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Myrda J, Bremm F, Schaft N, Dörrie J. The Role of the Large T Antigen in the Molecular Pathogenesis of Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:1127. [PMID: 39336718 PMCID: PMC11431464 DOI: 10.3390/genes15091127] [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: 07/29/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The large T antigen (LT) of the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is crucial for Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare but very aggressive form of neuroendocrine skin cancer. The clonal integration of MCPyV DNA into the host genome is a signature event of this malignancy. The resulting expression of oncogenes, including the small T (sT) antigen and a truncated form of the LT (truncLT), directly contribute to carcinogenesis. The truncation of the C-terminus of LT prevents the virus from replicating due to the loss of the origin binding domain (OBD) and the helicase domain. This precludes cytopathic effects that would lead to DNA damage and ultimately cell death. At the same time, the LxCxE motif in the N-terminus is retained, allowing truncLT to bind the retinoblastoma protein (pRb), a cellular tumor suppressor. The continuously inactivated pRb promotes cell proliferation and tumor development. truncLT exerts several classical functions of an oncogene: altering the host cell cycle, suppressing innate immune responses to viral DNA, causing immune escape, and shifting metabolism in favor of cancer cells. Given its central role in MCC, the LT is a major target for therapeutic interventions with novel approaches, such as immune checkpoint inhibition, T cell-based immunotherapy, and cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Myrda
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Franziska Bremm
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Niels Schaft
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jan Dörrie
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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Pedersen EA, Verhaegen ME, Joseph MK, Harms KL, Harms PW. Merkel cell carcinoma: updates in tumor biology, emerging therapies, and preclinical models. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1413793. [PMID: 39136002 PMCID: PMC11317257 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1413793] [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: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma thought to arise via either viral (Merkel cell polyomavirus) or ultraviolet-associated pathways. Surgery and radiotherapy have historically been mainstays of management, and immunotherapy has improved outcomes for advanced disease. However, there remains a lack of effective therapy for those patients who fail to respond to these established approaches, underscoring a critical need to better understand MCC biology for more effective prognosis and treatment. Here, we review the fundamental aspects of MCC biology and the recent advances which have had profound impact on management. The first genetically-engineered mouse models for MCC tumorigenesis provide opportunities to understand the potential MCC cell of origin and may prove useful for preclinical investigation of novel therapeutics. The MCC cell of origin debate has also been advanced by recent observations of MCC arising in association with a clonally related hair follicle tumor or squamous cell carcinoma in situ. These studies also suggested a role for epigenetics in the origin of MCC, highlighting a potential utility for this therapeutic avenue in MCC. These and other therapeutic targets form the basis for a wealth of ongoing clinical trials to improve MCC management. Here, we review these recent advances in the context of the existing literature and implications for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mallory K. Joseph
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Kelly L. Harms
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Paul W. Harms
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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3
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Passerini S, Babini G, Merenda E, Carletti R, Scribano D, Rosa L, Conte AL, Moens U, Ottolenghi L, Romeo U, Conte MP, Di Gioia CRT, Pietropaolo V. Merkel Cell Polyomavirus in the Context of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders. Biomedicines 2024; 12:709. [PMID: 38672065 PMCID: PMC11047982 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040709] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite recent advances in prevention, detection and treatment, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a global health concern, strongly associated with environmental and lifestyle risk factors and infection with oncogenic viruses. Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV), well known to be the causative agent of Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) has been found in OSCC, suggesting its potential role as a co-factor in the development of oral cavity cancers. To improve our understanding about MCPyV in oral cavities, the detection and analysis of MCPyV DNA, transcripts and miRNA were performed on OSCCs and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs). In addition, the cellular miR-375, known to be deregulated in tumors, was examined. MCPyV DNA was found in 3 out of 11 OSCC and 4 out of 12 OPMD samples, with a viral mean value of 1.49 × 102 copies/mL. Viral integration was not observed and LTAg and VP1 transcripts were detected. Viral miRNAs were not detected whereas the cellular miR-375 was found over expressed in all MCPyV positive oral specimens. Our results reported evidence of MCPyV replication in both OSCC and OPMD suggesting the oral cavity as a site of replicative MCPyV infection, therefore underscoring an active role of this virus in the occurrence of oral lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Passerini
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (D.S.); (A.L.C.); (M.P.C.)
| | - Giulia Babini
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (D.S.); (A.L.C.); (M.P.C.)
| | - Elisabetta Merenda
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (E.M.); (R.C.); (C.R.T.D.G.)
| | - Raffaella Carletti
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (E.M.); (R.C.); (C.R.T.D.G.)
| | - Daniela Scribano
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (D.S.); (A.L.C.); (M.P.C.)
| | - Luigi Rosa
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Spallanzani”, 00149 Rome, Italy;
| | - Antonietta Lucia Conte
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (D.S.); (A.L.C.); (M.P.C.)
| | - Ugo Moens
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway;
| | - Livia Ottolenghi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Caserta 6, 00161 Rome, Italy; (L.O.); (U.R.)
| | - Umberto Romeo
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Caserta 6, 00161 Rome, Italy; (L.O.); (U.R.)
| | - Maria Pia Conte
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (D.S.); (A.L.C.); (M.P.C.)
| | - Cira Rosaria Tiziana Di Gioia
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (E.M.); (R.C.); (C.R.T.D.G.)
| | - Valeria Pietropaolo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (D.S.); (A.L.C.); (M.P.C.)
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Catozzi A, Peiris-Pagès M, Humphrey S, Revill M, Morgan D, Roebuck J, Chen Y, Davies-Williams B, Lallo A, Galvin M, Pearce SP, Kerr A, Priest L, Foy V, Carter M, Caeser R, Chan J, Rudin CM, Blackhall F, Frese KK, Dive C, Simpson KL. Functional Characterisation of the ATOH1 Molecular Subtype Indicates a Pro-Metastatic Role in Small Cell Lung Cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.16.580247. [PMID: 38405859 PMCID: PMC10888785 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.16.580247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Molecular subtypes of Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) have been described based on differential expression of transcription factors (TFs) ASCL1, NEUROD1, POU2F3 and immune-related genes. We previously reported an additional subtype based on expression of the neurogenic TF ATOH1 within our SCLC Circulating tumour cell-Derived eXplant (CDX) model biobank. Here we show that ATOH1 protein was detected in 7/81 preclinical models and 16/102 clinical samples of SCLC. In CDX models, ATOH1 directly regulated neurogenesis and differentiation programs consistent with roles in normal tissues. In ex vivo cultures of ATOH1-positive CDX, ATOH1 was required for cell survival. In vivo, ATOH1 depletion slowed tumour growth and suppressed liver metastasis. Our data validate ATOH1 as a bona fide oncogenic driver of SCLC with tumour cell survival and pro-metastatic functions. Further investigation to explore ATOH1 driven vulnerabilities for targeted treatment with predictive biomarkers is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Catozzi
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Peiris-Pagès
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sam Humphrey
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Mitchell Revill
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK National Biomarker Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Derrick Morgan
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK National Biomarker Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jordan Roebuck
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK National Biomarker Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Yitao Chen
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Bethan Davies-Williams
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Alice Lallo
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Melanie Galvin
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK National Biomarker Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Simon P Pearce
- Cancer Research UK National Biomarker Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Alastair Kerr
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK National Biomarker Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Lynsey Priest
- Cancer Research UK National Biomarker Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria Foy
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Mathew Carter
- Cancer Research UK National Biomarker Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Caeser
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Joseph Chan
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Charles M. Rudin
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Fiona Blackhall
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Kristopher K Frese
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK National Biomarker Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Dive
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK National Biomarker Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn L Simpson
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK National Biomarker Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Weber M, Nguyen MB, Li MY, Flora P, Shuda M, Ezhkova E. Merkel Cell Polyomavirus T Antigen-Mediated Reprogramming in Adult Merkel Cell Progenitors. J Invest Dermatol 2023; 143:2163-2176.e6. [PMID: 37257637 PMCID: PMC10592583 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Whether Merkel cells regenerate in adult skin and from which progenitor cells they regenerate are a subject of debate. Understanding Merkel cell regeneration is of interest to the study of Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare neuroendocrine skin cancer hypothesized to originate in a Merkel cell progenitor transformed by Merkel cell polyomavirus small and large T antigens. We sought to understand what the adult Merkel cell progenitors are and whether they can give rise to Merkel cell carcinoma. We used lineage tracing to identify SOX9-expressing cells (SOX9+ cells) as Merkel cell progenitors in postnatal murine skin. Merkel cell regeneration from SOX9+ progenitors occurs rarely in mature skin unless in response to minor mechanical injury. Merkel cell polyomavirus small T antigen and functional imitation of large T antigen in SOX9+ cells enforced neuroendocrine and Merkel cell lineage reprogramming in a subset of cells. These results identify SOX9+ cells as postnatal Merkel cell progenitors that can be reprogrammed by Merkel cell polyomavirus T antigens to express neuroendocrine markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison Weber
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Minh Binh Nguyen
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Meng Yen Li
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Pooja Flora
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Masahiro Shuda
- Cancer Virology Program, Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Elena Ezhkova
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
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Juan HY, Khachemoune A. A review of Merkel cell carcinoma. JAAPA 2023; 36:11-16. [PMID: 37820270 DOI: 10.1097/01.jaa.0000979460.69305.b7] [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: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive type of metastatic, nonmelanoma skin cancer derived from Merkel cells in the epidermis. MCC can be induced by sun exposure or via Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) gene expression. MCV is found in most patients with MCC and is associated with a lower recurrence rate of MCC. MCC has a wide range of clinical presentations that make diagnosis challenging. Histologic examination is performed using unique markers to differentiate it from other diagnoses. This article reviews the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, histopathology, differential diagnosis, and treatment of MCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yu Juan
- At the time this article was written, Hui Yu Juan was a student in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, Va. Amor Khachemoune practices at the Brooklyn (N.Y.) VA Medical Center and SUNY Downstate's Department of Dermatology, also in Brooklyn, N.Y. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise
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Al-Noshokaty TM, Elballal MS, Helal GK, Abulsoud AI, Elshaer SS, El-Husseiny AA, Fathi D, Abdelmaksoud NM, Abdel Mageed SS, Midan HM, Zaki MB, Abd-Elmawla MA, Rizk NI, Elrebehy MA, Zewail MB, Mohammed OA, Doghish AS. miRNAs driving diagnosis, prognosis and progression in Merkel cell carcinoma. Pathol Res Pract 2023; 249:154763. [PMID: 37595447 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive form of skin malignancy with a high recurrence commonly within two to three years of initial diagnosis. The incidence of MCC has nearly doubled in the past few decades. Options for diagnosing, assessing, and treating MCC are limited. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, non-coding RNA molecules that play an important role in controlling many different aspects of cell biology. Many miRNAs are aberrantly expressed in distinct types of cancer, with some serving as tumor suppressors and others as oncomiRs. Therefore, the future holds great promise for the utilization of miRNAs in enhancing diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic approaches for MCC. Accordingly, the goal of this article is to compile, summarize, and discuss the latest research on miRNAs in MCC, highlighting their potential clinical utility as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tohada M Al-Noshokaty
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heliopolis University, Cairo 11785, Egypt
| | - Mohammed S Elballal
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Gouda Kamel Helal
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11231, Egypt; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heliopolis University, Cairo 11785, Egypt
| | - Ahmed I Abulsoud
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heliopolis University, Cairo 11785, Egypt; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City 11231, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Shereen Saeid Elshaer
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heliopolis University, Cairo 11785, Egypt; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo 11823, Egypt
| | - Ahmed A El-Husseiny
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City 11231, Cairo, Egypt; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Egyptian Russian University, Badr City 11829 Cairo, Egypt
| | - Doaa Fathi
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heliopolis University, Cairo 11785, Egypt
| | | | - Sherif S Abdel Mageed
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Heba M Midan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Bakr Zaki
- Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sadat City, Menoufia 32897, Egypt
| | - Mai A Abd-Elmawla
- Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nehal I Rizk
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heliopolis University, Cairo 11785, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud A Elrebehy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Moataz B Zewail
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Osama A Mohammed
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed S Doghish
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City 11231, Cairo, Egypt.
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8
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Celikdemir B, Houben R, Kervarrec T, Samimi M, Schrama D. Current and preclinical treatment options for Merkel cell carcinoma. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2023; 23:1015-1034. [PMID: 37691397 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2023.2257603] [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: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, highly aggressive form of skin cancer with neuroendocrine features. The origin of this cancer is still unclear, but research in the last 15 years has demonstrated that MCC arises via two distinct etiologic pathways, i.e. virus and UV-induced. Considering the high mortality rate and the limited therapeutic options available, this review aims to highlight the significance of MCC research and the need for advancement in MCC treatment. AREAS COVERED With the advent of the immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies, we now have treatment options providing a survival benefit for patients with advanced MCC. However, the issue of primary and acquired resistance to these therapies remains a significant concern. Therefore, ongoing efforts seeking additional therapeutic targets and approaches for MCC therapy are a necessity. Through a comprehensive literature search, we provide an overview on recent preclinical and clinical studies with respect to MCC therapy. EXPERT OPINION Currently, the only evidence-based therapy for MCC is immune checkpoint blockade with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 for advanced patients. Neoadjuvant, adjuvant and combined immune checkpoint blockade are promising treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Büke Celikdemir
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Roland Houben
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thibault Kervarrec
- Department of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Tours, Tours, France
| | - Mahtab Samimi
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France
| | - David Schrama
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Passerini S, Prezioso C, Babini G, Ferlosio A, Cosio T, Campione E, Moens U, Ciotti M, Pietropaolo V. Detection of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) DNA and Transcripts in Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC). Pathogens 2023; 12:894. [PMID: 37513741 PMCID: PMC10385104 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is the etiological agent of the majority of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC): a rare skin tumor. To improve our understanding of the role of MCPyV in MCCs, the detection and analysis of MCPyV DNA and transcripts were performed on primary tumors and regional lymph nodes from two MCC patients: one metastatic and one non-metastatic. MCPyV-DNA was searched by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), followed by the amplification of a Large T Antigen (LTAg), Viral Protein 1 (VP1) and Non-Coding Control Region (NCCR). LTAg and VP1 transcripts were investigated by reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Viral integration was also studied, and full-length LTAg sequencing was performed. qPCR revealed that the primary tumor of both patients and the lymph node of one patient was positive for the small t-antigen, with an average value of 7.0 × 102 copies/µg. The same samples harbored LTAg, NCCR and VP1 DNA. Sequencing results showed truncated LTAg with the conserved retinoblastoma (Rb) protein binding motif and VP1 and NCCR sequences identical to the MCC350 strain. RT-PCR detected LTAg but not VP1 transcripts. The MCPyV genome was integrated into the primary tumor of both patients. The results confirmed the connection between MCPyV and MCC, assuming integration, LTAg truncation and Rb sequestration as key players in MCPyV-mediated oncogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Passerini
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Prezioso
- Laboratory of Microbiology of Chronic-Neurodegenerative Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Babini
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Amedeo Ferlosio
- Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Terenzio Cosio
- Dermatologic Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Campione
- Dermatologic Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Ugo Moens
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø-The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Marco Ciotti
- Virology Unit, Polyclinic Tor Vergata Foundation, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pietropaolo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
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10
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Fazlalipour M, Ghoreshi ZAS, Molaei HR, Arefinia N. The Role of DNA Viruses in Human Cancer. Cancer Inform 2023; 22:11769351231154186. [PMID: 37363356 PMCID: PMC10286548 DOI: 10.1177/11769351231154186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
This review discusses the possible involvement of infections-associated cancers in humans, with virus infections contributing 15% to 20% of total cancer cases in humans. DNA virus encoded proteins interact with host cellular signaling pathways and control proliferation, cell death and genomic integrity viral oncoproteins are known to bind cellular Deubiquitinates (DUBs) such as cyclindromatosis tumor suppressor, ubiquitin-specific proteases 7, 11, 15 and 20, and A-20 to improve their intracellular stability and cellular signaling pathways and finally transformation. Human papillomaviruses (cervical carcinoma, oral cancer and laryngeal cancer); human polyomaviruses (mesotheliomas, brain tumors); Epstein-Barr virus (B-cell lymphoproliferative diseases and nasopharyngeal carcinoma); Kaposi's Sarcoma Herpesvirus (Kaposi's Sarcoma and primary effusion lymphomas); hepatitis B (hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)) cause up to 20% of malignancies around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Fazlalipour
- WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Rabies, Pasteur Institute of Iran (IPI), Tehran, Iran
- Research Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran (IPI), Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Hamid Reza Molaei
- Department of Medical Bacteriology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Nasir Arefinia
- Student Research Committee, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
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11
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Zou W, Imperiale MJ. Regulation of Virus Replication by BK Polyomavirus Small T Antigen. J Virol 2023; 97:e0007723. [PMID: 36916919 PMCID: PMC10062181 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00077-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyomavirus small T antigen (tAg) plays important roles in regulating viral replication, the innate immune response, apoptosis, and transformation for SV40, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), murine polyomavirus (MuPyV), and JC polyomavirus (JCPyV). However, the function of BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) tAg has been much less studied. Here, we constructed mutant viruses that do not express tAg, and we showed that, in contrast with other polyomaviruses, BKPyV tAg inhibits large T antigen (TAg) gene expression and viral DNA replication. However, this occurs only in an archetype viral background. We also observed that the transduction of cells with a lentivirus-expressing BKPyV tAg kills the cells. We further discovered that BKPyV tAg interacts not only with PP2A A and C subunits, as has been demonstrated for other polyomavirus tAg proteins, but also with PP2A B''' subunit members. Knocking down either of two B''' subunits, namely STRN or STRN3, mimics the phenotype of the tAg mutant virus. However, a virus containing a point mutation in the PP2A binding domain of tAg only partially affected virus TAg expression and DNA replication. These results indicate that BKPyV tAg downregulates viral gene expression and DNA replication and that this occurs in part through interactions with PP2A. IMPORTANCE BK polyomavirus is a virus that establishes a lifelong infection of the majority of people. The infection usually does not cause any clinical symptoms, but, in transplant recipients whose immune systems have been suppressed, unchecked virus replication can cause severe disease. In this study, we show that a viral protein called small T antigen is one of the ways that the virus can persist without high levels of replication. Understanding which factors control viral replication enhances our knowledge of the virus life cycle and could lead to potential interventions for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zou
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Michael J. Imperiale
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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12
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Frost TC, Gartin AK, Liu M, Cheng J, Dharaneeswaran H, Keskin DB, Wu CJ, Giobbie-Hurder A, Thakuria M, DeCaprio JA. YAP1 and WWTR1 expression inversely correlates with neuroendocrine markers in Merkel cell carcinoma. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e157171. [PMID: 36719743 PMCID: PMC9974098 DOI: 10.1172/jci157171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundMerkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine (NE) skin cancer caused by severe UV-induced mutations or expression of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) large and small T antigens (LT and ST). Despite deep genetic differences between MCPyV-positive and -negative subtypes, current clinical diagnostic markers are indistinguishable, and the expression profile of MCC tumors is, to our knowledge, unexplored.MethodsHere, we leveraged bulk and single-cell RNA-Seq of patient-derived tumor biopsies and cell lines to explore the underlying transcriptional environment of MCC.ResultsStrikingly, MCC samples could be separated into transcriptional subtypes that were independent of MCPyV status. Instead, we observed an inverse correlation between a NE gene signature and the Hippo pathway transcription factors Yes1-associated transcriptional regulator (YAP1) and WW domain-containing transcriptional regulator 1 (WWTR1). This inverse correlation was broadly present at the transcript and protein levels in the tumor biopsies as well as in established and patient-derived cell lines. Mechanistically, expression of YAP1 or WWTR1 in a MCPyV-positive MCC cell line induced cell-cycle arrest at least in part through TEA domain-dependent (TEAD-dependent) transcriptional repression of MCPyV LT.ConclusionThese findings identify what we believe to be a previously unrecognized heterogeneity in NE gene expression within MCC and support a model of YAP1/WWTR1 silencing as essential for the development of MCPyV-positive MCC.FundingUS Public Health Service grants R35CA232128, P01CA203655, and P30CA06516.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C. Frost
- Program in Virology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology and
| | - Ashley K. Gartin
- Program in Virology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology and
| | - Mofei Liu
- Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jingwei Cheng
- Department of Medical Oncology and
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Harita Dharaneeswaran
- Department of Medical Oncology and
- Merkel Cell Carcinoma Center of Excellence, Dana-Farber/Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Derin B. Keskin
- Department of Medical Oncology and
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Translational Immunogenomics Laboratory, DFCI, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Metropolitan College, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Catherine J. Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology and
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Translational Immunogenomics Laboratory, DFCI, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anita Giobbie-Hurder
- Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Manisha Thakuria
- Merkel Cell Carcinoma Center of Excellence, Dana-Farber/Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James A. DeCaprio
- Program in Virology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology and
- Merkel Cell Carcinoma Center of Excellence, Dana-Farber/Brigham Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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13
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Merkel Cell Polyomavirus: Infection, Genome, Transcripts and Its Role in Development of Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020444. [PMID: 36672392 PMCID: PMC9857234 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The best characterized polyomavirus family member, i.e., simian virus 40 (SV40), can cause different tumors in hamsters and can transform murine and human cells in vitro. Hence, the SV40 contamination of millions of polio vaccine doses administered from 1955-1963 raised fears that this may cause increased tumor incidence in the vaccinated population. This is, however, not the case. Indeed, up to now, the only polyomavirus family member known to be the most important cause of a specific human tumor entity is Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). MCC is a highly deadly form of skin cancer for which the cellular origin is still uncertain, and which appears as two clinically very similar but molecularly highly different variants. While approximately 80% of cases are found to be associated with MCPyV the remaining MCCs carry a high mutational load. Here, we present an overview of the multitude of molecular functions described for the MCPyV encoded oncoproteins and non-coding RNAs, present the available MCC mouse models and discuss the increasing evidence that both, virus-negative and -positive MCC constitute epithelial tumors.
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14
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Mazziotta C, Cervellera CF, Lanzillotti C, Touzé A, Gaboriaud P, Tognon M, Martini F, Rotondo JC. MicroRNA dysregulations in Merkel cell carcinoma: Molecular mechanisms and clinical applications. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28375. [PMID: 36477874 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin malignancy with two distinct etiologies. The first, which accounts for the highest proportion, is caused by Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), a DNA tumor virus. A second, UV-induced, MCC form has also been identified. Few MCC diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic options are available. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules, which play a key role in regulating various physiologic cellular functions including cell cycling, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Numerous miRNAs are dysregulated in cancer, by acting as either tumor suppressors or oncomiRs. The aim of this review is to collect, summarize, and discuss recent findings on miRNAs whose dysregulation has been assumed to play a role in MCC. The potential clinical application of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in MCC is also described. In the future, miRNAs will potentially gain clinical significance for the improvement of MCC diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Mazziotta
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Department of Medical Sciences, Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Carmen Lanzillotti
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Department of Medical Sciences, Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Antoine Touzé
- "Biologie des infections à polyomavirus" Team, UMR INRAE 1282, University of Tours, Tours, France
| | - Pauline Gaboriaud
- "Biologie des infections à polyomavirus" Team, UMR INRAE 1282, University of Tours, Tours, France
| | - Mauro Tognon
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Fernanda Martini
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Department of Medical Sciences, Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - John Charles Rotondo
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Department of Medical Sciences, Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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15
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Loke ASW, Lambert PF, Spurgeon ME. Current In Vitro and In Vivo Models to Study MCPyV-Associated MCC. Viruses 2022; 14:2204. [PMID: 36298759 PMCID: PMC9607385 DOI: 10.3390/v14102204] [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: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is the only human polyomavirus currently known to cause human cancer. MCPyV is believed to be an etiological factor in at least 80% of cases of the rare but aggressive skin malignancy Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). In these MCPyV+ MCC tumors, clonal integration of the viral genome results in the continued expression of two viral proteins: the viral small T antigen (ST) and a truncated form of the viral large T antigen. The oncogenic potential of MCPyV and the functional properties of the viral T antigens that contribute to neoplasia are becoming increasingly well-characterized with the recent development of model systems that recapitulate the biology of MCPyV+ MCC. In this review, we summarize our understanding of MCPyV and its role in MCC, followed by the current state of both in vitro and in vivo model systems used to study MCPyV and its contribution to carcinogenesis. We also highlight the remaining challenges within the field and the major considerations related to the ongoing development of in vitro and in vivo models of MCPyV+ MCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Megan E. Spurgeon
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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16
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Therapeutic Potential of 5'-Methylschweinfurthin G in Merkel Cell Polyomavirus-Positive Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Viruses 2022; 14:v14091848. [PMID: 36146655 PMCID: PMC9506461 DOI: 10.3390/v14091848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but aggressive form of skin cancer predominantly caused by the human Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Treatment for MCC includes excision and radiotherapy of local disease, and chemotherapy or immunotherapy for metastatic disease. The schweinfurthin family of natural compounds previously displayed potent and selective growth inhibitory activity against the NCI-60 panel of human-derived cancer cell lines. Here, we investigated the impact of schweinfurthin on human MCC cell lines. Treatment with the schweinfurthin analog, 5'-methylschweinfurth G (MeSG also known as TTI-3114), impaired metabolic activity through induction of an apoptotic pathway. MeSG also selectively inhibited PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK pathways in the MCPyV-positive MCC cell line, MS-1. Interestingly, expression of the MCPyV small T (sT) oncogene selectively sensitizes mouse embryonic fibroblasts to MeSG. These results suggest that the schweinfurthin family of compounds display promising potential as a novel therapeutic option for virus-induced MCCs.
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17
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Yang JF, You J. Merkel cell polyomavirus and associated Merkel cell carcinoma. Tumour Virus Res 2022; 13:200232. [PMID: 34920178 PMCID: PMC8715208 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvr.2021.200232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is a ubiquitous skin infection that can cause Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a highly lethal form of skin cancer with a nearly 50% mortality rate. Since the discovery of MCPyV in 2008, great advances have been made to improve our understanding of how the viral encoded oncoproteins contribute to MCC oncogenesis. However, our knowledge of the MCPyV infectious life cycle and its oncogenic mechanisms are still incomplete. The incidence of MCC has tripled over the past two decades, but effective treatments are lacking. Only recently have there been major victories in combatting metastatic MCC with the application of PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade. Still, these immune-based therapies are not ideal for patients with a medical need to maintain systemic immune suppression. As such, a better understanding of MCPyV's oncogenic mechanisms is needed in order to develop more effective and targeted therapies against virus-associated MCC. In this review, we discuss current areas of interest for MCPyV and MCC research and the progress made in elucidating both the natural host of MCPyV infection and the cell of origin for MCC. We also highlight the remaining gaps in our knowledge on the transcriptional regulation of MCPyV, which may be key to understanding and targeting viral oncogenesis for developing future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- June F Yang
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6076, USA
| | - Jianxin You
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6076, USA.
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18
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Small DNA tumor viruses and human cancer: Preclinical models of virus infection and disease. Tumour Virus Res 2022; 14:200239. [PMID: 35636683 PMCID: PMC9194455 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvr.2022.200239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Human tumor viruses cause various human cancers that account for at least 15% of the global cancer burden. Among the currently identified human tumor viruses, two are small DNA tumor viruses: human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). The study of small DNA tumor viruses (adenoviruses, polyomaviruses, and papillomaviruses) has facilitated several significant biological discoveries and established some of the first animal models of virus-associated cancers. The development and use of preclinical in vivo models to study HPVs and MCPyV and their role in human cancer is the focus of this review. Important considerations in the design of animal models of small DNA tumor virus infection and disease, including host range, cell tropism, choice of virus isolates, and the ability to recapitulate human disease, are presented. The types of infection-based and transgenic model strategies that are used to study HPVs and MCPyV, including their strengths and limitations, are also discussed. An overview of the current models that exist to study HPV and MCPyV infection and neoplastic disease are highlighted. These comparative models provide valuable platforms to study various aspects of virus-associated human disease and will continue to expand knowledge of human tumor viruses and their relationship with their hosts.
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19
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Spurgeon ME, Cheng J, Ward-Shaw E, Dick FA, DeCaprio JA, Lambert PF. Merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen binding to pRb promotes skin hyperplasia and tumor development. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010551. [PMID: 35560034 PMCID: PMC9132321 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Clear evidence supports a causal link between Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and the highly aggressive human skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Integration of viral DNA into the human genome facilitates continued expression of the MCPyV small tumor (ST) and large tumor (LT) antigens in virus-positive MCCs. In MCC tumors, MCPyV LT is truncated in a manner that renders the virus unable to replicate yet preserves the LXCXE motif that facilitates its binding to and inactivation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (pRb). We previously developed a MCPyV transgenic mouse model in which MCC tumor-derived ST and truncated LT expression were targeted to the stratified epithelium of the skin, causing epithelial hyperplasia, increased proliferation, and spontaneous tumorigenesis. We sought to determine if any of these phenotypes required the association between the truncated MCPyV LT and pRb. Mice were generated in which K14-driven MCPyV ST/LT were expressed in the context of a homozygous RbΔLXCXE knock-in allele that attenuates LT-pRb interactions through LT's LXCXE motif. We found that many of the phenotypes including tumorigenesis that develop in the K14-driven MCPyV transgenic mice were dependent upon LT's LXCXE-dependent interaction with pRb. These findings highlight the importance of the MCPyV LT-pRb interaction in an in vivo model for MCPyV-induced tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E. Spurgeon
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Jingwei Cheng
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Ella Ward-Shaw
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Frederick A. Dick
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Children’s Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- London Regional Cancer Program, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - James A. DeCaprio
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Paul F. Lambert
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
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20
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Merkel cell carcinoma and immune evasion: Merkel cell polyomavirus small T-antigen induced surface changes can be reverted by therapeutic intervention. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 142:3071-3081.e13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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21
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Investigation of the RB1-SOX2 axis constitutes a tool for viral status determination and diagnosis in Merkel cell carcinoma. Virchows Arch 2022; 480:1239-1254. [PMID: 35412101 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-022-03315-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
MCC (Merkel cell carcinoma) is an aggressive neuroendocrine cutaneous neoplasm. Integration of the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is observed in about 80% of the cases, while the remaining 20% are related to UV exposure. Both MCPyV-positive and -negative MCCs-albeit by different mechanisms-are associated with RB1 inactivation leading to overexpression of SOX2, a major contributor to MCC biology. Moreover, although controversial, loss of RB1 expression seems to be restricted to MCPyV-negative cases.The aim of the present study was to assess the performances of RB1 loss and SOX2 expression detected by immunohistochemistry to determine MCPyV status and to diagnose MCC, respectively.Overall, 196 MCC tumors, 233 non-neuroendocrine skin neoplasms and 70 extra-cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC) were included. SOX2 and RB1 expressions were assessed by immunohistochemistry in a tissue micro-array. Diagnostic performances were determined using the likelihood ratio (LHR).RB1 expression loss was evidenced in 27% of the MCC cases, 12% of non-neuroendocrine skin tumors and 63% of extra-cutaneous NEC. Importantly, among MCC cases, RB1 loss was detected in all MCPyV(-) MCCs, while MCPyV( +) cases were consistently RB1-positive (p < 0.001). SOX2 diffuse expression was observed in 92% of the MCC cases and almost never observed in non-neuroendocrine skin epithelial neoplasms (2%, p < 0.0001, LHR + = 59). Furthermore, SOX2 diffuse staining was more frequently observed in MCCs than in extra-cutaneous NECs (30%, p < 0.001, LHR + = 3.1).These results confirm RB1 as a robust predictor of MCC viral status and further suggest SOX2 to be a relevant diagnostic marker of MCC.
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22
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Thibault K. Evidence of an epithelial origin of Merkel cell carcinoma. Mod Pathol 2022; 35:446-448. [PMID: 34732840 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-021-00964-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kervarrec Thibault
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Center of Tours, Tours, France. .,"Biologie des infections à Polyomavirus" team, UMR INRA ISP1282, University of Tours, Tours, France.
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23
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Genomic evidence suggests that cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinomas can arise from squamous dysplastic precursors. Mod Pathol 2022; 35:506-514. [PMID: 34593967 PMCID: PMC8964828 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-021-00928-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma without a known dysplastic precursor. In some cases, MCC is associated with SCCIS in the overlying epidermis; however, the MCC and SCCIS populations display strikingly different morphologies, and thus far a relationship between these components has not been demonstrated. To better understand the relationship between these distinct tumor cell populations, we evaluated 7 pairs of MCC-SCCIS for overlapping genomic alterations by cancer profiling panel. A subset was further characterized by transcriptional profiling and immunohistochemistry. In 6 of 7 MCC-SCCIS pairs there was highly significant mutational overlap including shared TP53 and/or RB1 mutations. In some cases, oncogenic events previously implicated in MCC (MYCL gain, MDM4 gain, HRAS mutation) were detected in both components. Although FBXW7 mutations were enriched in MCC, no gene mutation was unique to the MCC component across all cases. Transcriptome analysis identified 2736 differentially expressed genes between MCC and SCCIS. Genes upregulated in the MCC component included Polycomb repressive complex targets; downregulated transcripts included epidermal markers, and immune genes such as HLA-A. Immunohistochemical studies revealed increased expression of SOX2 in the MCC component, with diminished H3K27Me3, Rb, and HLA-A expression. In summary, MCC-SCCIS pairs demonstrate clonal relatedness. The shift to neuroendocrine phenotype is associated with loss of Rb protein expression, decrease in global H3K27Me3, and increased expression of Merkel cell genes such as SOX2. Our findings suggest an epidermal origin of MCC in this setting, and to our knowledge provide the first molecular evidence that intraepithelial squamous dysplasia may represent a direct precursor for small cell carcinoma.
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24
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Harms PW, Verhaegen ME, Vo JN, Tien JC, Pratt D, Su F, Dhanasekaran SM, Cao X, Mangelberger D, VanGoor J, Choi JE, Ma VT, Dlugosz AA, Chinnaiyan AM. Viral Status Predicts the Patterns of Genome Methylation and Decitabine Response in Merkel Cell Carcinoma. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 142:641-652. [PMID: 34474081 PMCID: PMC8860850 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.07.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma that is classified as Merkel cell polyomavirus-positive (virus positive [VP]) or Merkel cell polyomavirus-negative (virus negative [VN]). Epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, can alter gene expression and influence cancer progression. However, patterns of DNA methylation and the therapeutic efficacy of hypomethylating agents have not been fully explored in MCC. We characterized genome-wide DNA methylation in 16 MCC cell lines from both molecular subclasses in comparison with other cancer types and found that the overall profile of MCC is similar to that of small-cell lung carcinoma. Comparison of VP MCC with VN MCC revealed 2,260 differentially methylated positions. The hypomethylating agent decitabine upregulated the expression of antigen-presenting machinery in MCC cell lines and stimulated membrane expression of HLA-A in VP and VN MCC xenograft tumors. Decitabine also induced prominent caspase- and large T antigen‒independent cell death in VP MCC, whereas VN MCC cell lines displayed decreased proliferation without increased cell death. In mouse xenografts, decitabine significantly decreased the size of VP tumors but not that of VN tumors. Our findings indicate that viral status predicts genomic methylation patterns in MCC and that decitabine may be therapeutically effective against MCC through antiproliferative effects, cell death, and increased immune recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul W. Harms
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | | | - Josh N. Vo
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Jean C. Tien
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Drew Pratt
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Fengyun Su
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Saravana M. Dhanasekaran
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Xuhong Cao
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Doris Mangelberger
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Julia VanGoor
- College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Jae Eun Choi
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Vincent T. Ma
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Andrzej A. Dlugosz
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Arul M. Chinnaiyan
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Corresponding Author: Arul M. Chinnaiyan, M.D., Ph.D., Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, American Cancer Society Professor, S. P. Hicks Endowed Professor of Pathology, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, 1400 E. Medical Center Dr. 5316 CCGC, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0602,
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25
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Temblador A, Topalis D, van den Oord J, Andrei G, Snoeck R. Organotypic Epithelial Raft Cultures as a Three-Dimensional In Vitro Model of Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14041091. [PMID: 35205840 PMCID: PMC8870341 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14041091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare type of skin cancer for which an in vitro model is still lacking. MCC tumorigenesis is associated either with the integration of Merkel cell polyomavirus into the host genome, or with the accumulation of somatic mutations upon chronic exposure to UV light. Transgenic animals expressing the viral oncoproteins, which are constitutively expressed in virus-related MCC, do not fully recapitulate MCC. Although cell-line-derived xenografts have been established for the two subtypes of MCC, they still present certain limitations. Here, we generated organotypic epithelial raft cultures (OERCs) of MCC by using primary human keratinocytes and both virus-positive and virus-negative MCC cell lines. The primary human keratinocytes and the tumor cells were grown on top of a dermal equivalent. Histological and immunohistochemical examination of the rafts confirmed the growth of MCC cells. Furthermore, gene expression analysis revealed differences in the expression profiles of the distinct tumor cells and the keratinocytes at the transcriptional level. In summary, considering the limited availability of patient samples, OERCs of MCC may constitute a suitable model for evaluating the efficacy and selectivity of new drug candidates against MCC; moreover, they are a potential tool to study the oncogenic mechanisms of this malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Temblador
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (A.T.); (D.T.); (R.S.)
| | - Dimitrios Topalis
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (A.T.); (D.T.); (R.S.)
| | - Joost van den Oord
- Laboratory of Translational Cell and Tissue Research, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Graciela Andrei
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (A.T.); (D.T.); (R.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Robert Snoeck
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (A.T.); (D.T.); (R.S.)
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26
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Moens U, Prezioso C, Pietropaolo V. Functional Domains of the Early Proteins and Experimental and Epidemiological Studies Suggest a Role for the Novel Human Polyomaviruses in Cancer. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:834368. [PMID: 35250950 PMCID: PMC8894888 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.834368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As their name indicates, polyomaviruses (PyVs) can induce tumors. Mouse PyV, hamster PyV and raccoon PyV have been shown to cause tumors in their natural host. During the last 30 years, 15 PyVs have been isolated from humans. From these, Merkel cell PyV is classified as a Group 2A carcinogenic pathogen (probably carcinogenic to humans), whereas BKPyV and JCPyV are class 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Although the other PyVs recently detected in humans (referred to here as novel HPyV; nHPyV) share many common features with PyVs, including the viral oncoproteins large tumor antigen and small tumor antigen, as their role in cancer is questioned. This review discusses whether the nHPyVs may play a role in cancer based on predicted and experimentally proven functions of their early proteins in oncogenic processes. The functional domains that mediate the oncogenic properties of early proteins of known PyVs, that can cause cancer in their natural host or animal models, have been well characterized and we examined whether these functional domains are conserved in the early proteins of the nHPyVs and presented experimental evidence that these conserved domains are functional. Furthermore, we reviewed the literature describing the detection of nHPyV in human tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo Moens
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- *Correspondence: Ugo Moens,
| | - Carla Prezioso
- Microbiology of Chronic Neuro-Degenerative Pathologies, IRCSS San Raffaele Roma, Rome, Italy
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Pietropaolo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Valeria Pietropaolo,
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27
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Verhaegen ME, Harms PW, Van Goor JJ, Arche J, Patrick MT, Wilbert D, Zabawa H, Grachtchouk M, Liu CJ, Hu K, Kelly MC, Chen P, Saunders TL, Weidinger S, Syu LJ, Runge JS, Gudjonsson JE, Wong SY, Brownell I, Cieslik M, Udager AM, Chinnaiyan AM, Tsoi LC, Dlugosz AA. Direct cellular reprogramming enables development of viral T antigen-driven Merkel cell carcinoma in mice. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:152069. [PMID: 35143422 PMCID: PMC8970662 DOI: 10.1172/jci152069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer that frequently carries an integrated Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) genome and expresses viral transforming antigens (TAgs). MCC tumor cells also express signature genes detected in skin-resident, postmitotic Merkel cells, including atonal bHLH transcription factor 1 (ATOH1), which is required for Merkel cell development from epidermal progenitors. We now report the use of in vivo cellular reprogramming, using ATOH1, to drive MCC development from murine epidermis. We generated mice that conditionally expressed MCPyV TAgs and ATOH1 in epidermal cells, yielding microscopic collections of proliferating MCC-like cells arising from hair follicles. Immunostaining of these nascent tumors revealed p53 accumulation and apoptosis, and targeted deletion of transformation related protein 53 (Trp53) led to development of gross skin tumors with classic MCC histology and marker expression. Global transcriptome analysis confirmed the close similarity of mouse and human MCCs, and hierarchical clustering showed conserved upregulation of signature genes. Our data establish that expression of MCPyV TAgs in ATOH1-reprogrammed epidermal cells and their neuroendocrine progeny initiates hair follicle–derived MCC tumorigenesis in adult mice. Moreover, progression to full-blown MCC in this model requires loss of p53, mimicking the functional inhibition of p53 reported in human MCPyV-positive MCCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique E Verhaegen
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Paul W Harms
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Julia J Van Goor
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Jacob Arche
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Matthew T Patrick
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Dawn Wilbert
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Haley Zabawa
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Marina Grachtchouk
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Chia-Jen Liu
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Kevin Hu
- Department of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Michael C Kelly
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, United States of America
| | - Ping Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, United States of America
| | - Thomas L Saunders
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Stephan Weidinger
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Li-Jyun Syu
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - John S Runge
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Johann E Gudjonsson
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Sunny Y Wong
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Isaac Brownell
- Dermatology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, United States of America
| | - Marcin Cieslik
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Aaron M Udager
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Arul M Chinnaiyan
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Lam C Tsoi
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Andrzej A Dlugosz
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States of America
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28
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Inhibition of T-antigen expression promoting glycogen synthase kinase 3 impairs merkel cell carcinoma cell growth. Cancer Lett 2022; 524:259-267. [PMID: 34715251 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive skin cancer frequently caused by the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Since proliferation of MCPyV-positive MCC tumor cells strictly depends on expression of the virus-encoded T antigens (TA), these proteins theoretically represent ideal targets for different kinds of therapeutic approaches. Here we developed a cell-based assay to identify compounds which specifically inhibit growth of MCC cells by repressing TA expression. Applying this technique we screened a kinase inhibitor library and identified six compounds targeting glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) such as CHIR99021 as suppressors of TA transcription in MCC cells. Involvement of GSK3α and -β in the regulation of TA-expression was confirmed by combining GSK3A knockout with inducible GSK3B shRNA knockdown since double knockouts could not be generated. Finally, we demonstrate that CHIR99021 exhibits in vivo antitumor activity in an MCC xenograft mouse model suggesting GSK3 inhibitors as potential therapeutics for the treatment of MCC in the future.
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29
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Krump NA, You J. From Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection to Merkel Cell Carcinoma Oncogenesis. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:739695. [PMID: 34566942 PMCID: PMC8457551 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.739695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) infection causes near-ubiquitous, asymptomatic infection in the skin, but occasionally leads to an aggressive skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Epidemiological evidence suggests that poorly controlled MCPyV infection may be a precursor to MCPyV-associated MCC. Clearer understanding of host responses that normally control MCPyV infection could inform prophylactic measures in at-risk groups. Similarly, the presence of MCPyV in most MCCs could imbue them with vulnerabilities that-if better characterized-could yield targeted intervention solutions for metastatic MCC cases. In this review, we discuss recent developments in elucidating the interplay between host cells and MCPyV within the context of viral infection and MCC oncogenesis. We also propose a model in which insufficient restriction of MCPyV infection in aging and chronically UV-damaged skin causes unbridled viral replication that licenses MCC tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jianxin You
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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30
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Sundqvist B, Sihto H, von Willebrand M, Böhling T, Koljonen V. LRIG1 is a positive prognostic marker in Merkel cell carcinoma and Merkel cell carcinoma expresses epithelial stem cell markers. Virchows Arch 2021; 479:1197-1207. [PMID: 34331569 PMCID: PMC8724115 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-021-03158-7] [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: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine malignancy of the skin. The cell of origin of MCC is thus far unknown and proposed cells of origin include Merkel cells, pro-/pre- or pre-B cells, epithelial stem cells, and dermal stem cells. In this study, we aimed to shed further light on the possibility that a subset of MCC tumors arise from epithelial stem cells of the skin by examining the expression of hair follicle and epidermal stem cell markers in MCC and normal human skin. We also aimed to elucidate any correlation between the expression of these markers and tumor Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) status or other clinicopathological characteristics or patient survival. Expression of CK19, SOX9, LGR5, and LRIG1 in MCC and normal human skin was studied by immunohistochemistry, and the staining patterns or intensities were statistically correlated with patient, tumor, MCPyV, and survival parameters. In a cohort of 137 cases of MCC, we observed dot-like immunoexpression of CK19 in 30 cases (22.1%) and homogeneous expression in 103 cases (75.7%). We also observed positive immunoexpression of SOX9 in 21 cases (15.3%), LGR5 in 118 cases (86.1%), and LRIG1 in 117 cases (86.0%). Immunoexpression of LRIG1 was found to correlate with better overall and MCC-specific survival. We observed frequent immunoexpression of several hair follicle and epidermal stem cell markers in MCC and found LRIG1 to be a positive prognostic marker in MCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Sundqvist
- Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 21, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Harri Sihto
- Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 21, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maria von Willebrand
- Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 21, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tom Böhling
- Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 21, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Virve Koljonen
- Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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31
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Dellambra E, Carbone ML, Ricci F, Ricci F, Di Pietro FR, Moretta G, Verkoskaia S, Feudi E, Failla CM, Abeni D, Fania L. Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Biomedicines 2021; 9:718. [PMID: 34201709 PMCID: PMC8301416 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9070718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and extremely aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin, with increasing incidence worldwide. This review intends to propose a comprehensive evaluation of MCC epidemiology, clinical features, pathogenetic mechanisms, diagnosis, and therapies. A section is dedicated to immunological aspects and another to the involvement of angiogenesis and angiogenic growth factors in MCC progression, proposing novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Advanced MCC tumors have been treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors with effective results. Therefore, the state of art of this immunotherapy is also examined, reporting on the most recent clinical trials in the field. We conclude by underlining the achievements in the understanding of MCC pathology and indicating the present needs for effective diagnosis and therapeutic management of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Dellambra
- Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy;
| | - Maria Luigia Carbone
- Experimental Immunology Laboratory, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy; (E.F.); (C.M.F.)
| | | | - Francesco Ricci
- Dermatology Department, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy; (F.R.); (G.M.); (L.F.)
| | | | - Gaia Moretta
- Dermatology Department, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy; (F.R.); (G.M.); (L.F.)
| | - Sofia Verkoskaia
- Oncology Department, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy; (F.R.D.P.); (S.V.)
| | - Elisa Feudi
- Experimental Immunology Laboratory, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy; (E.F.); (C.M.F.)
| | - Cristina M. Failla
- Experimental Immunology Laboratory, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy; (E.F.); (C.M.F.)
| | - Damiano Abeni
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy;
| | - Luca Fania
- Dermatology Department, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy; (F.R.); (G.M.); (L.F.)
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32
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Loke ASW, Longley BJ, Lambert PF, Spurgeon ME. A Novel In Vitro Culture Model System to Study Merkel Cell Polyomavirus-Associated MCC Using Three-Dimensional Organotypic Raft Equivalents of Human Skin. Viruses 2021; 13:138. [PMID: 33478104 PMCID: PMC7835998 DOI: 10.3390/v13010138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is a human polyomavirus causally linked to the development of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), an aggressive malignancy that largely arises within the dermis of the skin. In this study, we recapitulate the histopathology of human MCC tumors in vitro using an organotypic (raft) culture system that is traditionally used to recapitulate the dermal and epidermal equivalents of skin in three dimensions (3D). In the optimal culture condition, MCPyV+ MCC cells were embedded in collagen between the epidermal equivalent comprising human keratinocytes and a dermal equivalent containing fibroblasts, resulting in MCC-like lesions arising within the dermal equivalent. The presence and organization of MCC cells within these dermal lesions were characterized through biomarker analyses. Interestingly, co-culture of MCPyV+ MCC together with keratinocytes specifically within the epidermal equivalent of the raft did not reproduce human MCC morphology, nor were any keratinocytes necessary for MCC-like lesions to develop in the dermal equivalent. This 3D tissue culture system provides a novel in vitro platform for studying the role of MCPyV T antigens in MCC oncogenesis, identifying additional factors involved in this process, and for screening potential MCPyV+ MCC therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda S. W. Loke
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
| | - B. Jack Longley
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
| | - Paul F. Lambert
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
| | - Megan E. Spurgeon
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
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33
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Spurgeon ME, Liem A, Buehler D, Cheng J, DeCaprio JA, Lambert PF. The Merkel Cell Polyomavirus T Antigens Function as Tumor Promoters in Murine Skin. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13020222. [PMID: 33435392 PMCID: PMC7827793 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Merkel cell polyomavirus, a recently discovered human virus, is linked to the development of a rare form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma. The virus does not replicate in cancer cells, yet there is continued expression of viral proteins known as T antigens. The T antigens are believed to contribute to Merkel cell carcinoma development, yet how they do so remains an active area of research. In this study, we used transgenic mice expressing the viral T antigens in their skin to determine at which stage of skin cancer development these viral proteins function. We discovered that the Merkel cell polyomavirus T antigens function as tumor promoters, rather than tumor initiators, in the skin. These findings suggest that other tumor-initiating events may cooperate with the tumor-promoting activities of the viral T antigens, thus providing important insight into how Merkel cell polyomavirus can cause cancer in human skin. Abstract Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) causes the majority of human Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC), a rare but highly aggressive form of skin cancer. We recently reported that constitutive expression of MCC tumor-derived MCPyV tumor (T) antigens in the skin of transgenic mice leads to hyperplasia, increased proliferation, and spontaneous epithelial tumor development. We sought to evaluate how the MCPyV T antigens contribute to tumor formation in vivo using a classical, multi-stage model for squamous cell carcinoma development. In this model, two chemical carcinogens, DMBA and TPA, contribute to two distinct phases of carcinogenesis—initiation and promotion, respectively—that are required for tumors to develop. By treating the MCPyV transgenic mice with each chemical carcinogen, we determined how the viral oncogenes contributed to carcinogenesis. We observed that the MCPyV T antigens synergized with the tumor initiator DMBA, but not with the tumor promoter TPA, cause tumors. Therefore, the MCPyV tumor antigens function primarily as tumor promoters, similar to that seen with human papillomavirus (HPV) oncoproteins. These studies provide insight into the role of MCPyV T antigen expression in tumor formation in vivo and contribute to our understanding of how MCPyV may function as a human DNA tumor virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E. Spurgeon
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
- Correspondence: (M.E.S.); (P.F.L.)
| | - Amy Liem
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
| | - Darya Buehler
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
| | - Jingwei Cheng
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA;
| | - James A. DeCaprio
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA;
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Paul F. Lambert
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
- Correspondence: (M.E.S.); (P.F.L.)
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Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is the most recently discovered human oncogenic virus. MCPyV asymptomatically infects most of the human population. In the elderly and immunocompromised, however, it can cause a highly lethal form of human skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Distinct from the productive MCPyV infection that replicates the viral genome as episomes, MCC tumors contain replication-incompetent, integrated viral genomes. Mutant MCPyV tumor antigen genes expressed from the integrated viral genomes are essential for driving the oncogenic development of MCPyV-associated MCC. In this chapter, we summarize recent discoveries on MCPyV virology, mechanisms of MCPyV-mediated oncogenesis, and the current therapeutic strategies for MCPyV-associated MCCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jianxin You
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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DeCaprio JA. Molecular Pathogenesis of Merkel Cell Carcinoma. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY-MECHANISMS OF DISEASE 2020; 16:69-91. [PMID: 33228463 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-012419-032817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin with two distinct etiologies. Clonal integration of Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA into the tumor genome with persistent expression of viral T antigens causes at least 60% of all MCC. UV damage leading to highly mutated genomes causes a nonviral form of MCC. Despite these distinct etiologies, both forms of MCC are similar in presentation, prognosis, and response to therapy. At least three oncogenic transcriptional programs feature prominently in both forms of MCC driven by the virus or by mutation. Both forms of MCC have a high proliferative growth rate with increased levels of cell cycle-dependent genes due to inactivation of the tumor suppressors RB and p53, a strong MYC signature due to MYCL activation by the virus or gene amplification, and an attenuated neuroendocrine differentiation program driven by the ATOH1 transcription factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A DeCaprio
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA; .,Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Large T Antigen is Dispensable in G2 and M-Phase to Promote Proliferation of Merkel Cell Carcinoma Cells. Viruses 2020; 12:v12101162. [PMID: 33066686 PMCID: PMC7602435 DOI: 10.3390/v12101162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin cancer frequently caused by the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), and proliferation of MCPyV-positive MCC tumor cells depends on the expression of a virus-encoded truncated Large T antigen (LT) oncoprotein. Here, we asked in which phases of the cell cycle LT activity is required for MCC cell proliferation. Hence, we generated fusion-proteins of MCPyV-LT and parts of geminin (GMMN) or chromatin licensing and DNA replication factor1 (CDT1). This allowed us to ectopically express an LT, which is degraded either in the G1 or G2 phase of the cell cycle, respectively, in MCC cells with inducible T antigen knockdown. We demonstrate that LT expressed only in G1 is capable of rescuing LT knockdown-induced growth suppression while LT expressed in S and G2/M phases fails to support proliferation of MCC cells. These results suggest that the crucial function of LT, which has been demonstrated to be inactivation of the cellular Retinoblastoma protein 1 (RB1) is only required to initiate S phase entry.
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Nikolouzakis TK, Falzone L, Lasithiotakis K, Krüger-Krasagakis S, Kalogeraki A, Sifaki M, Spandidos DA, Chrysos E, Tsatsakis A, Tsiaoussis J. Current and Future Trends in Molecular Biomarkers for Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Predictive Purposes in Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer. J Clin Med 2020; 9:E2868. [PMID: 32899768 PMCID: PMC7564050 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9092868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Skin cancer represents the most common type of cancer among Caucasians and presents in two main forms: melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). NMSC is an umbrella term, under which basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) are found along with the pre-neoplastic lesions, Bowen disease (BD) and actinic keratosis (AK). Due to the mild nature of the majority of NMSC cases, research regarding their biology has attracted much less attention. Nonetheless, NMSC can bear unfavorable characteristics for the patient, such as invasiveness, local recurrence and distant metastases. In addition, late diagnosis is relatively common for a number of cases of NMSC due to the inability to recognize such cases. Recognizing the need for clinically and economically efficient modes of diagnosis, staging, and prognosis, the present review discusses the main etiological and pathological features of NMSC as well as the new and promising molecular biomarkers available including telomere length (TL), telomerase activity (TA), CpG island methylation (CIM), histone methylation and acetylation, microRNAs (miRNAs), and micronuclei frequency (MNf). The evaluation of all these aspects is important for the correct management of NMSC; therefore, the current review aims to assist future studies interested in exploring the diagnostic and prognostic potential of molecular biomarkers for these entities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taxiarchis Konstantinos Nikolouzakis
- Laboratory of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71110 Heraklion, Crete, Greece;
- Department of General Surgery, University General Hospital of Heraklion, 71110 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (K.L.); (E.C.)
| | - Luca Falzone
- Epidemiology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori ‘Fondazione G. Pascale’, I-80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Konstantinos Lasithiotakis
- Department of General Surgery, University General Hospital of Heraklion, 71110 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (K.L.); (E.C.)
| | | | - Alexandra Kalogeraki
- Department of Pathology-Cytopathology, Medical School, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece;
| | - Maria Sifaki
- Centre of Toxicology Science and Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece;
| | - Demetrios A. Spandidos
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece;
| | - Emmanuel Chrysos
- Department of General Surgery, University General Hospital of Heraklion, 71110 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (K.L.); (E.C.)
| | - Aristidis Tsatsakis
- Centre of Toxicology Science and Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece;
| | - John Tsiaoussis
- Laboratory of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Medical School, University of Crete, 71110 Heraklion, Crete, Greece;
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Czech-Sioli M, Günther T, Therre M, Spohn M, Indenbirken D, Theiss J, Riethdorf S, Qi M, Alawi M, Wülbeck C, Fernandez-Cuesta I, Esmek F, Becker JC, Grundhoff A, Fischer N. High-resolution analysis of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus in Merkel Cell Carcinoma reveals distinct integration patterns and suggests NHEJ and MMBIR as underlying mechanisms. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008562. [PMID: 32833988 PMCID: PMC7470373 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV) is the etiological agent of the majority of Merkel Cell Carcinomas (MCC). MCPyV positive MCCs harbor integrated, defective viral genomes that constitutively express viral oncogenes. Which molecular mechanisms promote viral integration, if distinct integration patterns exist, and if integration occurs preferentially at loci with specific chromatin states is unknown. We here combined short and long-read (nanopore) next-generation sequencing and present the first high-resolution analysis of integration site structure in MCC cell lines as well as primary tumor material. We find two main types of integration site structure: Linear patterns with chromosomal breakpoints that map closely together, and complex integration loci that exhibit local amplification of genomic sequences flanking the viral DNA. Sequence analysis suggests that linear patterns are produced during viral replication by integration of defective/linear genomes into host DNA double strand breaks via non-homologous end joining, NHEJ. In contrast, our data strongly suggest that complex integration patterns are mediated by microhomology-mediated break-induced replication, MMBIR. Furthermore, we show by ChIP-Seq and RNA-Seq analysis that MCPyV preferably integrates in open chromatin and provide evidence that viral oncogene expression is driven by the viral promoter region, rather than transcription from juxtaposed host promoters. Taken together, our data explain the characteristics of MCPyV integration and may also provide a model for integration of other oncogenic DNA viruses such as papillomaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manja Czech-Sioli
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Günther
- Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marlin Therre
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Spohn
- Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daniela Indenbirken
- Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Juliane Theiss
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sabine Riethdorf
- Institute of Tumorbiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Minyue Qi
- Bioinformatics Core, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Malik Alawi
- Bioinformatics Core, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Corinna Wülbeck
- Translational skin cancer research, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Irene Fernandez-Cuesta
- Institute of Nanostructure- and Solid State Physics (INF), Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN), University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Franziska Esmek
- Institute of Nanostructure- and Solid State Physics (INF), Center for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN), University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen C. Becker
- Translational skin cancer research, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Adam Grundhoff
- Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (AG); (NF)
| | - Nicole Fischer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (AG); (NF)
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Kervarrec T, Samimi M, Hesbacher S, Berthon P, Wobser M, Sallot A, Sarma B, Schweinitzer S, Gandon T, Destrieux C, Pasqualin C, Guyétant S, Touzé A, Houben R, Schrama D. Merkel Cell Polyomavirus T Antigens Induce Merkel Cell-Like Differentiation in GLI1-Expressing Epithelial Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12071989. [PMID: 32708246 PMCID: PMC7409360 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin cancer frequently caused by the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). It is still under discussion, in which cells viral integration and MCC development occurs. Recently, we demonstrated that a virus-positive MCC derived from a trichoblastoma, an epithelial neoplasia bearing Merkel cell (MC) differentiation potential. Accordingly, we hypothesized that MC progenitors may represent an origin of MCPyV-positive MCC. To sustain this hypothesis, phenotypic comparison of trichoblastomas and physiologic human MC progenitors was conducted revealing GLI family zinc finger 1 (GLI1), Keratin 17 (KRT 17), and SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9) expressions in both subsets. Furthermore, GLI1 expression in keratinocytes induced transcription of the MC marker SOX2 supporting a role of GLI1 in human MC differentiation. To assess a possible contribution of the MCPyV T antigens (TA) to the development of an MC-like phenotype, human keratinocytes were transduced with TA. While this led only to induction of KRT8, an early MC marker, combined GLI1 and TA expression gave rise to a more advanced MC phenotype with SOX2, KRT8, and KRT20 expression. Finally, we demonstrated MCPyV-large T antigens’ capacity to inhibit the degradation of the MC master regulator Atonal bHLH transcription factor 1 (ATOH1). In conclusion, our report suggests that MCPyV TA contribute to the acquisition of an MC-like phenotype in epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibault Kervarrec
- Department of Pathology, Université de Tours, CHU de Tours, Avenue de la République, 37170 Chambray-les-Tours, France;
- “Biologie des Infections à Polyomavirus” Team, UMR INRA ISP 1282, Université de Tours, 31 Avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France; (M.S.); (P.B.); (T.G.); (A.T.)
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (S.H.); (M.W.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (R.H.); (D.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Mahtab Samimi
- “Biologie des Infections à Polyomavirus” Team, UMR INRA ISP 1282, Université de Tours, 31 Avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France; (M.S.); (P.B.); (T.G.); (A.T.)
- Dermatology Department, Université de Tours, CHU de Tours, Avenue de la République, 37170 Chambray-les-Tours, France
| | - Sonja Hesbacher
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (S.H.); (M.W.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (R.H.); (D.S.)
| | - Patricia Berthon
- “Biologie des Infections à Polyomavirus” Team, UMR INRA ISP 1282, Université de Tours, 31 Avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France; (M.S.); (P.B.); (T.G.); (A.T.)
| | - Marion Wobser
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (S.H.); (M.W.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (R.H.); (D.S.)
| | - Aurélie Sallot
- Plastic Surgery Department, Université de Tours, CHU de Tours, Avenue de la République, 37170 Chambray-les-Tours, France;
| | - Bhavishya Sarma
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (S.H.); (M.W.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (R.H.); (D.S.)
| | - Sophie Schweinitzer
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (S.H.); (M.W.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (R.H.); (D.S.)
| | - Théo Gandon
- “Biologie des Infections à Polyomavirus” Team, UMR INRA ISP 1282, Université de Tours, 31 Avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France; (M.S.); (P.B.); (T.G.); (A.T.)
| | - Christophe Destrieux
- Neurosurgery Department, UMR 1253, i Brain, Université De Tours, CHU de Tours, Boulevard Tonnelé, 37044 Tours, France;
| | - Côme Pasqualin
- CNRS ERL 7368, Signalisation et Transports Ioniques Membranaires, Equipe Transferts Ioniques et Rythmicité Cardiaque, Groupe Physiologie des Cellules Cardiaques et Vasculaires, Université de Tours, 31 Avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France;
| | - Serge Guyétant
- Department of Pathology, Université de Tours, CHU de Tours, Avenue de la République, 37170 Chambray-les-Tours, France;
- “Biologie des Infections à Polyomavirus” Team, UMR INRA ISP 1282, Université de Tours, 31 Avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France; (M.S.); (P.B.); (T.G.); (A.T.)
| | - Antoine Touzé
- “Biologie des Infections à Polyomavirus” Team, UMR INRA ISP 1282, Université de Tours, 31 Avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France; (M.S.); (P.B.); (T.G.); (A.T.)
| | - Roland Houben
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (S.H.); (M.W.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (R.H.); (D.S.)
| | - David Schrama
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (S.H.); (M.W.); (B.S.); (S.S.); (R.H.); (D.S.)
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Pietropaolo V, Prezioso C, Moens U. Merkel Cell Polyomavirus and Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1774. [PMID: 32635198 PMCID: PMC7407210 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses are the cause of approximately 15% of all human cancers. Both RNA and DNA human tumor viruses have been identified, with Merkel cell polyomavirus being the most recent one to be linked to cancer. This virus is associated with about 80% of Merkel cell carcinomas, a rare, but aggressive cutaneous malignancy. Despite its name, the cells of origin of this tumor may not be Merkel cells. This review provides an update on the structure and life cycle, cell tropism and epidemiology of the virus and its oncogenic properties. Putative strategies to prevent viral infection or treat virus-positive Merkel cell carcinoma patients are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Pietropaolo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (V.P.); (C.P.)
| | - Carla Prezioso
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, “Sapienza” University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (V.P.); (C.P.)
- IRCSS San Raffaele Pisana, Microbiology of Chronic Neuro-Degenerative Pathologies, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Ugo Moens
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø—The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
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41
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Abstract
Viral infection underlies a significant share of the global cancer burden. Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is the newest member of the human oncogenic virus family. Its discovery over a decade ago marked the beginning of an exciting era in human tumor virology. Since then, significant evidence has emerged to support the etiologic role of MCPyV in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), an extremely lethal form of skin cancer. MCPyV infection is widespread in the general population. MCC diagnoses have tripled over the past 20 years, but effective treatments are currently lacking. In this review, we highlight recent discoveries that have shaped our understanding of MCPyV oncogenic mechanism and host cellular tropism, as well as the molecular events occurring in the viral infectious life cycle. These insights will guide future efforts in developing novel virus-targeted therapeutic strategies for treating the devastating human cancers associated with this new tumorigenic virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6076, USA;
| | - Jianxin You
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6076, USA;
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42
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Surface charge of Merkel cell polyomavirus small T antigen determines cell transformation through allosteric FBW7 WD40 domain targeting. Oncogenesis 2020; 9:53. [PMID: 32427880 PMCID: PMC7237485 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-020-0235-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) small T (sT) is the main oncoprotein in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) development. A unique domain of sT, LT stabilization domain (LSD), has been reported to bind and inactivate multiple SCF (Skp1-Cullin-F-box) E3 ligases. These interactions impede the turnover of MCV large T (LT) antigen and cellular oncoproteins such as c-Myc and cyclin E, thereby promoting viral replication and cell transformation. However, it is currently unclear how this LSD region contributes to multiple transforming activities of sT. Structural docking simulation of sT and F-box and WD repeat domain-containing 7 (FBW7) revealed a novel allosteric interaction between sT and FBW7 WD40 domain. This model is supported by experimental evidence confirming that charge engineering in the LSD alters sT-WD40 binding. Specifically, loss of net positive charge in the LSD prevents sT-FBW7 binding by abrogating the electrostatic interaction, thus impeding inhibition of FBW7 by sT. Furthermore, positively charged mutations in the LSD significantly restored the sT function and its ability to transform rodent fibroblast cells. We infer that the surface charge of sT is a major determinant for targeting E3 ligases, which leads to sT-induced cell transformation, an observation that could be used to develop targeted therapeutics for MCC.
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43
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Boyer M, Cayrefourcq L, Dereure O, Meunier L, Becquart O, Alix-Panabières C. Clinical Relevance of Liquid Biopsy in Melanoma and Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12040960. [PMID: 32295074 PMCID: PMC7226137 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12040960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma are two aggressive skin malignancies with high disease-related mortality and increasing incidence rates. Currently, invasive tumor tissue biopsy is the gold standard for their diagnosis, and no reliable easily accessible biomarker is available to monitor patients with melanoma or Merkel cell carcinoma during the disease course. In these last years, liquid biopsy has emerged as a candidate approach to overcome this limit and to identify biomarkers for early cancer diagnosis, prognosis, therapeutic response prediction, and patient follow-up. Liquid biopsy is a blood-based non-invasive procedure that allows the sequential analysis of circulating tumor cells, circulating cell-free and tumor DNA, and extracellular vesicles. These innovative biosources show similar features as the primary tumor from where they originated and represent an alternative to invasive solid tumor biopsy. In this review, the biology and technical challenges linked to the detection and analysis of the different circulating candidate biomarkers for melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma are discussed as well as their clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magali Boyer
- Laboratory of Rare Human Circulating Cells, University Medical Centre of Montpellier, 34093 Montpellier, France; (M.B.); (L.C.)
| | - Laure Cayrefourcq
- Laboratory of Rare Human Circulating Cells, University Medical Centre of Montpellier, 34093 Montpellier, France; (M.B.); (L.C.)
| | - Olivier Dereure
- Department of Dermatology and INSERM 1058 Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections, University of Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France;
| | - Laurent Meunier
- Department of Dermatology, University of Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France; (L.M.); (O.B.)
| | - Ondine Becquart
- Department of Dermatology, University of Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France; (L.M.); (O.B.)
| | - Catherine Alix-Panabières
- Laboratory of Rare Human Circulating Cells, University Medical Centre of Montpellier, 34093 Montpellier, France; (M.B.); (L.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-4-1175-99-31; Fax: +33-4-1175-99-33
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44
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Kumar S, Xie H, Shi H, Gao J, Juhlin CC, Björnhagen V, Höög A, Lee L, Larsson C, Lui W. Merkel cell polyomavirus oncoproteins induce microRNAs that suppress multiple autophagy genes. Int J Cancer 2020; 146:1652-1666. [PMID: 31180579 PMCID: PMC7003823 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Viruses can inhibit host autophagy through multiple mechanisms, and evasion of autophagy plays an important role in immune suppression and viral oncogenesis. Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) T-antigens are expressed and involved in the pathogenesis of a large proportion of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Yet, how MCPyV induces tumorigenesis is not fully understood. Herein, we show that MCPyV T-antigens induce miR-375, miR-30a-3p and miR-30a-5p expressions, which target multiple key genes involved in autophagy, including ATG7, SQSTM1 (p62) and BECN1. In MCC tumors, low expression of ATG7 and p62 are associated with MCPyV-positive tumors. Ectopic expression of MCPyV small T-antigen and truncated large T-antigen (LT), but not the wild-type LT, resulted in autophagy suppression, suggesting the importance of autophagy evasion in MCPyV-mediated tumorigenesis. Torin-1 treatment induced cell death, which was attenuated by autophagy inhibitor, but not pan-caspase inhibitor, suggesting a potential role of autophagy in promoting cell death in MCC. Conceptually, our study shows that MCPyV oncoproteins suppress autophagy to protect cancer cells from cell death, which contribute to a better understanding of MCPyV-mediated tumorigenesis and potential MCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satendra Kumar
- Department of Oncology‐PathologyKarolinska Institutet; Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Hong Xie
- Department of Oncology‐PathologyKarolinska Institutet; Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
- Tianjin Life Science Research Center and Department of Pathogen BiologySchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Hao Shi
- Department of Oncology‐PathologyKarolinska Institutet; Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Jiwei Gao
- Department of Oncology‐PathologyKarolinska Institutet; Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Carl Christofer Juhlin
- Department of Oncology‐PathologyKarolinska Institutet; Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
- Department of Clinical Pathology and CytologyKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Viveca Björnhagen
- Department of Reconstructive Plastic SurgeryKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Anders Höög
- Department of Oncology‐PathologyKarolinska Institutet; Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
- Department of Clinical Pathology and CytologyKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Linkiat Lee
- Department of Oncology‐PathologyKarolinska Institutet; Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Catharina Larsson
- Department of Oncology‐PathologyKarolinska Institutet; Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
- Department of Clinical Pathology and CytologyKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Weng‐Onn Lui
- Department of Oncology‐PathologyKarolinska Institutet; Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rapidly progressing skin cancer, has poor prognosis. We reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of MCC, with a focus on recent therapeutic advancements. RECENT FINDINGS Risk factors for MCC, such as old age, immunosuppression, polyomavirus infection and exposure to UV radiation have already been identified, but the underlying mechanisms leading to carcinogenesis still need clarification. On the basis of recent advances, immunotherapy - in particular, inhibition targeting the programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD1)/PDL1) immune checkpoint blockade - is currently being investigated in the treatment of metastatic MCC. Avelumab, an anti-PDL1 antibody, was the first drug to be approved internationally as second-line monotherapy for patients with advanced MCC, based on results from the JAVELIN Merkel 200 clinical trial. Avelumab has also recently been approved as first-line treatment for advanced MCC in Europe. Pembrolizumab (anti-PD1) in first-line and nivolumab (anti-PD1) in first-line and second-line treatments are two other checkpoint inhibitors that are under investigation, and showing promising results. New innovative therapies are also in development. SUMMARY New insights concerning advances in MCC diagnosis and treatment have been highlighted. Immunotherapy for metastatic MCC constitutes a recent breakthrough in an unmet medical need, but alternative therapies should continue to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Véronique Del Marmol
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Hopital Erasme-Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Celeste Lebbé
- APHP, Department of Dermatology, Saint-Louis Hospital, Sorbonne Paris Cité Université, Paris Diderot, INSERM U976, Paris, France
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The Ubiquitin-Specific Protease Usp7, a Novel Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Large T-Antigen Interaction Partner, Modulates Viral DNA Replication. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.01638-19. [PMID: 31801860 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01638-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is the major cause for Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare but highly aggressive skin cancer predominantly found in elderly and immunosuppressed patients. The early viral gene products large T-antigen (LT) and small T-antigen (sT) are important for efficient viral DNA replication, and both contribute to transformation processes. These functions are executed mainly through interactions with host factors. Here, we identify the cellular ubiquitin-specific processing protease 7 (Usp7) as a new interaction partner of the MCPyV LT. Using glutathione S-transferase pulldown experiments, we show that MCPyV LT directly binds to Usp7 and that N- as well as C-terminal regions of LT bind to the TRAF (tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated) domain of Usp7. We demonstrate that endogenous Usp7 coprecipitates with MCPyV T-antigens and relocalizes to viral DNA replication centers in cells actively replicating MCPyV genomes. We show that Usp7 does not alter ubiquitination levels of the T-antigens; however, Usp7 binding increases the binding affinity of LT to the origin of replication, thereby negatively regulating viral DNA replication. Together, these data identify Usp7 as a restriction factor of MCPyV replication. In contrast to other DNA viruses, Usp7 does not affect MCPyV gene expression via its ubiquitination activity but influences MCPyV DNA replication solely via a novel mechanism that modulates binding of LT to viral DNA.IMPORTANCE MCPyV is the only human polyomavirus that is associated with cancer; the majority of Merkel cell cancers have a viral etiology. While much emphasis was placed on investigations to understand the transformation process by MCPyV oncoproteins and cellular factors, we have only limited knowledge of cellular factors participating in the MCPyV life cycle. Here, we describe Usp7, a cellular deubiquitination enzyme, as a new factor involved in MCPyV replication. Usp7 is known in the context of large DNA tumor viruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus, to restrict viral replication. Similar to EBV, where Usp7 binding to EBNA1 increases EBNA1 binding affinity to viral DNA, we find MCPyV LT binding to the origin of replication to be increased in the presence of Usp7, resulting in restriction of viral DNA replication. However, Usp7-induced restriction of MCPyV replication is independent of its enzymatic activity, thereby constituting a novel mechanism of Usp7-induced restriction of viral replication.
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Cells to Surgery Quiz: February 2020. J Invest Dermatol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2019.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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48
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Circulating Tumor Cell Detection and Polyomavirus Status in Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1612. [PMID: 32005907 PMCID: PMC6994658 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58572-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare and highly metastatic skin malignancy, has sharply increased in the last decade. Clinical biomarkers are urgently needed for MCC prognosis, treatment response monitoring, and early diagnosis of relapse. The clinical interest of circulating tumors cells (CTCs) has been validated in many solid cancers. The aim of this study was to compare CTC detection and characterization in blood samples of patients with MCC using the CellSearch System and the RosetteSep -DEPArray workflow, an innovative procedure to enrich, detect and isolate single CTCs. In preliminary experiments (using spiked MCC cell lines) both methods allowed detecting very few MCC cells. In blood samples from 19 patients with MCC at different stages, CellSearch detected MCC CTCs in 26% of patients, and the R-D workflow in 42% of patients. The detection of CTC-positive patients increased to 52% by the cumulative positivity rate of both methodologies. Moreover, Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA, involved in MCC oncogenesis, was detected in tumor biopsies, but not in all single CTCs from the same patient, reflecting the tumor heterogeneity. Our data demonstrate the possibility to detect, isolate and characterize CTCs in patients with MCC using two complementary approaches.
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Tahseen D, Rady PL, Tyring SK. Human polyomavirus modulation of the host DNA damage response. Virus Genes 2020; 56:128-135. [PMID: 31997082 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-020-01736-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The human DNA damage response (DDR) is a complex signaling network constituting many factors responsible for the preservation of genomic integrity. Human polyomaviruses (HPyVs) are able to harness the DDR machinery during their infectious cycle by expressing an array of tumor (T) antigens. These molecular interactions between human polyomavirus T antigens and the DDR create conditions that promote viral replication at the expense of host genomic stability to cause disease as well as carcinogenesis in the cases of the Merkel cell polyomavirus and BK polyomavirus. This review focuses on the six HPyVs with disease association, emphasizing strain-dependent differences in their selective manipulation of the DDR. Appreciation of the HPyV-DDR interface at a molecular scale is conducive to the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyal Tahseen
- Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Medical School At Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Peter L Rady
- Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Medical School At Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Stephen K Tyring
- Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Medical School At Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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Csoboz B, Rasheed K, Sveinbjørnsson B, Moens U. Merkel cell polyomavirus and non-Merkel cell carcinomas: guilty or circumstantial evidence? APMIS 2020; 128:104-120. [PMID: 31990105 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is the major causative factor of the rare but aggressive cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Two characteristics of MCPyV-positive MCCs are integration of the viral genome and expression of a truncated version of one of its oncogenic proteins, namely large T antigen. The strong association of MCPyV with MCC development has incited researchers to further investigate a possible role of this virus in other cancers. However, many of the examples displaying the presence of the virus in the various non-MCC cancers are not able to clearly demonstrate a direct connection between cellular transformation and the presence of the virus. The prevalence of the virus is significantly lower in non-MCC cancers compared to MCCs, with a lower level of viral load and sparse viral protein expression. Moreover, the state of the viral genome, and whether a truncated large T antigen is expressed, has rarely been investigated. Nonetheless, considering the strong oncogenic potential of MCPyV proteins in MCC, the plausible contribution of MCPyV to transformation and cancer growth in non-MCC tumors cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, the absence of MCPyV in cancers does not exclude a hit-and-run mechanism, or the oncoproteins of MCPyV may potentiate the neoplastic process mediated by co-infecting oncoviruses such as high-risk human papillomaviruses and Epstein-Barr virus. The current review is focusing on the available data describing the presence of MCPyV in non-MCC tumors, with an aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the corresponding literature and to discuss the potential contribution of MCPyV to non-MCC cancer in light of this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balint Csoboz
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kashif Rasheed
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Baldur Sveinbjørnsson
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ugo Moens
- Molecular Inflammation Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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