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Liu W, Feng W, Zhang Y, Lei T, Wang X, Qiao T, Chen Z, Song W. RP11-789C1.1 inhibits gastric cancer cell proliferation and accelerates apoptosis via the ATR/CHK1 signaling pathway. Chin Med J (Engl) 2024; 137:1835-1843. [PMID: 37882063 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) plays an important role in the progression of gastric cancer (GC). Their involvement ranges from genetic regulation to cancer progression. However, the mechanistic roles of RP11-789C1.1 in GC are not fully understood. METHODS We identified the expression of lncRNA RP11-789C1.1 in GC tissues and cell lines by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction. A series of functional experiments revealed the effect of RP11-789C1.1 on the proliferation of GC cells. In vivo experiments verified the effect of RP11-789C1.1 on the biological behavior of a GC cell line. RNA pull-down unveiled RP11-789C1.1 interacting proteins. Western blot analysis indicated the downstream pathway changes of RP11-789C1.1, and an oxaliplatin dosing experiment disclosed the influence of RP11-789C1.1 on the drug sensitivity of oxaliplatin. RESULTS Our results demonstrated that RP11-789C1.1 inhibited the proliferation of GC cells and promoted the apoptosis of GC cells. Mechanistically, RP11-789C1.1 inhibited checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) phosphorylation by binding ataxia-telangiectasia mutated and Rad3 related (ATR), a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase, promoted GC apoptosis, and mediated oxaliplatin sensitivity. CONCLUSION In general, we discovered a tumor suppressor molecule RP11-789C1.1 and confirmed its mechanism of action, providing a theoretical basis for targeted GC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwei Liu
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
| | - Wei Feng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
- Laboratory of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Yongxin Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Tianxiang Lei
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
- Laboratory of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
- Laboratory of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Tang Qiao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
- Laboratory of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Zehong Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, China
| | - Wu Song
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
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Previtali V, Bagnolini G, Ciamarone A, Ferrandi G, Rinaldi F, Myers SH, Roberti M, Cavalli A. New Horizons of Synthetic Lethality in Cancer: Current Development and Future Perspectives. J Med Chem 2024; 67:11488-11521. [PMID: 38955347 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, synthetic lethality has been recognized as a solid paradigm for anticancer therapies. The discovery of a growing number of synthetic lethal targets has led to a significant expansion in the use of synthetic lethality, far beyond poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors used to treat BRCA1/2-defective tumors. In particular, molecular targets within DNA damage response have provided a source of inhibitors that have rapidly reached clinical trials. This Perspective focuses on the most recent progress in synthetic lethal targets and their inhibitors, within and beyond the DNA damage response, describing their design and associated therapeutic strategies. We will conclude by discussing the current challenges and new opportunities for this promising field of research, to stimulate discussion in the medicinal chemistry community, allowing the investigation of synthetic lethality to reach its full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viola Previtali
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Greta Bagnolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciamarone
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Ferrandi
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Rinaldi
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Samuel Harry Myers
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Marinella Roberti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Computational & Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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Ding Y, Li L, Han D, Wang S, Chen X. Head and Neck Malignant Paragangliomas: Experience from a Single Institution. EAR, NOSE & THROAT JOURNAL 2024; 103:298-304. [PMID: 34654328 DOI: 10.1177/01455613211052338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: To summarize the clinicopathological and genetic features of malignant paragangliomas in head and neck cancer and to explore the appropriate treatment options for this rare lesion. Methods: Six patients harboring head and neck malignant paraganglioma from Beijing Tongren Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The clinicopathological characteristics, gene mutations, and prognosis of these patients were analyzed. Results: Of these 6 patients, 3 were male and 3 were female; 4 patients harbored malignant carotid body tumors, and two had malignant vagal paragangliomas. Three patients had cervical lymph node metastasis, two presented with lung and bone metastasis, and 1 had lung and liver metastasis. Of the 6 patients, four underwent surgical resection, and the other two patients denied surgery and instead received chemotherapy with paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and dacarbazine. These 2 patients with vagal paraganglioma received postoperative radiotherapy. All 6 patients are still alive at the present time, with a median follow-up time of 66 months. Positive Ki-67 expression in tumor tissue ranged from 1% to 40%. Genetic mutations in SDHD, SDHB, ATR, and MAP3K13 were identified in 4 patients. Conclusions: After comprehensive treatment, head and neck malignant paraganglioma can attain a favorable prognosis. Genetic mutations are commonly detected in patients with malignant paragangliomas. This study also identified mutations in ATR and MAP3K13 in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Ding
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ministry of Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lifeng Li
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ministry of Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Demin Han
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ministry of Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shaozhong Wang
- Otolaryngology of Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital, Xining, Qinghai Province, China
| | - Xiaohong Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ministry of Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Alfayomy AM, Ashry R, Kansy AG, Sarnow AC, Erdmann F, Schmidt M, Krämer OH, Sippl W. Design, synthesis, and biological characterization of proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTACs) for the ataxia telangiectasia and RAD3-related (ATR) kinase. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 267:116167. [PMID: 38308949 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
The Ataxia telangiectasia and RAD3-related (ATR) kinase is a key regulator of DNA replication stress responses and DNA-damage checkpoints. Several potent and selective ATR inhibitors are reported and four of them are currently in clinical trials in combination with radio- or chemotherapy. Based on the idea of degrading target proteins rather than inhibiting them, we designed, synthesized and biologically characterized a library of ATR-targeted proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTACs). Among the synthesized compounds, the lenalidomide-based PROTAC 42i was the most promising. In pancreatic and cervix cancer cells cancer cells, it reduced ATR to 40 % of the levels in untreated cells. 42i selectively degraded ATR through the proteasome, dependent on the E3 ubiquitin ligase component cereblon, and without affecting the associated kinases ATM and DNA-PKcs. 42i may be a promising candidate for further optimization and biological characterization in various cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdallah M Alfayomy
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71524, Egypt
| | - Ramy Ashry
- Department of Toxicology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55131, Mainz, Germany; Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt
| | - Anita G Kansy
- Department of Toxicology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Anne-Christin Sarnow
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Frank Erdmann
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Matthias Schmidt
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Oliver H Krämer
- Department of Toxicology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Wolfgang Sippl
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany.
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Stracker TH, Osagie OI, Escorcia FE, Citrin DE. Exploiting the DNA Damage Response for Prostate Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:83. [PMID: 38201511 PMCID: PMC10777950 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancers that progress despite androgen deprivation develop into castration-resistant prostate cancer, a fatal disease with few treatment options. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of prostate cancer subtypes and alterations in the DNA damage response (DDR) that can predispose to the development of prostate cancer and affect its progression. We identify barriers to conventional treatments, such as radiotherapy, and discuss the development of new therapies, many of which target the DDR or take advantage of recurring genetic alterations in the DDR. We place this in the context of advances in understanding the genetic variation and immune landscape of CRPC that could help guide their use in future treatment strategies. Finally, we discuss several new and emerging agents that may advance the treatment of lethal disease, highlighting selected clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis H. Stracker
- Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (O.I.O.); (F.E.E.); (D.E.C.)
| | - Oloruntoba I. Osagie
- Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (O.I.O.); (F.E.E.); (D.E.C.)
| | - Freddy E. Escorcia
- Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (O.I.O.); (F.E.E.); (D.E.C.)
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Deborah E. Citrin
- Radiation Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (O.I.O.); (F.E.E.); (D.E.C.)
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Abel ML, Takahashi N, Peer C, Redon CE, Nichols S, Vilimas R, Lee MJ, Lee S, Shelat M, Kattappuram R, Sciuto L, Pinkiert D, Graham C, Butcher D, Karim B, Kumar Sharma A, Malin J, Kumar R, Schultz CW, Goyal S, del Rivero J, Krishnamurthy M, Upadhyay D, Schroeder B, Sissung T, Tyagi M, Kim J, Pommier Y, Aladjem M, Raffeld M, Figg WD, Trepel J, Xi L, Desai P, Thomas A. Targeting Replication Stress and Chemotherapy Resistance with a Combination of Sacituzumab Govitecan and Berzosertib: A Phase I Clinical Trial. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:3603-3611. [PMID: 37227187 PMCID: PMC10524218 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-0536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Despite promising preclinical studies, toxicities have precluded combinations of chemotherapy and DNA damage response (DDR) inhibitors. We hypothesized that tumor-targeted chemotherapy delivery might enable clinical translation of such combinations. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a phase I trial, we combined sacituzumab govitecan, antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that delivers topoisomerase-1 inhibitor SN-38 to tumors expressing Trop-2, with ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) inhibitor berzosertib. Twelve patients were enrolled across three dose levels. RESULTS Treatment was well tolerated, with improved safety over conventional chemotherapy-based combinations, allowing escalation to the highest dose. No dose-limiting toxicities or clinically relevant ≥grade 4 adverse events occurred. Tumor regressions were observed in 2 patients with neuroendocrine prostate cancer, and a patient with small cell lung cancer transformed from EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS ADC-based delivery of cytotoxic payloads represents a new paradigm to increase efficacy of DDR inhibitors. See related commentary by Berg and Choudhury, p. 3557.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L. Abel
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nobuyuki Takahashi
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Cody Peer
- Clinical Pharmacology Program, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda MD, USA
| | - Christophe E. Redon
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Samantha Nichols
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Rasa Vilimas
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Min-Jung Lee
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sunmin Lee
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Meenakshi Shelat
- Pharmacy Department, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Robbie Kattappuram
- Pharmacy Department, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Linda Sciuto
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Danielle Pinkiert
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Chante Graham
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Donna Butcher
- Molecular Histopathology Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Baktiar Karim
- Molecular Histopathology Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Ajit Kumar Sharma
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Justin Malin
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Rajesh Kumar
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Christopher W. Schultz
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Shubhank Goyal
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jaydira del Rivero
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Manan Krishnamurthy
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Deep Upadhyay
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Brett Schroeder
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Tristan Sissung
- Clinical Pharmacology Program, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda MD, USA
| | - Manoj Tyagi
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jung Kim
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mirit Aladjem
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mark Raffeld
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Jane Trepel
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Liqiang Xi
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Parth Desai
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Anish Thomas
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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7
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Schultz CW, Zhang Y, Elmeskini R, Zimmermann A, Fu H, Murai Y, Wangsa D, Kumar S, Takahashi N, Atkinson D, Saha LK, Lee C, Elenbaas B, Desai P, Sebastian R, Sharma AK, Abel M, Schroeder B, Krishnamurthy M, Kumar R, Roper N, Aladjem M, Zenke FT, Ohler ZW, Pommier Y, Thomas A. ATR inhibition augments the efficacy of lurbinectedin in small-cell lung cancer. EMBO Mol Med 2023; 15:e17313. [PMID: 37491889 PMCID: PMC10405061 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202217313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most lethal type of lung cancer. Specifically, MYC-driven non-neuroendocrine SCLC is particularly resistant to standard therapies. Lurbinectedin was recently approved for the treatment of relapsed SCLC, but combinatorial approaches are needed to increase the depth and duration of responses to lurbinectedin. Using high-throughput screens, we found inhibitors of ataxia telangiectasia mutated and rad3 related (ATR) as the most effective agents for augmenting lurbinectedin efficacy. First-in-class ATR inhibitor berzosertib synergized with lurbinectedin in multiple SCLC cell lines, organoid, and in vivo models. Mechanistically, ATR inhibition abrogated S-phase arrest induced by lurbinectedin and forced cell cycle progression causing mitotic catastrophe and cell death. High CDKN1A/p21 expression was associated with decreased synergy due to G1 arrest, while increased levels of ERCC5/XPG were predictive of increased combination efficacy. Importantly, MYC-driven non-neuroendocrine tumors which are resistant to first-line therapies show reduced CDKN1A/p21 expression and increased ERCC5/XPG indicating they are primed for response to lurbinectedin-berzosertib combination. The combination is being assessed in a clinical trial NCT04802174.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W Schultz
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Yang Zhang
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Rajaa Elmeskini
- Center for Advanced Preclinical Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, IncFrederick National Laboratory for Cancer ResearchFrederickMDUSA
| | - Astrid Zimmermann
- Translational Innovation Platform OncologyMerck KGaA, Biopharma R&DDarmstadtGermany
| | - Haiqing Fu
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Yasuhisa Murai
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Darawalee Wangsa
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Suresh Kumar
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Nobuyuki Takahashi
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
- Medical Oncology BranchNational Center for Global Health and MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Devon Atkinson
- Center for Advanced Preclinical Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, IncFrederick National Laboratory for Cancer ResearchFrederickMDUSA
| | - Liton Kumar Saha
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Chien‐Fei Lee
- Translational Innovation Platform OncologyEMD Serono Research and Development Institute Inc., Biopharma R&DBillericaMAUSA
| | - Brian Elenbaas
- Translational Innovation Platform OncologyEMD Serono Research and Development Institute Inc., Biopharma R&DBillericaMAUSA
| | - Parth Desai
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Robin Sebastian
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Ajit Kumar Sharma
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Melissa Abel
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Brett Schroeder
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Manan Krishnamurthy
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Rajesh Kumar
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Nitin Roper
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Mirit Aladjem
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Frank T Zenke
- Translational Innovation Platform OncologyMerck KGaA, Biopharma R&DDarmstadtGermany
| | - Zoe Weaver Ohler
- Center for Advanced Preclinical Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, IncFrederick National Laboratory for Cancer ResearchFrederickMDUSA
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Anish Thomas
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
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Dexheimer TS, Coussens NP, Silvers T, Wright J, Morris J, Doroshow JH, Teicher BA. Multicellular Complex Tumor Spheroid Response to DNA Repair Inhibitors in Combination with DNA-damaging Drugs. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:1648-1661. [PMID: 37637936 PMCID: PMC10452929 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Multicellular spheroids comprised of malignant cells, endothelial cells, and mesenchymal stem cells served as an in vitro model of human solid tumors to investigate the potentiation of DNA-damaging drugs by pharmacologic modulation of DNA repair pathways. The DNA-damaging drugs, topotecan, trabectedin, and temozolomide were combined with varied inhibitors of DNA damage response enzymes including PARP (olaparib or talazoparib), ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated; AZD-1390), ATR (ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein; berzosertib or elimusertib), and DNA-PK (DNA-dependent protein kinase; nedisertib or VX-984). A range of clinically achievable concentrations were tested up to the clinical Cmax, if known. Mechanistically, the types of DNA damage induced by temozolomide, topotecan, and trabectedin are distinct, which was apparent from the response of spheroids to combinations with various DNA repair inhibitors. Although most combinations resulted in additive cytotoxicity, synergistic activity was observed for temozolomide combined with PARP inhibitors as well as combinations of the ATM inhibitor AZD-1390 with either topotecan or trabectedin. These findings might provide guidance for the selection of anticancer agent combinations worthy of further investigation. Significance Clinical efficacy of DNA-damaging anticancer drugs can be influenced by the DNA damage response in tumor cells. The potentiation of DNA-damaging drugs by pharmacologic modulation of DNA repair pathways was assessed in multicellular tumor spheroids. Although most combinations demonstrated additive cytotoxicity, synergistic cytotoxicity was observed for several drug combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S Dexheimer
- Molecular Pharmacology Laboratories, Applied and Developmental Research Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Nathan P Coussens
- Molecular Pharmacology Laboratories, Applied and Developmental Research Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Thomas Silvers
- Molecular Pharmacology Laboratories, Applied and Developmental Research Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland
| | - John Wright
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, NCI, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Joel Morris
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, NCI, Rockville, Maryland
| | - James H Doroshow
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, NCI, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Beverly A Teicher
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, NCI, Rockville, Maryland
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9
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Biswas H, Makinwa Y, Zou Y. Novel Cellular Functions of ATR for Therapeutic Targeting: Embryogenesis to Tumorigenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11684. [PMID: 37511442 PMCID: PMC10380702 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The DNA damage response (DDR) is recognized as having an important role in cancer growth and treatment. ATR (ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related) kinase, a major regulator of DDR, has shown significant therapeutic potential in cancer treatment. ATR inhibitors have shown anti-tumor effectiveness, not just as monotherapies but also in enhancing the effects of standard chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy. The biological basis of ATR is examined in this review, as well as its functional significance in the development and therapy of cancer, and the justification for inhibiting this target as a therapeutic approach, including an assessment of the progress and status of previous decades' development of effective and selective ATR inhibitors. The current applications of these inhibitors in preclinical and clinical investigations as single medicines or in combination with chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy are also fully reviewed. This review concludes with some insights into the many concerns highlighted or identified with ATR inhibitors in both the preclinical and clinical contexts, as well as potential remedies proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yue Zou
- Department of Cell and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (H.B.); (Y.M.)
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10
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Duan Y, Zhuang L, Xu Y, Cheng H, Xia J, Lu T, Chen Y. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives as novel ATR inhibitors. Bioorg Chem 2023; 136:106535. [PMID: 37086581 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
Targeting ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase is being pursued as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of advanced solid tumor with specific DNA damage response deficiency. Herein, we report a series of pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives with potent ATR inhibitory activity through structure-based drug design. Among them, the representative compound 10q exhibited excellent potency against ATR in both biochemical and cellular assays. More importantly, 10q exhibited good liver microsomes stability in different species and also showed moderate inhibitory activity against HT-29 cells in combination treatment with the ATM inhibitor AZD1390. Thus, this work provides a promising lead compound against ATR for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxin Duan
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Lili Zhuang
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Yerong Xu
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Haodong Cheng
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Jiawei Xia
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Tao Lu
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Yadong Chen
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China.
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11
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Fontaine SD, Carreras CW, Reid RR, Ashley GW, Santi DV. A Very Long-acting Exatecan and Its Synergism with DNA Damage Response Inhibitors. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:908-916. [PMID: 37377899 PMCID: PMC10208276 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-22-0517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Exatecan (Exa) is a very potent inhibitor of topoisomerase I and anticancer agent. It has been intensively studied as a single agent, a large macromolecular conjugate and as the payload component of antigen-dependent antibody-drug conjugates. The current work describes an antigen-independent conjugate of Exa with polyethylene glycol (PEG) that slowly releases free Exa. Exa was conjugated to a 4-arm 40 kDa PEG through a β-eliminative cleavable linker. Pharmacokinetic studies in mice showed that the conjugate has an apparent circulating half-life of 12 hours, which reflects a composite of both the rate of renal elimination (half-life ∼18 hours) and release of Exa (half-life ∼40 hours). Remarkably, a single low dose of 10 μmol/kg PEG-Exa-only approximately 0.2 μmol/mouse-caused complete suppression of tumor growth of BRCA1-deficient MX-1 xenografts lasting over 40 days. A single low dose of 2.5 μmol/kg PEG-Exa administered with low but efficacious doses of the PARP inhibitor talazoparib showed strong synergy and caused significant tumor regression. Furthermore, the same low, single dose of PEG-Exa administered with the ATR inhibitor VX970 at doses of the DNA damage response inhibitor that do not affect tumor growth show high tumor regression, strong synergy, and synthetic lethality. Significance A circulating conjugate that slowly releases Exa is described. It is efficacious after a single dose and synergistic with ATR and PARP inhibitors.
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12
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Li S, Wang T, Fei X, Zhang M. ATR Inhibitors in Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235902. [PMID: 36497387 PMCID: PMC9740197 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) is one of the deadliest types of epithelial ovarian cancer, and it is associated with a poor prognosis as the median overall survival (OS) is less than 12 months. Targeted therapy is a popular emerging treatment method. Several targeted therapies, including those using bevacizumab and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi), have been used to treat PROC. Ataxia telangiectasia and RAD3-Related Protein Kinase inhibitors (ATRi) have attracted attention as a promising class of targeted drugs that can regulate the cell cycle and influence homologous recombination (HR) repair. In recent years, many preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of ATRis in PROC. This review focuses on the anticancer mechanism of ATRis and the progress of research on ATRis for PROC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
- Department of Oncology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
- Department of Oncology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Xichang Fei
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
- Department of Oncology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Mingjun Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
- Department of Oncology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
- Correspondence:
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13
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Durinikova E, Reilly NM, Buzo K, Mariella E, Chilà R, Lorenzato A, Dias JML, Grasso G, Pisati F, Lamba S, Corti G, Degasperi A, Cancelliere C, Mauri G, Andrei P, Linnebacher M, Marsoni S, Siena S, Sartore-Bianchi A, Nik-Zainal S, Di Nicolantonio F, Bardelli A, Arena S. Targeting the DNA Damage Response Pathways and Replication Stress in Colorectal Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2022; 28:3874-3889. [PMID: 35881546 PMCID: PMC9433963 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-0875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Genomic instability is a hallmark of cancer and targeting DNA damage response (DDR) is emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy in different solid tumors. The effectiveness of targeting DDR in colorectal cancer has not been extensively explored. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We challenged 112 cell models recapitulating the genomic landscape of metastatic colorectal cancer with ATM, ATR, CHK1, WEE1, and DNA-PK inhibitors, in parallel with chemotherapeutic agents. We focused then on ATR inhibitors (ATRi) and, to identify putative biomarkers of response and resistance, we analyzed at multiple levels colorectal cancer models highly sensitive or resistant to these drugs. RESULTS We found that around 30% of colorectal cancers, including those carrying KRAS and BRAF mutations and unresponsive to targeted agents, are sensitive to at least one DDR inhibitor. By investigating potential biomarkers of response to ATRi, we found that ATRi-sensitive cells displayed reduced phospho-RPA32 foci at basal level, while ATRi-resistant cells showed increased RAD51 foci formation in response to replication stress. Lack of ATM and RAD51C expression was associated with ATRi sensitivity. Analysis of mutational signatures and HRDetect score identified a subgroup of ATRi-sensitive models. Organoids derived from patients with metastatic colorectal cancer recapitulated findings obtained in cell lines. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, a subset of colorectal cancers refractory to current therapies could benefit from inhibitors of DDR pathways and replication stress. A composite biomarker involving phospho-RPA32 and RAD51 foci, lack of ATM and RAD51C expression, as well as analysis of mutational signatures could be used to identify colorectal cancers likely to respond to ATRi.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicole M. Reilly
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Kristi Buzo
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Elisa Mariella
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Rosaria Chilà
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Italy
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Annalisa Lorenzato
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Italy
| | - João M. L. Dias
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Early Cancer Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gaia Grasso
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Italy
| | | | - Simona Lamba
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Giorgio Corti
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Andrea Degasperi
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Early Cancer Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Gianluca Mauri
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Pietro Andrei
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Michael Linnebacher
- Clinic of General Surgery, Molecular Oncology and Immunotherapy, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Silvia Marsoni
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Salvatore Siena
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Sartore-Bianchi
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Niguarda Cancer Center, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Nik-Zainal
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Early Cancer Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Federica Di Nicolantonio
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Alberto Bardelli
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Sabrina Arena
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Italy
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14
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Lu Z, Xu G, Li Y, Lu C, Shen Y, Zhao B. Discovery of N-arylcinnamamides as novel erythroblast enucleation inducers. Bioorg Chem 2022; 128:106105. [PMID: 36031698 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Derivation of mature red blood cells (RBCs) from stem cells in vitro is a promising solution to the current shortage of blood supply, in which terminal enucleation is the rate-limiting step. Here we discovered two cinnamamides B8 and B16 showed potential activities of enhancing the enucleation of erythroblasts through the screening of "in-house" compound library. Subsequently, twenty-four N-arylcinnamamides were rationally designed and synthesized on the basis of the structure of B8 and B16, in which N-(9H-carbazol-2-yl)cinnamamide (KS-2) significantly elevated the percentage of reticulocytes in the cultured mouse fetal liver cells in vitro (relative enucleation = 2.43). The underlying mechanism of KS-2 in promoting mouse erythroid enucleation is accelerating the process of cell cycle exit via p53 activation in late stage erythrocytes. These results strongly suggest that compound KS-2 is worthy of further study as a potential erythrocyte enucleation inducer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Lu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, China
| | - Guangsen Xu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yanxia Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Chunhua Lu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Yuemao Shen
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Baobing Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Technology Research and Evaluation of Drug Products, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
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15
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Liu Q, Chung S, Murata MM, Han B, Gao B, Zhang M, Lee TY, Chirshev E, Unternaehrer J, Tanaka H, Giuliano AE, Cui Y, Cui X. TOP1 inhibition induces bifurcated JNK/MYC signaling that dictates cancer cell sensitivity. Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18:4203-4218. [PMID: 35844787 PMCID: PMC9274500 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.70583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) does not respond to anti-estrogen and anti-HER2 therapies and is commonly treated by chemotherapy. TNBC has a high recurrence rate, particularly within the first 3 years. Thus, there is an urgent clinical need to develop more effective therapies for TNBC. Topoisomerase I (TOP1) inhibitors cause DNA damage, making these drugs desirable for TNBC treatment since DNA repair machinery is defective in this subtype of breast cancer. Among the main molecular subtypes of breast cancer, the TNBC cell lines exhibited the highest TOP1 inhibition sensitivity. However, clinically used TOP1 inhibitors, such as topotecan and irinotecan, have shown limited clinical applications and the reasons remain unclear. Understanding the mechanism of differential responses to TOP1 blockade and identifying the predictive markers for cancer cell sensitivity will help further TOP1-targeted therapy for TNBC treatment and improve the clinical use of TOP1 inhibitors. Methods: Viability assays were used to evaluate breast cancer cell sensitivity to topotecan and other TOP1 inhibitors as well as TOP2 inhibitors. An in vitro-derived topotecan-resistant TNBC cell model and TNBC xenograft models were employed to confirm cancer cell response to TOP1 blockade. RNA-seq was used to identify potential predictive markers for TNBC cell response to TOP1 blockade. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were performed to measure the protein levels and RNA expression. ATAC-seq and luciferase reporter assays were used to examine MYC transcriptional regulations. The effects of MYC and JNK in cancer cell response to TOP1 inhibition were validated via loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments. Results: We observed two distinct and diverging cancer cell responses - sensitive versus resistant to TOP1 inhibition, which was confirmed by TNBC xenograft mouse models treated by topotecan. TNBC cells exhibited bifurcated temporal patterns of ATR pathway activation upon TOP1 inhibitor treatment. The sensitive TNBC cells showed an "up then down" dynamic pattern of ATR/Chk1 signaling, while the resistant TNBC cells exhibited a "persistently up" profile. On the contrary, opposite temporal patterns of induced expression of MYC, a key regulator and effector of DNA damage, were found in TNBC cells treated by TOP1 inhibitors. Mechanistically, we showed that TOP1-induced JNK signaling upregulated MYC expression. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of ATR reversed TNBC cell resistance to topotecan, whereas MYC knockdown and JNK inhibition reduced cancer cell sensitivity. Conclusions: Dynamic temporal profiles of induced ATR/Chk1 and JNK activation as well as MYC expression, may predict cancer cell response to TOP1 inhibitors. JNK activation-mediated constitutive elevation of MYC expression may represent a novel mechanism governing cancer cell sensitivity to TOP1-targeting therapy. Our results may provide implications for identifying TNBC patients who might benefit from the treatment with TOP1 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qizhi Liu
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Stacey Chung
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Michael M. Murata
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Bingchen Han
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Bowen Gao
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Maoqi Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Shantou University Medical College Cancer Hospital, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Tian-Yu Lee
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Evgeny Chirshev
- Loma Linda University, Department of Basic Sciences, 11085 Campus Street Mortensen Hall 219, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Juli Unternaehrer
- Loma Linda University, Department of Basic Sciences, 11085 Campus Street Mortensen Hall 219, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
| | - Hisashi Tanaka
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Armando E. Giuliano
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Yukun Cui
- Key Laboratory for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Shantou University Medical College Cancer Hospital, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Xiaojiang Cui
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
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Wang LW, Jiang S, Yuan YH, Duan J, Mao ND, Hui Z, Bai R, Xie T, Ye XY. Recent Advances in Synergistic Antitumor Effects Exploited from the Inhibition of Ataxia Telangiectasia and RAD3-Related Protein Kinase (ATR). Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27082491. [PMID: 35458687 PMCID: PMC9029554 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27082491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
As one of the key phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related kinases (PIKKs) family members, ataxia telangiectasia and RAD3-related protein kinase (ATR) is crucial in maintaining mammalian cell genomic integrity in DNA damage response (DDR) and repair pathways. Dysregulation of ATR has been found across different cancer types. In recent years, the inhibition of ATR has been proven to be effective in cancer therapy in preclinical and clinical studies. Importantly, tumor-specific alterations such as ATM loss and Cyclin E1 (CCNE1) amplification are more sensitive to ATR inhibition and are being exploited in synthetic lethality (SL) strategy. Besides SL, synergistic anticancer effects involving ATRi have been reported in an increasing number in recent years. This review focuses on the recent advances in different forms of synergistic antitumor effects, summarizes the pharmacological benefits and ongoing clinical trials behind the biological mechanism, and provides perspectives for future challenges and opportunities. The hope is to draw awareness to the community that targeting ATR should have great potential in developing effective anticancer medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Wei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Songwei Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Ying-Hui Yuan
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Jilong Duan
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Nian-Dong Mao
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Zi Hui
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Renren Bai
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Correspondence: (R.B.); (T.X.); (X.-Y.Y.); Tel.: +86-571-28860236 (X.-Y.Y.)
| | - Tian Xie
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Correspondence: (R.B.); (T.X.); (X.-Y.Y.); Tel.: +86-571-28860236 (X.-Y.Y.)
| | - Xiang-Yang Ye
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Correspondence: (R.B.); (T.X.); (X.-Y.Y.); Tel.: +86-571-28860236 (X.-Y.Y.)
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17
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Topoisomerase I inhibitors: Challenges, progress and the road ahead. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 236:114304. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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18
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A clinically relevant heterozygous ATR mutation sensitizes colorectal cancer cells to replication stress. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5422. [PMID: 35361811 PMCID: PMC8971416 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09308-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks third among the most frequent malignancies and represents the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. By interfering with the DNA replication process of cancer cells, several chemotherapeutic molecules used in CRC therapy induce replication stress (RS). At the cellular level, this stress is managed by the ATR-CHK1 pathway, which activates the replication checkpoint. In recent years, the therapeutic value of targeting this pathway has been demonstrated. Moreover, MSI + (microsatellite instability) tumors frequently harbor a nonsense, heterozygous mutation in the ATR gene. Using isogenic HCT116 clones, we showed that this mutation of ATR sensitizes the cells to several drugs, including SN-38 (topoisomerase I inhibitor) and VE-822 (ATR inhibitor) and exacerbates their synergistic effects. We showed that this mutation bottlenecks the replication checkpoint leading to extensive DNA damage. The combination of VE-822 and SN-38 induces an exhaustion of RPA and a subsequent replication catastrophe. Surviving cells complete replication and accumulate in G2 in a DNA-PK-dependent manner, protecting them from cell death. Together, our results suggest that RPA and DNA-PK represent promising therapeutic targets to optimize the inhibition of the ATR-CHK1 pathway in oncology. Ultimately, ATR frameshift mutations found in patients may also represent important prognostic factors.
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19
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Wilson Z, Odedra R, Wallez Y, Wijnhoven PW, Hughes AM, Gerrard J, Jones GN, Bargh-Dawson H, Brown E, Young LA, O'Connor MJ, Lau A. ATR Inhibitor AZD6738 (Ceralasertib) Exerts Antitumor Activity as a Monotherapy and in Combination with Chemotherapy and the PARP Inhibitor Olaparib. Cancer Res 2022; 82:1140-1152. [PMID: 35078817 PMCID: PMC9359726 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-2997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
AZD6738 (ceralasertib) is a potent and selective orally bioavailable inhibitor of ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase. ATR is activated in response to stalled DNA replication forks to promote G2-M cell-cycle checkpoints and fork restart. Here, we found AZD6738 modulated CHK1 phosphorylation and induced ATM-dependent signaling (pRAD50) and the DNA damage marker γH2AX. AZD6738 inhibited break-induced replication and homologous recombination repair. In vitro sensitivity to AZD6738 was elevated in, but not exclusive to, cells with defects in the ATM pathway or that harbor putative drivers of replication stress such as CCNE1 amplification. This translated to in vivo antitumor activity, with tumor control requiring continuous dosing and free plasma exposures, which correlated with induction of pCHK1, pRAD50, and γH2AX. AZD6738 showed combinatorial efficacy with agents associated with replication fork stalling and collapse such as carboplatin and irinotecan and the PARP inhibitor olaparib. These combinations required optimization of dose and schedules in vivo and showed superior antitumor activity at lower doses compared with that required for monotherapy. Tumor regressions required at least 2 days of daily dosing of AZD6738 concurrent with carboplatin, while twice daily dosing was required following irinotecan. In a BRCA2-mutant patient-derived triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) xenograft model, complete tumor regression was achieved with 3 to5 days of daily AZD6738 per week concurrent with olaparib. Increasing olaparib dosage or AZD6738 dosing to twice daily allowed complete tumor regression even in a BRCA wild-type TNBC xenograft model. These preclinical data provide rationale for clinical evaluation of AZD6738 as a monotherapy or combinatorial agent. SIGNIFICANCE This detailed preclinical investigation, including pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and dose-schedule optimizations, of AZD6738/ceralasertib alone and in combination with chemotherapy or PARP inhibitors can inform ongoing clinical efforts to treat cancer with ATR inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zena Wilson
- Bioscience, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cheshire, United Kingdom
| | - Rajesh Odedra
- Bioscience, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cheshire, United Kingdom
| | - Yann Wallez
- Bioscience, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Adina M. Hughes
- Bioscience, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cheshire, United Kingdom
| | - Joe Gerrard
- Translational Medicine, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gemma N. Jones
- Translational Medicine, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah Bargh-Dawson
- Translational Medicine, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Elaine Brown
- Bioscience, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cheshire, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy A. Young
- Bioscience, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J. O'Connor
- Bioscience, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Lau
- Bioscience, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Corresponding Author: Alan Lau, Bioscience, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Hodgkin Building, C/O Darwin Building, Unit 310, Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 OWG, United Kingdom. Phone: 4407-9171-88399; E-mail:
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20
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Gupta N, Huang TT, Horibata S, Lee JM. Cell Cycle Checkpoints and Beyond: Exploiting the ATR/CHK1/WEE1 Pathway for the Treatment of PARP Inhibitor–Resistant Cancer. Pharmacol Res 2022; 178:106162. [PMID: 35259479 PMCID: PMC9026671 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPis) have become a mainstay of therapy in ovarian cancer and other malignancies, including BRCA-mutant breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. However, a growing number of patients develop resistance to PARPis, highlighting the need to further understand the mechanisms of PARPi resistance and develop effective treatment strategies. Targeting cell cycle checkpoint protein kinases, e.g., ATR, CHK1, and WEE1, which are upregulated in response to replication stress, represents one such therapeutic approach for PARPi-resistant cancers. Mechanistically, activated cell cycle checkpoints promote cell cycle arrest, replication fork stabilization, and DNA repair, demonstrating the interplay of DNA repair proteins with replication stress in the development of PARPi resistance. Inhibitors of these cell cycle checkpoints are under investigation in PARPi-resistant ovarian and other cancers. In this review, we discuss the cell cycle checkpoints and their roles beyond mere cell cycle regulation as part of the arsenal to overcome PARPi-resistant cancers. We also address the current status and recent advancements as well as limitations of cell cycle checkpoint inhibitors in clinical trials.
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21
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Pan Y, Yang Y, Huang R, Yang H, Huang Q, Ji Y, Dai J, Qiao K, Tang W, Xie L, Yin M, Ouyang J, Ning S, Su D. Ring finger protein 126 promotes breast cancer metastasis and serves as a potential target to improve the therapeutic sensitivity of ATR inhibitors. Breast Cancer Res 2022; 24:92. [PMID: 36539893 PMCID: PMC9764525 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-022-01586-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS This study explores the relationship between the E3 ubiquitin ligase Ring finger protein 126 (RNF126) and early breast cancer metastasis and tests the hypothesis that RNF126 determines the efficacy of inhibitors targeting Ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related kinase (ATR). METHODS Various metastasis-related genes were identified by univariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis based on the GSE11121 dataset. The RNF126-related network modules were identified by WGCNA, whereas cell viability, invasion, and migration assays were performed to evaluate the biological characteristics of breast cancer cells with or without RNF126 knockdown. MTT, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, and DNA fiber assays were conducted to determine the efficiency of ATR inhibitor in cells with or without RNF126 knockdown. RESULTS RNF126 was associated with early breast cancer metastasis. RNF126 promoted breast cancer cell proliferation, growth, migration, and invasion. ATR inhibitors were more effective at killing breast cancer cells with intact RNF126 due to replication stress compared with the corresponding cells with RNF126 knockdown. Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) was involved in regulating replication stress in breast cancer cells with intact RNF126. CONCLUSION A high level of expression of RNF126 in early breast cancer patients without lymph node metastases may indicate a high-risk type of metastatic disease, possibly due to RNF126, which may increase breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion. RNF126-expressing breast cancer cells exhibit CDK2-mediated replication stress that makes them potential targets for ATR inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Pan
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Guangxi Department of Education, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
| | - Yuchao Yang
- grid.284723.80000 0000 8877 7471Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics & Nation Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 China
| | - Rong Huang
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Guangxi Department of Education, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
| | - Huawei Yang
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Guangxi Department of Education, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
| | - Qinghua Huang
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Guangxi Department of Education, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
| | - Yinan Ji
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Guangxi Department of Education, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
| | - Jingxing Dai
- grid.284723.80000 0000 8877 7471Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics & Nation Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 China
| | - Kun Qiao
- grid.412651.50000 0004 1808 3502Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150000 China
| | - Wei Tang
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Guangxi Department of Education, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
| | - Longgui Xie
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Guangxi Department of Education, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
| | - Ming Yin
- grid.284723.80000 0000 8877 7471Department of Imaging, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 China
| | - Jun Ouyang
- grid.284723.80000 0000 8877 7471Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics & Nation Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 China
| | - Shipeng Ning
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Guangxi Department of Education, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
| | - Danke Su
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Radiology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
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22
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Parsels LA, Zhang Q, Karnak D, Parsels JD, Lam K, Willers H, Green MD, Rehemtulla A, Lawrence TS, Morgan MA. Translation of DNA Damage Response Inhibitors as Chemoradiation Sensitizers From the Laboratory to the Clinic. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2021; 111:e38-e53. [PMID: 34348175 PMCID: PMC8602768 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.07.1708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Combination therapies with agents targeting the DNA damage response (DDR) offer an opportunity to selectively enhance the therapeutic index of chemoradiation or eliminate use of chemotherapy altogether. The successful translation of DDR inhibitors to clinical use requires investigating both their direct actions as (chemo)radiosensitizers and their potential to stimulate tumor immunogenicity. Beginning with high-throughput screening using both viability and DNA damage-reporter assays, followed by validation in gold-standard radiation colony-forming assays and in vitro assessment of mechanistic effects on the DDR, we describe proven strategies and methods leading to the clinical development of DDR inhibitors both with radiation alone and in combination with chemoradiation. Beyond these in vitro studies, we discuss the impact of key features of human xenograft and syngeneic mouse models on the relevance of in vivo tumor efficacy studies, particularly with regard to the immunogenic effects of combined therapy with radiation and DDR inhibitors. Finally, we describe recent technological advances in radiation delivery (using the small animal radiation research platform) that allow for conformal, clinically relevant radiation therapy in mouse models. This overall approach is critical to the successful clinical development and ultimate Food and Drug Administration approval of DDR inhibitors as (chemo)radiation sensitizers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie A Parsels
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School and Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School and Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - David Karnak
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School and Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Joshua D Parsels
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School and Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Kwok Lam
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School and Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Henning Willers
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael D Green
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School and Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Alnawaz Rehemtulla
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School and Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Theodore S Lawrence
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School and Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Meredith A Morgan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School and Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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23
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Targeting the DNA damage response: PARP inhibitors and new perspectives in the landscape of cancer treatment. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2021; 168:103539. [PMID: 34800653 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2021.103539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer derives from alterations of pathways responsible for cell survival, differentiation and proliferation. Dysfunctions of mechanisms protecting genome integrity can promote oncogenesis but can also be exploited as therapeutic target. Poly-ADP-Ribose-Polymerase (PARP)-inhibitors, the first approved targeted agents able to tackle DNA damage response (DDR), have demonstrated antitumor activity, particularly when homologous recombination impairment is present. Despite the relevant results achieved, a large proportion of patients fail to obtain durable responses. The development of innovative treatments, able to overcome resistance and ensure long-lasting benefit for a wider population is still an unmet need. Moreover, improvement in biomarker assays is necessary to properly identify patients who can benefit from DDR targeting agents. Here we summarize the main DDR pathways, explain the current role of PARP inhibitors in cancer therapy and illustrate new therapeutic strategies targeting the DDR, focusing on the combinations of PARP inhibitors with other agents and on cell-cycle checkpoint inhibitors.
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24
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Hossain MA, Lin Y, Driscoll G, Li J, McMahon A, Matos J, Zhao H, Tsuchimoto D, Nakabeppu Y, Zhao J, Yan S. APE2 Is a General Regulator of the ATR-Chk1 DNA Damage Response Pathway to Maintain Genome Integrity in Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:738502. [PMID: 34796173 PMCID: PMC8593216 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.738502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The maintenance of genome integrity and fidelity is vital for the proper function and survival of all organisms. Recent studies have revealed that APE2 is required to activate an ATR-Chk1 DNA damage response (DDR) pathway in response to oxidative stress and a defined DNA single-strand break (SSB) in Xenopus laevis egg extracts. However, it remains unclear whether APE2 is a general regulator of the DDR pathway in mammalian cells. Here, we provide evidence using human pancreatic cancer cells that APE2 is essential for ATR DDR pathway activation in response to different stressful conditions including oxidative stress, DNA replication stress, and DNA double-strand breaks. Fluorescence microscopy analysis shows that APE2-knockdown (KD) leads to enhanced γH2AX foci and increased micronuclei formation. In addition, we identified a small molecule compound Celastrol as an APE2 inhibitor that specifically compromises the binding of APE2 but not RPA to ssDNA and 3′-5′ exonuclease activity of APE2 but not APE1. The impairment of ATR-Chk1 DDR pathway by Celastrol in Xenopus egg extracts and human pancreatic cancer cells highlights the physiological significance of Celastrol in the regulation of APE2 functionalities in genome integrity. Notably, cell viability assays demonstrate that APE2-KD or Celastrol sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs. Overall, we propose APE2 as a general regulator for the DDR pathway in genome integrity maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Akram Hossain
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Yunfeng Lin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Garrett Driscoll
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Anne McMahon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Joshua Matos
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Haichao Zhao
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States
| | - Daisuke Tsuchimoto
- Division of Neurofunctional Genomics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yusaku Nakabeppu
- Division of Neurofunctional Genomics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Jianjun Zhao
- Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Shan Yan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States
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25
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Baschnagel AM, Elnaggar JH, VanBeek HJ, Kromke AC, Skiba JH, Kaushik S, Abel L, Clark PA, Longhurst CA, Nickel KP, Leal TA, Zhao SG, Kimple RJ. ATR Inhibitor M6620 (VX-970) Enhances the Effect of Radiation in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Brain Metastasis Patient-Derived Xenografts. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:2129-2139. [PMID: 34413128 PMCID: PMC8571002 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
M6620, a selective ATP-competitive inhibitor of the ATM and RAD3-related (ATR) kinase, is currently under investigation with radiation in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) brain metastases. We evaluated the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway profile of NSCLC and assessed the radiosensitizing effects of M6620 in a preclinical NSCLC brain metastasis model. Mutation analysis and transcriptome profiling of DDR genes and pathways was performed on NSCLC patient samples. NSCLC cell lines were assessed with proliferation, clonogenic survival, apoptosis, cell cycle, and DNA damage signaling and repair assays. NSCLC brain metastasis patient-derived xenograft models were used to assess intracranial response and overall survival. In vivo IHC was performed to confirm in vitro results. A significant portion of NSCLC patient tumors demonstrated enrichment of DDR pathways. DDR pathways correlated with lung squamous cell histology; and mutations in ATR, ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK1, and CHEK2 correlated with enrichment of DDR pathways in lung adenocarcinomas. M6620 reduced colony formation after radiotherapy and resulted in inhibition of DNA DSB repair, abrogation of the radiation-induced G2 cell checkpoint, and formation of dysfunctional micronuclei, leading to enhanced radiation-induced mitotic death. The combination of M6620 and radiation resulted in improved overall survival in mice compared with radiation alone. In vivo IHC revealed inhibition of pChk1 in the radiation plus M6620 group. M6620 enhances the effect of radiation in our preclinical NSCLC brain metastasis models, supporting the ongoing clinical trial (NCT02589522) evaluating M6620 in combination with whole brain irradiation in patients with NSCLC brain metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Baschnagel
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Jacob H Elnaggar
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Haley J VanBeek
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Ashley C Kromke
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Justin H Skiba
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Saakshi Kaushik
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Lindsey Abel
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Paul A Clark
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Colin A Longhurst
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Kwangok P Nickel
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Ticiana A Leal
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Shuang G Zhao
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Randall J Kimple
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
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26
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Jo U, Senatorov IS, Zimmermann A, Saha LK, Murai Y, Kim SH, Rajapakse VN, Elloumi F, Takahashi N, Schultz CW, Thomas A, Zenke FT, Pommier Y. Novel and Highly Potent ATR Inhibitor M4344 Kills Cancer Cells With Replication Stress, and Enhances the Chemotherapeutic Activity of Widely Used DNA Damaging Agents. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:1431-1441. [PMID: 34045232 PMCID: PMC9398135 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-1026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Although several ATR inhibitors are in development, there are unresolved questions regarding their differential potency, molecular signatures of patients with cancer for predicting activity, and most effective therapeutic combinations. Here, we elucidate how to improve ATR-based chemotherapy with the newly developed ATR inhibitor, M4344 using in vitro and in vivo models. The potency of M4344 was compared with the clinically developed ATR inhibitors BAY1895344, berzosertib, and ceralasertib. The anticancer activity of M4344 was investigated as monotherapy and combination with clinical DNA damaging agents in multiple cancer cell lines, patient-derived tumor organoids, and mouse xenograft models. We also elucidated the anticancer mechanisms and potential biomarkers for M4344. We demonstrate that M4344 is highly potent among the clinically developed ATR inhibitors. Replication stress (RepStress) and neuroendocrine (NE) gene expression signatures are significantly associated with a response to M4344 treatment. M4344 kills cancer cells by inducing cellular catastrophe and DNA damage. M4344 is highly synergistic with a broad range of DNA-targeting anticancer agents. It significantly synergizes with topotecan and irinotecan in patient-derived tumor organoids and xenograft models. Taken together, M4344 is a promising and highly potent ATR inhibitor. It enhances the activity of clinical DNA damaging agents commonly used in cancer treatment including topoisomerase inhibitors, gemcitabine, cisplatin, and talazoparib. RepStress and NE gene expression signatures can be exploited as predictive markers for M4344.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ukhyun Jo
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland.,Corresponding Authors: Ukhyun Jo and Yves Pommier, 37 Convent Dr., Building 37-Room 5068, Bethesda, MD 20892. Phone: 240-760-6142; Fax: 240-541-4475; E-mail: and
| | - Ilya S. Senatorov
- Laboratory of Genitourinary Cancer Pathogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Astrid Zimmermann
- Merck KGaA, Biopharma R&D, Translational Innovation Platform Oncology, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Liton Kumar Saha
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yasuhisa Murai
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Se Hyun Kim
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland.,Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Vinodh N. Rajapakse
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Fathi Elloumi
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland.,General Dynamics Information Technology Inc., Fairfax, Virginia
| | - Nobuyuki Takahashi
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Christopher W. Schultz
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Anish Thomas
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Frank T. Zenke
- Merck KGaA, Biopharma R&D, Translational Innovation Platform Oncology, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland.,Corresponding Authors: Ukhyun Jo and Yves Pommier, 37 Convent Dr., Building 37-Room 5068, Bethesda, MD 20892. Phone: 240-760-6142; Fax: 240-541-4475; E-mail: and
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27
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Ju MK, Shin KJ, Lee JR, Khim KW, A Lee E, Ra JS, Kim BG, Jo HS, Yoon JH, Kim TM, Myung K, Choi JH, Kim H, Chae YC. NSMF promotes the replication stress-induced DNA damage response for genome maintenance. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:5605-5622. [PMID: 33963872 PMCID: PMC8191778 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Proper activation of DNA repair pathways in response to DNA replication stress is critical for maintaining genomic integrity. Due to the complex nature of the replication fork (RF), problems at the RF require multiple proteins, some of which remain unidentified, for resolution. In this study, we identified the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor synaptonuclear signaling and neuronal migration factor (NSMF) as a key replication stress response factor that is important for ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR) activation. NSMF localizes rapidly to stalled RFs and acts as a scaffold to modulate replication protein A (RPA) complex formation with cell division cycle 5-like (CDC5L) and ATR/ATR-interacting protein (ATRIP). Depletion of NSMF compromised phosphorylation and ubiquitination of RPA2 and the ATR signaling cascade, resulting in genomic instability at RFs under DNA replication stress. Consistently, NSMF knockout mice exhibited increased genomic instability and hypersensitivity to genotoxic stress. NSMF deficiency in human and mouse cells also caused increased chromosomal instability. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that NSMF regulates the ATR pathway and the replication stress response network for genome maintenance and cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Kyung Ju
- Department of Life Sciences, Ulsan National University of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Jin Shin
- Department of Life Sciences, Ulsan National University of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Joo Rak Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Ulsan National University of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Keon Woo Khim
- Department of Life Sciences, Ulsan National University of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun A Lee
- Center for Genomic Integrity Institute for Basic Science (IBS), UNIST, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Sun Ra
- Center for Genomic Integrity Institute for Basic Science (IBS), UNIST, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Gyu Kim
- Center for Genomic Integrity Institute for Basic Science (IBS), UNIST, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Seul Jo
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu 41062, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Hyuk Yoon
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu 41062, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Moon Kim
- Center for Genomic Integrity Institute for Basic Science (IBS), UNIST, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungjae Myung
- Center for Genomic Integrity Institute for Basic Science (IBS), UNIST, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National University of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Jang Hyun Choi
- Department of Life Sciences, Ulsan National University of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Hongtae Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Ulsan National University of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.,Center for Genomic Integrity Institute for Basic Science (IBS), UNIST, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Chan Chae
- Department of Life Sciences, Ulsan National University of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
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28
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Ngoi NYL, Pham MM, Tan DSP, Yap TA. Targeting the replication stress response through synthetic lethal strategies in cancer medicine. Trends Cancer 2021; 7:930-957. [PMID: 34215565 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2021.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The replication stress response (RSR) involves a downstream kinase cascade comprising ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM), ATM and rad3-related (ATR), checkpoint kinases 1 and 2 (CHK1/2), and WEE1-like protein kinase (WEE1), which cooperate to arrest the cell cycle, protect stalled forks, and allow time for replication fork repair. In the presence of elevated replicative stress, cancers are increasingly dependent on RSR to maintain genomic integrity. An increasing number of drug candidates targeting key RSR nodes, as monotherapy through synthetic lethality, or through rational combinations with immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies, are demonstrating promising efficacy in early phase trials. RSR targeting is also showing potential in reversing PARP inhibitor resistance, an important area of unmet clinical need. In this review, we introduce the concept of targeting the RSR, detail the current landscape of monotherapy and combination strategies, and discuss emerging therapeutic approaches, such as targeting Polθ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Y L Ngoi
- Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Melissa M Pham
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David S P Tan
- Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Timothy A Yap
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I Clinical Trials Program), Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Khalifa Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; The Institute for Applied Cancer Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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29
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Gayle S, Aiello R, Leelatian N, Beckta JM, Bechtold J, Bourassa P, Csengery J, Maguire RJ, Marshall D, Sundaram RK, Van Doorn J, Jones K, Moore H, Lopresti-Morrow L, Paradis T, Tylaska L, Zhang Q, Visca H, Reshetnyak YK, Andreev OA, Engelman DM, Glazer PM, Bindra RS, Paralkar VM. Tumor-selective, antigen-independent delivery of a pH sensitive peptide-topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate suppresses tumor growth without systemic toxicity. NAR Cancer 2021; 3:zcab021. [PMID: 34316708 PMCID: PMC8210154 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcab021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Topoisomerase inhibitors are potent DNA damaging agents which are widely used in oncology, and they demonstrate robust synergistic tumor cell killing in combination with DNA repair inhibitors, including poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. However, their use has been severely limited by the inability to achieve a favorable therapeutic index due to severe systemic toxicities. Antibody-drug conjugates address this issue via antigen-dependent targeting and delivery of their payloads, but this approach requires specific antigens and yet still suffers from off-target toxicities. There is a high unmet need for a more universal tumor targeting technology to broaden the application of cytotoxic payloads. Acidification of the extracellular milieu arises from metabolic adaptions associated with the Warburg effect in cancer. Here we report the development of a pH-sensitive peptide-drug conjugate to deliver the topoisomerase inhibitor, exatecan, selectively to tumors in an antigen-independent manner. Using this approach, we demonstrate potent in vivo cytotoxicity, complete suppression of tumor growth across multiple human tumor models, and synergistic interactions with a PARP inhibitor. These data highlight the identification of a peptide-topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate for cancer therapy that provides a high therapeutic index, and is applicable to all types of human solid tumors in an antigen-independent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nalin Leelatian
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Jason M Beckta
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ranjini K Sundaram
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Jinny Van Doorn
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Kelli Jones
- Cybrexa Therapeutics, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Qing Zhang
- Cybrexa Therapeutics, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Hannah Visca
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Yana K Reshetnyak
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Oleg A Andreev
- Physics Department, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Donald M Engelman
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Peter M Glazer
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Ranjit S Bindra
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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30
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Nikolakopoulou A, Soni A, Habibi M, Karaiskos P, Pantelias G, Terzoudi GI, Iliakis G. G2/M Checkpoint Abrogation With Selective Inhibitors Results in Increased Chromatid Breaks and Radiosensitization of 82-6 hTERT and RPE Human Cells. Front Public Health 2021; 9:675095. [PMID: 34123995 PMCID: PMC8193504 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.675095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
While technological advances in radiation oncology have led to a more precise delivery of radiation dose and a decreased risk of side effects, there is still a need to better understand the mechanisms underlying DNA damage response (DDR) at the DNA and cytogenetic levels, and to overcome tumor resistance. To maintain genomic stability, cells have developed sophisticated signaling pathways enabling cell cycle arrest to facilitate DNA repair via the DDR-related kinases and their downstream targets, so that DNA damage or DNA replication stress induced by genotoxic therapies can be resolved. ATM, ATR, and Chk1 kinases are key mediators in DDR activation and crucial factors in treatment resistance. It is of importance, therefore, as an alternative to the conventional clonogenic assay, to establish a cytogenetic assay enabling reliable and time-efficient results in evaluating the potency of DDR inhibitors for radiosensitization. Toward this goal, the present study aims at the development and optimization of a chromosomal radiosensitivity assay using the DDR and G2-checkpoint inhibitors as a novel modification compared to the classical G2-assay. Also, it aims at investigating the strengths of this assay for rapid radiosensitivity assessments in cultured cells, and potentially, in tumor cells obtained from biopsies. Specifically, exponentially growing RPE and 82-6 hTERT human cells are irradiated during the G2/M-phase transition in the presence or absence of Caffeine, VE-821, and UCN-1 inhibitors of ATM/ATR, ATR, and Chk1, respectively, and the induced chromatid breaks are used to evaluate cell radiosensitivity and their potency for radiosensitization. The increased yield of chromatid breaks in the presence of DDR inhibitors, which underpins radiosensitization, is similar to that observed in cells from highly radiosensitive AT-patients, and is considered here as 100% radiosensitive internal control. The results highlight the potential of our modified G2-assay using VE-821 to evaluate cell radiosensitivity, the efficacy of DDR inhibitors in radiosensitization, and reinforce the concept that ATM, ATR, and Chk1 represent attractive anticancer drug targets in radiation oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aggeliki Nikolakopoulou
- Laboratory of Health Physics, Radiobiology and Cytogenetics, Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy and Safety, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Athens, Greece.,Medical Physics Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Aashish Soni
- Institute of Medical Radiation Biology, Medical School, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Martha Habibi
- Laboratory of Health Physics, Radiobiology and Cytogenetics, Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy and Safety, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Athens, Greece.,Medical Physics Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Pantelis Karaiskos
- Medical Physics Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Gabriel Pantelias
- Laboratory of Health Physics, Radiobiology and Cytogenetics, Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy and Safety, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia I Terzoudi
- Laboratory of Health Physics, Radiobiology and Cytogenetics, Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy and Safety, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Athens, Greece
| | - George Iliakis
- Institute of Medical Radiation Biology, Medical School, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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31
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p53 activation during ribosome biogenesis regulates normal erythroid differentiation. Blood 2021; 137:89-102. [PMID: 32818241 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019003439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of ribosome biogenesis in erythroid development is supported by the recognition of erythroid defects in ribosomopathies in both Diamond-Blackfan anemia and 5q- syndrome. Whether ribosome biogenesis exerts a regulatory function on normal erythroid development is still unknown. In the present study, a detailed characterization of ribosome biogenesis dynamics during human and murine erythropoiesis showed that ribosome biogenesis is abruptly interrupted by the decline in ribosomal DNA transcription and the collapse of ribosomal protein neosynthesis. Its premature arrest by the RNA Pol I inhibitor CX-5461 targeted the proliferation of immature erythroblasts. p53 was activated spontaneously or in response to CX-5461, concomitant to ribosome biogenesis arrest, and drove a transcriptional program in which genes involved in cell cycle-arrested, negative regulation of apoptosis, and DNA damage response were upregulated. RNA Pol I transcriptional stress resulted in nucleolar disruption and activation of the ATR-CHK1-p53 pathway. Our results imply that the timing of ribosome biogenesis extinction and p53 activation is crucial for erythroid development. In ribosomopathies in which ribosome availability is altered by unbalanced production of ribosomal proteins, the threshold downregulation of ribosome biogenesis could be prematurely reached and, together with pathological p53 activation, prevents a normal expansion of erythroid progenitors.
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32
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Thomas A, Takahashi N, Rajapakse VN, Zhang X, Sun Y, Ceribelli M, Wilson KM, Zhang Y, Beck E, Sciuto L, Nichols S, Elenbaas B, Puc J, Dahmen H, Zimmermann A, Varonin J, Schultz CW, Kim S, Shimellis H, Desai P, Klumpp-Thomas C, Chen L, Travers J, McKnight C, Michael S, Itkin Z, Lee S, Yuno A, Lee MJ, Redon CE, Kindrick JD, Peer CJ, Wei JS, Aladjem MI, Figg WD, Steinberg SM, Trepel JB, Zenke FT, Pommier Y, Khan J, Thomas CJ. Therapeutic targeting of ATR yields durable regressions in small cell lung cancers with high replication stress. Cancer Cell 2021; 39:566-579.e7. [PMID: 33848478 PMCID: PMC8048383 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2021.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Small cell neuroendocrine cancers (SCNCs) are recalcitrant cancers arising from diverse primary sites that lack effective treatments. Using chemical genetic screens, we identified inhibition of ataxia telangiectasia and rad3 related (ATR), the primary activator of the replication stress response, and topoisomerase I (TOP1), nuclear enzyme that suppresses genomic instability, as synergistically cytotoxic in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). In a proof-of-concept study, we combined M6620 (berzosertib), first-in-class ATR inhibitor, and TOP1 inhibitor topotecan in patients with relapsed SCNCs. Objective response rate among patients with SCLC was 36% (9/25), achieving the primary efficacy endpoint. Durable tumor regressions were observed in patients with platinum-resistant SCNCs, typically fatal within weeks of recurrence. SCNCs with high neuroendocrine differentiation, characterized by enhanced replication stress, were more likely to respond. These findings highlight replication stress as a potentially transformative vulnerability of SCNCs, paving the way for rational patient selection in these cancers, now treated as a single disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anish Thomas
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Nobuyuki Takahashi
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Vinodh N Rajapakse
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Xiaohu Zhang
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institute of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Yilun Sun
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Michele Ceribelli
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institute of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Kelli M Wilson
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institute of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Yang Zhang
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Erin Beck
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institute of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Linda Sciuto
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Samantha Nichols
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Brian Elenbaas
- EMD Serono Research and Development Institute Inc., Biopharma R&D, Translational Innovation Platform Oncology, Billerica, MA 01821, USA; A business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Janusz Puc
- EMD Serono Research and Development Institute Inc., Biopharma R&D, Translational Innovation Platform Oncology, Billerica, MA 01821, USA; A business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Heike Dahmen
- Merck KGaA, Biopharma R&D, Translational Innovation Platform Oncology, Frankfurter Street 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Astrid Zimmermann
- Merck KGaA, Biopharma R&D, Translational Innovation Platform Oncology, Frankfurter Street 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Jillian Varonin
- Technology Transfer Center, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Christopher W Schultz
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sehyun Kim
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hirity Shimellis
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Parth Desai
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Carleen Klumpp-Thomas
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institute of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Lu Chen
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institute of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Jameson Travers
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institute of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Crystal McKnight
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institute of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Sam Michael
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institute of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Zina Itkin
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institute of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Sunmin Lee
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Akira Yuno
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Min-Jung Lee
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Christophe E Redon
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jessica D Kindrick
- Clinical Pharmacology Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Cody J Peer
- Clinical Pharmacology Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jun S Wei
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mirit I Aladjem
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - William Douglas Figg
- Clinical Pharmacology Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Seth M Steinberg
- Biostatistics and Data Management Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jane B Trepel
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Frank T Zenke
- Merck KGaA, Biopharma R&D, Translational Innovation Platform Oncology, Frankfurter Street 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Craig J Thomas
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institute of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA; Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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SLFN11 promotes CDT1 degradation by CUL4 in response to replicative DNA damage, while its absence leads to synthetic lethality with ATR/CHK1 inhibitors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2015654118. [PMID: 33536335 PMCID: PMC8017720 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2015654118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Schlafen-11 (SLFN11) inactivation in ∼50% of cancer cells confers broad chemoresistance. To identify therapeutic targets and underlying molecular mechanisms for overcoming chemoresistance, we performed an unbiased genome-wide RNAi screen in SLFN11-WT and -knockout (KO) cells. We found that inactivation of Ataxia Telangiectasia- and Rad3-related (ATR), CHK1, BRCA2, and RPA1 overcome chemoresistance to camptothecin (CPT) in SLFN11-KO cells. Accordingly, we validate that clinical inhibitors of ATR (M4344 and M6620) and CHK1 (SRA737) resensitize SLFN11-KO cells to topotecan, indotecan, etoposide, cisplatin, and talazoparib. We uncover that ATR inhibition significantly increases mitotic defects along with increased CDT1 phosphorylation, which destabilizes kinetochore-microtubule attachments in SLFN11-KO cells. We also reveal a chemoresistance mechanism by which CDT1 degradation is retarded, eventually inducing replication reactivation under DNA damage in SLFN11-KO cells. In contrast, in SLFN11-expressing cells, SLFN11 promotes the degradation of CDT1 in response to CPT by binding to DDB1 of CUL4CDT2 E3 ubiquitin ligase associated with replication forks. We show that the C terminus and ATPase domain of SLFN11 are required for DDB1 binding and CDT1 degradation. Furthermore, we identify a therapy-relevant ATPase mutant (E669K) of the SLFN11 gene in human TCGA and show that the mutant contributes to chemoresistance and retarded CDT1 degradation. Taken together, our study reveals new chemotherapeutic insights on how targeting the ATR pathway overcomes chemoresistance of SLFN11-deficient cancers. It also demonstrates that SLFN11 irreversibly arrests replication by degrading CDT1 through the DDB1-CUL4CDT2 ubiquitin ligase.
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34
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Barnieh FM, Loadman PM, Falconer RA. Progress towards a clinically-successful ATR inhibitor for cancer therapy. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PHARMACOLOGY AND DRUG DISCOVERY 2021; 2:100017. [PMID: 34909652 PMCID: PMC8663972 DOI: 10.1016/j.crphar.2021.100017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The DNA damage response (DDR) is now known to play an important role in both cancer development and its treatment. Targeting proteins such as ATR (Ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related) kinase, a major regulator of DDR, has demonstrated significant therapeutic potential in cancer treatment, with ATR inhibitors having shown anti-tumour activity not just as monotherapies, but also in potentiating the effects of conventional chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. This review focuses on the biology of ATR, its functional role in cancer development and treatment, and the rationale behind inhibition of this target as a therapeutic approach, including evaluation of the progress and current status of development of potent and specific ATR inhibitors that have emerged in recent decades. The current applications of these inhibitors both in preclinical and clinical studies either as single agents or in combinations with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy are also extensively discussed. This review concludes with some insights into the various concerns raised or observed with ATR inhibition in both the preclinical and clinical settings, with some suggested solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis M. Barnieh
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK
| | - Paul M. Loadman
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK
| | - Robert A. Falconer
- Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK
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35
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Zhao X, Kim IK, Kallakury B, Chahine JJ, Iwama E, Pierobon M, Petricoin E, McCutcheon JN, Zhang YW, Umemura S, Chen V, Wang C, Giaccone G. Acquired small cell lung cancer resistance to Chk1 inhibitors involves Wee1 up-regulation. Mol Oncol 2021; 15:1130-1145. [PMID: 33320980 PMCID: PMC8024728 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Platinum‐based chemotherapy has been the cornerstone treatment for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) for decades, but no major progress has been made in the past 20 years with regard to overcoming chemoresistance. As the cell cycle checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) plays a key role in DNA damage response to chemotherapeutic drugs, we explored the mechanisms of acquired drug resistance to the Chk1 inhibitor prexasertib in SCLC. We established prexasertib resistance in two SCLC cell lines and found that DNA copy number, messengerRNA (mRNA) and protein levels of the cell cycle regulator Wee1 significantly correlate with the level of acquired resistance. Wee1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) or Wee1 inhibitor reversed prexasertib resistance, whereas Wee1 transfection induced prexasertib resistance in parental cells. Reverse phase protein microarray identified up‐regulated proteins in the resistant cell lines that are involved in apoptosis, cell proliferation and cell cycle. Down‐regulation of CDK1 and CDC25C kinases promoted acquired resistance in parental cells, whereas down‐regulation of p38MAPK reversed the resistance. High Wee1 expression was significantly correlated with better prognosis of resected SCLC patients. Our results indicate that Wee1 overexpression plays an important role in acquired resistance to Chk1 inhibition. We also show that bypass activation of the p38MAPK signaling pathway may contribute to acquired resistance to Chk1 inhibition. The combination of Chk1 and Wee1 inhibitors may provide a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoliang Zhao
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, China
| | - In-Kyu Kim
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Surgery, Open NBI Convergence Technology Research Laboratory, Yonsei Cancer Center, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Bhaskar Kallakury
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Joeffrey J Chahine
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Eiji Iwama
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | - Justine N McCutcheon
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Yu-Wen Zhang
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Shigeki Umemura
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Vincent Chen
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Changli Wang
- Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, China
| | - Giuseppe Giaccone
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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Konstantinopoulos PA, Lheureux S, Moore KN. PARP Inhibitors for Ovarian Cancer: Current Indications, Future Combinations, and Novel Assets in Development to Target DNA Damage Repair. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2021; 40:1-16. [PMID: 32364757 DOI: 10.1200/edbk_288015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PARP inhibitors (PARPIs) have revolutionized the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer, first for BRCA-associated cancer, and, recently, for all epithelial cancers of serous or high-grade endometrioid subtypes in the front line. Although there is hope that PARPIs will help prevent recurrences when used following frontline maintenance, cancer will still recur in most women, and the need for active combination strategies as well as continued development of novel assets, either as monotherapy or in combination, will be urgently needed. This review article discusses the current indications for PARPIs in both frontline and recurrent settings, current research in combination approaches, and finally, ongoing research on novel methods to target DNA damage response in an effort to exploit the common susceptibility to DNA damage repair in epithelial ovarian cancer and improve outcomes for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kathleen N Moore
- Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
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Alyateem G, Nilubol N. Current Status and Future Targeted Therapy in Adrenocortical Cancer. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:613248. [PMID: 33732213 PMCID: PMC7957049 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.613248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis. The current treatment standards include complete surgical resection for localized resectable disease and systemic therapy with mitotane alone or in combination with etoposide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin in patients with advanced ACC. However, the efficacy of systemic therapy in ACC is very limited, with high rates of toxicities. The understanding of altered molecular pathways is critically important to identify effective treatment options that currently do not exist. In this review, we discuss the results of recent advanced in molecular profiling of ACC with the focus on dysregulated pathways from various genomic and epigenetic dysregulation. We discuss the potential translational therapeutic implication of molecular alterations. In addition, we review and summarize the results of recent clinical trials and ongoing trials.
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Sundara Rajan S, Ludwig KR, Hall KL, Jones TL, Caplen NJ. Cancer biology functional genomics: From small RNAs to big dreams. Mol Carcinog 2020; 59:1343-1361. [PMID: 33043516 PMCID: PMC7702050 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The year 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the first publications reporting the discovery of the gene silencing mechanism, RNA interference (RNAi) in mammalian cells. Along with the many studies that delineated the proteins and substrates that form the RNAi pathway, this finding changed our understanding of the posttranscriptional regulation of mammalian gene expression. Furthermore, the development of methods that exploited the RNAi pathway began the technological revolution that eventually enabled the interrogation of mammalian gene function-from a single gene to the whole genome-in only a few days. The needs of the cancer research community have driven much of this progress. In this perspective, we highlight milestones in the development and application of RNAi-based methods to study carcinogenesis. We discuss how RNAi-based functional genetic analysis of exemplar tumor suppressors and oncogenes furthered our understanding of cancer initiation and progression and explore how such studies formed the basis of genome-wide scale efforts to identify cancer or cancer-type specific vulnerabilities, including studies conducted in vivo. Furthermore, we examine how RNAi technologies have revealed new cancer-relevant molecular targets and the implications for cancer of the first RNAi-based drugs. Finally, we discuss the future of functional genetic analysis, highlighting the increasing availability of complementary approaches to analyze cancer gene function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumya Sundara Rajan
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics BranchCenter for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIHBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Katelyn R. Ludwig
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics BranchCenter for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIHBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Katherine L. Hall
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics BranchCenter for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIHBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Tamara L. Jones
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics BranchCenter for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIHBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Natasha J. Caplen
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics BranchCenter for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIHBethesdaMarylandUSA
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Beyond Kinases: Targeting Replication Stress Proteins in Cancer Therapy. Trends Cancer 2020; 7:430-446. [PMID: 33203609 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
DNA replication stress describes a state of impaired replication fork progress that triggers a cellular stress response to maintain genome stability and complete DNA synthesis. Replication stress is a common state that must be tolerated in many cancers. One promising therapeutic approach is targeting replication stress response factors such as the ataxia telangiectasia and rad 3-related kinase (ATR) or checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) kinases that some cancers depend upon to survive endogenous replication stress. However, research revealing the complexity of the replication stress response suggests new genetic interactions and candidate therapeutic targets. Many of these candidates regulate DNA transactions around reversed replication forks, including helicases, nucleases and alternative polymerases that promote fork stability and restart. Here we review emerging strategies to exploit replication stress for cancer therapy.
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Botrugno OA, Bianchessi S, Zambroni D, Frenquelli M, Belloni D, Bongiovanni L, Girlanda S, Di Terlizzi S, Ferrarini M, Ferrero E, Ponzoni M, Marcatti M, Tonon G. ATR addiction in multiple myeloma: synthetic lethal approaches exploiting established therapies. Haematologica 2020; 105:2440-2447. [PMID: 33054085 PMCID: PMC7556682 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2018.215210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic strategies designed to tinker with cancer cell DNA damage response have led to the widespread use of PARP inhibitors for BRCA1/2-mutated cancers. In the haematological cancer multiple myeloma, we sought to identify analogous synthetic lethality mechanisms that could be leveraged upon established cancer treatments. The combination of ATR inhibition using the compound VX-970 with a drug eliciting interstrand cross-links, melphalan, was tested in in vitro, ex vivo, and most notably in vivo models. Cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, tumor growth and animal survival were assessed. The combination of ATM inhibition with a drug triggering double strand breaks, doxorucibin, was also probed. We found that ATR inhibition is strongly synergistic with melphalan, even in resistant cells. The combination was dramatically effective in targeting myeloma primary patient cells and cell lines reducing cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. The combination therapy significantly reduced tumor burden and prolonged survival in animal models. Conversely, ATM inhibition only marginally impacted on myeloma cell survival, even in combination with doxorucibin at high doses. These results indicate that myeloma cells extensively rely on ATR, but not on ATM, for DNA repair. Our findings posit that adding an ATR inhibitor such as VX-970 to established therapeutic regimens may provide a remarkably broad benefit to myeloma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oronza A. Botrugno
- Functional Genomics of Cancer Unit, Experimental Oncology Division, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute
| | - Silvia Bianchessi
- Laboratory of Lymphoid Organ Development, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute
| | - Desirée Zambroni
- ALEMBIC, Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy Bio-Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute
| | - Michela Frenquelli
- Functional Genomics of Cancer Unit, Experimental Oncology Division, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute
| | - Daniela Belloni
- B-Cell Neoplasia Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute
| | | | - Stefania Girlanda
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
| | - Simona Di Terlizzi
- FRACTAL, Flow Cytometry Resource Advanced Cytometry Technical Applications Laboratory, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute
| | - Marina Ferrarini
- B-Cell Neoplasia Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute
| | - Elisabetta Ferrero
- B-Cell Neoplasia Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute
| | | | - Magda Marcatti
- Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital
| | - Giovanni Tonon
- Functional Genomics of Cancer Unit, Experimental Oncology Division, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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Cleary JM, Aguirre AJ, Shapiro GI, D'Andrea AD. Biomarker-Guided Development of DNA Repair Inhibitors. Mol Cell 2020; 78:1070-1085. [PMID: 32459988 PMCID: PMC7316088 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.04.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Anti-cancer drugs targeting the DNA damage response (DDR) exploit genetic or functional defects in this pathway through synthetic lethal mechanisms. For example, defects in homologous recombination (HR) repair arise in cancer cells through inherited or acquired mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, or other genes in the Fanconi anemia/BRCA pathway, and these tumors have been shown to be particularly sensitive to inhibitors of the base excision repair (BER) protein poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Recent work has identified additional genomic and functional assays of DNA repair that provide new predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers for these targeted therapies. Here, we examine the development of selective agents targeting DNA repair, including PARP inhibitors; inhibitors of the DNA damage kinases ataxia-telangiectasia and Rad3 related (ATR), CHK1, WEE1, and ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM); and inhibitors of classical non-homologous end joining (cNHEJ) and alternative end joining (Alt EJ). We also review the biomarkers that guide the use of these agents and current clinical trials with these therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Cleary
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Andrew J Aguirre
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Geoffrey I Shapiro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Alan D D'Andrea
- Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Abstract
DNA damage response (DDR) pathway prevents high level endogenous and environmental DNA damage being replicated and passed on to the next generation of cells via an orchestrated and integrated network of cell cycle checkpoint signalling and DNA repair pathways. Depending on the type of damage, and where in the cell cycle it occurs different pathways are involved, with the ATM-CHK2-p53 pathway controlling the G1 checkpoint or ATR-CHK1-Wee1 pathway controlling the S and G2/M checkpoints. Loss of G1 checkpoint control is common in cancer through TP53, ATM mutations, Rb loss or cyclin E overexpression, providing a stronger rationale for targeting the S/G2 checkpoints. This review will focus on the ATM-CHK2-p53-p21 pathway and the ATR-CHK1-WEE1 pathway and ongoing efforts to target these pathways for patient benefit.
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Kurashima K, Kashiwagi H, Shimomura I, Suzuki A, Takeshita F, Mazevet M, Harata M, Yamashita T, Yamamoto Y, Kohno T, Shiotani B. SMARCA4 deficiency-associated heterochromatin induces intrinsic DNA replication stress and susceptibility to ATR inhibition in lung adenocarcinoma. NAR Cancer 2020; 2:zcaa005. [PMID: 34316685 PMCID: PMC8210217 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcaa005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex regulates transcription through the control of chromatin structure and is increasingly thought to play an important role in human cancer. Lung adenocarcinoma (LADC) patients frequently harbor mutations in SMARCA4, a core component of this multisubunit complex. Most of these mutations are loss-of-function mutations, which disrupt critical functions in the regulation of chromatin architecture and can cause DNA replication stress. This study reports that LADC cells deficient in SMARCA4 showed increased DNA replication stress and greater sensitivity to the ATR inhibitor (ATRi) in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, loss of SMARCA4 increased heterochromatin formation, resulting in stalled forks, a typical DNA replication stress. In the absence of SMARCA4, severe ATRi-induced single-stranded DNA, which caused replication catastrophe, was generated on nascent DNA near the reversed forks around heterochromatin in an Mre11-dependent manner. Thus, loss of SMARCA4 confers susceptibility to ATRi, both by increasing heterochromatin-associated replication stress and by allowing Mre11 to destabilize reversed forks. These two mechanisms synergistically increase susceptibility of SMARCA4-deficient LADC cells to ATRi. These results provide a preclinical basis for assessing SMARCA4 defects as a biomarker of ATRi efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiminori Kurashima
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Hideto Kashiwagi
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Iwao Shimomura
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
- Department of Respirology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba-shi, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Ayako Suzuki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba 277-8562, Japan
| | - Fumitaka Takeshita
- Department of Functional Analysis, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Marianne Mazevet
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Masahiko Harata
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai-shi, Miyagi 980-0845, Japan
| | - Takayuki Yamashita
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi-shi, Gunma 371-8512, Japan
| | - Yusuke Yamamoto
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Takashi Kohno
- Division of Genome Biology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Bunsyo Shiotani
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +81 3 3547 5201 (Ext. 3681); Fax: +81 3 3543 9305;
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Yang X, Li Z, Polyakova T, Dejneka A, Zablotskii V, Zhang X. Effect of static magnetic field on DNA synthesis: The interplay between DNA chirality and magnetic field left-right asymmetry. FASEB Bioadv 2020; 2:254-263. [PMID: 32259051 PMCID: PMC7133733 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2019-00045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2019] [Revised: 05/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions between magnetic fields (MFs) and living cells may stimulate a large variety of cellular responses to a MF, while the underlying intracellular mechanisms still remain a great puzzle. On a fundamental level, the MF - cell interaction is affected by the two broken symmetries: (a) left-right (LR) asymmetry of the MF and (b) chirality of DNA molecules carrying electric charges and subjected to the Lorentz force when moving in a MF. Here we report on the chirality-driven effect of static magnetic fields (SMFs) on DNA synthesis. This newly discovered effect reveals how the interplay between two fundamental features of symmetry in living and inanimate nature-DNA chirality and the inherent features of MFs to distinguish the left and right-manifests itself in different DNA synthesis rates in the upward and downward SMFs, consequently resulting in unequal cell proliferation for the two directions of the field. The interplay between DNA chirality and MF LR asymmetry will provide fundamental knowledge for many MF-induced biological phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Yang
- High Magnetic Field LaboratoryKey Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical BiologyHefei Institutes of Physical ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesHefeiChina
- Science Island Branch of Graduate SchoolUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Zhiyuan Li
- High Magnetic Field LaboratoryKey Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical BiologyHefei Institutes of Physical ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesHefeiChina
| | - Tatyana Polyakova
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
| | - Alexandr Dejneka
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
| | - Vitalii Zablotskii
- Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
| | - Xin Zhang
- High Magnetic Field LaboratoryKey Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical BiologyHefei Institutes of Physical ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesHefeiChina
- Science Island Branch of Graduate SchoolUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information TechnologyAnhui UniversityHefeiChina
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Targeting ATR as Cancer Therapy: A new era for synthetic lethality and synergistic combinations? Pharmacol Ther 2020; 207:107450. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2019.107450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Abstract
Pediatric and adolescent renal tumors account for approximately 7% of all new cancer diagnoses in the USA each year. The prognosis and treatment are varied based on factors including the underlying histology and tumor stage, with survival rates ranging from greater than 90% in favorable histology Wilms tumor to almost universally fatal in other disease types, including those patients with advanced stage malignant rhabdoid tumor and renal medullary carcinoma. In recent years, our understanding of the underlying genetic drivers of the different types of pediatric kidney cancer has dramatically increased, opening the door to utilization of new targeted biologic agents alone or in combination with conventional chemotherapy to improve outcomes. Several ongoing clinical trials are investigating the use of a variety of targeted agents in pediatric patients with underlying genetic aberrations. In this manuscript, the underlying biology and early phase clinical trials relevant to pediatric renal cancers are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy L Walz
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | | | - James I Geller
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Gorecki L, Andrs M, Rezacova M, Korabecny J. Discovery of ATR kinase inhibitor berzosertib (VX-970, M6620): Clinical candidate for cancer therapy. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 210:107518. [PMID: 32109490 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chemoresistance, radioresistance, and the challenge of achieving complete resection are major driving forces in the search for more robust and targeted anticancer therapies. Targeting the DNA damage response has recently attracted research interest, as these processes are enhanced in tumour cells. The major replication stress responder is ATM and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase, which is attracting attention worldwide with four drug candidates currently in phase I/II clinical trials. This review addresses a potent and selective small-molecule ATR inhibitor, which is known as VX-970 (also known as berzosertib or M6620), and summarizes the existing preclinical data to provide deep insight regarding its real potential. We also outline the transition from preclinical to clinical studies, as well as its relationships with other clinical candidates (AZD6738, VX-803 [M4344], and BAY1895344). The results suggest that VX-970 is indeed a promising anticancer drug that can be used both as monotherapy and in combination with either chemotherapy or radiotherapy strategies. Based on patient anamnesis and biomarker identification, VX-970 could become a valuable tool for oncologists in the fight against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Gorecki
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Andrs
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; Laboratory of Cancer Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Rezacova
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Simkova 870, 500 38 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Korabecny
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
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Menolfi D, Zha S. ATM, ATR and DNA-PKcs kinases-the lessons from the mouse models: inhibition ≠ deletion. Cell Biosci 2020; 10:8. [PMID: 32015826 PMCID: PMC6990542 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-020-0376-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA damage, especially DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) and replication stress, activates a complex post-translational network termed DNA damage response (DDR). Our review focuses on three PI3-kinase related protein kinases-ATM, ATR and DNA-PKcs, which situate at the apex of the mammalian DDR. They are recruited to and activated at the DNA damage sites by their respective sensor protein complexes-MRE11/RAD50/NBS1 for ATM, RPA/ATRIP for ATR and KU70-KU80/86 (XRCC6/XRCC5) for DNA-PKcs. Upon activation, ATM, ATR and DNA-PKcs phosphorylate a large number of partially overlapping substrates to promote efficient and accurate DNA repair and to coordinate DNA repair with other DNA metabolic events (e.g., transcription, replication and mitosis). At the organism level, robust DDR is critical for normal development, aging, stem cell maintenance and regeneration, and physiological genomic rearrangements in lymphocytes and germ cells. In addition to endogenous damage, oncogene-induced replication stresses and genotoxic chemotherapies also activate DDR. On one hand, DDR factors suppress genomic instability to prevent malignant transformation. On the other hand, targeting DDR enhances the therapeutic effects of anti-cancer chemotherapy, which led to the development of specific kinase inhibitors for ATM, ATR and DNA-PKcs. Using mouse models expressing kinase dead ATM, ATR and DNA-PKcs, an unexpected structural function of these kinases was revealed, where the expression of catalytically inactive kinases causes more genomic instability than the loss of the proteins themselves. The spectrum of genomic instabilities and physiological consequences are unique for each kinase and depends on their activating complexes, suggesting a model in which the catalysis is coupled with DNA/chromatin release and catalytic inhibition leads to the persistence of the kinases at the DNA lesion, which in turn affects repair pathway choice and outcomes. Here we discuss the experimental evidences supporting this mode of action and their implications in the design and use of specific kinase inhibitors for ATM, ATR and DNA-PKcs for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Demis Menolfi
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Shan Zha
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA
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Schoonen PM, Kok YP, Wierenga E, Bakker B, Foijer F, Spierings DCJ, van Vugt MATM. Premature mitotic entry induced by ATR inhibition potentiates olaparib inhibition-mediated genomic instability, inflammatory signaling, and cytotoxicity in BRCA2-deficient cancer cells. Mol Oncol 2019; 13:2422-2440. [PMID: 31529615 PMCID: PMC6822251 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are selectively cytotoxic in cancer cells with defects in homologous recombination (HR) (e.g., due to BRCA1/2 mutations). However, not all HR‐deficient tumors efficiently respond to PARP inhibition and often acquire resistance. It is therefore important to uncover how PARP inhibitors induce cytotoxicity and develop combination strategies to potentiate PARP inhibitor efficacy in HR‐deficient tumors. In this study, we found that forced mitotic entry upon ATR inhibition potentiates cytotoxic effects of PARP inhibition using olaparib in BRCA2‐depleted and Brca2 knockout cancer cell line models. Single DNA fiber analysis showed that ATR inhibition does not exacerbate replication fork degradation. Instead, we find ATR inhibitors accelerate mitotic entry, resulting in the formation of chromatin bridges and lagging chromosomes. Furthermore, using genome‐wide single‐cell sequencing, we show that ATR inhibition enhances genomic instability of olaparib‐treated BRCA2‐depleted cells. Inhibition of CDK1 to delay mitotic entry mitigated mitotic aberrancies and genomic instability upon ATR inhibition, underscoring the role of ATR in coordinating proper cell cycle timing in situations of DNA damage. Additionally, we show that olaparib treatment leads to increased numbers of micronuclei, which is accompanied by a cGAS/STING‐associated inflammatory response in BRCA2‐deficient cells. ATR inhibition further increased the numbers of cGAS‐positive micronuclei and the extent of cytokine production in olaparib‐treated BRCA2‐deficient cancer cells. Altogether, we show that ATR inhibition induces premature mitotic entry and mediates synergistic cytotoxicity with PARP inhibition in HR‐deficient cancer cells, which involves enhanced genomic instability and inflammatory signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pepijn M Schoonen
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Yannick P Kok
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Elles Wierenga
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bjorn Bakker
- European Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Floris Foijer
- European Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Diana C J Spierings
- European Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel A T M van Vugt
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
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Morafraile EC, Hänni C, Allen G, Zeisner T, Clarke C, Johnson MC, Santos MM, Carroll L, Minchell NE, Baxter J, Banks P, Lydall D, Zegerman P. Checkpoint inhibition of origin firing prevents DNA topological stress. Genes Dev 2019; 33:1539-1554. [PMID: 31624083 PMCID: PMC6824463 DOI: 10.1101/gad.328682.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A universal feature of DNA damage and replication stress in eukaryotes is the activation of a checkpoint-kinase response. In S-phase, the checkpoint inhibits replication initiation, yet the function of this global block to origin firing remains unknown. To establish the physiological roles of this arm of the checkpoint, we analyzed separation of function mutants in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that allow global origin firing upon replication stress, despite an otherwise normal checkpoint response. Using genetic screens, we show that lack of the checkpoint-block to origin firing results in a dependence on pathways required for the resolution of topological problems. Failure to inhibit replication initiation indeed causes increased DNA catenation, resulting in DNA damage and chromosome loss. We further show that such topological stress is not only a consequence of a failed checkpoint response but also occurs in an unperturbed S-phase when too many origins fire simultaneously. Together we reveal that the role of limiting the number of replication initiation events is to prevent DNA topological problems, which may be relevant for the treatment of cancer with both topoisomerase and checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther C Morafraile
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom
| | - Christine Hänni
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom
| | - George Allen
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom
| | - Theresa Zeisner
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Clarke
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom
| | - Mark C Johnson
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom
| | - Miguel M Santos
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom
| | - Lauren Carroll
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola E Minchell
- Genome Damage and Stability Centre, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 9RQ, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Baxter
- Genome Damage and Stability Centre, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 9RQ, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Banks
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Dave Lydall
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Zegerman
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge CB2 1QN, United Kingdom
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