1
|
Ou X, Gao G, Habaz IA, Wang Y. Mechanisms of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitor-targeted therapy and overcoming strategies. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e694. [PMID: 39184861 PMCID: PMC11344283 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-targeted therapy has revolutionized cancer treatment by selectively blocking specific signaling pathways crucial for tumor growth, offering improved outcomes with fewer side effects compared with conventional chemotherapy. However, despite their initial effectiveness, resistance to TKIs remains a significant challenge in clinical practice. Understanding the mechanisms underlying TKI resistance is paramount for improving patient outcomes and developing more effective treatment strategies. In this review, we explored various mechanisms contributing to TKI resistance, including on-target mechanisms and off-target mechanisms, as well as changes in the tumor histology and tumor microenvironment (intrinsic mechanisms). Additionally, we summarized current therapeutic approaches aiming at circumventing TKI resistance, including the development of next-generation TKIs and combination therapies. We also discussed emerging strategies such as the use of dual-targeted antibodies and PROteolysis Targeting Chimeras. Furthermore, we explored future directions in TKI-targeted therapy, including the methods for detecting and monitoring drug resistance during treatment, identification of novel targets, exploration of dual-acting kinase inhibitors, application of nanotechnologies in targeted therapy, and so on. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities in TKI-targeted therapy, aiming to advance our understanding of resistance mechanisms and guide the development of more effective therapeutic approaches in cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuejin Ou
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Ge Gao
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
- Clinical Trial Center, National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Clinical Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drugs, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Inbar A. Habaz
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical SciencesMcMaster UniversityHamiltonOntarioCanada
| | - Yongsheng Wang
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Desilets A, Pfister DG, Stein S, Wong W, Sherman EJ, Fetten J, Hung TKW, Kriplani A, Dunn LA, Ho AL, Michel LS. A phase 1 study of concurrent cabozantinib and cetuximab in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell cancer. Oral Oncol 2024; 154:106861. [PMID: 38795600 PMCID: PMC11235871 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2024.106861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibition with cetuximab is a standard treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Activation of the receptor tyrosine kinases AXL, MET and VEGFR can mediate resistance to cetuximab. Cabozantinib, a multikinase inhibitor (MKI) targeting AXL/MET/VEGFR, has demonstrated antitumor activity in preclinical models of HNSCC. This investigator- initiated phase I trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of cetuximab plus cabozantinib in patients with recurrent/metastatic (R/M) HNSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients received cetuximab concurrently with cabozantinib daily on a 28-day cycle. Using a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design, the primary endpoint was to determine the maximally tolerated dose (MTD) of cabozantinib. Secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) RESULTS: Among the 20 patients enrolled, most had prior disease progression on immune checkpoint inhibitors (95 %), platinum-based chemotherapy (95 %), and cetuximab (80 %). No dose-limiting toxicities were recorded and the MTD for cabozantinib was established to be 60 mg. Grade ≥ 3 adverse events occurred in 65 % of patients (n = 13). ORR was 20 %, with 4 partial responses (PRs). Two PRs were observed in cetuximab-naïve patients (n = 4), with an ORR of 50 % in this subgroup. In the overall population, DCR was 75 %, median PFS was 3.4 months and median OS was 8.1 months. CONCLUSION Cetuximab plus cabozantinib demonstrated a manageable toxicity profile and preliminary efficacy in patients with heavily treated R/M HNSCC. The combination of cetuximab with MKIs targeting the AXL/MET/VEGFR axis warrants further investigation, including in cetuximab-naïve patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Desilets
- Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States.
| | - David G Pfister
- Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Sarah Stein
- Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Winston Wong
- Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Eric J Sherman
- Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - James Fetten
- Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Tony K W Hung
- Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Anuja Kriplani
- Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Lara A Dunn
- Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Alan L Ho
- Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Loren S Michel
- Head and Neck Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Blomquist MR, Eghlimi R, Beniwal A, Grief D, Nascari DG, Inge L, Sereduk CP, Tuncali S, Roos A, Inforzato H, Sharma R, Pirrotte P, Mehta S, Ensign SPF, Loftus JC, Tran NL. EGFRvIII Confers Sensitivity to Saracatinib in a STAT5-Dependent Manner in Glioblastoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6279. [PMID: 38892466 PMCID: PMC11172708 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116279] [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: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults, with few effective treatments. EGFR alterations, including expression of the truncated variant EGFRvIII, are among the most frequent genomic changes in these tumors. EGFRvIII is known to preferentially signal through STAT5 for oncogenic activation in GBM, yet targeting EGFRvIII has yielded limited clinical success to date. In this study, we employed patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models expressing EGFRvIII to determine the key points of therapeutic vulnerability within the EGFRvIII-STAT5 signaling axis in GBM. Our findings reveal that exogenous expression of paralogs STAT5A and STAT5B augments cell proliferation and that inhibition of STAT5 phosphorylation in vivo improves overall survival in combination with temozolomide (TMZ). STAT5 phosphorylation is independent of JAK1 and JAK2 signaling, instead requiring Src family kinase (SFK) activity. Saracatinib, an SFK inhibitor, attenuates phosphorylation of STAT5 and preferentially sensitizes EGFRvIII+ GBM cells to undergo apoptotic cell death relative to wild-type EGFR. Constitutively active STAT5A or STAT5B mitigates saracatinib sensitivity in EGFRvIII+ cells. In vivo, saracatinib treatment decreased survival in mice bearing EGFR WT tumors compared to the control, yet in EGFRvIII+ tumors, treatment with saracatinib in combination with TMZ preferentially improves survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mylan R. Blomquist
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA; (M.R.B.); (D.G.N.)
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA (S.T.); (A.R.); (H.I.)
| | - Ryan Eghlimi
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA; (M.R.B.); (D.G.N.)
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA (S.T.); (A.R.); (H.I.)
| | - Angad Beniwal
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA; (M.R.B.); (D.G.N.)
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA (S.T.); (A.R.); (H.I.)
| | - Dustin Grief
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA (S.T.); (A.R.); (H.I.)
| | - David G. Nascari
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA; (M.R.B.); (D.G.N.)
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA (S.T.); (A.R.); (H.I.)
| | - Landon Inge
- Ventana Medical Systems, Roche Diagnostics, Tucson, AZ 85755, USA
| | - Christopher P. Sereduk
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA (S.T.); (A.R.); (H.I.)
| | - Serdar Tuncali
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA (S.T.); (A.R.); (H.I.)
| | - Alison Roos
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA (S.T.); (A.R.); (H.I.)
| | - Hannah Inforzato
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA (S.T.); (A.R.); (H.I.)
| | - Ritin Sharma
- Collaborative Center for Translational Mass Spectrometry, The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; (R.S.)
| | - Patrick Pirrotte
- Collaborative Center for Translational Mass Spectrometry, The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; (R.S.)
| | - Shwetal Mehta
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| | - Shannon P. Fortin Ensign
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA (S.T.); (A.R.); (H.I.)
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA
| | - Joseph C. Loftus
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA (S.T.); (A.R.); (H.I.)
| | - Nhan L. Tran
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA (S.T.); (A.R.); (H.I.)
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Han R, Lu CH, Hu C, Dou YY, Kang J, Lin CY, Wu D, Jiang WL, Yin GQ, He Y. Brigatinib, a newly discovered AXL inhibitor, suppresses AXL-mediated acquired resistance to osimertinib in EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024; 45:1264-1275. [PMID: 38438582 PMCID: PMC11130302 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01237-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In addition to the classical resistance mechanisms, receptor tyrosine-protein kinase AXL is a main mechanism of resistance to third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) osimertinib in EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Developing an effective AXL inhibitor is important to sensitize osimertinib in clinical application. In this study we assessed the efficacy of brigatinib, a second-generation of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-TKI, as a novel AXL inhibitor, in overcoming acquired resistance to osimertinib induced by AXL activation. We established an AXL-overexpression NSCLC cell line and conducted high-throughput screening of a small molecule chemical library containing 510 anti-tumor drugs. We found that brigatinib potently inhibited AXL expression, and that brigatinib (0.5 μM) significantly enhanced the anti-tumor efficacy of osimertinib (1 μM) in AXL-mediated osimertinib-resistant NSCLC cell lines in vitro. We demonstrated that brigatinib had a potential ability to bind AXL kinase protein and further inhibit its downstream pathways in NSCLC cell lines. Furthermore, we revealed that brigatinib might decrease AXL expression through increasing K48-linked ubiquitination of AXL and promoting AXL degradation in HCC827OR cells and PC-9OR cells. In AXL-high expression osimertinib-resistant PC-9OR and HCC827OR cells derived xenograft mouse models, administration of osimertinib (10 mg·kg-1·d-1) alone for 3 weeks had no effect, and administration of brigatinib (25 mg·kg-1·d-1) alone caused a minor inhibition on the tumor growth; whereas combination of osimertinib and brigatinib caused marked tumor shrinkages. We concluded that brigatinib may be a promising clinical strategy for enhancing osimertinib efficacy in AXL-mediated osimertinib-resistant NSCLC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Han
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Cong-Hua Lu
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Chen Hu
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Yuan-Yao Dou
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Jun Kang
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Cai-Yu Lin
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Wei-Ling Jiang
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Guo-Qing Yin
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Yong He
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhuo L, Guo M, Zhang S, Wu J, Wang M, Shen Y, Peng X, Wang Z, Jiang W, Huang W. Structure-activity relationship study of 1,6-naphthyridinone derivatives as selective type II AXL inhibitors with potent antitumor efficacy. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 265:116090. [PMID: 38169272 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The role of AXL in various oncogenic processes has made it an attractive target for cancer therapy. Currently, kinase selectivity profiles, especially circumventing MET inhibition, remain a scientific issue of great interest in the discovery of selective type II AXL inhibitors. Starting from a dual MET/AXL-targeted lead structure from our previous work, we optimized a 1,6-naphthyridinone series using molecular modeling-assisted compound design to improve AXL potency and selectivity over MET, resulting in the potent and selective type II AXL-targeted compound 25c. This showed excellent AXL inhibitory activity (IC50 = 1.1 nM) and 343-fold selectivity over the highly homologous kinase MET in biochemical assays. Moreover, compound 25c significantly inhibited AXL-driven cell proliferation, dose-dependently suppressed 4T1 cell migration and invasion, and induced apoptosis. Compound 25c also showed noticeable antitumor efficacy in a BaF3/TEL-AXL xenograft model at well-tolerated doses. Overall, this study presented a potent and selective type II AXL-targeted lead compound for further drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linsheng Zhuo
- Postdoctoral Station for Basic Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China; School of Pharmaceutical Science, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China.
| | - Mengqin Guo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, China
| | - Siyi Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Junbo Wu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Hengyang Central Hospital, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Mingshu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Yang Shen
- Postdoctoral Station for Basic Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Xue Peng
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Weifan Jiang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China.
| | - Wei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
DeRyckere D, Huelse JM, Earp HS, Graham DK. TAM family kinases as therapeutic targets at the interface of cancer and immunity. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2023; 20:755-779. [PMID: 37667010 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-023-00813-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Novel treatment approaches are needed to overcome innate and acquired mechanisms of resistance to current anticancer therapies in cancer cells and the tumour immune microenvironment. The TAM (TYRO3, AXL and MERTK) family receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are potential therapeutic targets in a wide range of cancers. In cancer cells, TAM RTKs activate signalling pathways that promote cell survival, metastasis and resistance to a variety of chemotherapeutic agents and targeted therapies. TAM RTKs also function in innate immune cells, contributing to various mechanisms that suppress antitumour immunity and promote resistance to immune-checkpoint inhibitors. Therefore, TAM antagonists provide an unprecedented opportunity for both direct and immune-mediated therapeutic activity provided by inhibition of a single target, and are likely to be particularly effective when used in combination with other cancer therapies. To exploit this potential, a variety of agents have been designed to selectively target TAM RTKs, many of which have now entered clinical testing. This Review provides an essential guide to the TAM RTKs for clinicians, including an overview of the rationale for therapeutic targeting of TAM RTKs in cancer cells and the tumour immune microenvironment, a description of the current preclinical and clinical experience with TAM inhibitors, and a perspective on strategies for continued development of TAM-targeted agents for oncology applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah DeRyckere
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Paediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Justus M Huelse
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Paediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - H Shelton Earp
- Department of Medicine, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Douglas K Graham
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Paediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Vo TTT, Tran Q, Hong Y, Lee H, Cho H, Kim M, Park S, Kim C, Bayarmunkh C, Boldbaatar D, Kwon SH, Park J, Kim SH, Park J. AXL is required for hypoxia-mediated hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha function in glioblastoma. Toxicol Res 2023; 39:669-679. [PMID: 37779588 PMCID: PMC10541364 DOI: 10.1007/s43188-023-00195-z] [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: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive type of central nervous system tumor. Molecular targeting may be important when developing efficient GBM treatment strategies. Sequencing of GBMs revealed that the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)/RAS/phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase pathway was altered in 88% of samples. Interestingly, AXL, a member of RTK, was proposed as a promising target in glioma therapy. However, the molecular mechanism of AXL modulation of GBM genesis and proliferation is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression and localization of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) by AXL in GBM. Both AXL mRNA and protein are overexpressed in GBM. Short-interfering RNA knockdown of AXL in U251-MG cells reduced viability and migration. However, serum withdrawal reduced AXL expression, abolishing the effect on viability. AXL is also involved in hypoxia regulation. In hypoxic conditions, the reduction of AXL decreased the level and nuclear localization of HIF-1α. The co-expression of HIF-1α and AXL was found in human GBM samples but not normal tissue. This finding suggests a mechanism for GBM proliferation and indicates that targeting AXL may be a potential GBM therapeutic. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43188-023-00195-z.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thuy-Trang T. Vo
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Metabolic Syndrome and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
| | - Quangdon Tran
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Metabolic Syndrome and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
| | - Youngeun Hong
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Metabolic Syndrome and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunji Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Metabolic Syndrome and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeonjeong Cho
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Metabolic Syndrome and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
| | - Minhee Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Metabolic Syndrome and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
| | - Sungjin Park
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Metabolic Syndrome and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
| | - Chaeyeong Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Metabolic Syndrome and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
| | - Choinyam Bayarmunkh
- Department of Graduate Education, Graduate School, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, 14210 Mongolia
- Department of Physiology, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, 14210 Mongolia
| | - Damdindorj Boldbaatar
- Department of Graduate Education, Graduate School, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, 14210 Mongolia
- Department of Physiology, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, 14210 Mongolia
| | - So Hee Kwon
- College of Pharmacy, Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983 Republic of Korea
| | - Jisoo Park
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Metabolic Syndrome and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
- Department of Life Science, Hyehwa Liberal Arts College, LINC Plus Project Group, Daejeon University, Daejeon, 34520 Republic of Korea
| | - Seon-Hwan Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Institute for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
| | - Jongsun Park
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Metabolic Syndrome and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tsukamoto S, Sugi NH, Nishibata K, Nakazawa Y, Ito D, Fukushima S, Nakagawa T, Ichikawa K, Kato Y, Kakiuchi D, Goto A, Itoh-Yagi M, Aota T, Inoue S, Yamane Y, Murai N, Azuma H, Nagao S, Sasai K, Akagi T, Imai T, Matsui J, Matsushima T. ER-851, a Novel Selective Inhibitor of AXL, Overcomes Resistance to Antimitotic Drugs. Mol Cancer Ther 2023; 22:12-24. [PMID: 36279567 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Innate and adaptive resistance to cancer therapies, such as chemotherapies, molecularly targeted therapies, and immune-modulating therapies, is a major issue in clinical practice. Subpopulations of tumor cells expressing the receptor tyrosine kinase AXL become enriched after treatment with antimitotic drugs, causing tumor relapse. Elevated AXL expression is closely associated with drug resistance in clinical samples, suggesting that AXL plays a pivotal role in drug resistance. Although several molecules with AXL inhibitory activity have been developed, none have sufficient activity and selectivity to be clinically effective when administered in combination with a cancer therapy. Here, we report a novel small molecule, ER-851, which is a potent and highly selective AXL inhibitor. To investigate resistance mechanisms and identify driving molecules, we conducted a comprehensive gene expression analysis of chemoresistant tumor cells in mouse xenograft models of genetically engineered human lung cancer and human triple-negative breast cancer. Consistent with the effect of AXL knockdown, cotreatment of ER-851 and antimitotic drugs produced an antitumor effect and prolonged relapse-free survival in the mouse xenograft model of human triple-negative breast cancer. Importantly, when orally administered to BALB/c mice, this compound did not induce retinal toxicity, a known side effect of chronic MER inhibition. Together, these data strongly suggest that AXL is a therapeutic target for overcoming drug resistance and that ER-851 is a promising candidate therapeutic agent for use against AXL-expressing antimitotic-resistant tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuntaro Tsukamoto
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Naoko Hata Sugi
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kyoko Nishibata
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Youya Nakazawa
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ito
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Sayo Fukushima
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Takayuki Nakagawa
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kenji Ichikawa
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yu Kato
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Dai Kakiuchi
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Aya Goto
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | | | - Tomoki Aota
- hhc Data Creation Center, Eisai Co., Ltd., Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Inoue
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Yamane
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Norio Murai
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Azuma
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Satoshi Nagao
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Ken Sasai
- KAN Research Institute, Inc., Kobe-shi, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Akagi
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan.,KAN Research Institute, Inc., Kobe-shi, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Toshio Imai
- KAN Research Institute, Inc., Kobe-shi, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Junji Matsui
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Malvankar C, Kumar D. AXL kinase inhibitors- A prospective model for medicinal chemistry strategies in anticancer drug discovery. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188786. [PMID: 36058379 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Deviant expressions of the tyrosine kinase AXL receptor are strongly correlated with a plethora of malignancies. Henceforth, the topic of targeting AXL is beginning to gain prominence due to mounting evidence of the protein's substantial connection to poor prognosis and treatment resistance. This year marked a milestone in clinical testing for AXL as an anti-carcinogenic target, with the start of the first AXL-branded inhibitor study. It is critical to emphasize that AXL is a primary and secondary target in various kinase inhibitors that have been approved or are on the verge of being approved while interpreting the present benefits and future potential effects of AXL suppression in the clinical setting. Several research arenas across the globe resolutely affirm the crucial significance of AXL receptors in the case study of several pathophysiologies including AML, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. This review endeavors to delve deeply into the biological, chemical, and structural features of AXL kinase; primary AXL inhibitors that target the enzyme (either purposefully or unintentionally); and the prospects and barriers for turning AXL inhibitors into a feasible treatment alternative. Furthermore, we analyse the co-crystal structure of AXL, which remains extensively unexplored, as well as the mutations of AXL that may be valuable in the development of novel inhibitors in the upcoming future and take a comprehensive look at the medicinal chemistry of AXL inhibitors of recent years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chinmay Malvankar
- Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University, Pune, Maharashtra 411038, India
| | - Dileep Kumar
- Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University, Pune, Maharashtra 411038, India; Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA; UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bruce SF, Cho K, Noia H, Lomonosova E, Stock EC, Oplt A, Blachut B, Mullen MM, Kuroki LM, Hagemann AR, McCourt CK, Thaker PH, Khabele D, Powell MA, Mutch DG, Shriver LP, Patti GJ, Fuh KC. GAS6-AXL Inhibition by AVB-500 Overcomes Resistance to Paclitaxel in Endometrial Cancer by Decreasing Tumor Cell Glycolysis. Mol Cancer Ther 2022; 21:1348-1359. [PMID: 35588308 PMCID: PMC9370070 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Chemotherapy is often ineffective in advanced-stage and aggressive histologic subtypes of endometrial cancer. Overexpression of the receptor tyrosine kinase AXL has been found to be associated with therapeutic resistance, metastasis, and poor prognosis. However, the mechanism of how inhibition of AXL improves response to chemotherapy is still largely unknown. Thus, we aimed to determine whether treatment with AVB-500, a selective inhibitor of GAS6-AXL, improves endometrial cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapy particularly through metabolic changes. We found that both GAS6 and AXL expression were higher by immunohistochemistry in patient tumors with a poor response to chemotherapy compared with tumors with a good response to chemotherapy. We showed that chemotherapy-resistant endometrial cancer cells (ARK1, uterine serous carcinoma and PUC198, grade 3 endometrioid adenocarcinoma) had improved sensitivity and synergy with paclitaxel and carboplatin when treated in combination with AVB-500. We also found that in vivo intraperitoneal models with ARK1 and PUC198 cells had decreased tumor burden when treated with AVB-500 + paclitaxel compared with paclitaxel alone. Treatment with AVB-500 + paclitaxel decreased AKT signaling, which resulted in a decrease in basal glycolysis. Finally, multiple glycolytic metabolites were lower in the tumors treated with AVB-500 + paclitaxel than in tumors treated with paclitaxel alone. Our study provides strong preclinical rationale for combining AVB-500 with paclitaxel in aggressive endometrial cancer models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaina F. Bruce
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Kevin Cho
- Center for Metabolomics and Isotope Tracing, Department of Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Hollie Noia
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Elena Lomonosova
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Elizabeth C. Stock
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Alyssa Oplt
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Barbara Blachut
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Mary M. Mullen
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Lindsay M. Kuroki
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Andrea R. Hagemann
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Carolyn K. McCourt
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Premal H. Thaker
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Dineo Khabele
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Matthew A. Powell
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - David G. Mutch
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Leah P. Shriver
- Center for Metabolomics and Isotope Tracing, Department of Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Gary J. Patti
- Center for Metabolomics and Isotope Tracing, Department of Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Katherine C. Fuh
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Adams DE, Zhen Y, Qi X, Shao WH. Axl Expression in Renal Mesangial Cells Is Regulated by Sp1, Ap1, MZF1, and Ep300, and the IL-6/miR-34a Pathway. Cells 2022; 11:cells11121869. [PMID: 35740998 PMCID: PMC9221537 DOI: 10.3390/cells11121869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Axl receptor tyrosine kinase expression in the kidney contributes to a variety of inflammatory renal disease by promoting glomerular proliferation. Axl expression in the kidney is negligible in healthy individuals but upregulated under inflammatory conditions. Little is known about Axl transcriptional regulation. We analyzed the 4.4 kb mouse Axl promoter region and found that many transcription factor (TF)-binding sites and regulatory elements are located within a 600 bp fragment proximal to the translation start site. Among four TFs (Sp1, Ap1, MZF1, and Ep300) identified, Sp1 was the most potent TF that promotes Axl expression. Luciferase assays confirmed the siRNA results and revealed additional mechanisms that regulate Axl expression, including sequences encoding a 5'-UTR mini-intron and potential G-quadruplex forming regions. Deletion of the Axl 5'-UTR mini-intron resulted in a 3.2-fold increases in luciferase activity over the full-length UTR (4.4 kb Axl construct). The addition of TMPyP4, a G-quadruplex stabilizer, resulted in a significantly decreased luciferase activity. Further analysis of the mouse Axl 3'-UTR revealed a miRNA-34a binding site, which inversely regulates Axl expression. The inhibitory role of miRNA-34a in Axl expression was demonstrated in mesangial cells using miRNA-34a mimicry and in primary kidney cells with IL-6 stimulated STAT3 activation. Taken together, Axl expression in mouse kidney is synergistically regulated by multiple factors, including TFs and secondary structures, such as mini-intron and G-quadruplex. A unique IL6/STAT3/miRNA-34a pathway was revealed to be critical in inflammatory renal Axl expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David E. Adams
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (D.E.A.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Yuxuan Zhen
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (D.E.A.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Xiaoyang Qi
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA;
| | - Wen-Hai Shao
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (D.E.A.); (Y.Z.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Two-Front War on Cancer-Targeting TAM Receptors in Solid Tumour Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14102488. [PMID: 35626092 PMCID: PMC9140196 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In recent years, many studies have shown the importance of TAM kinases in both normal and neoplastic cells. In this review, we present and discuss the role of the TAM family (AXL, MERTK, TYRO3) of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) as a dual target in cancer, due to their intrinsic roles in tumour cell survival, migration, chemoresistance, and their immunosuppressive roles in the tumour microenvironment. This review presents the potential of TAMs as emerging therapeutic targets in cancer treatment, focusing on the distinct structures of TAM receptor tyrosine kinases. We analyse and compare different strategies of TAM inhibition, for a full perspective of current and future battlefields in the war with cancer. Abstract Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are transmembrane receptors that bind growth factors and cytokines and contain a regulated kinase activity within their cytoplasmic domain. RTKs play an important role in signal transduction in both normal and malignant cells, and their encoding genes belong to the most frequently affected genes in cancer cells. The TAM family proteins (TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK) are involved in diverse biological processes: immune regulation, clearance of apoptotic cells, platelet aggregation, cell proliferation, survival, and migration. Recent studies show that TAMs share overlapping functions in tumorigenesis and suppression of antitumour immunity. MERTK and AXL operate in innate immune cells to suppress inflammatory responses and promote an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment, while AXL expression correlates with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, and motility in tumours. Therefore, TAM RTKs represent a dual target in cancer due to their intrinsic roles in tumour cell survival, migration, chemoresistance, and their immunosuppressive roles in the tumour microenvironment (TME). In this review, we discuss the potential of TAMs as emerging therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. We critically assess and compare current approaches to target TAM RTKs in solid tumours and the development of new inhibitors for both extra- and intracellular domains of TAM receptor kinases.
Collapse
|
13
|
Engelsen AST, Lotsberg ML, Abou Khouzam R, Thiery JP, Lorens JB, Chouaib S, Terry S. Dissecting the Role of AXL in Cancer Immune Escape and Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibition. Front Immunol 2022; 13:869676. [PMID: 35572601 PMCID: PMC9092944 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.869676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The development and implementation of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) in clinical oncology have significantly improved the survival of a subset of cancer patients with metastatic disease previously considered uniformly lethal. However, the low response rates and the low number of patients with durable clinical responses remain major concerns and underscore the limited understanding of mechanisms regulating anti-tumor immunity and tumor immune resistance. There is an urgent unmet need for novel approaches to enhance the efficacy of ICI in the clinic, and for predictive tools that can accurately predict ICI responders based on the composition of their tumor microenvironment. The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) AXL has been associated with poor prognosis in numerous malignancies and the emergence of therapy resistance. AXL is a member of the TYRO3-AXL-MERTK (TAM) kinase family. Upon binding to its ligand GAS6, AXL regulates cell signaling cascades and cellular communication between various components of the tumor microenvironment, including cancer cells, endothelial cells, and immune cells. Converging evidence points to AXL as an attractive molecular target to overcome therapy resistance and immunosuppression, supported by the potential of AXL inhibitors to improve ICI efficacy. Here, we review the current literature on the prominent role of AXL in regulating cancer progression, with particular attention to its effects on anti-tumor immune response and resistance to ICI. We discuss future directions with the aim to understand better the complex role of AXL and TAM receptors in cancer and the potential value of this knowledge and targeted inhibition for the benefit of cancer patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnete S. T. Engelsen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Maria L. Lotsberg
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Raefa Abou Khouzam
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jean-Paul Thiery
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
- Inserm, UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Villejuif, France
| | - James B. Lorens
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Salem Chouaib
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
- Inserm, UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Villejuif, France
- Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University Paris Sud, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Stéphane Terry
- Inserm, UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Villejuif, France
- Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University Paris Sud, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Research Department, Inovarion, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Iida M, McDaniel NK, Kostecki KL, Welke NB, Kranjac CA, Liu P, Longhurst C, Bruce JY, Hong S, Salgia R, Wheeler DL. AXL regulates neuregulin1 expression leading to cetuximab resistance in head and neck cancer. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:447. [PMID: 35461210 PMCID: PMC9035247 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09511-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed and an important therapeutic target in Head and Neck cancer (HNC). Cetuximab is currently the only EGFR-targeting agent approved by the FDA for treatment of HNC; however, intrinsic and acquired resistance to cetuximab is a major problem in the clinic. Our lab previously reported that AXL leads to cetuximab resistance via activation of HER3. In this study, we investigate the connection between AXL, HER3, and neuregulin1 (NRG1) gene expression with a focus on understanding how their interdependent signaling promotes resistance to cetuximab in HNC. METHODS Plasmid or siRNA transfections and cell-based assays were conducted to test cetuximab sensitivity. Quantitative PCR and immunoblot analysis were used to analyze gene and protein expression levels. Seven HNC patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) were evaluated for protein expression levels. RESULTS We found that HER3 expression was necessary but not sufficient for cetuximab resistance without AXL expression. Our results demonstrated that addition of the HER3 ligand NRG1 to cetuximab-sensitive HNC cells leads to cetuximab resistance. Further, AXL-overexpressing cells regulate NRG1 at the level of transcription, thereby promoting cetuximab resistance. Immunoblot analysis revealed that NRG1 expression was relatively high in cetuximab-resistant HNC PDXs compared to cetuximab-sensitive HNC PDXs. Finally, genetic inhibition of NRG1 resensitized AXL-overexpressing cells to cetuximab. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study indicate that AXL may signal through HER3 via NRG1 to promote cetuximab resistance and that targeting of NRG1 could have significant clinical implications for HNC therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mari Iida
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 1111 highland Ave, WIMR 3159, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Nellie K McDaniel
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 1111 highland Ave, WIMR 3159, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Kourtney L Kostecki
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 1111 highland Ave, WIMR 3159, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Noah B Welke
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 1111 highland Ave, WIMR 3159, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Carlene A Kranjac
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 1111 highland Ave, WIMR 3159, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Peng Liu
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Colin Longhurst
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Justine Y Bruce
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Seungpyo Hong
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy, Madison, WI, USA
- Wisconsin Center for NanoBioSystems, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Yonsei Frontier Lab, Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Deric L Wheeler
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, 1111 highland Ave, WIMR 3159, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
- Wisconsin Center for NanoBioSystems, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Tissue Microarray Analyses Suggest Axl as a Predictive Biomarker in HPV-Negative Head and Neck Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14071829. [PMID: 35406601 PMCID: PMC8997923 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14071829] [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: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Despite many efforts, no predictive biomarkers that could guide clinical decision making and personalized treatment have been established for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. We propose that high expression of the tyrosine kinase receptor Axl identifies patients as being at enhanced risk for treatment failure under surgery alone and, hence, should be treated by primary or adjuvant radiotherapy. Abstract The receptor tyrosine kinase Axl is described to promote migration, metastasis and resistance against molecular targeting, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy in various tumor entities, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Since clinical data on Axl and its ligand Gas6 in HNSCC are sparse, we assessed the association of Axl and Gas6 expression with patient survival in a single center retrospective cohort in a tissue microarray format. Expression was evaluated manually using an established algorithm and correlated with clinicopathological parameters and patient survival. A number of 362 samples yielded interpretable staining, which did not correlate with T- and N-stage. Protein expression levels were not associated with the survival of patients with p16-positive oropharyngeal SCC. In HPV-negative tumors, Axl expression did not impact patients treated with primary or adjuvant radio(chemo)therapy, but was significantly associated with inferior overall and recurrence-free survival in patients treated with surgery alone. Gas6 was a positive predictor of survival in patients whose treatment included radiotherapy. Associations remained significant in multivariable analysis. Our data question a meaningful contribution of the Axl/Gas6 pathway to radio-resistance in HNSCC and instead suggest that strong Axl expression identifies tumors requiring adjuvant radio(chemo)therapy after surgery.
Collapse
|
16
|
Majumder A, Hosseinian S, Stroud M, Adhikari E, Saller JJ, Smith MA, Zhang G, Agarwal S, Creixell M, Meyer BS, Kinose F, Bowers K, Fang B, Stewart PA, Welsh EA, Boyle TA, Meyer AS, Koomen JM, Haura EB. Integrated Proteomics-Based Physical and Functional Mapping of AXL Kinase Signaling Pathways and Inhibitors Define Its Role in Cell Migration. Mol Cancer Res 2022; 20:542-555. [PMID: 35022314 PMCID: PMC8983558 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0275] [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: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
To better understand the signaling complexity of AXL, a member of the tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) receptor tyrosine kinase family, we created a physical and functional map of AXL signaling interactions, phosphorylation events, and target-engagement of three AXL tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). We assessed AXL protein complexes using proximity-dependent biotinylation (BioID), effects of AXL TKI on global phosphoproteins using mass spectrometry, and target engagement of AXL TKI using activity-based protein profiling. BioID identifies AXL-interacting proteins that are mostly involved in cell adhesion/migration. Global phosphoproteomics show that AXL inhibition decreases phosphorylation of peptides involved in phosphatidylinositol-mediated signaling and cell adhesion/migration. Comparison of three AXL inhibitors reveals that TKI RXDX-106 inhibits pAXL, pAKT, and migration/invasion of these cells without reducing their viability, while bemcentinib exerts AXL-independent phenotypic effects on viability. Proteomic characterization of these TKIs demonstrates that they inhibit diverse targets in addition to AXL, with bemcentinib having the most off-targets. AXL and EGFR TKI cotreatment did not reverse resistance in cell line models of erlotinib resistance. However, a unique vulnerability was identified in one resistant clone, wherein combination of bemcentinib and erlotinib inhibited cell viability and signaling. We also show that AXL is overexpressed in approximately 30% to 40% of nonsmall but rarely in small cell lung cancer. Cell lines have a wide range of AXL expression, with basal activation detected rarely. IMPLICATIONS Our study defines mechanisms of action of AXL in lung cancers which can be used to establish assays to measure drug targetable active AXL complexes in patient tissues and inform the strategy for targeting it's signaling as an anticancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anurima Majumder
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Sina Hosseinian
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Mia Stroud
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Emma Adhikari
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - James J. Saller
- Department of Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Matthew A. Smith
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Guolin Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Shruti Agarwal
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | | | - Benjamin S. Meyer
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Fumi Kinose
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Kiah Bowers
- Department of Proteomics and Metabolomics Core, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Bin Fang
- Department of Proteomics and Metabolomics Core, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Paul A. Stewart
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Eric A. Welsh
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Theresa A. Boyle
- Department of Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | | | - John M. Koomen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Eric B. Haura
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
More than half of metastatic melanoma patients receiving standard therapy fail to achieve a long-term survival due to primary and/or acquired resistance. Tumor cell ability to switch from epithelial to a more aggressive mesenchymal phenotype, attributed with AXLhigh molecular profile in melanoma, has been recently linked to such event, limiting treatment efficacy. In the current study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of the AXL inhibitor (AXLi) BGB324 alone or in combination with the clinically relevant BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) vemurafenib. Firstly, AXL was shown to be expressed in majority of melanoma lymph node metastases. When treated ex vivo, the largest reduction in cell viability was observed when the two drugs were combined. In addition, a therapeutic benefit of adding AXLi to the BRAF-targeted therapy was observed in pre-clinical AXLhigh melanoma models in vitro and in vivo. When searching for mechanistic insights, AXLi was found to potentiate BRAFi-induced apoptosis, stimulate ferroptosis and inhibit autophagy. Altogether, our findings propose AXLi as a promising treatment in combination with standard therapy to improve therapeutic outcome in metastatic melanoma.
Collapse
|
18
|
Komatsu M, Nakamura K, Takeda T, Chiwaki F, Banno K, Aoki D, Takeshita F, Sasaki H. Aurora kinase blockade drives de novo addiction of cervical squamous cell carcinoma to druggable EGFR signalling. Oncogene 2022; 41:2326-2339. [DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02256-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
|
19
|
Zdżalik-Bielecka D, Kozik K, Poświata A, Jastrzębski K, Jakubik M, Miączyńska M. Bemcentinib and Gilteritinib Inhibit Cell Growth and Impair the Endo-Lysosomal and Autophagy Systems in an AXL-Independent Manner. Mol Cancer Res 2022; 20:446-455. [PMID: 34782372 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
AXL, a receptor tyrosine kinase from the TAM (TYRO3 AXL and MER) subfamily, and its ligand growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6) are implicated in pathogenesis of a wide array of cancers, acquisition of resistance to diverse anticancer therapies and cellular entry of viruses. The continuous development of AXL inhibitors for treatment of patients with cancer and COVID-19 underscores the need to better characterize the cellular effects of AXL targeting. In the present study, we compared the cellular phenotypes of CRISPR-Cas9-induced depletion of AXL and its pharmacological inhibition with bemcentinib, LDC1267 and gilteritinib. Specifically, we evaluated GAS6-AXL signaling, cell viability and invasion, the endo-lysosomal system and autophagy in glioblastoma cells. We showed that depletion of AXL but not of TYRO3 inhibited GAS6-induced phosphorylation of downstream signaling effectors, AKT and ERK1/2, indicating that AXL is a primary receptor for GAS6. AXL was also specifically required for GAS6-dependent increase in cell viability but was dispensable for viability of cells grown without exogenous addition of GAS6. Furthermore, we revealed that LDC1267 is the most potent and specific inhibitor of AXL activation among the tested compounds. Finally, we found that, in contrast to AXL depletion and its inhibition with LDC1267, cell treatment with bemcentinib and gilteritinib impaired the endo-lysosomal and autophagy systems in an AXL-independent manner. IMPLICATIONS Altogether, our findings are of high clinical importance as we discovered that two clinically advanced AXL inhibitors, bemcentinib and gilteritinib, may display AXL-independent cellular effects and toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daria Zdżalik-Bielecka
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kamila Kozik
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agata Poświata
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kamil Jastrzębski
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Jakubik
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Miączyńska
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
AXL Receptor Tyrosine Kinase as a Promising Therapeutic Target Directing Multiple Aspects of Cancer Progression and Metastasis. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030466. [PMID: 35158733 PMCID: PMC8833413 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Metastasis is a complex process that requires the acquisition of certain traits by cancer cells as well as the cooperation of several non-neoplastic cells that populate the stroma. Cancer-related deaths are predominantly associated with complications arising from metastases. Limiting metastasis therefore represents an important clinical challenge. The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL is required at many steps of the metastatic cascade and contributes to tumor microenvironment deregulation. In this review, we describe how AXL contributes to metastatic progression by governing various biological processes in cancer cells and in stromal cells, highlighting the potential of its inhibition. Abstract The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL is emerging as a key player in tumor progression and metastasis and its expression correlates with poor survival in a plethora of cancers. While studies have shown the benefits of AXL inhibition for the treatment of metastatic cancers, additional roles for AXL in cancer progression are still being explored. This review discusses recent advances in understanding AXL’s functions in different tumor compartments including cancer, vascular, and immune cells. AXL is required at multiple steps of the metastatic cascade where its activation in cancer cells leads to EMT, invasion, survival, proliferation and therapy resistance. AXL activation in cancer cells and various stromal cells also results in tumor microenvironment deregulation, leading to modulation of angiogenesis, fibrosis, immune response and hypoxia. A better understanding of AXL’s role in these processes could lead to new therapeutic approaches that would benefit patients suffering from metastatic diseases.
Collapse
|
21
|
Chen TJ, Mydel P, Benedyk‐Machaczka M, Kamińska M, Kalucka U, Blø M, Furriol J, Gausdal G, Lorens J, Osman T, Marti H. AXL targeting by a specific small molecule or monoclonal antibody inhibits renal cell carcinoma progression in an orthotopic mice model. Physiol Rep 2021; 9:e15140. [PMID: 34877810 PMCID: PMC8652404 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
AXL tyrosine kinase activation enhances cancer cell survival, migration, invasiveness, and promotes drug resistance. AXL overexpression is typically detected in a high percentage of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) and is strongly associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, AXL inhibition represents an attractive treatment option in these cancers. In this preclinical study, we investigated the antitumor role of a highly selective small molecule AXL inhibitor bemcentinib (BGB324, BerGenBio), and a newly developed humanized anti-AXL monoclonal function blocking antibody tilvestamab, (BGB149, BerGenBio), in vitro and an orthotopic RCC mice model. The 786-0-Luc human RCC cells showed high AXL expression. Both bemcentinib and tilvestamab significantly inhibited AXL activation induced by Gas6 stimulation in vitro. Furthermore, tilvestamab inhibited the downstream AKT phosphorylation in these cells. The 786-0-Luc human RCC cells generated tumors with high Ki67 and vimentin expression upon orthotopic implantation in athymic BALB/c nude mice. Most importantly, both bemcentinib and tilvestamab inhibited the progression of tumors induced by the orthotopically implanted 786-0 RCC cells. Remarkably, their in vivo antitumor effectiveness was not significantly enhanced by concomitant administration of a multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Bemcentinib and tilvestamab qualify as compounds of potentially high clinical interest in AXL overexpressing RCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tony J. Chen
- Department of Clinical MedicineUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
| | - Piotr Mydel
- Department of Clinical ScienceUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
- Department of MicrobiologyJagiellonian UniversityKrakowPoland
| | | | - Marta Kamińska
- Department of MicrobiologyJagiellonian UniversityKrakowPoland
| | - Urszula Kalucka
- Department of MicrobiologyJagiellonian UniversityKrakowPoland
| | | | - Jessica Furriol
- Department of Clinical MedicineUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
| | | | - James Lorens
- Department of BiomedicineCentre for Cancer BiomarkersNorwegian Centre of ExcellenceUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
| | - Tarig Osman
- Department of Clinical MedicineUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
| | - Hans‐Peter Marti
- Department of Clinical MedicineUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
- Department of MedicineHaukeland University HospitalBergenNorway
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Yan D, Earp HS, DeRyckere D, Graham DK. Targeting MERTK and AXL in EGFR Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5639. [PMID: 34830794 PMCID: PMC8616094 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13225639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
MERTK and AXL are members of the TAM family of receptor tyrosine kinases and are abnormally expressed in 69% and 93% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), respectively. Expression of MERTK and/or AXL provides a survival advantage for NSCLC cells and correlates with lymph node metastasis, drug resistance, and disease progression in patients with NSCLC. The TAM receptors on host tumor infiltrating cells also play important roles in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Thus, MERTK and AXL are attractive biologic targets for NSCLC treatment. Here, we will review physiologic and oncologic roles for MERTK and AXL with an emphasis on the potential to target these kinases in NSCLCs with activating EGFR mutations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Yan
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (D.Y.); (D.D.)
| | - H. Shelton Earp
- UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Deborah DeRyckere
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (D.Y.); (D.D.)
| | - Douglas K. Graham
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (D.Y.); (D.D.)
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Geng K. Post-translational modifications of the ligands: Requirement for TAM receptor activation. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 357:35-55. [PMID: 33234244 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2020.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The Tyro3, Axl, and MerTK (TAM) receptors are three homologous Type I Receptor Tyrosine Kinases that have important homeostatic functions in multicellular organisms by regulating the clearance of apoptotic cells (efferocytosis). Pathologically, TAM receptors are overexpressed in a wide array of human cancers, and often associated with aggressive tumor grade and poor overall survival. In addition to their expression on tumor cells, TAMs are also expressed on infiltrating myeloid-derived cells in the tumor microenvironment, where they appear to act akin to negative immune checkpoints that impair host anti-tumor immunity. The ligands for TAMs are two endogenous proteins, Growth Arrest-Specific 6 (Gas6) and Protein S (Pros1), that function as bridging molecules between externalized phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) on apoptotic cells and the TAM ectodomains. One interesting feature of TAMs biology is that their ligand proteins require specific post-translational modifications to acquire activities. This chapter summarized these important modifications and explained the molecular mechanisms behind such phenomenon. Current evidences suggest that these modifications help Gas6/Pros1 to achieve optimal PtdSer-binding capacities. In addition, this chapter included recent discovery of regulating machineries of PtdSer dynamic across the plasma membrane, as well as their potential impacts in the tumor microenvironment. Taken together, this review highlights the importance of the upstream PtdSer and Gas6 in regulating TAMs' function and hope to provide researchers with new perspectives to inspire future studies of TAM receptors in human disease models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ke Geng
- Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Jain AP, Radhakrishnan A, Pinto S, Patel K, Kumar M, Nanjappa V, Raja R, Keshava Prasad TS, Mathur PP, Sidransky D, Chatterjee A, Gowda H. How to Achieve Therapeutic Response in Erlotinib-Resistant Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma? New Insights from Stable Isotope Labeling with Amino Acids in Cell Culture-Based Quantitative Tyrosine Phosphoproteomics. OMICS-A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2021; 25:605-616. [PMID: 34432535 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2021.0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Resistance to cancer chemotherapy is a major global health burden. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a proven therapeutic target for multiple cancers of epithelial origin. Despite its overexpression in >90% of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients, tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as erlotinib have shown a modest response in clinical trials. Cellular heterogeneity is thought to play an important role in HNSCC therapeutic resistance. Genomic alterations alone cannot explain all resistance mechanisms at play in a heterogeneous system. It is thus important to understand the biochemical mechanisms associated with drug resistance to determine potential strategies to achieve clinical response. We investigated tyrosine kinase signaling networks in erlotinib-resistant cells using quantitative tyrosine phosphoproteomics approach. We observed altered phosphorylation of proteins involved in cell adhesion and motility in erlotinib-resistant cells. Bioinformatics analysis revealed enrichment of pathways related to regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction, and endothelial migration. Of importance, enrichment of the focal adhesion kinase (PTK2) signaling pathway downstream of EGFR was also observed in erlotinib-resistant cells. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first report of tyrosine phosphoproteome profiling in erlotinib-resistant HNSCC, with an eye to inform new ways to achieve clinical response. Our findings suggest that common signaling networks are at play in driving resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies in HNSCC and other cancers. Most notably, our data suggest that the PTK2 pathway genes may potentially play a significant role in determining clinical response to erlotinib in HNSCC tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ankit P Jain
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India.,School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | | | - Sneha Pinto
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India.,Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, India
| | - Krishna Patel
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India.,School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, India
| | - Manish Kumar
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
| | | | - Remya Raja
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
| | - Thottethodi Subrahmanya Keshava Prasad
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India.,Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, India.,Proteomics and Bioinformatics Laboratory, Neurobiology Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Premendu P Mathur
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, India.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, India
| | - David Sidransky
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Aditi Chatterjee
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India.,Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, India
| | - Harsha Gowda
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India.,Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, India
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Zaman A, Bivona TG. Targeting AXL in NSCLC. LUNG CANCER (AUCKLAND, N.Z.) 2021; 12:67-79. [PMID: 34408519 PMCID: PMC8364399 DOI: 10.2147/lctt.s305484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
State-of-the-art cancer precision medicine approaches involve targeted inactivation of chemically and immunologically addressable vulnerabilities that often yield impressive initial anti-tumor responses in patients. Nonetheless, these responses are overshadowed by therapy resistance that follows. AXL, a receptor tyrosine kinase with bona fide oncogenic capacity, has been associated with the emergence of resistance in an array of cancers with varying pathophysiology and cellular origins, including in non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Here in this review, we summarize AXL biology during normal homeostasis, oncogenic development and therapy resistance with a focus on NSCLC. In the context of NSCLC therapy resistance, we delineate AXL's role in mediating resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) deployed against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as well as other notable oncogenes and to chemotherapeutics. We also discuss the current understanding of AXL's role in mediating cell-biological variables that function as important modifiers of therapy resistance such as epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), the tumor microenvironment and tumor heterogeneity. We also catalog and discuss a set of effective pharmacologic tools that are emerging to strategically perturb AXL mediated resistance programs in NSCLC. Finally, we enumerate ongoing and future exciting precision medicine approaches targeting AXL as well as challenges in this regard. We highlight that a holistic understanding of AXL biology in NSCLC may allow us to predict and improve targeted therapeutic strategies, such as through polytherapy approaches, potentially against a broad spectrum of NSCLC sub-types to forestall tumor evolution and drug resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aubhishek Zaman
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- UCSF Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Trever G Bivona
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- UCSF Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Discovery of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives as novel selective Axl inhibitors. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2021; 48:128247. [PMID: 34271070 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Axl and Mer are members of the TAM (Tyro3-Axl-Mer) family of receptor tyrosine kinases. Previously, we reported that enzyme-mediated inhibition of Mer by an Axl/Mer dual inhibitor led to retinal toxicity in mice, whereas selective Axl inhibition by compound 1 did not. On the other hand, compound 1 showed low membrane permeability. Here, we designed and synthesized a novel series of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydropyrido[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives and evaluated their Axl and Mer inhibitory activities, leading to identification of ER-001259851-000 as a potent and selective Axl inhibitor with drug-likeness and a promising pharmacokinetic profile in mice.
Collapse
|
27
|
Inoue S, Yamane Y, Tsukamoto S, Azuma H, Nagao S, Murai N, Nishibata K, Fukushima S, Ichikawa K, Nakagawa T, Hata Sugi N, Ito D, Kato Y, Goto A, Kakiuchi D, Ueno T, Matsui J, Matsushima T. Discovery of a potent and selective Axl inhibitor in preclinical model. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 39:116137. [PMID: 33930844 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Axl and Mer are a members of the TAM (Tyro3-Axl-Mer) family of receptor tyrosine kinases, which, when activated, can promote tumor cell survival, proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and tumor-host interactions. Chronic inhibition of Mer leads to retinal toxicity in mice. Therefore, successful development of an Axl targeting agent requires ensuring that it is safe for prolonged treatment. Here, to clarify whether enzyme inhibition of Mer by a small molecule leads to retinal toxicity in mice, we designed and synthesized Axl/Mer inhibitors and Axl-selective inhibitors. We identified an Axl/Mer dual inhibitor 28a, which showed retinal toxicity at a dose of 100 mg/kg in mice. Subsequent derivatization of a pyridine derivative led to the discovery of a pyrimidine derivative, 33g, which selectively inhibited the activity of Axl over Mer without retinal toxicity at a dose of 100 mg/kg in mice. Additionally, the compound displayed in vivo anti-tumor effects without influencing body weight in a Ba/F3-Axl isogenic subcutaneous model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Inoue
- Medicinal Chemistry, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan.
| | - Yoshinobu Yamane
- Medicinal Chemistry, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Shuntaro Tsukamoto
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Azuma
- Medicinal Chemistry, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Satoshi Nagao
- Medicinal Chemistry, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Norio Murai
- Medicinal Chemistry, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Kyoko Nishibata
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Sayo Fukushima
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Kenji Ichikawa
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Takayuki Nakagawa
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Naoko Hata Sugi
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ito
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Yu Kato
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Aya Goto
- Drug Safety, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Dai Kakiuchi
- Drug Safety, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Takashi Ueno
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Junji Matsui
- Biopharmacology, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Matsushima
- Medicinal Chemistry, Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3 Tokodai, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Wium M, Ajayi-Smith AF, Paccez JD, Zerbini LF. The Role of the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Axl in Carcinogenesis and Development of Therapeutic Resistance: An Overview of Molecular Mechanisms and Future Applications. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1521. [PMID: 33806258 PMCID: PMC8037968 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Resistance to chemotherapeutic agents by cancer cells has remained a major obstacle in the successful treatment of various cancers. Numerous factors such as DNA damage repair, cell death inhibition, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and evasion of apoptosis have all been implicated in the promotion of chemoresistance. The receptor tyrosine kinase Axl, a member of the TAM family (which includes TYRO3 and MER), plays an important role in the regulation of cellular processes such as proliferation, motility, survival, and immunologic response. The overexpression of Axl is reported in several solid and hematological malignancies, including non-small cell lung, prostate, breast, liver and gastric cancers, and acute myeloid leukaemia. The overexpression of Axl is associated with poor prognosis and the development of resistance to therapy. Reports show that Axl overexpression confers drug resistance in lung cancer and advances the emergence of tolerant cells. Axl is, therefore, an important candidate as a prognostic biomarker and target for anticancer therapies. In this review, we discuss the consequence of Axl upregulation in cancers, provide evidence for its role in cancer progression and the development of drug resistance. We will also discuss the therapeutic potential of Axl in the treatment of cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martha Wium
- Cancer Genomics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (M.W.); (A.F.A.-S.)
| | - Aderonke F. Ajayi-Smith
- Cancer Genomics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (M.W.); (A.F.A.-S.)
| | - Juliano D. Paccez
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Luiz F. Zerbini
- Cancer Genomics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (M.W.); (A.F.A.-S.)
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Low JL, Lau DP, Zhang X, Kwang XL, Rohatgi N, Chan JV, Chong FT, Wong SQR, Leong HS, Thangavelu MT, Rikka S, Skanderup AMJ, Tan DSW, Periyasamy G, Koh JLY, Iyer NG, DasGupta R. A chemical genetic screen identifies Aurora kinases as a therapeutic target in EGFR T790M negative, gefitinib-resistant head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). EBioMedicine 2021; 64:103220. [PMID: 33529999 PMCID: PMC7851772 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and downstream pathway activation appears to be a common oncogenic driver in the majority of head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCCs); yet targeting EGFR for the treatment of HNSCC has met with limited success. Apart from the anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab, no small molecule EGFR/tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have progressed to routine clinical use. The aim of this study was to determine factors contributing to the lack of response to TKIs and identify alternative therapeutic vulnerabilities. METHODS Genomic and transcriptomic sequencing, high-throughput compound screens, overexpression and siRNA knockdown, western blot, in vivo xenograft studies. FINDINGS We derived three pairs of isogenic gefitinib (TKI)-sensitive and resistant patient-derived HNSCC cell lines. Genomic sequencing of gefitinib-resistant cell lines identified a lack of activating and resistance-associated EGFR mutations. Instead, transcriptomic sequencing showed upregulated EMT gene signature in the gefitinib-resistant cells with a corresponding increase in their migratory phenotype. Additionally, the resistant cell displayed reduced growth rate. Surprisingly, while gefitinib-resistant cells were independent of EGFR for survival, they nonetheless displayed activation of downstream ERK and AKT signalling. High-throughput screening (HTS) of druggable, small molecule libraries revealed that the gefitinib-resistant cells were particularly sensitive to inhibitors of genes involved in cell cycle and mitosis, such as Aurora kinase inhibitors (AKIs), cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors, and microtubule inhibitors. Notably our results showed that in the EGFR inhibited state, Aurora kinases are essential for cell survival. INTERPRETATION Our study demonstrates that in the absence of activating EGFR mutations, HNSCCs may gain resistance to gefitinib through decreased cell proliferation, which makes them exceptionally vulnerable to cell-cycle inhibitors. FUNDING Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), National Medical Research Council (NMRC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joo-Leng Low
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Genome #02-01, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Dawn Pingxi Lau
- Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Crescent, Singapore 169610, Singapore
| | - Xiaoqian Zhang
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Genome #02-01, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Xue-Lin Kwang
- Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Crescent, Singapore 169610, Singapore
| | - Neha Rohatgi
- Laboratory of Computational Cancer Genomics, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Jane Vin Chan
- Computational Phenomics Platform, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Fui-Teen Chong
- Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Crescent, Singapore 169610, Singapore
| | - Stephen Qi Rong Wong
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Genome #02-01, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Hui-Sun Leong
- Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Crescent, Singapore 169610, Singapore
| | - Matan Thangavelu Thangavelu
- Centre for High Throughput Phenomics (CHiP-GIS), Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Shivaji Rikka
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Genome #02-01, Singapore 138672, Singapore; Centre for High Throughput Phenomics (CHiP-GIS), Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Anders Martin Jacobsen Skanderup
- Laboratory of Computational Cancer Genomics, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Daniel Shao Weng Tan
- Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Crescent, Singapore 169610, Singapore
| | - Giridharan Periyasamy
- Centre for High Throughput Phenomics (CHiP-GIS), Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Judice Lie Yong Koh
- Computational Phenomics Platform, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - N Gopalakrishna Iyer
- Cancer Therapeutics Research Laboratory, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Crescent, Singapore 169610, Singapore.
| | - Ramanuj DasGupta
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, Genome #02-01, Singapore 138672, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Zhou X, Liu X, Huang L. Macrophage-Mediated Tumor Cell Phagocytosis: Opportunity for Nanomedicine Intervention. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2021; 31:2006220. [PMID: 33692665 PMCID: PMC7939128 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202006220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Macrophages are one of the most abundant non-malignant cells in the tumor microenvironment, playing critical roles in mediating tumor immunity. As important innate immune cells, macrophages possess the potential to engulf tumor cells and present tumor-specific antigens for adaptive antitumor immunity induction, leading to growing interest in targeting macrophage phagocytosis for cancer immunotherapy. Nevertheless, live tumor cells have evolved to evade phagocytosis by macrophages via the extensive expression of anti-phagocytic molecules, such as CD47. In addition, macrophages also rapidly recognize and engulf apoptotic cells (efferocytosis) in the tumor microenvironment, which inhibits inflammatory responses and facilitates immune escape of tumor cells. Thus, intervention of macrophage phagocytosis by blocking anti-phagocytic signals on live tumor cells or inhibiting tumor efferocytosis presents a promising strategy for the development of cancer immunotherapies. Here, the regulation of macrophage-mediated tumor cell phagocytosis is first summarized, followed by an overview of strategies targeting macrophage phagocytosis for the development of antitumor therapies. Given the potential off-target effects associated with the administration of traditional therapeutics (for example, monoclonal antibodies, small molecule inhibitors), we highlight the opportunity for nanomedicine in macrophage phagocytosis intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuefei Zhou
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education and Center for Bionanoengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Xiangrui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education and Center for Bionanoengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Leaf Huang
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Ferrarotto R, Mitani Y, McGrail DJ, Li K, Karpinets TV, Bell D, Frank SJ, Song X, Kupferman ME, Liu B, Lee JJ, Glisson BS, Zhang J, Aster JC, Lin SY, Futreal PA, Heymach JV, El-Naggar AK. Proteogenomic Analysis of Salivary Adenoid Cystic Carcinomas Defines Molecular Subtypes and Identifies Therapeutic Targets. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 27:852-864. [PMID: 33172898 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-1192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) has heterogeneous clinical behavior. Currently, all patients are treated uniformly, and no standard-of-care systemic therapy exists for metastatic ACC. We conducted an integrated proteogenomic analyses of ACC tumors to identify dysregulated pathways and propose a classification with therapeutic implications. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN RNA/DNA sequencing of 54 flash-frozen salivary ACCs and reverse phase protein array (RPPA) in 38 specimens were performed, with validation by Western blotting and/or IHC. Three independent ACC cohorts were used for validation. RESULTS Both unbiased RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and RPPA analysis revealed two molecular subtypes: ACC-I (37%) and ACC-II (63%). ACC-I had strong upregulation of MYC, MYC target genes, and mRNA splicing, enrichment of NOTCH-activating mutations, and dramatically worse prognosis. ACC-II exhibited upregulation of TP63 and receptor tyrosine kinases (AXL, MET, and EGFR) and less aggressive clinical course. TP63 and MYC were sufficient to assign tumors to ACC subtypes, which was validated in one independent cohort by IHC and two additional independent cohorts by RNA-seq. Furthermore, IHC staining for MYC and P63 protein levels can be used to identify ACC subtypes, enabling rapid clinical deployment to guide therapeutic decisions. Our data suggest a model in which ACC-I is driven by MYC signaling through either NOTCH mutations or direct amplification, which in turn suppress P63 signaling observed in ACC-II, producing unique therapeutic vulnerabilities for each subtype. CONCLUSIONS Cooccurrence of multiple actionable protein/pathways alterations in each subtype indicates unique therapeutic vulnerabilities and opportunities for optimal combination therapy for this understudied and heterogeneous disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renata Ferrarotto
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
| | - Yoshitsugu Mitani
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Daniel J McGrail
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Kaiyi Li
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Tatiana V Karpinets
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Diana Bell
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Steven J Frank
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Xingzhi Song
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Michael E Kupferman
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - J Jack Lee
- Department of Statistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Bonnie S Glisson
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jon C Aster
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Shiaw-Yih Lin
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - P Andrew Futreal
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - John V Heymach
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Adel K El-Naggar
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Landers SM, Bhalla AD, Ma X, Lusby K, Ingram D, Al Sannaa G, Wang WL, Lazar AJ, Torres KE. AXL Inhibition Enhances MEK Inhibitor Sensitivity in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 4:511-525. [PMID: 33283192 PMCID: PMC7717506 DOI: 10.26502/jcsct.5079091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of the receptor tyrosine kinase AXL is known to promote cancer cell growth and survival in many sarcomas, including the rare subtype, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). MPNSTs are largely chemoresistant and carry a poor prognosis. AXL is an attractive potential therapeutic target, as it is aberrantly expressed, and its activation may be an early event in MPNST. However, the effect of AXL inhibition on MPNST development and progression is not known. Here, we investigated the role of AXL in MPNST development and the effects of AXL and MEK1/2 co-inhibition on MPNSTs. We used western blotting to examine AXL expression and activation in MPNST cell lines. We analyzed the effects of exogenous growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6) expression on downstream signaling and the proliferation, migration, and invasion of MPNST cells. The effect of AXL knockdown with or without mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibition on downstream signal transduction and tumorigenesis was also examined in vivo and in vitro. We found that AXL knockdown increased MAPK pathway signaling. This compensation, in turn, abrogated the antitumorigenic effects linked to AXL knockdown in vivo. AXL knockdown, combined with pharmacological MEK inhibition, reduced the proliferation and increased the apoptosis of MPNST cells both in vitro and in vivo. The pharmacological co-inhibition of AXL and MEK1/2 reduced MPNST volumes. Together these findings suggest that AXL inhibition enhances the sensitivity of MPNST to other small molecule inhibitors. We conclude that combination therapy with AXL inhibitor may be a therapeutic option for MPNST.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon M. Landers
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Angela D. Bhalla
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - XiaoYan Ma
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kristelle Lusby
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Indianapolis University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Davis Ingram
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ghadah Al Sannaa
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston TX, USA
| | - Wei-Lien Wang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexander J. Lazar
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Keila E. Torres
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Corresponding Author: Dr. Keila E. Torres, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA, Tel: (713) 792-4242;
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Ruicci KM, Meens J, Plantinga P, Stecho W, Pinto N, Yoo J, Fung K, MacNeil D, Mymryk JS, Barrett JW, Howlett CJ, Boutros PC, Ailles L, Nichols AC. TAM family receptors in conjunction with MAPK signalling are involved in acquired resistance to PI3Kα inhibition in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2020; 39:217. [PMID: 33059733 PMCID: PMC7559997 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-020-01713-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Background Aberrant activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is common in many malignancies, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Despite pre-clinical and clinical studies, outcomes from targeting the PI3K pathway have been underwhelming and the development of drug resistance poses a significant barrier to patient treatment. In the present study, we examined mechanisms of acquired resistance to the PI3Kα inhibitor alpelisib (formerly BYL719) in HNSCC cell lines and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Methods Five unique PDX mouse models and three HNSCC cell lines were used. All cell lines and xenografts underwent genomic characterization prior to study. Serial drug treatment was conducted in vitro and in vivo to develop multiple, clinically-significant models of resistance to alpelisib. We then used reverse phase protein arrays (RPPAs) to profile the expression of proteins in parental and drug-resistant models. Top hits were validated by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Flow cytometric analysis and RNA interference studies were then used to interrogate the molecular mechanisms underlying acquired drug resistance. Results Prolonged treatment with alpelisib led to upregulation of TAM family receptor tyrosine kinases TYRO3 and AXL. Importantly, a significant shift in expression of both TYRO3 and AXL to the cell surface was detected in drug-resistant cells. Targeted knockdown of TYRO3 and AXL effectively re-sensitized resistant cells to PI3Kα inhibition. In vivo, resistance to alpelisib emerged following 20–35 days of treatment in all five PDX models. Elevated TYRO3 expression was detected in drug-resistant PDX tissues. Downstream of TYRO3 and AXL, we identified activation of intracellular MAPK signalling. Inhibition of MAPK signalling also re-sensitized drug-resistant cells to alpelisib. Conclusions We have identified TYRO3 and AXL receptors to be key mediators of resistance to alpelisib, both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that pan-TAM inhibition is a promising avenue for combinatorial or second-line therapy alongside PI3Kα inhibition. These findings advance our understanding of the role TAM receptors play in modulating the response of HNSCC to PI3Kα inhibition and suggest a means to prevent, or at least delay, resistance to PI3Kα inhibition in order to improve outcomes for HNSCC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kara M Ruicci
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Room B3-431A, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada.,Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jalna Meens
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Paul Plantinga
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - William Stecho
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Nicole Pinto
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Room B3-431A, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada
| | - John Yoo
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Room B3-431A, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada.,Department of Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Kevin Fung
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Room B3-431A, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada.,Department of Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Danielle MacNeil
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Room B3-431A, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada.,Department of Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Joe S Mymryk
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Room B3-431A, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada.,Department of Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - John W Barrett
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Room B3-431A, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada
| | - Christopher J Howlett
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Paul C Boutros
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Institute for Precision Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Centre, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Laurie Ailles
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anthony C Nichols
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Room B3-431A, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada. .,Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada. .,Department of Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Abstract
Non-communicable diseases contribute to 71% of the deaths worldwide, of which cancers rank second after cardiovascular diseases. Among all the cancers, head and neck cancers (HNC) are consequential in augmenting the global cancer incidence as well as mortality. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are emphatic for the matter that they serve as biomarkers aiding the analysis of tumor progression and metastasis as well as diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic progression in the patients. The extensive researches on HNC have made significant furtherance in numerous targeted therapies, but for the escalating therapeutic resistance. This review explicates RTKs in HNC, their signaling pathways involved in tumorigenesis, metastasis and stemness induction, the association of non-coding RNAs with RTKs, an overview of RTK based therapy and associated resistance in HNC, as well as a sneak peek into the HPV positive HNC and its therapy. The review extrapolates the cardinal role of RTKs and RTK based therapy as superior to other existing therapeutic interventions for HNC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Revathy Nadhan
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
| | - Priya Srinivas
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
| | - M Radhakrishna Pillai
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Zhou Y, Yao Y, Deng Y, Shao A. Regulation of efferocytosis as a novel cancer therapy. Cell Commun Signal 2020; 18:71. [PMID: 32370748 PMCID: PMC7199874 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-020-00542-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Efferocytosis is a physiologic phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells, which modulates inflammatory responses and the immune environment and subsequently facilitates immune escape of cancer cells, thus promoting tumor development and progression. Efferocytosis is an equilibrium formed by perfect coordination among “find-me”, “eat-me” and “don’t-eat-me” signals. These signaling pathways not only affect the proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis of tumor cells but also regulate adaptive responses and drug resistance to antitumor therapies. Therefore, efferocytosis-related molecules and pathways are potential targets for antitumor therapy. Besides, supplementing conventional chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other immunotherapies with efferocytosis-targeted therapy could enhance the therapeutic efficacy, reduce off-target toxicity, and promote patient outcome. Video abstract
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunxiang Zhou
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yihan Yao
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yongchuan Deng
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Anwen Shao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Decker AM, Decker JT, Jung Y, Cackowski FC, Daignault-Newton S, Morgan TM, Shea LD, Taichman RS. Adrenergic Blockade Promotes Maintenance of Dormancy in Prostate Cancer Through Upregulation of GAS6. Transl Oncol 2020; 13:100781. [PMID: 32361123 PMCID: PMC7191848 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2020.100781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer can develop metastases many years after initial treatment, resulting in a poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which signaling through norepinephrine (NE) may incite relapse of quiescent prostate cancer. We used an unbiased bioinformatics pipeline to examine mechanisms for recurrence related to sympathetic signaling in the bone marrow. A transcription factor cell array identified ATF1, RAR, and E2F as key nodes in prostate cancer cells exiting quiescence through adrenergic signaling. Subsequent secretome analysis identified GAS6 as affecting activity of these three factors, leading to cell cycle reentry. GAS6 expression was downregulated in osteoblasts through activation of the cAMP pathway and was targeted in vitro and in vivo using pharmacological agents (propranolol and phentolamine). Propranolol increased expression of GAS6 by osteoblasts, and phentolamine significantly inhibited expression. Propranolol treatment was sufficient to both increase GAS6 expression in marrow osteoblasts as well as eliminate the effects of NE signaling on GAS6 expression. These results demonstrate a strong correlation between adrenergic signaling, GAS6 expression, and recurrence in prostate cancer, suggesting a novel therapeutic direction for patients at high risk of metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ann M Decker
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Joseph T Decker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Younghun Jung
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Frank C Cackowski
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Todd M Morgan
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Lonnie D Shea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Russell S Taichman
- Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; School of Dentistry, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Iida M, Harari PM, Wheeler DL, Toulany M. Targeting AKT/PKB to improve treatment outcomes for solid tumors. Mutat Res 2020; 819-820:111690. [PMID: 32120136 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2020.111690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The serine/threonine kinase AKT, also known as protein kinase B (PKB), is the major substrate to phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and consists of three paralogs: AKT1 (PKBα), AKT2 (PKBβ) and AKT3 (PKBγ). The PI3K/AKT pathway is normally activated by binding of ligands to membrane-bound receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) as well as downstream to G-protein coupled receptors and integrin-linked kinase. Through multiple downstream substrates, activated AKT controls a wide variety of cellular functions including cell proliferation, survival, metabolism, and angiogenesis in both normal and malignant cells. In human cancers, the PI3K/AKT pathway is most frequently hyperactivated due to mutations and/or overexpression of upstream components. Aberrant expression of RTKs, gain of function mutations in PIK3CA, RAS, PDPK1, and AKT itself, as well as loss of function mutation in AKT phosphatases are genetic lesions that confer hyperactivation of AKT. Activated AKT stimulates DNA repair, e.g. double strand break repair after radiotherapy. Likewise, AKT attenuates chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. These observations suggest that a crucial link exists between AKT and DNA damage. Thus, AKT could be a major predictive marker of conventional cancer therapy, molecularly targeted therapy, and immunotherapy for solid tumors. In this review, we summarize the current understanding by which activated AKT mediates resistance to cancer treatment modalities, i.e. radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and RTK targeted therapy. Next, the effect of AKT on response of tumor cells to RTK targeted strategies will be discussed. Finally, we will provide a brief summary on the clinical trials of AKT inhibitors in combination with radiochemotherapy, RTK targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Iida
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin in Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - P M Harari
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin in Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - D L Wheeler
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin in Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - M Toulany
- Division of Radiobiology and Molecular Environmental Research, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Tuebingen, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Kuo MT, Long Y, Tsai WB, Li YY, Chen HHW, Feun LG, Savaraj N. Collaboration Between RSK-EphA2 and Gas6-Axl RTK Signaling in Arginine Starvation Response That Confers Resistance to EGFR Inhibitors. Transl Oncol 2019; 13:355-364. [PMID: 31887630 PMCID: PMC6938815 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2019.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Many human malignancies require extracellular arginine (Arg) for survival because the key enzyme for de novo Arg biosynthesis, argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1), is silenced. Recombinant arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG20), which digests extracellular Arg, has been in clinical trials for treating ASS1-negative tumors. Reactivation of ASS1 is responsible for the treatment failure. We previously demonstrated that ASS1 reactivation is transcriptionally regulated by c-Myc via the upstream Gas6-Axl tyrosine kinase (RTK) signal. Here, we report that another RTK EphA2 is coactivated via PI3K-ERK/RSK1 pathway in a ligand-independent mechanism. EphA2 is also regulated by c-Myc. Moreover, we found that knockdown Axl upregulates EphA2 expression, demonstrating cross-talk between these RTKs. ADIR cell lines exhibits enhanced sensitivities to nutrient deprivation such as charcoal-stripped FBS and multiple RTK inhibitor foretinib but resistance to EGFR inhibitors. Knockdown EphA2, and to lesser extent, Axl, overcomes EGFRi resistance. c-Myc inhibitor JQ1 can also sensitize ADIR cells to ADI-PEG20. This study elucidates molecular interactions of multiple RTKs in Arg-stress response and offers approaches for developing strategies of overcoming ADI-PEG20 resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Macus Tien Kuo
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Yan Long
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wen-Bin Tsai
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ying-Ying Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Helen H W Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70428, Taiwan
| | - Lynn G Feun
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Niramol Savaraj
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; Division of Hematology and Oncology, Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Jain AP, Patel K, Pinto S, Radhakrishnan A, Nanjappa V, Kumar M, Raja R, Patil AH, Kumari A, Manoharan M, Karunakaran C, Murugan S, Keshava Prasad TS, Chang X, Mathur PP, Kumar P, Gupta R, Gupta R, Khanna-Gupta A, Sidransky D, Chatterjee A, Gowda H. MAP2K1 is a potential therapeutic target in erlotinib resistant head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18793. [PMID: 31827134 PMCID: PMC6906491 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55208-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeted therapies have shown limited efficacy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients despite its overexpression. Identifying molecular mechanisms associated with acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs such as erlotinib remains an unmet need and a therapeutic challenge. In this study, we employed an integrated multi-omics approach to delineate mechanisms associated with acquired resistance to erlotinib by carrying out whole exome sequencing, quantitative proteomic and phosphoproteomic profiling. We observed amplification of several genes including AXL kinase and transcription factor YAP1 resulting in protein overexpression. We also observed expression of constitutively active mutant MAP2K1 (p.K57E) in erlotinib resistant SCC-R cells. An integrated analysis of genomic, proteomic and phosphoproteomic data revealed alterations in MAPK pathway and its downstream targets in SCC-R cells. We demonstrate that erlotinib-resistant cells are sensitive to MAPK pathway inhibition. This study revealed multiple genetic, proteomic and phosphoproteomic alterations associated with erlotinib resistant SCC-R cells. Our data indicates that therapeutic targeting of MAPK pathway is an effective strategy for treating erlotinib-resistant HNSCC tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ankit P Jain
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066, India.,School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Odisha, 751024, India
| | - Krishna Patel
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066, India.,School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, 690525, India
| | - Sneha Pinto
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066, India.,Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, 575018, India
| | - Aneesha Radhakrishnan
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066, India
| | - Vishalakshi Nanjappa
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066, India
| | - Manish Kumar
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066, India
| | - Remya Raja
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Arun H Patil
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066, India.,School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Odisha, 751024, India.,Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, 575018, India
| | | | | | | | | | - T S Keshava Prasad
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066, India.,Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, 575018, India
| | - Xiaofei Chang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, 21231, MD, USA
| | - Premendu Prakash Mathur
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Odisha, 751024, India.,Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, 605014, India
| | - Prashant Kumar
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066, India
| | - Ravi Gupta
- Medgenome Labs Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, 560099, India
| | - Rohit Gupta
- Medgenome Labs Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, 560099, India
| | | | - David Sidransky
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, 21231, MD, USA
| | - Aditi Chatterjee
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066, India. .,Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India. .,Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, 575018, India.
| | - Harsha Gowda
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066, India. .,School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Odisha, 751024, India. .,Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India. .,Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, 575018, India. .,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Road, Brisbane, QLD, 4006, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Morimoto M, Horikoshi Y, Nakaso K, Kurashiki T, Kitagawa Y, Hanaki T, Sakamoto T, Honjo S, Umekita Y, Fujiwara Y, Matsura T. Oncogenic role of TYRO3 receptor tyrosine kinase in the progression of pancreatic cancer. Cancer Lett 2019; 470:149-160. [PMID: 31765735 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The expression and functions of TYRO3, a member of the TAM receptor tyrosine kinase family, in pancreatic cancer (PC) have not been specifically elucidated. In this study, we confirmed TYRO3 expression in five human PC cell lines (PANC-1, MIA PaCa-2, BxPC-3, AsPC-1, and PK-9) using Western blotting. TYRO3 silencing and overexpression studies have revealed that TYRO3 promotes cell proliferation and invasion in PC via phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Using a mouse xenograft model, we showed that tumor growth was significantly suppressed in mice subcutaneously inoculated with TYRO3-knockdown PC cells compared with mice inoculated with control PC cells. Furthermore, TYRO3 expression was examined in PC tissues obtained from 106 patients who underwent pancreatic resection for invasive ductal carcinoma through immunohistochemical staining. TYRO3-positive patients had poor prognoses for overall survival and disease-specific survival compared with TYRO3-negative patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that TYRO3 expression is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. Our study demonstrates the critical role of TYRO3 in PC progression through Akt and ERK activation and suggests TYRO3 as a novel promising target for therapeutic strategies against PC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Morimoto
- Division of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago, 683-8503, Japan; Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago, 683-8504, Japan
| | - Yosuke Horikoshi
- Division of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago, 683-8503, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Nakaso
- Division of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago, 683-8503, Japan
| | - Tatsuyuki Kurashiki
- Division of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago, 683-8503, Japan; Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago, 683-8504, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Kitagawa
- Division of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago, 683-8503, Japan; Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago, 683-8504, Japan
| | - Takehiko Hanaki
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago, 683-8504, Japan
| | - Teruhisa Sakamoto
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago, 683-8504, Japan
| | - Soichiro Honjo
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago, 683-8504, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Umekita
- Division of Organ Pathology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago, 683-8503, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Fujiwara
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago, 683-8504, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Matsura
- Division of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago, 683-8503, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
AXL receptor tyrosine kinase as a promising anti-cancer approach: functions, molecular mechanisms and clinical applications. Mol Cancer 2019; 18:153. [PMID: 31684958 PMCID: PMC6827209 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-019-1090-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 282] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular targeted therapy for cancer has been a research hotspot for decades. AXL is a member of the TAM family with the high-affinity ligand growth arrest-specific protein 6 (GAS6). The Gas6/AXL signalling pathway is associated with tumour cell growth, metastasis, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, drug resistance, immune regulation and stem cell maintenance. Different therapeutic agents targeting AXL have been developed, typically including small molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), nucleotide aptamers, soluble receptors, and several natural compounds. In this review, we first provide a comprehensive discussion of the structure, function, regulation, and signalling pathways of AXL. Then, we highlight recent strategies for targeting AXL in the treatment of cancer.AXL-targeted drugs, either as single agents or in combination with conventional chemotherapy or other small molecule inhibitors, are likely to improve the survival of many patients. However, future investigations into AXL molecular signalling networks and robust predictive biomarkers are warranted to select patients who could receive clinical benefit and to avoid potential toxicities.
Collapse
|
42
|
Chaib I, Cai X, Llige D, Santarpia M, Jantus-Lewintre E, Filipska M, Pedraz C, Cui J, Yang J, Miao J, Sun R, Bracht JWP, Ito M, Codony-Servat J, Karachaliou N, Aguilar A, Rosell R, Cao P. Osimertinib and dihydroartemisinin: a novel drug combination targeting head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2019; 7:651. [PMID: 31930052 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2019.10.80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background Recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has a dismal prognosis with limited progression-free survival and overall survival, even when treated with different combinations of chemotherapy, targeted therapies and immunotherapy. We explored in vitro and in vivo the effect of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, osimertinib, alone and in combination with dihydroartemisinin (DHA) in HNSCC. Methods The combination of osimertinib with DHA was tested in the FaDu and CAL27 HNSCC cell lines. Tumor cell proliferation assays were conducted in cultured cells and mouse xenografts. Western blotting analysis of related signal pathways was performed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of the inhibitory effect of DHA and the combination. Other compounds, which inhibit signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), Src-family kinases (SFKs), sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1), or the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) AXL were also combined with osimertinib in vitro. Results Osimertinib exerted synergistic cytotoxicity toward FaDu and CAL27 HNSCC cells when combined with DHA. DHA reversed the osimertinib-induced STAT3 and Src phosphorylation. The double combination inhibited AXL expression. The anticancer potential of osimertinib plus DHA combination was validated in vivo on FaDu and CAL27 xenografts in mice without notable side effects. Conclusions The results illustrate that the combinatory therapy of osimertinib and DHA, as a repurposing anticancer drug, could be a novel therapeutic strategy for recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC patients. The findings strongly indicate that a clinical trial is warranted to confirm the benefit of the combination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Imane Chaib
- Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Xueting Cai
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, China.,College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - David Llige
- Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Mariacarmela Santarpia
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Human Pathology "G. Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Eloisa Jantus-Lewintre
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Fundación Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.,CIBERONC, Valencia, Spain.,Department of Biotechnology, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Martyna Filipska
- Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Carlos Pedraz
- Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Jean Cui
- TP Therapeutics, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jie Yang
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, China
| | - Jing Miao
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, China
| | - Rongwei Sun
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, China
| | | | - Masaoki Ito
- Pangaea Oncology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Quirón-Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Codony-Servat
- Pangaea Oncology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Quirón-Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Niki Karachaliou
- Instituto Oncológico Dr. Rosell (IOR), University Hospital Sagrat Cor, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrés Aguilar
- Instituto Oncológico Dr. Rosell (IOR), University Hospital Sagrat Cor, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Rosell
- Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain.,Pangaea Oncology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Quirón-Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Instituto Oncológico Dr. Rosell (IOR), University Hospital Sagrat Cor, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut Català d'Oncologia, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Peng Cao
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, China.,College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Sun ZG, Liu JH, Zhang JM, Qian Y. Research Progress of Axl Inhibitors. Curr Top Med Chem 2019; 19:1338-1349. [PMID: 31218961 DOI: 10.2174/1568026619666190620155613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Axl, a Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (RTK) belonging to the TAM (Axl, Mer, Tyro3) family, participates in many signal transduction cascades after mostly being stimulated by Growth arrestspecific 6(Gas6). Axl is widely expressed in many organs, such as macrophages, endothelial cells, heart, liver and skeletal muscle. Over-expression and activation of Axl are associated with promoting chemotherapy resistance, cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis in many human cancers, such as breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers. Therefore, the research and development of Axl inhibitors is of great significance to strengthen the means of cancer treatment, especially to solve the problem of drug resistance. Axl inhibitors have attracted more and more researchers' attention in recent years. This review discusses the research progress of Axl inhibitors in recent years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Gang Sun
- Central Laboratory, Linyi Central Hospital, No.17 Jiankang Road, Linyi 276400, China.,State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, No.163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jian-Hua Liu
- Central Laboratory, Linyi Central Hospital, No.17 Jiankang Road, Linyi 276400, China
| | - Jin-Mai Zhang
- Room 205, BIO-X white house, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No.1954 Huashan Road, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yong Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, No.163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing 210023, China
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Gas6/TAM Receptors in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. DISEASE MARKERS 2019; 2019:7838195. [PMID: 31360267 PMCID: PMC6652053 DOI: 10.1155/2019/7838195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multiorgan autoimmune disease associated with impaired immune system regulation. The exact mechanisms of SLE development remain to be elucidated. TAM receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are important for apoptotic cell clearance, immune homeostasis, and resolution of immune responses. TAM deficiency leads to lupus-like autoimmune diseases. Activation of TAM receptors leads to proteolytic cleavage of the receptors, generating soluble forms of TAM. Circulating TAM receptors have an immunoregulatory function and may also serve as biomarkers for disease prognosis. Here, we review the biological function and signaling of TAM RTKs in the development and pathogenesis of lupus and lupus nephritis. Targeting Gas6/TAM pathways may be of therapeutic benefit. A discussion of potential TAM activation and inhibition in the treatment of lupus and lupus nephritis is included.
Collapse
|
45
|
Axl Inhibitor R428 Enhances TRAIL-Mediated Apoptosis Through Downregulation of c-FLIP and Survivin Expression in Renal Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20133253. [PMID: 31269715 PMCID: PMC6651098 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20133253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
R428, a selective small molecule Axl inhibitor, is known to have anti-cancer effects, such as inhibition of invasion and proliferation and induction of cell death in cancer cells. The Axl receptor tyrosine kinase is highly expressed in cancer cells and the level of Axl expression is associated with survival, metastasis, and drug resistance of many cancer cells. However, the effect of Axl inhibition on overcoming anti-cancer drugs resistance is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the capability of Axl inhibition as a therapeutic agent for the induction of TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) sensitivity. In this study, R428 markedly sensitized cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptotic cell death, but not in normal human skin fibroblast (HSF) and human umbilical vein cells (EA.hy926). Moreover, knockdown of Axl by siRNA also increased TRAIL-induced apoptosis. R428 decreased c-FLIP proteins levels via induction of miR-708 expression and survivin protein levels at the post-translational level, and we found that knockdown of Axl also decreased both c-FLIP and survivin protein expression. Overexpression of c-FLIP and survivin markedly inhibited R428 plus TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, R428 sensitized cancer cells to multiple anti-cancer drugs-mediated cell death. Our results provide that inhibition of Axl could improve sensitivity to TRAIL through downregulation of c-FLIP and survivin expression in renal carcinoma cells. Taken together, Axl may be a tempting target to overcome TRAIL resistance.
Collapse
|
46
|
Myers KV, Amend SR, Pienta KJ. Targeting Tyro3, Axl and MerTK (TAM receptors): implications for macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. Mol Cancer 2019; 18:94. [PMID: 31088471 PMCID: PMC6515593 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-019-1022-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 244] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages are an abundant cell type in the tumor microenvironment. These macrophages serve as a promising target for treatment of cancer due to their roles in promoting cancer progression and simultaneous immunosuppression. The TAM receptors (Tyro3, Axl and MerTK) are promising therapeutic targets on tumor-associated macrophages. The TAM receptors are a family of receptor tyrosine kinases with shared ligands Gas6 and Protein S that skew macrophage polarization towards a pro-tumor M2-like phenotype. In macrophages, the TAM receptors also promote apoptotic cell clearance, a tumor-promoting process called efferocytosis. The TAM receptors bind the "eat-me" signal phosphatidylserine on apoptotic cell membranes using Gas6 and Protein S as bridging ligands. Post-efferocytosis, macrophages are further polarized to a pro-tumor M2-like phenotype and secrete increased levels of immunosuppressive cytokines. Since M2 polarization and efferocytosis are tumor-promoting processes, the TAM receptors on macrophages serve as exciting targets for cancer therapy. Current TAM receptor-directed therapies in preclinical development and clinical trials may have anti-cancer effects though impacting macrophage phenotype and function in addition to the cancer cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kayla V. Myers
- 0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA ,0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Department of Urology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Sarah R. Amend
- 0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Department of Urology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Kenneth J. Pienta
- 0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA ,0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Department of Urology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA ,0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA ,0000 0001 2171 9311grid.21107.35Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Suresh D, Zambre A, Mukherjee S, Ghoshdastidar S, Jiang Y, Joshi T, Upendran A, Kannan R. Silencing AXL by covalent siRNA-gelatin-antibody nanoconjugate inactivates mTOR/EMT pathway and stimulates p53 for TKI sensitization in NSCLC. NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2019; 20:102007. [PMID: 31085346 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer mortality with the 5-year survival rate at a dismal 16% for the past 40 years. Drug resistance is a major obstacle to achieving long-term patient survival. Identifying and validating molecular biomarkers responsible for resistance and thereby adopting multi-directional therapy is necessary to improve the survival rate. Previous studies indicated ~20% of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistant NSCLC patients overexpress AXL with increase in EMT and decrease in p53 expression. To overcome the resistance, we designed gelatin nanoparticles covalently conjugated with EGFR targeting antibody and siRNA (GAbsiAXL). GAbsiAXL efficiently silences AXL, decreases mTOR and EMT signaling with concomitant increase in p53 expression. Because of the molecular changes, the AXL silencing sensitizes the cells to TKI. Our results show AXL overexpression has an important role in driving TKI resistance through close association with energy-dependent mitochondrial pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dhananjay Suresh
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Ajit Zambre
- Department of Radiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Soumavo Mukherjee
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | | | - Yuexu Jiang
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Trupti Joshi
- Department of Health Management and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA; Department of MU Informatics Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Anandhi Upendran
- Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA; MU-Institute of Clinical and Translational Science (MU-iCATS), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Raghuraman Kannan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
AXL degradation in combination with EGFR-TKI can delay and overcome acquired resistance in human non-small cell lung cancer cells. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:361. [PMID: 31043587 PMCID: PMC6494839 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1601-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) has been a major obstacle in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. AXL has been reported to mediate EGFR-TKIs. Recently, third generation EGFR-TKI osimertinib has been approved and yet its acquired resistance mechanism is not clearly understood. We found that AXL is involved in both gefitinib and osimertinib resistance using in vitro and in vivo model. In addition, AXL overexpression was correlated with extended protein degradation rate. We demonstrate targeting AXL degradation is an alternative route to restore EGFR-TKIs sensitivity. We confirmed that the combination effect of YD, an AXL degrader, and EGFR-TKIs can delay or overcome EGFR-TKIs-driven resistance in EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells, xenograft tumors, and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Therefore, combination of EGFR-TKI and AXL degrader is a potentially effective treatment strategy for overcoming and delaying acquired resistance in NSCLC.
Collapse
|
49
|
Ghanbari A, Cheraghzadeh Z, Mahmoudi R, Zibara K, Hosseini E. GLI inhibitors overcome Erlotinib resistance in human pancreatic cancer cells by modulating E-cadherin. J Chemother 2019; 31:141-149. [PMID: 30983542 DOI: 10.1080/1120009x.2019.1584422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Inhibition of hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway, including its end effector GLI1, can reverse epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) which plays an important role in drug resistance of pancreatic cancer cells to Erlotinib (ETB). This study investigated the effect of GLI inhibitors Forskolin (FSK), GANT-61 (GNT), and Arsenic trioxide (ATX) on suppressing the resistance of pancreatic cancer cells to ETB. The effect of GLI inhibitors was evaluated by measuring mRNA expression levels of EMT factors using quantitative RT-PCR. Immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry were used to assess E-cadherin (E-Cad) and GLI1 protein levels. MTT and apoptosis assays were used to evaluate the synergistic effects for the combination treatment of each GLI inhibitor with ETB. Pancreatic cancer cells PANC-1 treated by GNT showed the highest significant reduction in mRNA levels of GLI1 and other EMT pathway genes. Moreover, GNT was able to upregulate E-Cad and downregulate GLI1 proteins, more than FSK, while ATX had no effect. Apoptosis levels of PANC-1 cells following treatment with LD30 concentrations of FSK, GNT, or ATX, showed 57%, 62% and 67%, respectively, in comparison to ETB (∼48%). Importantly, combination treatments of ETB with either FSK, GNT, or ATX demonstrated a significant increase in apoptotic cells reaching 61% (ETB + FSK), 80% (ETB + GNT) or 88% (ETB + ATX). FSK did not have much effect on the drug resistance of PANC-1 cells to ETB. However, GNT, but more effectively ATX, were able to reduce the drug resistance of this cell line to ETB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amir Ghanbari
- a Cellular and Molecular Research Center , Yasuj University of Medical Sciences , Yasuj , Iran
| | - Zeinab Cheraghzadeh
- a Cellular and Molecular Research Center , Yasuj University of Medical Sciences , Yasuj , Iran
| | - Reza Mahmoudi
- a Cellular and Molecular Research Center , Yasuj University of Medical Sciences , Yasuj , Iran
| | - Kazem Zibara
- b PRASE, Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences-I , Lebanese University , Beirut , Lebanon
| | - Ebrahim Hosseini
- a Cellular and Molecular Research Center , Yasuj University of Medical Sciences , Yasuj , Iran
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Badarni M, Prasad M, Balaban N, Zorea J, Yegodayev KM, Joshua BZ, Dinur AB, Grénman R, Rotblat B, Cohen L, Elkabets M. Repression of AXL expression by AP-1/JNK blockage overcomes resistance to PI3Ka therapy. JCI Insight 2019; 5:125341. [PMID: 30860495 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.125341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
AXL overexpression is a common resistance mechanism to anti-cancer therapies, including the resistance to BYL719 (Alpelisib) - the p110α isoform specific inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) - in esophagus and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC, HNSCC respectively). However, the mechanisms underlying AXL overexpression in resistance to BYL719 remain elusive. Here we demonstrated that the AP-1 transcription factors, c-JUN and c-FOS, regulate AXL overexpression in HNSCC and ESCC. The expression of AXL was correlated with that of c-JUN both in HNSCC patients and in HNSCC and ESCC cell lines. Silencing of c-JUN and c-FOS expression in tumor cells downregulated AXL expression and enhanced the sensitivity of human papilloma virus positive (HPVPos) and negative (HPVNeg) tumor cells to BYL719 in vitro. Blocking of the c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) using SP600125 in combination with BYL719 showed a synergistic anti-proliferative effect in vitro, which was accompanied by AXL downregulation and potent inhibition of the mTOR pathway. In vivo, the BYL719-SP600125 drug combination led to the arrest of tumor growth in cell line-derived and patient-derived xenograft models, and in syngeneic head and neck murine cancer models. Collectively, our data suggests that JNK inhibition in combination with anti-PI3K therapy is a new therapeutic strategy that should be tested in HPVPos and HPVNeg HNSCC and ESCC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mai Badarni
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, and.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Manu Prasad
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, and.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Noa Balaban
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, and.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Jonathan Zorea
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, and.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ksenia M Yegodayev
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, and.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ben-Zion Joshua
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Anat Bahat Dinur
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Reidar Grénman
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Turku University and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Barak Rotblat
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and.,The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Limor Cohen
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, and.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Moshe Elkabets
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, and.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| |
Collapse
|