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Martin-Vega A, Cobb MH. Navigating the ERK1/2 MAPK Cascade. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1555. [PMID: 37892237 PMCID: PMC10605237 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101555] [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: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The RAS-ERK pathway is a fundamental signaling cascade crucial for many biological processes including proliferation, cell cycle control, growth, and survival; common across all cell types. Notably, ERK1/2 are implicated in specific processes in a context-dependent manner as in stem cells and pancreatic β-cells. Alterations in the different components of this cascade result in dysregulation of the effector kinases ERK1/2 which communicate with hundreds of substrates. Aberrant activation of the pathway contributes to a range of disorders, including cancer. This review provides an overview of the structure, activation, regulation, and mutational frequency of the different tiers of the cascade; with a particular focus on ERK1/2. We highlight the importance of scaffold proteins that contribute to kinase localization and coordinate interaction dynamics of the kinases with substrates, activators, and inhibitors. Additionally, we explore innovative therapeutic approaches emphasizing promising avenues in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Martin-Vega
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Rd., Dallas, TX 75390, USA;
| | - Melanie H. Cobb
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Rd., Dallas, TX 75390, USA;
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Rd., Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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2
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Identification of Candidate Biomarker and Drug Targets for Improving Endometrial Cancer Racial Disparities. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147779. [PMID: 35887124 PMCID: PMC9318530 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147779] [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: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Racial disparities in incidence and survival exist for many human cancers. Racial disparities are undoubtedly multifactorial and due in part to differences in socioeconomic factors, access to care, and comorbidities. Within the U.S., fundamental causes of health inequalities, including socio-economic factors, insurance status, access to healthcare and screening and treatment biases, are issues that contribute to cancer disparities. Yet even these epidemiologic differences do not fully account for survival disparities, as for nearly every stage, grade and histologic subtype, survival among Black women is significantly lower than their White counterparts. To address this, we sought to investigate the proteomic profiling molecular features of endometrial cancer in order to detect modifiable and targetable elements of endometrial cancer in different racial groups, which could be essential for treatment planning. The majority of proteins identified to be significantly altered among the racial groups and that can be regulated by existing drugs or investigational agents are enzymes that regulate metabolism and protein synthesis. These drugs have the potential to improve the worse outcomes of endometrial cancer patients based on race.
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Takao T, Masuda H, Kajitani T, Miki F, Miyazaki K, Yoshimasa Y, Katakura S, Tomisato S, Uchida S, Uchida H, Tanaka M, Maruyama T. Sorafenib targets and inhibits the oncogenic properties of endometrial cancer stem cells via the RAF/ERK pathway. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:225. [PMID: 35659728 PMCID: PMC9166406 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-02888-y] [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: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Distinct subsets of cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive the initiation and progression of malignant tumors via enhanced self-renewal and development of treatment/apoptosis resistance. Endometrial CSC-selective drugs have not been successfully developed because most endometrial cell lines do not contain a sufficient proportion of stable CSCs. Here, we aimed to identify endometrial CSC-containing cell lines and to search for endometrial CSC-selective drugs.
Methods We first assessed the presence of CSCs by identifying side populations (SPs) in several endometrial cancer cell lines. We then characterized cell viability, colony-formation, transwell invasion and xenotransplantion capability using the isolated SP cells. We also conducted real-time RT-PCR, immunoblot and immunofluorescence analyses of the cells’ expression of CSC-associated markers. Focusing on 14 putative CSC-selective drugs, we characterized their effects on the proliferation and apoptosis of endometrial cancer cell lines, examining cell viability and annexin V staining. We further examined the inhibitory effects of the selected drugs, focusing on proliferation, invasion, expression of CSC-associated markers and tumor formation. Results We focused on HHUA cells, an endometrial cancer cell line derived from a well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma. HHUA cells contained a sufficient proportion of stable CSCs with an SP phenotype (HHUA-SP). HHUA-SP showed greater proliferation, colony-formation, and invasive capabilities compared with the main population of HHUA cells (HHUA-MP). HHUA-SP generated larger tumors with higher expression of proliferation-related markers, Ki67, c-MYC and phosphorylated ERK compared with HHUA-MP when transplanted into immunodeficient mice. Among the 14 candidate drugs, sorafenib, an inhibitor of RAF pathways and multiple kinase receptors, inhibited cell proliferation and invasion in both HHUA-SP and -MP, but more profoundly in HHUA-SP. In vivo treatment with sorafenib for 4 weeks reduced the weights of HHUA-SP-derived tumors and decreased the expression of Ki67, ZEB1, and RAF1. Conclusions Our results suggest that HHUA is a useful cell line for discovery and identification of endometrial CSC-selective drugs, and that sorafenib may be an effective anti-endometrial cancer drug targeting endometrial CSCs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-022-02888-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoka Takao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.,Department of Regenerative Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1, Shikatacho, Kitaku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Masuda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Takashi Kajitani
- Sakura No Seibo Junior College, 3-6, Hanazonocho, Fukushima, 960-8585, Japan
| | - Fumie Miki
- Sho Hospital, 1-41-14, Itabashi, Tokyo, 173-0004, Japan
| | - Kaoru Miyazaki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yushi Yoshimasa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Satomi Katakura
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Shoko Tomisato
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Sayaka Uchida
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Uchida
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Mamoru Tanaka
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Maruyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjukuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
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4
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Kako TD, Kamal MZ, Dholakia J, Scalise CB, Arend RC. High-intermediate risk endometrial cancer: moving toward a molecularly based risk assessment profile. Int J Clin Oncol 2022; 27:323-331. [PMID: 35038071 DOI: 10.1007/s10147-021-02089-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In the USA, endometrial cancer (EMCA) incidence is increasing as the risk factors of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension become more prevalent. Although most EMCA is detected at an early stage and surgical intervention is curative, a subset of patients termed 'high-intermediate risk' (H-IR) experience an increased rate of recurrence. Unfortunately, adjuvant therapies in patients with H-IR EMCA have yet to increase overall survival. Historically, stratification of these patients from their low-risk counterparts incorporated clinical and pathologic findings. However, due to developments in molecular testing and genomic sequencing, tumor biomarkers are now being incorporated into the risk-assessment criteria in the hope of finding molecular profile(s) that could highlight treatment regimens that will increase patient survival. Since modern research aims to accurately identify patients with a higher risk of recurrence and develop effective interventions to improve patient survival, these molecular-based analyses could allow for an enhanced understanding of a patient's true risk of recurrence to facilitate the rise of personalized medicine. This review summarizes key clinical trials and recent advances in molecular and genomic profiles that have influenced current treatment regimens for patients with H-IR EMCA and laid the foundation for subsequent research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tavonna D Kako
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Maahum Z Kamal
- University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Jhalak Dholakia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Carly B Scalise
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Rebecca C Arend
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA. .,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1824 6th Avenue South, WTI 430 J, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.
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5
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Devis-Jauregui L, Eritja N, Davis ML, Matias-Guiu X, Llobet-Navàs D. Autophagy in the physiological endometrium and cancer. Autophagy 2021; 17:1077-1095. [PMID: 32401642 PMCID: PMC8143243 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2020.1752548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a highly conserved catabolic process and a major cellular pathway for the degradation of long-lived proteins and cytoplasmic organelles. An increasing body of evidence has unveiled autophagy as an indispensable biological function that helps to maintain normal tissue homeostasis and metabolic fitness that can also lead to severe consequences for the normal cellular functioning when altered. Recent accumulating data point to autophagy as a key player in a wide variety of physiological and pathophysiological conditions in the human endometrium, one of the most proficient self-regenerating tissues in the human body and an instrumental player in placental species reproductive function. The current review highlights the most recent findings regarding the process of autophagy in the normal and cancerous endometrial tissue. Current research efforts aiming to therapeutically exploit autophagy and the methodological approaches used are discussed.Abbreviations: 3-MA: 3-methyladenine; ACACA (acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha); AICAR: 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboximide riboside; AKT: AKT serine/threonine kinase; AMPK: AMP-activated protein kinase; ATG: autophagy related; ATG12: autophagy related 12; ATG16L1: autophagy related 16 like 1; ATG3: autophagy related 3; ATG4C: autophagy related 4C cysteine peptidase; ATG5: autophagy related 5; ATG7: autophagy related 7; ATG9: autophagy related 9; Baf A1: bafilomycin A1; BAX: BCL2 associated X, apoptosis regulator; BCL2: BCL2 apoptosis regulator; BECN1: beclin 1; CACNA1D: calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 D; CASP3: caspase 3; CASP7: caspase 7; CASP8: caspase 8; CASP9: caspase 9; CD44: CD44 molecule (Indian blood group); CDH1: cadherin 1; CDKN1A: cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A; CDKN2A: cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A; CMA: chaperone-mediated autophagy; CQ: chloroquine; CTNNB1: catenin beta 1; DDIT3: DNA damage inducible transcript 3; EC: endometrial cancer; EGFR: epidermal growth factor receptor; EH: endometrial hyperplasia; EIF4E: eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E; EPHB2/ERK: EPH receptor B2; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; ERBB2: er-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2; ERVW-1: endogenous retrovirus group W member 1, envelope; ESR1: estrogen receptor 1; FSH: follicle-stimulating hormone; GCG/GLP1: glucagon; GFP: green fluorescent protein; GIP: gastric inhibitory polypeptide; GLP1R: glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor; GLS: glutaminase; H2AX: H2A.X variant histone; HIF1A: hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha; HMGB1: high mobility group box 1; HOTAIR: HOX transcript antisense RNA; HSPA5: heat shock protein family A (HSP70) member 5; HSPA8: heat shock protein family A (HSP70) member 8; IGF1: insulin like growth factor 1; IL27: interleukin 27; INS: insulin; ISL: isoliquiritigenin; KRAS: KRAS proto-oncogene, GTPase; LAMP2: lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2; lncRNA: long-non-coding RNA; MAP1LC3A/LC3A: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha; MAP1LC3B/LC3B: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; MAPK8: mitogen-activated protein kinase 8; MAPK9: mitogen-activated protein kinase 9; MPA: medroxyprogesterone acetate; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; MTORC1: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase complex 1; MTORC2: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase complex 2; MYCBP: MYC-binding protein; NFE2L2: nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like 2; NFKB: nuclear factor kappa B; NFKBIA: NFKB inhibitor alpha; NK: natural killer; NR5A1: nuclear receptor subfamily 5 group A member 1; PARP1: poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1; PAX2: paired box 2; PDK1: pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1; PDX: patient-derived xenograft; PIK3C3/Vps34: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit type 3; PIK3CA: phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha; PIK3R1: phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1; PIKFYVE: phosphoinositide kinase, FYVE-type zinc finger containing; PPD: protopanaxadiol; PRKCD: protein kinase C delta; PROM1/CD133: prominin 1; PtdIns3K: class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; PtdIns3P: phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate; PTEN: phosphatase and tensin homolog; RB1CC1/FIP200: RB1 inducible coiled-coil 1; RFP: red fluorescent protein; RPS6KB1/S6K1: ribosomal protein S6 kinase B1; RSV: resveratrol; SGK1: serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1; SGK3: serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase family member 3; SIRT: sirtuin; SLS: stone-like structures; SMAD2: SMAD family member 2; SMAD3: SMAD family member 3; SQSTM1: sequestosome 1; TALEN: transcription activator-like effector nuclease; TGFBR2: transforming growth factor beta receptor 2; TP53: tumor protein p53; TRIB3: tribbles pseudokinase 3; ULK1: unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1; ULK4: unc-51 like kinase 4; VEGFA: vascular endothelial growth factor A; WIPI2: WD repeat domain, phosphoinositide interacting 2; XBP1: X-box binding protein 1; ZFYVE1: zinc finger FYVE domain containing 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Devis-Jauregui
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Oncobell Program. Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Gran via De l’Hospitalet, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Eritja
- Department of Pathology-Hospital Universitari Arnau De Vilanova, Universitat De Lleida, IRBLLEIDA, CIBERONC, Lleida, Spain
| | - Meredith Leigh Davis
- Institute of Genetic Medicine-International Centre for Life, Newcastle University. Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Xavier Matias-Guiu
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Oncobell Program. Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Gran via De l’Hospitalet, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Pathology-Hospital Universitari Arnau De Vilanova, Universitat De Lleida, IRBLLEIDA, CIBERONC, Lleida, Spain
- Department of Pathology-Hospital, Universitari De Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Llobet-Navàs
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Oncobell Program. Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Gran via De l’Hospitalet, Barcelona, Spain
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Mutation bias within oncogene families is related to proliferation-specific codon usage. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:30848-30856. [PMID: 33199641 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2016119117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well known that in cancer gene families some members are more frequently mutated in tumor samples than their family counterparts. A paradigmatic case of this phenomenon is KRAS from the RAS family. Different explanations have been proposed ranging from differential interaction with other proteins to preferential expression or localization. Interestingly, it has been described that despite the high amino acid identity between RAS family members, KRAS employs an intriguing differential codon usage. Here, we found that this phenomenon is not exclusive to the RAS family. Indeed, in the RAS family and other oncogene families with two or three members, the most prevalently mutated gene in tumor samples employs a differential codon usage that is characteristic of genes involved in proliferation. Prompted by these observations, we chose the RAS family to experimentally demonstrate that the translation efficiency of oncogenes that are preferentially mutated in tumor samples is increased in proliferative cells compared to quiescent cells. These results were further validated by assessing the translation efficiency of KRAS in cell lines that differ in their tRNA expression profile. These differences are related to the cell division rate of the studied cells and thus suggest an important role in context-specific oncogene expression regulation. Altogether, our study demonstrates that dynamic translation programs contribute to shaping the expression profiles of oncogenes. Therefore, we propose this codon bias as a regulatory layer to control cell context-specific expression and explain the differential prevalence of mutations in certain members of oncogene families.
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Kato M, Onoyama I, Yoshida S, Cui L, Kawamura K, Kodama K, Hori E, Matsumura Y, Yagi H, Asanoma K, Yahata H, Itakura A, Takeda S, Kato K. Dual-specificity phosphatase 6 plays a critical role in the maintenance of a cancer stem-like cell phenotype in human endometrial cancer. Int J Cancer 2020; 147:1987-1999. [PMID: 32159851 PMCID: PMC7496376 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The prognosis of patients with high‐grade or advanced‐stage endometrial cancer remains poor. As cancer stem‐like cells (CSCs) are thought to be associated with endometrial cancers, it is essential to investigate the molecular mechanisms that regulate endometrial CSCs. Dual‐specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6) functions as a negative‐feedback regulator of MAPK–ERK1/2 signaling, but its role in endometrial cancer remains unknown. We investigated whether DUSP6 is involved in cancer cell stemness using endometrial cancer cell lines and specimens from endometrial cancer patients. DUSP6 induced the expression of CSC‐related genes including ALDH1, Nanog, SOX2 and Oct4A, increased the population of cells in the G0/G1 phase, and promoted sphere formation ability. DUSP6 knockdown resulted in reduced cell invasion and metastasis, whereas DUSP6 overexpression inhibited apoptosis under serum‐free conditions. Moreover, DUSP6 decreased phosphorylated ERK1/2 and increased phosphorylated Akt levels, which potentially induces CSC features. In patients with endometrial cancers, DUSP6 expression was determined using immunohistochemistry, and based on the results, the patients were dichotomized into high‐ and low‐DUSP6‐expression groups. Progression‐free survival and overall survival were significantly shorter in the high‐DUSP6‐expression group. These results suggest that DUSP6 has potential value as a biomarker of CSCs and as a target of therapies designed to eliminate CSCs in endometrial cancer. What's new? Although cancer stem‐like cells (CSCs) are involved in human endometrial cancers, the underlying molecular mechanisms and biomarkers for CSCs in endometrial cancers remain elusive. Here, the authors found that DUSP6 plays an important role in regulating endometrial CSC phenotypes by increasing self‐renewal ability and starvation resistance. DUSP6 expression was required for inducing invasion and metastasis and resulted in ERK1/2 dephosphorylation and Akt phosphorylation, which potentially contribute to the promotion of CSC phenotypes. As DUSP6 expression was also positively associated with worse progression‐free and overall survival, DUSP6 represents a potential biomarker for endometrial CSCs and a therapeutic target in endometrial cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaya Kato
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologySchool of Medical Sciences, Kyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologySchool of Medical Sciences, Juntendo UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Ichiro Onoyama
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologySchool of Medical Sciences, Kyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Sachiko Yoshida
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologySchool of Medical Sciences, Kyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Lin Cui
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologySchool of Medical Sciences, Kyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Keiko Kawamura
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologySchool of Medical Sciences, Kyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Keisuke Kodama
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologySchool of Medical Sciences, Kyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Emiko Hori
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologySchool of Medical Sciences, Kyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Yumiko Matsumura
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologySchool of Medical Sciences, Kyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Hiroshi Yagi
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologySchool of Medical Sciences, Kyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Kazuo Asanoma
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologySchool of Medical Sciences, Kyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Hideaki Yahata
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologySchool of Medical Sciences, Kyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Atsuo Itakura
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologySchool of Medical Sciences, Juntendo UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Satoru Takeda
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologySchool of Medical Sciences, Juntendo UniversityTokyoJapan
| | - Kiyoko Kato
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologySchool of Medical Sciences, Kyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
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Abstract
The three RAS genes - HRAS, NRAS and KRAS - are collectively mutated in one-third of human cancers, where they act as prototypic oncogenes. Interestingly, there are rather distinct patterns to RAS mutations; the isoform mutated as well as the position and type of substitution vary between different cancers. As RAS genes are among the earliest, if not the first, genes mutated in a variety of cancers, understanding how these mutation patterns arise could inform on not only how cancer begins but also the factors influencing this event, which has implications for cancer prevention. To this end, we suggest that there is a narrow window or 'sweet spot' by which oncogenic RAS signalling can promote tumour initiation in normal cells. As a consequence, RAS mutation patterns in each normal cell are a product of the specific RAS isoform mutated, as well as the position of the mutation and type of substitution to achieve an ideal level of signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Allan Balmain
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Christopher M Counter
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
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9
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Eritja N, Chen BJ, Rodríguez-Barrueco R, Santacana M, Gatius S, Vidal A, Martí MD, Ponce J, Bergadà L, Yeramian A, Encinas M, Ribera J, Reventós J, Boyd J, Villanueva A, Matias-Guiu X, Dolcet X, Llobet-Navàs D. Autophagy orchestrates adaptive responses to targeted therapy in endometrial cancer. Autophagy 2017; 13:608-624. [PMID: 28055301 PMCID: PMC5361596 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2016.1271512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapies in endometrial cancer (EC) using kinase inhibitors rarely result in complete tumor remission and are frequently challenged by the appearance of refractory cell clones, eventually resulting in disease relapse. Dissecting adaptive mechanisms is of vital importance to circumvent clinical drug resistance and improve the efficacy of targeted agents in EC. Sorafenib is an FDA-approved multitarget tyrosine and serine/threonine kinase inhibitor currently used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma, advanced renal carcinoma and radioactive iodine-resistant thyroid carcinoma. Unfortunately, sorafenib showed very modest effects in a multi-institutional phase II trial in advanced uterine carcinoma patients. Here, by leveraging RNA-sequencing data from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia and cell survival studies from compound-based high-throughput screenings we have identified the lysosomal pathway as a potential compartment involved in the resistance to sorafenib. By performing additional functional biology studies we have demonstrated that this resistance could be related to macroautophagy/autophagy. Specifically, our results indicate that sorafenib triggers a mechanistic MAPK/JNK-dependent early protective autophagic response in EC cells, providing an adaptive response to therapeutic stress. By generating in vivo subcutaneous EC cell line tumors, lung metastatic assays and primary EC orthoxenografts experiments, we demonstrate that targeting autophagy enhances sorafenib cytotoxicity and suppresses tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis progression. In conclusion, sorafenib induces the activation of a protective autophagic response in EC cells. These results provide insights into the unopposed resistance of advanced EC to sorafenib and highlight a new strategy for therapeutic intervention in recurrent EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Eritja
- a Department of Basic Sciences , Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Edifici Biomedicina I, Lab 2.4 , Lleida , Spain.,b Department of Pathology , Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida/Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova , Lleida , Spain
| | | | | | - Maria Santacana
- a Department of Basic Sciences , Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Edifici Biomedicina I, Lab 2.4 , Lleida , Spain.,b Department of Pathology , Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida/Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova , Lleida , Spain
| | - Sònia Gatius
- a Department of Basic Sciences , Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Edifici Biomedicina I, Lab 2.4 , Lleida , Spain.,b Department of Pathology , Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida/Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova , Lleida , Spain
| | - August Vidal
- e Department of Pathology , University Hospital of Bellvitge, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat , Barcelona , Catalonia , Spain
| | - Maria Dolores Martí
- f Department of Gynecology , University Hospital of Bellvitge, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat , Barcelona , Catalonia , Spain
| | - Jordi Ponce
- f Department of Gynecology , University Hospital of Bellvitge, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat , Barcelona , Catalonia , Spain
| | - Laura Bergadà
- a Department of Basic Sciences , Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Edifici Biomedicina I, Lab 2.4 , Lleida , Spain.,b Department of Pathology , Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida/Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova , Lleida , Spain
| | - Andree Yeramian
- a Department of Basic Sciences , Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Edifici Biomedicina I, Lab 2.4 , Lleida , Spain.,b Department of Pathology , Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida/Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova , Lleida , Spain
| | - Mario Encinas
- g Department of Experimental Medicine , Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Edifici Biomedicina I, Lab 2.8 , Lleida , Spain
| | - Joan Ribera
- g Department of Experimental Medicine , Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Edifici Biomedicina I, Lab 2.8 , Lleida , Spain
| | - Jaume Reventós
- e Department of Pathology , University Hospital of Bellvitge, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat , Barcelona , Catalonia , Spain.,f Department of Gynecology , University Hospital of Bellvitge, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat , Barcelona , Catalonia , Spain
| | - Jeff Boyd
- h Department of Human and Molecular Genetics , Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University , Miami , FL , USA
| | - Alberto Villanueva
- i Chemoresistance and Predictive Factors Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE) , Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat , Barcelona , Catalonia , Spain
| | - Xavier Matias-Guiu
- a Department of Basic Sciences , Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Edifici Biomedicina I, Lab 2.4 , Lleida , Spain.,b Department of Pathology , Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida/Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova , Lleida , Spain.,e Department of Pathology , University Hospital of Bellvitge, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat , Barcelona , Catalonia , Spain.,f Department of Gynecology , University Hospital of Bellvitge, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat , Barcelona , Catalonia , Spain
| | - Xavier Dolcet
- a Department of Basic Sciences , Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Edifici Biomedicina I, Lab 2.4 , Lleida , Spain.,b Department of Pathology , Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida/Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova , Lleida , Spain
| | - David Llobet-Navàs
- d Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University , Newcastle-Upon-Tyne , UK
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10
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Engström W, Darbre P, Eriksson S, Gulliver L, Hultman T, Karamouzis MV, Klaunig JE, Mehta R, Moorwood K, Sanderson T, Sone H, Vadgama P, Wagemaker G, Ward A, Singh N, Al-Mulla F, Al-Temaimi R, Amedei A, Colacci AM, Vaccari M, Mondello C, Scovassi AI, Raju J, Hamid RA, Memeo L, Forte S, Roy R, Woodrick J, Salem HK, Ryan EP, Brown DG, Bisson WH. The potential for chemical mixtures from the environment to enable the cancer hallmark of sustained proliferative signalling. Carcinogenesis 2015; 36 Suppl 1:S38-60. [PMID: 26106143 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgv030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this work is to review current knowledge relating the established cancer hallmark, sustained cell proliferation to the existence of chemicals present as low dose mixtures in the environment. Normal cell proliferation is under tight control, i.e. cells respond to a signal to proliferate, and although most cells continue to proliferate into adult life, the multiplication ceases once the stimulatory signal disappears or if the cells are exposed to growth inhibitory signals. Under such circumstances, normal cells remain quiescent until they are stimulated to resume further proliferation. In contrast, tumour cells are unable to halt proliferation, either when subjected to growth inhibitory signals or in the absence of growth stimulatory signals. Environmental chemicals with carcinogenic potential may cause sustained cell proliferation by interfering with some cell proliferation control mechanisms committing cells to an indefinite proliferative span.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilhelm Engström
- Department of Biosciences and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7028, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden,
| | - Philippa Darbre
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6UB, UK
| | - Staffan Eriksson
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 575, 75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Linda Gulliver
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin 9050, New Zealand
| | - Tove Hultman
- Department of Biosciences and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7028, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6UB, UK
| | - Michalis V Karamouzis
- Department of Biological Chemistry Medical School, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Biomedical Research, University of Athens, Marasli 3, Kolonaki, Athens 10676, Greece
| | - James E Klaunig
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University Bloomington , 1025 E. 7th Street, Suite 111, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Rekha Mehta
- Regulatory Toxicology Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, HPFB, Health Canada, 251 Sir F.G. Banting Driveway, AL # 2202C, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Kim Moorwood
- Department of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Bath , Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Thomas Sanderson
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, 531 boulevard des Prairies, Laval, Quebec H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Hideko Sone
- Environmental Exposure Research Section, Center for Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibraki 3058506, Japan
| | - Pankaj Vadgama
- IRC in Biomedical Materials, School of Engineering & Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Gerard Wagemaker
- Center for Stem Cell Research and Development, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey
| | - Andrew Ward
- Department of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Bath , Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Neetu Singh
- Centre for Advanced Research, King George's Medical University, Chowk, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226003, India
| | - Fahd Al-Mulla
- Department of Pathology, Kuwait University, Safat 13110, Kuwait
| | | | - Amedeo Amedei
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Firenze, Firenze 50134, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Colacci
- Center for Environmental Carcinogenesis and Risk Assessment, Environmental Protection and Health Prevention Agency, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Monica Vaccari
- Center for Environmental Carcinogenesis and Risk Assessment, Environmental Protection and Health Prevention Agency, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Chiara Mondello
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Council, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - A Ivana Scovassi
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Council, Pavia 27100, Italy
| | - Jayadev Raju
- Regulatoty Toxicology Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Food Directorate, HPFB, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A0K9, Canada
| | - Roslida A Hamid
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Lorenzo Memeo
- Mediterranean Institute of Oncology, Viagrande 95029, Italy
| | - Stefano Forte
- Mediterranean Institute of Oncology, Viagrande 95029, Italy
| | - Rabindra Roy
- Molecular Oncology Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Jordan Woodrick
- Molecular Oncology Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Hosni K Salem
- Urology Dept. kasr Al-Ainy School of Medicine, Cairo University, El Manial, Cairo 12515, Egypt
| | - Elizabeth P Ryan
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Sciences, Colorado State University//Colorado School of Public Health, Fort Collins CO 80523-1680, USA and
| | - Dustin G Brown
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Sciences, Colorado State University//Colorado School of Public Health, Fort Collins CO 80523-1680, USA and
| | - William H Bisson
- Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Environmental Health Sciences Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
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11
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Kang J, Pervaiz S. Crosstalk between Bcl-2 family and Ras family small GTPases: potential cell fate regulation? Front Oncol 2013; 2:206. [PMID: 23316476 PMCID: PMC3539672 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2012.00206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2012] [Accepted: 12/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell fate regulation is a function of diverse cell signaling pathways that promote cell survival and or inhibit cell death execution. In this regard, the role of the Bcl-2 family in maintaining a tight balance between cell death and cell proliferation has been extensively studied. The conventional dogma links cell fate regulation by the Bcl-2 family to its effect on mitochondrial permeabilization and apoptosis amplification. However, recent evidence provide a novel mechanism for death regulation by the Bcl-2 family via modulating cellular redox metabolism. For example overexpression of Bcl-2 has been shown to contribute to a pro-oxidant intracellular milieu and down-regulation of cellular superoxide levels enhanced death sensitivity of Bcl-2 overexpressing cells. Interestingly, gene knockdown of the small GTPase Rac1 or pharmacological inhibition of its activity also reverted death phenotype in Bcl-2 expressing cells. This appears to be a function of an interaction between Bcl-2 and Rac1. Similar functional associations have been described between the Bcl-2 family and other members of the Ras superfamily. These interactions at the mitochondria provide novel opportunities for strategic therapeutic targeting of drug-resistant cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Kang
- ROS, Apoptosis and Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine Singapore, Singapore ; NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore Singapore, Singapore
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12
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Lampson BL, Pershing NLK, Prinz JA, Lacsina JR, Marzluff WF, Nicchitta CV, MacAlpine DM, Counter CM. Rare codons regulate KRas oncogenesis. Curr Biol 2012; 23:70-5. [PMID: 23246410 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2012] [Revised: 10/30/2012] [Accepted: 11/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Oncogenic mutations in the small Ras GTPases KRas, HRas, and NRas render the proteins constitutively GTP bound and active, a state that promotes cancer. Ras proteins share ~85% amino acid identity, are activated by and signal through the same proteins, and can exhibit functional redundancy. Nevertheless, manipulating expression or activation of each isoform yields different cellular responses and tumorigenic phenotypes, even when different ras genes are expressed from the same locus. We now report a novel regulatory mechanism hardwired into the very sequence of RAS genes that underlies how such similar proteins impact tumorigenesis differently. Specifically, despite their high sequence similarity, KRAS is poorly translated compared to HRAS due to enrichment in genomically underrepresented or rare codons. Converting rare to common codons increases KRas expression and tumorigenicity to mirror that of HRas. Furthermore, in a genome-wide survey, similar gene pairs with opposing codon bias were identified that not only manifest dichotomous protein expression but also are enriched in key signaling protein classes and pathways. Thus, synonymous nucleotide differences affecting codon usage account for differences between HRas and KRas expression and function and may represent a broader regulation strategy in cell signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L Lampson
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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13
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Wang LE, Ma H, Hale KS, Yin M, Meyer LA, Liu H, Li J, Lu KH, Hennessy BT, Li X, Spitz MR, Wei Q, Mills GB. Roles of genetic variants in the PI3K and RAS/RAF pathways in susceptibility to endometrial cancer and clinical outcomes. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2011; 138:377-85. [PMID: 22146979 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-011-1103-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2011] [Accepted: 11/21/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/PTEN/AKT/mTOR and Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathways have been implicated in endometrial tumorigenesis. In this candidate pathway analysis, we investigated associations between genetic variations in these two pathways and both risk and clinical outcomes of endometrial cancer. METHODS We genotyped a total of 48 potentially functional SNPs in 11 key genes (AKT1, AKT2, AKT3, BRAF, FRAP1, KRAS, PDPK1, PIK3CA, PIK3CB, PIK3R1, and PTEN) with the Sequenom genotyping platform in 115 endometrial cancer patients and 230 cancer-free women to evaluate their associations with risk, survival, and recurrence of endometrial cancer. RESULTS We found the following: (1) PIK3CA rs6443624 and rs9838411 variants either borderline or significantly decreased risk of endometrial cancer in a dominant model (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.39-1.00 and 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36-0.95, respectively). Furthermore, there was a statistically significant multiplicative interaction (P (int) = 0.036) between these two loci in risk of endometrial cancer. In contrast, the AKT1 rs2498801 genotype significantly increased risk of endometrial cancer (adjusted OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.02-3.67 in a recessive model). (2) In Cox regression analyses, three SNPs (PIK3R1 rs1862162, AKT2 rs892119, and PIK3CA rs2699887) showed significant associations with survival of endometrial cancer patients. (3) KRAS rs7312175 and PIK3CA rs6443624 had significant effects on recurrence of endometrial cancer individually and combined in a locus-dosage manner (adjusted P (trend) = 0.003). CONCLUSION These results suggest that common genetic variations in these pathways may modulate risk and clinical outcomes of endometrial cancer. Further replication and functional studies are needed to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-E Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, Unit 1365, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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14
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Lin L, Zhong K, Sun Z, Wu G, Ding G. Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) partially mediates HMGB1-ERKs activation in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2011; 138:11-22. [DOI: 10.1007/s00432-011-1067-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2011] [Accepted: 09/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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15
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Kato K, Kuhara A, Yoneda T, Inoue T, Takao T, Ohgami T, Dan L, Kuboyama A, Kusunoki S, Takeda S, Wake N. Sodium butyrate inhibits the self-renewal capacity of endometrial tumor side-population cells by inducing a DNA damage response. Mol Cancer Ther 2011; 10:1430-9. [PMID: 21632462 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-10-1062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We previously isolated side-population (SP) cells from a human endometrial cancer cell line, Hec1, and determined that Hec1-SP cells have cancer stem-like cell features. In this study, we isolated SP cells and non-SP (NSP) cells derived from a rat endometrial cell line expressing human [(12)Val] KRAS (RK12V cells) and determined the SP phenotype. RK12V-SP cells showed self-renewal capacity, the potential to develop into stromal cells, reduced expression levels of differentiation markers, long-term proliferating capacity in cultures, and enhanced tumorigenicity, indicating that RK12V-SP cells have cancer stem-like cell features. RK12V-SP cells also display higher resistance to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs. In contrast, treatment with a histone deacetylases (HDAC) inhibitor, sodium butyrate (NaB), reduced self-renewal capacity and completely suppressed colony formation of RK12V-SP cells in a soft agar. The levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the number of γH2AX foci were increased by NaB treatment of both RK12V-SP cells and RK12V-NSP cells. The expression levels of γH2AX, p21, p27, and phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase were enhanced in RK12V-SP cells compared with RK12V-NSP cells. These results imply that treatment with NaB induced production of intracellular ROS and DNA damage in both RK12V-SP and RK12V-NSP cells. Following NaB treatment, DNA damage response signals were enhanced more in RK12V-SP cells than in RK12V-NSP cells. This is the first article on an inhibitory effect of NaB on proliferation of endometrial cancer stem-like cells. HDAC inhibitors may represent an attractive antitumor therapy based upon their inhibitory effects on cancer stem-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyoko Kato
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Hongo 2-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
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16
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Overmeyer JH, Maltese WA. Death pathways triggered by activated Ras in cancer cells. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed) 2011; 16:1693-713. [PMID: 21196257 DOI: 10.2741/3814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Ras GTPases are best known for their ability to serve as molecular switches regulating cell growth, differentiation and survival. Gene mutations that result in expression of constitutively active forms of Ras have been linked to oncogenesis in animal models and humans. However, over the past two decades, evidence has gradually accumulated to support a paradoxical role for Ras proteins in the initiation of cell death pathways. In this review we survey the literature pointing to the ability of activated Ras to promote cell death under conditions where cancer cells encounter apoptotic stimuli or Ras is ectopically expressed. In some of these cases Ras acts through known effectors and well defined apoptotic death pathways. However, in other cases it appears that Ras operates by triggering novel non-apoptotic death mechanisms that are just beginning to be characterized. Understanding these mechanisms and the factors that go into changing the nature of Ras signaling from pro-survival to pro-death could set the stage for development of novel therapeutic approaches aimed at manipulating pro-death Ras signaling pathways in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean H Overmeyer
- Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Biology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, Ohio 43614, USA
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17
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Abstract
IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD Endometrial cancer remains the most common gynecologic malignancy. The treatment of endometrial cancer is rapidly evolving. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW In this article, we aim to review current and future treatment options in the medical treatment of endometrial cancers. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN The cornerstone of curative therapy for patients with endometrial cancer is surgical treatment. Cytotoxic chemotherapy is the mainstay of therapy for metastatic and advanced endometrial cancer. The most active chemotherapy agents are anthracyclines, platinum compounds and taxanes. Combination chemotherapy has produced higher response rates than single agent therapy. Cisplatin and doxorubicin combination chemotherapy has served as the control arm in many trials. Three-drug combination regimen has shown the highest response rate but with increased toxicity. Despite the lack of published data supporting the superiority of the paclitaxel plus carboplatin combination over doxorubicin and cisplatin, many centers prefer this regimen as a standard of care. Hormonal therapy should be considered in patients with low grade tumors and in those with a poor performance status. Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular biology of endometrial cancer have led to development of targeted therapies. Among these the more promising ones are mTOR inhibitors and antiangiogenic agents. TAKE HOME MESSAGE Clinical trials are planned to further explore how to best incorporate novel agents into the current treatment algorithm with the aim to improve outcome for women with endometrial adenocarcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozden Altundag
- Baskent University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara, Turkey
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Higuchi M, Yamayoshi A, Kato K, Kobori A, Wake N, Murakami A. Specific regulation of point-mutated K-ras-immortalized cell proliferation by a photodynamic antisense strategy. Oligonucleotides 2010; 20:37-44. [PMID: 20038252 DOI: 10.1089/oli.2008.0173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
It has been reported that point mutations in genes are responsible for various cancers, and the selective regulation of gene expression is an important factor in developing new types of anticancer drugs. To develop effective drugs for the regulation of point-mutated genes, we focused on photoreactive antisense oligonucleotides. Previously, we reported that photoreactive oligonucleotides containing 2'-O-psoralenylmethoxyethyl adenosine (2'-Ps-eom) showed drastic photoreactivity in a strictly sequence-specific manner. Here, we demonstrated the specific gene regulatory effects of 2'-Ps-eom on [(12)Val]K-ras mutant (GGT --> GTT). Photo-cross-linking between target mRNAs and 2'-Ps-eom was sequence-specific, and the effect was UVA irradiation-dependent. Furthermore, 2'-Ps-eom was able to inhibit K-ras-immortalized cell proliferation (K12V) but not Vco cells that have the wild-type K-ras gene. These results suggest that the 2'-Ps-eom will be a powerful nucleic acid drug to inhibit the expression of disease-causing point mutation genes, and has great therapeutic potential in the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiko Higuchi
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan
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19
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Geryk-Hall M, Yang Y, Hughes DPM. Driven to death: Inhibition of farnesylation increases Ras activity and promotes growth arrest and cell death [corrected]. Mol Cancer Ther 2010; 9:1111-9. [PMID: 20406948 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-09-0833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
To improve cancer outcomes, investigators are turning increasingly to small molecule medicines that disrupt vital signaling cascades, inhibit malignant growth, or induce apoptosis. One vital signaling molecule is Ras, and a key step in Ras activation is membrane anchoring of Ras through prenylation, the C-terminal addition of a lipid anchor. Small molecule inhibitors of farnesyltransferase (FTI), the enzyme most often responsible for prenylating Ras, showed clinical promise, but development of FTIs such as tipifarnib has been stalled by uncertainty about their mechanism of action, because Ras seemed unimpeded in tipifarnib-treated samples. Interpretation was further complicated by the numerous proteins that may be farnesylated, as well as availability of an alternate prenylation pathway, geranylgeranylation. Our initial observations of varied response by cancer cell lines to tipifarnib led us to evaluate the role of FTI in Ras signal alteration using various tumor models. We describe our novel counterintuitive finding that endogenous Ras activity increases in cancer cell lines with low endogenous Ras activity when farnesyltransferase is inhibited by either tipifarnib or short hairpin RNA. In response to tipifarnib, variable growth arrest and/or cell death correlated with levels of activated extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK). Sensitivity to tipifarnib treatment was shown by growth inhibition and by an increase in subdiploid cell numbers; cells with such sensitivity had increased activation of ERK and p38 MAPK. Because Ras must be prenylated to be active, our findings suggest that geranylgeranylated N-Ras or K-Ras B interacts differently with downstream effector proteins in sensitive cancer cells responding to tipifarnib, switching the balance from cell proliferation to growth inhibition [corrected].
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandy Geryk-Hall
- Department of Pediatrics Research, Children's Cancer Hospital, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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20
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Nimeiri HS, Oza AM, Morgan RJ, Huo D, Elit L, Knost JA, Wade JL, Agamah E, Vokes EE, Fleming GF. A phase II study of sorafenib in advanced uterine carcinoma/carcinosarcoma: a trial of the Chicago, PMH, and California Phase II Consortia. Gynecol Oncol 2010; 117:37-40. [PMID: 20117828 PMCID: PMC2842466 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2010.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2009] [Revised: 01/02/2010] [Accepted: 01/07/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the efficacy and safety of single agent sorafenib, an oral multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in patients with advanced uterine carcinoma and carcinosarcoma. METHODS This multi-institutional non-randomized phase II trial enrolled two cohorts: patients with uterine carcinoma (cohort A) and uterine carcinosarcoma (cohort B). Eligibility criteria included measurable disease, 0-1 prior chemotherapy regimens, and ECOG performance status RESULTS Fifty-six patients (40 with carcinoma, 16 with carcinosarcoma) were enrolled between March 2005 and August 2007. Two (5%) patients with uterine carcinoma had a partial response (PR) and 17 (42.5%) achieved stable disease (SD). Five had SD lasting at least 4 months. The 6-month progression-free survival rate for patients with carcinoma was 29%, and the median overall survival was 11.4 months. No patients with carcinosarcoma had an objective response. Four (25%) had SD, and one had SD lasting 18 months. The 6-month progression-free survival rate was 13%, and the median overall survival was 5.0 months. Grade 3/4 drug related toxicities included: hypertension (13%), hand-foot syndrome (13%), hypophosphatemia (7%), anemia (5%), rash (5%), diarrhea (5%), thrombosis (5%), fatigue (5%) and bleeding (5%). CONCLUSION Sorafenib had minimal activity in patients with uterine carcinoma. Predictive factors for potential benefit are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amit M. Oza
- Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - Laurie Elit
- Juravinski Cancer Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Edem Agamah
- Central Illinois Hematology/Oncology Center, Springfield, IL
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21
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Kato K, Takao T, Kuboyama A, Tanaka Y, Ohgami T, Yamaguchi S, Adachi S, Yoneda T, Ueoka Y, Kato K, Hayashi S, Asanoma K, Wake N. Endometrial cancer side-population cells show prominent migration and have a potential to differentiate into the mesenchymal cell lineage. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2010; 176:381-92. [PMID: 20008133 PMCID: PMC2797898 DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.090056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/24/2009] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem-like cell subpopulations, referred to as "side-population" (SP) cells, have been identified in several tumors based on their ability to efflux the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33342. Although SP cells have been identified in the normal human endometrium and endometrial cancer, little is known about their characteristics. In this study, we isolated and characterized the SP cells in human endometrial cancer cells and in rat endometrial cells expressing oncogenic human K-Ras protein. These SP cells showed i) reduction in the expression levels of differentiation markers; ii) long-term proliferative capacity of the cell cultures; iii) self-renewal capacity in vitro; iv) enhancement of migration, lamellipodia, and uropodia formation; and v) enhanced tumorigenicity. In nude mice, SP cells formed large, invasive tumors, which were composed of both tumor cells and stromal-like cells with enriched extracellular matrix. The expression levels of vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and collagen III were enhanced in SP tumors compared with the levels in non-SP tumors. In addition, analysis of microdissected samples and fluorescence in situ hybridization of Hec1-SP-tumors showed that the stromal-like cells with enriched extracellular matrix contained human DNA, confirming that the stromal-like cells were derived from the inoculated cells. Moreober, in a Matrigel assay, SP cells differentiated into alpha-smooth muscle actin-expressing cells. These findings demonstrate that SP cells have cancer stem-like cell features, including the potential to differentiate into the mesenchymal cell lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyoko Kato
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
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22
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Steelman LS, Stadelman KM, Chappell WH, Horn S, Bäsecke J, Cervello M, Nicoletti F, Libra M, Stivala F, Martelli AM, McCubrey JA. Akt as a therapeutic target in cancer. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2008; 12:1139-65. [PMID: 18694380 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.12.9.1139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is central in the transmission of growth regulatory signals originating from cell surface receptors. OBJECTIVE This review discusses how mutations occur that result in elevated expression the PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR pathway and lead to malignant transformation, and how effective targeting of this pathway may result in suppression of abnormal growth of cancer cells. METHODS We searched the literature for articles which dealt with altered expression of this pathway in various cancers including: hematopoietic, melanoma, non-small cell lung, pancreatic, endometrial and ovarian, breast, prostate and hepatocellular. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS The PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR pathway is frequently aberrantly regulated in various cancers and targeting this pathway with small molecule inhibitors and may result in novel, more effective anticancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda S Steelman
- Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
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Contributions of the Raf/MEK/ERK, PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR and Jak/STAT pathways to leukemia. Leukemia 2008; 22:686-707. [DOI: 10.1038/leu.2008.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 293] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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McCubrey JA, Steelman LS, Franklin RA, Abrams SL, Chappell WH, Wong EWT, Lehmann BD, Terrian DM, Basecke J, Stivala F, Libra M, Evangelisti C, Martelli AM. Targeting the RAF/MEK/ERK, PI3K/AKT and p53 pathways in hematopoietic drug resistance. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 47:64-103. [PMID: 17382374 PMCID: PMC2696319 DOI: 10.1016/j.advenzreg.2006.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University Greenville, NC 27858, USA.
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Hsu YF, Lee TS, Lin SY, Hsu SP, Juan SH, Hsu YH, Zhong WB, Lee WS. Involvement of Ras/Raf-1/ERK actions in the magnolol-induced upregulation of p21 and cell-cycle arrest in colon cancer cells. Mol Carcinog 2007; 46:275-83. [PMID: 17295239 DOI: 10.1002/mc.20274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Previously, we showed that magnolol induces cell-cycle arrest in cultured colon and liver cancer cells through an upregulation of the p21 protein. The aim of this study was to delineate the molecular mechanism underlying this magnolol-induced increase of p21 protein. Thus our RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that the mRNA levels of p21 were increased at 1 h after magnolol treatment and sustained for at least 24 h. The p21 promoter activity was also increased by magnolol treatment. Western blot analysis demonstrated that treatment of COLO-205 cells with magnolol increased the levels of phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Pretreatment of the cells with PD98059 abolished the magnolol-induced upregulation of p21 protein, suggesting the involvement of an ERK pathway in the magnolol-induced upregulation of p21 in COLO-205 cells. Ras inhibitor peptide abolished the magnolol-induced increase of phosphorylated ERK protein levels, increase of p21 protein, and decrease of thymidine incorporation. Moreover, treatment of COLO-205 with magnolol increased the phosphorylated Raf-1 protein (the Ras target molecule). Pretreatment of the cells with Raf-1 inhibitor reversed the magnolol-induced decrease in thymidine incorporation. Treatment of the cells with CaM kinase inhibitor, but not protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor or phosphatidylinosital 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, abolished the magnolol-induced activation of ERK and decrease of thymidine incorporation. Taken together, our results suggest that magnolol activates ERK phosphorylation through a Ras/Raf-1-mediated pathway. Subsequently, p21 expression is increased, and finally thymidine incorporation is decreased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Fan Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology, Medical College, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Teraishi F, Guo W, Zhang L, Dong F, Davis JJ, Sasazuki T, Shirasawa S, Liu J, Fang B. Activation of sterile20-like kinase 1 in proteasome inhibitor bortezomib-induced apoptosis in oncogenic K-ras-transformed cells. Cancer Res 2006; 66:6072-9. [PMID: 16778179 PMCID: PMC1482805 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-06-0125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Bortezomib (PS-341), a specific proteasome inhibitor, exhibits antitumor activity against a wide range of malignancies. However, the molecular mechanisms by which bortezomib causes apoptosis selectively in cancer cells still remain unclear. Ras signaling is involved in multiple cellular processes, including cell cycle progression, differentiation, and apoptosis, and can either promote or inhibit apoptosis depending on the type of apoptotic stimuli and the cell model. Here, we investigated the role of K-ras signaling in bortezomib-induced apoptosis. We found that K-ras-transformed cells were more susceptible to bortezomib-induced apoptosis than were nontransformed cells and that bortezomib-induced apoptosis was mainly caspase dependent in K-ras-transformed cells. We also found that mammalian sterile20-like kinase 1 (MST1) was activated by bortezomib in K-ras-transformed cells and K-ras-mutated cancer cells. Treatment of K-ras-transformed cells with bortezomib resulted in translocation of MST1 from cytoplasm into the nucleus and an increase of phosphorylated histone H2B and histone H2AX. Moreover, pretreatment with leptomycin B, an inhibitor of the nuclear export signal receptor, dramatically enhanced bortezomib-mediated MST1 activation, phosphorylation of histones H2B and H2AX, and apoptosis induction in K-ras-transformed cells. Knockdown of MST1 expression by small interfering RNA diminished bortezomib-induced apoptosis or caspase-3 activation. Our data suggested that bortezomib may be useful for treatment of K-ras-mutated cancer cells, and MST1 is one of the mediators for bortezomib-induced apoptosis in K-ras-transformed cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wei Guo
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, and
| | - Lidong Zhang
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, and
| | - Fengqing Dong
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, and
| | - John J. Davis
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, and
| | - Takehiko Sasazuki
- Research Institute, International Medical Center of Japan, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Senji Shirasawa
- Research Institute, International Medical Center of Japan, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jinsong Liu
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Bingliang Fang
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, and
- Requests for reprints: Bingliang Fang, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Unit 445, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030. Phone: 713-563-9147; Fax: 713-794-4901; E-mail:
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Tu Z, Gui L, Wang J, Li X, Sun P, Wei L. Tumorigenesis of K-ras mutation in human endometrial carcinoma via upregulation of estrogen receptor. Gynecol Oncol 2006; 101:274-9. [PMID: 16303170 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2005.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2005] [Revised: 10/13/2005] [Accepted: 10/19/2005] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the tumorigenesis of mutant [12Asp]-K-ras in endometrial carcinoma and its relationship with ER. METHODS We constructed pcDI-[12Asp]K-ras4B by inserting full-length [12Asp]K-ras4B from human endometrial carcinoma Hec-1A cells, into pcDI vector. Cell proliferation of NIH3T3 after transfection with pcDI-[12Asp]K-ras4B was measured by MTT assay. The cell transformation was determined by colony formation and tumor nodule development. [12Asp]-K-ras4B-NIH3T3 cells were transfected with constitutively active pCMV-RafCAAX and dominant-negative pCMV-RafS621A. Cell growth was measured by MTT assay and [3H]thymidine incorporation. After transfected with pcDI-[12Asp]K-ras4B or pCMV-RafS621A, the cells were harvested for Western blot and reporter assay to determine the expression and transcriptional activity of ERalpha and ERbeta, respectively. RESULTS [12Asp]-K-ras4B enhanced NIH3T3 cells proliferation after 48 h post-transfection (P < 0.05). More colonies were grown 10 days after incubating pcDI-[12Asp]-K-ras4B-NIH3T3 cells (13.48%) than pcDI-NIH3T3 (4.26%) or untreated NIH3T3 (2.33%). The pcDI-[12Asp]-K-ras4B-NIH3T3 cells injected to the nude mice Balb/C developed tumor nodules with poor-differentiated cells after 12 days. An increase of ERalpha and ERbeta was observed in pcDI-[12Asp]-K-ras4B-NIH3T3 cells. RafS621A downregulated ERalpha and ERbeta expression. Estrogen induced the ER transcriptional activity by 5-fold in pcDI-NIH3T3 cells, 13-fold in pcDI-[12Asp]K-ras4B-NIH3T3 and 19-fold in HEC-1A. RafS621A suppressed the ER transcriptional activity. CONCLUSIONS K-ras mutation induces tumorigenesis in endometrium, and this malignant transformation involves Raf signaling pathway and ER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Tu
- Department of Gynecology, Peking University People's Hospital, 11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, China
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Lin L, Su Z, Lebedeva IV, Gupta P, Boukerche H, Rai T, Barber GN, Dent P, Sarkar D, Fisher PB. Activation of Ras/Raf protects cells from melanoma differentiation-associated gene-5-induced apoptosis. Cell Death Differ 2006; 13:1982-93. [PMID: 16575407 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cdd.4401899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma differentiation-associated gene-5 (mda-5) was the first molecule identified in nature whose encoded protein embodied the unique structural combination of an N-terminal caspase recruitment domain and a C-terminal DExD/H RNA helicase domain. As suggested by its structure, cumulative evidences documented that ectopic expression of mda-5 leads to growth inhibition and/or apoptosis in various cell lines. However, the signaling pathways involved in mda-5-mediated killing have not been elucidated. In this study, we utilized either genetically modified cloned rat embryo fibroblast cells overexpressing different functionally and structurally distinct oncogenes or human pancreatic and colorectal carcinoma cells containing mutant active ras to resolve the role of the Ras/Raf signaling pathway in mda-5-mediated growth inhibition/apoptosis induction. Rodent and human tumor cells containing constitutively activated Raf/Raf/MEK/ERK pathways were resistant to mda-5-induced killing and this protection was antagonized by intervening in this signal transduction cascade either by directly inhibiting ras activity using an antisense strategy or by targeting ras-downstream factors, such as MEK1/2, with the pharmacological inhibitor PD98059. The present findings provide a further example of potential cross-talk between growth-inhibitory and growth-promoting pathways in which the ultimate balance of these factors defines cellular homeostasis, leading to survival or induction of programmed cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Lin
- Department of Pathology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
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