1
|
Yang L, Chen X, Lee C, Shi J, Lawrence EB, Zhang L, Li Y, Gao N, Jung SY, Creighton CJ, Li JJ, Cui Y, Arimura S, Lei Y, Li W, Shen L. Functional characterization of age-dependent p16 epimutation reveals biological drivers and therapeutic targets for colorectal cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:113. [PMID: 37143122 PMCID: PMC10157929 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02689-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methylation of the p16 promoter resulting in epigenetic gene silencing-known as p16 epimutation-is frequently found in human colorectal cancer and is also common in normal-appearing colonic mucosa of aging individuals. Thus, to improve clinical care of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, we explored the role of age-related p16 epimutation in intestinal tumorigenesis. METHODS We established a mouse model that replicates two common genetic and epigenetic events observed in human CRCs: Apc mutation and p16 epimutation. We conducted long-term survival and histological analysis of tumor development and progression. Colonic epithelial cells and tumors were collected from mice and analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), quantitative PCR, and flow cytometry. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to characterize tumor-infiltrating immune cells throughout tumor progression. We tested whether anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy affects overall survival of tumor-bearing mice and whether inhibition of both epigenetic regulation and immune checkpoint is more efficacious. RESULTS Mice carrying combined Apc mutation and p16 epimutation had significantly shortened survival and increased tumor growth compared to those with Apc mutation only. Intriguingly, colon tumors with p16 epimutation exhibited an activated interferon pathway, increased expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (Pdl1), and enhanced infiltration of immune cells. scRNA-seq further revealed the presence of Foxp3+ Tregs and γδT17 cells, which contribute to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Furthermore, we showed that a combined therapy using an inhibitor of DNA methylation and a PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor is more effective for improving survival in tumor-bearing mice than blockade of either pathway alone. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated that age-dependent p16 epimutation creates a permissive microenvironment for malignant transformation of polyps to colon cancer. Our findings provide a mechanistic rationale for future targeted therapy in patients with p16 epimutation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Yang
- USDA Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, TX, Houston, USA
| | - Xiaomin Chen
- USDA Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, TX, Houston, USA
| | - Christy Lee
- Department of Statistics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jiejun Shi
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Present address: Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Emily B Lawrence
- USDA Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, TX, Houston, USA
| | - Lanjing Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Princeton Medical Center, Plainsboro, NJ, USA
- Department of Chemical Biology, Earnest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Yumei Li
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nan Gao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Sung Yun Jung
- Department of Biochemistry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chad J Creighton
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Medicine and Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jingyi Jessica Li
- Department of Statistics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ya Cui
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Sumimasa Arimura
- Department of Medicine and Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yunping Lei
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Lanlan Shen
- USDA Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, TX, Houston, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Histone deacetylase inhibitors as sanguine epitherapeutics against the deadliest lung cancer. Adv Cancer Res 2023; 158:163-198. [PMID: 36990532 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2022.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The back-breaking resistance mechanisms generated by lung cancer cells against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), KRAS and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) directed therapies strongly prioritizes the requirement of novel therapies which are perfectly tolerated, potentially cytotoxic and can reinstate the drug-sensitivity in lung cancer cells. Enzymatic proteins modifying the post-translational modifications of nucleosome-integrated histone substrates are appearing as current targets for defeating various malignancies. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are hyperexpressed in diverse lung cancer types. Blocking the active pocket of these acetylation erasers through HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) has come out as an optimistic therapeutic recourse for annihilating lung cancer. This article in the beginning gives an overview about lung cancer statistics and predominant lung cancer types. Succeeding this, compendium about conventional therapies and their serious drawbacks has been provided. Then, connection of uncommon expression of classical HDACs in lung cancer onset and expansion has been detailed. Moreover, keeping the main theme in view this article deeply discusses HDACi in the context of aggressive lung cancer as single agents and spotlights various molecular targets suppressed or induced by these inhibitors for engendering cytotoxic effect. Most particularly, the raised pharmacological effects achieved on using these inhibitors in concerted form with other therapeutic molecules and the cancer-linked pathways altered by this procedure are described. The positive direction towards further heightening of efficacy and the pressing requirement of exhaustive clinical assessment has been proposed as a new focus point.
Collapse
|
3
|
Merkerova MD, Klema J, Kundrat D, Szikszai K, Krejcik Z, Hrustincova A, Trsova I, LE AV, Cermak J, Jonasova A, Belickova M. Noncoding RNAs and Their Response Predictive Value in Azacitidine-treated Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Myelodysplasia-related Changes. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2022; 19:205-228. [PMID: 35181589 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Prediction of response to azacitidine (AZA) treatment is an important challenge in hematooncology. In addition to protein coding genes (PCGs), AZA efficiency is influenced by various noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and transposable elements (TEs). MATERIALS AND METHODS RNA sequencing was performed in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes or acute myeloid leukemia before AZA treatment to assess contribution of ncRNAs to AZA mechanisms and propose novel disease prediction biomarkers. RESULTS Our analyses showed that lncRNAs had the strongest predictive potential. The combined set of the best predictors included 14 lncRNAs, and only four PCGs, one circRNA, and no TEs. Epigenetic regulation and recombinational repair were suggested as crucial for AZA response, and network modeling defined three deregulated lncRNAs (CTC-482H14.5, RP11-419K12.2, and RP11-736I24.4) associated with these processes. CONCLUSION The expression of various ncRNAs can influence the effect of AZA and new ncRNA-based predictive biomarkers can be defined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jiri Klema
- Department of Computer Sciences, Czech Technical University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - David Kundrat
- Department of Genomics, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Katarina Szikszai
- Department of Genomics, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zdenek Krejcik
- Department of Genomics, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Andrea Hrustincova
- Department of Genomics, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Iva Trsova
- Department of Genomics, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anh Vu LE
- Department of Computer Sciences, Czech Technical University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Cermak
- Laboratory of Anemias, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Jonasova
- First Department of Medicine, General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Belickova
- Department of Genomics, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Prague, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yang J, Gao C, Liu M, Liu YC, Kwon J, Qi J, Tian X, Stein A, Liu YV, Kong NR, Wu Y, Yin S, Xi J, Chen Z, Kumari K, Wong H, Luo H, Silberstein LE, Thoms JAI, Unnikrishnan A, Pimanda JE, Tenen DG, Chai L. Targeting an Inducible SALL4-Mediated Cancer Vulnerability with Sequential Therapy. Cancer Res 2021; 81:6018-6028. [PMID: 34593523 PMCID: PMC8639708 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-0030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Oncofetal protein SALL4 is critical for cancer cell survival. Targeting SALL4, however, is only applicable in a fraction of cancer patients who are positive for this gene. To overcome this limitation, we propose to induce a cancer vulnerability by engineering a partial dependency upon SALL4. Following exogenous expression of SALL4, SALL4-negative cancer cells became partially dependent on SALL4. Treatment of SALL4-negative cells with the FDA-approved hypomethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (DAC) resulted in transient upregulation of SALL4. DAC pretreatment sensitized SALL4-negative cancer cells to entinostat, which negatively affected SALL4 expression through a microRNA, miRNA-205, both in culture and in vivo. Moreover, SALL4 was essential for the efficiency of sequential treatment of DAC and entinostat. Overall, this proof-of-concept study provides a framework whereby the targeting pathways such as SALL4-centered therapy can be expanded, sensitizing cancer cells to treatment by transient target induction and engineering a dependency. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings provide a therapeutic approach for patients harboring no suitable target by induction of a SALL4-mediated vulnerability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junyu Yang
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Chong Gao
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Miao Liu
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yao-Chung Liu
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Junsu Kwon
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jun Qi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Xi Tian
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alicia Stein
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yanjing V Liu
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nikki R Kong
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yue Wu
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Shenyi Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianzhong Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyuan Chen
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kalpana Kumari
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hannan Wong
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hongbo Luo
- Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Leslie E Silberstein
- Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Julie A I Thoms
- School of Medical Sciences and Lowy Cancer Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ashwin Unnikrishnan
- Prince of Wales Clinical School and Lowy Cancer Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John E Pimanda
- School of Medical Sciences and Lowy Cancer Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Prince of Wales Clinical School and Lowy Cancer Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Hematology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel G Tenen
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Li Chai
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Shepard KB, Vodak DT, Kuehl PJ, Revelli D, Zhou Y, Pluntze AM, Adam MS, Oddo JC, Switala L, Cape JL, Baumann JM, Banks M. Local Treatment of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer with a Spray-Dried Bevacizumab Formulation. AAPS PharmSciTech 2021; 22:230. [PMID: 34467438 PMCID: PMC8408070 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-021-02095-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Local delivery of biotherapeutics to the lung holds great promise for treatment of lung diseases, but development of physically stable, biologically active dry powder formulations of large molecules for inhalation has remained a challenge. Here, spray drying was used to manufacture a dry powder pulmonary formulation of bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody approved to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by intravenous infusion. By reformulating bevacizumab for local delivery, reduced side effects, lower doses, and improved patient compliance are possible. The formulation had aerosol properties suitable for delivery to the deep lung, as well as good physical stability at ambient temperature for at least 6 months. Bevacizumab’s anti-VEGF bioactivity was not impacted by the manufacturing process. The formulation was efficacious in an in vivo rat model for NSCLC at a 10-fold decrease in dose relative to the intravenous control.
Collapse
|
6
|
Kuehl PJ, Yingling CM, Dubose D, Burke M, Revelli DA, Chen W, Dye WW, Belinsky SA, Tessema M. Inhalation delivery dramatically improves the efficacy of topotecan for the treatment of local and distant lung cancer. Drug Deliv 2021; 28:767-775. [PMID: 33860729 PMCID: PMC8079036 DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2021.1912209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Topotecan is potent anti-cancer drug approved for various malignancies but hematopoietic toxicities undermine its wider application and use of its most effective dose. This study aims to improve these limitations through inhalation-delivery. The pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and toxicity of 2–5 times lower inhalation doses of topotecan dry-powder were compared with the standard intravenous (IV) delivery once/twice-a-week. Human-derived EGFR-mutant (H1975), KRAS-mutant (A549), and EGFR/KRAS wild-type (H358) orthotopic and distant lung tumors were evaluated in murine models. Inhalation of 1 mg/kg topotecan significantly improved the half-life and drug exposure (area under the curve, AUC) compared to 5 mg/kg via IV-delivery. AUCs (h*ng/mL) for inhaled/IV topotecan in plasma, lung, liver, and brain were, 831/888, 60,000/1080, 8380/4000, and 297/15, respectively; while the half-life was also greatly increased in these tissues. The average lung tumor burden of H358-derived tumors was reduced from 15.0 g to 8.4 g (44%) in rats treated once-a-week with 2 mg/kg IV and 1.8 g (88%) with 1 mg/kg inhaled topotecan, corroborating previous findings using A549- and H1975-derived orthotopic lung tumors. Importantly, inhaled topotecan showed superior efficacy in suppressing lung tumors at distant sites. The growth of H1975- and H358-derived subcutaneous xenografts were completely arrested and A549-derived tumors were significantly reduced in mice treated twice-a-week with 1 mg/kg inhaled topotecan compared to a minor (H1975 and H358) or no reduction (A549) with twice-a-week 5 mg/kg IV topotecan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Kuehl
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Christin M Yingling
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | | | | | - David A Revelli
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Wenshu Chen
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Wendy W Dye
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Steven A Belinsky
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Mathewos Tessema
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ultimate Precision: Targeting Cancer But Not Normal Self-Replication. Lung Cancer 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-74028-3_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
8
|
Kuehl PJ, Tellez CS, Grimes MJ, March TH, Tessema M, Revelli DA, Mallis LM, Dye WW, Sniegowski T, Badenoch A, Burke M, Dubose D, Vodak DT, Picchi MA, Belinsky SA. 5-Azacytidine inhaled dry powder formulation profoundly improves pharmacokinetics and efficacy for lung cancer therapy through genome reprogramming. Br J Cancer 2020; 122:1194-1204. [PMID: 32103148 PMCID: PMC7156464 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-020-0765-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Epigenetic therapy through demethylation of 5-methylcytosine has been largely ineffective in treating lung cancer, most likely due to poor tissue distribution with oral or subcutaneous delivery of drugs such as 5-azacytidine (5AZA). An inhalable, stable dry powder formulation of 5AZA was developed. Methods Pharmacokinetics of inhaled dry powder and aqueous formulations of 5AZA were compared to an injected formulation. Efficacy studies and effect of therapy on the epigenome were conducted in an orthotopic rat lung cancer model for inhaled formulations. Results Inhaled dry powder 5AZA showed superior pharmacokinetic properties in lung, liver, brain and blood compared to the injected formulation and for all tissues except lung compared to an inhaled aqueous formulation. Only dry powder 5AZA was detected in brain (~4-h half-life). Inhaled dry powder was superior to inhaled aqueous 5AZA in reducing tumour burden 70–95%. Superiority of inhaled 5AZA dry powder was linked to effectively reprogramming the cancer genome through demethylation and gene expression changes in cancer signalling and immune pathways. Conclusions These findings could lead to widespread use of this drug as the first inhaled dry powder therapeutic for treating local and metastatic lung cancer, for adjuvant therapy, and in combination with immunotherapy to improve patient survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Kuehl
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Carmen S Tellez
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Marcie J Grimes
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Thomas H March
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Mathewos Tessema
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - David A Revelli
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Larry M Mallis
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Wendy W Dye
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Tyler Sniegowski
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Maria A Picchi
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Steven A Belinsky
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Liu Z, Gao Y, Li X. Cancer epigenetics and the potential of epigenetic drugs for treating solid tumors. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2018; 19:139-149. [PMID: 30470148 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2019.1552139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Epigenetic modification without DNA sequence mutation plays an important role in cancer development. Some small molecular inhibitors targeting key epigenetic molecules have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat hematological malignancies. However, the anticancer effects of these drugs on solid tumors are not satisfactory, and the mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. Areas covered: The review summarizes the latest research on cancer epigenetics and discusses the potentials and limitations of using epigenetic drugs to treat solid tumors. An analysis of possible reasons for epigenetic drug treatment failure in solid tumors in some clinical trials is discussed along with prospects for future development. Expert commentary: Next-generation small molecule inhibitors will target novel epigenetic regulators with high cancer specificity. Combined modalities exploiting epigenetic drugs with chemo-/radiotherapy, molecular-targeting drugs, and immunotherapy will be able to effectively treat solid tumors in the near future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenghui Liu
- a Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha , Hunan , China
| | - Yingxue Gao
- a Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha , Hunan , China
| | - Xiong Li
- a Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha , Hunan , China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Velcheti V, Schrump D, Saunthararajah Y. Ultimate Precision: Targeting Cancer but Not Normal Self-replication. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2018; 38:950-963. [PMID: 30231326 DOI: 10.1200/edbk_199753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Self-replication is the engine that drives all biologic evolution, including neoplastic evolution. A key oncotherapy challenge is to target this, the heart of malignancy, while sparing the normal self-replication mandatory for health and life. Self-replication can be demystified: it is activation of replication, the most ancient of cell programs, uncoupled from activation of lineage-differentiation, metazoan programs more recent in origin. The uncoupling can be physiologic, as in normal tissue stem cells, or pathologic, as in cancer. Neoplastic evolution selects to disengage replication from forward-differentiation where intrinsic replication rates are the highest, in committed progenitors that have division times measured in hours versus weeks for tissue stem cells, via partial loss of function in master transcription factors that activate terminal-differentiation programs (e.g., GATA4) or in the coactivators they use for this purpose (e.g., ARID1A). These loss-of-function mutations bias master transcription factor circuits, which normally regulate corepressor versus coactivator recruitment, toward corepressors (e.g., DNMT1) that repress rather than activate terminal-differentiation genes. Pharmacologic inhibition of the corepressors rebalances to coactivator function, activating lineage-differentiation genes that dominantly antagonize MYC (the master transcription factor coordinator of replication) to terminate malignant self-replication. Physiologic self-replication continues, because the master transcription factors in tissue stem cells activate stem cell, not terminal-differentiation, programs. Druggable corepressor proteins are thus the barriers between self-replicating cancer cells and the terminal-differentiation fates intended by their master transcription factor content. This final common pathway to oncogenic self-replication, being separate and distinct from the normal, offers the favorable therapeutic indices needed for clinical progress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vamsidhar Velcheti
- From the Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - David Schrump
- From the Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Yogen Saunthararajah
- From the Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kuehl PJ, Grimes MJ, Dubose D, Burke M, Revelli DA, Gigliotti AP, Belinsky SA, Tessema M. Inhalation delivery of topotecan is superior to intravenous exposure for suppressing lung cancer in a preclinical model. Drug Deliv 2018; 25:1127-1136. [PMID: 29779406 PMCID: PMC6058531 DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2018.1469688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Intravenous (IV) topotecan is approved for the treatment of various malignancies including lung cancer but its clinical use is greatly undermined by severe hematopoietic toxicity. We hypothesized that inhalation delivery of topotecan would increase local exposure and efficacy against lung cancer while reducing systemic exposure and toxicity. These hypotheses were tested in a preclinical setting using a novel inhalable formulation of topotecan against the standard IV dose. Respirable dry-powder of topotecan was manufactured through spray-drying technology and the pharmacokinetics of 0.14 and 0.79 mg/kg inhalation doses were compared with 0.7 mg/kg IV dose. The efficacy of four weekly treatments with 1 mg/kg inhaled vs. 2 mg/kg IV topotecan were compared to untreated control using an established orthotopic lung cancer model for a fast (H1975) and moderately growing (A549) human lung tumors in the nude rat. Inhalation delivery increased topotecan exposure of lung tissue by approximately 30-fold, lung and plasma half-life by 5- and 4-folds, respectively, and reduced the maximum plasma concentration by 2-fold than the comparable IV dose. Inhaled topotecan improved the survival of rats with the fast-growing lung tumors from 7 to 80% and reduced the tumor burden of the moderately-growing lung tumors over 5- and 10-folds, respectively, than the 2-times higher IV topotecan and untreated control (p < .00001). These results indicate that inhalation delivery increases topotecan exposure of lung tissue and improves its efficacy against lung cancer while also lowering the effective dose and maximum systemic concentration that is responsible for its dose-limiting toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcie J Grimes
- b Lung Cancer Program , Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute , Albuquerque , NM , USA
| | - Devon Dubose
- c Lonza-Bend Research Institute , Bend , OR , USA
| | | | | | | | - Steven A Belinsky
- b Lung Cancer Program , Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute , Albuquerque , NM , USA
| | - Mathewos Tessema
- b Lung Cancer Program , Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute , Albuquerque , NM , USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Modulation of Cellular CpG DNA Methylation by Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus. J Virol 2018; 92:JVI.00008-18. [PMID: 29899086 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00008-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV, HHV-8) is a gammaherpesvirus associated with several human malignancies. DNA methylation at CpG dinucleotides is an epigenetic mark dysregulated in many cancer types and in KSHV-infected cells. Several previous studies have analyzed in detail the CpG methylation of the KSHV episomal genomes, but little is known about the impact of KSHV on the human genome. Our knowledge of cellular CpG methylation in the context of KSHV infection is currently limited to four hypermethylated human gene promoters. Therefore, we undertook a comprehensive CpG methylation analysis of the human methylome in KSHV-infected cells and KSHV-associated primary effusion lymphoma (PEL). We performed Infinium HumanMethylation450K and MethylationEpic BeadChip arrays and identified panels of hyper- and hypomethylated cellular promoters in KSHV-infected cells. We combined our genome-wide methylation analysis with high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to add functional outcomes to the virally induced methylation changes. We were able to correlate many downregulated genes with promoter hypermethylation and upregulated genes with hypomethylation. In addition, we show that treating the cells with a demethylating agent leads to reexpression of these downregulated genes, indicating that, indeed, DNA methylation plays a role in the repression of these human genes. Comparison between de novo infection and PEL suggests that the virus induces initial hypermethylation followed by a slow increase in genome-wide hypomethylation. This study extends our understanding of the relationship between epigenetic changes induced by KSHV infection and tumorigenesis.IMPORTANCE In cancer cells, certain promoters become aberrantly methylated, contributing to the phenotype of the tumor. KSHV infection seems to modify cellular CpG methylation, but only a few methylated promoters have been identified in KSHV-infected cells. Here, we investigated the CpG methylation of the human genome in KSHV-associated primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and KSHV-infected cells. We have identified many hyper- and hypomethylated gene promoters and correlated their methylation with cellular gene expression. These differentially methylated cellular promoters can distinguish KSHV-positive cells from uninfected cells and may serve as the foundation for the use of these differentially methylated regions as potential biomarkers for KSHV-associated malignancies. Drugs that reverse these cancerous methylation patterns have the potential to inhibit tumor growth. Here, we show that treating PEL cells with a demethylating drug (5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine) led to inhibition of cell growth, raising the possibility of testing this drug for the treatment of PEL.
Collapse
|
13
|
He D, Zhang J, Wu W, Yi N, He W, Lu P, Li B, Yang N, Wang D, Xue Z, Zhang P, Fan G, Zhu X. A novel immunodeficient rat model supports human lung cancer xenografts. FASEB J 2018; 33:140-150. [PMID: 29944447 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201800102rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) animal models allow the exogenous growth of human tumors, offering an irreplaceable preclinical tool for oncology research. Mice are the most commonly used host for human PDX models, however their small body size limits the xenograft growth, sample collection, and drug evaluation. Therefore, we sought to develop a novel rat model that could overcome many of these limitations. We knocked out Rag1, Rag2, and Il2rg in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 technology. The development of lymphoid organs is significantly impaired in Rag1-/-Rag2-/-Il2rg-/Y (designated as SD-RG) rats. Consequently, SD-RG rats are severely immunodeficient with an absence of mature T, B, and NK cells in the immune system. After subcutaneous injection of tumor cell lines of different origin, such as NCI-H460, U-87MG, and MDA-MB-231, the tumors grow significantly faster and larger in SD-RG rats than in nonobese diabetic- Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ mice. Most important of all, we successfully established a PDX model of lung squamous cell carcinoma in which the grafts recapitulate the histopathologic features of the primary tumor for several passages. In conclusion, the severely immunodeficient SD-RG rats support fast growth of PDX compared with mice, thus holding great potential to serve as a new model for oncology research.-He, D., Zhang, J., Wu, W., Yi, N., He, W., Lu, P., Li, B., Yang, N., Wang, D., Xue, Z., Zhang, P., Fan, G., Zhu, X. A novel immunodeficient rat model supports human lung cancer xenografts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Di He
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Junhui Zhang
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Translational Center for Stem Cell Research, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University Suzhou Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanwan Wu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ning Yi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Translational Center for Stem Cell Research, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University Suzhou Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen He
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Translational Center for Stem Cell Research, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University Suzhou Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Lu
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Translational Center for Stem Cell Research, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University Suzhou Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Li
- Alphacait AL Biotech Company, Hangzhou, China
| | - Nan Yang
- PharmaLegacy Laboratories Company, Shanghai, China; and
| | - Di Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhigang Xue
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Translational Center for Stem Cell Research, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University Suzhou Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoping Fan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Xianmin Zhu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
Targeting DNA hypermethylation, using nucleoside analogs, is an efficient approach to reprogram cancer cell epigenome leading to reduced proliferation, increased differentiation, recognition by the immune system, and ultimately cancer cell death. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors have been approved for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, and acute myelogenous leukemia. To improve clinical efficacy and overcome mechanisms of drug resistance, a second generation of DNA methyltransferase inhibitors has been designed and is currently in clinical trials. Although efficient in monotherapy against hematologic malignancies, the potential of DNA methyltransferase inhibitors to synergize with small molecules targeting chromatin or immunotherapy will provide additional opportunities for their future clinical application against leukemia and solid tumors.
Collapse
|
15
|
Velcheti V, Radivoyevitch T, Saunthararajah Y. Higher-Level Pathway Objectives of Epigenetic Therapy: A Solution to the p53 Problem in Cancer. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2017; 37:812-824. [PMID: 28561650 DOI: 10.1200/edbk_174175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Searches for effective yet nontoxic oncotherapies are searches for exploitable differences between cancer and normal cells. In its core of cell division, cancer resembles normal life, coordinated by the master transcription factor MYC. Outside of this core, apoptosis and differentiation programs, which dominantly antagonize MYC to terminate cell division, necessarily differ between cancer and normal cells, as apoptosis is suppressed by biallelic inactivation of the master regulator of apoptosis, p53, or its cofactor p16/CDKN2A in approximately 80% of cancers. These genetic alterations impact therapy: conventional oncotherapy applies stress upstream of p53 to upregulate it and causes apoptosis (cytotoxicity)-a toxic, futile intent when it is absent or nonfunctional. Differentiation, on the other hand, cannot be completely suppressed because it is a continuum along which all cells exist. Neoplastic evolution stalls advances along this continuum at its most proliferative points-in lineage-committed progenitors that have division times measured in hours compared with weeks for tissue stem cells. This differentiation arrest is by mutations/deletions in differentiation-driving transcription factors or their coactivators that shift balances of gene-regulating protein complexes toward corepressors that repress instead of activate hundreds of terminal differentiation genes. That is, malignant proliferation without differentiation, also referred to as cancer "stem" cell self-renewal, hinges on druggable corepressors. Inhibiting these corepressors (e.g., DNMT1) releases p53-independent terminal differentiation in cancer stem cells but preserves self-renewal of normal stem cells that express stem cell transcription factors. Thus, epigenetic-differentiation therapies exploit a fundamental distinction between cancer and normal stem cell self-renewal and have a pathway of action downstream of genetic defects in cancer, affording favorable therapeutic indices needed for clinical progress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vamsidhar Velcheti
- From the Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Department of Translational Hematology & Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Tomas Radivoyevitch
- From the Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Department of Translational Hematology & Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Yogen Saunthararajah
- From the Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Department of Translational Hematology & Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Bayat Mokhtari R, Baluch N, Homayouni TS, Morgatskaya E, Kumar S, Kazemi P, Yeger H. The role of Sulforaphane in cancer chemoprevention and health benefits: a mini-review. J Cell Commun Signal 2017; 12:91-101. [PMID: 28735362 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-017-0401-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a multi-stage process resulting from aberrant signaling pathways driving uncontrolled proliferation of transformed cells. The development and progression of cancer from a premalignant lesion towards a metastatic tumor requires accumulation of mutations in many regulatory genes of the cell. Different chemopreventative approaches have been sought to interfere with initiation and control malignant progression. Here we present research on dietary compounds with evidence of cancer prevention activity that highlights the potential beneficial effect of a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables. The Brassica family of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli is a rich source of glucosinolates, which are metabolized to isothiocyanate compounds. Amongst a number of related variants of isothiocyanates, sulforaphane (SFN) has surfaced as a particularly potent chemopreventive agent based on its ability to target multiple mechanisms within the cell to control carcinogenesis. Anti-inflammatory, pro-apoptotic and modulation of histones are some of the more important and known mechanisms by which SFN exerts chemoprevention. The effect of SFN on cancer stem cells is another area of interest that has been explored in recent years and may contribute to its chemopreventive properties. In this paper, we briefly review structure, pharmacology and preclinical studies highlighting chemopreventive effects of SFN.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reza Bayat Mokhtari
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Sickkids Research Center, Peter Gilgan Centre, 686 Bay St., Rm 15.9714, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.
| | - Narges Baluch
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Richardson Laboratory, Queen's University, 88 Stuart Street, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Tina S Homayouni
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Evgeniya Morgatskaya
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Parandis Kazemi
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Herman Yeger
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Sickkids Research Center, Peter Gilgan Centre, 686 Bay St., Rm 15.9714, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Schiffmann I, Greve G, Jung M, Lübbert M. Epigenetic therapy approaches in non-small cell lung cancer: Update and perspectives. Epigenetics 2016; 11:858-870. [PMID: 27846368 PMCID: PMC5193491 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2016.1237345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Revised: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) still constitutes the most common cancer-related cause of death worldwide. All efforts to introduce suitable treatment options using chemotherapeutics or targeted therapies have, up to this point, failed to exhibit a substantial effect on the 5-year-survival rate. The involvement of epigenetic alterations in the evolution of different cancers has led to the development of epigenetics-based therapies, mainly targeting DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and histone-modifying enzymes. So far, their greatest success stories have been registered in hematologic neoplasias. As the effects of epigenetic single agent treatment of solid tumors have been limited, the investigative focus now lies on combination therapies of epigenetically active agents with conventional chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or kinase inhibitors. This review includes a short overview of the most important preclinical approaches as well as an extensive discussion of clinical trials using epigenetic combination therapies in NSCLC, including ongoing trials. Thus, we are providing an overview of what lies ahead in the field of epigenetic combinatory therapies of NSCLC in the coming years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Insa Schiffmann
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University of Freiburg, Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
- University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gabriele Greve
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University of Freiburg, Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
- University of Freiburg, Faculty of Biology, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Jung
- University of Freiburg, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael Lübbert
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University of Freiburg, Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
- University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Regulatory roles of epigenetic modulators, modifiers and mediators in lung cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2016; 42:4-12. [PMID: 27840279 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2016.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths can be initiated and progressed by the interaction between dynamically genetic and epigenetic elements, although mechanisms mediating lung cancer development and progression remain unclear. Tumor progenitor genes may contribute to lung carcinogenesis and cancer progression, are epigenetically disrupted at the early stages of malignancies even before mutations, and alter cell differentiation throughout tumor evolution. The present review explores potential roles and mechanisms of epigenetic modulators, modifiers and mediators in the development of lung cancer. We also overviewed potential mechanisms by which epigenetic modulators, modifiers and mediators control and regulate 3D nuclear architectures, and discussed translational efforts to epigenetic modifications for treatment of lung cancer. Deep understanding of epigenetic modulators, modifiers and mediators will benefit the discovery and development of new diagnostics and therapies for lung cancer.
Collapse
|
19
|
Abstract
SUMMARYEpigenetic changes are present in all human cancers and are now known to cooperate with genetic alterations to drive the cancer phenotype. These changes involve DNA methylation, histone modifiers and readers, chromatin remodelers, microRNAs, and other components of chromatin. Cancer genetics and epigenetics are inextricably linked in generating the malignant phenotype; epigenetic changes can cause mutations in genes, and, conversely, mutations are frequently observed in genes that modify the epigenome. Epigenetic therapies, in which the goal is to reverse these changes, are now one standard of care for a preleukemic disorder and form of lymphoma. The application of epigenetic therapies in the treatment of solid tumors is also emerging as a viable therapeutic route.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen B Baylin
- Cancer Biology Program, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287
| | - Peter A Jones
- Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Ansari J, Shackelford RE, El-Osta H. Epigenetics in non-small cell lung cancer: from basics to therapeutics. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2016; 5:155-71. [PMID: 27186511 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr.2016.02.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Lung cancer remains the number one cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide with 221,200 estimated new cases and 158,040 estimated deaths in 2015. Approximately 80% of cases are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The diagnosis is usually made at an advanced stage where the prognosis is poor and therapeutic options are limited. The evolution of lung cancer is a multistep process involving genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factor interactions that result in the dysregulation of key oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, culminating in activation of cancer-related signaling pathways. The past decade has witnessed the discovery of multiple molecular aberrations that drive lung cancer growth, among which are epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and translocations involving the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene. This has translated into therapeutic agent developments that target these molecular alterations. The absence of targetable mutations in 50% of NSCLC cases and targeted therapy resistance development underscores the importance for developing alternative therapeutic strategies for treating lung cancer. Among these strategies, pharmacologic modulation of the epigenome has been used to treat lung cancer. Epigenetics approaches may circumvent the problem of tumor heterogeneity by affecting the expression of multiple tumor suppression genes (TSGs), halting tumor growth and survival. Moreover, it may be effective for tumors that are not driven by currently recognized druggable mutations. This review summarizes the molecular pathology of lung cancer epigenetic aberrations and discusses current efforts to target the epigenome with different pharmacological approaches. Our main focus will be on hypomethylating agents, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, microRNA modulations, and the role of novel epigenetic biomarkers. Last, we will address the challenges that face this old-new strategy in treating lung cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junaid Ansari
- 1 Department of Medicine, Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health, Shreveport, LA, USA ; 2 Department of Pathology, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA
| | - Rodney E Shackelford
- 1 Department of Medicine, Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health, Shreveport, LA, USA ; 2 Department of Pathology, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA
| | - Hazem El-Osta
- 1 Department of Medicine, Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health, Shreveport, LA, USA ; 2 Department of Pathology, LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Elmer JJ, Christensen MD, Barua S, Lehrman J, Haynes KA, Rege K. The histone deacetylase inhibitor Entinostat enhances polymer-mediated transgene expression in cancer cell lines. Biotechnol Bioeng 2015; 113:1345-1356. [PMID: 26614912 DOI: 10.1002/bit.25898] [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] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Revised: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Eukaryotic cells maintain an immense amount of genetic information by tightly wrapping their DNA around positively charged histones. While this strategy allows human cells to maintain more than 25,000 genes, histone binding can also block gene expression. Consequently, cells express histone acetyl transferases (HATs) to acetylate histone lysines and release DNA for transcription. Conversely, histone deacetylases (HDACs) are employed for restoring the positive charge on the histones, thereby silencing gene expression by increasing histone-DNA binding. It has previously been shown that histones bind and silence viral DNA, while hyperacetylation of histones via HDAC inhibition restores viral gene expression. In this study, we demonstrate that treatment with Entinostat, an HDAC inhibitor, enhances transgene (luciferase) expression by up to 25-fold in human prostate and murine bladder cancer cell lines when used with cationic polymers for plasmid DNA delivery. Entinostat treatment altered cell cycle progression, resulting in a significant increase in the fraction of cells present in the G0/G1 phase at low micromolar concentrations. While this moderate G0/G1 arrest disappeared at higher concentrations, a modest increase in the fraction of apoptotic cells and a decrease in cell proliferation were observed, consistent with the known anticancer effects of the drug. DNase accessibility studies revealed no significant change in plasmid transcriptional availability with Entinostat treatment. However, quantitative PCR studies indicated that Entinostat treatment, at the optimal dose for enhancing transgene expression, led to an increase in the amount of plasmid present in the nucleus in two cancer cell lines. Taken together, our results show that Entinostat enhances polymer- mediated transgene expression and can be useful in applications related to transient protein expression in mammalian cells. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 1345-1356. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob J Elmer
- Chemical Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287
| | | | - Sutapa Barua
- Chemical Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287
| | - Jennifer Lehrman
- Harrington Biomedical Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Karmella A Haynes
- Harrington Biomedical Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Kaushal Rege
- Chemical Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Nervi C, De Marinis E, Codacci-Pisanelli G. Epigenetic treatment of solid tumours: a review of clinical trials. Clin Epigenetics 2015; 7:127. [PMID: 26692909 PMCID: PMC4676165 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-015-0157-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic treatment has been approved by regulatory agencies for haematological malignancies. The success observed in cutaneous lymphomas represents a proof of principle that similar results may be obtained in solid tumours. Several agents that interfere with DNA methylation-demethylation and histones acetylation/deacetylation have been studied, and some (such as azacytidine, decitabine, valproic acid and vorinostat) are already in clinical use. The aim of this review is to provide a brief overview of the molecular events underlying the antitumour effects of epigenetic treatments and to summarise data available on clinical trials that tested the use of epigenetic agents against solid tumours. We not only list results but also try to indicate how the proper evaluation of this treatment might result in a better selection of effective agents and in a more rapid development. We divided compounds in demethylating agents and HDAC inhibitors. For each class, we report the antitumour activity and the toxic side effects. When available, we describe plasma pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic evaluation in tumours and in surrogate tissues (generally white blood cells). Epigenetic treatment is a reality in haematological malignancies and deserves adequate attention in solid tumours. A careful consideration of available clinical data however is required for faster drug development and possibly to re-evaluate some molecules that were perhaps discarded too early.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clara Nervi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Rome "la Sapienza", Corso della Repubblica, 97, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Elisabetta De Marinis
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Rome "la Sapienza", Corso della Repubblica, 97, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Giovanni Codacci-Pisanelli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Rome "la Sapienza", Corso della Repubblica, 97, 04100 Latina, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Khan SA, Reddy D, Gupta S. Global histone post-translational modifications and cancer: Biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment? World J Biol Chem 2015; 6:333-345. [PMID: 26629316 PMCID: PMC4657128 DOI: 10.4331/wjbc.v6.i4.333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Revised: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Global alterations in epigenetic landscape are now recognized as a hallmark of cancer. Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, nucleosome positioning and non-coding RNAs are proven to have strong association with cancer. In particular, covalent post-translational modifications of histone proteins are known to play an important role in chromatin remodeling and thereby in regulation of gene expression. Further, histone modifications have also been associated with different aspects of carcinogenesis and have been studied for their role in the better management of cancer patients. In this review, we will explore and discuss how histone modifications are involved in cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
Collapse
|
24
|
Yu X, Li Z. TOX gene: a novel target for human cancer gene therapy. Am J Cancer Res 2015; 5:3516-3524. [PMID: 26885442 PMCID: PMC4731627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Accepted: 06/26/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box factor (TOX) is a member of an evolutionarily conserved DNA-binding protein family and is expressed in several immune-relevant cell subsets. TOX encodes a nuclear protein of the high-mobility group box superfamily. It contains a DNA-binding domain, which allows it to regulate transcription by modifying local chromatin structure and modulating the formation of multi-protein complexes. Previous studies have shown that TOX play important roles in immune system. More recently, several studies have described TOX expression is frequently upregulated in diverse types of human tumors and the overregulation often associates with tumor progression. Moreover, TOXis involved in the control of cell apoptosis, growth, metastasis, DNA repair and so on. In this review, we provide an overview of current knowledge concerning the role of TOX in tumor development and progression biology function. To our knowledge, this is the first review about the role of thisnew oncogene in tumor development and progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yu
- Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing 100042, China
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Juo YY, Gong XJ, Mishra A, Cui X, Baylin SB, Azad NS, Ahuja N. Epigenetic therapy for solid tumors: from bench science to clinical trials. Epigenomics 2015; 7:215-35. [PMID: 25942532 DOI: 10.2217/epi.14.73] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The cancer epigenome is characterized by global DNA methylation and chromatin changes, such as the hypermethylation of specific CpG island promoters. Epigenetic agents like DNA methyltransferase or histone deacetylase inhibitors induce phenotype changes by reactivation of epigenetically silenced tumor suppressor genes. Despite initial promise in hematologic malignancies, epigenetic agents have not shown significant efficacy as monotherapy against solid tumors. Recent trials showed that epigenetic agents exert favorable modifier effects when combined with chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or other epigenetic agents. Due to the novel nature of their mechanism, it is important to reconsider the optimal patient selection, drug regimen, study design, and outcome measures when pursuing future trials in order to discover the full potential of this new therapeutic modality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Yi Juo
- Department of Surgery, George Washington University Medical Center, 2150 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 6B, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Targeting Chromatin-Mediated Transcriptional Control of Gene Expression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Therapy: Preclinical Rationale and Clinical Results. Drugs 2015; 75:1757-71. [DOI: 10.1007/s40265-015-0461-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
27
|
Evaluation of azacitidine and entinostat as sensitization agents to cytotoxic chemotherapy in preclinical models of non-small cell lung cancer. Oncotarget 2015; 6:56-70. [PMID: 25474141 PMCID: PMC4381578 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent clinical data in lung cancer suggests that epigenetically targeted therapy may selectively enhance chemotherapeutic sensitivity. There have been few if any studies rigorously evaluating this hypothesized priming effect. Here we describe a series of investigations testing whether epigenetic priming with azacitidine and entinostat increases sensitivity of NSCLC to cytotoxic agents. We noted no differences in chemosensitivity following treatment with epigenetic therapy in in vitro assays of viability and colony growth. Using cell line and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, we also observed no change in responsiveness to cisplatin in vivo. In select models, we noted differential responses to irinotecan treatment in vivo. In vitro epigenetic therapy prior to tumor implantation abrogated response of H460 xenografts to irinotecan. Conversely, in vitro epigenetic therapy appeared to sensitize A549 xenografts (tumor growth inhibition 51%, vs. 22% in mock-pretreated control). In vivo epigenetic therapy enhanced the response of adenocarcinoma PDX to irinotecan. Taken together, these data do not support broadly applicable epigenetic priming in NSCLC. Priming effects may be context-specific, dependent on both tumor and host factors. Further preclinical study is necessary to determine whether, and in which contexts, priming with epigenetic therapy has potential to enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy in NSCLC patients.
Collapse
|
28
|
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE Epigenetic inactivation of pivotal genes involved in cell growth is a hallmark of human pathologies, in particular cancer. Histone acetylation balance obtained through opposing actions of histone deacetylases (HDACs) and histone acetyltransferases is one epigenetic mechanism controlling gene expression and is, thus, associated with disease etiology and progression. Interfering pharmacologically with HDAC activity can correct abnormalities in cell proliferation, migration, vascularization, and death. RECENT ADVANCES Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) represent a new class of cytostatic agents that interfere with the function of HDACs and are able to increase gene expression by indirectly inducing histone acetylation. Several HDACi, alone or in combination with DNA-demethylating agents, chemopreventive, or classical chemotherapeutic drugs, are currently being used in clinical trials for solid and hematological malignancies, and are, thus, promising candidates for cancer therapy. CRITICAL ISSUES (i) Non-specific (off-target) HDACi effects due to activities unassociated with HDAC inhibition. (ii) Advantages/disadvantages of non-selective or isoform-directed HDACi. (iii) Limited number of response-predictive biomarkers. (iv) Toxicity leading to dysfunction of critical biological processes. FUTURE DIRECTIONS Selective HDACi could achieve enhanced clinical utility by reducing or eliminating the serious side effects associated with current first-generation non-selective HDACi. Isoform-selective and pan-HDACi candidates might benefit from the identification of biomarkers, enabling better patient stratification and prediction of response to treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Benedetti
- 1 Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and General Pathology, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli , Napoli, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Conte
- 1 Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and General Pathology, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli , Napoli, Italy
| | - Lucia Altucci
- 1 Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and General Pathology, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli , Napoli, Italy .,2 Istituto di Genetica e Biofisica "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso," Napoli, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Ruiz R, Raez LE, Rolfo C. Entinostat (SNDX-275) for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2015; 24:1101-9. [DOI: 10.1517/13543784.2015.1056779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
|
30
|
Mehta A, Dobersch S, Romero-Olmedo AJ, Barreto G. Epigenetics in lung cancer diagnosis and therapy. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2015; 34:229-41. [DOI: 10.1007/s10555-015-9563-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
|
31
|
Enhanced efficacy with azacytidine and oncolytic BHV-1 in a tolerized cotton rat model of breast adenocarcinoma. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2015; 2:15004. [PMID: 27119103 PMCID: PMC4782958 DOI: 10.1038/mto.2015.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses selectively replicate in cancer cells by exploiting biochemical differences between normal and tumor cells. Treatment with epigenetic modifiers such as 5-Azacytidine, a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, increases the replication and cytotoxicity of oncolytic viruses in vivo and in vitro. The cotton rat is an attractive animal to study oncolytic viruses, as syngeneic models of breast adenocarcinoma and osteosarcoma are well established, and many features of primary and secondary tumor growth recapitulate human disease. Treatment of LCRT breast cancer cells with 5-Azacytidine increases bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1)-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro, with Chou-Talalay analysis indicating a very strong synergy. In vivo, BHV-1 monotherapy delayed tumor growth but did not improve survival of cotton rats with subcutaneous breast adenocarcinomas. However, combination therapy significantly decreased the incidence of secondary lesions, with enhanced tumor cell clearance and evidence of immune cell infiltration compared to BHV-1 monotherapy. Together, these results warrant further investigation of BHV-1 combination therapy with epigenetic modifiers for the treatment of breast cancer, particularly in the context of the prevention and treatment of secondary lesions.
Collapse
|
32
|
Abdel-Hafiz HA, Horwitz KB. Role of epigenetic modifications in luminal breast cancer. Epigenomics 2015; 7:847-62. [PMID: 25689414 DOI: 10.2217/epi.15.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Luminal breast cancers represent approximately 75% of cases. Explanations into the causes of endocrine resistance are complex and are generally ascribed to genomic mechanisms. Recently, attention has been drawn to the role of epigenetic modifications in hormone resistance. We review these here. Epigenetic modifications are reversible, heritable and include changes in DNA methylation patterns, modification of histones and altered microRNA expression levels that target the receptors or their signaling pathways. Large-scale analyses indicate distinct epigenomic profiles that distinguish breast cancers from normal and benign tissues. Taking advantage of the reversibility of epigenetic modifications, drugs that target epigenetic modifiers, given in combination with chemotherapies or endocrine therapies, may represent promising approaches to restoration of therapy responsiveness in these cases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hany A Abdel-Hafiz
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Kathryn B Horwitz
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.,Department of Pathology, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Affiliation(s)
- Steven A. Belinsky
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108;
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Héninger E, Krueger TEG, Lang JM. Augmenting antitumor immune responses with epigenetic modifying agents. Front Immunol 2015; 6:29. [PMID: 25699047 PMCID: PMC4316783 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic silencing of immune-related genes is a striking feature of the cancer genome that occurs in the process of tumorigenesis. This phenomena impacts antigen processing and antigen presentation by tumor cells and facilitates evasion of immunosurveillance. Further modulation of the tumor microenvironment by altered expression of immunosuppressive cytokines impairs antigen-presenting cells and cytolytic T-cell function. The potential reversal of immunosuppression by epigenetic modulation is therefore a promising and versatile therapeutic approach to reinstate endogenous immune recognition and tumor lysis. Pre-clinical studies have identified multiple elements of the immune system that can be modulated by epigenetic mechanisms and result in improved antigen presentation, effector T-cell function, and breakdown of suppressor mechanisms. Recent clinical studies are utilizing epigenetic therapies prior to, or in combination with, immune therapies to improve clinical outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erika Héninger
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center , Madison, WI , USA
| | | | - Joshua M Lang
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center , Madison, WI , USA ; Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin , Madison, WI , USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Odenike O, Halpern A, Godley LA, Madzo J, Karrison T, Green M, Fulton N, Mattison RJ, Yee KWL, Bennett M, Koval G, Malnassy G, Larson RA, Ratain MJ, Stock W. A phase I and pharmacodynamic study of the histone deacetylase inhibitor belinostat plus azacitidine in advanced myeloid neoplasia. Invest New Drugs 2014; 33:371-9. [PMID: 25483416 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-014-0194-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2014] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background We hypothesized that targeting two mechanisms of epigenetic silencing would be additive or synergistic with regard to expression of specific target genes. The primary objective of the study was to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of belinostat in combination with a fixed dose of azacitidine (AZA). Methods In Part A of the study, patients received a fixed dose of AZA, with escalating doses of belinostat given on the same days 1-5, in a 28 day cycle. Part B was designed to evaluate the relative contribution of belinostat to the combination based on analysis of pharmacodynamic markers, and incorporated a design in which patients were randomized during cycle 1 to AZA alone, or the combination, at the maximally tolerated dose of belinostat. Results 56 patients with myeloid neoplasia were enrolled. Dose escalation was feasible in part A, up to 1000 mg/m(2) dose level of belinostat. In Part B, 18 patients were assessable for quantitative analysis of specific target genes. At day 5 of therapy, MDR1 was significantly up-regulated in the belinostat/AZA arm compared with AZA alone arm (p = 0.0023). There were 18 responses among the 56 patients. Conclusions The combination of belinostat and AZA is feasible and associated with clinical activity. The recommended phase II dose is 1000 mg/m(2) of belinostat plus 75 mg/m(2) of AZA on days 1-5, every 28 days. Upregulation in MDR1 was observed in the combination arm at day 5 compared with the AZA alone arm, suggesting a relative biologic contribution of belinostat to the combination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olatoyosi Odenike
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Qiu X, Liang Y, Sellers RS, Perez-Soler R, Zou Y. Aerosol azacytidine inhibits orthotopic lung cancers in mice through Its DNA demethylation and gene reactivation effects. PLoS One 2014; 9:e109874. [PMID: 25347303 PMCID: PMC4210052 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 09/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We devised an aerosol based demethylation therapy to achieve therapeutic efficacy in premalignant or in situ lesions of lung cancer, without systemic toxicity. Optimum regimens of aerosolized azacytidine (Aza) were designed and used in orthotopic human non-small cell lung cancer xenograft models. The therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of aerosol Aza were compared with intravenously administered Aza. We observed that 80% of the droplets of the aerosol Aza measured ∼0.1–5 microns, which resulted in deposition in the lower bronchial airways. An animal model that phenocopies field carcinogeneisis in humans was developed by intratracheal inoculation of the human lung cancer cells in mice, thus resulting in their distribution throughout the entire airway space. Aerosolized Aza significantly prolonged the survival of mice bearing endo-bronchial lung tumors. The aerosol treatment did not cause any detectable lung toxicity or systemic toxicity. A pre-pharmacokinetic study in mice demonstrated that lung deposition of aerosolized Aza was significantly higher than the intravenous route. Lung tumors were resected after aerosol treatment and the methylation levels of 24 promoters of tumor-suppresser genes related to lung cancer were analyzed. Aerosol Aza significantly reduced the methylation level in 9 of these promoters and reexpressed several genes tested. In conclusion, aerosol Aza at non-cytotoxic doses appears to be effective and results in DNA demethylation and tumor suppressor gene re-expression. The therapeutic index of aerosol Aza is >100-fold higher than that of intravenous Aza. These results provide a preclinical rationale for a phase I clinical trial of aerosol Aza to be initiated at our Institution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Qiu
- Departments of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States of America
| | - Yuanxin Liang
- Departments of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States of America
| | - Rani S. Sellers
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States of America
| | - Roman Perez-Soler
- Departments of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States of America
| | - Yiyu Zou
- Departments of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Rodriguez R, Miller KM. Unravelling the genomic targets of small molecules using high-throughput sequencing. Nat Rev Genet 2014; 15:783-96. [PMID: 25311424 DOI: 10.1038/nrg3796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Small molecules--including various approved and novel cancer therapeutics--can operate at the genomic level by targeting the DNA and protein components of chromatin. Emerging evidence suggests that functional interactions between small molecules and the genome are non-stochastic and are influenced by a dynamic interplay between DNA sequences and chromatin states. The establishment of genome-wide maps of small-molecule targets using unbiased methodologies can help to characterize and exploit drug responses. In this Review, we discuss how high-throughput sequencing strategies, such as ChIP-seq (chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing) and Chem-seq (chemical affinity capture and massively parallel DNA sequencing), are enabling the comprehensive identification of small-molecule target sites throughout the genome, thereby providing insights into unanticipated drug effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raphaël Rodriguez
- 1] Centre de Recherche de Gif, Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles du CNRS, Avenue de la Terrasse, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France. [2] Institut Curie Research Center, Organic Synthesis and Cell Biology Group, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248, Paris Cedex 05, France. [3]
| | - Kyle M Miller
- 1] Department of Molecular Biosciences and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 2506 Speedway Stop A5000, Austin, Texas 78712, USA. [2]
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Di Costanzo A, Del Gaudio N, Migliaccio A, Altucci L. Epigenetic drugs against cancer: an evolving landscape. Arch Toxicol 2014; 88:1651-68. [DOI: 10.1007/s00204-014-1315-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/17/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
|
39
|
Tellez CS, Grimes MJ, Picchi MA, Liu Y, March TH, Reed MD, Oganesian A, Taverna P, Belinsky SA. SGI-110 and entinostat therapy reduces lung tumor burden and reprograms the epigenome. Int J Cancer 2014; 135:2223-31. [PMID: 24668305 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.28865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 03/13/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor vidaza (5-Azacytidine) in combination with the histone deacetylase inhibitor entinostat has shown promise in treating lung cancer and this has been replicated in our orthotopic lung cancer model. However, the effectiveness of DNMT inhibitors against solid tumors is likely impacted by their limited stability and rapid inactivation by cytidine deaminase (CDA) in the liver. These studies were initiated to test the efficacy of SGI-110, a dinucleotide containing decitabine that is resistant to deamination by CDA, as a single agent and in combination with entinostat. Evaluation of in vivo plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetic properties of SGI-110 showed rapid conversion to decitabine and a plasma half-life of 4 hr. SGI-110 alone or in combination with entinostat reduced tumor burden of a K-ras/p53 mutant lung adenocarcinoma cell line (Calu6) engrafted orthotopically in nude rats by 35% and 56%, respectively. SGI-110 caused widespread demethylation of more than 300 gene promoters and microarray analysis revealed expression changes for 212 and 592 genes with SGI-110 alone or in combination with entinostat. Epigenetic therapy also induced demethylation and expression of cancer testis antigen genes that could sensitize tumor cells to subsequent immunotherapy. In the orthotopically growing tumors, highly significant gene expression changes were seen in key cancer regulatory pathways including induction of p21 and the apoptotic gene BIK. Moreover, SGI-110 in combination with entinostat caused widespread epigenetic reprogramming of EZH2-target genes. These preclinical in vivo findings demonstrate the clinical potential of SGI-110 for reducing lung tumor burden through reprogramming the epigenome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen S Tellez
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Reed MD, Tellez CS, Grimes MJ, Picchi MA, Tessema M, Cheng YS, March TH, Kuehl PJ, Belinsky SA. Aerosolised 5-azacytidine suppresses tumour growth and reprogrammes the epigenome in an orthotopic lung cancer model. Br J Cancer 2013; 109:1775-81. [PMID: 24045660 PMCID: PMC3790193 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2013.575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2013] [Revised: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 08/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic silencing by promoter methylation and chromatin remodelling affects hundreds of genes and is a causal event for lung cancer. Treatment of patients with low doses of the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine in combination with the histone deacetylase inhibitor entinostat has yielded clinical responses. The subcutaneous dosing route for consecutive days and reduced bioavailability of 5-azacytidine because of inactivation by cytidine deaminase may limit the expansion of epigenetic therapy into Phase III trials. To mitigate these barriers, an aerosol of 5-azacytidine was generated and characterised. METHODS The effect of aerosol vs systemic delivery of 5-azacytidine on tumour burden and molecular response of engrafted lung tumours in the nude rat was compared. RESULTS Pharmacokinetics revealed major improvement in the half-life of 5-azacytidine in lung tissue with aerosol delivery. Aerosolised 5-azacytidine significantly reduced lung tumour burden and induced global demethylation of the epigenome at one-third of the comparable effective systemic dose. High commonality for demethylation of genes was seen in tumours sampled throughout lung lobes and across treated animals receiving the aerosolised drug. CONCLUSION Collectively, these findings show that aerosolised 5-azacytidine targets the lung, effectively reprogrammes the epigenome of tumours, and is a promising approach to combine with other drugs for treating lung cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M D Reed
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, 2425 Ridgecrest Drive SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Petta V, Gkiozos I, Strimpakos A, Syrigos K. Histones and lung cancer: are the histone deacetylases a promising therapeutic target? Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2013; 72:935-52. [DOI: 10.1007/s00280-013-2223-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2013] [Accepted: 06/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
|
42
|
Wang YC, Yang X, Xing LH, Kong WZ. Effects of SAHA on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and hepatitis B virus replication. World J Gastroenterol 2013; 19:5159-5164. [PMID: 23964152 PMCID: PMC3746390 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i31.5159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2013] [Revised: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/13/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the effects of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) on proliferation and apoptosis of a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2.2.15) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication.
METHODS: HepG2.2.15 cells were treated with different concentrations of SAHA. Cell morphology was examined by confocal laser scanning microscopy, and cell proliferation was determined using a MTT colorimetric assay. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis and determine cell cycle phase, while hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B e antigen content were measured using chemiluminescence. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure HBV DNA in cell lysate.
RESULTS: Cell proliferation rates were significantly reduced by the addition of SAHA. The inhibitory effect of SAHA on cell proliferation was both time- and dose-dependent. After 24 h of treatment with SAHA, the early cell apoptotic rate increased from 3.25% to 21.02% (P = 0.041). The proportion of G0/G1 phase cells increased from 50.3% to 65.3% (P = 0.039), while that of S phase cells decreased from 34.9% to 20.6% (P = 0.049). After 48 h of treatment, hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B e antigen content increased from 12.33 ± 0.62 to 25.42 ± 2.67 (P = 0.020) and 28.92 ± 1.24 to 50.48 ± 1.85 (P = 0.026), respectively. Furthermore, HBV DNA content increased from 4.54 ± 0.46 to 8.34 ± 0.59 (P = 0.029).
CONCLUSION: SAHA inhibits HepG2.2.15 cell proliferation, promotes apoptosis, and stimulates HBV replication. In combination with anti-HBV drugs, SAHA may potentially be used cautiously for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Collapse
|
43
|
Vendetti FP, Rudin CM. Epigenetic therapy in non-small-cell lung cancer: targeting DNA methyltransferases and histone deacetylases. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2013; 13:1273-85. [PMID: 23859704 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2013.819337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Epigenetics refers to heritable modifications of DNA and associated chromatin components that influence gene expression without altering DNA coding sequence. Epigenetic dysregulation is a central contributor to oncogenesis and is increasingly a focus of interest in cancer therapeutic research. Two key levels of aberrant epigenetic control are DNA methylation and histone acetylation. Primary regulators of these epigenetic changes include DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). AREAS COVERED This review focuses on epigenetic changes in non-small-cell lung cancer and recent preclinical and clinical studies targeting these changes. DNMT inhibitors were previously explored at or near maximally tolerated doses, levels at which these agents are cytotoxic but have suboptimal effects on DNA methylation. Use of these inhibitors at substantially lower doses, in combination with HDAC inhibitors, can promote re-expression of silenced tumor suppressor genes, can result in major clinical responses and may alter tumor responsiveness to subsequent cytotoxic therapies. EXPERT OPINION Combinatorial epigenetic therapy has demonstrated encouraging clinical activity, but many relevant questions remain. Global strategies influencing the epigenome may have both positive and potential negative long-term effects on cancer progression. Further clinical investigation of this approach, including exploratory studies to define predictive biomarkers, is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frank P Vendetti
- Johns Hopkins University, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, David H. Koch Cancer Research Building 2, Room 562, 1550 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Liu SV, Fabbri M, Gitlitz BJ, Laird-Offringa IA. Epigenetic therapy in lung cancer. Front Oncol 2013; 3:135. [PMID: 23755372 PMCID: PMC3667274 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic deregulation of gene function has been strongly implicated in carcinogenesis and is one of the mechanisms contributing to the development of lung cancer. The inherent reversibility of epigenetic alterations makes them viable therapeutic targets. Here, we review the therapeutic implications of epigenetic changes in lung cancer, and recent advances in therapeutic strategies targeting DNA methylation and histone acetylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen V Liu
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, CA , USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Abstract
Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) are epigenetically acting agents that modify chromatin structure and by extension, gene expression. However, they may influence the behavior and survival of transformed cells by diverse mechanisms, including promoting expression of death- or differentiation-inducing genes while downregulating the expression of prosurvival genes; acting directly to increase oxidative injury and DNA damage; acetylating and disrupting the function of multiple proteins, including DNA repair and chaperone proteins; and interfering with the function of corepressor complexes. Notably, HDACIs have been shown in preclinical studies to target transformed cells selectively, and these agents have been approved in the treatment of certain hematologic malignancies, for example, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma. However, attempts to extend the spectrum of HDACI activity to other malignancies, for example, solid tumors, have been challenging. This has led to the perception that HDACIs may have limited activity as single agents. Because of the pleiotropic actions of HDACIs, combinations with other antineoplastic drugs, particularly other targeted agents, represent a particularly promising avenue of investigation. It is likely that emerging insights into mechanism(s) of HDACI activity will allow optimization of this approach, and hopefully, will expand HDACI approvals to additional malignancies in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Steven Grant
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth University Health Sciences Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Epigenetic targeting therapies to overcome chemotherapy resistance. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2013; 754:285-311. [PMID: 22956507 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-9967-2_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
It is now well established that epigenetic aberrations occur early in malignant transformation, raising the possibility of identifying chemopreventive compounds or reliable diagnostic screening using epigenetic biomarkers. Combinatorial therapies effective for the reexpression of tumor suppressors, facilitating resensitization to conventional chemotherapies, hold great promise for the future therapy of cancer. This approach may also perturb cancer stem cells and thus represent an effective means for managing a number of solid tumors. We believe that in the near future, anticancer drug regimens will routinely include epigenetic therapies, possibly in conjunction with inhibitors of "stemness" signal pathways, to effectively reduce the devastating occurrence of cancer chemotherapy resistance.
Collapse
|
47
|
Pereira R, Benedetti R, Pérez-Rodríguez S, Nebbioso A, García-Rodríguez J, Carafa V, Stuhldreier M, Conte M, Rodríguez-Barrios F, Stunnenberg HG, Gronemeyer H, Altucci L, de Lera ÁR. Indole-Derived Psammaplin A Analogues as Epigenetic Modulators with Multiple Inhibitory Activities. J Med Chem 2012; 55:9467-91. [DOI: 10.1021/jm300618u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Pereira
- Departamento de Química
Orgánica, Universidade de Vigo,
36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - Rosaria Benedetti
- Dipartimento
di Patologia Generale, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Vico
L. de Crecchio 7, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Angela Nebbioso
- Dipartimento
di Patologia Generale, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Vico
L. de Crecchio 7, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Vincenzo Carafa
- Dipartimento
di Patologia Generale, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Vico
L. de Crecchio 7, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | - Mayra Stuhldreier
- Departamento de Química
Orgánica, Universidade de Vigo,
36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - Mariarosaria Conte
- Dipartimento
di Patologia Generale, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Vico
L. de Crecchio 7, 80138 Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Hendrik G. Stunnenberg
- NCMLS, Department
of Molecular
Biology, Radboud University, 6525 GA Nijmegen,
The Netherlands
| | - Hinrich Gronemeyer
- Department
of Cancer Biology, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS, INSERM, ULP, BP 163, 67404
Illkirch Cedex, C. U. de Strasbourg, France
| | - Lucia Altucci
- Dipartimento
di Patologia Generale, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Vico
L. de Crecchio 7, 80138 Napoli, Italy
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics (IGB), CNR, Via P. Castellino 111, 80131
Napoli, Italy
| | - Ángel R. de Lera
- Departamento de Química
Orgánica, Universidade de Vigo,
36310 Vigo, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Mateen S, Raina K, Jain AK, Agarwal C, Chan D, Agarwal R. Epigenetic modifications and p21-cyclin B1 nexus in anticancer effect of histone deacetylase inhibitors in combination with silibinin on non-small cell lung cancer cells. Epigenetics 2012; 7:1161-72. [PMID: 22965008 DOI: 10.4161/epi.22070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a renewed focus on targeted therapy against epigenetic events that are altered during the pathogenesis of lung cancer. However, the use of epigenomic modifiers as monotherapy lacks efficacy; thus, there is a need to develop safe and effective drug combinatorial regimens, which reverse epigenetic modifications and exhibit profound anticancer activity. Based on these perspectives, we evaluated, for the first time, the efficacy and associated mechanisms of a novel combinatorial regimen of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi)-trichostatin A (TSA) and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA)-with silibinin (a flavonolignan with established pre-clinical anti-lung cancer efficacy) against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Silibinin inhibited HDAC activity and decreased HDAC1-3 levels in NSCLC cells, leading to an overall increase in global histone acetylation states of histones H3 and H4. Combinations of HDCAi with silibinin synergistically augmented the cytotoxic effects of these single agents, which was associated with a dramatic increase in p21 (Cdkn1a). Subsequent ChIP assay indicated increased acetylated histone H3 and H4 levels on p21 promoter region, resulting in its increased transcription. The enhanced p21 levels promoted proteasomal degradation of cyclin B1, the limited supply of which halts the progression of cells into mitosis. Indeed, the resultant biological effect was a significant G 2/M arrest by the combination treatment, followed by apoptotic cell death. Similar epigenetic modulations were observed in vivo, together with a marked reduction in xenograft growth. These findings are both novel and highly significant in establishing that HDACi with silibinin would be safe and effective to suppress NSCLC growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samiha Mateen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Verbrugge I, Johnstone RW, Bots M. Promises and challenges of anticancer drugs that target the epigenome. Epigenomics 2012; 3:547-65. [PMID: 22126246 DOI: 10.2217/epi.11.82] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The occurrence of epigenetic aberrations in cancer and their role in promoting tumorigenesis has led to the development of various small molecule inhibitors that target epigenetic enzymes. In preclinical settings, many epigenetic inhibitors demonstrate promising activity against a variety of both hematological and solid tumors. The therapeutic efficacy of those inhibitors that have entered the clinic however, is restricted predominantly to hematological malignancies. Here we outline the observed epigenetic aberrations in various types of cancer and the clinical responses to epigenetic drugs. We furthermore discuss strategies to improve the responsiveness of both hematological and solid malignancies to epigenetic drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inge Verbrugge
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, St Andrews Place, East Melbourne 3002, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Tessema M, Yingling CM, Grimes MJ, Thomas CL, Liu Y, Leng S, Joste N, Belinsky SA. Differential epigenetic regulation of TOX subfamily high mobility group box genes in lung and breast cancers. PLoS One 2012; 7:e34850. [PMID: 22496870 PMCID: PMC3319602 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2011] [Accepted: 03/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant cytosine methylation affects regulation of hundreds of genes during cancer development. In this study, a novel aberrantly hypermethylated CpG island in cancer was discovered within the TOX2 promoter. TOX2 was unmethylated in normal cells but 28% lung (n = 190) and 23% breast (n = 80) tumors were methylated. Expression of two novel TOX2 transcripts identified was significantly reduced in primary lung tumors than distant normal lung (p<0.05). These transcripts were silenced in methylated lung and breast cancer cells and 5-Aza-2-deoxycytidine treatment re-expressed both. Extension of these assays to TOX, TOX3, and TOX4 genes that share similar genomic structure and protein homology with TOX2 revealed distinct methylation profiles by smoking status, histology, and cancer type. TOX was almost exclusively methylated in breast (43%) than lung (5%) cancer, whereas TOX3 was frequently methylated in lung (58%) than breast (30%) tumors. TOX4 was unmethylated in all samples and showed the highest expression in normal lung. Compared to TOX4, expression of TOX, TOX2 and TOX3 in normal lung was 25, 44, and 88% lower, respectively, supporting the premise that reduced promoter activity confers increased susceptibility to methylation during lung carcinogenesis. Genome-wide assays revealed that siRNA-mediated TOX2 knockdown modulated multiple pathways while TOX3 inactivation targeted neuronal development and function. Although these knockdowns did not result in further phenotypic changes of lung cancer cells in vitro, the impact on tissue remodeling, inflammatory response, and cell differentiation pathways suggest a potential role for TOX2 in modulating tumor microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathewos Tessema
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Christin M. Yingling
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Marcie J. Grimes
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Cynthia L. Thomas
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Yushi Liu
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Shuguang Leng
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Nancy Joste
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Steven A. Belinsky
- Lung Cancer Program, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|