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Salimbene O, Viggiano D, Muratori F, Lo Piccolo R, Facchini F, Tamburini A, Campanacci DA, Voltolini L, Gonfiotti A. Primary Chest Wall Ewing Sarcoma: Treatment and Long-Term Results. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:766. [PMID: 38929749 PMCID: PMC11204814 DOI: 10.3390/life14060766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study is to evaluate early and long-term results of chest wall primary Ewing's sarcoma patients treated in the time period February 2000-February 2023 by a multidisciplinary approach. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent chest wall resection for a primary tumor. Treatment approach, extent of resection, 30-day mortality, overall survival (OS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and metastasis-free survival (MFS) were analyzed. RESULTS Overall, n = 15 consecutive patients were treated for chest wall primary Ewing's sarcoma. A median of n = 3 ribs was resected with a median of n = 2 ribs adjacent to the lesion. Resections were extended to the adjacent structures in n = 5 patients (33.3%). In all cases, we performed a prosthetic reconstruction, associated with muscle flap (n = 10, 66.6%) or with rigid titanium bars and muscle flap (n = 6, 40%). A radical resection was accomplished in n = 13 patients (84.6%). The median surgical time was 310 ± 120 min; median hospitalization was 7.8 ± 1.9 days. Post-operative mortality was zero. We recorded n = 4 (30.7%) post-operative complication. The median follow-up (FU) was 26 months. Moreover, 5-year overall and event-free survival were 52% and 48%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS This case series confirms the benefit of the multidisciplinary approach for Ewing sarcomas in early and long-term results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ottavia Salimbene
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy (D.V.); (L.V.)
| | - Domenico Viggiano
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy (D.V.); (L.V.)
| | - Francesco Muratori
- Division of Oncological Orthopedics, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy; (F.M.); (D.A.C.)
| | - Roberto Lo Piccolo
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Meyer University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy; (R.L.P.); (F.F.)
| | - Flavio Facchini
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Meyer University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy; (R.L.P.); (F.F.)
| | - Angela Tamburini
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Meyer University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy;
| | - Domenico Andrea Campanacci
- Division of Oncological Orthopedics, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy; (F.M.); (D.A.C.)
| | - Luca Voltolini
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy (D.V.); (L.V.)
| | - Alessandro Gonfiotti
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy (D.V.); (L.V.)
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2
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Xiao Y, Zhi Y, Cao G, Ma H, Gao J, Li F. Primary Ewing's sarcoma of the uterine cervix: a case report and review of the literature. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:267. [PMID: 38769118 PMCID: PMC11106175 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05698-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ewing's sarcoma (ES) is an aggressive cancer of bone and soft tissue, most of which tend to occur in the bone. Extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma (EES) of the cervix is extremely rare. CASE PRESENTATION In the present work, we reported a 39-year-old cervical EES patient with a 2.5*2.1*1.8 cm tumor mass. According to previous literatures, our case is the smallest tumor found in primary cervical ES ever. The patient initially came to our hospital due to vaginal bleeding, and then the gynecological examination found a neoplasm between the cervical canal and partially in the external cervical orifice. The diagnosis of EES was confirmed below: Hematoxylin & Eosin staining (H&E) revealed small round blue malignant cells in biopsy specimens. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed the positive staining for CD99, NKX2.2, and FLI1. Disruption of EWSR1 gene was found by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and the EWSR1-FLI1 gene fusion was determined by next-generation sequencing (NGS). The patient received laparoscopic wide hysterectomy, bilateral adnexectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy, and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and remained disease free with regular follow-up for 1 year. CONCLUSIONS Through a systematic review of previously reported cervical ES and this case, we highlighted the importance of FISH and NGS for the accuracy of ESS diagnosis, which could assist on the optimal treatment strategy. However, due to the rarity of the disease, there is no standard treatment schemes. Investigation on molecular pathological diagnosis and standardization of treatment regimens for cervical ES are critical to patients' prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Xiao
- Department of Gynecology, School of Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Zhi
- Department of Gynecology, School of Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangxu Cao
- Department of Gynecology, School of Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Heling Ma
- Department of Gynecology, School of Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinli Gao
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Fang Li
- Department of Gynecology, School of Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
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3
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Kyriazoglou A, Moutafi M, Zografos E, Konteles V, Sofianidis G, Mahaira L, Papakosta A, Tourkantoni N, Patereli A, Stefanaki K, Tzotzola V, Mpaka M, Polychronopoulou S, Dimitriadis E, Kattamis A. Expression of DNA Repair Genes in Ewing Sarcoma. CANCER DIAGNOSIS & PROGNOSIS 2024; 4:231-238. [PMID: 38707718 PMCID: PMC11062174 DOI: 10.21873/cdp.10313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Background/Aim Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive mesenchymal malignancy commonly affecting children and young adolescents. The molecular basis of this neoplasia is well reported with the formation of the EWSR1/FLI1 fusion gene being the most common genetic finding. However, this fusion gene has not been targeted therapeutically nor is being used as a prognostic marker. Its relevance regarding the molecular steps leading to Ewing sarcoma genesis are yet to be defined. The generation of the oncogenic EWSR1/FLI1 fusion gene, can be attributed to the simultaneous introduction of two DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The scope of this study is to detect any association between DNA repair deficiency and the clinicopathological aspects of Ewing's sarcoma disease. Patients and Methods We have conducted an expression analysis of 35 patients diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma concerning the genes involved in non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR) repair pathways. We have analyzed the expression levels of 6 genes involved in NHEJ (XRCC4, XRCC5, XRCC6, POLλ, POLμ) and 9 genes involved in HR (RAD51, RAD52, RAD54, BRCA1, BRCA2, FANCC, FANCD, DNTM1, BRIT1) using real time PCR. Age, sex, location of primary tumor, tumor size, KI67, mitotic count, invasion of adjacent tissues and treatment were the clinicopathological parameters included in the statistical analysis. Results Our results show that both these DNA repair pathways are deregulated in Ewing sarcoma. In addition, low expression of the xrcc4 gene has been associated with better overall survival probability (p=0.032). Conclusion Our results, even though retrospective and in a small number of patients, highlight the importance of DSBs repair and propose a potential therapeutic target for this type of sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Kyriazoglou
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Oncology Unit, University Hospital Attikon, Athens, Greece
| | - Myrto Moutafi
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Oncology Unit, University Hospital Attikon, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Zografos
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Georgios Sofianidis
- Motor Control and Learning Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Louisa Mahaira
- Department of Genetics, Aghios Savvas Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Natalia Tourkantoni
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
- 'Aghia Sofia' Children's Hospital ERN-PaedCan Center, Athens, Greece
| | - Amalia Patereli
- Department of Pathology, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Kalliopi Stefanaki
- Department of Pathology, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Tzotzola
- 'Aghia Sofia' Children's Hospital ERN-PaedCan Center, Athens, Greece
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Margarita Mpaka
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Panagiotis and Aglaia Kyriakou Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Sofia Polychronopoulou
- 'Aghia Sofia' Children's Hospital ERN-PaedCan Center, Athens, Greece
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Antonis Kattamis
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
- 'Aghia Sofia' Children's Hospital ERN-PaedCan Center, Athens, Greece
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4
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Sundara Rajan S, Ebegboni VJ, Pichling P, Ludwig KR, Jones TL, Chari R, Tran A, Kruhlak MJ, Loncarek J, Caplen NJ. Endogenous EWSR1 Exists in Two Visual Modalities That Reflect Its Associations with Nucleic Acids and Concentration at Sites of Active Transcription. Mol Cell Biol 2024; 44:103-122. [PMID: 38506112 PMCID: PMC10986767 DOI: 10.1080/10985549.2024.2315425] [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: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
EWSR1 is a member of the FET family of nucleic acid binding proteins that includes FUS and TAF15. Here, we report the systematic analysis of endogenous EWSR1's cellular organization in human cells. We demonstrate that EWSR1, which contains low complexity and nucleic acid binding domains, is present in cells in faster and slower-recovering fractions, indicative of a protein undergoing both rapid exchange and longer-term interactions. The employment of complementary high-resolution imaging approaches shows EWSR1 exists in two visual modalities, a distributed state which is present throughout the nucleoplasm, and a concentrated state consistent with the formation of foci. Both EWSR1 visual modalities localize with nascent RNA. EWSR1 foci concentrate in regions of euchromatin, adjacent to protein markers of transcriptional activation, and significantly colocalize with phosphorylated RNA polymerase II. Our results contribute to bridging the gap between our understanding of the biophysical and biochemical properties of FET proteins, including EWSR1, their functions as transcriptional regulators, and the participation of these proteins in tumorigenesis and neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumya Sundara Rajan
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Vernon J. Ebegboni
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Patricio Pichling
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Katelyn R. Ludwig
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Tamara L. Jones
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Raj Chari
- Genome Modification Core, Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Andy Tran
- CCR Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael J. Kruhlak
- CCR Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jadranka Loncarek
- Centrosome Biology Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Natasha J. Caplen
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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5
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Randolph ME, Afifi M, Gorthi A, Weil R, Wilky BA, Weinreb J, Ciero P, Hoeve NT, van Diest PJ, Raman V, Bishop AJ, Loeb DM. RNA helicase DDX3 regulates RAD51 localization and DNA damage repair in Ewing sarcoma. iScience 2024; 27:108925. [PMID: 38323009 PMCID: PMC10844834 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that RNA helicase DDX3X (DDX3) can be a therapeutic target in Ewing sarcoma (EWS), but its role in EWS biology remains unclear. The present work demonstrates that DDX3 plays a unique role in DNA damage repair (DDR). We show that DDX3 interacts with several proteins involved in homologous recombination, including RAD51, RECQL1, RPA32, and XRCC2. In particular, DDX3 colocalizes with RAD51 and RNA:DNA hybrid structures in the cytoplasm of EWS cells. Inhibition of DDX3 RNA helicase activity increases cytoplasmic RNA:DNA hybrids, sequestering RAD51 in the cytoplasm, which impairs nuclear translocation of RAD51 to sites of double-stranded DNA breaks, thus increasing sensitivity of EWS to radiation treatment, both in vitro and in vivo. This discovery lays the foundation for exploring new therapeutic approaches directed at manipulating DDR protein localization in solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E. Randolph
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Marwa Afifi
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Aparna Gorthi
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute and Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Rachel Weil
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Breelyn A. Wilky
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joshua Weinreb
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Paul Ciero
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Natalie ter Hoeve
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Paul J. van Diest
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Venu Raman
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alexander J.R. Bishop
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute and Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - David M. Loeb
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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6
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Lahiri R, Rawat SS, Srikant K, Rao S. Intrathoracic Ewing's sarcoma in an adult masquerading as lung abscess. BMJ Case Rep 2024; 17:e256631. [PMID: 38296504 PMCID: PMC10831453 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2023-256631] [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] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Intrathoracic extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma (EES) is a relatively uncommon malignant tumour. Here, we present a scenario involving an adult man in his 20s with a large intrathoracic EES that manifested as a lung abscess. Preoperative diagnostic tests were inconclusive; hence, the patient underwent an exploratory thoracotomy for the excision of the mass. Histopathology revealed a small round blue cell tumour, and immunohistochemistry, along with fluorescence in situ hybridisation, confirmed the diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma. Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy was recommended, but the patient did not comply. A year later, he presented with a recurrence of the intrathoracic mass and subsequently received adjuvant chemotherapy. Currently, he is in remission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raja Lahiri
- CVTS, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Rishikesh, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Shubham Singh Rawat
- CVTS, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Rishikesh, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
| | | | - Shalinee Rao
- Pathology and Lab Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Rishikesh, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India
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7
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MacKeracher A, Arnoldo A, Siddaway R, Surrey LF, Somers GR. The Incidence of Multiple Fusions in a Series of Pediatric Soft Tissue and Bone Tumors. Pediatr Dev Pathol 2024; 27:3-12. [PMID: 37771132 PMCID: PMC10800079 DOI: 10.1177/10935266231199928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Next generation sequencing (NGS) has increased the detection of fusion genes in cancer. NGS has found multiple fusions in single tumor samples; however, the incidence of this in pediatric soft tissue and bone tumors (PSTBTs) is not well documented. The aim of this study is to catalogue the incidence of multiple fusions in a series of PSTBTs, and apply a modified gene fusion classification system to determine clinical relevance. METHODOLOGY RNA from 78 bone and soft tissue tumors and 7 external quality assessment samples were sequenced and analyzed using recently-described Metafusion (MF) software and classified using a modification of previously-published schema for fusion classification into 3 tiers: 1, strong clinical significance; 2, potential clinical significance; and 3, unknown clinical significance. RESULTS One-hundred forty-five fusions were detected in 85 samples. Fifty-five samples (65%) had a single fusion and 30 (35%) had more than 1 fusion. No samples contained more than 1 tier 1 fusion. There were 40 tier 1 (28%), 36 tier 2 (24%), and 69 (48%) tier 3 fusions. CONCLUSIONS A significant percentage of PSTBTs harbor more than 1 fusion, and by applying a modified fusion classification scheme, the potential clinical relevance of such fusions can be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia MacKeracher
- Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anthony Arnoldo
- Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Robert Siddaway
- Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lea F. Surrey
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gino R. Somers
- Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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8
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Rajan SS, Ebegboni VJ, Pichling P, Ludwig KR, Jones TL, Chari R, Tran A, Kruhlak MJ, Loncarek J, Caplen NJ. EWSR1's visual modalities are defined by its association with nucleic acids and RNA polymerase II. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.16.553246. [PMID: 37645932 PMCID: PMC10462028 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.16.553246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
We report systematic analysis of endogenous EWSR1's cellular organization. We demonstrate that EWSR1, which contains low complexity and nucleic acid binding domains, is present in cells in faster and slower-recovering fractions, indicative of a protein undergoing both rapid exchange and longer-term interactions. The employment of complementary high-resolution imaging approaches shows EWSR1 exists in in two visual modalities, a distributed state which is present throughout the nucleoplasm, and a concentrated state consistent with the formation of foci. Both EWSR1 visual modalities localize with nascent RNA. EWSR1 foci concentrate in regions of euchromatin, adjacent to protein markers of transcriptional activation, and significantly colocalize with phosphorylated RNA polymerase II. Interestingly, EWSR1 and FUS, another FET protein, exhibit distinct spatial organizations. Our results contribute to bridging the gap between our understanding of the biophysical and biochemical properties of FET proteins, including EWSR1, their functions as transcriptional regulators, and the participation of these proteins in tumorigenesis and neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumya Sundara Rajan
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health MD 20892, USA
| | - Vernon J. Ebegboni
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health MD 20892, USA
| | - Patricio Pichling
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health MD 20892, USA
| | - Katelyn R. Ludwig
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health MD 20892, USA
| | - Tamara L. Jones
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health MD 20892, USA
| | - Raj Chari
- Genome Modification Core, Laboratory Animal Sciences Program at the Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Andy Tran
- CCR Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Michael J. Kruhlak
- CCR Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Jadranka Loncarek
- Centrosome Biology Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702 USA
| | - Natasha J. Caplen
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health MD 20892, USA
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9
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Gong H, Xue B, Ru J, Pei G, Li Y. Targeted Therapy for EWS-FLI1 in Ewing Sarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4035. [PMID: 37627063 PMCID: PMC10452796 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15164035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is a rare and predominantly pediatric malignancy of bone and soft tissue in children and adolescents. Although international collaborations have greatly improved the prognosis of most EwS, the occurrence of macrometastases or relapse remains challenging. The prototypic oncogene EWS-FLI1 acts as an aberrant transcription factor that drives the cellular transformation of EwS. In addition to its involvement in RNA splicing and the DNA damage response, this chimeric protein directly binds to GGAA repeats, thereby modifying the transcriptional profile of EwS. Direct pharmacological targeting of EWS-FLI1 is difficult because of its intrinsically disordered structure. However, targeting the EWS-FLI1 protein complex or downstream pathways provides additional therapeutic options. This review describes the EWS-FLI1 protein partners and downstream pathways, as well as the related target therapies for the treatment of EwS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helong Gong
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110004, China;
| | - Busheng Xue
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China;
| | - Jinlong Ru
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Centre Munich, German Research Centre for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany;
| | - Guoqing Pei
- Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China;
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110004, China;
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10
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Kitagawa R, Niikura Y, Becker A, Houghton PJ, Kitagawa K. EWSR1 maintains centromere identity. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112568. [PMID: 37243594 PMCID: PMC10758295 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The centromere is essential for ensuring high-fidelity transmission of chromosomes. CENP-A, the centromeric histone H3 variant, is thought to be the epigenetic mark of centromere identity. CENP-A deposition at the centromere is crucial for proper centromere function and inheritance. Despite its importance, the precise mechanism responsible for maintenance of centromere position remains obscure. Here, we report a mechanism to maintain centromere identity. We demonstrate that CENP-A interacts with EWSR1 (Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1) and EWSR1-FLI1 (the oncogenic fusion protein in Ewing sarcoma). EWSR1 is required for maintaining CENP-A at the centromere in interphase cells. EWSR1 and EWSR1-FLI1 bind CENP-A through the SYGQ2 region within the prion-like domain, important for phase separation. EWSR1 binds to R-loops through its RNA-recognition motif in vitro. Both the domain and motif are required for maintaining CENP-A at the centromere. Therefore, we conclude that EWSR1 guards CENP-A in centromeric chromatins by binding to centromeric RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Risa Kitagawa
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Mays Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3000, USA
| | - Yohei Niikura
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Mays Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3000, USA
| | - Argentina Becker
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Mays Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3000, USA
| | - Peter J Houghton
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Mays Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3000, USA
| | - Katsumi Kitagawa
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Mays Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3000, USA.
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11
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Randolph ME, Afifi M, Gorthi A, Weil R, Wilky BA, Weinreb J, Ciero P, ter Hoeve N, van Diest PJ, Raman V, Bishop AJR, Loeb DM. RNA Helicase DDX3 Regulates RAD51 Localization and DNA Damage Repair in Ewing Sarcoma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.10.544474. [PMID: 37333164 PMCID: PMC10274875 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.10.544474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that RNA helicase DDX3X (DDX3) can be a therapeutic target in Ewing sarcoma (EWS), but its role in EWS biology remains unclear. The present work demonstrates that DDX3 plays a unique role in DNA damage repair (DDR). We show that DDX3 interacts with several proteins involved in homologous recombination, including RAD51, RECQL1, RPA32, and XRCC2. In particular, DDX3 colocalizes with RAD51 and RNA:DNA hybrid structures in the cytoplasm of EWS cells. Inhibition of DDX3 RNA helicase activity increases cytoplasmic RNA:DNA hybrids, sequestering RAD51 in the cytoplasm, which impairs nuclear translocation of RAD51 to sites of double-stranded DNA breaks thus increasing sensitivity of EWS to radiation treatment, both in vitro and in vivo. This discovery lays the foundation for exploring new therapeutic approaches directed at manipulating DDR protein localization in solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E. Randolph
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Marwa Afifi
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Aparna Gorthi
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute and Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Rachel Weil
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Breelyn A. Wilky
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Joshua Weinreb
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Paul Ciero
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
| | - Natalie ter Hoeve
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J. van Diest
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Venu Raman
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Alexander J. R. Bishop
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute and Department of Cell Systems & Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - David M. Loeb
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
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12
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Selig EE, Bhura R, White MR, Akula S, Hoffman RD, Tovar CN, Xu X, Booth RE, Libich DS. Biochemical and biophysical characterization of the nucleic acid binding properties of the RNA/DNA binding protein EWS. Biopolymers 2023; 114:e23536. [PMID: 36929870 PMCID: PMC10233817 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
EWS is a member of the FET family of RNA/DNA binding proteins that regulate crucial phases of nucleic acid metabolism. EWS comprises an N-terminal low-complexity domain (LCD) and a C-terminal RNA-binding domain (RBD). The RBD is further divided into three RG-rich regions, which flank an RNA-recognition motif (RRM) and a zinc finger (ZnF) domain. Recently, EWS was shown to regulate R-loops in Ewing sarcoma, a pediatric bone and soft-tissue cancer in which a chromosomal translocation fuses the N-terminal LCD of EWS to the C-terminal DNA binding domain of the transcription factor FLI1. Though EWS was shown to directly bind R-loops, the binding mechanism was not elucidated. In the current study, the RBD of EWS was divided into several constructs, which were subsequently assayed for binding to various nucleic acid structures expected to form at R-loops, including RNA stem-loops, DNA G-quadruplexes, and RNA:DNA hybrids. EWS interacted with all three nucleic acid structures with varying affinities and multiple domains contributed to binding each substrate. The RRM and RG2 region appear to bind nucleic acids promiscuously while the ZnF displayed more selectivity for single-stranded structures. With these results, the structural underpinnings of EWS recognition and binding of R-loops and other nucleic acid structures is better understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E Selig
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA
| | - Roohi Bhura
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 78209, USA
| | - Matthew R White
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 78209, USA
| | - Shivani Akula
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 78209, USA
| | - Renee D Hoffman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 78209, USA
| | - Carmel N Tovar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 78209, USA
| | - Xiaoping Xu
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA
| | - Rachell E Booth
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas, 78209, USA
| | - David S Libich
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, 78229, USA
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13
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Shifting from a Biological-Agnostic Approach to a Molecular-Driven Strategy in Rare Cancers: Ewing Sarcoma Archetype. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11030874. [PMID: 36979853 PMCID: PMC10045500 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11030874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Sarcomas of the thoracic cavity are rare entities that predominantly affect children and young adults. They can be very heterogeneous encompassing several different histological entities. Ewing Sarcoma (ES) can potentially arise from every bone, soft tissue, or visceral site in the body. However, it represents an extremely rare finding when it affects the thoracic cavity. It represents the second most frequent type of thoracic sarcoma, after chondrosarcoma. ES arises more frequently in sites that differ from the thoracic cavity, but it displays the same biological features and behavior of extra-thoracic ones. Current management of ES often requires a multidisciplinary treatment approach including surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapy, as it can guarantee local and distant disease control, at least transiently, although the long-term outcome remains poor. Unfortunately, due to the paucity of clinical trials purposely designed for this rare malignancy, there are no optimal strategies that can be used for disease recurrence. As a result of its complex biological features, ES might be suitable for emerging biology-based therapeutic strategies. However, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving tumor growth and treatment resistance, including those related to oncogenic pathways, epigenetic landscape, and immune microenvironment, is necessary in order to develop new valid therapeutic opportunities. Here, we provide an overview of the most recent therapeutic advances for ES in both the preclinical and clinical settings. We performed a review of the current available literature and of the ongoing clinical trials focusing on new treatment strategies, after failure of conventional multimodal treatments.
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14
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Aepala MR, Peiris MN, Jiang Z, Yang W, Meyer AN, Donoghue DJ. Nefarious NTRK oncogenic fusions in pediatric sarcomas: Too many to Trk. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2022; 68:93-106. [PMID: 36153202 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Neurotrophic Tyrosine Receptor Kinase (NTRK) genes undergo chromosomal translocations to create novel open reading frames coding for oncogenic fusion proteins; the N-terminal portion, donated by various partner genes, becomes fused to the tyrosine kinase domain of either NTRK1, NTRK2, or NTRK3. NTRK fusion proteins have been identified as driver oncogenes in a wide variety of tumors over the past three decades, including Pediatric Gliomas, Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma, Spitzoid Neoplasms, Glioblastoma, and additional tumors. Importantly, NTRK fusions function as drivers of pediatric sarcomas, accounting for approximately 15% of childhood cancers including Infantile Fibrosarcoma (IFS), a subset of pediatric soft tissue sarcoma (STS). While tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as larotrectinib and entrectinib, have demonstrated profound results against NTRK fusion-positive cancers, acquired resistance to these TKIs has resulted in the formation of gatekeeper, solvent-front, and compound mutations. We present a comprehensive compilation of oncogenic fusions involving NTRKs focusing specifically on pediatric STS, examining their biological signaling pathways and mechanisms of activation. The importance of an obligatory dimerization or multimerization domain, invariably donated by the N-terminal fusion partner, is discussed using characteristic fusions that occur in pediatric sarcomas. In addition, examples are presented of oncogenic fusion proteins in which the N-terminal partners may contribute additional biological activities beyond an oligomerization domain. Lastly, therapeutic approaches to the treatment of pediatric sarcoma will be presented, using first generation and second-generation agents such as selitrectinib and repotrectinib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megha R Aepala
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0367, USA
| | - Malalage N Peiris
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0367, USA
| | - Zian Jiang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0367, USA
| | - Wei Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0367, USA
| | - April N Meyer
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0367, USA
| | - Daniel J Donoghue
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0367, USA; UCSD Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0367, USA.
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15
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Thomas A, Obeidat N, Darweesh M. Thoracic Ewing’s Sarcoma: A Case Report. Cureus 2022; 14:e24150. [PMID: 35592195 PMCID: PMC9110040 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.24150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing’s sarcoma family of tumors (ESFTs) contains multiple tumors with similar histological and immunohistochemical features. ESFTs are small, round cell, highly malignant tumors that arise from the neuroectoderm of bone and extraskeletal soft tissue. Ewing’s sarcoma is the second most common primary malignant bone cancer in children and adolescents, with the second decade of life being the most common age of diagnosis. In this article, we present a case of a young male who presented to the emergency department complaining of shortness of breath and cough and was later diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma of the chest wall, which is also called Askin’s tumor, and it is an extremely rare disease with only 17 cases reported in the literature.
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16
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Ahmed NS, Harrell LM, Wieland DR, Lay MA, Thompson VF, Schwartz JC. Fusion protein EWS-FLI1 is incorporated into a protein granule in cells. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 27:rna.078827.121. [PMID: 34035145 PMCID: PMC8284321 DOI: 10.1261/rna.078827.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is driven by fusion proteins containing a low complexity (LC) domain that is intrinsically disordered and a powerful transcriptional regulator. The most common fusion protein found in Ewing sarcoma, EWS-FLI1, takes its LC domain from the RNA-binding protein EWSR1 (Ewing Sarcoma RNA-binding protein 1) and a DNA-binding domain from the transcription factor FLI1 (Friend Leukemia Virus Integration 1). EWS-FLI1 can bind RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) and self-assemble through its low-complexity (LC) domain. The ability of RNA-binding proteins like EWSR1 to self-assemble or phase separate in cells has raised questions about the contribution of this process to EWS-FLI1 activity. We examined EWSR1 and EWS-FLI1 activity in Ewing sarcoma cells by siRNA-mediated knockdown and RNA-seq analysis. More transcripts were affected by the EWSR1 knockdown than expected and these included many EWS-FLI1 regulated genes. We reevaluated physical interactions between EWS-FLI1, EWSR1, and RNA Pol II, and employed a cross-linking based strategy to investigate protein assemblies associated with the proteins. The LC domain of EWS-FLI1 was required for the assemblies observed to form in cells. These results offer new insights into a protein assembly that may enable EWS-FLI1 to bind its wide network of protein partners and contribute to regulation of gene expression in Ewing sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasiha S Ahmed
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719
| | - Lucas M Harrell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719
| | - Daniel R Wieland
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719
| | - Michelle A Lay
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719
| | - Valery F Thompson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719
| | - Jacob C Schwartz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719
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17
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Kannan S, Lock I, Ozenberger BB, Jones KB. Genetic drivers and cells of origin in sarcomagenesis. J Pathol 2021; 254:474-493. [DOI: 10.1002/path.5617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarmishta Kannan
- Departments of Orthopaedics and Oncological Sciences Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Ian Lock
- Departments of Orthopaedics and Oncological Sciences Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Benjamin B Ozenberger
- Departments of Orthopaedics and Oncological Sciences Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - Kevin B Jones
- Departments of Orthopaedics and Oncological Sciences Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine Salt Lake City UT USA
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18
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Cochetti G, Paladini A, de Vermandois JAR, Fatigoni S, Zanelli M, Ascani S, Mearini E. Metastatic renal Ewing's sarcoma in adult woman: Case report and review of the literature. Open Med (Wars) 2021; 16:397-409. [PMID: 33748424 PMCID: PMC7957192 DOI: 10.1515/med-2021-0207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary renal extra-skeletal Ewing sarcoma is a rare neoplasm, often metastatic at diagnosis, and with a poor outcome. A multimodal approach is often the treatment of choice in this aggressive neoplasm. We present a case of primary renal extra-skeletal sarcoma in a 45-year-old woman who underwent tumor resection without clear margins. After no response to the first cycle of chemotherapy, we documented an early onset of local recurrence. The patient refused any other treatment and died four months after surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Cochetti
- Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Urology Clinic, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Alessio Paladini
- Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Urology Clinic, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Sonia Fatigoni
- Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Medical Oncology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Magda Zanelli
- Department of Oncology and Advanced Technologies, Pathology Unit, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova di Reggio Emilia, AUSL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Stefano Ascani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Institute of Pathologic Anatomy, “Santa Maria” Hospital, Terni, Italy
| | - Ettore Mearini
- Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Urology Clinic, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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19
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Tintila A, Doroftei B, Grab D, Simionescu G, Anton E, Maftei R, Ilea C, Anton C. Importance of studying primitive neuroectodermal tumors and extraosseous Ewings sarcoma of the vagina and vulva. Oncol Lett 2021; 21:171. [PMID: 33552288 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.12432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNT) and Ewing's sarcoma are rare, round-cell tumors, characterized by the presence of the t(11; 22)(q24; q12) chromosomal translocation. A review of the literature revealed only 38 previously reported cases of vulvar PNT and Ewing's sarcoma and 15 vaginal PNT and Ewing's sarcoma. Although rare, these types of tumors should be taken into consideration when making a differential diagnosis for vulvar or vaginal tumors. The currently available data is limited, and therefore, case reports are essential for improving knowledge and management of these types of extremely rare tumors. However, further molecular and histopathological studies are essential for an improved understanding of these conditions and for an early, correct diagnosis. Although the gathered and presented data from the present review are limited, the literature demonstrates that the outcome of these types of cancer are more favorable compared with outcomes observed for carcinomas in more typical locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeline Tintila
- Clinical Department, Spitalul Judetean Suceava, Suceava 720224, Romania
| | - Bogdan Doroftei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Grigore T. Popa', Iasi 700115, Romania.,Clinical Department, Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'Cuza Voda', Iasi 700038, Romania.,Clinical Department, Origyn Fertility Center, Iasi 700032, Romania
| | - Delia Grab
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Grigore T. Popa', Iasi 700115, Romania.,Clinical Department, Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'Cuza Voda', Iasi 700038, Romania
| | - Gabriela Simionescu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Grigore T. Popa', Iasi 700115, Romania.,Clinical Department, Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'Cuza Voda', Iasi 700038, Romania.,Clinical Department, Origyn Fertility Center, Iasi 700032, Romania
| | - Emil Anton
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Grigore T. Popa', Iasi 700115, Romania.,Clinical Department, Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'Cuza Voda', Iasi 700038, Romania
| | - Radu Maftei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Grigore T. Popa', Iasi 700115, Romania
| | - Ciprian Ilea
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Grigore T. Popa', Iasi 700115, Romania.,Clinical Department, Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'Cuza Voda', Iasi 700038, Romania
| | - Carmen Anton
- Clinical Department, Sf. Spiridon Clinical Hospital, Iasi 700111, Romania.,Department of Gastroenterology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Grigore T. Popa', Iasi 700115, Romania
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20
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Park H, Kim H, Hassebroek V, Azuma Y, Slawson C, Azuma M. Chromosomal localization of Ewing sarcoma EWSR1/FLI1 protein promotes the induction of aneuploidy. J Biol Chem 2020; 296:100164. [PMID: 33293370 PMCID: PMC7857440 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.014328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is a pediatric bone cancer that expresses the chimeric protein EWSR1/FLI1. We previously demonstrated that EWSR1/FLI1 impairs the localization of Aurora B kinase to the midzone (the midline structure located between segregating chromosomes) during anaphase. While localization of Aurora B is essential for faithful cell division, it is unknown whether interference with midzone organization by EWSR1/FLI1 induces aneuploidy. To address this, we generated stable Tet-on inducible cell lines with EWSR1/FLI1, using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to integrate the transgene at the safe-harbor AAVS1 locus in DLD-1 cells. Induced cells expressing EWSR1/FLI1 displayed an increased incidence of aberrant localization of Aurora B, and greater levels of aneuploidy, compared with noninduced cells. Furthermore, the expression of EWSR1/FLI1-T79A, containing a threonine (Thr) to alanine (Ala) substitution at amino acid 79, failed to induce these phenotypes, indicating that Thr 79 is critical for EWSR1/FLI1 interference with mitosis. In contrast, the phosphomimetic mutant EWSR1/FLI1-T79D (Thr to aspartic acid (Asp)) retained the high activity as wild-type EWSR1/FLI1. Together, these findings suggest that phosphorylation of EWSR1/FLI1 at Thr 79 promotes the colocalization of EWSR1/FLI1 and Aurora B on the chromosomes during prophase and metaphase and, in addition, impairs the localization of Aurora B during anaphase, leading to induction of aneuploidy. This is the first demonstration of the mechanism for EWSR1/FLI1-dependent induction of aneuploidy associated with mitotic dysfunction and the identification of the phosphorylation of the Thr 79 of EWSR1/FLI1 as a critical residue required for this induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyewon Park
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Haeyoung Kim
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Victoria Hassebroek
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Yoshiaki Azuma
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Chad Slawson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City Kansas, USA
| | - Mizuki Azuma
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
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21
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Gao Y, Li L, Yuan P, Zhai F, Ren Y, Yan L, Li R, Lian Y, Zhu X, Wu X, Kee K, Wen L, Qiao J, Tang F. 5-Formylcytosine landscapes of human preimplantation embryos at single-cell resolution. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000799. [PMID: 32730243 PMCID: PMC7419013 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic dynamics, such as DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility, have been extensively explored in human preimplantation embryos. However, the active demethylation process during this crucial period remains largely unexplored. In this study, we use single-cell chemical-labeling-enabled C-to-T conversion sequencing (CLEVER-seq) to quantify the DNA 5-formylcytosine (5fC) levels of human preimplantation embryos. We find that 5-formylcytosine phosphate guanine (5fCpG) exhibits genomic element-specific distribution features and is enriched in L1 and endogenous retrovirus-K (ERVK), the subfamilies of repeat elements long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and long terminal repeats (LTRs), respectively. Unlike in mice, paired pronuclei in the same zygote present variable difference of 5fCpG levels, although the male pronuclei experience stronger global demethylation. The nucleosome-occupied regions show a higher 5fCpG level compared with nucleosome-depleted ones, suggesting the role of 5fC in organizing nucleosome position. Collectively, our work offers a valuable resource for ten-eleven translocation protein family (TET)-dependent active demethylation-related study during human early embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Gao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovaiton Center, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Yuan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Zhai
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Yixin Ren
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Liying Yan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Lian
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Xinglong Wu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovaiton Center, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Kehkooi Kee
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Wen
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovaiton Center, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Qiao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Fuchou Tang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovaiton Center, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
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22
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Jang YE, Jang I, Kim S, Cho S, Kim D, Kim K, Kim J, Hwang J, Kim S, Kim J, Kang J, Lee B, Lee S. ChimerDB 4.0: an updated and expanded database of fusion genes. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:D817-D824. [PMID: 31680157 PMCID: PMC7145594 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz1013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusion genes represent an important class of biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer. ChimerDB is a comprehensive database of fusion genes encompassing analysis of deep sequencing data (ChimerSeq) and text mining of publications (ChimerPub) with extensive manual annotations (ChimerKB). In this update, we present all three modules substantially enhanced by incorporating the recent flood of deep sequencing data and related publications. ChimerSeq now covers all 10 565 patients in the TCGA project, with compilation of computational results from two reliable programs of STAR-Fusion and FusionScan with several public resources. In sum, ChimerSeq includes 65 945 fusion candidates, 21 106 of which were predicted by multiple programs (ChimerSeq-Plus). ChimerPub has been upgraded by applying a deep learning method for text mining followed by extensive manual curation, which yielded 1257 fusion genes including 777 cases with experimental supports (ChimerPub-Plus). ChimerKB includes 1597 fusion genes with publication support, experimental evidences and breakpoint information. Importantly, we implemented several new features to aid estimation of functional significance, including the fusion structure viewer with domain information, gene expression plot of fusion positive versus negative patients and a STRING network viewer. The user interface also was greatly enhanced by applying responsive web design. ChimerDB 4.0 is available at http://www.kobic.re.kr/chimerdb/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Eun Jang
- Department of Bio-Information Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Insu Jang
- Korean Bioinformation Center, Korean Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunkyu Kim
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Subin Cho
- Department of Bio-Information Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Daehan Kim
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Keonwoo Kim
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaewon Kim
- Department of Bio-Information Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Jimin Hwang
- Department of Bio-Information Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangok Kim
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaesang Kim
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaewoo Kang
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Byungwook Lee
- Korean Bioinformation Center, Korean Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanghyuk Lee
- Department of Bio-Information Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea.,Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
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23
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Nguyen TH, Makena MR, Yavvari S, Kaur M, Pham T, Urias E, Panapitiya N, Al-Rahawan MM. Sarcoma as Second Cancer in a Childhood Cancer Survivor: Case Report, Large Population Analysis and Literature Review. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 56:medicina56050224. [PMID: 32392854 PMCID: PMC7279476 DOI: 10.3390/medicina56050224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The majority of pediatric patients are cured of their primary cancer with current advanced developments in pediatric cancer therapy. However, survivors often experience long-term complications from therapies for primary cancer. The delayed mortality rate has been decreasing with the effort to reduce the therapeutic exposure of patients with pediatric cancers. Our study investigates the incidence of sarcoma as second cancer in pediatric cancer survivors. We present a 9-year-old male who survived embryonal hepatoblastoma diagnosed at 22 months of age. At 4.5 years of age, he presented with a non-metastatic primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of the left submandibular area. He has no evidence of recurrence of either cancer for 51 months after finishing all chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to identify the current rate of second sarcomas in pediatric cancer survivors. Our literature review and large population analysis emphasize the impact of sarcoma as a second malignancy and provide help to physicians caring for pediatric cancer survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thinh H. Nguyen
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (T.H.N.); (M.K.); (T.P.); (E.U.); (N.P.)
| | - Monish Ram Makena
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - Siddhartha Yavvari
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, Usual;
| | - Maninder Kaur
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (T.H.N.); (M.K.); (T.P.); (E.U.); (N.P.)
| | - Teresia Pham
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (T.H.N.); (M.K.); (T.P.); (E.U.); (N.P.)
| | - Eduardo Urias
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (T.H.N.); (M.K.); (T.P.); (E.U.); (N.P.)
| | - Narendra Panapitiya
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (T.H.N.); (M.K.); (T.P.); (E.U.); (N.P.)
| | - Mohamad M. Al-Rahawan
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; (T.H.N.); (M.K.); (T.P.); (E.U.); (N.P.)
- Correspondence:
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24
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Jinesh GG, Brohl AS. The genetic script of metastasis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:244-266. [PMID: 31663259 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Metastasis is a pivotal event that changes the course of cancers from benign and treatable to malignant and difficult to treat, resulting in the demise of patients. Understanding the genetic control of metastasis is thus crucial to develop efficient and sustainable targeted therapies. Here we discuss the alterations in epigenetic mechanisms, transcription, chromosomal instability, chromosome imprinting, non-coding RNAs, coding RNAs, mutant RNAs, enhancers, G-quadruplexes, and copy number variation to dissect the genetic control of metastasis. We conclude that the genetic control of metastasis is predominantly executed through epithelial to mesenchymal transition and evasion of cell death. We discuss how genetic regulatory mechanisms can be harnessed for therapeutic purposes to achieve sustainable control over cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goodwin G Jinesh
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, U.S.A.,Sarcoma Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, U.S.A
| | - Andrew S Brohl
- Sarcoma Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, U.S.A.,Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, U.S.A
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25
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Knott MML, Hölting TLB, Ohmura S, Kirchner T, Cidre-Aranaz F, Grünewald TGP. Targeting the undruggable: exploiting neomorphic features of fusion oncoproteins in childhood sarcomas for innovative therapies. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2019; 38:625-642. [PMID: 31970591 PMCID: PMC6994515 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-019-09839-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
While sarcomas account for approximately 1% of malignant tumors of adults, they are particularly more common in children and adolescents affected by cancer. In contrast to malignancies that occur in later stages of life, childhood tumors, including sarcoma, are characterized by a striking paucity of somatic mutations. However, entity-defining fusion oncogenes acting as the main oncogenic driver mutations are frequently found in pediatric bone and soft-tissue sarcomas such as Ewing sarcoma (EWSR1-FLI1), alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (PAX3/7-FOXO1), and synovial sarcoma (SS18-SSX1/2/4). Since strong oncogene-dependency has been demonstrated in these entities, direct pharmacological targeting of these fusion oncogenes has been excessively attempted, thus far, with limited success. Despite apparent challenges, our increasing understanding of the neomorphic features of these fusion oncogenes in conjunction with rapid technological advances will likely enable the development of new strategies to therapeutically exploit these neomorphic features and to ultimately turn the "undruggable" into first-line target structures. In this review, we provide a broad overview of the current literature on targeting neomorphic features of fusion oncogenes found in Ewing sarcoma, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, and synovial sarcoma, and give a perspective for future developments. Graphical abstract Scheme depicting the different targeting strategies of fusion oncogenes in pediatric fusion-driven sarcomas. Fusion oncogenes can be targeted on their DNA level (1), RNA level (2), protein level (3), and by targeting downstream functions and interaction partners (4).
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian M L Knott
- Max-Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma Biology, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Thalkirchner Str. 36, 80337, Munich, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Tilman L B Hölting
- Max-Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma Biology, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Thalkirchner Str. 36, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Shunya Ohmura
- Max-Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma Biology, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Thalkirchner Str. 36, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Kirchner
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Florencia Cidre-Aranaz
- Max-Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma Biology, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Thalkirchner Str. 36, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas G P Grünewald
- Max-Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma Biology, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Thalkirchner Str. 36, 80337, Munich, Germany.
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany.
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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26
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Wang S, Hwang EE, Guha R, O'Neill AF, Melong N, Veinotte CJ, Conway Saur A, Wuerthele K, Shen M, McKnight C, Alexe G, Lemieux ME, Wang A, Hughes E, Xu X, Boxer MB, Hall MD, Kung A, Berman JN, Davis MI, Stegmaier K, Crompton BD. High-throughput Chemical Screening Identifies Focal Adhesion Kinase and Aurora Kinase B Inhibition as a Synergistic Treatment Combination in Ewing Sarcoma. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:4552-4566. [PMID: 30979745 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-0375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive solid tumor malignancy of childhood. Although current treatment regimens cure approximately 70% of patients with localized disease, they are ineffective for most patients with metastases or relapse. New treatment combinations are necessary for these patients. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Ewing sarcoma cells are dependent on focal adhesion kinase (FAK) for growth. To identify candidate treatment combinations for Ewing sarcoma, we performed a small-molecule library screen to identify compounds synergistic with FAK inhibitors in impairing Ewing cell growth. The activity of a top-scoring class of compounds was then validated across multiple Ewing cell lines in vitro and in multiple xenograft models of Ewing sarcoma. RESULTS Numerous Aurora kinase inhibitors scored as synergistic with FAK inhibition in this screen. We found that Aurora kinase B inhibitors were synergistic across a larger range of concentrations than Aurora kinase A inhibitors when combined with FAK inhibitors in multiple Ewing cell lines. The combination of AZD-1152, an Aurora kinase B-selective inhibitor, and PF-562271 or VS-4718, FAK-selective inhibitors, induced apoptosis in Ewing sarcoma cells at concentrations that had minimal effects on survival when cells were treated with either drug alone. We also found that the combination significantly impaired tumor progression in multiple xenograft models of Ewing sarcoma. CONCLUSIONS FAK and Aurora kinase B inhibitors synergistically impair Ewing sarcoma cell viability and significantly inhibit tumor progression. This study provides preclinical support for the consideration of a clinical trial testing the safety and efficacy of this combination for patients with Ewing sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Wang
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Elizabeth E Hwang
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rajarshi Guha
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Allison F O'Neill
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Chansey J Veinotte
- IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Amy Conway Saur
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kellsey Wuerthele
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Min Shen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Crystal McKnight
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Gabriela Alexe
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston University Bioinformatics Graduate Program, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Amy Wang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Emma Hughes
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Xin Xu
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Matthew B Boxer
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Matthew D Hall
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Andrew Kung
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Jason N Berman
- IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Mindy I Davis
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Kimberly Stegmaier
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Brian D Crompton
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
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27
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Gorthi A, Romero JC, Loranc E, Cao L, Lawrence LA, Goodale E, Iniguez AB, Bernard X, Masamsetti VP, Roston S, Lawlor ER, Toretsky JA, Stegmaier K, Lessnick SL, Chen Y, Bishop AJR. EWS-FLI1 increases transcription to cause R-loops and block BRCA1 repair in Ewing sarcoma. Nature 2018; 555:387-391. [PMID: 29513652 PMCID: PMC6318124 DOI: 10.1038/nature25748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive paediatric cancer of the bone and soft tissue. It results from a chromosomal translocation, predominantly t(11;22)(q24:q12), that fuses the N-terminal transactivation domain of the constitutively expressed EWSR1 protein with the C-terminal DNA binding domain of the rarely expressed FLI1 protein. Ewing sarcoma is highly sensitive to genotoxic agents such as etoposide, but the underlying molecular basis of this sensitivity is unclear. Here we show that Ewing sarcoma cells display alterations in regulation of damage-induced transcription, accumulation of R-loops and increased replication stress. In addition, homologous recombination is impaired in Ewing sarcoma owing to an enriched interaction between BRCA1 and the elongating transcription machinery. Finally, we uncover a role for EWSR1 in the transcriptional response to damage, suppressing R-loops and promoting homologous recombination. Our findings improve the current understanding of EWSR1 function, elucidate the mechanistic basis of the sensitivity of Ewing sarcoma to chemotherapy (including PARP1 inhibitors) and highlight a class of BRCA-deficient-like tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Gorthi
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
| | - July Carolina Romero
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
| | - Eva Loranc
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
| | - Lin Cao
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
| | - Liesl A Lawrence
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
| | - Elicia Goodale
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
| | - Amanda Balboni Iniguez
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Xavier Bernard
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
| | - V Pragathi Masamsetti
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
| | - Sydney Roston
- Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Georgetown University, Washington DC 20057, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Lawlor
- Departments of Pediatrics and Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Toretsky
- Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Georgetown University, Washington DC 20057, USA
| | - Kimberly Stegmaier
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Stephen L Lessnick
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA
| | - Yidong Chen
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
- Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
| | - Alexander J R Bishop
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
- Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health at San Antonio, Texas 78229, USA
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28
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Di Francesco L, Verrico A, Asteriti IA, Rovella P, Cirigliano P, Guarguaglini G, Schininà ME, Lavia P. Visualization of human karyopherin beta-1/importin beta-1 interactions with protein partners in mitotic cells by co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1850. [PMID: 29382863 PMCID: PMC5789818 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19351-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Karyopherin beta-1/Importin beta-1 is a conserved nuclear transport receptor, acting in protein nuclear import in interphase and as a global regulator of mitosis. These pleiotropic functions reflect its ability to interact with, and regulate, different pathways during the cell cycle, operating as a major effector of the GTPase RAN. Importin beta-1 is overexpressed in cancers characterized by high genetic instability, an observation that highlights the importance of identifying its partners in mitosis. Here we present the first comprehensive profile of importin beta-1 interactors from human mitotic cells. By combining co-immunoprecipitation and proteome-wide mass spectrometry analysis of synchronized cell extracts, we identified expected (e.g., RAN and SUMO pathway factors) and novel mitotic interactors of importin beta-1, many with RNA-binding ability, that had not been previously associated with importin beta-1. These data complement interactomic studies of interphase transport pathways. We further developed automated proximity ligation assay (PLA) protocols to validate selected interactors. We succeeded in obtaining spatial and temporal resolution of genuine importin beta-1 interactions, which were visualized and localized in situ in intact mitotic cells. Further developments of PLA protocols will be helpful to dissect importin beta-1-orchestrated pathways during mitosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Di Francesco
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.,Unit of Human Microbiome, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Verrico
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), CNR National Research Council of Italy, Via degli Apuli 4, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Italia Anna Asteriti
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), CNR National Research Council of Italy, Via degli Apuli 4, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Rovella
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), CNR National Research Council of Italy, Via degli Apuli 4, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giulia Guarguaglini
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), CNR National Research Council of Italy, Via degli Apuli 4, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Eugenia Schininà
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Patrizia Lavia
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology (IBPM), CNR National Research Council of Italy, Via degli Apuli 4, 00185, Rome, Italy.
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29
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Boulay G, Sandoval GJ, Riggi N, Iyer S, Buisson R, Naigles B, Awad ME, Rengarajan S, Volorio A, McBride MJ, Broye LC, Zou L, Stamenkovic I, Kadoch C, Rivera MN. Cancer-Specific Retargeting of BAF Complexes by a Prion-like Domain. Cell 2017; 171:163-178.e19. [PMID: 28844694 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 304] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alterations in transcriptional regulators can orchestrate oncogenic gene expression programs in cancer. Here, we show that the BRG1/BRM-associated factor (BAF) chromatin remodeling complex, which is mutated in over 20% of human tumors, interacts with EWSR1, a member of a family of proteins with prion-like domains (PrLD) that are frequent partners in oncogenic fusions with transcription factors. In Ewing sarcoma, we find that the BAF complex is recruited by the EWS-FLI1 fusion protein to tumor-specific enhancers and contributes to target gene activation. This process is a neomorphic property of EWS-FLI1 compared to wild-type FLI1 and depends on tyrosine residues that are necessary for phase transitions of the EWSR1 prion-like domain. Furthermore, fusion of short fragments of EWSR1 to FLI1 is sufficient to recapitulate BAF complex retargeting and EWS-FLI1 activities. Our studies thus demonstrate that the physical properties of prion-like domains can retarget critical chromatin regulatory complexes to establish and maintain oncogenic gene expression programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaylor Boulay
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Gabriel J Sandoval
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Nicolo Riggi
- Institute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sowmya Iyer
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Rémi Buisson
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Beverly Naigles
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Mary E Awad
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Shruthi Rengarajan
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Angela Volorio
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Institute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Matthew J McBride
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Liliane C Broye
- Institute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lee Zou
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Ivan Stamenkovic
- Institute of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cigall Kadoch
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Miguel N Rivera
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
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30
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Liu J, Liu T, Wang X, He A. Circles reshaping the RNA world: from waste to treasure. Mol Cancer 2017; 16:58. [PMID: 28279183 PMCID: PMC5345220 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-017-0630-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 301] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A new type of RNAs was identified from genes traditionally thought to express messenger or linear ncRNA (noncoding RNA) only. They were subsequently named as circRNAs (circular RNAs) due to the covalently closed structure. Accumulating studies were performed to explore the expression profile of circRNAs in different cell types and diseases, the outcomes totally changed our view of ncRNAs, which was thought to be junk by-products in the process of gene transcription, and enriched our poor understanding of its underlying functions. The expression profile of circRNAs is tissue-specific and alters across various stages of cell differentiation. The biological function of circRNAs is multi-faceted, involving five main features (sponge effect, post-transcriptional regulation, rolling circle translation, circRNA-derived pseudogenes and splicing interference) and varying differently from the locations, binding sites and acting modes of circRNAs. The regulating role of circRNAs is not isolated but through an enormous complicated network involving mRNAs, miRNAs and proteins. Although most of the potential functions still remain unclear, circRNAs have been proved to be ubiquitous and critical in regulating cellular processes and diseases, especially in cancers, from the laboratory to the clinic. Herein, we review circRNAs’ classification, biogenesis and metabolism, their well-studied and anticipated functions, the current understanding of the potential implications of circRNAs in tumorigenesis and cancer targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- Department of Clinical Hematology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Care Center, 157 West 5 Street, Xi'an, 710004, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian Liu
- Department of Clinical Hematology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Care Center, 157 West 5 Street, Xi'an, 710004, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaman Wang
- Department of Clinical Hematology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Care Center, 157 West 5 Street, Xi'an, 710004, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Aili He
- Department of Clinical Hematology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Care Center, 157 West 5 Street, Xi'an, 710004, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
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31
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Theisen ER, Pishas KI, Saund RS, Lessnick SL. Therapeutic opportunities in Ewing sarcoma: EWS-FLI inhibition via LSD1 targeting. Oncotarget 2017; 7:17616-30. [PMID: 26848860 PMCID: PMC4951237 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive primary pediatric bone tumor, often diagnosed in adolescents and young adults. A pathognomonic reciprocal chromosomal translocation results in a fusion gene coding for a protein which derives its N-terminus from a FUS/EWS/TAF15 (FET) protein family member, commonly EWS, and C-terminus containing the DNA-binding domain of an ETS transcription factor, commonly FLI1. Nearly 85% of cases express the EWS-FLI protein which functions as a transcription factor and drives oncogenesis. As the primary genomic lesion and a protein which is not expressed in normal cells, disrupting EWS-FLI function is an attractive therapeutic strategy for Ewing sarcoma. However, transcription factors are notoriously difficult targets for the development of small molecules. Improved understanding of the oncogenic mechanisms employed by EWS-FLI to hijack normal cellular programming has uncovered potential novel approaches to pharmacologically block EWS-FLI function. In this review we examine targeting the chromatin regulatory enzymes recruited to conspire in oncogenesis with a focus on the histone lysine specific demethylase 1 (LSD1). LSD1 inhibitors are being aggressively investigated in acute myeloid leukemia and the results of early clinical trials will help inform the future use of LSD1 inhibitors in sarcoma. High LSD1 expression is observed in Ewing sarcoma patient samples and mechanistic and preclinical data suggest LSD1 inhibition globally disrupts the function of EWS-ETS proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Theisen
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Kathleen I Pishas
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Cancer Therapeutics Laboratory, Centre for Personalized Cancer Medicine, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Ranajeet S Saund
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Stephen L Lessnick
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant at The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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32
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Park H, Galbraith R, Turner T, Mehojah J, Azuma M. Loss of Ewing sarcoma EWS allele promotes tumorigenesis by inducing chromosomal instability in zebrafish. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32297. [PMID: 27557633 PMCID: PMC4997631 DOI: 10.1038/srep32297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ewing sarcoma family of tumors expresses aberrant EWSR1- (EWS) fusion genes that are derived from chromosomal translocation. Although these fusion genes are well characterized as transcription factors, their formation leaves a single EWS allele in the sarcoma cells, and the contribution that the loss of EWS makes towards disease pathogenesis is unknown. To address this question, we utilized zebrafish mutants for ewsa and tp53. The zebrafish tp53(M214K)w/m line and the ewsaw/m, zygotic ewsam/m, and Maternal-Zygotic (MZ) ewsam/m lines all displayed zero to low incidence of tumorigenesis. However, when the ewsa and tp53 mutant lines were crossed with each other, the incidence of tumorigenesis drastically increased. Furthermore, 27 hour post fertilization (hpf) MZ ewsam/m mutant embryos displayed a higher incidence of aberrant chromosome numbers and mitotic dysfunction compared to wildtype zebrafish embryos. Consistent with this finding, tumor samples obtained from ewsam/m;tp53w/m zebrafish displayed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) for the wildtype tp53 locus. These results suggest that wildtype Ewsa inhibits LOH induction, possibly by maintaining chromosomal stability. We propose that the loss of ewsa promotes tumorigenesis, and EWS deficiency may contribute to the pathogenesis of EWS-fusion-expressing sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyewon Park
- University of Kansas, Molecular Biosciences, Haworth Rm7031, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence KS 66045, USA
| | - Richard Galbraith
- Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Department of Pathology, 325 Maine St, Lawrence KS 66044, USA
| | - Thaddeus Turner
- Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Department of Pathology, 325 Maine St, Lawrence KS 66044, USA
| | - Justin Mehojah
- University of Kansas, Molecular Biosciences, Haworth Rm7031, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence KS 66045, USA
| | - Mizuki Azuma
- University of Kansas, Molecular Biosciences, Haworth Rm7031, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence KS 66045, USA
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33
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Åman P, Dolatabadi S, Svec D, Jonasson E, Safavi S, Andersson D, Grundevik P, Thomsen C, Ståhlberg A. Regulatory mechanisms, expression levels and proliferation effects of the FUS-DDIT3 fusion oncogene in liposarcoma. J Pathol 2016; 238:689-99. [PMID: 26865464 DOI: 10.1002/path.4700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Revised: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Fusion oncogenes are among the most common types of oncogene in human cancers. The gene rearrangements result in new combinations of regulatory elements and functional protein domains. Here we studied a subgroup of sarcomas and leukaemias characterized by the FET (FUS, EWSR1, TAF15) family of fusion oncogenes, including FUS-DDIT3 in myxoid liposarcoma (MLS). We investigated the regulatory mechanisms, expression levels and effects of FUS-DDIT3 in detail. FUS-DDIT3 showed a lower expression than normal FUS at both the mRNA and protein levels, and single-cell analysis revealed a lack of correlation between FUS-DDIT3 and FUS expression. FUS-DDIT3 transcription was regulated by the FUS promotor, while its mRNA stability depended on the DDIT3 sequence. FUS-DDIT3 protein stability was regulated by protein interactions through the FUS part, rather than the leucine zipper containing DDIT3 part. In addition, in vitro as well as in vivo FUS-DDIT3 protein expression data displayed highly variable expression levels between individual MLS cells. Combined mRNA and protein analyses at the single-cell level showed that FUS-DDIT3 protein expression was inversely correlated to the expression of cell proliferation-associated genes. We concluded that FUS-DDIT3 is uniquely regulated at the transcriptional as well as the post-translational level and that its expression level is important for MLS tumour development. The FET fusion oncogenes are potentially powerful drug targets and detailed knowledge about their regulation and functions may help in the development of novel treatments.
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MESH Headings
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Half-Life
- Humans
- Liposarcoma, Myxoid/genetics
- Liposarcoma, Myxoid/metabolism
- Liposarcoma, Myxoid/pathology
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/metabolism
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Protein Binding
- Protein Processing, Post-Translational
- Protein Stability
- RNA Stability
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Time Factors
- Transcription, Genetic
- Transfection
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Åman
- Sahlgrenska Cancer Centre, Department of Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Soheila Dolatabadi
- Sahlgrenska Cancer Centre, Department of Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - David Svec
- Sahlgrenska Cancer Centre, Department of Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
- Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Emma Jonasson
- Sahlgrenska Cancer Centre, Department of Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Setareh Safavi
- Sahlgrenska Cancer Centre, Department of Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Daniel Andersson
- Sahlgrenska Cancer Centre, Department of Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Pernilla Grundevik
- Sahlgrenska Cancer Centre, Department of Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Christer Thomsen
- Sahlgrenska Cancer Centre, Department of Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anders Ståhlberg
- Sahlgrenska Cancer Centre, Department of Pathology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
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Wang J, Jiang W, Yan Y, Chen C, Yu Y, Wang B, Zhao H. Knockdown of EWSR1/FLI1 expression alters the transcriptome of Ewing sarcoma cells in vitro. J Bone Oncol 2016; 5:153-158. [PMID: 28008375 PMCID: PMC5154700 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbo.2016.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 (EWSR1) fusion with Friend leukemia integration 1 transcription factor (FLI1) induced by a translocation of chromosome 11 with 22 contributes to Ewing sarcoma development. To date, the precise molecular mechanisms about EWSR1/FLI1 involving in Ewing sarcoma development remains to be defined. This study explored the potential critical gene targets of EWSR1/FLI1 knockdown in Ewing sarcoma cells on the gene expression profile based on online dataset, performed Limma algorithm for differentially expressed genes identification, constructed the transcriptional factor (TF)-gene regulatory network based on integrate transcriptional regulatory element database (TRED). The data showed up- and down-regulation of differentially expressed genes over time and peaked at 72 h after EWSR1/FLI1 knockdown in Ewing sarcoma cells. SMAD3 were up-regulated and FLI1, MYB, E2F1, ETS2, WT1 were down-regulated with more than half of their targets were down-regulated after EWSR1/FLI1 knockdown. The Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway annotation of these differentially expressed genes showed a consistent trend in each group of samples. Totally, there were 355 differentially expressed genes occurring in all five comparison groups of different time points, in which 39 genes constructed a dysregulated TF-gene network in Ewing sarcoma cell line A673 after EWSR1/FLI1 knockdown. These data demonstrated that knockdown of EWSR1/FLI1 expression led to transcriptome changes in Ewing sarcoma cells and that Ewing sarcoma development and progression caused by altered EWSR1/FLI1 expression may be associated with more complex transcriptome changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihan Wang
- Clinical Laboratory of Hong-Hui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Wenyan Jiang
- Clinical Laboratory of Hong-Hui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Yuzhu Yan
- Clinical Laboratory of Hong-Hui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Chu Chen
- Clinical Laboratory of Hong-Hui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Yan Yu
- Clinical Laboratory of Hong-Hui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Biao Wang
- Clinical Laboratory of Hong-Hui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Heping Zhao
- Clinical Laboratory of Hong-Hui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, Xi'an 710054, China
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35
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Park H, Turkalo TK, Nelson K, Folmsbee SS, Robb C, Roper B, Azuma M. Ewing sarcoma EWS protein regulates midzone formation by recruiting Aurora B kinase to the midzone. Cell Cycle 2015; 13:2391-9. [PMID: 25483190 DOI: 10.4161/cc.29337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is a malignant bone cancer that primarily occurs in children and adolescents. Eighty-five percent of Ewing sarcoma is characterized by the presence of the aberrant chimeric EWS/FLI1 fusion gene. Previously, we demonstrated that an interaction between EWS/FLI1 and wild-type EWS led to the inhibition of EWS activity and mitotic dysfunction. Although defective mitosis is considered to be a critical step in cancer initiation, it is unknown how interference with EWS contributes to Ewing sarcoma formation. Here, we demonstrate that EWS/FLI1- and EWS-knockdown cells display a high incidence of defects in the midzone, a midline structure located between segregating chromatids during anaphase. Defects in the midzone can lead to the failure of cytokinesis and can result in the induction of aneuploidy. The similarity among the phenotypes of EWS/FLI1- and EWS siRNA-transfected HeLa cells points to the inhibition of EWS as the key mechanism for the induction of midzone defects. Supporting this observation, the ectopic expression of EWS rescues the high incidence of midzone defects observed in Ewing sarcoma A673 cells. We discovered that EWS interacts with Aurora B kinase, and that EWS is also required for recruiting Aurora B to the midzone. A domain analysis revealed that the R565 in the RGG3 domain of EWS is essential for both Aurora B interaction and the recruitment of Aurora B to the midzone. Here, we propose that the impairment of EWS-dependent midzone formation via the recruitment of Aurora B is a potential mechanism of Ewing sarcoma development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyewon Park
- a Department of Molecular Biosciences; University of Kansas; Lawrence, KS USA
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36
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Merkes C, Turkalo TK, Wilder N, Park H, Wenger LW, Lewin SJ, Azuma M. Ewing sarcoma ewsa protein regulates chondrogenesis of Meckel's cartilage through modulation of Sox9 in zebrafish. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0116627. [PMID: 25617839 PMCID: PMC4305327 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is the second most common skeletal (bone and cartilage) cancer in adolescents, and it is characterized by the expression of the aberrant chimeric fusion gene EWS/FLI1. Wild-type EWS has been proposed to play a role in mitosis, splicing and transcription. We have previously shown that EWS/FLI1 interacts with EWS, and it inhibits EWS activity in a dominant manner. Ewing sarcoma is a cancer that specifically develops in skeletal tissues, and although the above data suggests the significance of EWS, its role in chondrogenesis/skeletogenesis is not understood. To elucidate the function of EWS in skeletal development, we generated and analyzed a maternal zygotic (MZ) ewsa/ewsa line because the ewsa/wt and ewsa/ewsa zebrafish appeared to be normal and fertile. Compared with wt/wt, the Meckel's cartilage of MZ ewsa/ewsa mutants had a higher number of craniofacial prehypertrophic chondrocytes that failed to mature into hypertrophic chondrocytes at 4 days post-fertilization (dpf). Ewsa interacted with Sox9, which is the master transcription factor for chondrogenesis. Sox9 target genes were either upregulated (ctgfa, ctgfb, col2a1a, and col2a1b) or downregulated (sox5, nog1, nog2, and bmp4) in MZ ewsa/ewsa embryos compared with the wt/wt zebrafish embryos. Among these Sox9 target genes, the chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiment demonstrated that Ewsa directly binds to ctgfa and ctgfb loci. Consistently, immunohistochemistry showed that the Ctgf protein is upregulated in the Meckel's cartilage of MZ ewsa/ewsa mutants. Together, we propose that Ewsa promotes the differentiation from prehypertrophic chondrocytes to hypertrophic chondrocytes of Meckel's cartilage through inhibiting Sox9 binding site of the ctgf gene promoter. Because Ewing sarcoma specifically develops in skeletal tissue that is originating from chondrocytes, this new role of EWS may provide a potential molecular basis of its pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Merkes
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, 7031 Haworth, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, United States of America
| | - Timothy K. Turkalo
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, 7031 Haworth, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, United States of America
| | - Nicole Wilder
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, 7031 Haworth, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, United States of America
| | - Hyewon Park
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, 7031 Haworth, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, United States of America
| | - Luke W. Wenger
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, 7031 Haworth, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, United States of America
| | - Seth J. Lewin
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, 7031 Haworth, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, United States of America
| | - Mizuki Azuma
- Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, 7031 Haworth, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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37
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Hossain MM, Ray SK. EWS Knockdown and Taxifolin Treatment Induced Differentiation and Removed DNA Methylation from p53 Promoter to Promote Expression of Puma and Noxa for Apoptosis in Ewing's Sarcoma. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 5:1092-1113. [PMID: 27547487 PMCID: PMC4989871 DOI: 10.4236/jct.2014.512114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Ewing’s sarcoma is a pediatric tumor that mainly occurs in soft tissues and bones. Malignant characteristics of Ewing’s sarcoma are correlated with expression of EWS oncogene. We achieved knockdown of EWS expression using a plasmid vector encoding EWS short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to increase anti-tumor mechanisms of taxifolin (TFL), a new flavonoid, in human Ewing’s sarcoma cells in culture and animal models. Immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometric analysis showed high expression of EWS in human Ewing’s sarcoma SK-N-MC and RD-ES cell lines. EWS shRNA plus TFL inhibited 80% cell viability and caused the highest decreases in EWS expression at mRNA and protein levels in both cell lines. Knockdown of EWS expression induced morphological features of differentiation. EWS shRNA plus TFL caused more alterations in molecular markers of differentiation than either agent alone. EWS shRNA plus TFL caused the highest decreases in cell migration with inhibition of survival, angiogenic and invasive factors. Knockdown of EWS expression was associated with removal of DNA methylation from p53 promoter, promoting expression of p53, Puma, and Noxa. EWS shRNA plus TFL induced the highest amounts of apoptosis with activation of extrinsic and intrinsic pathways in both cell lines in culture. EWS shRNA plus TFL also inhibited growth of Ewing’s sarcoma tumors in animal models due to inhibition of differentiation inhibitors and angiogenic and invasive factors and also induction of activation of caspase-3 for apoptosis. Collectively, knockdown of EWS expression increased various anti-tumor mechanisms of TFL in human Ewing’s sarcoma in cell culture and animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Motarab Hossain
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Swapan Kumar Ray
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA
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38
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Sankar S, Gomez NC, Bell R, Patel M, Davis IJ, Lessnick SL, Luo W. EWS and RE1-Silencing Transcription Factor Inhibit Neuronal Phenotype Development and Oncogenic Transformation in Ewing Sarcoma. Genes Cancer 2013; 4:213-23. [PMID: 24069508 DOI: 10.1177/1947601913489569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2013] [Accepted: 04/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The gene encoding EWS (EWSR1) is involved in various chromosomal translocations that cause the production of oncoproteins responsible for multiple cancers including Ewing sarcoma, myxoid liposarcoma, soft tissue clear cell sarcoma, and desmoplastic small round cell sarcoma. It is well known that EWS fuses to FLI to create EWS/FLI, which is the abnormal transcription factor that drives tumor development in Ewing sarcoma. However, the role of wild-type EWS in Ewing sarcoma pathogenesis remains unclear. In the current study, we identified EWS-regulated genes and cellular processes through RNA interference combined with RNA sequencing and functional annotation analyses. Interestingly, we found that EWS and EWS/FLI co-regulate a significant cluster of genes, indicating an interplay between the 2 proteins in regulating cellular functions. We found that among the EWS-down-regulated genes are a subset of neuronal genes that contain binding sites for the RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST or neuron-restrictive silencer factor [NRSF]), neuron-restrictive silencer element (NRSE), suggesting a cooperative interaction between REST and EWS in gene regulation. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that EWS interacts directly with REST. Genome-wide binding analysis showed that EWS binds chromatin at or near NRSE. Furthermore, functional studies revealed that both EWS and REST inhibit neuronal phenotype development and oncogenic transformation in Ewing sarcoma cells. Our data implicate an important role of EWS in the development of Ewing sarcoma phenotype and highlight a potential value in modulating EWS function in the treatment of Ewing sarcoma and other EWS translocation-based cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savita Sankar
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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39
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Thomsen C, Grundevik P, Elias P, Ståhlberg A, Aman P. A conserved N-terminal motif is required for complex formation between FUS, EWSR1, TAF15 and their oncogenic fusion proteins. FASEB J 2013; 27:4965-74. [PMID: 23975937 DOI: 10.1096/fj.13-234435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The three FET (FUS, EWSR1, and TAF15) family RNA binding proteins are expressed in all tissues and almost all cell types. The disordered N-terminal parts are always present in FET fusion oncoproteins of sarcomas and leukemia. Mutations in FUS and TAF15 cause aggregation of FET proteins in neurological disorders. Here we used recombinant proteins in pulldown experiments and mass spectrometry to identify major interaction partners of the FET N-terminal parts. We report that FUS, EWSR1, and TAF15 form homo- and heterocomplexes as major binding partners and identify an evolutionarily conserved N-terminal motif (FETBM1) that is required for this interaction. The binding is RNA and DNA independent and robust up to 1 M of NaCl. The localization of FETBM1 and its target sequences supports a simple model for FET protein aggregation as reported in neurological disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, and essential tremor. The FETBM1 localization also explains the binding of normal full-length FET proteins to their oncogenic fusion proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christer Thomsen
- 1Sahlgrenska Cancer Center, Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Pathology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 425, 40530, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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40
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Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRs) have emerged recently as important regulators of gene expression in the cell. Frequently dysregulated in cancer, miRs have shed new light on molecular mechanisms of oncogenesis, and have generated substantial interest as biomarkers, and novel therapeutic agents and targets. Recently, a number of studies have examined miR biology in Ewing sarcoma. Findings indicate that alterations in miR expression in Ewing Sarcoma are widespread, involve both EWS/Ets oncogenic fusion-dependent and independent mechanisms, and contribute to malignant phenotypes. miRs with prognostic potential have been identified, and several preclinical studies suggest that miR manipulation could be therapeutically useful in this aggressive disease. These and future studies of miR biology stand to expand our understanding of Ewing sarcoma pathogenesis, and may identify new biomarkers and treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layne Dylla
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Colorado DenverDenver, CO, USA
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Colorado DenverDenver, CO, USA
- Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado DenverDenver, CO, USA
| | - Colin Moore
- Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado DenverDenver, CO, USA
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, University of Colorado DenverAurora, CO, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics, University of Colorado DenverDenver, CO, USA
- Children’s Hospital ColoradoAurora, CO, USA
| | - Paul Jedlicka
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Colorado DenverDenver, CO, USA
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Colorado DenverDenver, CO, USA
- Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado DenverDenver, CO, USA
- Children’s Hospital ColoradoAurora, CO, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado DenverDenver, CO, USA
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41
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Leacock SW, Basse AN, Chandler GL, Kirk AM, Rakheja D, Amatruda JF. A zebrafish transgenic model of Ewing's sarcoma reveals conserved mediators of EWS-FLI1 tumorigenesis. Dis Model Mech 2011; 5:95-106. [PMID: 21979944 PMCID: PMC3255547 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.007401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing’s sarcoma, a malignant bone tumor of children and young adults, is a member of the small-round-blue-cell tumor family. Ewing’s sarcoma family tumors (ESFTs), which include peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs), are characterized by chromosomal translocations that generate fusions between the EWS gene and ETS-family transcription factors, most commonly FLI1. The EWS-FLI1 fusion oncoprotein represents an attractive therapeutic target for treatment of Ewing’s sarcoma. The cell of origin of ESFT and the molecular mechanisms by which EWS-FLI1 mediates tumorigenesis remain unknown, and few animal models of Ewing’s sarcoma exist. Here, we report the use of zebrafish as a vertebrate model of EWS-FLI1 function and tumorigenesis. Mosaic expression of the human EWS-FLI1 fusion protein in zebrafish caused the development of tumors with histology strongly resembling that of human Ewing’s sarcoma. The incidence of tumors increased in a p53 mutant background, suggesting that the p53 pathway suppresses EWS-FLI1-driven tumorigenesis. Gene expression profiling of the zebrafish tumors defined a set of genes that might be regulated by EWS-FLI1, including the zebrafish ortholog of a crucial EWS-FLI1 target gene in humans. Stable zebrafish transgenic lines expressing EWS-FLI1 under the control of the heat-shock promoter exhibit altered embryonic development and defective convergence and extension, suggesting that EWS-FLI1 interacts with conserved developmental pathways. These results indicate that functional targets of EWS-FLI1 that mediate tumorigenesis are conserved from zebrafish to human and provide a novel context in which to study the function of this fusion oncogene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie W Leacock
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390-8534, USA
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Proteome analysis of vaccinia virus IHD-W-infected HEK 293 cells with 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and MALDI-PSD-TOF MS of on solid phase support N-terminally sulfonated peptides. Virol J 2011; 8:380. [PMID: 21806805 PMCID: PMC3169512 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-8-380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2011] [Accepted: 08/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite the successful eradication of smallpox by the WHO-led vaccination programme, pox virus infections remain a considerable health threat. The possible use of smallpox as a bioterrorism agent as well as the continuous occurrence of zoonotic pox virus infections document the relevance to deepen the understanding for virus host interactions. Since the permissiveness of pox infections is independent of hosts surface receptors, but correlates with the ability of the virus to infiltrate the antiviral host response, it directly depends on the hosts proteome set. In this report the proteome of HEK293 cells infected with Vaccinia Virus strain IHD-W was analyzed by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and MALDI-PSD-TOF MS in a bottom-up approach. Results The cellular and viral proteomes of VACV IHD-W infected HEK293 cells, UV-inactivated VACV IHD-W-treated as well as non-infected cells were compared. Derivatization of peptides with 4-sulfophenyl isothiocyanate (SPITC) carried out on ZipTipμ-C18 columns enabled protein identification via the peptides' primary sequence, providing improved s/n ratios as well as signal intensities of the PSD spectra. The expression of more than 24 human proteins was modulated by the viral infection. Effects of UV-inactivated and infectious viruses on the hosts' proteome concerning energy metabolism and proteins associated with gene expression and protein-biosynthesis were quite similar. These effects might therefore be attributed to virus entry and virion proteins. However, the modulation of proteins involved in apoptosis was clearly correlated to infectious viruses. Conclusions The proteome analysis of infected cells provides insight into apoptosis modulation, regulation of cellular gene expression and the regulation of energy metabolism. The confidence of protein identifications was clearly improved by the peptides' derivatization with SPITC on a solid phase support. Some of the identified proteins have not been described in the context of poxvirus infections before and need to be further characterised to identify their meaning for apoptosis modulation and pathogenesis.
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Winter GE, Rix U, Lissat A, Stukalov A, Müllner MK, Bennett KL, Colinge J, Nijman SM, Kubicek S, Kovar H, Kontny U, Superti-Furga G. An Integrated Chemical Biology Approach Identifies Specific Vulnerability of Ewing's Sarcoma to Combined Inhibition of Aurora Kinases A and B. Mol Cancer Ther 2011; 10:1846-56. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-11-0100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Cell Cycle Deregulation in Ewing's Sarcoma Pathogenesis. Sarcoma 2010; 2011:598704. [PMID: 21052502 PMCID: PMC2968116 DOI: 10.1155/2011/598704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2010] [Accepted: 10/07/2010] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing's sarcoma is a highly aggressive pediatric tumor of bone that usually contains the characteristic chromosomal translocation t(11;22)(q24;q12). This translocation encodes the oncogenic fusion protein EWS/FLI, which acts as an aberrant transcription factor to deregulate target genes necessary for oncogenesis. One key feature of oncogenic transformation is dysregulation of cell cycle control. It is therefore likely that EWS/FLI and other cooperating mutations in Ewing's sarcoma modulate the cell cycle to facilitate tumorigenesis. This paper will summarize current published data associated with deregulation of the cell cycle in Ewing's sarcoma and highlight important questions that remain to be answered.
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Jedlicka P. Ewing Sarcoma, an enigmatic malignancy of likely progenitor cell origin, driven by transcription factor oncogenic fusions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2010; 3:338-347. [PMID: 20490326 PMCID: PMC2872742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2010] [Accepted: 03/18/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Since its first description by James Ewing in 1921, Ewing Sarcoma has been a cryptic malignancy. A poorly differentiated tumor of uncertain histogenesis and aggressive biologic behavior, it is the second most common malignancy of bone and soft tissue affecting adolescents and young adults. Some two decades ago, the understanding of Ewing Sarcoma biology took a leap forward with the identification of recurrent EWS/Ets fusions, which drive onco-genesis in this disease. A further leap forward occurred over the last half decade with the application of gene silencing, global expression profiling and primary cell culture technologies to the study of this disease. Resulting work has revealed EWS/Ets fusions to be surprisingly versatile regulators of gene expression, and has narrowed the search for the elusive cell of origin. Improved understanding of EWS/Ets biology and relevant oncogenic pathways has in turn led to the development of targeted therapies, including, recently, small molecules targeting key complexes involving the oncogenic fusion itself. In many respects still remaining an enigma, Ewing Sarcoma is an important model for cancers originating in progenitor-type cells or manifesting progenitor-type cell features, and cancers containing recurrent oncogenic fusions, the latter a surprisingly expanding number.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Jedlicka
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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