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Santana LS, Reyes A, Hoersch S, Ferrero E, Kolter C, Gaulis S, Steinhauser S. Benchmarking tools for transcription factor prioritization. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:2190-2199. [PMID: 38817966 PMCID: PMC11137382 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.05.016] [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: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Spatiotemporal regulation of gene expression is controlled by transcription factor (TF) binding to regulatory elements, resulting in a plethora of cell types and cell states from the same genetic information. Due to the importance of regulatory elements, various sequencing methods have been developed to localise them in genomes, for example using ChIP-seq profiling of the histone mark H3K27ac that marks active regulatory regions. Moreover, multiple tools have been developed to predict TF binding to these regulatory elements based on DNA sequence. As altered gene expression is a hallmark of disease phenotypes, identifying TFs driving such gene expression programs is critical for the identification of novel drug targets. In this study, we curated 84 chromatin profiling experiments (H3K27ac ChIP-seq) where TFs were perturbed through e.g., genetic knockout or overexpression. We ran nine published tools to prioritize TFs using these real-world datasets and evaluated the performance of the methods in identifying the perturbed TFs. This allowed the nomination of three frontrunner tools, namely RcisTarget, MEIRLOP and monaLisa. Our analyses revealed opportunities and commonalities of tools that will help to guide further improvements and developments in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Swann Gaulis
- Novartis Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
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2
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Zhou S, Abdihamid O, Tan F, Zhou H, Liu H, Li Z, Xiao S, Li B. KIT mutations and expression: current knowledge and new insights for overcoming IM resistance in GIST. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:153. [PMID: 38414063 PMCID: PMC10898159 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01411-x] [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: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common sarcoma located in gastrointestinal tract and derived from the interstitial cell of Cajal (ICC) lineage. Both ICC and GIST cells highly rely on KIT signal pathway. Clinically, about 80-90% of treatment-naive GIST patients harbor primary KIT mutations, and special KIT-targeted TKI, imatinib (IM) showing dramatic efficacy but resistance invariably occur, 90% of them was due to the second resistance mutations emerging within the KIT gene. Although there are multiple variants of KIT mutant which did not show complete uniform biologic characteristics, most of them have high KIT expression level. Notably, the high expression level of KIT gene is not correlated to its gene amplification. Recently, accumulating evidences strongly indicated that the gene coding, epigenetic regulation, and pre- or post- protein translation of KIT mutants in GIST were quite different from that of wild type (WT) KIT. In this review, we elucidate the biologic mechanism of KIT variants and update the underlying mechanism of the expression of KIT gene, which are exclusively regulated in GIST, providing a promising yet evidence-based therapeutic landscape and possible target for the conquer of IM resistance. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shishan Zhou
- Division of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China, Xiangya road 87
| | - Omar Abdihamid
- Garissa Cancer Center, Garissa County Referral Hospital, Kismayu road, Garissa town, P.O BOX, 29-70100, Kenya
| | - Fengbo Tan
- Division of Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, China, Hunan, Changsha
| | - Haiyan Zhou
- Division of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Heli Liu
- Division of Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, China, Hunan, Changsha
| | - Zhi Li
- Center for Molecular Medicine of Xiangya Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China, 410008
| | - Sheng Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 410008, MA, USA
| | - Bin Li
- Division of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China, Xiangya road 87#.
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3
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Syamprasad NP, Madje N, Bachannagari J, Jannu AK, Jain S, Tene K, Shantanu PA, Naidu V, Chella N. Niclosamide nanocrystal for enhanced in-vivo efficacy against gastrointestinal stromal tumor via regulating EGFR/STAT-3/DR-4 axis. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2023.104221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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Sun J, Zhang Q, Sun X, Xue A, Gao X, Shen K. THZ1 targeting CDK7 suppresses c-KIT transcriptional activity in gastrointestinal stromal tumours. Cell Commun Signal 2022; 20:138. [PMID: 36076237 PMCID: PMC9454178 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-022-00928-x] [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: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumours of the gastrointestinal tract and are characterized by activating mutations of c-KIT or PDGFRa receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Despite the clinical success of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), more than half of GIST patients develop resistance due to a second mutation. Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) is the catalytic subunit of CDK-activating kinase (CAK), and it plays an important role in the regulation of cell cycle transitions and gene transcription. THZ1, a CDK7 inhibitor, exhibits a dose-dependent inhibitory effect in various cancers. Methods Data from the public GEO database and tissue microarray were used to analyse the gene expression levels of CDKs in GISTs. The impact of CDK7 knockdown and the CDK7 inhibitor THZ1 on GIST progression was investigated in vitro using CCK-8, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays and in vivo using a xenograft mouse model. RNA sequencing was performed to investigate the mechanism of GIST cell viability impairment mediated by THZ1 treatment. Results Our study demonstrated that CDK7 is relatively overexpressed in high-risk GISTs and predicts a poor outcome. A low concentration of THZ1 exhibited a pronounced antineoplastic effect in GIST cells in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, THZ1 exerted synergistic anticancer effects with imatinib. THZ1 treatment resulted in transcriptional modulation by inhibiting the phosphorylation of Ser2, Ser5, and Ser7 within RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). c-KIT, an oncogene driver of GIST, was transcriptionally repressed by THZ1 treatment or CDK7 knockdown. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that OSR1 acts as a downstream target of CDK7 and regulates c-KIT expression. Taken together, our results highlight elevated CDK7 expression as a predictor of poor outcome in GIST and present the combination of CDK7 and RTK inhibitors as a potent therapeutic strategy to improve the efficacy of GIST treatment. Video abstract
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-022-00928-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyi Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University School of Medicine, #180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University School of Medicine, #180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xiangfei Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University School of Medicine, #180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Anwei Xue
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University School of Medicine, #180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xiaodong Gao
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University School of Medicine, #180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Kuntang Shen
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University School of Medicine, #180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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5
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Hemming ML, Benson MR, Loycano MA, Anderson JA, Andersen JL, Taddei ML, Krivtsov AV, Aubrey BJ, Cutler JA, Hatton C, Sicinska E, Armstrong SA. MOZ and Menin-MLL Complexes Are Complementary Regulators of Chromatin Association and Transcriptional Output in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor. Cancer Discov 2022; 12:1804-1823. [PMID: 35499757 PMCID: PMC9453853 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-21-0646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is commonly characterized by activating mutations in the receptor tyrosine kinase KIT. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are the only approved therapy for GIST, and complementary treatment strategies are urgently needed. As GIST lacks oncogene amplification and relies upon an established network of transcription factors, we hypothesized that unique chromatin-modifying enzymes are essential in orchestrating the GIST epigenome. We identified through genome-scale CRISPR screening that MOZ and Menin-MLL chromatin regulatory complexes are cooperative and unique dependencies in GIST. These complexes were enriched at GIST-relevant genes and regulated their transcription. Inhibition of MOZ and Menin-MLL complexes decreased GIST cell proliferation by disrupting interactions with transcriptional/chromatin regulators, such as DOT1L. MOZ and Menin inhibition caused significant reductions in tumor burden in vivo, with superior effects observed with combined Menin and KIT inhibition. These results define unique chromatin regulatory dependencies in GIST and identify potential therapeutic strategies for clinical application. SIGNIFICANCE Although many malignancies rely on oncogene amplification, GIST instead depends upon epigenetic regulation of KIT and other essential genes. Utilizing genome-scale CRISPR dependency screens, we identified complementary chromatin-modifying complexes essential to GIST and characterize the consequences of their disruption, elucidating a novel therapeutic approach to this disease. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1599.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L. Hemming
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sarcoma Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Morgan R. Benson
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael A. Loycano
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Justin A. Anderson
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jessica L. Andersen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sarcoma Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Madeleine L. Taddei
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrei V. Krivtsov
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Brandon J. Aubrey
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jevon A. Cutler
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Charlie Hatton
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ewa Sicinska
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Scott A. Armstrong
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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6
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Li J, Guo S, Sun Z, Fu Y. Noncoding RNAs in Drug Resistance of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:808591. [PMID: 35174150 PMCID: PMC8841737 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.808591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumor in the gastrointestinal tracts and a model for the targeted therapy of solid tumors because of the oncogenic driver mutations in KIT and PDGDRA genes, which could be effectively inhibited by the very first targeted agent, imatinib mesylate. Most of the GIST patients could benefit a lot from the targeted treatment of this receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor. However, more than 50% of the patients developed resistance within 2 years after imatinib administration, limiting the long-term effect of imatinib. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), the non-protein coding transcripts of human, were demonstrated to play pivotal roles in the resistance of various chemotherapy drugs. In this review, we summarized the mechanisms of how ncRNAs functioning on the drug resistance in GIST. During the drug resistance of GIST, there were five regulating mechanisms where the functions of ncRNAs concentrated: oxidative phosphorylation, autophagy, apoptosis, drug target changes, and some signaling pathways. Also, these effects of ncRNAs in drug resistance were divided into two aspects. How ncRNAs regulate drug resistance in GIST was further summarized according to ncRNA types, different drugs and categories of resistance. Moreover, clinical applications of these ncRNAs in GIST chemotherapies concentrated on the prognostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiehan Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shuning Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhenqiang Sun
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yang Fu, ; Zhenqiang Sun,
| | - Yang Fu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- The Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Province for Cancer Chemoprevention, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yang Fu, ; Zhenqiang Sun,
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7
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Cousin S, Blay JY, Garcia IB, de Bono JS, Le Tourneau C, Moreno V, Trigo J, Hann CL, Azad AA, Im SA, Cassier PA, French CA, Italiano A, Keedy VL, Plummer R, Sablin MP, Hemming ML, Ferron-Brady G, Wyce A, Khaled A, Datta A, Foley SW, McCabe MT, Wu Y, Horner T, Kremer BE, Dhar A, O'Dwyer PJ, Shapiro GI, Piha-Paul SA. Safety, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and clinical activity of molibresib for the treatment of nuclear protein of the testis carcinoma and other cancers: Results of a Phase I/II open-label, dose escalation study. Int J Cancer 2021; 150:993-1006. [PMID: 34724226 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Molibresib is an orally bioavailable, selective, small molecule BET protein inhibitor. Results from a first time in human study in solid tumors resulted in the selection of a 75 mg once daily dose of the besylate formulation of molibresib as the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D). Here we present the results of Part 2 of our study, investigating safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical activity of molibresib at the RP2D for nuclear protein in testis carcinoma (NC), small cell lung cancer, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), triple-negative breast cancer, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumor. The primary safety endpoints were incidence of adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs; the primary efficacy endpoint was overall response rate. Secondary endpoints included plasma concentrations and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Molibresib 75 mg once daily demonstrated no unexpected toxicities. The most common treatment-related AEs (any grade) were thrombocytopenia (64%), nausea (43%) and decreased appetite (37%); 83% of patients required dose interruptions and 29% required dose reductions due to AEs. Antitumor activity was observed in NC and CRPC (one confirmed partial response each, with observed reductions in tumor size), although predefined clinically meaningful response rates were not met for any tumor type. Total active moiety median plasma concentrations after single and repeated administration were similar across tumor cohorts. GSEA revealed that gene expression changes with molibresib varied by patient, response status and tumor type. Investigations into combinatorial approaches that use BET inhibition to eliminate resistance to other targeted therapies are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Cousin
- Medical Oncology Department, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean-Yves Blay
- Medical Oncology Department, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Irene Braña Garcia
- Medical Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Vall d'Hebron Institut of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Johann S de Bono
- The Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK
| | - Christophe Le Tourneau
- Department of Drug Development and Innovation (D3i), INSERM U900 Research Unit, Institut Curie, Paris-Saclay University, Paris and Saint-Cloud, France
| | - Victor Moreno
- Medical Oncology, START Madrid-FJD, Fundación Jiménez Díaz Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose Trigo
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria y Regional, IBIMA, Málaga, Spain
| | - Christine L Hann
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Arun A Azad
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Victoria, Australia
| | - Seock-Ah Im
- Seoul National University Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Christopher A French
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Antoine Italiano
- Early Phase Trials and Sarcoma Units, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - Vicki L Keedy
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Ruth Plummer
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Marie-Paule Sablin
- Department of Drug Development and Innovation (D3i), INSERM U900 Research Unit, Institut Curie, Paris-Saclay University, Paris and Saint-Cloud, France
| | - Matthew L Hemming
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yuehui Wu
- GSK, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | | | - Peter J O'Dwyer
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Geoffrey I Shapiro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sarina A Piha-Paul
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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8
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KIT Expression Is Regulated by DNA Methylation in Uveal Melanoma Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910748. [PMID: 34639089 PMCID: PMC8509522 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910748] [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: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is an ocular tumor with a dismal prognosis. Despite the availability of precise molecular and cytogenetic techniques, clinicopathologic features with limited accuracy are widely used to predict metastatic potential. In 51 UM tissues, we assessed a correlation between the expression of nine proteins evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) (Melan-A, S100, HMB45, Cyclin D1, Ki-67, p53, KIT, BCL2, and AIFM1) and the presence of UM-specific chromosomal rearrangements measured by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), to find IHC markers with increased prognostic information. Furthermore, mRNA expression and DNA methylation values were extracted from the whole-genome data, achieved by analyzing 22 fresh frozen UM tissues. KIT positivity was associated with monosomy 3, increasing the risk of poor prognosis more than 17-fold (95% CI 1.53–198.69, p = 0.021). A strong negative correlation was identified between mRNA expression and DNA methylation values for 12 of 20 analyzed positions, five located in regulatory regions of the KIT gene (r = −0.658, p = 0.001; r = −0.662, p = 0.001; r = −0.816; p < 0.001; r = −0.689, p = 0.001; r = −0.809, p < 0.001, respectively). DNA methylation β values were also inversely associated with KIT protein expression (p = 0.001; p = 0.001; p = 0.015; p = 0.025; p = 0.002). Our findings, showing epigenetic deregulation of KIT expression, may contribute to understanding the past failure to therapeutically target KIT in UM.
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9
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Zboril E, Yoo H, Chen L, Liu Z. Dynamic Interactions of Transcription Factors and Enhancer Reprogramming in Cancer Progression. Front Oncol 2021; 11:753051. [PMID: 34616687 PMCID: PMC8488287 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.753051] [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: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
While improved tumor treatment has significantly reduced the overall mortality rates, invasive progression including recurrence, therapy resistance and metastasis contributes to the majority of deaths caused by cancer. Enhancers are essential distal DNA regulatory elements that control temporal- or spatial-specific gene expression patterns during development and other biological processes. Genome-wide sequencing has revealed frequent alterations of enhancers in cancers and reprogramming of distal enhancers has emerged as one of the important features for tumors. In this review, we will discuss tumor progression-associated enhancer dynamics, its transcription factor (TF) drivers and how enhancer reprogramming modulates gene expression during cancer invasive progression. Additionally, we will explore recent advancements in contemporary technology including single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics and CUT&RUN, which have permitted integrated studies of enhancer reprogramming in vivo. Given the essential roles of enhancer dynamics and its drivers in controlling cancer progression and treatment outcome, understanding these changes will be paramount in mitigating invasive events and discovering novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Zboril
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Hannah Yoo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Lizhen Chen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Zhijie Liu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
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10
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Krishnatry AS, Voelkner A, Dhar A, Prohn M, Ferron-Brady G. Population pharmacokinetic modeling of molibresib and its active metabolites in patients with solid tumors: A semimechanistic autoinduction model. CPT-PHARMACOMETRICS & SYSTEMS PHARMACOLOGY 2021; 10:709-722. [PMID: 33955700 PMCID: PMC8302244 DOI: 10.1002/psp4.12639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Molibresib (GSK525762) is an investigational, orally bioavailable, small‐molecule bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) protein inhibitor for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. Molibresib was initially evaluated in a first‐time‐in‐human (FTIH) study BET115521 consisting of two parts: Part 1 of the study (dose escalation) was conducted in 94 patients with nuclear protein in testis midline carcinoma and other solid tumors, and Part 2 (expansion cohort) was conducted in 99 patients with different solid tumor types. Molibresib is metabolized by cytochrome P450 3A4 enzymes to produce two major active metabolites that are equipotent to the parent molecule. The metabolites are measured together after full conversion of one to the other and reported as an active metabolite composite (GSK3529246). The molibresib pharmacokinetic (PK) profile has been characterized by a decrease in exposure over time, with the decrease more pronounced at higher doses, and accompanied by a slight increase of the metabolite concentrations. Autoinduction of molibresib metabolism was suspected and confirmed in vitro. Here we report the development of a semimechanistic liver‐compartment population PK model using PK data from the FTIH study, which adequately describes the autoinduction of molibresib clearance and the PK of both molibresib and GSK3529246. Covariate analysis indicated body weight had a significant effect on the volume of distribution of molibresib and GSK3529246, and higher levels of aspartate aminotransferase resulted in the lower clearance of GSK3529246. This model was used to simulate individual patient exposures based on covariate information for use in future alternative dosing strategies and exposure–response analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu Shilpa Krishnatry
- Clinical Pharmacology Modelling and Simulation, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | | | - Arindam Dhar
- Epigenetics Research Unit, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA
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11
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Elmore LW, Greer SF, Daniels EC, Saxe CC, Melner MH, Krawiec GM, Cance WG, Phelps WC. Blueprint for cancer research: Critical gaps and opportunities. CA Cancer J Clin 2021; 71:107-139. [PMID: 33326126 DOI: 10.3322/caac.21652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We are experiencing a revolution in cancer. Advances in screening, targeted and immune therapies, big data, computational methodologies, and significant new knowledge of cancer biology are transforming the ways in which we prevent, detect, diagnose, treat, and survive cancer. These advances are enabling durable progress in the goal to achieve personalized cancer care. Despite these gains, more work is needed to develop better tools and strategies to limit cancer as a major health concern. One persistent gap is the inconsistent coordination among researchers and caregivers to implement evidence-based programs that rely on a fuller understanding of the molecular, cellular, and systems biology mechanisms underpinning different types of cancer. Here, the authors integrate conversations with over 90 leading cancer experts to highlight current challenges, encourage a robust and diverse national research portfolio, and capture timely opportunities to advance evidence-based approaches for all patients with cancer and for all communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynne W Elmore
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Susanna F Greer
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Elvan C Daniels
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Charles C Saxe
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Michael H Melner
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Ginger M Krawiec
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - William G Cance
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - William C Phelps
- Office of the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
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12
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Bi Y, Zeng DX, Ye W, Xiao M, Yang QL, Ling Y. LncRNA PVT1 promotes cells proliferation via PI3K–AKT–mTOR Pathway in gastrointestinal stromal tumor. ALL LIFE 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/26895293.2021.1889685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- YanZhi Bi
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Changzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dong Xiang Zeng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Changzhou Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Changzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Ye
- Department of Medical Oncology, Changzhou Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Changzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Min Xiao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Changzhou Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Changzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Quan Liang Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Changzhou Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Changzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yang Ling
- Department of Medical Oncology, Changzhou Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Changzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Hemming ML, Coy S, Lin JR, Andersen JL, Przybyl J, Mazzola E, Abdelhamid Ahmed AH, van de Rijn M, Sorger PK, Armstrong SA, Demetri GD, Santagata S. HAND1 and BARX1 Act as Transcriptional and Anatomic Determinants of Malignancy in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:1706-1719. [PMID: 33451979 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-3538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) arises from interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) or their precursors, which are present throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Although gastric GIST is commonly indolent and small intestine GIST more aggressive, a molecular understanding of disease behavior would inform therapy decisions in GIST. Although a core transcription factor (TF) network is conserved across GIST, accessory TFs HAND1 and BARX1 are expressed in a disease state-specific pattern. Here, we characterize two divergent transcriptional programs maintained by HAND1 and BARX1, and evaluate their association with clinical outcomes. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We evaluated RNA sequencing and TF chromatin immunoprecipitation with sequencing in GIST samples and cultured cells for transcriptional programs associated with HAND1 and BARX1. Multiplexed tissue-based cyclic immunofluorescence and IHC evaluated tissue- and cell-level expression of TFs and their association with clinical factors. RESULTS We show that HAND1 is expressed in aggressive GIST, modulating KIT and core TF expression and supporting proliferative cellular programs. In contrast, BARX1 is expressed in indolent and micro-GISTs. HAND1 and BARX1 expression were superior predictors of relapse-free survival, as compared with standard risk stratification, and they predict progression-free survival on imatinib. Reflecting the developmental origins of accessory TF programs, HAND1 was expressed solely in small intestine ICCs, whereas BARX1 expression was restricted to gastric ICCs. CONCLUSIONS Our results define anatomic and transcriptional determinants of GIST and molecular origins of clinical phenotypes. Assessment of HAND1 and BARX1 expression in GIST may provide prognostic information and improve clinical decisions on the administration of adjuvant therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L Hemming
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. .,Sarcoma Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Shannon Coy
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jia-Ren Lin
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jessica L Andersen
- Sarcoma Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Emanuele Mazzola
- Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Amr H Abdelhamid Ahmed
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Sarcoma Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Peter K Sorger
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Scott A Armstrong
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - George D Demetri
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Sarcoma Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sandro Santagata
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. .,Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts
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14
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Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs): Novel Therapeutic Strategies with Immunotherapy and Small Molecules. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020493. [PMID: 33419029 PMCID: PMC7825300 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common types of malignant mesenchymal tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, with an estimated incidence of 1.5/100.000 per year and 1–2% of gastrointestinal neoplasms. About 75–80% of patients have mutations in the KIT gene in exons 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, and 5–10% of patients have mutations in the platelet-derived growth factor receptor a (PDGFRA) gene in exons 12, 14, 18. Moreover, 10–15% of patients have no mutations and are classified as wild type GIST. The treatment for metastatic or unresectable GISTs includes imatinib, sunitinib, and regorafenib. So far, GIST therapies have raised great expectations and offered patients a better quality of life, but increased pharmacological resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors is often observed. New treatment options have emerged, with ripretinib, avapritinib, and cabozantinib getting approvals for these tumors. Nowadays, immune checkpoint inhibitors form a new landscape in cancer therapeutics and have already shown remarkable responses in various tumors. Studies in melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, and renal cell carcinoma are very encouraging as these inhibitors have increased survival rates. The purpose of this review is to present alternative approaches for the treatment of the GIST patients, such as combinations of immunotherapy and novel inhibitors with traditional therapies (tyrosine kinase inhibitors).
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15
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Ruksha TG, Sergeeva EY, Fefelova YA, Khorzhevsky VA. [The significance of C-KIT gene mutations in the diagnosis and prognosis of malignant tumors]. Arkh Patol 2021; 83:61-68. [PMID: 34278763 DOI: 10.17116/patol20218304161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the C-KIT gene encoding type III receptor tyrosine kinase that regulates cellular processes, such as differentiation, survival, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis, are found in some neoplasms: gastrointestinal stromal tumor, mastocytosis, melanoma, breast carcinomas, myeloid leukemias, and a number of others. Tumors that exhibit these mutations are sensitive to therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which makes it necessary to correctly identify the mutation status by C-KIT in order to apply a personalized approach to therapy. This literature review shows that the type and localization of the C-KIT gene mutation are of crucial prognostic value and significance in choosing drugs for antitumor therapy, but traditional diagnostic methods fail to determine accurate mutation characteristics. Routine sequencing techniques focus on identifying the gene mutations associated with specific cellular processes, such as DNA damage and repair. The emergence of next-generation sequencing techniques has solved this problem, making it possible to fully analyze the genome of a malignant neoplasm, with constant screening for new mutations that appear as the tumor develops, affect the prognosis of the disease, and change its sensitivity to the antitumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- T G Ruksha
- Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - E Yu Sergeeva
- Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Yu A Fefelova
- Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - V A Khorzhevsky
- Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
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16
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Reece AS, Hulse GK. Impacts of cannabinoid epigenetics on human development: reflections on Murphy et. al. 'cannabinoid exposure and altered DNA methylation in rat and human sperm' epigenetics 2018; 13: 1208-1221. Epigenetics 2019; 14:1041-1056. [PMID: 31293213 PMCID: PMC6773386 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2019.1633868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent data from the Kollins lab (‘Cannabinoid exposure and altered DNA methylation in rat and human sperm’ Epigenetics 2018; 13: 1208–1221) indicated epigenetic effects of cannabis use on sperm in man parallel those in rats and showed substantial shifts in both hypo- and hyper-DNA methylation with the latter predominating. This provides one likely mechanism for the transgenerational transmission of epigenomic instability with sperm as the vector. It therefore contributes important pathophysiological insights into the probable mechanisms underlying the epidemiology of prenatal cannabis exposure potentially explaining diverse features of cannabis-related teratology including effects on the neuraxis, cardiovasculature, immune stimulation, secondary genomic instability and carcinogenesis related to both adult and pediatric cancers. The potentially inheritable and therefore multigenerational nature of these defects needs to be carefully considered in the light of recent teratological and neurobehavioural trends in diverse jurisdictions such as the USA nationally, Hawaii, Colorado, Canada, France and Australia, particularly relating to mental retardation, age-related morbidity and oncogenesis including inheritable cancerogenesis. Increasing demonstrations that the epigenome can respond directly and in real time and retain memories of environmental exposures of many kinds implies that the genome-epigenome is much more sensitive to environmental toxicants than has been generally realized. Issues of long-term multigenerational inheritance amplify these concerns. Further research particularly on the epigenomic toxicology of many cannabinoids is also required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Stuart Reece
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Western Australia , Crawley , Western Australia Australia.,School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University , Joondalup , Western Australia , Australia
| | - Gary Kenneth Hulse
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Western Australia , Crawley , Western Australia Australia.,School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University , Joondalup , Western Australia , Australia
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17
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Hamdan FH, Johnsen SA. Perturbing Enhancer Activity in Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11050634. [PMID: 31067678 PMCID: PMC6563029 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11050634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tight regulation of gene transcription is essential for normal development, tissue homeostasis, and disease-free survival. Enhancers are distal regulatory elements in the genome that provide specificity to gene expression programs and are frequently misregulated in cancer. Recent studies examined various enhancer-driven malignant dependencies and identified different approaches to specifically target these programs. In this review, we describe numerous features that make enhancers good transcriptional targets in cancer therapy and discuss different approaches to overcome enhancer perturbation. Interestingly, a number of approved therapeutic agents, such as cyclosporine, steroid hormones, and thiazolidinediones, actually function by affecting enhancer landscapes by directly targeting very specific transcription factor programs. More recently, a broader approach to targeting deregulated enhancer programs has been achieved via Bromodomain and Extraterminal (BET) inhibition or perturbation of transcription-related cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK). One challenge to enhancer-targeted therapy is proper patient stratification. We suggest that monitoring of enhancer RNA (eRNA) expression may serve as a unique biomarker of enhancer activity that can help to predict and monitor responsiveness to enhancer-targeted therapies. A more thorough investigation of cancer-specific enhancers and the underlying mechanisms of deregulation will pave the road for an effective utilization of enhancer modulators in a precision oncology approach to cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feda H Hamdan
- Gene Regulatory Mechanisms and Molecular Epigenetics Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Steven A Johnsen
- Gene Regulatory Mechanisms and Molecular Epigenetics Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
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