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Moura DS, Mondaza-Hernandez JL, Sanchez-Bustos P, Peña-Chilet M, Cordero-Varela JA, Lopez-Alvarez M, Carrillo-Garcia J, Martin-Ruiz M, Romero-Gonzalez P, Renshaw-Calderon M, Ramos R, Marcilla D, Alvarez-Alegret R, Agra-Pujol C, Izquierdo F, Ortega-Medina L, Martin-Davila F, Hernandez-Leon CN, Romagosa C, Salgado MAV, Lavernia J, Bagué S, Mayodormo-Aranda E, Alvarez R, Valverde C, Martinez-Trufero J, Castilla-Ramirez C, Gutierrez A, Dopazo J, Hindi N, Garcia-Foncillas J, Martin-Broto J. HMGA1 regulates trabectedin sensitivity in advanced soft-tissue sarcoma (STS): A Spanish Group for Research on Sarcomas (GEIS) study. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:219. [PMID: 38758230 PMCID: PMC11101398 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05250-y] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
HMGA1 is a structural epigenetic chromatin factor that has been associated with tumor progression and drug resistance. Here, we reported the prognostic/predictive value of HMGA1 for trabectedin in advanced soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) and the effect of inhibiting HMGA1 or the mTOR downstream pathway in trabectedin activity. The prognostic/predictive value of HMGA1 expression was assessed in a cohort of 301 STS patients at mRNA (n = 133) and protein level (n = 272), by HTG EdgeSeq transcriptomics and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The effect of HMGA1 silencing on trabectedin activity and gene expression profiling was measured in leiomyosarcoma cells. The effect of combining mTOR inhibitors with trabectedin was assessed on cell viability in vitro studies, whereas in vivo studies tested the activity of this combination. HMGA1 mRNA and protein expression were significantly associated with worse progression-free survival of trabectedin and worse overall survival in STS. HMGA1 silencing sensitized leiomyosarcoma cells for trabectedin treatment, reducing the spheroid area and increasing cell death. The downregulation of HGMA1 significantly decreased the enrichment of some specific gene sets, including the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. The inhibition of mTOR, sensitized leiomyosarcoma cultures for trabectedin treatment, increasing cell death. In in vivo studies, the combination of rapamycin with trabectedin downregulated HMGA1 expression and stabilized tumor growth of 3-methylcholantrene-induced sarcoma-like models. HMGA1 is an adverse prognostic factor for trabectedin treatment in advanced STS. HMGA1 silencing increases trabectedin efficacy, in part by modulating the mTOR signaling pathway. Trabectedin plus mTOR inhibitors are active in preclinical models of sarcoma, downregulating HMGA1 expression levels and stabilizing tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Moura
- Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28015, Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Oncology in University Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz,, Av. de los Reyes Católicos, 2, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Jose L Mondaza-Hernandez
- Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28015, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Sanchez-Bustos
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS, HUVR, CSIC, Universidad de Sevilla), 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Maria Peña-Chilet
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS, HUVR, CSIC, Universidad de Sevilla), 41013, Seville, Spain
- Clinical Bioinformatics Area, Fundación Progreso y Salud (FPS), CDCA, Hospital Virgen del Rocio, 41013, Seville, Spain
- Bioinformatics in Rare Diseases (BiER), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), FPS, Hospital Virgen del Rocio, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Juan A Cordero-Varela
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS, HUVR, CSIC, Universidad de Sevilla), 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Maria Lopez-Alvarez
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS, HUVR, CSIC, Universidad de Sevilla), 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Jaime Carrillo-Garcia
- Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28015, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Martin-Ruiz
- Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28015, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Romero-Gonzalez
- Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28015, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Renshaw-Calderon
- Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28015, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Ramos
- Pathology Department, Son Espases University Hospital, 07120, Mallorca, Spain
| | - David Marcilla
- Pathology Department, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Carolina Agra-Pujol
- Pathology Department, Gregorio Marañon Universitary Hospital, 28007, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Izquierdo
- Pathological Anatomy Service, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León, 24071, Leon, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Cleofe Romagosa
- Pathology department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Javier Lavernia
- Medical Oncology Department, Instituto Valenciano de Oncologia, 46009, Valencia, Spain
| | - Silvia Bagué
- Pathology Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08025, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Rosa Alvarez
- Medical Oncology Department, Gregorio Marañon Universitary Hospital, 28007, Madrid, Spain
| | - Claudia Valverde
- Medical Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Antonio Gutierrez
- Hematology Department, Son Espases University Hospital, 07120, Mallorca, Spain
| | - Joaquin Dopazo
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS, HUVR, CSIC, Universidad de Sevilla), 41013, Seville, Spain
- Clinical Bioinformatics Area, Fundación Progreso y Salud (FPS), CDCA, Hospital Virgen del Rocio, 41013, Seville, Spain
- Bioinformatics in Rare Diseases (BiER), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), FPS, Hospital Virgen del Rocio, 41013, Seville, Spain
- INB-ELIXIR-es, FPS, Hospital Virgen del Rocío, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Nadia Hindi
- Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28015, Madrid, Spain
- Medical Oncology Department, Fundación Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- General de Villalba University Hospital, 28400, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesus Garcia-Foncillas
- Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28015, Madrid, Spain
- Medical Oncology Department, Fundación Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- General de Villalba University Hospital, 28400, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Martin-Broto
- Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), 28015, Madrid, Spain.
- Medical Oncology Department, Fundación Jimenez Diaz University Hospital, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
- General de Villalba University Hospital, 28400, Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Oncology in University Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz,, Av. de los Reyes Católicos, 2, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
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2
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Ringwalt EM, Currier MA, Glaspell AM, Chen CY, Cannon MV, Cam M, Gross AC, Gust M, Wang PY, Boon L, Biederman LE, Schwarz E, Rajappa P, Lee DA, Mardis ER, Carson WE, Roberts RD, Cripe TP. Trabectedin Enhances Oncolytic Virotherapy by Reducing Barriers to Virus Spread and Cytotoxic Immunity in Preclinical Pediatric Bone Sarcoma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.02.582994. [PMID: 38464161 PMCID: PMC10925327 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.02.582994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
We previously reported that the DNA alkylator and transcriptional-blocking chemotherapeutic agent trabectedin enhances oncolytic herpes simplex viroimmunotherapy in human sarcoma xenograft models, though the mechanism remained to be elucidated. Here we report trabectedin disrupts the intrinsic cellular anti-viral response which increases viral transcript spread throughout the human tumor cells. We also extended our synergy findings to syngeneic murine sarcoma models, which are poorly susceptible to virus infection. In the absence of robust virus replication, we found trabectedin enhanced viroimmunotherapy efficacy by reducing immunosuppressive macrophages and stimulating granzyme expression in infiltrating T and NK cells to cause immune-mediated tumor regressions. Thus, trabectedin enhances both the direct virus-mediated killing of tumor cells and the viral-induced activation of cytotoxic effector lymphocytes to cause tumor regressions across models. Our data provide a strong rationale for clinical translation as both mechanisms should be simultaneously active in human patients.
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3
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Legrand AJ, Choul-li S, Villeret V, Aumercier M. Poly(ADP-ribose) Polyremase-1 (PARP-1) Inhibition: A Promising Therapeutic Strategy for ETS-Expressing Tumours. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13454. [PMID: 37686260 PMCID: PMC10487777 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
ETS transcription factors are a highly conserved family of proteins involved in the progression of many cancers, such as breast and prostate carcinomas, Ewing's sarcoma, and leukaemias. This significant involvement can be explained by their roles at all stages of carcinogenesis progression. Generally, their expression in tumours is associated with a poor prognosis and an aggressive phenotype. Until now, no efficient therapeutic strategy had emerged to specifically target ETS-expressing tumours. Nevertheless, there is evidence that pharmacological inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), a key DNA repair enzyme, specifically sensitises ETS-expressing cancer cells to DNA damage and limits tumour progression by leading some of the cancer cells to death. These effects result from a strong interplay between ETS transcription factors and the PARP-1 enzyme. This review summarises the existing knowledge of this molecular interaction and discusses the promising therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud J. Legrand
- CNRS, EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, F-59000 Lille, France; (A.J.L.); (V.V.)
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE-Risk Factors and Molecular Deter-minants of Aging-Related Diseases, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Souhaila Choul-li
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université Chouaib Doukkali, BP-20, El Jadida 24000, Morocco;
| | - Vincent Villeret
- CNRS, EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, F-59000 Lille, France; (A.J.L.); (V.V.)
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE-Risk Factors and Molecular Deter-minants of Aging-Related Diseases, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Marc Aumercier
- CNRS, EMR9002 Integrative Structural Biology, F-59000 Lille, France; (A.J.L.); (V.V.)
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1167-RID-AGE-Risk Factors and Molecular Deter-minants of Aging-Related Diseases, F-59000 Lille, France
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4
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Gong H, Xue B, Ru J, Pei G, Li Y. Targeted Therapy for EWS-FLI1 in Ewing Sarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4035. [PMID: 37627063 PMCID: PMC10452796 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15164035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is a rare and predominantly pediatric malignancy of bone and soft tissue in children and adolescents. Although international collaborations have greatly improved the prognosis of most EwS, the occurrence of macrometastases or relapse remains challenging. The prototypic oncogene EWS-FLI1 acts as an aberrant transcription factor that drives the cellular transformation of EwS. In addition to its involvement in RNA splicing and the DNA damage response, this chimeric protein directly binds to GGAA repeats, thereby modifying the transcriptional profile of EwS. Direct pharmacological targeting of EWS-FLI1 is difficult because of its intrinsically disordered structure. However, targeting the EWS-FLI1 protein complex or downstream pathways provides additional therapeutic options. This review describes the EWS-FLI1 protein partners and downstream pathways, as well as the related target therapies for the treatment of EwS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helong Gong
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110004, China;
| | - Busheng Xue
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China;
| | - Jinlong Ru
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Centre Munich, German Research Centre for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany;
| | - Guoqing Pei
- Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China;
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110004, China;
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5
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Chory EJ, Wang M, Ceribelli M, Michalowska AM, Golas S, Beck E, Klumpp-Thomas C, Chen L, McKnight C, Itkin Z, Wilson KM, Holland D, Divakaran S, Bradner J, Khan J, Gryder BE, Thomas CJ, Stanton BZ. High-throughput approaches to uncover synergistic drug combinations in leukemia. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2023; 28:193-201. [PMID: 37121274 PMCID: PMC10449086 DOI: 10.1016/j.slasd.2023.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
We report a comprehensive drug synergy study in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this work, we investigate a panel of cell lines spanning both MLL-rearranged and non-rearranged subtypes. The work comprises a resource for the community, with many synergistic drug combinations that could not have been predicted a priori, and open source code for automation and analyses. We base our definitions of drug synergy on the Chou-Talalay method, which is useful for visualizations of synergy experiments in isobolograms, and median-effects plots, among other representations. Our key findings include drug synergies affecting the chromatin state, specifically in the context of regulation of the modification state of histone H3 lysine-27. We report open source high throughput methodology such that multidimensional drug screening can be accomplished with equipment that is accessible to most laboratories. This study will enable preclinical investigation of new drug combinations in a lethal blood cancer, with data analysis and automation workflows freely available to the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma J Chory
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.; Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA..
| | - Meng Wang
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Michele Ceribelli
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville MD 20850, USA
| | - Aleksandra M Michalowska
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville MD 20850, USA
| | - Stefan Golas
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Erin Beck
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville MD 20850, USA
| | - Carleen Klumpp-Thomas
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville MD 20850, USA
| | - Lu Chen
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville MD 20850, USA
| | - Crystal McKnight
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville MD 20850, USA
| | - Zina Itkin
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville MD 20850, USA
| | - Kelli M Wilson
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville MD 20850, USA
| | - David Holland
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville MD 20850, USA
| | - Sanjay Divakaran
- Cardio-Oncology Program, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James Bradner
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Berkley E Gryder
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.; Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
| | - Craig J Thomas
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville MD 20850, USA.; Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Benjamin Z Stanton
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Columbus, OH, USA.; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry & Pharmacology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA..
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6
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Wood GE, Graves LA, Rubin EM, Reed DR, Riedel RF, Strauss SJ. Bad to the Bone: Emerging Approaches to Aggressive Bone Sarcomas. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2023; 43:e390306. [PMID: 37220319 DOI: 10.1200/edbk_390306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Bone sarcomas are rare heterogeneous tumors that affect patients of all ages including children, adolescent young adults, and older adults. They include many aggressive subtypes and patient groups with poor outcomes, poor access to clinical trials, and lack of defined standard therapeutic strategies. Conventional chondrosarcoma remains a surgical disease, with no defined role for cytotoxic therapy and no approved targeted systemic therapies. Here, we discuss promising novel targets and strategies undergoing evaluation in clinical trials. Multiagent chemotherapy has greatly improved outcomes for patients with Ewing sarcoma (ES) and osteosarcoma, but management of those with high-risk or recurrent disease remains challenging and controversial. We describe the impact of international collaborative trials, such as the rEECur study, that aim to define optimal treatment strategies for those with recurrent, refractory ES, and evidence for high-dose chemotherapy with stem-cell support. We also discuss current and emerging strategies for other small round cell sarcomas, such as CIC-rearranged, BCOR-rearranged tumors, and the evaluation of emerging novel therapeutics and trial designs that may offer a new paradigm to improve survival in these aggressive tumors with notoriously bad (to the bone) outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina E Wood
- Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laurie A Graves
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Elyssa M Rubin
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA
| | - Damon R Reed
- Department of Individualized Cancer Management, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | - Richard F Riedel
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC
| | - Sandra J Strauss
- Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
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7
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Wang Y, Huang Z, Sun M, Huang W, Xia L. ETS transcription factors: Multifaceted players from cancer progression to tumor immunity. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188872. [PMID: 36841365 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
The E26 transformation specific (ETS) family comprises 28 transcription factors, the majority of which are involved in tumor initiation and development. Serving as a group of functionally heterogeneous gene regulators, ETS factors possess a structurally conserved DNA-binding domain. As one of the most prominent families of transcription factors that control diverse cellular functions, ETS activation is modulated by multiple intracellular signaling pathways and post-translational modifications. Disturbances in ETS activity often lead to abnormal changes in oncogenicity, including cancer cell survival, growth, proliferation, metastasis, genetic instability, cell metabolism, and tumor immunity. This review systematically addresses the basics and advances in studying ETS factors, from their tumor relevance to clinical translational utility, with a particular focus on elucidating the role of ETS family in tumor immunity, aiming to decipher the vital role and clinical potential of regulation of ETS factors in the cancer field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufei Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zhao Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Mengyu Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Wenjie Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
| | - Limin Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China.
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8
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Veluvolu SM, Grohar PJ. Importance of pharmacologic considerations in the development of targeted anticancer agents for children. Curr Opin Pediatr 2023; 35:91-96. [PMID: 36562272 DOI: 10.1097/mop.0000000000001208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose of this review is to describe key pharmacologic considerations to inform strategies in drug development for pediatric cancer. RECENT FINDINGS Main themes that will be discussed include considering patient specific factors, epigenetic/genetic tumor context, and drug schedule when optimizing protocols to treat pediatric cancers. SUMMARY Considering these factors will allow us to more effectively translate novel targeted therapies to benefit pediatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sridhar M Veluvolu
- Division of Oncology, Center of Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
| | - Patrick J Grohar
- Division of Oncology, Center of Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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9
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Ewing Sarcoma Meets Epigenetics, Immunology and Nanomedicine: Moving Forward into Novel Therapeutic Strategies. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14215473. [PMID: 36358891 PMCID: PMC9658520 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Ewing Sarcoma treatment is traditionally based on chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. Although these standard of care regimens are efficient at early disease stages, many patients fail to respond appropriately, which has prompted the search for more efficacious and specific treatments. A deeper understanding of the basic molecular mechanisms underlying the biology of both tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment, as well as advances in drug delivery, has led to the development of different approaches to improve the treatment in Ewing Sarcoma patients. Thus, epigenetic, and immunotherapy-based drugs, along with nanotechnology delivery strategies, represent novel preclinical and clinical studies in the treatment of Ewing Sarcoma. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of these emerging therapeutic strategies and summarize the potential of the latest preclinical and clinical trials in Ewing Sarcoma research. Finally, we underline the value and future directions of these new treatments. Abstract Ewing Sarcoma (EWS) is an aggressive bone and soft tissue tumor that mainly affects children, adolescents, and young adults. The standard therapy, including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy, has substantially improved the survival of EWS patients with localized disease. Unfortunately, this multimodal treatment remains elusive in clinics for those patients with recurrent or metastatic disease who have an unfavorable prognosis. Consistently, there is an urgent need to find new strategies for patients that fail to respond to standard therapies. In this regard, in the last decade, treatments targeting epigenetic dependencies in tumor cells and the immune system have emerged into the clinical scenario. Additionally, recent advances in nanomedicine provide novel delivery drug systems, which may address challenges such as side effects and toxicity. Therefore, therapeutic strategies stemming from epigenetics, immunology, and nanomedicine yield promising alternatives for treating these patients. In this review, we highlight the most relevant EWS preclinical and clinical studies in epigenetics, immunotherapy, and nanotherapy conducted in the last five years.
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10
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Gedminas JM, Kaufman R, Boguslawski EA, Gross AC, Adams M, Beddows I, Kitchen-Goosen SM, Roberts RD, Grohar PJ. Lurbinectedin Inhibits the EWS-WT1 Transcription Factor in Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor. Mol Cancer Ther 2022; 21:1296-1305. [PMID: 35657345 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-1003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare pediatric sarcoma with poor overall survival. This tumor is absolutely dependent on the continued expression and activity of its defining molecular lesion, the EWS-WT1 transcription factor. Unfortunately, the therapeutic targeting of transcription factors is challenging, and there is a critical need to identify compounds that inhibit EWS-WT1. Here we show that the compound lurbinectedin inhibits EWS-WT1 by redistributing the protein within the nucleus to the nucleolus. This nucleolar redistribution interferes with the activity of EWS-WT1 to reverse the expression of over 70% of the transcriptome. In addition, the compound blocks the expression of the EWS-WT1 fusion protein to inhibit cell proliferation at the lowest GI50 ever reported for this compound in any cell type. The effects occur at concentrations that are easily achievable in the clinic and translate to the in vivo setting to cause tumor regressions in multiple mice in a xenograft and PDX model of DSRCT. Importantly, this mechanism of nucleolar redistribution is also seen with wild-type EWSR1 and the related fusion protein EWS-FLI1. This provides evidence for a "class effect" for the more than 18 tumors driven by EWSR1 fusion proteins. More importantly, the data establish lurbinectedin as a promising clinical candidate for DSRCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna M Gedminas
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Rebecca Kaufman
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Elissa A Boguslawski
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Amy C Gross
- Center for Childhood Cancer, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Marie Adams
- Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Ian Beddows
- Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | | | - Ryan D Roberts
- Center for Childhood Cancer, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Patrick J Grohar
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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11
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Barghi F, Shannon HE, Saadatzadeh MR, Bailey BJ, Riyahi N, Bijangi-Vishehsaraei K, Just M, Ferguson MJ, Pandya PH, Pollok KE. Precision Medicine Highlights Dysregulation of the CDK4/6 Cell Cycle Regulatory Pathway in Pediatric, Adolescents and Young Adult Sarcomas. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153611. [PMID: 35892870 PMCID: PMC9331212 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153611] [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: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This review provides an overview of clinical features and current therapies in children, adolescents, and young adults (AYA) with sarcoma. It highlights the basic and clinical findings on the cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) cell cycle regulatory pathway in the context of the precision medicine-based molecular profiles of the three most common types of pediatric and AYA sarcomas—osteosarcoma (OS), rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), and Ewing sarcoma (EWS). Abstract Despite improved therapeutic and clinical outcomes for patients with localized diseases, outcomes for pediatric and AYA sarcoma patients with high-grade or aggressive disease are still relatively poor. With advancements in next generation sequencing (NGS), precision medicine now provides a strategy to improve outcomes in patients with aggressive disease by identifying biomarkers of therapeutic sensitivity or resistance. The integration of NGS into clinical decision making not only increases the accuracy of diagnosis and prognosis, but also has the potential to identify effective and less toxic therapies for pediatric and AYA sarcomas. Genome and transcriptome profiling have detected dysregulation of the CDK4/6 cell cycle regulatory pathway in subpopulations of pediatric and AYA OS, RMS, and EWS. In these patients, the inhibition of CDK4/6 represents a promising precision medicine-guided therapy. There is a critical need, however, to identify novel and promising combination therapies to fight the development of resistance to CDK4/6 inhibition. In this review, we offer rationale and perspective on the promise and challenges of this therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farinaz Barghi
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (H.E.S.); (M.R.S.); (B.J.B.); (N.R.); (K.B.-V.)
| | - Harlan E. Shannon
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (H.E.S.); (M.R.S.); (B.J.B.); (N.R.); (K.B.-V.)
| | - M. Reza Saadatzadeh
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (H.E.S.); (M.R.S.); (B.J.B.); (N.R.); (K.B.-V.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (M.J.); (M.J.F.)
| | - Barbara J. Bailey
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (H.E.S.); (M.R.S.); (B.J.B.); (N.R.); (K.B.-V.)
| | - Niknam Riyahi
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (H.E.S.); (M.R.S.); (B.J.B.); (N.R.); (K.B.-V.)
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Khadijeh Bijangi-Vishehsaraei
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (H.E.S.); (M.R.S.); (B.J.B.); (N.R.); (K.B.-V.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (M.J.); (M.J.F.)
| | - Marissa Just
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (M.J.); (M.J.F.)
| | - Michael J. Ferguson
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (M.J.); (M.J.F.)
| | - Pankita H. Pandya
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (H.E.S.); (M.R.S.); (B.J.B.); (N.R.); (K.B.-V.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (M.J.); (M.J.F.)
- Correspondence: (P.H.P.); (K.E.P.)
| | - Karen E. Pollok
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (H.E.S.); (M.R.S.); (B.J.B.); (N.R.); (K.B.-V.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; (M.J.); (M.J.F.)
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Correspondence: (P.H.P.); (K.E.P.)
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12
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Flores G, Grohar PJ. One oncogene, several vulnerabilities: EWS/FLI targeted therapies for Ewing sarcoma. J Bone Oncol 2021; 31:100404. [PMID: 34976713 PMCID: PMC8686064 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbo.2021.100404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
EWS/FLI is the defining mutation of Ewing sarcoma. This oncogene drives malignant transformation and progression and occurs in a genetic background characterized by few other recurrent cooperating mutations. In addition, the tumor is absolutely dependent on the continued expression of EWS/FLI to maintain the malignant phenotype. However, EWS/FLI is a transcription factor and therefore a challenging drug target. The difficulty of directly targeting EWS/FLI stems from unique features of this fusion protein as well as the network of interacting proteins required to execute the transcriptional program. This network includes interacting proteins as well as upstream and downstream effectors that together reprogram the epigenome and transcriptome. While the vast number of proteins involved in this process challenge the development of a highly specific inhibitors, they also yield numerous therapeutic opportunities. In this report, we will review how this vast EWS-FLI transcriptional network has been exploited over the last two decades to identify compounds that directly target EWS/FLI and/or associated vulnerabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Flores
- Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, USA
| | - Patrick J Grohar
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, 3501 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, USA
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13
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Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) are essential mediators of epigenetic regulation and modifiers of penetrance. Studies from the past decades have revealed a sub-class of TF that is capable of remodeling closed chromatin states through targeting nucleosomal motifs. This pioneer factor (PF) class of chromatin remodeler is ATP independent in its roles in epigenetic initiation, with nucleosome-motif recognition and association with repressive chromatin regions. Increasing evidence suggests that the fundamental properties of PFs can be coopted in human cancers. We explore the role of PFs in the larger context of tissue-specific epigenetic regulation. Moreover, we highlight an emerging class of chimeric PF derived from translocation partners in human disease and PFs associated with rare tumors. In the age of site-directed genome editing and targeted protein degradation, increasing our understanding of PFs will provide access to next-generation therapy for human disease driven from altered transcriptional circuitry.
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14
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Tang F, Tie Y, Wei YQ, Tu CQ, Wei XW. Targeted and immuno-based therapies in sarcoma: mechanisms and advances in clinical trials. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2021; 1876:188606. [PMID: 34371128 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Sarcomas represent a distinct group of rare malignant tumors with high heterogeneity. Limited options with clinical efficacy for the metastatic or local advanced sarcoma existed despite standard therapy. Recently, targeted therapy according to the molecular and genetic phenotype of individual sarcoma is a promising option. Among these drugs, anti-angiogenesis therapy achieved favorable efficacy in sarcomas. Inhibitors targeting cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6, poly-ADP-ribose polymerase, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, mTOR, NTRK, metabolisms, and epigenetic drugs are under clinical evaluation for sarcomas bearing the corresponding signals. Immunotherapy represents a promising and favorable method in advanced solid tumors. However, most sarcomas are immune "cold" tumors, with only alveolar soft part sarcoma and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Cellular therapies with TCR-engineered T cells, chimeric antigen receptor T cells, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, and nature killer cells transfer show therapeutic potential. Identifying tumor-specific antigens and exploring immune modulation factors arguing the efficacy of these immunotherapies are the current challenges. This review focuses on the mechanisms, advances, and potential strategies of targeted and immune-based therapies in sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Tang
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Orthopeadics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Tie
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu-Quan Wei
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chong-Qi Tu
- Department of Orthopeadics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Xia-Wei Wei
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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15
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Heisey DAR, Jacob S, Lochmann TL, Kurupi R, Ghotra MS, Calbert ML, Shende M, Maves YK, Koblinski JE, Dozmorov MG, Boikos SA, Benes CH, Faber AC. Pharmaceutical Interference of the EWS-FLI1-driven Transcriptome By Cotargeting H3K27ac and RNA Polymerase Activity in Ewing Sarcoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:1868-1879. [PMID: 34315769 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The EWSR1-FLI1 t(11;22)(q24;q12) translocation is the hallmark genomic alteration of Ewing sarcoma, a malignancy of the bone and surrounding tissue, predominantly affecting children and adolescents. Although significant progress has been made for the treatment of localized disease, patients with metastasis or who relapse after chemotherapy have less than a 30% five-year survival rate. EWS-FLI1 is currently not clinically druggable, driving the need for more effective targeted therapies. Treatment with the H3K27 demethylase inhibitor, GSK-J4, leads to an increase in H3K27me and a decrease in H3K27ac, a significant event in Ewing sarcoma because H3K27ac associates strongly with EWS-FLI1 binding at enhancers and promoters and subsequent activity of EWS-FLI1 target genes. We were able to identify targets of EWS-FLI1 tumorigenesis directly inhibited by GSK-J4. GSK-J4 disruption of EWS-FLI1-driven transcription was toxic to Ewing sarcoma cells and slowed tumor growth in patient-derived xenografts (PDX) of Ewing sarcoma. Responses were markedly exacerbated by cotreatment with a disruptor of RNA polymerase II activity, the CDK7 inhibitor THZ1. This combination together suppressed EWS-FLI1 target genes and viability of ex vivo PDX Ewing sarcoma cells in a synergistic manner. In PDX models of Ewing Sarcoma, the combination shrank tumors. We present a new therapeutic strategy to treat Ewing sarcoma by decreasing H3K27ac at EWS-FLI1-driven transcripts, exacerbated by blocking phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II to further hinder the EWS-FLI1-driven transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A R Heisey
- VCU Philips Institute, School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center; Richmond, Virginia
| | - Sheeba Jacob
- VCU Philips Institute, School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center; Richmond, Virginia
| | - Timothy L Lochmann
- VCU Philips Institute, School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center; Richmond, Virginia
| | - Richard Kurupi
- VCU Philips Institute, School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center; Richmond, Virginia
| | - Maninderjit S Ghotra
- VCU Philips Institute, School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center; Richmond, Virginia
| | - Marissa L Calbert
- VCU Philips Institute, School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center; Richmond, Virginia
| | - Mayuri Shende
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | | | | | - Mikhail G Dozmorov
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Sosipatros A Boikos
- Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, School of Medicine and Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
| | - Cyril H Benes
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Anthony C Faber
- VCU Philips Institute, School of Dentistry and Massey Cancer Center; Richmond, Virginia.
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16
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Gartrell J, Rodriguez-Galindo C. Ewing sarcoma: investigational mono- and combination therapies in clinical trials. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2021; 30:653-663. [PMID: 33870845 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2021.1919623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Over the last decades, multi-institutional clinical trials have resulted in significant improvements in the outcomes of patients with localized Ewing sarcoma; however, those with metastatic and recurrent diseases continue to fare poorly. More recently, advancements made in understanding the biology of the disease and mechanisms of response to therapy have opened the door for the incorporation of targeted therapies. Here we review the current state of treatment for Ewing sarcoma and the most recent preclinical advancements that have the potential to translate to improved care. AREAS COVERED This review provides a general overview of the most recent clinical trials completed in Ewing sarcoma, as well as the preclinical and translational data that has the potential to be incorporated into clinical trials. A PubMed review as well as a review of published meeting abstracts was used to compose this review. EXPERT OPINION While dose-intenstifying strategies have failed to lead to improvements in outcomes for patients with the highest-risk disease, recent preclinical advancements have shed light on potential new targeted strategies. The lack of early-phase clinical trial responses should not deter us from further developing these agents, but instead should guide us in designing novel combination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Gartrell
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States of America
| | - Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States of America.,Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States of America
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17
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Zöllner SK, Amatruda JF, Bauer S, Collaud S, de Álava E, DuBois SG, Hardes J, Hartmann W, Kovar H, Metzler M, Shulman DS, Streitbürger A, Timmermann B, Toretsky JA, Uhlenbruch Y, Vieth V, Grünewald TGP, Dirksen U. Ewing Sarcoma-Diagnosis, Treatment, Clinical Challenges and Future Perspectives. J Clin Med 2021; 10:1685. [PMID: 33919988 PMCID: PMC8071040 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10081685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma, a highly aggressive bone and soft-tissue cancer, is considered a prime example of the paradigms of a translocation-positive sarcoma: a genetically rather simple disease with a specific and neomorphic-potential therapeutic target, whose oncogenic role was irrefutably defined decades ago. This is a disease that by definition has micrometastatic disease at diagnosis and a dismal prognosis for patients with macrometastatic or recurrent disease. International collaborations have defined the current standard of care in prospective studies, delivering multiple cycles of systemic therapy combined with local treatment; both are associated with significant morbidity that may result in strong psychological and physical burden for survivors. Nevertheless, the combination of non-directed chemotherapeutics and ever-evolving local modalities nowadays achieve a realistic chance of cure for the majority of patients with Ewing sarcoma. In this review, we focus on the current standard of diagnosis and treatment while attempting to answer some of the most pressing questions in clinical practice. In addition, this review provides scientific answers to clinical phenomena and occasionally defines the resulting translational studies needed to overcome the hurdle of treatment-associated morbidities and, most importantly, non-survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan K. Zöllner
- Pediatrics III, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany;
- West German Cancer Center (WTZ), University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (S.B.); (S.C.); (J.H.); (A.S.); (B.T.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Essen/Düsseldorf, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - James F. Amatruda
- Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA;
| | - Sebastian Bauer
- West German Cancer Center (WTZ), University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (S.B.); (S.C.); (J.H.); (A.S.); (B.T.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Essen/Düsseldorf, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sarcoma Center, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Stéphane Collaud
- West German Cancer Center (WTZ), University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (S.B.); (S.C.); (J.H.); (A.S.); (B.T.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Essen/Düsseldorf, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruhrlandklinik, University of Essen-Duisburg, 45239 Essen, Germany
| | - Enrique de Álava
- Institute of Biomedicine of Sevilla (IbiS), Virgen del Rocio University Hospital, CSIC, University of Sevilla, CIBERONC, 41013 Seville, Spain;
- Department of Normal and Pathological Cytology and Histology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
| | - Steven G. DuBois
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (S.G.D.); (D.S.S.)
| | - Jendrik Hardes
- West German Cancer Center (WTZ), University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (S.B.); (S.C.); (J.H.); (A.S.); (B.T.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Essen/Düsseldorf, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Sarcoma Center, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Hartmann
- Division of Translational Pathology, Gerhard-Domagk Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany;
- West German Cancer Center (WTZ), Network Partner Site, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Heinrich Kovar
- St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute and Medical University Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Markus Metzler
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany;
| | - David S. Shulman
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (S.G.D.); (D.S.S.)
| | - Arne Streitbürger
- West German Cancer Center (WTZ), University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (S.B.); (S.C.); (J.H.); (A.S.); (B.T.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Essen/Düsseldorf, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Sarcoma Center, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Beate Timmermann
- West German Cancer Center (WTZ), University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (S.B.); (S.C.); (J.H.); (A.S.); (B.T.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Essen/Düsseldorf, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Department of Particle Therapy, University Hospital Essen, West German Proton Therapy Centre, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Jeffrey A. Toretsky
- Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA;
| | - Yasmin Uhlenbruch
- St. Josefs Hospital Bochum, University Hospital, 44791 Bochum, Germany;
| | - Volker Vieth
- Department of Radiology, Klinikum Ibbenbüren, 49477 Ibbenbühren, Germany;
| | - Thomas G. P. Grünewald
- Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research, Hopp-Children’s Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
- Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Core Center, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Uta Dirksen
- Pediatrics III, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany;
- West German Cancer Center (WTZ), University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany; (S.B.); (S.C.); (J.H.); (A.S.); (B.T.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Essen/Düsseldorf, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
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18
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Chasse MH, Johnson BK, Boguslawski EA, Sorensen KM, Rosien JE, Kang MH, Reynolds CP, Heo L, Madaj ZB, Beddows I, Foxa GE, Kitchen‐Goosen SM, Williams BO, Triche TJ, Grohar PJ. Mithramycin induces promoter reprogramming and differentiation of rhabdoid tumor. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e12640. [PMID: 33332735 PMCID: PMC7863405 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202012640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdoid tumor (RT) is a pediatric cancer characterized by the inactivation of SMARCB1, a subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. Although this deletion is the known oncogenic driver, there are limited effective therapeutic options for these patients. Here we use unbiased screening of cell line panels to identify a heightened sensitivity of rhabdoid tumor to mithramycin and the second-generation analogue EC8042. The sensitivity of MMA and EC8042 was superior to traditional DNA damaging agents and linked to the causative mutation of the tumor, SMARCB1 deletion. Mithramycin blocks SMARCB1-deficient SWI/SNF activity and displaces the complex from chromatin to cause an increase in H3K27me3. This triggers chromatin remodeling and enrichment of H3K27ac at chromHMM-defined promoters to restore cellular differentiation. These effects occurred at concentrations not associated with DNA damage and were not due to global chromatin remodeling or widespread gene expression changes. Importantly, a single 3-day infusion of EC8042 caused dramatic regressions of RT xenografts, recapitulated the increase in H3K27me3, and cellular differentiation described in vitro to completely cure three out of eight mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Min H Kang
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences CenterLubbockTXUSA
| | | | - Lyong Heo
- Van Andel Research InstituteGrand RapidsMIUSA
| | | | - Ian Beddows
- Van Andel Research InstituteGrand RapidsMIUSA
| | | | | | | | | | - Patrick J Grohar
- Van Andel Research InstituteGrand RapidsMIUSA
- The Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPAUSA
- University of PennsylvaniaPerelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPAUSA
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19
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Abstract
The prognosis for childhood cancer has improved considerably over the past 50 years. This improvement is attributed to well-designed clinical trials which have incorporated chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. With an increased understanding of cancer biology and genetics, we have entered an era of precision medicine and immunotherapy that provides potential for improved cure rates. However, preclinical evaluation of these therapies is more nuanced, requiring more robust animal models. Evaluation of targeted treatments requires molecularly defined xenograft models that can capture the diversity within pediatric cancer. The development of novel immunotherapies ideally involves the use of animal models that can accurately recapitulate the human immune response. In this review, we provide an overview of xenograft models for childhood cancers, review successful examples of novel therapies translated from xenograft models to the clinic, and describe the modern tools of xenograft biobanks and humanized xenograft models for the study of immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin O McNerney
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Divisions of Hematology and Oncology, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - David T Teachey
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Divisions of Hematology and Oncology, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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20
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Kerdivel G, Boeva V. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Followed by Next-Generation Sequencing (ChIP-Seq) Analysis in Ewing Sarcoma. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2226:265-284. [PMID: 33326109 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1020-6_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
ChIP-seq is the method of choice for profiling protein-DNA interactions, and notably for characterizing the landscape of transcription factor binding and histone modifications. This technique has been widely used to study numerous aspects of tumor biology and led to the development of several promising cancer therapies. In Ewing sarcoma research, ChIP-seq provided important insights into the mechanism of action of the major oncogenic fusion protein EWSR1-FLI1 and related epigenetic and transcriptional changes. In this chapter, we provide a detailed pipeline to analyze ChIP-seq experiments from the preprocessing of raw data to tertiary analysis of detected binding sites. We also advise on best practice to prepare tumor samples prior to sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwenneg Kerdivel
- Cochin Institute, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, University of Paris, Paris, France.
| | - Valentina Boeva
- INSERM, U1016, Cochin Institute, CNRS UMR8104, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France. .,Department of Computer Science, ETH Zurich, Institute for Machine Learning, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Zürich, Switzerland.
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21
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Grünewald TGP, Alonso M, Avnet S, Banito A, Burdach S, Cidre‐Aranaz F, Di Pompo G, Distel M, Dorado‐Garcia H, Garcia‐Castro J, González‐González L, Grigoriadis AE, Kasan M, Koelsche C, Krumbholz M, Lecanda F, Lemma S, Longo DL, Madrigal‐Esquivel C, Morales‐Molina Á, Musa J, Ohmura S, Ory B, Pereira‐Silva M, Perut F, Rodriguez R, Seeling C, Al Shaaili N, Shaabani S, Shiavone K, Sinha S, Tomazou EM, Trautmann M, Vela M, Versleijen‐Jonkers YMH, Visgauss J, Zalacain M, Schober SJ, Lissat A, English WR, Baldini N, Heymann D. Sarcoma treatment in the era of molecular medicine. EMBO Mol Med 2020; 12:e11131. [PMID: 33047515 PMCID: PMC7645378 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201911131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcomas are heterogeneous and clinically challenging soft tissue and bone cancers. Although constituting only 1% of all human malignancies, sarcomas represent the second most common type of solid tumors in children and adolescents and comprise an important group of secondary malignancies. More than 100 histological subtypes have been characterized to date, and many more are being discovered due to molecular profiling. Owing to their mostly aggressive biological behavior, relative rarity, and occurrence at virtually every anatomical site, many sarcoma subtypes are in particular difficult-to-treat categories. Current multimodal treatment concepts combine surgery, polychemotherapy (with/without local hyperthermia), irradiation, immunotherapy, and/or targeted therapeutics. Recent scientific advancements have enabled a more precise molecular characterization of sarcoma subtypes and revealed novel therapeutic targets and prognostic/predictive biomarkers. This review aims at providing a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in the molecular biology of sarcomas and their effects on clinical oncology; it is meant for a broad readership ranging from novices to experts in the field of sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas GP Grünewald
- Max‐Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma BiologyInstitute of PathologyFaculty of MedicineLMU MunichMunichGermany
- Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma ResearchGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK)HeidelbergGermany
- Institute of PathologyHeidelberg University HospitalHeidelbergGermany
| | - Marta Alonso
- Program in Solid Tumors and BiomarkersFoundation for the Applied Medical ResearchUniversity of Navarra PamplonaPamplonaSpain
| | - Sofia Avnet
- Orthopedic Pathophysiology and Regenerative Medicine UnitIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico RizzoliBolognaItaly
| | - Ana Banito
- Pediatric Soft Tissue Sarcoma Research GroupGerman Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)HeidelbergGermany
| | - Stefan Burdach
- Department of Pediatrics and Children's Cancer Research Center (CCRC)Technische Universität MünchenMunichGermany
| | - Florencia Cidre‐Aranaz
- Max‐Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma BiologyInstitute of PathologyFaculty of MedicineLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | - Gemma Di Pompo
- Orthopedic Pathophysiology and Regenerative Medicine UnitIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico RizzoliBolognaItaly
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Merve Kasan
- Max‐Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma BiologyInstitute of PathologyFaculty of MedicineLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | | | | | - Fernando Lecanda
- Division of OncologyAdhesion and Metastasis LaboratoryCenter for Applied Medical ResearchUniversity of NavarraPamplonaSpain
| | - Silvia Lemma
- Orthopedic Pathophysiology and Regenerative Medicine UnitIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico RizzoliBolognaItaly
| | - Dario L Longo
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB)Italian National Research Council (CNR)TurinItaly
| | | | | | - Julian Musa
- Max‐Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma BiologyInstitute of PathologyFaculty of MedicineLMU MunichMunichGermany
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation SurgeryUniversity of HeidelbergHeidelbergGermany
| | - Shunya Ohmura
- Max‐Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma BiologyInstitute of PathologyFaculty of MedicineLMU MunichMunichGermany
| | | | - Miguel Pereira‐Silva
- Department of Pharmaceutical TechnologyFaculty of PharmacyUniversity of CoimbraCoimbraPortugal
| | - Francesca Perut
- Orthopedic Pathophysiology and Regenerative Medicine UnitIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico RizzoliBolognaItaly
| | - Rene Rodriguez
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de AsturiasOviedoSpain
- CIBER en oncología (CIBERONC)MadridSpain
| | | | - Nada Al Shaaili
- Department of Oncology and MetabolismUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Shabnam Shaabani
- Department of Drug DesignUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Kristina Shiavone
- Department of Oncology and MetabolismUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Snehadri Sinha
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial DiseasesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | | | - Marcel Trautmann
- Division of Translational PathologyGerhard‐Domagk‐Institute of PathologyMünster University HospitalMünsterGermany
| | - Maria Vela
- Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ)MadridSpain
| | | | | | - Marta Zalacain
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB)Italian National Research Council (CNR)TurinItaly
| | - Sebastian J Schober
- Department of Pediatrics and Children's Cancer Research Center (CCRC)Technische Universität MünchenMunichGermany
| | - Andrej Lissat
- University Children′s Hospital Zurich – Eleonoren FoundationKanton ZürichZürichSwitzerland
| | - William R English
- Department of Oncology and MetabolismUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Nicola Baldini
- Orthopedic Pathophysiology and Regenerative Medicine UnitIRCCS Istituto Ortopedico RizzoliBolognaItaly
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Dominique Heymann
- Department of Oncology and MetabolismUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
- Université de NantesInstitut de Cancérologie de l'OuestTumor Heterogeneity and Precision MedicineSaint‐HerblainFrance
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22
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23
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Bexelius TS, Wasti A, Chisholm JC. Mini-Review on Targeted Treatment of Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor. Front Oncol 2020; 10:518. [PMID: 32373525 PMCID: PMC7186354 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a devastating disease which most commonly affects adolescents, with a male predominance. Despite the best multimodality treatment efforts, most patients will ultimately not survive more than 3-5 years after diagnosis. Some research trials in soft-tissue sarcoma and Ewing sarcoma include DSRCT patients but few studies have been tailored to the specific clinical needs and underlying cytogenetic abnormalities characterizing this disease such as the typical EWSR1-WT1 gene fusion. Downstream activation of EWSR1-WT1 gene fusion includes signaling pathways of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and insulin growth factor (IGF)-1. Other biological pathways that are activated and expressed in DSRCT cells include endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), androgen receptor pathway, c-KIT, MET, and transforming growth factor (TGF) beta. Investigation of somatic mutations, copy number alterations (CNA), and chromosomes in DSRCT samples suggests that deregulation of mesenchymal-epithelial reverse transition (MErT)/epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and DNA damage repair (DDR) may be important in DSRCT. This mini review looks at known druggable targets in DSRCT and existing clinical evidence for targeted treatments, particularly multityrosine kinase inhibitors such as pazopanib, imatinib, and sorafenib alone or in combination with other agents such as mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) inhibitors. The aim is to increase shared knowledge about current available treatments and identify gaps in research to further efforts toward clinical development of targeted agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas S. Bexelius
- Children and Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom
- Department of Women and Children Health at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ajla Wasti
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Julia C. Chisholm
- Children and Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom
- Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
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24
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Poirier JT, George J, Owonikoko TK, Berns A, Brambilla E, Byers LA, Carbone D, Chen HJ, Christensen CL, Dive C, Farago AF, Govindan R, Hann C, Hellmann MD, Horn L, Johnson JE, Ju YS, Kang S, Krasnow M, Lee J, Lee SH, Lehman J, Lok B, Lovly C, MacPherson D, McFadden D, Minna J, Oser M, Park K, Park KS, Pommier Y, Quaranta V, Ready N, Sage J, Scagliotti G, Sos ML, Sutherland KD, Travis WD, Vakoc CR, Wait SJ, Wistuba I, Wong KK, Zhang H, Daigneault J, Wiens J, Rudin CM, Oliver TG. New Approaches to SCLC Therapy: From the Laboratory to the Clinic. J Thorac Oncol 2020; 15:520-540. [PMID: 32018053 PMCID: PMC7263769 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2020.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The outcomes of patients with SCLC have not yet been substantially impacted by the revolution in precision oncology, primarily owing to a paucity of genetic alterations in actionable driver oncogenes. Nevertheless, systemic therapies that include immunotherapy are beginning to show promise in the clinic. Although, these results are encouraging, many patients do not respond to, or rapidly recur after, current regimens, necessitating alternative or complementary therapeutic strategies. In this review, we discuss ongoing investigations into the pathobiology of this recalcitrant cancer and the therapeutic vulnerabilities that are exposed by the disease state. Included within this discussion, is a snapshot of the current biomarker and clinical trial landscapes for SCLC. Finally, we identify key knowledge gaps that should be addressed to advance the field in pursuit of reduced SCLC mortality. This review largely summarizes work presented at the Third Biennial International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer SCLC Meeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- John T Poirier
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Julie George
- Department of Translational Genomics, Center of Integrated Oncology Cologne-Bonn, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne Germany
| | | | - Anton Berns
- The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Caroline Dive
- Cancer Research United Kingdom, Manchester Institute, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Anna F Farago
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Christine Hann
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Leora Horn
- Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | | | | | - Sumin Kang
- Emory University, Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Mark Krasnow
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - James Lee
- The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Se-Hoon Lee
- Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | - Benjamin Lok
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | | | - John Minna
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Matthew Oser
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Keunchil Park
- Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | - Yves Pommier
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | | | - Julien Sage
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | | | - Martin L Sos
- Department of Translational Genomics, Center of Integrated Oncology Cologne-Bonn, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne Germany; Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Kate D Sutherland
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
| | | | | | - Sarah J Wait
- Huntsman Cancer Institute and University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | | | - Kwok Kin Wong
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Hua Zhang
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Jillian Daigneault
- International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Jacinta Wiens
- International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, Aurora, Colorado
| | | | - Trudy G Oliver
- Huntsman Cancer Institute and University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
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25
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Flores G, Everett JH, Boguslawski EA, Oswald BM, Madaj ZB, Beddows I, Dikalov S, Adams M, Klumpp-Thomas CA, Kitchen-Goosen SM, Martin SE, Caplen NJ, Helman LJ, Grohar PJ. CDK9 Blockade Exploits Context-dependent Transcriptional Changes to Improve Activity and Limit Toxicity of Mithramycin for Ewing Sarcoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 19:1183-1196. [PMID: 32127464 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-19-0775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
There is a need to develop novel approaches to improve the balance between efficacy and toxicity for transcription factor-targeted therapies. In this study, we exploit context-dependent differences in RNA polymerase II processivity as an approach to improve the activity and limit the toxicity of the EWS-FLI1-targeted small molecule, mithramycin, for Ewing sarcoma. The clinical activity of mithramycin for Ewing sarcoma is limited by off-target liver toxicity that restricts the serum concentration to levels insufficient to inhibit EWS-FLI1. In this study, we perform an siRNA screen of the druggable genome followed by a matrix drug screen to identify mithramycin potentiators and a synergistic "class" effect with cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) inhibitors. These CDK9 inhibitors enhanced the mithramycin-mediated suppression of the EWS-FLI1 transcriptional program leading to a shift in the IC50 and striking regressions of Ewing sarcoma xenografts. To determine whether these compounds may also be liver protective, we performed a qPCR screen of all known liver toxicity genes in HepG2 cells to identify mithramycin-driven transcriptional changes that contribute to the liver toxicity. Mithramycin induces expression of the BTG2 gene in HepG2 but not Ewing sarcoma cells, which leads to a liver-specific accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). siRNA silencing of BTG2 rescues the induction of ROS and the cytotoxicity of mithramycin in these cells. Furthermore, CDK9 inhibition blocked the induction of BTG2 to limit cytotoxicity in HepG2, but not Ewing sarcoma cells. These studies provide the basis for a synergistic and less toxic EWS-FLI1-targeted combination therapy for Ewing sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Flores
- Center for Cancer and Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan.,College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Joel H Everett
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Elissa A Boguslawski
- Center for Cancer and Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Brandon M Oswald
- Center for Cancer and Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Zachary B Madaj
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Ian Beddows
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Sergey Dikalov
- The Free Radicals in Medicine Core, Division of Clinical Pharmacology Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Marie Adams
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Carleen A Klumpp-Thomas
- Trans-NIH RNAi Screening Facility, Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Susan M Kitchen-Goosen
- Center for Cancer and Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Scott E Martin
- Trans-NIH RNAi Screening Facility, Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Natasha J Caplen
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Lee J Helman
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Patrick J Grohar
- Center for Cancer and Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan. .,Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland.,Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.,Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan.,Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan.,Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
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26
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Targeting the undruggable: exploiting neomorphic features of fusion oncoproteins in childhood sarcomas for innovative therapies. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2020; 38:625-642. [PMID: 31970591 PMCID: PMC6994515 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-019-09839-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
While sarcomas account for approximately 1% of malignant tumors of adults, they are particularly more common in children and adolescents affected by cancer. In contrast to malignancies that occur in later stages of life, childhood tumors, including sarcoma, are characterized by a striking paucity of somatic mutations. However, entity-defining fusion oncogenes acting as the main oncogenic driver mutations are frequently found in pediatric bone and soft-tissue sarcomas such as Ewing sarcoma (EWSR1-FLI1), alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (PAX3/7-FOXO1), and synovial sarcoma (SS18-SSX1/2/4). Since strong oncogene-dependency has been demonstrated in these entities, direct pharmacological targeting of these fusion oncogenes has been excessively attempted, thus far, with limited success. Despite apparent challenges, our increasing understanding of the neomorphic features of these fusion oncogenes in conjunction with rapid technological advances will likely enable the development of new strategies to therapeutically exploit these neomorphic features and to ultimately turn the “undruggable” into first-line target structures. In this review, we provide a broad overview of the current literature on targeting neomorphic features of fusion oncogenes found in Ewing sarcoma, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, and synovial sarcoma, and give a perspective for future developments. Scheme depicting the different targeting strategies of fusion oncogenes in pediatric fusion-driven sarcomas. Fusion oncogenes can be targeted on their DNA level (1), RNA level (2), protein level (3), and by targeting downstream functions and interaction partners (4). ![]()
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27
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Liu Z, Wan Y, Qiu Y, Qi X, Yang M, Huang J, Zhang Q. Development and validation of a novel immune-related prognostic model in lung squamous cell carcinoma. Int J Med Sci 2020; 17:1393-1405. [PMID: 32624696 PMCID: PMC7330657 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.47301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The immune system plays an important role in the development of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). Therefore, immune-related genes (IRGs) expression may be an important predictor of LUSC prognosis. However, a prognostic model based on IRGs that can systematically assess the prognosis of LUSC patients is still lacking. This study aimed to construct a LUSC immune-related prognostic model by using IRGs. Methods: Gene expression data about LUSC were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Differential expression analysis and univariate Cox regression analysis were performed to identify prognostic differentially expressed IRGs. A prognostic model was constructed using the Lasso and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Then we validated the performance of the prognostic model in training and test cohorts. Furthermore, associations with clinical variables and immune infiltration were also analyzed. Results: 593 differentially expressed IRGs were identified, and 8 of them were related to prognosis. Then a transcription factor regulatory network was established. A prognostic model consisted of 4 immune-related genes was constructed by using Lasso and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The prognostic value of this model was successfully validated in training and test cohorts. Further analysis showed that the prognostic model could be used independently to predict the prognosis of LUSC patients. The relationships between the risk score and immune cell infiltration indicated that the model could reflect the status of the tumor immune microenvironment. Conclusions: We constructed a risk model using four PDIRGs that can accurately predict the prognosis of LUSC patients. The risk score generated by this model can be used as an independent prognostic indicator. Moreover, the model can predict the infiltration of immune cells in patients, which is conducive to the prediction of patient sensitivity to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Liu
- Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yuxiang Wan
- Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yuqin Qiu
- Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xuewei Qi
- Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Yang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jinchang Huang
- Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Qiaoli Zhang
- Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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28
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Bailey K, Cost C, Davis I, Glade-Bender J, Grohar P, Houghton P, Isakoff M, Stewart E, Laack N, Yustein J, Reed D, Janeway K, Gorlick R, Lessnick S, DuBois S, Hingorani P. Emerging novel agents for patients with advanced Ewing sarcoma: a report from the Children's Oncology Group (COG) New Agents for Ewing Sarcoma Task Force. F1000Res 2019; 8:F1000 Faculty Rev-493. [PMID: 31031965 PMCID: PMC6468706 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.18139.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is a small round blue cell malignancy arising from bone or soft tissue and most commonly affects adolescents and young adults. Metastatic and relapsed Ewing sarcoma have poor outcomes and recurrences remain common. Owing to the poor outcomes associated with advanced disease and the need for a clear research strategy, the Children's Oncology Group Bone Tumor Committee formed the New Agents for Ewing Sarcoma Task Force to bring together experts in the field to evaluate and prioritize new agents for incorporation into clinical trials. This group's mission was to evaluate scientific and clinical challenges in moving new agents forward and to recommend agents and trial designs to the Bone Tumor Committee. The task force generated a framework for vetting prospective agents that included critical evaluation of each drug by using both clinical and non-clinical parameters. Representative appraisal of agents of highest priority, including eribulin, dinutuximab, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors, anti-angiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, is described. The task force continues to analyze new compounds by using the paradigm established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Bailey
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Carrye Cost
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ian Davis
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Julia Glade-Bender
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Patrick Grohar
- Departement of Pediatrics, Van Andel Institute, Helen De Vos Children’s Hospital and Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Peter Houghton
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Michael Isakoff
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Elizabeth Stewart
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Nadia Laack
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jason Yustein
- The Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma Center at the Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Damon Reed
- AYA Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
- Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Katherine Janeway
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard Gorlick
- Division of Pediatrics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Stephen Lessnick
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Steven DuBois
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pooja Hingorani
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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29
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Trabectedin and irinotecan combination regresses a cisplatinum-resistant osteosarcoma in a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft nude-mouse model. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 513:326-331. [PMID: 30955860 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.03.191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recurrent osteosarcoma is a chemotherapy-resistant disease. Individualized precision therapy is needed for this disease. Toward this goal, we have developed the patient-derived othotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse model of all major cancer types including osteosarcoma. Synergistic efficacy of trabectedin (TRAB) and irinotecan (IRT) has been reported in Ewing's sarcoma, soft-tissue sarcoma, and ovarian cancer. However, the efficacy of this combination on osteosarcoma is not known. The goal of present study was to determine the efficacy of the TRAB and IRT combination on cisplatinum (CDDP)-resistant osteosarcoma PDOX. The osteosarcoma PDOX models were randomized into five treatment groups of six mice: Untreated control; CDDP alone; TRAB alone; IRT alone; and TRAB and the IRT combination. Tumor size and body weight were measured during the 14 days of treatment. Tumor growth was regressed only by the TRAB-IRT combination. Tumors treated with the TRAB-IRT combination had the most tumor necrosis with degenerative change. The present study demonstrates the power of the PDOX model to identify a novel effective treatment strategy of the TRAB and IRT combination for chemotherapy-resistant osteosarcoma.
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