse model of prostate cancer, Exo2 reduces prostate tumor burden and inhibits ERK1/2 activation at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Synergistic treatment of salirasib and Exo2 exhibits a superior inhibitory effect on prostate tumor growth compared with either drug alone, which may be attributed to the more efficient inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Conclusion This study suggests that simultaneous blockade of Arf1 and Ras activation in prostate cancer cells is a potential targeted therapeutic strategy for preventing prostate cancer development. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13046-017-0583-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liwei Lang
- Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Chloe Shay
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory Children's Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Xiangdong Zhao
- Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Yong Teng
- Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA. .,Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yang S, Liu G. Targeting the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Lett 2017; 13:1041-1047. [PMID: 28454211 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.5557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the biological basis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear, effective treatments and improvement of the survival rate remain worthwhile research goals. Abnormal protein signaling pathways contributing to uncontrolled cell proliferation, differentiation, survival and apoptosis are biomarkers of the carcinogenic process. Certain mutated components or overexpression of the rat sarcoma virus (Ras)/rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (Raf)/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway are increasingly being studied in HCC carcinogenesis. The present review addresses the effect of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway on the pathogenesis of HCC, and provides an update on the preclinical and clinical development of various inhibitors targeting this core signaling pathway, which include various Ras inhibitors, Raf inhibitors and MEK inhibitors for HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sufang Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical Collage, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, P.R. China
| | - Guohua Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical Collage, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gurtner A, Manni I, Piaggio G. NF-Y in cancer: Impact on cell transformation of a gene essential for proliferation. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2016; 1860:604-616. [PMID: 27939755 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2016.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
NF-Y is a ubiquitous heterotrimeric transcription factor with a binding affinity for the CCAAT consensus motif, one of the most common cis-acting element in the promoter and enhancer regions of eukaryote genes in direct (CCAAT) or reverse (ATTGG) orientation. NF-Y consists of three subunits, NF-YA, the regulatory subunit of the trimer, NF-YB, and NF-YC, all required for CCAAT binding. Growing evidence in cells and animal models support the notion that NF-Y, driving transcription of a plethora of cell cycle regulatory genes, is a key player in the regulation of proliferation. Proper control of cellular growth is critical for cancer prevention and uncontrolled proliferation is a hallmark of cancer cells. Indeed, during cell transformation aberrant molecular pathways disrupt mechanisms controlling proliferation and many growth regulatory genes are altered in tumors. Here, we review bioinformatics, molecular and functional evidence indicating the involvement of the cell cycle regulator NF-Y in cancer-associated pathways. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Nuclear Factor Y in Development and Disease, edited by Prof. Roberto Mantovani.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aymone Gurtner
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, UOSD SAFU, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Manni
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, UOSD SAFU, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Piaggio
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, UOSD SAFU, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Zhao Y, Fan D, Ru B, Cheng KW, Hu S, Zhang J, Li ETS, Wang M. 6-C-(E-phenylethenyl)naringenin induces cell growth inhibition and cytoprotective autophagy in colon cancer cells. Eur J Cancer 2016; 68:38-50. [PMID: 27710830 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2016.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Revised: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
6-C-(E-phenylethenyl)naringenin (6-CEPN) is a small molecule found in naringenin fortified fried beef. It has been shown to suppress colon cancer cell proliferation, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we demonstrate that 6-CEPN suppresses tumour cell proliferation through cell cycle arrest in G1 phase, induces necrotic cell death and autophagy in colon cancer cells. Blockade of autophagy by knockdown of the essential autophagy proteins, Atg7 or beclin-1, resulted in aggravated cell death in response to 6-CEPN treatment. In addition, genome-wide transcriptome expression profiling by RNA-sequencing revealed that 6-CEPN-mediated gene expression pattern was extremely similar to the transcriptome response induced by a RAS inhibitor salirasib (farnesylthiosalicylic acid [FTS; salirasib]). Subsequent molecular biological and biochemical experiments demonstrated that 6-CEPN indeed strongly inhibited RAS activation, leading to the inhibition of the downstream effector pathways c-Raf/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin. More importantly, our computational molecular docking data showed that 6-CEPN could bind to the active site of isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (Icmt), a critical enzyme for the activation of RAS. Icmt activity assay showed that 6-CEPN inhibited its activity significantly. Knockdown of Icmt by siRNA attenuated 6-CEPN-mediated autophagy and cell death. The present study demonstrates that 6-CEPN induces cell growth inhibition and cytoprotective autophagy in colon cancer cells, at least in part, though inhibition of the Icmt/RAS signalling pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yueliang Zhao
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Daming Fan
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Beibei Ru
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ka-Wing Cheng
- College of Engineering, Peking University, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Shuting Hu
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jiangwen Zhang
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Edmund T S Li
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mingfu Wang
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Shrestha G, MacNeil SM, McQuerry JA, Jenkins DF, Sharma S, Bild AH. The value of genomics in dissecting the RAS-network and in guiding therapeutics for RAS-driven cancers. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2016; 58:108-17. [PMID: 27338857 PMCID: PMC5951171 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The rise in genomic knowledge over the past decade has revealed the molecular etiology of many diseases, and has identified intricate signaling network activity in human cancers. Genomics provides the opportunity to determine genome structure and capture the activity of thousands of molecular events concurrently, which is important for deciphering highly complex genetic diseases such as cancer. In this review, we focus on genomic efforts directed towards one of cancer's most frequently mutated networks, the RAS pathway. Genomic tools such as gene expression signatures and assessment of mutations across the RAS network enable the capture of RAS signaling complexity. Due to this high level of interaction and cross-talk within the network, efforts to target RAS signaling in the clinic have generally failed, and we currently lack the ability to directly inhibit the RAS protein with high efficacy. We propose that the use of gene expression data can identify effective treatments that broadly inhibit the RAS network as this approach measures pathway activity independent of mutation status or any single mechanism of activation. Here, we review the genomic studies that map the complexity of the RAS network in cancer, and that show how genomic measurements of RAS pathway activation can identify effective RAS inhibition strategies. We also address the challenges and future directions for treating RAS-driven tumors. In summary, genomic assessment of RAS signaling provides a level of complexity necessary to accurately map the network that matches the intricacy of RAS pathway interactions in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gajendra Shrestha
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Shelley M MacNeil
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Jasmine A McQuerry
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - David F Jenkins
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sunil Sharma
- Department of Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Center for Investigational Therapeutics, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Andrea H Bild
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lionetti M, Barbieri M, Todoerti K, Agnelli L, Marzorati S, Fabris S, Ciceri G, Galletti S, Milesi G, Manzoni M, Mazzoni M, Greco A, Tonon G, Musto P, Baldini L, Neri A. Molecular spectrum of BRAF, NRAS and KRAS gene mutations in plasma cell dyscrasias: implication for MEK-ERK pathway activation. Oncotarget 2016; 6:24205-17. [PMID: 26090869 PMCID: PMC4695180 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 05/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous plasma cell (PC) malignancy. Whole-exome sequencing has identified therapeutically targetable mutations such as those in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which are the most prevalent MM mutations. We used deep sequencing to screen 167 representative patients with PC dyscrasias [132 with MM, 24 with primary PC leukemia (pPCL) and 11 with secondary PC leukemia (sPCL)] for mutations in BRAF, NRAS and KRAS, which were respectively found in 12%, 23.9% and 29.3% of cases. Overall, the MAPK pathway was affected in 57.5% of the patients (63.6% of those with sPCL, 59.8% of those with MM, and 41.7% of those with pPCL). The majority of BRAF variants were comparably expressed at transcript level. Additionally, gene expression profiling indicated the MAPK pathway is activated in mutated patients. Finally, we found that vemurafenib inhibition of BRAF activation in mutated U266 cells affected the expression of genes known to be associated with MM. Our data confirm and extend previous published evidence that MAPK pathway activation is recurrent in myeloma; the finding that it is mediated by BRAF mutations in a significant fraction of patients has potentially immediate clinical implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Lionetti
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marzia Barbieri
- Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Katia Todoerti
- Laboratory of Pre-Clinical and Translational Research, IRCCS-CROB, Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata, Rionero in Vulture, Potenza, Italy
| | - Luca Agnelli
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Marzorati
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Sonia Fabris
- Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriella Ciceri
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Galletti
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Milesi
- Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Martina Manzoni
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Mara Mazzoni
- Molecular Mechanism Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Angela Greco
- Molecular Mechanism Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Tonon
- Functional Genomics of Cancer Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Pellegrino Musto
- Laboratory of Pre-Clinical and Translational Research, IRCCS-CROB, Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata, Rionero in Vulture, Potenza, Italy
| | - Luca Baldini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonino Neri
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Hematology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
The RAF-MEK-ERK pathway: targeting ERK to overcome obstacles to effective cancer therapy. Future Med Chem 2015; 7:269-89. [PMID: 25826360 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.14.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Currently, dozens of BRAF inhibitors and MEK inhibitors targeting RAF-MEK-ERK pathway have been introduced into clinical trials for cancer therapy. However, after 6-8 months of initial response, acquired drug resistance among the majority of those treated patients sharply diminished their clinical efficacy. DISCUSSION Important mechanisms responsible for acquired resistance of BRAF inhibitors and MEK inhibitors have been elucidated. Continually, ERK1/2 locates in the critical position and features unique characteristics, such as activating hundreds of substrates, participating in feedback regulation, being catalyzed by MEK specifically and no acquired resistant mutation. CONCLUSION Taking in account the inspiring outcomes of ERK inhibitors in preclinical research, ERK1/2 might be the optimal target to overcome acquired drug resistance in RAF-MEK-ERK pathway.
Collapse
|
15
|
Menachem A, Bodner O, Pastor J, Raz A, Kloog Y. Inhibition of malignant thyroid carcinoma cell proliferation by Ras and galectin-3 inhibitors. Cell Death Discov 2015; 1:15047. [PMID: 27551476 PMCID: PMC4979473 DOI: 10.1038/cddiscovery.2015.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2015] [Revised: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplastic Thyroid carcinoma is an extremely aggressive solid tumor that resists most treatments and is almost always fatal. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is an important marker for thyroid carcinomas and a scaffold of the K-Ras protein. S-trans, transfarnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS; Salirasib) is a Ras inhibitor that inhibits the active forms of Ras proteins. Modified citrus pectin (MCP) is a water-soluble citrus-fruit-derived polysaccharide fiber that specifically inhibits Gal-3. The aim of this study was to develop a novel drug combination designed to treat aggressive anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Combined treatment with FTS and MCP inhibited anaplastic thyroid cells proliferation in vitro by inducing cell cycle arrest and increasing apoptosis rate. Immunoblot analysis revealed a significant decrease in Pan-Ras, K-Ras, Ras-GTP, p-ERK, p53, and Gal-3 expression levels and significant increase in p21 expression levels. In nude mice, treatment with FTS and MCP inhibited tumor growth. Levels of Gal-3, K-Ras-GTP, and p-ERK were significantly decreased. To conclude, our results suggest K-Ras and Gal-3 as potential targets in anaplastic thyroid tumors and herald a novel treatment for highly aggressive anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Menachem
- Department of Neurobiology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - O Bodner
- Department of Neurobiology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - J Pastor
- Department of Neurobiology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - A Raz
- The Departments of Oncology and Pathology, School of Medicine, The Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University , Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Y Kloog
- Department of Neurobiology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Willis S, De P, Dey N, Long B, Young B, Sparano JA, Wang V, Davidson NE, Leyland-Jones BR. Enriched transcription factor signatures in triple negative breast cancer indicates possible targeted therapies with existing drugs. Meta Gene 2015; 4:129-41. [PMID: 26005638 PMCID: PMC4436509 DOI: 10.1016/j.mgene.2015.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Revised: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Triple negative (TN) breast cancers which lack expression of the estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR), and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) receptors convey a poor prognosis due in part to a lack of targeted therapies. METHODS To identify viable targets for the treatment of TN disease, we have conducted a gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) on seven different breast cancer whole genome gene expression cohorts comparing TN vs. ER + HER2 - to identify consistently enriched genes that share a common promoter motif. The seven cohorts were profiled on three different genome expression platforms (Affymetrix, Illumina and RNAseq) consisting in total of 2088 samples with IHC metadata. RESULTS GSEA identified enriched gene expression patterns in TN samples that share common promoter motifs associated with SOX9, E2F1, HIF1A, HMGA1, MYC BACH2, CEBPB, and GCNF/NR6A1. Unexpectedly, NR6A1 an orphan nuclear receptor normally expressed in germ cells of gonads is highly expressed in TN and ER + HER2 - samples making it an ideal drug target. CONCLUSION With the increasing number of large sample size breast cancer cohorts, an exploratory analysis of genes that are consistently enriched in TN sharing common promoter motifs allows for the identification of possible therapeutic targets with extensive validation in patient derived data sets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Pradip De
- Avera Cancer Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
| | - Nandini Dey
- Avera Cancer Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
| | - Bradley Long
- The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, United States
| | - Brandon Young
- Avera Cancer Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, United States
| | | | - Victoria Wang
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Nancy E Davidson
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and UPMC Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Garay T, Kenessey I, Molnár E, Juhász É, Réti A, László V, Rózsás A, Dobos J, Döme B, Berger W, Klepetko W, Tóvári J, Tímár J, Hegedűs B. Prenylation inhibition-induced cell death in melanoma: reduced sensitivity in BRAF mutant/PTEN wild-type melanoma cells. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117021. [PMID: 25646931 PMCID: PMC4315579 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 12/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
While targeted therapy brought a new era in the treatment of BRAF mutant melanoma, therapeutic options for non-BRAF mutant cases are still limited. In order to explore the antitumor activity of prenylation inhibition we investigated the response to zoledronic acid treatment in thirteen human melanoma cell lines with known BRAF, NRAS and PTEN mutational status. Effect of zoledronic acid on proliferation, clonogenic potential, apoptosis and migration of melanoma cells as well as the activation of downstream elements of the RAS/RAF pathway were investigated in vitro with SRB, TUNEL and PARP cleavage assays and videomicroscopy and immunoblot measurements, respectively. Subcutaneous and spleen-to-liver colonization xenograft mouse models were used to evaluate the influence of zoledronic acid treatment on primary and disseminated tumor growth of melanoma cells in vivo. Zoledronic acid more efficiently decreased short-term in vitro viability in NRAS mutant cells when compared to BRAF mutant and BRAF/NRAS wild-type cells. In line with this finding, following treatment decreased activation of ribosomal protein S6 was found in NRAS mutant cells. Zoledronic acid demonstrated no significant synergism in cell viability inhibition or apoptosis induction with cisplatin or DTIC treatment in vitro. Importantly, zoledronic acid could inhibit clonogenic growth in the majority of melanoma cell lines except in the three BRAF mutant but PTEN wild-type melanoma lines. A similar pattern was observed in apoptosis induction experiments. In vivo zoledronic acid did not inhibit the subcutaneous growth or spleen-to-liver colonization of melanoma cells. Altogether our data demonstrates that prenylation inhibition may be a novel therapeutic approach in NRAS mutant melanoma. Nevertheless, we also demonstrated that therapeutic sensitivity might be influenced by the PTEN status of BRAF mutant melanoma cells. However, further investigations are needed to identify drugs that have appropriate pharmacological properties to efficiently target prenylation in melanoma cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamás Garay
- 2nd Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- National Koranyi Institute of TB and Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Biological Physics, Eötvös University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - István Kenessey
- 2nd Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Eszter Molnár
- 2nd Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Éva Juhász
- 2nd Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andrea Réti
- 2nd Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Viktória László
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anita Rózsás
- National Koranyi Institute of TB and Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Judit Dobos
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Döme
- National Koranyi Institute of TB and Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Semmelweis University-National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Walter Berger
- Institute of Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Walter Klepetko
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - József Tóvári
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - József Tímár
- 2nd Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-SE Molecular Oncology Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Hegedűs
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- MTA-SE Molecular Oncology Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Makovski V, Jacob-Hirsch J, Gefen-Dor C, Shai B, Ehrlich M, Rechavi G, Kloog Y. Analysis of gene expression array in TSC2-deficient AML cells reveals IRF7 as a pivotal factor in the Rheb/mTOR pathway. Cell Death Dis 2014; 5:e1557. [PMID: 25476905 PMCID: PMC4649829 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2014.502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Revised: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in tuberous sclerosis (TSC) genes cause the genetic disorder TSC, as well as other neoplasms, including lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and angiomyolipomas (AMLs). AMLs are benign renal tumors occur both in sporadic LAM and in TSC. As they carry the same mutations, AML cell lines serve as a model for TSC and LAM. Rheb/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway is chronically activated in TSC-deficient cells, and this activation can be diminished using the appropriate inhibitors. Rapamycin (sirolimus) is a known specific inhibitor of mTORC1, whereas S-trans,trans-farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS; salirasib) has been shown to inhibit Rheb. To examine the effect of the Rheb/mTOR inhibition pathway, we used human TSC2-deficient AML cells, derived from a LAM patient. FTS indeed inhibited Rheb in these cells and attenuated their proliferation. After comparative treatments with FTS or rapamycin or by re-expression of TSC2, we carried out a gene array analysis. This yielded a substantial number of commonly altered genes, many of which we identified as downstream targets of the interferon (IFN) regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) transcription factor, a central activator of the IFN type 1 immune response. Furthermore, nuclear localization of IRF7 was impaired by each of the three treatments. Interestingly, the phenomena seen on FTS or rapamycin treatment were selective for TSC2-deficient cells. Moreover, knockdown of IRF7 by siRNA mimicked the decrease in number of the abovementioned genes and also inhibited AML cell proliferation. Altogether, these findings support FTS as a potential treatment for TSC and its related pathologies and IRF7 as a novel target for treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V Makovski
- Department of Neurobiology, The George S Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - J Jacob-Hirsch
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - C Gefen-Dor
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - B Shai
- Department of Cell Research and Immunology, The George S Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - M Ehrlich
- Department of Cell Research and Immunology, The George S Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - G Rechavi
- 1] Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel [2] Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Y Kloog
- Department of Neurobiology, The George S Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
A parallel-arm phase I trial of the humanised anti-IGF-1R antibody dalotuzumab in combination with the AKT inhibitor MK-2206, the mTOR inhibitor ridaforolimus, or the NOTCH inhibitor MK-0752, in patients with advanced solid tumours. Br J Cancer 2014; 111:1932-44. [PMID: 25290091 PMCID: PMC4229637 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2014.497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2014] [Revised: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Two strategies to interrogate the insulin growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) pathway were investigated: vertical inhibition with dalotuzumab and MK-2206 or ridaforolimus to potentiate PI3K pathway targeting and horizontal cross-talk inhibition with dalotuzumab and MK-0752 to exert effects against cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, and stem cell propagation. Methods: A phase I, multi-cohort dose escalation study was conducted in patients with advanced solid tumours. Patients received dalotuzumab (10 mg kg–1) and escalating doses of MK-2206 (90–200 mg) or escalating doses of dalotuzumab (7.5–10 mg kg–1) and MK-0752 (1800 mg) weekly. Upon maximum tolerated dose determination, patients with low-RAS signature, high-IGF1 expression ovarian cancer were randomised to dalotuzumab/MK-2206 versus dalotuzumab/ridaforolimus, whereas patients with high IGF1/low IGF2 expression colorectal cancer received dalotuzumab/MK-0752. Results: A total of 47 patients were enrolled: 29 in part A (18 in the dalotuzumab/MK-2206 arm and 11 in the dalotuzumab/MK-0752 arm) and 18 in part B (6 in each arm). Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) for dalotuzumab/MK-2206 included grade 4 neutropenia and grade 3 serum sickness-like reaction, maculopapular rash, and gastrointestinal inflammation. For dalotuzumab/MK-0752, DLTs included grade 3 dehydration, rash, and diarrhoea. Seven patients remained on study for >4 cycles. Conclusions: Dalotuzumab/MK-2206 and dalotuzumab/MK-0752 combinations were tolerable. Further developments of prospectively validated predictive biomarkers to aid in patient selection for anti-IGF-1R therapies are needed.
Collapse
|
20
|
Blum R, Kloog Y. Metabolism addiction in pancreatic cancer. Cell Death Dis 2014; 5:e1065. [PMID: 24556680 PMCID: PMC3944253 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2014.38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2013] [Revised: 01/06/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, an aggressively invasive, treatment-resistant malignancy and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, is usually detectable only when already inevitably fatal. Despite advances in genetic screening, mapping and molecular characterization, its pathology remains largely elusive. Renewed research interest in longstanding doctrines of tumor metabolism has led to the emergence of aberrant signaling pathways as critical factors modulating central metabolic networks that fuel pancreatic tumors. Such pathways, including those of Ras signaling, glutamine-regulatory enzymes, lipid metabolism and autophagy, are directly affected by genetic mutations and extreme tumor microenvironments that typify pancreatic tumor cells. Elucidation of these metabolic networks can be expected to yield more potent therapies against this deadly disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Blum
- Department of Pathology and Cancer Institute, Smilow Research Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Y Kloog
- Department of Neurobiology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Muthuswami M, Ramesh V, Banerjee S, Viveka Thangaraj S, Periasamy J, Bhaskar Rao D, Barnabas GD, Raghavan S, Ganesan K. Breast tumors with elevated expression of 1q candidate genes confer poor clinical outcome and sensitivity to Ras/PI3K inhibition. PLoS One 2013; 8:e77553. [PMID: 24147022 PMCID: PMC3798322 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2013] [Accepted: 09/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic aberrations are common in cancers and the long arm of chromosome 1 is known for its frequent amplifications in breast cancer. However, the key candidate genes of 1q, and their contribution in breast cancer pathogenesis remain unexplored. We have analyzed the gene expression profiles of 1635 breast tumor samples using meta-analysis based approach and identified clinically significant candidates from chromosome 1q. Seven candidate genes including exonuclease 1 (EXO1) are consistently over expressed in breast tumors, specifically in high grade and aggressive breast tumors with poor clinical outcome. We derived a EXO1 co-expression module from the mRNA profiles of breast tumors which comprises 1q candidate genes and their co-expressed genes. By integrative functional genomics investigation, we identified the involvement of EGFR, RAS, PI3K / AKT, MYC, E2F signaling in the regulation of these selected 1q genes in breast tumors and breast cancer cell lines. Expression of EXO1 module was found as indicative of elevated cell proliferation, genomic instability, activated RAS/AKT/MYC/E2F1 signaling pathways and loss of p53 activity in breast tumors. mRNA-drug connectivity analysis indicates inhibition of RAS/PI3K as a possible targeted therapeutic approach for the patients with activated EXO1 module in breast tumors. Thus, we identified seven 1q candidate genes strongly associated with the poor survival of breast cancer patients and identified the possibility of targeting them with EGFR/RAS/PI3K inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muthulakshmi Muthuswami
- Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Centre for Excellence in Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India
| | - Vignesh Ramesh
- Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Centre for Excellence in Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India
| | - Saikat Banerjee
- Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Centre for Excellence in Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India
| | - Soundara Viveka Thangaraj
- Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Centre for Excellence in Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India
| | - Jayaprakash Periasamy
- Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Centre for Excellence in Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India
| | - Divya Bhaskar Rao
- Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Centre for Excellence in Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India
| | - Georgina D. Barnabas
- Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Centre for Excellence in Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India
| | - Swetha Raghavan
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chenna, India
| | - Kumaresan Ganesan
- Cancer Genetics Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Centre for Excellence in Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Dolfini D, Mantovani R. Targeting the Y/CCAAT box in cancer: YB-1 (YBX1) or NF-Y? Cell Death Differ 2013; 20:676-85. [PMID: 23449390 PMCID: PMC3619239 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2013.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2012] [Revised: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 01/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The Y box is an important sequence motif found in promoters and enhancers containing a CCAAT box - one of the few elements enriched in promoters of large sets of genes overexpressed in cancer. The search for the transcription factor(s) acting on it led to the biochemical purification of the nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) heterotrimer, and to the cloning - through the screening of expression libraries - of Y box-binding protein 1 (YB-1), an oncogene, overexpressed in aggressive tumors and associated with drug resistance. These two factors have been associated with Y/CCAAT-dependent activation of numerous growth-related genes, notably multidrug resistance protein 1. We review two decades of data indicating that NF-Y ultimately acts on Y/CCAAT in cancer cells, a notion recently confirmed by genome-wide data. Other features of YB-1, such as post-transcriptional control of mRNA biology, render it important in cancer biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Dolfini
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, Milan 20133, Italy
| | - R Mantovani
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, Milan 20133, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Salirasib sensitizes hepatocarcinoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through DR5 and survivin-dependent mechanisms. Cell Death Dis 2013; 4:e471. [PMID: 23348585 PMCID: PMC3563988 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2012.200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Ras activation is a frequent event in human hepatocarcinoma that may contribute to resistance towards apoptosis. Salirasib is a ras and mTOR inhibitor that induces a pro-apoptotic phenotype in human hepatocarcinoma cell lines. In this work, we evaluate whether salirasib sensitizes those cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Cell viability, cell death and apoptosis were evaluated in vitro in HepG2, Hep3B and Huh7 cells treated with DMSO, salirasib and YM155 (a survivin inhibitor), alone or in combination with recombinant TRAIL. Our results show that pretreatment with salirasib sensitized human hepatocarcinoma cell lines, but not normal human hepatocytes, to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Indeed, FACS analysis showed that 25 (Huh7) to 50 (HepG2 and Hep3B) percent of the cells treated with both drugs were apoptotic. This occurred through activation of the extrinsic and the intrinsic pathways, as evidenced by a marked increase in caspase 3/7 (five to ninefold), caspase 8 (four to sevenfold) and caspase 9 (eight to 12-fold) activities in cells treated with salirasib and TRAIL compared with control. Survivin inhibition had an important role in this process and was sufficient to sensitize hepatocarcinoma cells to apoptosis. Furthermore, TRAIL-induced apoptosis in HCC cells pretreated with salirasib was dependent on activation of death receptor (DR) 5. In conclusion, salirasib sensitizes hepatocarcinoma cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by a mechanism involving the DR5 receptor and survivin inhibition. These results in human hepatocarcinoma cell lines and primary hepatocytes provide a rationale for testing the combination of salirasib and TRAIL agonists in human hepatocarcinoma.
Collapse
|
24
|
Goldberg L, Israeli R, Kloog Y. FTS and 2-DG induce pancreatic cancer cell death and tumor shrinkage in mice. Cell Death Dis 2012; 3:e284. [PMID: 22419113 PMCID: PMC3317504 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2012.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The Ras inhibitor S-trans-trans farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS)
inhibits active Ras, which controls cell proliferation, differentiation,
survival, and metabolism. FTS also inhibits HIF1α expression in
cancer cells, leading to an energy crisis. The synthetic glucose analog
2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), which inhibits glycolysis, is selectively directed to
tumor cells that exhibit increased glucose consumption. The 2-DG enters tumor
cells, where it competes with glucose for glycolytic enzymes. In cancer models,
as well as in human phase 1 trials, 2-DG inhibits tumor growth without toxicity.
We postulated that under normoxic conditions, tumor cells treated with FTS would
be more sensitive than normal cells to 2-DG. We show here that combined
treatment with FTS and 2-DG inhibited cancer cell proliferation additively, yet
induced apoptotic cell death synergistically both in vitro and in
vivo. The induced apoptosis was inferred from QVD-OPH inhibition, an
increase in cleaved caspase 3, and loss of survivin. FTS and 2-DG when combined,
but not separately, also induced an increase in fibrosis of the tumor tissue,
chronic inflammation, and tumor shrinkage. Overall, these results suggest a
possible new treatment of pancreatic tumors by the combined administration of
FTS and 2-DG, which together induce pancreatic tumor cell death and tumor
shrinkage under non-toxic conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Goldberg
- Department of Neurobiology, George S Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Dolfini D, Gatta R, Mantovani R. NF-Y and the transcriptional activation of CCAAT promoters. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2011; 47:29-49. [PMID: 22050321 DOI: 10.3109/10409238.2011.628970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The CCAAT box promoter element and NF-Y, the transcription factor (TF) that binds to it, were among the first cis-elements and trans-acting factors identified; their interplay is required for transcriptional activation of a sizeable number of eukaryotic genes. NF-Y consists of three evolutionarily conserved subunits: a dimer of NF-YB and NF-YC which closely resembles a histone, and the "innovative" NF-YA. In this review, we will provide an update on the functional and biological features that make NF-Y a fundamental link between chromatin and transcription. The last 25 years have witnessed a spectacular increase in our knowledge of how genes are regulated: from the identification of cis-acting sequences in promoters and enhancers, and the biochemical characterization of the corresponding TFs, to the merging of chromatin studies with the investigation of enzymatic machines that regulate epigenetic states. Originally identified and studied in yeast and mammals, NF-Y - also termed CBF and CP1 - is composed of three subunits, NF-YA, NF-YB and NF-YC. The complex recognizes the CCAAT pentanucleotide and specific flanking nucleotides with high specificity (Dorn et al., 1997; Hatamochi et al., 1988; Hooft van Huijsduijnen et al, 1987; Kim & Sheffery, 1990). A compelling set of bioinformatics studies clarified that the NF-Y preferred binding site is one of the most frequent promoter elements (Suzuki et al., 2001, 2004; Elkon et al., 2003; Mariño-Ramírez et al., 2004; FitzGerald et al., 2004; Linhart et al., 2005; Zhu et al., 2005; Lee et al., 2007; Abnizova et al., 2007; Grskovic et al., 2007; Halperin et al., 2009; Häkkinen et al., 2011). The same consensus, as determined by mutagenesis and SELEX studies (Bi et al., 1997), was also retrieved in ChIP-on-chip analysis (Testa et al., 2005; Ceribelli et al., 2006; Ceribelli et al., 2008; Reed et al., 2008). Additional structural features of the CCAAT box - position, orientation, presence of multiple Transcriptional Start Sites - were previously reviewed (Dolfini et al., 2009) and will not be considered in detail here.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diletta Dolfini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Itadani H, Mizuarai S, Kotani H. Can systems biology understand pathway activation? Gene expression signatures as surrogate markers for understanding the complexity of pathway activation. Curr Genomics 2011; 9:349-60. [PMID: 19517027 PMCID: PMC2694555 DOI: 10.2174/138920208785133235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2008] [Revised: 04/20/2008] [Accepted: 04/25/2008] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is thought to be caused by a sequence of multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations which occur in one or more of the genes controlling cell cycle progression and signaling transduction. The complexity of carcinogenic mechanisms leads to heterogeneity in molecular phenotype, pathology, and prognosis of cancers. Genome-wide mutational analysis of cancer genes in individual tumors is the most direct way to elucidate the complex process of disease progression, although such high-throughput sequencing technologies are not yet fully developed. As a surrogate marker for pathway activation analysis, expression profiling using microarrays has been successfully applied for the classification of tumor types, stages of tumor progression, or in some cases, prediction of clinical outcomes. However, the biological implication of those gene expression signatures is often unclear. Systems biological approaches leverage the signature genes as a representation of changes in signaling pathways, instead of interpreting the relevance between each gene and phenotype. This approach, which can be achieved by comparing the gene set or the expression profile with those of reference experiments in which a defined pathway is modulated, will improve our understanding of cancer classification, clinical outcome, and carcinogenesis. In this review, we will discuss recent studies on the development of expression signatures to monitor signaling pathway activities and how these signatures can be used to improve the identification of responders to anticancer drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiraku Itadani
- Department of Cancer Research, Banyu Tsukuba Research Institute, Merck Research Laboratory, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-2611, Japan
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Tsimberidou AM, Rudek MA, Hong D, Ng CS, Blair J, Goldsweig H, Kurzrock R. Phase 1 first-in-human clinical study of S-trans,trans-farnesylthiosalicylic acid (salirasib) in patients with solid tumors. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2011; 65:235-41. [PMID: 19484470 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-009-1027-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2008] [Accepted: 05/04/2009] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This phase I first-in-human trial evaluated salirasib, an S-prenyl derivative of thiosalicylic acid that competitively blocks RAS signaling. METHODS Patients with advanced cancers received salirasib twice daily for 21 days every 4 weeks. Doses were escalated from 100 to 200, 400, 600, and 800 mg. RESULTS The most common toxicity was dose-related diarrhea (Grade 1-2, 79% of 24 patients). Other toxicities included abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. No Grade 3-4 toxicity was noted. Nineteen (79%) patients had no drug-related toxicity >Grade 1. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was not reached, but all three patients treated with 800 mg experienced Grade 1-2 diarrhea, brogating dose escalation. Six patients were treated at a dose of 600 mg with no DLTs. Seven (29%) patients had stable disease on salirasib for ≥4 months (range 4-23+). The salirasib pharmacokinetic profile was characterized by slow absorption and a rapid elimination phase following oral administration. Salirasib exposure (C(max); day 1 AUC(inf) vs. day 15 AUC(0-12 h)) was similar between days 1 and 15 (P > 0.05). The T(1/2) (mean ± SD) was 3.6 ± 2.2 h on day 1. CONCLUSIONS Salirasib therapy was well tolerated. The recommended dose for phase II studies is 600 mg twice daily.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Apostolia Maria Tsimberidou
- Phase I Program, Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, 77030, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Kanwar JR, Kamalapuram SK, Kanwar RK. Targeting survivin in cancer: the cell-signalling perspective. Drug Discov Today 2011; 16:485-94. [PMID: 21511051 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2011.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2011] [Revised: 02/23/2011] [Accepted: 04/01/2011] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Survivin, a prominent anticancer target, is ubiquitously expressed in a plethora of cancers and the evolving complexity in functional regulation of survivin is yet to be deciphered. However, pertaining to the recent studies, therapeutic modulation of survivin is critically regulated by interaction with prominent cell-signalling pathways [HIF-1α, HSP90, PI3K/AKT, mTOR, ERK, tumour suppressor genes (p53, PTEN), oncogenes (Bcl-2, Ras)] and a wide range of growth factors (EGFR, VEGF, among others). In our article we discuss, in detail, an overview of the recent developments in the pharmacological modulation of survivin via cell-signalling paradigms and antisurvivin therapeutics, along with an outlook on therapeutic management of survivin in drug-resistant cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jagat R Kanwar
- Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biomedical Research (LIMBR), Centre for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Biosciences (BioDeakin), Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (ITRI), Deakin University, Victoria, Australia.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Biran A, Brownstein M, Haklai R, Kloog Y. Downregulation of survivin and aurora A by histone deacetylase and RAS inhibitors: a new drug combination for cancer therapy. Int J Cancer 2011; 128:691-701. [PMID: 20473860 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, such as valproic acid (VPA), constitute a novel class of anticancer agents that cause an increase in acetylated histones and thus restore the expression of dormant tumor-suppressor and other genes related to cell differentiation, cell-cycle arrest or apoptosis of tumor cells. The Ras inhibitor farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS, salirasib) attenuates cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo and, under certain circumstances, induces cell death. FTS by itself does not induce differentiation or complete growth arrest. The abovementioned activity of VPA as a differentiation agent suggested that it might be worth investigating its possible therapeutic potential in synergistic combination with FTS. Here, we examined whether the combined application of VPA and FTS could synergistically inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells that express oncogenic K-Ras (A549 nonsmall-cell lung carcinoma cells), DLD1 (colon carcinoma cells) or chronically active wild-type K-Ras and constitutively active B-Raf (ARO, thyroid carcinoma cells). The results showed that combined treatment with VPA and FTS synergistically reduces proliferation in all of these cancer cell lines by downregulating Ras and blocking the expression of Survivin and Aurora A. These alterations, which were most pronounced following the combined treatment, led to a mitotic crisis, as reflected by mislocalization of the chromosomal passenger complex. Our findings thus demonstrate that combination therapy with VPA and FTS might offer a promising therapeutic approach to the treatment of epithelial tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anat Biran
- Department of Neurobiology, George S Wise Faculty of Life Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Jürchott K, Kuban RJ, Krech T, Blüthgen N, Stein U, Walther W, Friese C, Kiełbasa SM, Ungethüm U, Lund P, Knösel T, Kemmner W, Morkel M, Fritzmann J, Schlag PM, Birchmeier W, Krueger T, Sperling S, Sers C, Royer HD, Herzel H, Schäfer R. Identification of Y-box binding protein 1 as a core regulator of MEK/ERK pathway-dependent gene signatures in colorectal cancer cells. PLoS Genet 2010; 6:e1001231. [PMID: 21170361 PMCID: PMC2996331 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1001231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2010] [Accepted: 11/01/2010] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional signatures are an indispensible source of correlative information on disease-related molecular alterations on a genome-wide level. Numerous candidate genes involved in disease and in factors of predictive, as well as of prognostic, value have been deduced from such molecular portraits, e.g. in cancer. However, mechanistic insights into the regulatory principles governing global transcriptional changes are lagging behind extensive compilations of deregulated genes. To identify regulators of transcriptome alterations, we used an integrated approach combining transcriptional profiling of colorectal cancer cell lines treated with inhibitors targeting the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)/RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, computational prediction of regulatory elements in promoters of co-regulated genes, chromatin-based and functional cellular assays. We identified commonly co-regulated, proliferation-associated target genes that respond to the MAPK pathway. We recognized E2F and NFY transcription factor binding sites as prevalent motifs in those pathway-responsive genes and confirmed the predicted regulatory role of Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) by reporter gene, gel shift, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. We also validated the MAPK-dependent gene signature in colorectal cancers and provided evidence for the association of YBX1 with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients. This suggests that MEK/ERK-dependent, YBX1-regulated target genes are involved in executing malignant properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karsten Jürchott
- Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ralf-Jürgen Kuban
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Till Krech
- Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nils Blüthgen
- Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrike Stein
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Christian Friese
- Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Szymon M. Kiełbasa
- Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ute Ungethüm
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Per Lund
- Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Knösel
- Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kemmner
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Markus Morkel
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Tammo Krueger
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Silke Sperling
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Sers
- Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hans-Dieter Royer
- Center of Advanced European Studies and Research, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics and Anthropology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hanspeter Herzel
- Institute for Theoretical Biology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Reinhold Schäfer
- Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Okoh V, Deoraj A, Roy D. Estrogen-induced reactive oxygen species-mediated signalings contribute to breast cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2010; 1815:115-33. [PMID: 21036202 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2010.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2010] [Revised: 10/12/2010] [Accepted: 10/14/2010] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Elevated lifetime estrogen exposure is a major risk factor for breast cancer. Recent advances in the understanding of breast carcinogenesis clearly indicate that induction of estrogen receptor (ER) mediated signaling is not sufficient for the development of breast cancer. The underlying mechanisms of breast susceptibility to estrogen's carcinogenic effect remain elusive. Physiologically achievable concentrations of estrogen or estrogen metabolites have been shown to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Recent data implicated that these ROS induced DNA synthesis, increased phosphorylation of kinases, and activated transcription factors, e.g., AP-1, NRF1, E2F, NF-kB and CREB of non-genomic pathways which are responsive to both oxidants and estrogen. Estrogen-induced ROS by increasing genomic instability and by transducing signal through influencing redox sensitive transcription factors play important role (s) in cell transformation, cell cycle, migration and invasion of the breast cancer. The present review discusses emerging data in support of the role of estrogen induced ROS-mediated signaling pathways which may contribute in the development of breast cancer. It is envisioned that estrogen induced ROS mediated signaling is a key complementary mechanism that drives the carcinogenesis process. ROS mediated signaling however occurs in the context of other estrogen induced processes such as ER-mediated signaling and estrogen reactive metabolite-associated genotoxicity. Importantly, estrogen-induced ROS can function as independent reversible modifiers of phosphatases and activate kinases to trigger the transcription factors of downstream target genes which participate in cancer progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor Okoh
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Bustinza-Linares E, Kurzrock R, Tsimberidou AM. Salirasib in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Future Oncol 2010; 6:885-91. [PMID: 20528225 DOI: 10.2217/fon.10.71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ras family of genes is involved in the cellular regulation of proliferation, differentiation, cell adhesion and apoptosis. The K-ras gene is mutated in over 90% of pancreatic cancer cases. Salirasib (S-trans,trans-farnesylthiosalycilic acid [FTS]) is a synthetic small molecule that acts as a potent Ras inhibitor. It is a farnesylcysteine mimetic that selectively disrupts the association of active RAS proteins with the plasma membrane. Animal studies demonstrated that salirasib inhibited tumor growth, downregulated gene expression in the cell cycle and Ras signaling pathways. In a clinical study of salirasib combined with standard doses of gemcitabine, it was demonstrated that the two drugs have no overlapping pharmacokinetics. The salirasib recommended dose was 600 mg twice daily and the progression-free survival was 4.7 months. Future studies will determine whether salirasib adds to the anti-tumor activity of drugs approved by the US FDA for pancreatic cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Bustinza-Linares
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The Phase I Clinical Trials Program, Unit 455, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Charette N, De Saeger C, Lannoy V, Horsmans Y, Leclercq I, Stärkel P. Salirasib inhibits the growth of hepatocarcinoma cell lines in vitro and tumor growth in vivo through ras and mTOR inhibition. Mol Cancer 2010; 9:256. [PMID: 20860815 PMCID: PMC2955616 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-9-256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2010] [Accepted: 09/22/2010] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Dysregulation of epidermal growth factor and insulin-like growth factor signaling play important roles in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), leading to frequent activation of their downstream targets, the ras/raf/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) pathways. Salirasib is an S-prenyl-cysteine analog that has been shown to block ras and/or mTOR activation in several non hepatic tumor cell lines. We investigated in vitro the effect of salirasib on cell growth as well as its mechanism of action in human hepatoma cell lines (HepG2, Huh7, and Hep3B) and its in vivo effect in a subcutaneous xenograft model with HepG2 cells. Results Salirasib induced a time and dose dependent growth inhibition in hepatocarcinoma cells through inhibition of proliferation and partially through induction of apoptosis. A 50 percent reduction in cell growth was obtained in all three cell lines at a dose of 150 μM when they were cultured with serum. By contrast, salirasib was more potent at reducing cell growth after stimulation with EGF or IGF2 under serum-free conditions, with an IC50 ranging from 60 μM to 85 μM. The drug-induced anti-proliferative effect was associated with downregulation of cyclin A and to a lesser extent of cyclin D1, and upregulation of p21 and p27. Apoptosis induction was related to a global pro-apoptotic balance with caspase 3 activation, cytochrome c release, death receptor upregulation, and a reduced mRNA expression of the apoptosis inhibitors cFLIP and survivin. These effects were associated with ras downregulation and mTOR inhibition, without reduction of ERK and Akt activation. In vivo, salirasib reduced tumour growth from day 5 onwards. After 12 days of treatment, mean tumor weight was diminished by 56 percent in the treated animals. Conclusions Our results show for the first time that salirasib inhibits the growth of human hepatoma cell lines through inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis, which is associated with ras and mTOR inhibition. The therapeutic potential of salirasib in human HCC was further confirmed in a subcutaneous xenograft model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Charette
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Levy R, Grafi-Cohen M, Kraiem Z, Kloog Y. Galectin-3 promotes chronic activation of K-Ras and differentiation block in malignant thyroid carcinomas. Mol Cancer Ther 2010; 9:2208-19. [PMID: 20682656 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-10-0262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Anaplastic thyroid carcinomas are deadly tumors that are highly invasive, particularly into the bones. Although oncogenic Ras can transform thyroid cells into a severely malignant phenotype, thyroid carcinomas do not usually harbor ras gene mutations. Therefore, it is not known whether chronically active Ras contributes to thyroid carcinoma cell proliferation, although galectin-3 (Gal-3), which is strongly expressed in thyroid carcinomas but not in benign tumors or normal glands, is known to act as a K-Ras chaperone that stabilizes and drives K-Ras.GTP nanoclustering and signal robustness. Here, we examined the possibility that thyroid carcinomas expressing high levels of Gal-3 exhibit chronically active K-Ras. Using cell lines representing three types of malignant thyroid tumors--papillary, follicular, and anaplastic--we investigated the possible correlation between Gal-3 expression and active Ras content, and then examined the therapeutic potential of the Ras inhibitor S-trans, trans-farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS; Salirasib) for thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid carcinoma cells strongly expressing Gal-3 showed high levels of K-Ras.GTP expression, and K-Ras.GTP transmitted strong signals to extracellular signal-regulated kinase. FTS disrupted interactions between Gal-3 and K.Ras, strongly reduced K-Ras.GTP and phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase expression, and enhanced the expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 as well as of the thyroid transcription factor 1, which is involved in thyroid cell differentiation. FTS also inhibited anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in nude mice. We conclude that wild-type K-Ras.GTP in association with Gal-3 contributes to thyroid carcinoma malignancy and that Ras inhibition might be a useful treatment strategy against these deadly tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ran Levy
- Department of Neurobiology, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Loboda A, Nebozhyn M, Klinghoffer R, Frazier J, Chastain M, Arthur W, Roberts B, Zhang T, Chenard M, Haines B, Andersen J, Nagashima K, Paweletz C, Lynch B, Feldman I, Dai H, Huang P, Watters J. A gene expression signature of RAS pathway dependence predicts response to PI3K and RAS pathway inhibitors and expands the population of RAS pathway activated tumors. BMC Med Genomics 2010; 3:26. [PMID: 20591134 PMCID: PMC2911390 DOI: 10.1186/1755-8794-3-26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2010] [Accepted: 06/30/2010] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hyperactivation of the Ras signaling pathway is a driver of many cancers, and RAS pathway activation can predict response to targeted therapies. Therefore, optimal methods for measuring Ras pathway activation are critical. The main focus of our work was to develop a gene expression signature that is predictive of RAS pathway dependence. Methods We used the coherent expression of RAS pathway-related genes across multiple datasets to derive a RAS pathway gene expression signature and generate RAS pathway activation scores in pre-clinical cancer models and human tumors. We then related this signature to KRAS mutation status and drug response data in pre-clinical and clinical datasets. Results The RAS signature score is predictive of KRAS mutation status in lung tumors and cell lines with high (> 90%) sensitivity but relatively low (50%) specificity due to samples that have apparent RAS pathway activation in the absence of a KRAS mutation. In lung and breast cancer cell line panels, the RAS pathway signature score correlates with pMEK and pERK expression, and predicts resistance to AKT inhibition and sensitivity to MEK inhibition within both KRAS mutant and KRAS wild-type groups. The RAS pathway signature is upregulated in breast cancer cell lines that have acquired resistance to AKT inhibition, and is downregulated by inhibition of MEK. In lung cancer cell lines knockdown of KRAS using siRNA demonstrates that the RAS pathway signature is a better measure of dependence on RAS compared to KRAS mutation status. In human tumors, the RAS pathway signature is elevated in ER negative breast tumors and lung adenocarcinomas, and predicts resistance to cetuximab in metastatic colorectal cancer. Conclusions These data demonstrate that the RAS pathway signature is superior to KRAS mutation status for the prediction of dependence on RAS signaling, can predict response to PI3K and RAS pathway inhibitors, and is likely to have the most clinical utility in lung and breast tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrey Loboda
- Department of Molecular Profiling and Research Informatics, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Yaari-Stark S, Shaked M, Nevo-Caspi Y, Jacob-Hircsh J, Shamir R, Rechavi G, Kloog Y. Ras inhibits endoplasmic reticulum stress in human cancer cells with amplified Myc. Int J Cancer 2010; 126:2268-81. [PMID: 19998334 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In neuroblastoma LAN-1 cells harboring an amplified MycN gene, disruption of cooperation between Ras and MycN proteins by the Ras inhibitor farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS, Salirasib) reportedly arrests cell growth. Our aim was to establish whether this is a general phenomenon. We examined the effects of FTS on gene-expression profiles, growth and death of NCIH929 myeloma cells and K562 leukemia cells, which-like LAN-1 cells-exhibit Myc gene amplification and harbor active Ras. Under specified conditions, FTS reduced Ras and Myc and induced cell growth arrest and death in all Myc-amplified cell lines but not in SHEP, a neuroblastoma cell line without Myc gene amplification. Gene-expression analysis revealed a common pattern of FTS-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, known as the unfolded protein response (UPR), in Myc-amplified cells, but not in SHEP. Thus, Ras negatively regulates ER stress in cells with amplified Myc. ER stress was also inducible by dominant-negative (DN)-Ras or shRNA to Ras isoforms, all of which induced an increase in BIP (the master regulator of ER stress) and its downstream targets Nrf2 and eIF2alpha, both regulated by active p-PERK. FTS also induced an increase in p-PERK, while small interfering RNA to PERK reduced Nrf2 and ATF4 and rescued cells from FTS-induced death. BIP and its downstream targets were also increased by inhibitors of MAPK p38 and MEK. Ras, acting through MAPK p38 and MEK, negatively regulates the ER stress cascades BIP/PERK/Nrf2 and eIF2alpha/ATF4/ATF3. These findings can explain the Ras-dependent protection of Myc-amplified cells from ER stress-associated death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shira Yaari-Stark
- Department of Neurobiology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Ulitsky I, Maron-Katz A, Shavit S, Sagir D, Linhart C, Elkon R, Tanay A, Sharan R, Shiloh Y, Shamir R. Expander: from expression microarrays to networks and functions. Nat Protoc 2010; 5:303-22. [PMID: 20134430 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2009.230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
A major challenge in the analysis of gene expression microarray data is to extract meaningful biological knowledge out of the huge volume of raw data. Expander (EXPression ANalyzer and DisplayER) is an integrated software platform for the analysis of gene expression data, which is freely available for academic use. It is designed to support all the stages of microarray data analysis, from raw data normalization to inference of transcriptional regulatory networks. The microarray analysis described in this protocol starts with importing the data into Expander 5.0 and is followed by normalization and filtering. Then, clustering and network-based analyses are performed. The gene groups identified are tested for enrichment in function (based on Gene Ontology), co-regulation (using transcription factor and microRNA target predictions) or co-location. The results of each analysis step can be visualized in a number of ways. The complete protocol can be executed in approximately 1 h.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Igor Ulitsky
- Blavatnik School of Computer Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Goldberg L, Haklai R, Bauer V, Heiss A, Kloog Y. New Derivatives of Farnesylthiosalicylic Acid (Salirasib) for Cancer Treatment: Farnesylthiosalicylamide Inhibits Tumor Growth in Nude Mice Models. J Med Chem 2008; 52:197-205. [DOI: 10.1021/jm801165r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Liat Goldberg
- Department of Neurobiology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel, Concordia Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1550 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway, Sunrise, Florida, Ricerca Biosciences, 7528 Auburn Road, Concord, Ohio
| | - Roni Haklai
- Department of Neurobiology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel, Concordia Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1550 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway, Sunrise, Florida, Ricerca Biosciences, 7528 Auburn Road, Concord, Ohio
| | - Victor Bauer
- Department of Neurobiology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel, Concordia Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1550 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway, Sunrise, Florida, Ricerca Biosciences, 7528 Auburn Road, Concord, Ohio
| | - Aaron Heiss
- Department of Neurobiology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel, Concordia Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1550 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway, Sunrise, Florida, Ricerca Biosciences, 7528 Auburn Road, Concord, Ohio
| | - Yoel Kloog
- Department of Neurobiology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel, Concordia Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1550 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway, Sunrise, Florida, Ricerca Biosciences, 7528 Auburn Road, Concord, Ohio
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Bradley EW, Ruan MM, Oursler MJ. PAK1 is a novel MEK-independent raf target controlling expression of the IAP survivin in M-CSF-mediated osteoclast survival. J Cell Physiol 2008; 217:752-8. [PMID: 18668521 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.21550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
As activation of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway is a critical component of M-CSF-promoted osteoclast survival, determining specific mechanism by which M-CSF activates this signal transduction pathway is paramount towards advancing treatment of pathological conditions resulting in increased bone turnover. The p21 activated kinase PAK1 modulates activation of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway by either directly activating Raf or priming MEK for activation by Raf. Therefore a role for PAK1 in M-CSF-mediated activation of the MEK/ERK pathway controlling osteoclast survival was assessed. Here we show that PAK1 is activated by M-CSF in a Ras-dependent mechanism that promotes osteoclast survival. Surprisingly, PAK1 did not modulate Raf activation or Raf-mediated MEK activation. M-CSF mediated activation of Raf was required for PAK1 activation and osteoclast survival promoted by PAK1. This survival response was MEK-independent as expression of constitutively active MEK did not rescue osteoclasts from apoptosis induced by blocking PAK1 function. Functionally, PAK1 promoted osteoclast survival by modulating expression of the IAP family member Survivin. M-CSF therefore functions to promote PAK1 activation as a novel MEK-independent Raf target to control Survivin-mediated osteoclast survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth W Bradley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Boidot R, Vegran F, Jacob D, Chevrier S, Gangneux N, Taboureau J, Oudin C, Rainville V, Mercier L, Lizard-Nacol S. The expression of BIRC5 is correlated with loss of specific chromosomal regions in breast carcinomas. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2008; 47:299-308. [PMID: 18181175 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.20533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Expression of BIRC5 (survivin), a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family, is elevated in fetal tissues and in various human cancers. Mechanisms up-regulating BIRC5 in cancer are poorly understood. Here, we show that overexpression of BIRC5 induces a high proliferation level in MCF-7 breast tumor cells. In a population of 191 breast carcinomas, BIRC5 expression is not affected by BIRC5 promoter polymorphism at -31, or BIRC5 gene copy number. However, a significant correlation was found between expression of demethylase (dMTase) and expression of BIRC5. In addition, among 13 chromosomal regions tested for allelic loss [loss of heterozygosity (LOH)], two regions close to D3S1478 and D6S264 were related to BIRC5 expression. In tumors with LOH at D3S1478 and/or D6S264, BIRC5 expression was significantly increased. These regions have been suggested to harbor tumor suppressor genes and/or common fragile sites that may play a role in increasing genetic instability. These results suggest that genes located near D3S1478 and D6S264 might work by inhibiting, directly or indirectly, BIRC5 expression and thus their loss leads to its up-regulation. In addition, BIRC5 expression may induce breast tumor proliferation by promoting genetic instability. This article contains Supplementary Material available at http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/1045-2257/suppmat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Romain Boidot
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Centre Georges-François Leclerc, IFR Santé-STIC, Dijon, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Rotblat B, Ehrlich M, Haklai R, Kloog Y. The Ras inhibitor farnesylthiosalicylic acid (Salirasib) disrupts the spatiotemporal localization of active Ras: a potential treatment for cancer. Methods Enzymol 2008; 439:467-89. [PMID: 18374183 DOI: 10.1016/s0076-6879(07)00432-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Chronic activation of Ras proteins by mutational activation or by growth factor stimulation is a common occurrence in many human cancers and was shown to induce and be required for tumor growth. Even if additional genetic defects are present, "correction" of the Ras defect has been shown to reverse Ras-dependent tumorigenesis. One way to block Ras protein activity is by interfering with their spatiotemporal localization in cellular membranes or in membrane microdomains, a prerequisite for Ras signaling and biological activity. Detailed reports describe the use of this method in studies employing farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS, Salirasib), a Ras farnesylcysteine mimetic, which selectively disrupts the association of chronically active Ras proteins with the plasma membrane. FTS competes with Ras for binding to Ras-escort proteins, which possess putative farnesyl-binding domains and interact only with the activated form of Ras proteins, thereby promoting Ras nanoclusterization in the plasma membrane and robust signals. This chapter presents three-dimensional time-lapse images that track the FTS-induced inhibition of membrane-activated Ras in live cells on a real-time scale. It also describes a mechanistic model that explains FTS selectivity toward activated Ras. Selective blocking of activated Ras proteins results in the inhibition of Ras transformation in vitro and in animal models, with no accompanying toxicity. Phase I clinical trials have demonstrated a safe profile for oral FTS, with minimal side effects and promising activity in hematological malignancies. Salirasib is currently undergoing trials in patients with pancreatic cancer and with nonsmall cell lung cancer, with or without identified K-Ras mutations. The findings might indicate whether with the disruption of the spatiotemporal localization of oncogenic Ras proteins and the targeting of prenyl-binding domains by anticancer drugs is worth developing as a means of cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barak Rotblat
- Department of Neurobiochemistry, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|