1
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Regulation of EWSR1-FLI1 Function by Post-Transcriptional and Post-Translational Modifications. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020382. [PMID: 36672331 PMCID: PMC9857208 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is the second most common bone tumor in childhood and adolescence. Currently, first-line therapy includes multidrug chemotherapy with surgery and/or radiation. Although most patients initially respond to chemotherapy, recurrent tumors become treatment refractory. Pathologically, Ewing sarcoma consists of small round basophilic cells with prominent nuclei marked by expression of surface protein CD99. Genetically, Ewing sarcoma is driven by a fusion oncoprotein that results from one of a small number of chromosomal translocations composed of a FET gene and a gene encoding an ETS family transcription factor, with ~85% of tumors expressing the EWSR1::FLI1 fusion. EWSR1::FLI1 regulates transcription, splicing, genome instability and other cellular functions. Although a tumor-specific target, EWSR1::FLI1-targeted therapy has yet to be developed, largely due to insufficient understanding of EWSR1::FLI1 upstream and downstream signaling, and the challenges in targeting transcription factors with small molecules. In this review, we summarize the contemporary molecular understanding of Ewing sarcoma, and the post-transcriptional and post-translational regulatory mechanisms that control EWSR1::FLI1 function.
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2
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Therapeutic targeting the oncogenic driver EWSR1::FLI1 in Ewing sarcoma through inhibition of the FACT complex. Oncogene 2023; 42:11-25. [PMID: 36357572 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02533-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
EWS/ETS fusion transcription factors, most commonly EWSR1::FLI1, drives initiation and progression of Ewing sarcoma (EwS). Even though direct targeting EWSR1::FLI1 is a formidable challenge, epigenetic/transcriptional modulators have been proved to be promising therapeutic targets for indirectly disrupting its expression and/or function. Here, we identified structure-specific recognition protein 1 (SSRP1), a subunit of the Facilitates Chromatin Transcription (FACT) complex, to be an essential tumor-dependent gene directly induced by EWSR1::FLI1 in EwS. The FACT-targeted drug CBL0137 exhibits potent therapeutic efficacy against multiple EwS preclinical models both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, SSRP1 and EWSR1::FLI1 form oncogenic positive feedback loop via mutual transcriptional regulation and activation, and cooperatively promote cell cycle/DNA replication process and IGF1R-PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway to drive EwS oncogenesis. The FACT inhibitor drug CBL0137 effectively targets the EWSR1::FLI1-FACT circuit, resulting in transcriptional disruption of EWSR1::FLI1, SSRP1 and their downstream effector oncogenic signatures. Our study illustrates a crucial role of the FACT complex in facilitating the expression and function of EWSR1::FLI1 and demonstrates FACT inhibition as a novel and effective epigenetic/transcriptional-targeted therapeutic strategy against EwS, providing preclinical support for adding EwS to CBL0137's future clinical trials.
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3
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Cacioppo R, Lindon C. Regulating the regulator: a survey of mechanisms from transcription to translation controlling expression of mammalian cell cycle kinase Aurora A. Open Biol 2022; 12:220134. [PMID: 36067794 PMCID: PMC9448500 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220134] [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] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aurora Kinase A (AURKA) is a positive regulator of mitosis with a strict cell cycle-dependent expression pattern. Recently, novel oncogenic roles of AURKA have been uncovered that are independent of the kinase activity and act within multiple signalling pathways, including cell proliferation, survival and cancer stem cell phenotypes. For this, cellular abundance of AURKA protein is per se crucial and must be tightly fine-tuned. Indeed, AURKA is found overexpressed in different cancers, typically as a result of gene amplification or enhanced transcription. It has however become clear that impaired processing, decay and translation of AURKA mRNA can also offer the basis for altered AURKA levels. Accordingly, the involvement of gene expression mechanisms controlling AURKA expression in human diseases is increasingly recognized and calls for much more research. Here, we explore and create an integrated view of the molecular processes regulating AURKA expression at the level of transcription, post-transcription and translation, intercalating discussion on how impaired regulation underlies disease. Given that targeting AURKA levels might affect more functions compared to inhibiting the kinase activity, deeper understanding of its gene expression may aid the design of alternative and therapeutically more successful ways of suppressing the AURKA oncogene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Cacioppo
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK
| | - Catherine Lindon
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PD, UK
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4
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Saratov V, Ngo QA, Pedot G, Sidorov S, Wachtel M, Niggli FK, Schäfer BW. CRISPR activation screen identifies TGFβ-associated PEG10 as a crucial tumor suppressor in Ewing sarcoma. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10671. [PMID: 35739280 PMCID: PMC9225990 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12659-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
As the second most common pediatric bone and soft tissue tumor, Ewing sarcoma (ES) is an aggressive disease with a pathognomonic chromosomal translocation t(11;22) resulting in expression of EWS-FLI1, an “undruggable” fusion protein acting as transcriptional modulator. EWS-FLI1 rewires the protein expression in cancer cells by activating and repressing a multitude of genes. The role and contribution of most repressed genes remains unknown to date. To address this, we established a CRISPR activation system in clonal SKNMC cell lines and interrogated a custom focused library covering 871 genes repressed by EWS-FLI1. Among the hits several members of the TGFβ pathway were identified, where PEG10 emerged as prime candidate due to its strong antiproliferative effect. Mechanistic investigations revealed that PEG10 overexpression caused cellular dropout via induction of cell death. Furthermore, non-canonical TGFβ pathways such as RAF/MEK/ERK, MKK/JNK, MKK/P38, known to lead to apoptosis or autophagy, were highly activated upon PEG10 overexpression. Our study sheds new light onto the contribution of TGFβ signalling pathway repression to ES tumorigenesis and suggest that its re-activation might constitute a novel therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim Saratov
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Steinwiesstrasse 32, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Quy A Ngo
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Steinwiesstrasse 32, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gloria Pedot
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Steinwiesstrasse 32, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Semjon Sidorov
- Experimental Infectious Diseases and Cancer Research, Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Wachtel
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Steinwiesstrasse 32, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Felix K Niggli
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Steinwiesstrasse 32, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Beat W Schäfer
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Steinwiesstrasse 32, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.
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5
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The Landscape of Regulatory Noncoding RNAs in Ewing's Sarcoma. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9080933. [PMID: 34440137 PMCID: PMC8391329 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9080933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) is a pediatric sarcoma caused by a chromosomal translocation. Unlike in most cancers, the genomes of ES patients are very stable. The translocation product of the EWS-FLI1 fusion is most often the predominant genetic driver of oncogenesis, and it is pertinent to explore the role of epigenetic alterations in the onset and progression of ES. Several types of noncoding RNAs, primarily microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs, are key epigenetic regulators that have been shown to play critical roles in various cancers. The functions of these epigenetic regulators are just beginning to be appreciated in ES. Here, we performed a comprehensive literature review to identify these noncoding RNAs. We identified clinically relevant tumor suppressor microRNAs, tumor promoter microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs. We then explored the known interplay between different classes of noncoding RNAs and described the currently unmet need for expanding the noncoding RNA repertoire of ES. We concluded the review with a discussion of epigenetic regulation of ES via regulatory noncoding RNAs. These noncoding RNAs provide new avenues of exploration to develop better therapeutics and identify novel biomarkers.
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Sánchez-Molina S, Figuerola-Bou E, Blanco E, Sánchez-Jiménez M, Táboas P, Gómez S, Ballaré C, García-Domínguez DJ, Prada E, Hontecillas-Prieto L, M Carcaboso Á, Tirado ÓM, Hernández-Muñoz I, de Álava E, Lavarino C, Di Croce L, Mora J. RING1B recruits EWSR1-FLI1 and cooperates in the remodeling of chromatin necessary for Ewing sarcoma tumorigenesis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/43/eaba3058. [PMID: 33097530 PMCID: PMC7608835 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba3058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is an aggressive tumor that affects adolescents and young adults. EwS is defined by a chromosomal translocation, EWSR1-FLI1 being the most common, that causes genome reprogramming through remodeling of enhancers. Here, we describe an unexpected function of RING1B, which is highly expressed in EwS. While retaining its repressive activity at Polycomb developmental regulated genes, RING1B colocalizes with EWSR1-FLI1 at active enhancers. We demonstrate that RING1B is necessary for the expression of key EWSR1-FLI1 targets by facilitating oncogene recruitment to their enhancers. Knockdown of RING1B impairs growth of tumor xenografts and expression of genes regulated by EWSR1-FLI1 bound enhancers. Pharmacological inhibition of AURKB with AZD1152 increases H2Aub levels causing down-regulation of RING1B/EWSR1-FLI1 common targets. Our findings demonstrate that RING1B is a critical modulator of EWSR1-FLI1-induced chromatin remodeling, and its inhibition is a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Sánchez-Molina
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Elisabet Figuerola-Bou
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enrique Blanco
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Sánchez-Jiménez
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pablo Táboas
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Soledad Gómez
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cecilia Ballaré
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel J García-Domínguez
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla-CIBERONC, Department of Pathology, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Estela Prada
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lourdes Hontecillas-Prieto
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla-CIBERONC, Department of Pathology, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Ángel M Carcaboso
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Óscar M Tirado
- Sarcoma Research Group, Laboratori d'Oncologia Molecular, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL)-CIBERONC, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Hernández-Muñoz
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
- Fundació Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (FIMIM), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enrique de Álava
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla-CIBERONC, Department of Pathology, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Department of Normal and Pathological Cytology and Histology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
| | - Cinzia Lavarino
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
- Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona (PCCB), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luciano Di Croce
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain
- Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Pg Lluis Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Mora
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950 Barcelona, Spain.
- Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona (PCCB), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
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Current Approaches for Personalized Therapy of Soft Tissue Sarcomas. Sarcoma 2020; 2020:6716742. [PMID: 32317857 PMCID: PMC7152984 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6716742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a highly heterogeneous group of cancers of mesenchymal origin with diverse morphologies and clinical behaviors. While surgical resection is the standard treatment for primary STS, advanced and metastatic STS patients are not eligible for surgery. Systemic treatments, including standard chemotherapy and newer chemical agents, still play the most relevant role in the management of the disease. Discovery of specific genetic alterations in distinct STS subtypes allowed better understanding of mechanisms driving their pathogenesis and treatment optimization. This review focuses on the available targeted drugs or drug combinations based on genetic aberration involved in STS development including chromosomal translocations, oncogenic mutations, gene amplifications, and their perspectives in STS treatment. Furthermore, in this review, we discuss the possible use of chemotherapy sensitivity and resistance assays (CSRA) for the adjustment of treatment for individual patients. In summary, current trends in personalized management of advanced and metastatic STS are based on combination of both genetic testing and CSRA.
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8
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Tomino L, Bopp E, Felgenhauer J, Selich‐Anderson J, Shah N. Combinatorial BRD4 and AURKA inhibition is synergistic against preclinical models of Ewing sarcoma. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tomino
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood DisordersNationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Ohio USA
| | - Emily Bopp
- College of Arts and SciencesThe Ohio State University Columbus Ohio USA
| | - Joshua Felgenhauer
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood DisordersNationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Ohio USA
| | - Julia Selich‐Anderson
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood DisordersNationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Ohio USA
| | - Nilay Shah
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood DisordersNationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Ohio USA
- College of Medicine, Department of PediatricsThe Ohio State University Columbus Ohio USA
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9
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Wang S, Hwang EE, Guha R, O'Neill AF, Melong N, Veinotte CJ, Conway Saur A, Wuerthele K, Shen M, McKnight C, Alexe G, Lemieux ME, Wang A, Hughes E, Xu X, Boxer MB, Hall MD, Kung A, Berman JN, Davis MI, Stegmaier K, Crompton BD. High-throughput Chemical Screening Identifies Focal Adhesion Kinase and Aurora Kinase B Inhibition as a Synergistic Treatment Combination in Ewing Sarcoma. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:4552-4566. [PMID: 30979745 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-0375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive solid tumor malignancy of childhood. Although current treatment regimens cure approximately 70% of patients with localized disease, they are ineffective for most patients with metastases or relapse. New treatment combinations are necessary for these patients. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Ewing sarcoma cells are dependent on focal adhesion kinase (FAK) for growth. To identify candidate treatment combinations for Ewing sarcoma, we performed a small-molecule library screen to identify compounds synergistic with FAK inhibitors in impairing Ewing cell growth. The activity of a top-scoring class of compounds was then validated across multiple Ewing cell lines in vitro and in multiple xenograft models of Ewing sarcoma. RESULTS Numerous Aurora kinase inhibitors scored as synergistic with FAK inhibition in this screen. We found that Aurora kinase B inhibitors were synergistic across a larger range of concentrations than Aurora kinase A inhibitors when combined with FAK inhibitors in multiple Ewing cell lines. The combination of AZD-1152, an Aurora kinase B-selective inhibitor, and PF-562271 or VS-4718, FAK-selective inhibitors, induced apoptosis in Ewing sarcoma cells at concentrations that had minimal effects on survival when cells were treated with either drug alone. We also found that the combination significantly impaired tumor progression in multiple xenograft models of Ewing sarcoma. CONCLUSIONS FAK and Aurora kinase B inhibitors synergistically impair Ewing sarcoma cell viability and significantly inhibit tumor progression. This study provides preclinical support for the consideration of a clinical trial testing the safety and efficacy of this combination for patients with Ewing sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Wang
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Elizabeth E Hwang
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rajarshi Guha
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Allison F O'Neill
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Chansey J Veinotte
- IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Amy Conway Saur
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kellsey Wuerthele
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Min Shen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Crystal McKnight
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Gabriela Alexe
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston University Bioinformatics Graduate Program, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Amy Wang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Emma Hughes
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Xin Xu
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Matthew B Boxer
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Matthew D Hall
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Andrew Kung
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Jason N Berman
- IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Mindy I Davis
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Kimberly Stegmaier
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Brian D Crompton
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
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10
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Yu H, Ge Y, Guo L, Huang L. Potential approaches to the treatment of Ewing's sarcoma. Oncotarget 2018; 8:5523-5539. [PMID: 27740934 PMCID: PMC5354928 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) is a highly aggressive and metastatic tumor in children and young adults caused by a chromosomal fusion between the Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 (EWSR1) gene and the transcription factor FLI1 gene. ES is managed with standard treatments, including chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Although the 5-year survival rate for primary ES has improved, the survival rate for ES patients with metastases or recurrence remains low. Several novel molecular targets in ES have recently been identified and investigated in preclinical and clinical settings, and targeting the function of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), the fusion protein EWS-FLI1 and mTOR has shown promise. There has also been increasing interest in the immune responses of ES patients. Immunotherapies using T cells, NK cells, cancer vaccines and monoclonal antibodies have been considered for ES, especially for recurrent patients. Because understanding the pathogenesis of ES is extremely important for the development of novel treatments, this review focuses on the mechanisms and functions of targeted therapies and immunotherapies in ES. It is anticipated that integrating the knowledge obtained from basic research and translational and clinical studies will lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of ES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjiu Yu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P.R. China.,Department of VIP, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P.R. China
| | - Yonggui Ge
- Department of Pathophysiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P.R. China
| | - Lianying Guo
- Department of Pathophysiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P.R. China
| | - Lin Huang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P.R. China
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11
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Dai X, Theobard R, Cheng H, Xing M, Zhang J. Fusion genes: A promising tool combating against cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2018; 1869:149-160. [PMID: 29357299 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2017.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The driving roles of fusion genes during tumorigenesis have been recognized for decades, with efficacies demonstrated in clinical diagnosis and targeted therapy. With advances in sequencing technologies and computational biology, a surge in the identification of fusion genes has been witnessed during the past decade. The discovery and presence of splicing based fusions in normal tissues have challenged our canonical conceptions on fusion genes and offered us novel medical opportunities. The specificity of fusion genes to neoplastic tissues and their diverse functionalities during carcinogenesis foster them as promising tools in the battle against cancer. It is time to re-visit and comb through our cutting-edge knowledge on fusion genes to accelerate clinical translation of these internal markers. Urged as such, we are encouraged to categorize fusion events according to mechanisms leading to their generation, oncological consequences and clinical implications, offer insights on fusion occurrence across tumors from the system level, highlight feasible practices in fusion-related pharmaceutical development, and identify understudied yet important niches that may lead future research trend in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Dai
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
| | - Rutaganda Theobard
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Hongye Cheng
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Mengtao Xing
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Jianying Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas, El Paso, TX 79968, USA; Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences & Henan Key Laboratory of Tumor Epidemiology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
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12
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Dasgupta A, Trucco M, Rainusso N, Bernardi RJ, Shuck R, Kurenbekova L, Loeb DM, Yustein JT. Metabolic modulation of Ewing sarcoma cells inhibits tumor growth and stem cell properties. Oncotarget 2017; 8:77292-77308. [PMID: 29100387 PMCID: PMC5652780 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is a highly aggressive and metabolically active malignant tumor. Metabolic activity can broadly be characterized by features of glycolytic activity and oxidative phosphorylation. We have further characterized metabolic features of EWS cells to identify potential therapeutic targets. EWS cells had significantly more glycolytic activity compared to their non-malignant counterparts. Thus, metabolic inhibitors of glycolysis such as 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) and of the mitochondrial respiratory pathway, such as metformin, were evaluated as potential therapeutic agents against a panel of EWS cell lines in vitro. Results indicate that 2DG alone or in combination with metformin was effective at inducing cell death in EWS cell lines. The predominant mechanism of cell death appears to be through stimulating apoptosis leading into necrosis with concomitant activation of AMPK-α. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the use of metabolic modulators can target putative EWS stem cells, both in vitro and in vivo, and potentially overcome chemotherapeutic resistance in EWS. Based on these data, clinical strategies using drugs targeting tumor cell metabolism present a viable therapeutic modality against EWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atreyi Dasgupta
- The Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma Center at The Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Matteo Trucco
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Hematology-Oncology, University of Miami-Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Nino Rainusso
- The Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma Center at The Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ronald J Bernardi
- The Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma Center at The Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ryan Shuck
- The Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma Center at The Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lyazat Kurenbekova
- The Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma Center at The Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - David M Loeb
- Sydney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Jason T Yustein
- The Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma Center at The Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Integrative Molecular and Biological Sciences Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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13
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Vaughan CA, Singh S, Grossman SR, Windle B, Deb SP, Deb S. Gain-of-function p53 activates multiple signaling pathways to induce oncogenicity in lung cancer cells. Mol Oncol 2017; 11:696-711. [PMID: 28423230 PMCID: PMC5467493 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Revised: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Gain-of-function (GOF) mutants of p53 upregulate genes implicated in cell proliferation and oncogenesis. Here, we report that GOF p53 induces tumorigenicity through simultaneous activation of key oncogenic pathways including those controlling putative tumor-initiating cell functions. We determined that in cells expressing p53-R273H, GOF p53 simultaneously upregulates genes from multiple signaling pathways by recognizing promoters containing distinct transcription factor (TF) binding sites. Our analytical data support a model in which GOF p53 complexes with two TFs on the promoter-a mediator protein, Med17, and a histone acetyl transferase, activating histone acetylation-and enhances gene expression to signal cell proliferation and oncogenesis. Thus, therapeutic inhibition of one GOF p53-induced pathway would be insufficient to prevent tumor growth as the oncoprotein activates a multitude of parallel pathways. This discovery suggests enormous selection advantage for cancer cells with GOF p53 to induce oncogenic growth, highlighting the problems of cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Vaughan
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Shilpa Singh
- Integrated Life Sciences Program, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Steven R Grossman
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Brad Windle
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.,Philips Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Swati Palit Deb
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.,Integrated Life Sciences Program, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.,Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Sumitra Deb
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.,Integrated Life Sciences Program, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.,Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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14
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EBNA3C regulates p53 through induction of Aurora kinase B. Oncotarget 2016; 6:5788-803. [PMID: 25691063 PMCID: PMC4467402 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2014] [Accepted: 01/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In multicellular organisms p53 maintains genomic integrity through activation of DNA repair, and apoptosis. EBNA3C can down regulate p53 transcriptional activity. Aurora kinase (AK) B phosphorylates p53, which leads to degradation of p53. Aberrant expression of AK-B is a hallmark of numerous human cancers. Therefore changes in the activities of p53 due to AK-B and EBNA3C expression is important for understanding EBV-mediated cell transformation. Here we show that the activities of p53 and its homolog p73 are dysregulated in EBV infected primary cells which can contribute to increased cell transformation. Further, we showed that the ETS-1 binding site is crucial for EBNA3C-mediated up-regulation of AK-B transcription. Further, we determined the Ser 215 residue of p53 is critical for functional regulation by AK-B and EBNA3C and that the kinase domain of AK-B which includes amino acid residues 106, 111 and 205 was important for p53 regulation. AK-B with a mutation at residue 207 was functionally similar to wild type AK-B in terms of its kinase activities and knockdown of AK-B led to enhanced p73 expression independent of p53. This study explores an additional mechanism by which p53 is regulated by AK-B and EBNA3C contributing to EBV-induced B-cell transformation.
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15
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Park H, Turkalo TK, Nelson K, Folmsbee SS, Robb C, Roper B, Azuma M. Ewing sarcoma EWS protein regulates midzone formation by recruiting Aurora B kinase to the midzone. Cell Cycle 2015; 13:2391-9. [PMID: 25483190 DOI: 10.4161/cc.29337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is a malignant bone cancer that primarily occurs in children and adolescents. Eighty-five percent of Ewing sarcoma is characterized by the presence of the aberrant chimeric EWS/FLI1 fusion gene. Previously, we demonstrated that an interaction between EWS/FLI1 and wild-type EWS led to the inhibition of EWS activity and mitotic dysfunction. Although defective mitosis is considered to be a critical step in cancer initiation, it is unknown how interference with EWS contributes to Ewing sarcoma formation. Here, we demonstrate that EWS/FLI1- and EWS-knockdown cells display a high incidence of defects in the midzone, a midline structure located between segregating chromatids during anaphase. Defects in the midzone can lead to the failure of cytokinesis and can result in the induction of aneuploidy. The similarity among the phenotypes of EWS/FLI1- and EWS siRNA-transfected HeLa cells points to the inhibition of EWS as the key mechanism for the induction of midzone defects. Supporting this observation, the ectopic expression of EWS rescues the high incidence of midzone defects observed in Ewing sarcoma A673 cells. We discovered that EWS interacts with Aurora B kinase, and that EWS is also required for recruiting Aurora B to the midzone. A domain analysis revealed that the R565 in the RGG3 domain of EWS is essential for both Aurora B interaction and the recruitment of Aurora B to the midzone. Here, we propose that the impairment of EWS-dependent midzone formation via the recruitment of Aurora B is a potential mechanism of Ewing sarcoma development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyewon Park
- a Department of Molecular Biosciences; University of Kansas; Lawrence, KS USA
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16
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Jiang Y, Ludwig J, Janku F. Targeted therapies for advanced Ewing sarcoma family of tumors. Cancer Treat Rev 2015; 41:391-400. [PMID: 25869102 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2015.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Revised: 03/17/2015] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The prognosis of adolescent and young adult patients battling metastatic Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) remains less than 30% despite the development of systemic therapies. In the era of personalized medicine, novel molecular targets have been tested in preclinical or clinical settings in ESFT. In this review, we focus on early clinical and translational research that identified multiple molecular targets, including IGF-1R; mTOR; tyrosine kinase inhibitors; EWS-FLI1-related targets, and others. Overall, novel targeted therapies demonstrated modest efficacy; however pronounced and durable antineoplastic responses have been observed in small subsets of treated patients, for example with IGF-1R antibodies. Identifying outcome-predicting biomarkers and overcoming treatment resistance remain major challenges. Due to the rarity of ESFT, multi-institutional collaboration efforts of clinicians, basic and translational scientists are needed in order to understand biology of therapeutic response or resistance, which can lead to development of novel therapeutic methods and improved patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyun Jiang
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I Clinical Trials Program), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joseph Ludwig
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Filip Janku
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I Clinical Trials Program), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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17
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Nath S, Ghatak D, Das P, Roychoudhury S. Transcriptional control of mitosis: deregulation and cancer. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2015; 6:60. [PMID: 25999914 PMCID: PMC4419714 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2015.00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Research over the past few decades has well established the molecular functioning of mitosis. Deregulation of these functions has also been attributed to the generation of aneuploidy in different tumor types. Numerous studies have given insight into the regulation of mitosis by cell cycle specific proteins. Optimum abundance of these proteins is pivotal to timely execution of mitosis. Aberrant expressions of these mitotic proteins have been reported in different cancer types. Several post-transcriptional mechanisms and their interplay have subsequently been identified that control the level of mitotic proteins. However, to date, infrequent incidences of cancer-associated mutations have been reported for the genes expressing these proteins. Therefore, altered expression of these mitotic regulators in tumor samples can largely be attributed to transcriptional deregulation. This review discusses the biology of transcriptional control for mitosis and evaluates its role in the generation of aneuploidy and tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somsubhra Nath
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
- Present address: Somsubhra Nath, Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy Division, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Dishari Ghatak
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - Pijush Das
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - Susanta Roychoudhury
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
- *Correspondence: Susanta Roychoudhury, Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700 032, India, ;
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18
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Anderson JL, Titz B, Akiyama R, Komisopoulou E, Park A, Tap WD, Graeber TG, Denny CT. Phosphoproteomic profiling reveals IL6-mediated paracrine signaling within the Ewing sarcoma family of tumors. Mol Cancer Res 2014; 12:1740-54. [PMID: 25092916 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-14-0159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Members of the Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) contain tumor-associated translocations that give rise to oncogenic transcription factors, most commonly EWS/FLI1. EWS/FLI1 plays a dominant role in tumor progression by modulating the expression of hundreds of target genes. Here, the impact of EWS/FLI1 inhibition, by RNAi-mediated knockdown, on cellular signaling was investigated using mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics to quantify global changes in phosphorylation. This unbiased approach identified hundreds of unique phosphopeptides enriched in processes such as regulation of cell cycle and cytoskeleton organization. In particular, phosphotyrosine profiling revealed a large upregulation of STAT3 phosphorylation upon EWS/FLI1 knockdown. However, single-cell analysis demonstrated that this was not a cell-autonomous effect of EWS/FLI1 deficiency, but rather a signaling effect occurring in cells in which knockdown does not occur. Conditioned media from knockdown cells were sufficient to induce STAT3 phosphorylation in control cells, verifying the presence of a soluble factor that can activate STAT3. Cytokine analysis and ligand/receptor inhibition experiments determined that this activation occurred, in part, through an IL6-dependent mechanism. Taken together, the data support a model in which EWS/FLI1 deficiency results in the secretion of soluble factors, such as IL6, which activate STAT signaling in bystander cells that maintain EWS/FLI1 expression. Furthermore, these soluble factors were shown to protect against apoptosis. IMPLICATIONS EWS/FLI1 inhibition results in a novel adaptive response and suggests that targeting the IL6/STAT3 signaling pathway may increase the efficacy of ESFT therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Anderson
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Gwynne Hazen Cherry Memorial Laboratories, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Björn Titz
- Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ryan Akiyama
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Gwynne Hazen Cherry Memorial Laboratories, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Evangelia Komisopoulou
- Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ann Park
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Gwynne Hazen Cherry Memorial Laboratories, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - William D Tap
- Sarcoma Medical Oncology Service, Division of Solid Tumors, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Thomas G Graeber
- Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. UCLA Metabolomics Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Christopher T Denny
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Gwynne Hazen Cherry Memorial Laboratories, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
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19
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Tanaka M, Yamazaki Y, Kanno Y, Igarashi K, Aisaki KI, Kanno J, Nakamura T. Ewing's sarcoma precursors are highly enriched in embryonic osteochondrogenic progenitors. J Clin Invest 2014; 124:3061-74. [PMID: 24911143 DOI: 10.1172/jci72399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2013] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing's sarcoma is a highly malignant bone tumor found in children and adolescents, and the origin of this malignancy is not well understood. Here, we introduced a Ewing's sarcoma-associated genetic fusion of the genes encoding the RNA-binding protein EWS and the transcription factor ETS (EWS-ETS) into a fraction of cells enriched for osteochondrogenic progenitors derived from the embryonic superficial zone (eSZ) of long bones collected from late gestational murine embryos. EWS-ETS fusions efficiently induced Ewing's sarcoma-like small round cell sarcoma formation by these cells. Analysis of the eSZ revealed a fraction of a precursor cells that express growth/differentiation factor 5 (Gdf5), the transcription factor Erg, and parathyroid hormone-like hormone (Pthlh), and selection of the Pthlh-positive fraction alone further enhanced EWS-ETS-dependent tumor induction. Genes downstream of the EWS-ETS fusion protein were quite transcriptionally active in eSZ cells, especially in regions in which the chromatin structure of the ETS-responsive locus was open. Inhibition of β-catenin, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1), or enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) suppressed cell growth in a murine model of Ewing's sarcoma, suggesting the utility of the current system as a preclinical model. These results indicate that eSZ cells are highly enriched in precursors to Ewing's sarcoma and provide clues to the histogenesis of Ewing's sarcoma in bone.
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20
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Saletta F, Wadham C, Ziegler DS, Marshall GM, Haber M, McCowage G, Norris MD, Byrne JA. Molecular profiling of childhood cancer: Biomarkers and novel therapies. BBA CLINICAL 2014; 1:59-77. [PMID: 26675306 PMCID: PMC4633945 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbacli.2014.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Revised: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 06/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Technological advances including high-throughput sequencing have identified numerous tumor-specific genetic changes in pediatric and adolescent cancers that can be exploited as targets for novel therapies. SCOPE OF REVIEW This review provides a detailed overview of recent advances in the application of target-specific therapies for childhood cancers, either as single agents or in combination with other therapies. The review summarizes preclinical evidence on which clinical trials are based, early phase clinical trial results, and the incorporation of predictive biomarkers into clinical practice, according to cancer type. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS There is growing evidence that molecularly targeted therapies can valuably add to the arsenal available for treating childhood cancers, particularly when used in combination with other therapies. Nonetheless the introduction of molecularly targeted agents into practice remains challenging, due to the use of unselected populations in some clinical trials, inadequate methods to evaluate efficacy, and the need for improved preclinical models to both evaluate dosing and safety of combination therapies. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE The increasing recognition of the heterogeneity of molecular causes of cancer favors the continued development of molecularly targeted agents, and their transfer to pediatric and adolescent populations.
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Key Words
- ALK, anaplastic lymphoma kinase
- ALL, acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- AML, acute myeloid leukemia
- ARMS, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma
- AT/RT, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor
- AURKA, aurora kinase A
- AURKB, aurora kinase B
- BET, bromodomain and extra terminal
- Biomarkers
- CAR, chimeric antigen receptor
- CML, chronic myeloid leukemia
- Childhood cancer
- DFMO, difluoromethylornithine
- DIPG, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma
- EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor
- ERMS, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma
- HDAC, histone deacetylases
- Hsp90, heat shock protein 90
- IGF-1R, insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor
- IGF/IGFR, insulin-like growth factor/receptor
- Molecular diagnostics
- NSCLC, non-small cell lung cancer
- ODC1, ornithine decarboxylase 1
- PARP, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase
- PDGFRA/B, platelet derived growth factor alpha/beta
- PI3K, phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase
- PLK1, polo-like kinase 1
- Ph +, Philadelphia chromosome-positive
- RMS, rhabdomyosarcoma
- SHH, sonic hedgehog
- SMO, smoothened
- SYK, spleen tyrosine kinase
- TOP1/TOP2, DNA topoisomerase 1/2
- TRAIL, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand
- Targeted therapy
- VEGF/VEGFR, vascular endothelial growth factor/receptor
- mAb, monoclonal antibody
- mAbs, monoclonal antibodies
- mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Saletta
- Children's Cancer Research Unit, Kids Research Institute, Westmead 2145, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Carol Wadham
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David S. Ziegler
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia
- Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Glenn M. Marshall
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia
- Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michelle Haber
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Geoffrey McCowage
- The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead 2145, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Murray D. Norris
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jennifer A. Byrne
- Children's Cancer Research Unit, Kids Research Institute, Westmead 2145, New South Wales, Australia
- The University of Sydney Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead 2145, New South Wales, Australia
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21
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Baldini E, D'Armiento M, Ulisse S. A new aurora in anaplastic thyroid cancer therapy. Int J Endocrinol 2014; 2014:816430. [PMID: 25097550 PMCID: PMC4106108 DOI: 10.1155/2014/816430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 06/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Anaplastic thyroid cancers (ATC) are among the most aggressive human neoplasms with a dire prognosis and a median survival time of few months from the diagnosis. The complete absence of effective therapies for ATC renders the identification of novel therapeutic approaches sorely needed. Chromosomal instability, a feature of all human cancers, is thought to represent a major driving force in thyroid cancer progression and a number of mitotic kinases showing a deregulated expression in malignant thyroid tissues are now held responsible for thyroid tumor aneuploidy. These include the three members of the Aurora family (Aurora-A, Aurora-B, and Aurora-C), serine/threonine kinases that regulate multiple aspects of chromosome segregation and cytokinesis. Over the last few years, several small molecule inhibitors targeting Aurora kinases were developed, which showed promising antitumor effects against a variety of human cancers, including ATC, in preclinical studies. Several of these molecules are now being evaluated in phase I/II clinical trials against advanced solid and hematological malignancies. In the present review we will describe the structure, expression, and mitotic functions of the Aurora kinases, their implications in human cancer progression, with particular regard to ATC, and the effects of their functional inhibition on malignant cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enke Baldini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimino D'Armiento
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Ulisse
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
- *Salvatore Ulisse:
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22
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Tsugita M, Yamada N, Noguchi S, Yamada K, Moritake H, Shimizu K, Akao Y, Ohno T. Ewing sarcoma cells secrete EWS/Fli-1 fusion mRNA via microvesicles. PLoS One 2013; 8:e77416. [PMID: 24124617 PMCID: PMC3790721 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2012] [Accepted: 09/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumours defined as Ewing sarcoma (ES) constitute a group of highly malignant neoplasms that most often affect children and young adults in the first 2 decades of life. The EWS/Fli-1 fusion gene, a product of the translocation t(11;22) (q24; 12), is detected in 95% of ES patients. Recently, it was validated that cells emit a heterogeneous mixture of vesicular, organelle-like structures (microvesicles, MVs) into their surroundings including blood and body fluids, and that these MVs contain a selected set of tumor-related proteins and high levels of mRNAs and miRNAs. In this present study, we detected the Ewing sarcoma-specific EWS/Fli-1 mRNA in MVs from the culture medium of ES cell lines carrying t(11;22) (q24; 12). Also, we detected this fusion gene in approximately 40% of the blood samples from mice inoculated with xenografts of TC135 or A673 cells. These findings indicate the EWS/Fli-1 mRNA in MVs might be a new non-invasive diagnostic marker for specific cases of Ewing sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanori Tsugita
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
| | - Nami Yamada
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
- United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Noguchi
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
| | - Kazunari Yamada
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Moritake
- Division of Pediatrics, Department of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Katsuji Shimizu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Akao
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
| | - Takatoshi Ohno
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
- * E-mail:
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23
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EBNA3C-mediated regulation of aurora kinase B contributes to Epstein-Barr virus-induced B-cell proliferation through modulation of the activities of the retinoblastoma protein and apoptotic caspases. J Virol 2013; 87:12121-38. [PMID: 23986604 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02379-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an oncogenic gammaherpesvirus that is implicated in several human malignancies, including Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and AIDS-associated lymphomas. Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 3C (EBNA3C), one of the essential EBV latent antigens, can induce mammalian cell cycle progression through its interaction with cell cycle regulators. Aurora kinase B (AK-B) is important for cell division, and deregulation of AK-B is associated with aneuploidy, incomplete mitotic exit, and cell death. Our present study shows that EBNA3C contributes to upregulation of AK-B transcript levels by enhancing the activity of its promoter. Further, EBNA3C also increased the stability of the AK-B protein, and the presence of EBNA3C leads to reduced ubiquitination of AK-B. Importantly, EBNA3C in association with wild-type AK-B but not with its kinase-dead mutant led to enhanced cell proliferation, and AK-B knockdown can induce nuclear blebbing and cell death. This phenomenon was rescued in the presence of EBNA3C. Knockdown of AK-B resulted in activation of caspase 3 and caspase 9, along with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) cleavage, which is known to be an important contributor to apoptotic signaling. Importantly, EBNA3C failed to stabilize the kinase-dead mutant of AK-B compared to wild-type AK-B, which suggests a role for the kinase domain in AK-B stabilization and downstream phosphorylation of the cell cycle regulator retinoblastoma protein (Rb). This study demonstrates the functional relevance of AK-B kinase activity in EBNA3C-regulated B-cell proliferation and apoptosis.
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24
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Pediatric sarcomas: translating molecular pathogenesis of disease to novel therapeutic possibilities. Pediatr Res 2012; 72:112-21. [PMID: 22546864 PMCID: PMC4283808 DOI: 10.1038/pr.2012.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric sarcomas represent a diverse group of rare bone and soft tissue malignancies. Although the molecular mechanisms that propel the development of these cancers are not well understood, identification of tumor-specific translocations in many sarcomas has provided significant insight into their tumorigenesis. Each fusion protein resulting from these chromosomal translocations is thought to act as a driving force in the tumor, either as an aberrant transcription factor (TF), constitutively active growth factor, or ligand-independent receptor tyrosine kinase. Identification of transcriptional targets or signaling pathways modulated by these oncogenic fusions has led to the discovery of potential therapeutic targets. Some of these targets have shown considerable promise in preclinical models and are currently being tested in clinical trials. This review summarizes the molecular pathology of a subset of pediatric sarcomas with tumor-associated translocations and how increased understanding at the molecular level is being translated to novel therapeutic advances.
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Bonet C, Giuliano S, Ohanna M, Bille K, Allegra M, Lacour JP, Bahadoran P, Rocchi S, Ballotti R, Bertolotto C. Aurora B is regulated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathway and is a valuable potential target in melanoma cells. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:29887-98. [PMID: 22767597 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.371682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic melanoma is a deadly skin cancer and is resistant to almost all existing treatment. Vemurafenib, which targets the BRAFV600E mutation, is one of the drugs that improves patient outcome, but the patients next develop secondary resistance and a return to cancer. Thus, new therapeutic strategies are needed to treat melanomas and to increase the duration of v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) inhibitor response. The ERK pathway controls cell proliferation, and Aurora B plays a pivotal role in cell division. Here, we confirm that Aurora B is highly expressed in metastatic melanoma cells and that Aurora B inhibition triggers both senescence-like phenotypes and cell death in melanoma cells. Furthermore, we show that the BRAF/ERK axis controls Aurora B expression at the transcriptional level, likely through the transcription factor FOXM1. Our results provide insight into the mechanism of Aurora B regulation and the first molecular basis of Aurora B regulation in melanoma cells. The inhibition of Aurora B expression that we observed in vemurafenib-sensitive melanoma cells was rescued in cells resistant to this drug. Consistently, these latter cells remain sensitive to the effect of the Aurora B inhibitor. Noteworthy, wild-type BRAF melanoma cells are also sensitive to Aurora B inhibition. Collectively, our findings, showing that Aurora B is a potential target in melanoma cells, particularly in those vemurafenib-resistant, may open new avenues to improve the treatment of metastatic melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Bonet
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Equipe 1, Biologie et Pathologies des Mélanocytes de la Pigmentation Cutanée au Mélanome, Nice F-06204, France
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26
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Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas are an uncommon and diverse group of more than 50 mesenchymal malignancies. The pathogenesis of many of these is poorly understood, but others have begun to reveal the secrets of their underlying mechanisms. With considerable effort over recent years, soft tissue sarcomas have increasingly been classified on the basis of underlying molecular alterations. In turn, this has allowed the development and application of targeted agents in several specific, molecularly defined, sarcoma subtypes. This review will focus on the rationale for targeted therapy in sarcoma, with emphasis on the relevance of specific molecular factors and pathways in both translocation-associated sarcomas and in genetically complex tumors. In addition, we will address some of the early successes in sarcoma-targeted therapy as well as a few challenges and disappointments in this field. Finally, we will discuss several possible opportunities represented by poorly understood, but potentially promising new therapeutic targets, as well as several novel biological agents currently in preclinical and early phase I/II trials. This will provide the reader with the context for understanding the current state of this field and a sense of where it may be headed in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth G Demicco
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, 77030-4009, USA
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Boro A, Prêtre K, Rechfeld F, Thalhammer V, Oesch S, Wachtel M, Schäfer BW, Niggli FK. Small-molecule screen identifies modulators of EWS/FLI1 target gene expression and cell survival in Ewing's sarcoma. Int J Cancer 2012; 131:2153-64. [PMID: 22323082 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.27472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2011] [Accepted: 01/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors (EFT) is characterized by the presence of chromosomal translocations leading to the expression of oncogenic transcription factors such as, in the majority of cases, EWS/FLI1. Because of its key role in Ewing's sarcoma development and maintenance, EWS/FLI1 represents an attractive therapeutic target. Here, we characterize PHLDA1 as a novel direct target gene whose expression is repressed by EWS/FLI1. Using this gene and additional specific well-characterized target genes such as NROB1, NKX2.2 and CAV1, all activated by EWS/FLI1, as a read-out system, we screened a small-molecule compound library enriched for FDA-approved drugs that modulated the expression of EWS/FLI1 target genes. Among a hit-list of nine well-known drugs such as camptothecin, fenretinide, etoposide and doxorubicin, we also identified the kinase inhibitor midostaurin (PKC412). Subsequent experiments demonstrated that midostaurin is able to induce apoptosis in a panel of six Ewing's sarcoma cell lines in vitro and can significantly suppress xenograft tumor growth in vivo. These results suggest that midostaurin might be a novel drug that is active against Ewing's cells, which might act by modulating the expression of EWS/FLI1 target genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandar Boro
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital, Steinwiesstrasse 75, Zurich, Switzerland
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Simmons O, Maples PB, Senzer N, Nemunaitis J. Ewing's Sarcoma: Development of RNA Interference-Based Therapy for Advanced Disease. ISRN ONCOLOGY 2012; 2012:247657. [PMID: 22523703 PMCID: PMC3317005 DOI: 10.5402/2012/247657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2011] [Accepted: 12/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ewing's sarcoma tumors are associated with chromosomal translocation between the EWS gene and the ETS transcription factor gene. These unique target sequences provide opportunity for RNA interference(i)-based therapy. A summary of RNAi mechanism and therapeutically designed products including siRNA, shRNA and bi-shRNA are described. Comparison is made between each of these approaches. Systemic RNAi-based therapy, however, requires protected delivery to the Ewing's sarcoma tumor site for activity. Delivery systems which have been most effective in preclinical and clinical testing are reviewed, followed by preclinical assessment of various silencing strategies with demonstration of effectiveness to EWS/FLI-1 target sequences. It is concluded that RNAi-based therapeutics may have testable and achievable activity in management of Ewing's sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Neil Senzer
- Gradalis, Inc., Dallas, TX 75201, USA
- Mary Crowley Cancer Research Centers, Dallas, TX 75201, USA
- Texas Oncology, PA, Dallas, TX 75251, USA
- Medical City Dallas Hospital, Dallas, TX 75230, USA
| | - John Nemunaitis
- Gradalis, Inc., Dallas, TX 75201, USA
- Mary Crowley Cancer Research Centers, Dallas, TX 75201, USA
- Texas Oncology, PA, Dallas, TX 75251, USA
- Medical City Dallas Hospital, Dallas, TX 75230, USA
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29
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Winter GE, Rix U, Lissat A, Stukalov A, Müllner MK, Bennett KL, Colinge J, Nijman SM, Kubicek S, Kovar H, Kontny U, Superti-Furga G. An Integrated Chemical Biology Approach Identifies Specific Vulnerability of Ewing's Sarcoma to Combined Inhibition of Aurora Kinases A and B. Mol Cancer Ther 2011; 10:1846-56. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-11-0100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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30
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Efficacy and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic evaluation of the Aurora kinase A inhibitor MLN8237 against preclinical models of pediatric cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2011; 68:1291-304. [PMID: 21448591 PMCID: PMC3215888 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-011-1618-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2011] [Accepted: 03/11/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To gain a greater understanding of the potential of the Aurora kinase A inhibitor MLN8237 in the treatment of pediatric malignancies. METHODS The activity of MLN8237 was evaluated against 28 neuroblastoma and Ewing sarcoma cell lines, and its in vivo efficacy was studied over a range of doses against 12 pediatric tumor xenograft models. Pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and genomic studies were undertaken. RESULTS In vitro neuroblastoma cell lines were generally more sensitive to MLN8237 than Ewing sarcoma lines. MLN8237 demonstrated significant activity in vivo against solid tumor models at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD); however, only 2 of 6 neuroblastoma models had objective responses at 0.25MTD. In contrast, MLN8237 induced objective responses at its MTD and at 0.5MTD in three ALL models and in two out of three at 0.25MTD. Pharmacokinetic studies at 0.5MTD demonstrated a T (max) of 0.5 h, C (max) of 24.8 μM, AUC((0-24)) of 60.3 μM h, and 12 h trough level of 1.2 μM. Mitotic indices increased 6-12 h after MLN8237 administration. AURKA copy number variation was frequent in xenografts, and expression was highly correlated with copy number. CONCLUSIONS Objective responses were more frequent in tumors with decreased AURKA copy number (5/8) compared to those with increased gene copy number (2/14). This report confirms the significant activity against both solid tumor and ALL xenografts at the MTD, with a steep dose response. These data support clinical development of MLN8237 in childhood cancer. Because of the steep dose-response relationship, such studies should target achieving trough levels of 1 μM or higher for sustained periods of treatment.
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31
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Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: The Two Faces of the FUS/EWS/TAF15 Protein Family. Sarcoma 2010; 2011:837474. [PMID: 21197473 PMCID: PMC3005952 DOI: 10.1155/2011/837474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2010] [Revised: 10/20/2010] [Accepted: 11/01/2010] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
FUS, EWS, and TAF15 form the FET family of RNA-binding proteins whose genes are found rearranged with various transcription factor genes predominantly in sarcomas and in rare hematopoietic and epithelial cancers. The resulting fusion gene products have attracted considerable interest as diagnostic and promising therapeutic targets. So far, oncogenic FET fusion proteins have been regarded as strong transcription factors that aberrantly activate or repress target genes of their DNA-binding fusion partners. However, the role of the transactivating domain in the context of the normal FET proteins is poorly defined, and, therefore, our knowledge on how FET aberrations impact on tumor biology is incomplete. Since we believe that a full understanding of aberrant FET protein function can only arise from looking at both sides of the coin, the good and the evil, this paper summarizes evidence for the central function of FET proteins in bridging RNA transcription, processing, transport, and DNA repair.
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32
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Awad O, Yustein JT, Shah P, Gul N, Katuri V, O'Neill A, Kong Y, Brown ML, Toretsky JA, Loeb DM. High ALDH activity identifies chemotherapy-resistant Ewing's sarcoma stem cells that retain sensitivity to EWS-FLI1 inhibition. PLoS One 2010; 5:e13943. [PMID: 21085683 PMCID: PMC2978678 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2010] [Accepted: 10/08/2010] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer stem cells are a chemotherapy-resistant population capable of self-renewal and of regenerating the bulk tumor, thereby causing relapse and patient death. Ewing's sarcoma, the second most common form of bone tumor in adolescents and young adults, follows a clinical pattern consistent with the Cancer Stem Cell model - remission is easily achieved, even for patients with metastatic disease, but relapse remains frequent and is usually fatal. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We have isolated a subpopulation of Ewing's sarcoma cells, from both human cell lines and human xenografts grown in immune deficient mice, which express high aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH(high)) activity and are enriched for clonogenicity, sphere-formation, and tumor initiation. The ALDH(high) cells are resistant to chemotherapy in vitro, but this can be overcome by the ATP binding cassette transport protein inhibitor, verapamil. Importantly, these cells are not resistant to YK-4-279, a small molecule inhibitor of EWS-FLI1 that is selectively toxic to Ewing's sarcoma cells both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Ewing's sarcoma contains an ALDH(high) stem-like population of chemotherapy-resistant cells that retain sensitivity to EWS-FLI1 inhibition. Inhibiting the EWS-FLI1 oncoprotein may prove to be an effective means of improving patient outcomes by targeting Ewing's sarcoma stem cells that survive standard chemotherapy.
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MESH Headings
- Aldehyde Dehydrogenase/metabolism
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Calcium Channel Blockers/pharmacology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Cell Survival/drug effects
- Doxorubicin/pharmacology
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit/genetics
- Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, SCID
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/drug effects
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/pathology
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Protein c-fli-1/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Protein c-fli-1/metabolism
- RNA-Binding Protein EWS
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Sarcoma, Ewing/drug therapy
- Sarcoma, Ewing/metabolism
- Sarcoma, Ewing/pathology
- Sarcoma, Experimental/drug therapy
- Sarcoma, Experimental/metabolism
- Sarcoma, Experimental/pathology
- Spheroids, Cellular/drug effects
- Spheroids, Cellular/metabolism
- Spheroids, Cellular/pathology
- Transplantation, Heterologous
- Verapamil/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Ola Awad
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jason T. Yustein
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Preeti Shah
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Naheed Gul
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Varalakshmi Katuri
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alison O'Neill
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Yali Kong
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Milton L. Brown
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Jeffrey A. Toretsky
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - David M. Loeb
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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33
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Cell Cycle Deregulation in Ewing's Sarcoma Pathogenesis. Sarcoma 2010; 2011:598704. [PMID: 21052502 PMCID: PMC2968116 DOI: 10.1155/2011/598704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2010] [Accepted: 10/07/2010] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing's sarcoma is a highly aggressive pediatric tumor of bone that usually contains the characteristic chromosomal translocation t(11;22)(q24;q12). This translocation encodes the oncogenic fusion protein EWS/FLI, which acts as an aberrant transcription factor to deregulate target genes necessary for oncogenesis. One key feature of oncogenic transformation is dysregulation of cell cycle control. It is therefore likely that EWS/FLI and other cooperating mutations in Ewing's sarcoma modulate the cell cycle to facilitate tumorigenesis. This paper will summarize current published data associated with deregulation of the cell cycle in Ewing's sarcoma and highlight important questions that remain to be answered.
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34
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Takigami I, Ohno T, Kitade Y, Hara A, Nagano A, Kawai G, Saitou M, Matsuhashi A, Yamada K, Shimizu K. Synthetic siRNA targeting the breakpoint of EWS/Fli-1 inhibits growth of Ewing sarcoma xenografts in a mouse model. Int J Cancer 2010; 128:216-26. [DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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35
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Arora S, Gonzales IM, Hagelstrom RT, Beaudry C, Choudhary A, Sima C, Tibes R, Mousses S, Azorsa DO. RNAi phenotype profiling of kinases identifies potential therapeutic targets in Ewing's sarcoma. Mol Cancer 2010; 9:218. [PMID: 20718987 PMCID: PMC2933621 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-9-218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2010] [Accepted: 08/18/2010] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ewing's sarcomas are aggressive musculoskeletal tumors occurring most frequently in the long and flat bones as a solitary lesion mostly during the teen-age years of life. With current treatments, significant number of patients relapse and survival is poor for those with metastatic disease. As part of novel target discovery in Ewing's sarcoma, we applied RNAi mediated phenotypic profiling to identify kinase targets involved in growth and survival of Ewing's sarcoma cells. Results Four Ewing's sarcoma cell lines TC-32, TC-71, SK-ES-1 and RD-ES were tested in high throughput-RNAi screens using a siRNA library targeting 572 kinases. Knockdown of 25 siRNAs reduced the growth of all four Ewing's sarcoma cell lines in replicate screens. Of these, 16 siRNA were specific and reduced proliferation of Ewing's sarcoma cells as compared to normal fibroblasts. Secondary validation and preliminary mechanistic studies highlighted the kinases STK10 and TNK2 as having important roles in growth and survival of Ewing's sarcoma cells. Furthermore, knockdown of STK10 and TNK2 by siRNA showed increased apoptosis. Conclusion In summary, RNAi-based phenotypic profiling proved to be a powerful gene target discovery strategy, leading to successful identification and validation of STK10 and TNK2 as two novel potential therapeutic targets for Ewing's sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpi Arora
- Pharmaceutical Genomic Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA
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36
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Erkizan HV, Uversky VN, Toretsky JA. Oncogenic partnerships: EWS-FLI1 protein interactions initiate key pathways of Ewing's sarcoma. Clin Cancer Res 2010; 16:4077-83. [PMID: 20547696 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-09-2261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Targeted therapy for cancer, which is specifically directed toward the cancer without any potential for effects outside of controlling the tumor, is a gold standard for treatment. Ewing's sarcoma contains the potential target EWS-FLI1, as a result of a pathognomonic chromosomal translocation. The EWS-FLI1 fusion protein includes the EWS domain, a potent transcriptional activator alongside the highly conserved FLI1 ets DNA-binding domain. Because of the combination of these domains, the EWS-FLI1 fusion protein acts as an aberrant transcription factor whose expression results in cellular transformation. EWS-FLI1 functions by binding to normal cellular protein partners in transcription and splicing, similar to how a virus would corrupt normal cellular machinery for virion production. Therefore, understanding the protein-protein interactions of EWS-FLI1 and the pathways that are regulated by these partnerships will inform both oncogenesis and therapeutics. This review describes the known protein partners and transcriptional targets of EWS-FLI1, while proposing strategies for exploiting these partnerships with targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayriye V Erkizan
- Department of Oncology and Pediatrics, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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37
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Nagano A, Ohno T, Shimizu K, Hara A, Yamamoto T, Kawai G, Saitou M, Takigami I, Matsuhashi A, Yamada K, Takei Y. EWS/Fli-1 chimeric fusion gene upregulates vascular endothelial growth factor-A. Int J Cancer 2010; 126:2790-8. [PMID: 19642105 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.24781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A plays an important role in the pathological angiogenesis that occurs in soft-tissue sarcoma and in about half of Ewing's sarcoma cases, where it is highly overexpressed. EWS/Fli-1 is considered to be a transcriptional activator and to play a significant role in tumorigenesis of Ewing's sarcoma. However, the relationship between EWS/Fli-1 and VEGF-A is still unclear. The aim of this research is to investigate the relationship between EWS/Fli-1 and VEGF-A, and to determine whether small interfering RNA (siRNA)-targeting of VEGF-A can be developed as a novel treatment for Ewing's sarcoma. Knockdown of EWS/Fli-1 using siRNA on a Ewing's sarcoma cell line (A673) suppressed VEGF-A expression, and transfection of EWS/Fli-1 into a human osteosarcoma cell line increased VEGF-A expression. To inhibit VEGF-A secretion from Ewing's sarcoma, we developed a chemically synthesized siRNA that targets VEGF-A. Transfection of the VEGF siRNA into the Ewing's sarcoma cell line significantly suppressed VEGF-A secretion by up to 98% in vitro, compared with a control. In vivo, we established Ewing's sarcoma xenograft models and performed intratumoral injection of the siRNA mixed with atelocollagen. We observed that the inhibition of tumor growth occurs in a dose-dependent manner. Histological examination revealed decreased microvessel density and morphological change around microvessels in the Ewing's sarcoma xenografts treated with the siRNA. It is considered that a combination of chemically synthesized siRNA that targets VEGF-A and atelocollagen might be a novel and effective option for treating Ewing's sarcoma that secretes VEGF-A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihito Nagano
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, Japan
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38
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Jiang S, Katayama H, Wang J, Li SA, Hong Y, Radvanyi L, Li JJ, Sen S. Estrogen-induced aurora kinase-A (AURKA) gene expression is activated by GATA-3 in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells. Discov Oncol 2010; 1:11-20. [PMID: 21761347 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-010-0006-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2009] [Accepted: 01/05/2010] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Aurora-A is a proto-oncogenic mitotic kinase that is frequently overexpressed in human epithelial malignancies including in breast and ovarian cancers. The mechanism of transcriptional upregulation of Aurora-A in human breast cancer is not yet elucidated. We report herein that Aurora-A transcription is positively regulated by GATA-3 in response to estrogen in estrogen receptor α (ERα)-positive cells. Transient expression of aurora-A promoter deletion mutants in luciferase constructs identified a GATA binding sequence motif as a functional regulatory element in ERα-positive breast cancer cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay identified the binding of regulatory proteins to the GATA element. Anti-GATA-3 antibody generated a supershifted complex. Recruitment of GATA-3 to the aurora-A promoter was verified by chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis with GATA-3 antibody. Ectopic expression of GATA-3 resulted in elevated expression of Aurora-A in both ERα-positive and negative cells while siRNA-mediated silencing led to downregulation of endogenous Aurora-A in ERα-positive cells. Estrogen treatment of ERα-positive cells induced increased Aurora-A expression with enhanced recruitment of GATA-3 to the aurora-A promoter. Finally, in the ACI rat model of estrogen-induced breast cancer, known to be associated with elevated Aurora-A expression, we observed increased expression of GATA-3 in preinvasive and invasive mammary epithelial cells exposed to prolonged estrogen treatment and in developing breast tumors. These results demonstrate a direct positive role of estrogen in regulating Aurora-A expression through activation of the ERα-GATA-3 signaling cascade and suggest that this pathway may be critical in the origin of estrogen-stimulated sporadic breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoulei Jiang
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA
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39
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Abstract
Ewing's sarcoma family tumors are a good example of how genome research has advanced our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of an otherwise enigmatic disease. This group of embryonal bone tumors is characterized by the expression of a chimeric ETS-family oncogene, predominantly EWS/FLI1. There is now convincing evidence for a mesenchymal descent from an early pluripotent progenitor. EWS/FLI1 has been shown to drive proliferation of Ewing's sarcoma cells and block most of the differentiation potential except for a partial neural gene expression program. The EWS/FLI1 fusion protein acts mainly as a gene activator, directly interacting with chromatin at two kinds of binding site: distant enhancers enriched in GGAA microsatellites, and proximal promoters containing classical ETS-binding motifs and recognition motifs for other transcription factors. EWS/FLI1 also represses a large number of genes, mainly indirectly, presumably by altering microRNA expression and epigenetic mechanisms, and potentially affecting post-transcriptional gene regulation. Modulation of EWS/FLI1 expression is not only a desirable therapeutic goal, but may also occur under physiological conditions and influence the course of the disease.
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