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Song PN, Lynch SE, DeMellier CT, Mansur A, Gallegos CA, Wright BD, Hartman YE, Minton LE, Lapi SE, Warram JM, Sorace AG. Dual anti-HER2/EGFR inhibition synergistically increases therapeutic effects and alters tumor oxygenation in HNSCC. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3771. [PMID: 38355949 PMCID: PMC10866896 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52897-5] [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: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and hypoxia are associated with radioresistance. The goal of this study is to study the synergy of anti-HER2, trastuzumab, and anti-EGFR, cetuximab, and characterize the tumor microenvironment components that may lead to increased radiation sensitivity with dual anti-HER2/EGFR therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging ([89Zr]-panitumumab and [89Zr]-pertuzumab) was used to characterize EGFR and HER2 in HNSCC cell line tumors. HNSCC cells were treated with trastuzumab, cetuximab, or combination followed by radiation to assess for viability and radiosensitivity (colony forming assay, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry). In vivo, [18F]-FMISO-PET imaging was used to quantify changes in oxygenation during treatment. Bliss Test of Synergy was used to identify combination treatment synergy. Quantifying EGFR and HER2 receptor expression revealed a 50% increase in heterogeneity of HER2 relative to EGFR. In vitro, dual trastuzumab-cetuximab therapy shows significant decreases in DNA damage response and increased response to radiation therapy (p < 0.05). In vivo, tumors treated with dual anti-HER2/EGFR demonstrated decreased tumor hypoxia, when compared to single agent therapies. Dual trastuzumab-cetuximab demonstrates synergy and can affect tumor oxygenation in HNSCC. Combination trastuzumab-cetuximab modulates the tumor microenvironment through reductions in tumor hypoxia and induces sustained treatment synergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick N Song
- Department of Radiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
- Graduate Biomedical Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Shannon E Lynch
- Department of Radiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
- Graduate Biomedical Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Chloe T DeMellier
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Ameer Mansur
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Carlos A Gallegos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Brian D Wright
- Department of Radiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Yolanda E Hartman
- Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Laura E Minton
- Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Suzanne E Lapi
- Department of Radiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Jason M Warram
- Department of Radiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Anna G Sorace
- Department of Radiology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA.
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA.
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Hsieh M, Lin C, Lo Y, Ho H, Chuang Y, Chen M. Hellebrigenin induces oral cancer cell apoptosis by modulating MAPK signalling and XIAP expression. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18071. [PMID: 38044583 PMCID: PMC10826427 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18071] [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: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which accounts for 90% of all oral cancers, has become a public health crisis worldwide. despite advances in therapeutic interventions, the prognosis remains poor for advanced-stage OSCC. In this study, we investigate the anticancer activity and the mode of action of hellebrigenin in human OSCC. The findings demonstrated that hellebrigenin exerted cytotoxic effects in OSCC cells through cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and downregulation of cell cycle-related proteins (cyclins A2, B1 and D3, Cdc2, CDK4 and CDK6). Moreover, hellebrigenin caused activation of PARP and caspase 3, 8 and 9, followed by downregulation of antiapoptotic proteins (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL) and upregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax and Bak). The hellebrigenin treatment also increased Fas, DR5, DcR2 and DcR3 expressions in oral cancer cells, indicating the compound causes oral cancer cell apoptosis through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Regarding upstream signalling, hellebrigenin was found to reduce the phosphorylation of ERK, p38, and JNK, indicating that hellebrigenin triggers caspase-mediated apoptosis by downregulating MAPK signalling pathway. Finally, the human apoptosis array findings revealed that hellebrigenin specifically suppressed the expression of XIAP to execute its pro-apoptotic activities. Taken together, the study suggests that hellebrigenin can act as a potent anticancer compound in human OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming‐Ju Hsieh
- Oral Cancer Research CenterChanghua Christian HospitalChanghuaTaiwan
- Doctoral Program in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, College of MedicineNational Chung Hsing UniversityTaichungTaiwan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical SciencesChina Medical UniversityTaichungTaiwan
| | - Chia‐Chieh Lin
- Oral Cancer Research CenterChanghua Christian HospitalChanghuaTaiwan
| | - Yu‐Sheng Lo
- Oral Cancer Research CenterChanghua Christian HospitalChanghuaTaiwan
| | - Hsin‐Yu Ho
- Oral Cancer Research CenterChanghua Christian HospitalChanghuaTaiwan
| | - Yi‐Ching Chuang
- Oral Cancer Research CenterChanghua Christian HospitalChanghuaTaiwan
| | - Mu‐Kuan Chen
- Department of Post‐Baccalaureate Medicine, College of MedicineNational Chung Hsing UniversityTaichungTaiwan
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck SurgeryChanghua Christian HospitalChanghuaTaiwan
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3
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Radwan SM, Abdel-Latif GA, Abbas SS, Elmongy NF, Wasfey EF. The beneficial effects of l-carnitine and infliximab in methotrexate-induced hepatotoxicity: Emphasis on Notch1/Hes-1 signaling. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2023; 356:e2300312. [PMID: 37625018 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202300312] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Methotrexate (MTX)-induced hepatotoxicity is a serious adverse effect that may limit its use. Therefore, eligible drugs to ameliorate MTX-induced hepatotoxicity are required. l-Carnitine (LC) is a natural molecule with beneficial metabolic effects and infliximab (INF) is an anti-inflammatory monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Recently, Notch1/Hes-1 signaling was found to play a key role in the pathogenesis of liver injury. However, its role in MTX-induced hepatotoxicity is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the modulatory effects of LC or INF on MTX-induced hepatotoxicity and to explore the underlying mechanism with emphasis on the Notch1/Hes-1 signaling pathway. Sixty rats were randomized into six groups (n = 10): (1) control (saline); (2) MTX (20 mg/kg MTX, intraperitoneal [ip], once); (3) LC group (500 mg/kg ip, 5 days); (4) INF (7 mg/kg INF ip, once); (5) MTX+LC (20 mg/kg ip, once, 500 mg/kg ip, 5 days, respectively); (6) MTX+INF (20 mg/kg ip, once, 7 mg/kg INF ip, once, respectively). Oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, and Notch1/Hes-1 were investigated. MTX induced the expression of Notch1 and Hes-1 proteins and increased the levels of TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β in the liver. Cotreatment with LC or INF showed apparent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Interestingly, the downregulation of Notch1 and Hes-1 expression was more prominent in LC cotreatment as compared with INF. In conclusion, LC or INF attenuates MTX-induced hepatotoxicity through modulation of Notch1/Hes-1 signaling. The LC ameliorative effect against MTX-induced hepatotoxicity is significantly better than that of INF. Therefore, LC cotreatment may present a safe and therapeutically effective therapy in alleviating MTX-induced hepatotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M Radwan
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ghada A Abdel-Latif
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Misr International University (MIU), Cairo, Egypt
- Translational and Clinical Research Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Misr International University (MIU), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Samah S Abbas
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Misr International University (MIU), Cairo, Egypt
- Translational and Clinical Research Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Misr International University (MIU), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Noura F Elmongy
- Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Damietta, Egypt
| | - Eman F Wasfey
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
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4
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Zahnreich S, El Guerzyfy S, Kaufmann J, Schmidberger H. The cGAS/STING/IFN-1 Response in Squamous Head and Neck Cancer Cells after Genotoxic Challenges and Abrogation of the ATR-Chk1 and Fanconi Anemia Axis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14900. [PMID: 37834346 PMCID: PMC10573837 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914900] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are often refractory to platinum-based radiochemotherapy and new immuno-oncological strategies. To stimulate immunogenic antitumor responses in HNSCC patients, we investigated the cGAS/STING/IFN-1 signaling pathway after genotoxic treatments and concomitant abrogation of the DNA damage response (DDR). For this purpose, FaDu and UM-SCC1 cells were exposed to X-rays or cisplatin and treated with an ATR or Chk1 inhibitor, or by Fanconi anemia gene A knockout (FANCA ko). We assessed clonogenic survival, cell cycle regulation, micronuclei, free cytosolic double-stranded DNA, and the protein expression and activity of the cGAS/STING/IFN-1 pathway and related players. Cell survival, regulation of G2/M arrest, and formation of rupture-prone cGAS-positive micronuclei after genotoxic treatments were most affected by ATR inhibition and FANCA ko. In UM-SCC-1 cells only, 8 Gy X-rays promoted IFN-1 expression unaltered by abrogation of the DDR or concomitant increased TREX1 expression. At a higher dose of 20 Gy, this effect was observed only for concurrent Chk1- or ATR-inhibition. FANCA ko or cisplatin treatment was ineffective in this regard. Our observations open new perspectives for the enhancement of cGAS/STING/IFN-1-mediated antitumor immune response in HNSCC by hypofractionated or stereotactic radiotherapy concepts in multimodal settings with immuno-oncological strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Zahnreich
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiation Therapy, University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg, University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany (H.S.)
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5
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Gupta AK, Kumar M. An integrative approach toward identification and analysis of therapeutic targets involved in HPV pathogenesis with a focus on carcinomas. Cancer Biomark 2023; 36:31-52. [PMID: 36245368 DOI: 10.3233/cbm-210413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistent infection of high-risk HPVs is known to cause diverse carcinomas, mainly cervical, oropharyngeal, penile, etc. However, efficient treatment is still lacking. OBJECTIVE Identify and analyze potential therapeutic targets involved in HPV oncogenesis and repurposing drug candidates. METHODS Integrative analyses were performed on the compendium of 1887 HPV infection-associated or integration-driven disrupted genes cataloged from the Open Targets Platform and HPVbase resource. Potential target genes are prioritized using STRING, Cytoscape, cytoHubba, and MCODE. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis are performed. Further, TCGA cancer genomic data of CESC and HNSCC is analyzed. Moreover, regulatory networks are also deduced by employing NetworkAnalyst. RESULTS We have implemented a unique approach for identifying and prioritizing druggable targets and repurposing drug candidates against HPV oncogenesis. Overall, hundred key genes with 44 core targets were prioritized with transcription factors (TFs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) regulators pertinent to HPV pathogenesis. Genomic alteration profiling further substantiated our findings. Among identified druggable targets, TP53, NOTCH1, PIK3CA, EP300, CREBBP, EGFR, ERBB2, PTEN, and FN1 are frequently mutated in CESC and HNSCC. Furthermore, PIK3CA, CCND1, RFC4, KAT5, MYC, PTK2, EGFR, and ERBB2 show significant copy number gain, and FN1, CHEK1, CUL1, EZH2, NRAS, and H2AFX was marked for the substantial copy number loss in both carcinomas. Likewise, under-explored relevant regulators, i.e., TFs (HINFP, ARID3A, NFATC2, NKX3-2, EN1) and miRNAs (has-mir-98-5p, has-mir-24-3p, has-mir-192-5p, has-mir-519d-3p) is also identified. CONCLUSIONS We have identified potential therapeutic targets, transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulators to explicate HPV pathogenesis as well as potential repurposing drug candidates. This study would aid in biomarker and drug discovery against HPV-mediated carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar Gupta
- Virology Unit and Bioinformatics Centre, Institute of Microbial Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Chandigarh, India
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Virology Unit and Bioinformatics Centre, Institute of Microbial Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Chandigarh, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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Subtil FSB, Gröbner C, Recknagel N, Parplys AC, Kohl S, Arenz A, Eberle F, Dikomey E, Engenhart-Cabillic R, Schötz U. Dual PI3K/mTOR Inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 Leads to a Synergistic Enhancement of Cisplatin and Radiation in Both HPV-Negative and -Positive HNSCC Cell Lines. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14133160. [PMID: 35804930 PMCID: PMC9265133 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14133160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Head and neck cancers (HNSCCs), especially in the advanced stages, are predominantly treated by radiochemotherapy, including cisplatin. The cure rates are clearly higher for HPV-positive HNSCCs when compared to HPV-negative HNSCCs. For both entities, this treatment is accompanied by serious adverse reactions, mainly due to cisplatin administration. We reported earlier that for both HPV-positive and negative HNSCC cells, the effect of radiotherapy was strongly enhanced when pretreated using the dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 (BEZ235). The current study shows that for HPV-positive cells, BEZ235 will strongly enhance the effect of cisplatin alone. More important, preincubation with BEZ235 was found to alter the purely additive effect normally seen when cisplatin is combined with radiation into a strong synergistic enhancement. This tri-modal combination might allow for the enhancement of the effect of radiochemotherapy, even with reduced cisplatin. Abstract The standard of care for advanced head and neck cancers (HNSCCs) is radiochemotherapy, including cisplatin. This treatment results in a cure rate of approximately 85% for oropharyngeal HPV-positive HNSCCs, in contrast to only 50% for HPV-negative HNSCCs, and is accompanied by severe side effects for both entities. Therefore, innovative treatment modalities are required, resulting in a better outcome for HPV-negative HNSCCs, and lowering the adverse effects for both entities. The effect of the dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 on a combined treatment with cisplatin and radiation was studied in six HPV-negative and six HPV-positive HNSCC cell lines. Cisplatin alone was slightly more effective in HPV-positive cells. This could be attributed to a defect in homologous recombination, as demonstrated by depleting RAD51. Solely for HPV-positive cells, pretreatment with BEZ235 resulted in enhanced cisplatin sensitivity. For the combination of cisplatin and radiation, additive effects were observed. However, when pretreated with BEZ235, this combination changed into a synergistic interaction, with a slightly stronger enhancement for HPV-positive cells. This increase could be attributed to a diminished degree of DSB repair in G1, as visualized via the detection of γH2AX/53BP1 foci. BEZ235 can be used to enhance the effect of combined treatment with cisplatin and radiation in both HPV-negative and -positive HNSCCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florentine S. B. Subtil
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, Philipps-University, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (F.S.B.S.); (C.G.); (N.R.); (A.C.P.); (S.K.); (A.A.); (F.E.); (E.D.); (R.E.-C.)
| | - Carolin Gröbner
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, Philipps-University, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (F.S.B.S.); (C.G.); (N.R.); (A.C.P.); (S.K.); (A.A.); (F.E.); (E.D.); (R.E.-C.)
| | - Niklas Recknagel
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, Philipps-University, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (F.S.B.S.); (C.G.); (N.R.); (A.C.P.); (S.K.); (A.A.); (F.E.); (E.D.); (R.E.-C.)
| | - Ann Christin Parplys
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, Philipps-University, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (F.S.B.S.); (C.G.); (N.R.); (A.C.P.); (S.K.); (A.A.); (F.E.); (E.D.); (R.E.-C.)
| | - Sibylla Kohl
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, Philipps-University, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (F.S.B.S.); (C.G.); (N.R.); (A.C.P.); (S.K.); (A.A.); (F.E.); (E.D.); (R.E.-C.)
| | - Andrea Arenz
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, Philipps-University, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (F.S.B.S.); (C.G.); (N.R.); (A.C.P.); (S.K.); (A.A.); (F.E.); (E.D.); (R.E.-C.)
| | - Fabian Eberle
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, Philipps-University, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (F.S.B.S.); (C.G.); (N.R.); (A.C.P.); (S.K.); (A.A.); (F.E.); (E.D.); (R.E.-C.)
| | - Ekkehard Dikomey
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, Philipps-University, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (F.S.B.S.); (C.G.); (N.R.); (A.C.P.); (S.K.); (A.A.); (F.E.); (E.D.); (R.E.-C.)
- Laboratory of Radiobiology & Experimental Radiooncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rita Engenhart-Cabillic
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, Philipps-University, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (F.S.B.S.); (C.G.); (N.R.); (A.C.P.); (S.K.); (A.A.); (F.E.); (E.D.); (R.E.-C.)
| | - Ulrike Schötz
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, Philipps-University, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (F.S.B.S.); (C.G.); (N.R.); (A.C.P.); (S.K.); (A.A.); (F.E.); (E.D.); (R.E.-C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-6421-28-21978
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7
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Garcia PL, Miller AL, Zeng L, van Waardenburg RCAM, Yang ES, Yoon KJ. The BET Inhibitor JQ1 Potentiates the Anticlonogenic Effect of Radiation in Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Front Oncol 2022; 12:925718. [PMID: 35795040 PMCID: PMC9252418 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.925718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We reported previously that the BET inhibitor (BETi) JQ1 decreases levels of the DNA repair protein RAD51 and that this decrease is concomitant with increased levels of DNA damage. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that a BETi would augment DNA damage produced by radiation and function as a radiosensitizer. We used clonogenic assays to evaluate the effect of JQ1 ± ionizing radiation (IR) on three pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro. We performed immunofluorescence assays to assess the impact of JQ1 ± IR on DNA damage as reflected by levels of the DNA damage marker γH2AX, and immunoblots to assess levels of the DNA repair protein RAD51. We also compared the effect of these agents on the clonogenic potential of transfectants that expressed contrasting levels of the principle molecular targets of JQ1 (BRD2, BRD4) to determine whether levels of these BET proteins affected sensitivity to JQ1 ± IR. The data show that JQ1 + IR decreased the clonogenic potential of pancreatic cancer cells more than either modality alone. This anticlonogenic effect was associated with increased DNA damage and decreased levels of RAD51. Further, lower levels of BRD2 or BRD4 increased sensitivity to JQ1 and JQ1 + IR, suggesting that pre-treatment levels of BRD2 or BRD4 may predict sensitivity to a BETi or to a BETi + IR. We suggest that a BETi + IR merits evaluation as therapy prior to surgery for pancreatic cancer patients with borderline resectable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick L. Garcia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Aubrey L. Miller
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Ling Zeng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- UAB Medicine Nursing, Oncology Services, UAB Hospital, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | | | - Eddy S. Yang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Karina J. Yoon
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- *Correspondence: Karina J. Yoon,
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8
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Exploring hypoxic biology to improve radiotherapy outcomes. Expert Rev Mol Med 2022; 24:e21. [DOI: 10.1017/erm.2022.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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9
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Karukonda P, Odhiambo D, Mowery YM. Pharmacologic inhibition of ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Mol Carcinog 2022; 61:225-238. [PMID: 34964992 PMCID: PMC8799519 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) poses significant treatment challenges, with high recurrence rates for locally advanced disease despite aggressive therapy typically involving a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. HNSCCs commonly exhibit reduced or absent TP53 function due to genomic alterations or human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, leading to dependence on the S- and G2/M checkpoints for cell cycle regulation. Both of these checkpoints are activated by Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR), which tends to be overexpressed in HNSCC relative to adjacent normal tissues and represents a potentially promising therapeutic target, particularly in combination with other treatments. ATR is a DNA damage signaling kinase that is activated in response to replication stress and single-stranded DNA breaks, such as those induced by radiation therapy and certain chemotherapies. ATR kinase inhibitors are currently being investigated in several clinical trials as part of the management of locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic HNSCC, along with other malignancies. In this review article, we summarize the rationale and preclinical data supporting incorporation of ATR inhibition into therapeutic regimens for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Karukonda
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Diana Odhiambo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yvonne M. Mowery
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA,Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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10
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Petroni G, Cantley LC, Santambrogio L, Formenti SC, Galluzzi L. Radiotherapy as a tool to elicit clinically actionable signalling pathways in cancer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2022; 19:114-131. [PMID: 34819622 PMCID: PMC9004227 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-021-00579-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
A variety of targeted anticancer agents have been successfully introduced into clinical practice, largely reflecting their ability to inhibit specific molecular alterations that are required for disease progression. However, not all malignant cells rely on such alterations to survive, proliferate, disseminate and/or evade anticancer immunity, implying that many tumours are intrinsically resistant to targeted therapies. Radiotherapy is well known for its ability to activate cytotoxic signalling pathways that ultimately promote the death of cancer cells, as well as numerous cytoprotective mechanisms that are elicited by cellular damage. Importantly, many cytoprotective mechanisms elicited by radiotherapy can be abrogated by targeted anticancer agents, suggesting that radiotherapy could be harnessed to enhance the clinical efficacy of these drugs. In this Review, we discuss preclinical and clinical data that introduce radiotherapy as a tool to elicit or amplify clinically actionable signalling pathways in patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Petroni
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lewis C Cantley
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura Santambrogio
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Silvia C Formenti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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11
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Zhang Z, Zhou J, Verma V, Liu X, Wu M, Yu J, Chen D. Crossed Pathways for Radiation-Induced and Immunotherapy-Related Lung Injury. Front Immunol 2021; 12:774807. [PMID: 34925345 PMCID: PMC8672113 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.774807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is a form of radiation damage to normal lung tissue caused by radiotherapy (RT) for thoracic cancers, which is most commonly comprised of radiation pneumonitis (RP) and radiation pulmonary fibrosis (RPF). Moreover, with the widespread utilization of immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors as first- and second-line treatments for various cancers, the incidence of immunotherapy-related lung injury (IRLI), a severe immune-related adverse event (irAE), has rapidly increased. To date, we know relatively little about the underlying mechanisms and signaling pathways of these complications. A better understanding of the signaling pathways may facilitate the prevention of lung injury and exploration of potential therapeutic targets. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the signaling pathways of RILI and IRLI and focuses on their crosstalk in diverse signaling pathways as well as on possible mechanisms of adverse events resulting from combined radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Furthermore, this review proposes potential therapeutic targets and avenues of further research based on signaling pathways. Many new studies on pyroptosis have renewed appreciation for the value and importance of pyroptosis in lung injury. Therefore, the authors posit that pyroptosis may be the common downstream pathway of RILI and IRLI; discussion is also conducted regarding further perspectives on pyroptosis as a crucial signaling pathway in lung injury treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zengfu Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Laboratory of Radio-Immunology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Jialin Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Laboratory of Radio-Immunology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Vivek Verma
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Xu Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Laboratory of Radio-Immunology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Meng Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Laboratory of Radio-Immunology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Jinming Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Laboratory of Radio-Immunology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Dawei Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Laboratory of Radio-Immunology, Cancer Research Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
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12
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Pang J, Nguyen N, Luebeck J, Ball L, Finegersh A, Ren S, Nakagawa T, Flagg M, Sadat S, Mischel PS, Xu G, Fisch K, Guo T, Cahill G, Panuganti B, Bafna V, Califano J. Extrachromosomal DNA in HPV-Mediated Oropharyngeal Cancer Drives Diverse Oncogene Transcription. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:6772-6786. [PMID: 34548317 PMCID: PMC8710294 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-2484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a major role in oncogenesis and circular extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) is found in many cancers. However, the relationship between HPV and circular ecDNA in human cancer is not understood. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Forty-four primary tumor tissue samples were obtained from a cohort of patients with HPV-positive oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Twenty-eight additional HPV oropharyngeal cancer (HPVOPC) tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project were analyzed as a separate validation cohort. Genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, computational, and functional analyses of HPVOPC were applied to these datasets. RESULTS Our analysis revealed circular, oncogenic DNA in nearly all HPVOPC, with circular human and human-viral hybrid ecDNA present in over a third of HPVOPC and viral circular DNA in remaining tumors. Hybrid ecDNA highly express fusion transcripts from HPV promoters and HPV oncogenes linked to downstream human transcripts that drive oncogenic transformation and immune evasion, and splice multiple, diverse human acceptors to a canonical SA880 viral donor site. HPVOPC have high E6*I expression with specific viral oncogene expression pattern related to viral or hybrid ecDNA composition. CONCLUSIONS Nonchromosomal circular oncogenic DNA is a dominant feature of HPVOPC, revealing an unanticipated link between HPV and ecDNA that leverages the power of extrachromosomal inheritance to drive HPV and somatic oncogene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Pang
- UC San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, La Jolla, California
| | - Nam Nguyen
- UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, La Jolla, California
| | - Jens Luebeck
- Bioinformatics & Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Laurel Ball
- UC San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, La Jolla, California
| | - Andrey Finegersh
- UC San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, La Jolla, California
| | - Shuling Ren
- UC San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, La Jolla, California
| | - Takuya Nakagawa
- UC San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, La Jolla, California
| | - Mitchell Flagg
- UC San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, La Jolla, California
| | - Sayed Sadat
- UC San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, La Jolla, California
| | - Paul S Mischel
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, ChEM-H, Stanford, California
| | - Guorong Xu
- UC San Diego School of Medicine, Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, La Jolla, California
| | - Kathleen Fisch
- UC San Diego School of Medicine, Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, La Jolla, California
| | - Theresa Guo
- UC San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, La Jolla, California
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Gabrielle Cahill
- UC San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, La Jolla, California
| | - Bharat Panuganti
- UC San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, La Jolla, California
| | - Vineet Bafna
- UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, La Jolla, California.
| | - Joseph Califano
- UC San Diego School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, La Jolla, California.
- Bioinformatics & Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California
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13
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Kałafut J, Czerwonka A, Anameriç A, Przybyszewska-Podstawka A, Misiorek JO, Rivero-Müller A, Nees M. Shooting at Moving and Hidden Targets-Tumour Cell Plasticity and the Notch Signalling Pathway in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:6219. [PMID: 34944837 PMCID: PMC8699303 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is often aggressive, with poor response to current therapies in approximately 40-50% of the patients. Current therapies are restricted to operation and irradiation, often combined with a small number of standard-of-care chemotherapeutic drugs, preferentially for advanced tumour patients. Only very recently, newer targeted therapies have entered the clinics, including Cetuximab, which targets the EGF receptor (EGFR), and several immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the immune receptor PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1. HNSCC tumour tissues are characterized by a high degree of intra-tumour heterogeneity (ITH), and non-genetic alterations that may affect both non-transformed cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and transformed carcinoma cells. This very high degree of heterogeneity likely contributes to acquired drug resistance, tumour dormancy, relapse, and distant or lymph node metastasis. ITH, in turn, is likely promoted by pronounced tumour cell plasticity, which manifests in highly dynamic and reversible phenomena such as of partial or hybrid forms of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and enhanced tumour stemness. Stemness and tumour cell plasticity are strongly promoted by Notch signalling, which remains poorly understood especially in HNSCC. Here, we aim to elucidate how Notch signal may act both as a tumour suppressor and proto-oncogenic, probably during different stages of tumour cell initiation and progression. Notch signalling also interacts with numerous other signalling pathways, that may also have a decisive impact on tumour cell plasticity, acquired radio/chemoresistance, and metastatic progression of HNSCC. We outline the current stage of research related to Notch signalling, and how this pathway may be intricately interconnected with other, druggable targets and signalling mechanisms in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Kałafut
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodzki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (A.C.); (A.A.); (A.P.-P.); (A.R.-M.)
| | - Arkadiusz Czerwonka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodzki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (A.C.); (A.A.); (A.P.-P.); (A.R.-M.)
| | - Alinda Anameriç
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodzki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (A.C.); (A.A.); (A.P.-P.); (A.R.-M.)
| | - Alicja Przybyszewska-Podstawka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodzki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (A.C.); (A.A.); (A.P.-P.); (A.R.-M.)
| | - Julia O. Misiorek
- Department of Molecular Neurooncology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Adolfo Rivero-Müller
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodzki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (A.C.); (A.A.); (A.P.-P.); (A.R.-M.)
| | - Matthias Nees
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Chodzki 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (A.C.); (A.A.); (A.P.-P.); (A.R.-M.)
- Western Finland Cancer Centre (FICAN West), Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20101 Turku, Finland
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14
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Kou J, Wang X, Wei Y, Zhao R, Wang X, He J, Li X, Wang X. Aurora kinase inhibitor VX-680 enhances sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells to cisplatin chemotherapy. Anticancer Drugs 2021; 32:969-977. [PMID: 34016831 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000001089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is malignant cancer with a high mortality rate. Cisplatin is one of the most potent chemotherapy agents used in the treatment of ESCC. However, chemoresistance and severe adverse effects of cisplatin become major obstacles to clinical utility. The combination treatment with molecule-targeted drugs and chemotherapy agents is a promising treatment strategy for cancer to improve antineoplastic responses. VX-680 is a potent inhibitor of Aurora kinases. This study was performed to investigate if VX-680 and cisplatin can synergistically inhibit the malignant behavior of ESCC cells. The results obtained from 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di- phenytetrazoliumromide assay and combination index analysis demonstrated that the combination of VX-680 and cisplatin synergistically enhanced cytotoxic effects in ESCC cells. 2-(4-Amidinophenyl)-6-indolecarbamidine dihydrochloride staining and western blot analysis suggested that VX-680 increased cisplatin-mediated cell apoptosis. Further analysis revealed that VX-680 combined with cisplatin could attenuate cell migration and angiogenesis confirmed by wound-healing assay and tube formation assay. Subsequently, VX-680 and cisplatin combined treatment significantly promoted cell-cell cohesion, and reduced cell-extracellular matrix interaction, as analyzed by the cell dissociation assay and cell-matrix attachment assay. In addition, the combination of VX-680 and cisplatin markedly decreased the expressions of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), p-extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and p-RAC-α serine/threonine-protein kinase compared to VX-680 or cisplatin only treatment. Altogether, these findings strongly suggest that the combination of VX-680 and cisplatin could exert a synergistic antitumor effect in ESCC cells and this combination might represent a promising therapeutic strategy against ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junting Kou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University
| | - Xuewei Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University
| | - Yuan Wei
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University
| | - Rong Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University
| | - Xiuli Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University
| | - Jiefeng He
- Department of General Surgery, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences and Shanxi Bethune Hospital
| | - Xiaozhong Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiaoxia Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University
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15
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Mir C, Garcia-Mayea Y, Garcia L, Herrero P, Canela N, Tabernero R, Lorente J, Castellvi J, Allonca E, García-Pedrero J, Rodrigo JP, Carracedo Á, LLeonart ME. SDCBP Modulates Stemness and Chemoresistance in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma through Src Activation. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194952. [PMID: 34638436 PMCID: PMC8508472 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Drug resistance is the principal limiting factor to achieving good survival rates in patients with cancer. The identification of potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognostic prediction, as well as the design of new molecular-targeted treatments, will be essential to improving head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patient outcomes. In this sense, the sensitization of resistant cells and cancer stem cells (CSCs) represents a major challenge in cancer therapy. We conducted a proteomic study involving cisplatin-resistance and CSCs with the aim to unravel the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which tumor cells acquire resistance to chemotherapy. Syntenin-1 (SDCBP) was identified as an important protein involved in the chemoresistance and stemness of HNSCC tumors. Abstract To characterize the mechanisms that govern chemoresistance, we performed a comparative proteomic study analyzing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells: CCL-138 (parental), CCL-138-R (cisplatin-resistant), and cancer stem cells (CSCs). Syntenin-1 (SDCBP) was upregulated in CCL-138-R cells and CSCs over parental cells. SDCBP depletion sensitized biopsy-derived and established HNSCC cell lines to cisplatin (CDDP) and reduced CSC markers, Src activation being the main SDCBP downstream target. In mice, SDCBP-depleted cells formed tumors with decreased mitosis, Ki-67 positivity, and metastasis over controls. Moreover, the fusocellular pattern of CCL-138-R cell-derived tumors reverted to a more epithelial morphology upon SDCBP silencing. Importantly, SDCBP expression was associated with Src activation, poor differentiated tumor grade, advanced tumor stage, and shorter survival rates in a series of 382 HNSCC patients. Our results reveal that SDCBP might be a promising therapeutic target for effectively eliminating CSCs and CDDP resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Mir
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (C.M.); (Y.G.-M.); (L.G.); (J.C.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yoelsis Garcia-Mayea
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (C.M.); (Y.G.-M.); (L.G.); (J.C.)
| | - Laia Garcia
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (C.M.); (Y.G.-M.); (L.G.); (J.C.)
| | - Pol Herrero
- Eurecat, Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya–Centre for Omic Sciences (COS), Joint Unit Universitat Rovira i Virgili-EURECAT, 43204 Reus, Spain; (P.H.); (N.C.)
| | - Nuria Canela
- Eurecat, Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya–Centre for Omic Sciences (COS), Joint Unit Universitat Rovira i Virgili-EURECAT, 43204 Reus, Spain; (P.H.); (N.C.)
| | - Rocío Tabernero
- Otorhinolaryngology Department, Hospital Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (R.T.); (J.L.)
| | - Juan Lorente
- Otorhinolaryngology Department, Hospital Vall d’Hebron (HUVH), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (R.T.); (J.L.)
| | - Josep Castellvi
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (C.M.); (Y.G.-M.); (L.G.); (J.C.)
| | - Eva Allonca
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (HUCA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, IUOPA, University of Oviedo, 33011 Oviedo, Spain or (E.A.); (J.G.-P.); (J.P.R.)
| | - Juana García-Pedrero
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (HUCA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, IUOPA, University of Oviedo, 33011 Oviedo, Spain or (E.A.); (J.G.-P.); (J.P.R.)
- Spanish Biomedical Research Network Centre in Oncology, CIBERONC, Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11. Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Pablo Rodrigo
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (HUCA), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, IUOPA, University of Oviedo, 33011 Oviedo, Spain or (E.A.); (J.G.-P.); (J.P.R.)
- Spanish Biomedical Research Network Centre in Oncology, CIBERONC, Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11. Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel Carracedo
- Fundación Pública Galega de Medicina Xenómica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, SERGAS, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - Matilde Esther LLeonart
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (C.M.); (Y.G.-M.); (L.G.); (J.C.)
- Spanish Biomedical Research Network Centre in Oncology, CIBERONC, Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11. Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-93-4894169
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16
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Fasano M, Perri F, Della Corte CM, Di Liello R, Della Vittoria Scarpati G, Cascella M, Ottaiano A, Ciardiello F, Solla R. Translational Insights and New Therapeutic Perspectives in Head and Neck Tumors. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1045. [PMID: 34440249 PMCID: PMC8391435 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9081045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is characterized by a high mortality rate owing to very few available oncological treatments. For many years, a combination of platinum-based chemotherapy and anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab has represented the only available option for first-line therapy. Recently, immunotherapy has been presented an alternative for positive PD-L1 HNSCC. However, the oncologists' community foresees that a new therapeutic era is approaching. In fact, no-chemo options and some molecular targets are on the horizon. This narrative review addresses past, present, and future therapeutic options for HNSCC from a translational point of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morena Fasano
- Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (M.F.); (C.M.D.C.); (R.D.L.); (F.C.)
| | - Francesco Perri
- Medical and Experimental Head and Neck Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale-IRCCS di Napoli, Via M. Semmola, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Carminia Maria Della Corte
- Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (M.F.); (C.M.D.C.); (R.D.L.); (F.C.)
| | - Raimondo Di Liello
- Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (M.F.); (C.M.D.C.); (R.D.L.); (F.C.)
| | | | - Marco Cascella
- Division of Anesthesia, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, 80100 Naples, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Ottaiano
- SSD Innovative Therapies for Abdominal Metastases, Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione G. Pascale, 80100 Naples, Italy;
| | - Fortunato Ciardiello
- Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (M.F.); (C.M.D.C.); (R.D.L.); (F.C.)
| | - Raffaele Solla
- Italian National Research Council, Institute of Biostructure & Bioimaging, 80131 Naples, Italy;
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17
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Hintelmann K, Berenz T, Kriegs M, Christiansen S, Gatzemeier F, Struve N, Petersen C, Betz C, Rothkamm K, Oetting A, Rieckmann T. Dual Inhibition of PARP and the Intra-S/G2 Cell Cycle Checkpoints Results in Highly Effective Radiosensitization of HPV-Positive HNSCC Cells. Front Oncol 2021; 11:683688. [PMID: 34354944 PMCID: PMC8329549 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.683688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), tumors positive for human papillomavirus (HPV) represent a distinct biological entity with favorable prognosis. An enhanced radiation sensitivity of these tumors is evident in the clinic and on the cellular level when comparing HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC cell lines. We could show that the underlying mechanism is a defect in DNA double-strand break repair associated with a profound and sustained G2 arrest. This defect can be exploited by molecular targeting approaches additionally compromising the DNA damage response to further enhance their radiation sensitivity, which may offer new opportunities in the setting of future de-intensified regimes. Against this background, we tested combined targeting of PARP and the DNA damage-induced intra-S/G2 cell cycle checkpoints to achieve effective radiosensitization. Enhancing CDK1/2 activity through the Wee1 inhibitor adavosertib or a combination of Wee1 and Chk1 inhibition resulted in an abrogation of the radiation-induced G2 cell cycle arrest and induction of replication stress as assessed by γH2AX and chromatin-bound RPA levels in S phase cells. Addition of the PARP inhibitor olaparib had little influence on these endpoints, irrespective of checkpoint inhibition. Combined PARP/Wee1 targeting did not result in an enhancement in the absolute number of residual, radiation induced 53BP1 foci as markers of DNA double-strand breaks but it induced a shift in foci numbers from S/G2 to G1 phase cells. Most importantly, while sole checkpoint or PARP inhibition induced moderate radiosensitization, their combination was clearly more effective, while exerting little effect in p53/G1 arrest proficient normal human fibroblasts, thus indicating tumor specificity. We conclude that the combined inhibition of PARP and the intra-S/G2 checkpoint is a highly effective approach for the radiosensitization of HPV-positive HNSCC cells and may represent a viable alternative for the current standard of concomitant cisplatin-based chemotherapy. In vivo studies to further evaluate the translational potential are highly warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Hintelmann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Radiotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Berenz
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Radiotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Malte Kriegs
- Department of Radiotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sabrina Christiansen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Radiotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fruzsina Gatzemeier
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Radiotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nina Struve
- Department of Radiotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Mildred-Scheel Cancer Career Center HATRICs4, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Cordula Petersen
- Department of Radiotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Betz
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kai Rothkamm
- Department of Radiotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Agnes Oetting
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Radiotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Rieckmann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Radiotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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18
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van Harten AM, Brakenhoff RH. Targeted Treatment of Head and Neck (Pre)Cancer: Preclinical Target Identification and Development of Novel Therapeutic Applications. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2774. [PMID: 34204886 PMCID: PMC8199752 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) develop in the mucosal lining of the upper-aerodigestive tract. In carcinogen-induced HNSCC, tumors emerge from premalignant mucosal changes characterized by tumor-associated genetic alterations, also coined as 'fields' that are occasionally visible as leukoplakia or erythroplakia lesions but are mostly invisible. Consequently, HNSCC is generally diagnosed de novo at more advanced stages in about 70% of new diagnosis. Despite intense multimodality treatment protocols, the overall 5-years survival rate is 50-60% for patients with advanced stage of disease and seems to have reached a plateau. Of notable concern is the lack of further improvement in prognosis despite advances in treatment. This can be attributed to the late clinical presentation, failure of advanced HNSCC to respond to treatment, the deficit of effective targeted therapies to eradicate tumors and precancerous changes, and the lack of suitable markers for screening and personalized therapy. The molecular landscape of head and neck cancer has been elucidated in great detail, but the absence of oncogenic mutations hampers the identification of druggable targets for therapy to improve outcome of HNSCC. Currently, functional genomic approaches are being explored to identify potential therapeutic targets. Identification and validation of essential genes for both HNSCC and oral premalignancies, accompanied with biomarkers for therapy response, are being investigated. Attentive diagnosis and targeted therapy of the preceding oral premalignant (preHNSCC) changes may prevent the development of tumors. As classic oncogene addiction through activating mutations is not a realistic concept for treatment of HNSCC, synthetic lethality and collateral lethality need to be exploited, next to immune therapies. In recent studies it was shown that cell cycle regulation and DNA damage response pathways become significantly altered in HNSCC causing replication stress, which is an avenue that deserves further exploitation as an HNSCC vulnerability for treatment. The focus of this review is to summarize the current literature on the preclinical identification of potential druggable targets for therapy of (pre)HNSCC, emerging from the variety of gene knockdown and knockout strategies, and the testing of targeted inhibitors. We will conclude with a future perspective on targeted therapy of HNSCC and premalignant changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M. van Harten
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tumor Biology & Immunology Section, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; or
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Ruud H. Brakenhoff
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tumor Biology & Immunology Section, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; or
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Wu T, Gu X, Cui H. Emerging Roles of SKP2 in Cancer Drug Resistance. Cells 2021; 10:cells10051147. [PMID: 34068643 PMCID: PMC8150781 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
More than half of all cancer patients receive chemotherapy, however, some of them easily acquire drug resistance. Resistance to chemotherapy has become a massive obstacle to achieve high rates of pathological complete response during cancer therapy. S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2), as an E3 ligase, was found to be highly correlated with drug resistance and poor prognosis. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms that Skp2 confers to drug resistance, including the Akt-Skp2 feedback loop, Skp2-p27 pathway, cell cycle and mitosis regulation, EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition) property, enhanced DNA damage response and repair, etc. We also addressed novel molecules that either inhibit Skp2 expression or target Skp2-centered interactions, which might have vast potential for application in clinics and benefit cancer patients in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Wu
- Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China;
| | - Xinsheng Gu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China;
| | - Hongmei Cui
- Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China;
- Correspondence:
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de Almeida LC, Calil FA, Machado-Neto JA, Costa-Lotufo LV. DNA damaging agents and DNA repair: From carcinogenesis to cancer therapy. Cancer Genet 2021; 252-253:6-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergen.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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Patni AP, Harishankar MK, Joseph JP, Sreeshma B, Jayaraj R, Devi A. Comprehending the crosstalk between Notch, Wnt and Hedgehog signaling pathways in oral squamous cell carcinoma - clinical implications. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2021; 44:473-494. [PMID: 33704672 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-021-00591-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a malignant oral cavity neoplasm that affects many people, especially in developing countries. Despite several advances that have been made in diagnosis and treatment, the morbidity and mortality rates due to OSCC remain high. Accumulating evidence indicates that aberrant activation of cellular signaling pathways, such as the Notch, Wnt and Hedgehog pathways, occurs during the development and metastasis of OSCC. In this review, we have articulated the roles of the Notch, Wnt and Hedgehog signaling pathways in OSCC and their crosstalk during tumor development and progression. We have also examined possible interactions and associations between these pathways and treatment regimens that could be employed to effectively tackle OSCC and/or prevent its recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Activation of the Notch signaling pathway upregulates the expression of several genes, including c-Myc, β-catenin, NF-κB and Shh. Associations between the Notch signaling pathway and other pathways have been shown to enhance OSCC tumor aggressiveness. Crosstalk between these pathways supports the maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and regulates OSCC cell motility. Thus, application of compounds that block these pathways may be a valid strategy to treat OSCC. Such compounds have already been employed in other types of cancer and could be repurposed for OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali P Patni
- Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering, School of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kanchipuram, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | - M K Harishankar
- Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering, School of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kanchipuram, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | - Joel P Joseph
- Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering, School of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kanchipuram, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | - Bhuvanadas Sreeshma
- Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering, School of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kanchipuram, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | - Rama Jayaraj
- College of Human and Human Sciences, Charles Darwin University, Ellangowan Drive, Darwin, Northern Territory, 0909, Australia
| | - Arikketh Devi
- Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering, School of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kanchipuram, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India.
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Yang ES, Deutsch E, Mehmet A, Fayette J, Tao Y, Nabell L, Spencer SA, Wang XA, Spoljoric EA, Zhang W, Hynes SM, Decker RL, Lin AKB, William WN. A Phase 1b trial of prexasertib in combination with chemoradiation in patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Radiother Oncol 2021; 157:203-209. [PMID: 33577866 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2021.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE This study explored the feasibility of safely combining prexasertib, with cisplatin-radiotherapy (Part A) or cetuximab-radiotherapy (Part B) in patients with previously untreated, locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS Escalating doses of prexasertib were administered in each combination using a modified Time-to-Event Continual Reassessment Method. Pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis was performed using standard non-compartmental methods of analysis. Antitumor activity was evaluated using RECIST version 1.1. RESULTS In Part A, 7 patients received 20 mg/m2 prexasertib and cisplatin-radiotherapy. This dose exceeded the maximum tolerated dose (MTD); no other prexasertib dose was assessed. In Part B, 18 patients received prexasertib (20-40 mg/m2) and cetuximab-radiotherapy. The 30 mg/m2 dose of prexasertib was determined as the MTD. Febrile neutropenia was the dose-limiting toxicity in each arm. Most common treatment-emergent adverse events with both combinations were neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, dysphagia, stomatitis, dry mouth, anemia, radiation skin injury [reported term radiation dermatitis], and nausea. PK of prexasertib was consistent with previously published data following prexasertib monotherapy. Overall response rate in Parts A and B was 71.4% and 83.3%, respectively. The small number of patients and follow-up limits the interpretation of efficacy data. CONCLUSION This study did not establish a safe dose of cisplatin-radiotherapy. However, it demonstrates the proof-of-principle that prexasertib could be safely combined with cetuximab-radiotherapy. These data will provide the basis to leverage the potential radio-sensitization properties of a CHK1 inhibitor in combination with radiation or other targeted agents in a variety of therapeutic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eddy S Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
| | - Eric Deutsch
- Department of Radiotherapy, Gustave Roussy, INSERM1030 radiothérapie moléculaire, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Altan Mehmet
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | | | - Yungan Tao
- Department of Radiotherapy, Gustave Roussy, INSERM1030 radiothérapie moléculaire, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Lisle Nabell
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - Sharon A Spencer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | | | | | - Wei Zhang
- Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, USA
| | | | | | | | - William N William
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
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Chaudhary R, Slebos RJC, Song F, McCleary-Sharpe KP, Masannat J, Tan AC, Wang X, Amaladas N, Wu W, Hall GE, Conejo-Garcia JR, Hernandez-Prera JC, Chung CH. Effects of checkpoint kinase 1 inhibition by prexasertib on the tumor immune microenvironment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Mol Carcinog 2021; 60:138-150. [PMID: 33378592 PMCID: PMC7856233 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Prognosis for patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains poor. Development of more effective and less toxic targeted therapies is necessary for HNSCC patients. Checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) plays a vital role in cell cycle regulation and is a promising therapeutic target in HNSCC. Prexasertib, a CHK1 inhibitor, induces DNA damage and cell death, however, its effect on the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is largely unknown. Therefore, we evaluated a short-term and long-term effects of prexasertib in HNSCC and its TIME. Prexasertib caused increased DNA damage and cell death in vitro and significant tumor regression and improved survival in vivo. The gene expression and multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) analyses of the in vivo tumors demonstrated increased expression of genes that are related to T-cell activation and increased immune cell trafficking, and decreased expression of genes that related to immunosuppression. However, increased expression of genes related to immunosuppression emerged over time suggesting evasion of immune surveillances. These findings in gene expression analyses were confirmed using mIHC which showed differential modulation of TIME in the tumor margins and as well as cores over time. These results suggest that evasion of immune surveillance, at least in part, may contribute to the acquired resistance to prexasertib in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritu Chaudhary
- Department of Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology, Moffitt
Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Robbert J. C. Slebos
- Department of Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology, Moffitt
Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Feifei Song
- Department of Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology, Moffitt
Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | | | - Jude Masannat
- Department of Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology, Moffitt
Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Aik Choon Tan
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt
Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Xuefeng Wang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt
Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Nelusha Amaladas
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company,
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Wenjuan Wu
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company,
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Gerald E. Hall
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company,
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | | | - Christine H. Chung
- Department of Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology, Moffitt
Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
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