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Ceranski AK, Carreño-Gonzalez MJ, Ehlers AC, Colombo MV, Cidre-Aranaz F, Grünewald TGP. Hypoxia and HIFs in Ewing sarcoma: new perspectives on a multi-facetted relationship. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:49. [PMID: 36915100 PMCID: PMC10010019 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01750-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia develops during the growth of solid tumors and influences tumoral activity in multiple ways. Low oxygen tension is also present in the bone microenvironment where Ewing sarcoma (EwS) - a highly aggressive pediatric cancer - mainly arises. Hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF-1-a) is the principal molecular mediator of the hypoxic response in cancer whereas EWSR1::FLI1 constitutes the oncogenic driver of EwS. Interaction of the two proteins has been shown in EwS. Although a growing body of studies investigated hypoxia and HIFs in EwS, their precise role for EwS pathophysiology is not clarified to date. This review summarizes and structures recent findings demonstrating that hypoxia and HIFs play a role in EwS at multiple levels. We propose to view hypoxia and HIFs as independent protagonists in the story of EwS and give a perspective on their potential clinical relevance as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets in EwS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Katharina Ceranski
- Hopp-Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research (B410), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martha J Carreño-Gonzalez
- Hopp-Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research (B410), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna C Ehlers
- Hopp-Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research (B410), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maria Vittoria Colombo
- Hopp-Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research (B410), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Regenerative Medicine Technologies Laboratory, Laboratories for Translational Research (LRT), Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC), Via F. Chiesa 5, CH-6500, Bellinzona, Switzerland.,Department of Surgery, Service of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, EOC, Lugano, Switzerland.,Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico Di Milano, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131, Milan, Italy
| | - Florencia Cidre-Aranaz
- Hopp-Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research (B410), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas G P Grünewald
- Hopp-Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany. .,Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research (B410), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
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2
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FLI1 accelerates leukemogenesis through transcriptional regulation of pyruvate kinase-L/R and other glycolytic genes. MEDICAL ONCOLOGY (NORTHWOOD, LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 40:69. [PMID: 36586017 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-022-01867-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
In cancer cells, multiple oncogenes and tumor suppressors control glycolysis to sustain rapid proliferation. The ETS-related transcription factor Fli1 plays a critical role in the induction and progression of leukemia, yet, the underlying mechanism of this oncogenic event is still not fully understood. In this study, RNAseq analysis of FLI1-depleted human leukemic cells revealed transcriptional suppression of the PKLR gene and activation of multiple glycolytic genes, such as PKM1/2. Pharmacological inhibition of glycolysis by PKM2 inhibitor, Shikonin, significantly suppressed leukemic cell proliferation. FLI1 directly binds to the PKLR promoter, leading to the suppression of this inhibitor of glycolysis. In accordance, shRNA-mediated depletion of PKLR in leukemic HEL cells expressing high levels of FLI1 accelerated leukemia proliferation, pointing for the first time to its tumor suppressor function. PKLR knockdown also led to downregulation of the erythroid markers EPOR, HBA1, and HBA2 and suppression of erythroid differentiation. Interestingly, silencing of PKLR in HEL cells significantly increased FLI1 expression, which was associated with faster proliferation in culture. In FLI1-expressing leukemic cells, lower PKLR expression was associated with higher expression of PKM1 and PKM2, which promote aerobic glycolysis. Finally, injection of pyruvate, a known inhibitor of glycolysis, into leukemia mice significantly suppressed leukemogenesis. These results demonstrate that FLI1 promotes leukemia in part by inducing glycolysis, implicates PKLR in erythroid differentiation, and suggests that targeting glycolysis may be an attractive therapeutic strategy for cancers driven by FLI1 overexpression.
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3
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Orth MF, Surdez D, Faehling T, Ehlers AC, Marchetto A, Grossetête S, Volckmann R, Zwijnenburg DA, Gerke JS, Zaidi S, Alonso J, Sastre A, Baulande S, Sill M, Cidre-Aranaz F, Ohmura S, Kirchner T, Hauck SM, Reischl E, Gymrek M, Pfister SM, Strauch K, Koster J, Delattre O, Grünewald TGP. Systematic multi-omics cell line profiling uncovers principles of Ewing sarcoma fusion oncogene-mediated gene regulation. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111761. [PMID: 36476851 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is characterized by EWSR1-ETS fusion transcription factors converting polymorphic GGAA microsatellites (mSats) into potent neo-enhancers. Although the paucity of additional mutations makes EwS a genuine model to study principles of cooperation between dominant fusion oncogenes and neo-enhancers, this is impeded by the limited number of well-characterized models. Here we present the Ewing Sarcoma Cell Line Atlas (ESCLA), comprising whole-genome, DNA methylation, transcriptome, proteome, and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) data of 18 cell lines with inducible EWSR1-ETS knockdown. The ESCLA shows hundreds of EWSR1-ETS-targets, the nature of EWSR1-ETS-preferred GGAA mSats, and putative indirect modes of EWSR1-ETS-mediated gene regulation, converging in the duality of a specific but plastic EwS signature. We identify heterogeneously regulated EWSR1-ETS-targets as potential prognostic EwS biomarkers. Our freely available ESCLA (http://r2platform.com/escla/) is a rich resource for EwS research and highlights the power of comprehensive datasets to unravel principles of heterogeneous gene regulation by chimeric transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin F Orth
- Max-Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma Biology, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany
| | - Didier Surdez
- INSERM Unit 830 "Genetics and Biology of Cancers," Institut Curie Research Center, 75005 Paris, France; Balgrist University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Faehling
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna C Ehlers
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aruna Marchetto
- Max-Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma Biology, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany
| | - Sandrine Grossetête
- INSERM Unit 830 "Genetics and Biology of Cancers," Institut Curie Research Center, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Richard Volckmann
- Department of Oncogenomics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (AUMC), 1105 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Danny A Zwijnenburg
- Department of Oncogenomics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (AUMC), 1105 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Julia S Gerke
- Max-Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma Biology, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany
| | - Sakina Zaidi
- INSERM Unit 830 "Genetics and Biology of Cancers," Institut Curie Research Center, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Javier Alonso
- Unidad de Tumores Sólidos Infantiles, Instituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Raras, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CB06/07/1009, CIBERER-ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Sastre
- Unidad Hemato-oncología Pediátrica, Hospital Infantil Universitario La Paz, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sylvain Baulande
- Institut Curie Genomics of Excellence (ICGex) Platform, Institut Curie Research Center, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Martin Sill
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Florencia Cidre-Aranaz
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Shunya Ohmura
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Kirchner
- Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefanie M Hauck
- Research Unit Protein Science and Metabolomics and Proteomics Core, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Eva Reischl
- Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Melissa Gymrek
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA; Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Konstantin Strauch
- Institute of Medical Biometry, Epidemiology, and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology (IBE), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Jan Koster
- Department of Oncogenomics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (AUMC), 1105 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Olivier Delattre
- INSERM Unit 830 "Genetics and Biology of Cancers," Institut Curie Research Center, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Thomas G P Grünewald
- Max-Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma Biology, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany; Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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4
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Apfelbaum AA, Wrenn ED, Lawlor ER. The importance of fusion protein activity in Ewing sarcoma and the cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors that regulate it: A review. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1044707. [PMID: 36505823 PMCID: PMC9727305 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1044707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence shows that despite clonal origins tumors eventually become complex communities comprised of phenotypically distinct cell subpopulations. This heterogeneity arises from both tumor cell intrinsic programs and signals from spatially and temporally dynamic microenvironments. While pediatric cancers usually lack the mutational burden of adult cancers, they still exhibit high levels of cellular heterogeneity that are largely mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. Ewing sarcomas are aggressive bone and soft tissue malignancies with peak incidence in adolescence and the prognosis for patients with relapsed and metastatic disease is dismal. Ewing sarcomas are driven by a single pathognomonic fusion between a FET protein and an ETS family transcription factor, the most common of which is EWS::FLI1. Despite sharing a single driver mutation, Ewing sarcoma cells demonstrate a high degree of transcriptional heterogeneity both between and within tumors. Recent studies have identified differential fusion protein activity as a key source of this heterogeneity which leads to profoundly different cellular phenotypes. Paradoxically, increased invasive and metastatic potential is associated with lower EWS::FLI1 activity. Here, we review what is currently understood about EWS::FLI1 activity, the cell autonomous and tumor microenvironmental factors that regulate it, and the downstream consequences of these activity states on tumor progression. We specifically highlight how transcription factor regulation, signaling pathway modulation, and the extracellular matrix intersect to create a complex network of tumor cell phenotypes. We propose that elucidation of the mechanisms by which these essential elements interact will enable the development of novel therapeutic approaches that are designed to target this complexity and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
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5
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Young LEA, Conroy LR, Clarke HA, Hawkinson TR, Bolton KE, Sanders WC, Chang JE, Webb MB, Alilain WJ, Vander Kooi CW, Drake RR, Andres DA, Badgett TC, Wagner LM, Allison DB, Sun RC, Gentry MS. In situ mass spectrometry imaging reveals heterogeneous glycogen stores in human normal and cancerous tissues. EMBO Mol Med 2022; 14:e16029. [PMID: 36059248 PMCID: PMC9641418 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202216029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycogen dysregulation is a hallmark of aging, and aberrant glycogen drives metabolic reprogramming and pathogenesis in multiple diseases. However, glycogen heterogeneity in healthy and diseased tissues remains largely unknown. Herein, we describe a method to define spatial glycogen architecture in mouse and human tissues using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging. This assay provides robust and sensitive spatial glycogen quantification and architecture characterization in the brain, liver, kidney, testis, lung, bladder, and even the bone. Armed with this tool, we interrogated glycogen spatial distribution and architecture in different types of human cancers. We demonstrate that glycogen stores and architecture are heterogeneous among diseases. Additionally, we observe unique hyperphosphorylated glycogen accumulation in Ewing sarcoma, a pediatric bone cancer. Using preclinical models, we correct glycogen hyperphosphorylation in Ewing sarcoma through genetic and pharmacological interventions that ablate in vivo tumor growth, demonstrating the clinical therapeutic potential of targeting glycogen in Ewing sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyndsay E A Young
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of MedicineUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
- Markey Cancer CenterUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Lindsey R Conroy
- Markey Cancer CenterUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
- Department of Neuroscience, College of MedicineUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Harrison A Clarke
- Department of Neuroscience, College of MedicineUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Tara R Hawkinson
- Department of Neuroscience, College of MedicineUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Kayli E Bolton
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of MedicineUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - William C Sanders
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of MedicineUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Josephine E Chang
- Department of Neuroscience, College of MedicineUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Madison B Webb
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of MedicineUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Warren J Alilain
- Department of Neuroscience, College of MedicineUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research CenterUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Craig W Vander Kooi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of MedicineUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
- Markey Cancer CenterUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Richard R Drake
- Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMedical University of South CarolinaCharlestonSCUSA
| | - Douglas A Andres
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of MedicineUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Tom C Badgett
- Pediatric Hematology‐Oncology, College of MedicineUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Lars M Wagner
- Pediatric Hematology‐OncologyDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
| | - Derek B Allison
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of MedicineUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Ramon C Sun
- Markey Cancer CenterUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
- Department of Neuroscience, College of MedicineUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research CenterUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, College of MedicineUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
- Center for Advanced Spatial Biomolecule ResearchUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
| | - Matthew S Gentry
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of MedicineUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
- Markey Cancer CenterUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, College of MedicineUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
- Center for Advanced Spatial Biomolecule ResearchUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
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6
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Kaneva K, Schurr TG, Tatarinova TV, Buckley J, Merkurjev D, Triska P, Liu X, Done J, Maglinte DT, Deapen D, Hwang A, Schiffman JD, Triche TJ, Biegel JA, Gai X. Mitochondrial DNA haplogroup, genetic ancestry, and susceptibility to Ewing sarcoma. Mitochondrion 2022; 67:6-14. [PMID: 36115539 PMCID: PMC9997094 DOI: 10.1016/j.mito.2022.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Based on current studies, the incidence of Ewing sarcoma (ES) varies significantly by race and ethnicity, with the disease being most common in patients of European ancestry. However, race/ethnicity has generally been self-reported rather than formally evaluated at a population level using DNA evidence. Additionally, mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of ES, yet there have been no reported studies of mitochondrial genetics in ES. Thus, we evaluated both the mitochondrial and nuclear ancestries of 420 pediatric ES patients in the United States using whole-genome sequencing. We found that the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genomes of only six (1.4 %) patients belonged to African L haplogroups, while those of 90 % of the patients belonged to macrohaplogroup R, which includes haplogroup H, the most common maternal lineage in Europe. Compared to the general US population, European haplogroups were significantly enriched in ES patients (p < 2.2e-16) and the African haplogroups are significantly impoverished (p < 4.6e-16). Using the ancestry informative markers defined in a National Genographic study, the vast majority of patients exhibited significant nuclear ancestry originating from the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and Southwest Asia, including all six patients with African L mtDNAs. Very few had primarily African nuclear ancestry. This is the first genomic epidemiology study to simultaneously interrogate the mitochondrial and nuclear ancestries of ES patients. While supporting previous findings of enriched European ancestry in ES patients, these results also suggest alternative hypotheses for the significant contribution of mitochondrial ancestry in ES patients, as well as the protective role of African ancestry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristiyana Kaneva
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Theodore G Schurr
- Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Jonathan Buckley
- Center for Personalized Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Daria Merkurjev
- Center for Personalized Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Petr Triska
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Xiyu Liu
- Department of Translational Genomics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - James Done
- Center for Personalized Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dennis T Maglinte
- Center for Personalized Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dennis Deapen
- Cancer Surveillance Program, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Amie Hwang
- Cancer Surveillance Program, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Joshua D Schiffman
- Department of Pediatrics and Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; PEEL Therapeutics, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Timothy J Triche
- Center for Personalized Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jaclyn A Biegel
- Center for Personalized Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Xiaowu Gai
- Center for Personalized Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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7
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Jiménez JA, Lawlor ER, Lyssiotis CA. Amino acid metabolism in primary bone sarcomas. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1001318. [PMID: 36276057 PMCID: PMC9581121 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1001318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary bone sarcomas, including osteosarcoma (OS) and Ewing sarcoma (ES), are aggressive tumors with peak incidence in childhood and adolescence. The intense standard treatment for these patients consists of combined surgery and/or radiation and maximal doses of chemotherapy; a regimen that has not seen improvement in decades. Like other tumor types, ES and OS are characterized by dysregulated cellular metabolism and a rewiring of metabolic pathways to support the biosynthetic demands of malignant growth. Not only are cancer cells characterized by Warburg metabolism, or aerobic glycolysis, but emerging work has revealed a dependence on amino acid metabolism. Aside from incorporation into proteins, amino acids serve critical functions in redox balance, energy homeostasis, and epigenetic maintenance. In this review, we summarize current studies describing the amino acid metabolic requirements of primary bone sarcomas, focusing on OS and ES, and compare these dependencies in the normal bone and malignant tumor contexts. We also examine insights that can be gleaned from other cancers to better understand differential metabolic susceptibilities between primary and metastatic tumor microenvironments. Lastly, we discuss potential metabolic vulnerabilities that may be exploited therapeutically and provide better-targeted treatments to improve the current standard of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A. Jiménez
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States,Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Elizabeth R. Lawlor
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States,Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States,*Correspondence: Elizabeth R. Lawlor, ; Costas A. Lyssiotis,
| | - Costas A. Lyssiotis
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States,Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States,*Correspondence: Elizabeth R. Lawlor, ; Costas A. Lyssiotis,
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8
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Fayzullina D, Tsibulnikov S, Stempen M, Schroeder BA, Kumar N, Kharwar RK, Acharya A, Timashev P, Ulasov I. Novel Targeted Therapeutic Strategies for Ewing Sarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14081988. [PMID: 35454895 PMCID: PMC9032664 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14081988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Ewing sarcoma is an uncommon cancer that arises in mesenchymal tissues and represents the second most widespread malignant bone neoplasm after osteosarcoma in children. Therapy has increased the 5-year survival rate in the last 40 years, although the recurrence rate has remained high. There is an immediate and unmet need for the development of novel Ewing sarcoma therapies. We offer new prospective targets for the therapy of Ewing sarcoma. The EWSR1/FLI1 fusion protein, which is identified in 85–90% of Ewing sarcoma tumors, and its direct targets are given special focus in this study. Experimantal therapy that targets multiple signaling pathways activated during ES progression, alone or in combination with existing regimens, may become the new standard of care for Ewing sarcoma patients, improving patient survival. Abstract Ewing sarcoma (ES) is an uncommon cancer that arises in mesenchymal tissues and represents the second most widespread malignant bone neoplasm after osteosarcoma in children. Amplifications in genomic, proteomic, and metabolism are characteristics of sarcoma, and targeting altered cancer cell molecular processes has been proposed as the latest promising strategy to fight cancer. Recent technological advancements have elucidated some of the underlying oncogenic characteristics of Ewing sarcoma. Offering new insights into the physiological basis for this phenomenon, our current review examines the dynamics of ES signaling as it related to both ES and the microenvironment by integrating genomic and proteomic analyses. An extensive survey of the literature was performed to compile the findings. We have also highlighted recent and ongoing studies integrating metabolomics and genomics aimed at better understanding the complex interactions as to how ES adapts to changing biochemical changes within the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Fayzullina
- Group of Experimental Biotherapy and Diagnostic, Department of Advanced Materials, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia
- World-Class Research Center “Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare”, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia; (D.F.); (S.T.); (M.S.); (P.T.)
| | - Sergey Tsibulnikov
- Group of Experimental Biotherapy and Diagnostic, Department of Advanced Materials, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia
- World-Class Research Center “Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare”, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia; (D.F.); (S.T.); (M.S.); (P.T.)
| | - Mikhail Stempen
- Group of Experimental Biotherapy and Diagnostic, Department of Advanced Materials, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia
- World-Class Research Center “Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare”, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia; (D.F.); (S.T.); (M.S.); (P.T.)
| | - Brett A. Schroeder
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA;
| | - Naveen Kumar
- Tumor Immunology Lab, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India; (N.K.); (A.A.)
| | - Rajesh Kumar Kharwar
- Endocrine Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Kutir Post Graduate College, Chakkey, Jaunpur 222146, India;
| | - Arbind Acharya
- Tumor Immunology Lab, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India; (N.K.); (A.A.)
| | - Peter Timashev
- World-Class Research Center “Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare”, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia; (D.F.); (S.T.); (M.S.); (P.T.)
- Department of Advanced Materials, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Ilya Ulasov
- Group of Experimental Biotherapy and Diagnostic, Department of Advanced Materials, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia
- World-Class Research Center “Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare”, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow 119991, Russia; (D.F.); (S.T.); (M.S.); (P.T.)
- Correspondence:
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9
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Liu Y, Liu C, Zhang H, Yi X, Yu A. Establishment of A Nomogram for Predicting the Prognosis of Soft Tissue Sarcoma Based on Seven Glycolysis-Related Gene Risk Score. Front Genet 2021; 12:675865. [PMID: 34925434 PMCID: PMC8674658 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.675865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is a group of tumors with a low incidence and a complex type. Therefore, it is an arduous task to accurately diagnose and treat them. Glycolysis-related genes are closely related to tumor progression and metastasis. Hence, our study is dedicated to the development of risk characteristics and nomograms based on glycolysis-related genes to assess the survival possibility of patients with STS. Methods: All data sets used in our research include gene expression data and clinical medical characteristics in the Genomic Data Commons Data Portal (National Cancer Institute) Soft Tissue Sarcoma (TCGA SARC) and GEO database, gene sequence data of corresponding non-diseased human tissues in the Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx).Next, transcriptome data in TCGA SARC was analyzed as the training set to construct a glycolysis-related gene risk signature and nomogram, which were confirmed in external test set. Results: We identified and verified the 7 glycolysis-related gene signature that is highly correlated with the overall survival (OS) of STS patients, which performed excellently in the evaluation of the size of AUC, and calibration curve. As well as, the results of the analysis of univariate and multivariate Cox regression demonstrated that this 7 glycolysis-related gene characteristic acts independently as an influence predictor for STS patients. Therefore, a prognostic-related nomogram combing 7 gene signature with clinical influencing features was constructed to predict OS of patients with STS in the training set that demonstrated strong predictive values for survival. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that both glycolysis-related gene risk signature and nomogram were efficient prognostic indicators for patients with STS. These findings may contribute to make individualize clinical decisions on prognosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Liu
- Department of Trauma and Microsurgery Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Changjiang Liu
- Department of Trauma and Microsurgery Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Trauma and Microsurgery Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinzeyu Yi
- Department of Trauma and Microsurgery Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Aixi Yu
- Department of Trauma and Microsurgery Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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10
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Prognosis Implication of a Novel Metabolism-Related Gene Signature in Ewing Sarcoma. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2021; 2021:3578949. [PMID: 34925508 PMCID: PMC8683175 DOI: 10.1155/2021/3578949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (ES) is one of the most common bone cancers in adolescents and children. Growing evidence supports the view that metabolism pathways play critical roles in numerous cancers (He et al. (2020)). However, the correlation between metabolism-associated genes (MTGs) and Ewing sarcoma has not been investigated systematically. Here, based on the univariate Cox regression analysis, we get survival genes from differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) cohort. Multivariate Cox regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis were employed to establish the MTG signature. Comprehensive survival analyses including receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Kaplan-Meier analysis were applied to estimate the independent prognostic value of the signature. The ICGC cohort served as the validation cohort. A nomogram was constructed based on the risk score of the MTG signature and other independent clinical variables. The CIBERSORT algorithm was applied to estimate immune infiltration. In addition, we explored the correlation between MTG signature and immune checkpoints. Collectively, this work presents a novel MTG signature for prognostic prediction of Ewing sarcoma. It also suggests six genes that are potential prognostic indicators and therapeutic targets for ES.
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11
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Flores G, Grohar PJ. One oncogene, several vulnerabilities: EWS/FLI targeted therapies for Ewing sarcoma. J Bone Oncol 2021; 31:100404. [PMID: 34976713 PMCID: PMC8686064 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbo.2021.100404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
EWS/FLI is the defining mutation of Ewing sarcoma. This oncogene drives malignant transformation and progression and occurs in a genetic background characterized by few other recurrent cooperating mutations. In addition, the tumor is absolutely dependent on the continued expression of EWS/FLI to maintain the malignant phenotype. However, EWS/FLI is a transcription factor and therefore a challenging drug target. The difficulty of directly targeting EWS/FLI stems from unique features of this fusion protein as well as the network of interacting proteins required to execute the transcriptional program. This network includes interacting proteins as well as upstream and downstream effectors that together reprogram the epigenome and transcriptome. While the vast number of proteins involved in this process challenge the development of a highly specific inhibitors, they also yield numerous therapeutic opportunities. In this report, we will review how this vast EWS-FLI transcriptional network has been exploited over the last two decades to identify compounds that directly target EWS/FLI and/or associated vulnerabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Flores
- Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, USA
| | - Patrick J Grohar
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, 3501 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, USA
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12
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18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Is Useful in the Evaluation of Prognosis in Retroperitoneal Sarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13184611. [PMID: 34572838 PMCID: PMC8471941 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13184611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Retroperitoneal sarcomas are difficult malignancies to treat because complete surgical resection is the only effective treatment option, but it is difficult to secure sufficient surgical margins. It is essential for developing a treatment strategy to assess tumor aggressiveness and predict prognosis for patients. However, the aggressiveness of retroperitoneal sarcomas before treatment cannot be fully evaluated. In patients with resectable soft tissue sarcomas or several carcinomas, SUV evaluated with FDG-PET has been reported to be a valuable prognostic parameter. However, the correlation between SUVmax on FDG-PET and the prognosis of several histological subtypes in retroperitoneal sarcoma, including dedifferentiated liposarcoma, well-differentiated liposarcoma, and leiomyosarcoma, remains uncertain. This study revealed that SUVmax calculated with FDG-PET was useful as a prognostic factor in retroperitoneal sarcoma, especially in dedifferentiated liposarcoma and Grade2 retroperitoneal sarcoma. Abstract Background: Retroperitoneal sarcomas are rare neoplasms that occur in the retroperitoneum. Complete surgical resection is the only effective treatment option. The prediction of prognosis by histological diagnosis has not yet been established. The purpose of this study was to identify the usefulness of [18-F] fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging for validating the prognosis of retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) established by histological diagnosis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 201 patients with RPS treated at the Osaka International Cancer Institute between 2010 and 2021. We extracted the clinical data, including standardized uptake values (SUVs), evaluated with FDG-PET, and statistically analyzed the data. Results: The median age of patients was 64 years (range, 31–85 years). A total of 101 (50.2%) patients were men, and 100 (49.8%) were women. Surgical resection was performed in 155 (77.1%) patients. On histological analysis, 75 (37.3%), 52 (25.9%), and 29 (14.4%) patients were diagnosed with dedifferentiated liposarcoma, well-differentiated liposarcoma, and leiomyosarcoma, respectively. The median survival time for patients with high maximum SUV (SUVmax) (≥4) or low SUVmax (<4) was 275.8 months and 79.5 months, respectively. Furthermore, among the patients with dedifferentiated liposarcoma, the overall survival rate for patients with high SUVmax (≥4) was significantly lower than that of those with low SUVmax (<4). Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that SUVmax calculated with FDG-PET was useful as a prognostic factor in RPS, especially in dedifferentiated liposarcoma and Grade2 RPS. To devise a treatment strategy for RPS, SUVmax during FDG-PET scan may be considered for clinical assessment.
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13
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Barrett C, Budhiraja A, Parashar V, Batish M. The Landscape of Regulatory Noncoding RNAs in Ewing's Sarcoma. Biomedicines 2021; 9:933. [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] [Grants] [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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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mona Batish
- Department of Medical and Molecular Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA; (C.B.); (A.B.); (V.P.)
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14
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Miallot R, Galland F, Millet V, Blay JY, Naquet P. Metabolic landscapes in sarcomas. J Hematol Oncol 2021; 14:114. [PMID: 34294128 PMCID: PMC8296645 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-021-01125-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic rewiring offers novel therapeutic opportunities in cancer. Until recently, there was scant information regarding soft tissue sarcomas, due to their heterogeneous tissue origin, histological definition and underlying genetic history. Novel large-scale genomic and metabolomics approaches are now helping stratify their physiopathology. In this review, we show how various genetic alterations skew activation pathways and orient metabolic rewiring in sarcomas. We provide an update on the contribution of newly described mechanisms of metabolic regulation. We underscore mechanisms that are relevant to sarcomagenesis or shared with other cancers. We then discuss how diverse metabolic landscapes condition the tumor microenvironment, anti-sarcoma immune responses and prognosis. Finally, we review current attempts to control sarcoma growth using metabolite-targeting drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Miallot
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy, Aix Marseille Univ, Marseille, France.
| | - Franck Galland
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy, Aix Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
| | - Virginie Millet
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy, Aix Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Yves Blay
- Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon 1, Lyon Recherche Innovation contre le Cancer, Université Claude Bernard, Lyon, France
| | - Philippe Naquet
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille Luminy, Aix Marseille Univ, Marseille, France.
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15
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Jiménez JA, Apfelbaum AA, Hawkins AG, Svoboda LK, Kumar A, Ruiz RO, Garcia AX, Haarer E, Nwosu ZC, Bradin J, Purohit T, Chen D, Cierpicki T, Grembecka J, Lyssiotis CA, Lawlor ER. EWS-FLI1 and Menin Converge to Regulate ATF4 Activity in Ewing Sarcoma. Mol Cancer Res 2021; 19:1182-1195. [PMID: 33741715 PMCID: PMC8462528 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-20-0679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ewing sarcomas are driven by EWS-ETS fusions, most commonly EWS-FLI1, which promotes widespread metabolic reprogramming, including activation of serine biosynthesis. We previously reported that serine biosynthesis is also activated in Ewing sarcoma by the scaffolding protein menin through as yet undefined mechanisms. Here, we investigated whether EWS-FLI1 and/or menin orchestrate serine biosynthesis via modulation of ATF4, a stress-response gene that acts as a master transcriptional regulator of serine biosynthesis in other tumors. Our results show that in Ewing sarcoma, ATF4 levels are high and that ATF4 modulates transcription of core serine synthesis pathway (SSP) genes. Inhibition of either EWS-FLI1 or menin leads to loss of ATF4, and this is associated with diminished expression of SSP transcripts and proteins. We identified and validated an EWS-FLI1 binding site at the ATF4 promoter, indicating that the fusion can directly activate ATF4 transcription. In contrast, our results suggest that menin-dependent regulation of ATF4 is mediated by transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Importantly, our data also reveal that the downregulation of SSP genes that occurs in the context of EWS-FLI1 or menin loss is indicative of broader inhibition of ATF4-dependent transcription. Moreover, we find that menin inhibition similarly leads to loss of ATF4 and the ATF4-dependent transcriptional signature in MLL-rearranged B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, extending our findings to another cancer in which menin serves an oncogenic role. IMPLICATIONS: These studies provide new insights into metabolic reprogramming in Ewing sarcoma and also uncover a previously undescribed role for menin in the regulation of ATF4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Jiménez
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - April A Apfelbaum
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Allegra G Hawkins
- New York Genome Center, New York, New York
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | | | - Abhijay Kumar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Ramon Ocadiz Ruiz
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Alessandra X Garcia
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Elena Haarer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Zeribe C Nwosu
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Joshua Bradin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Trupta Purohit
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Dong Chen
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Tomasz Cierpicki
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jolanta Grembecka
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Costas A Lyssiotis
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Elizabeth R Lawlor
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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16
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Esperança-Martins M, Fernandes I, Soares do Brito J, Macedo D, Vasques H, Serafim T, Costa L, Dias S. Sarcoma Metabolomics: Current Horizons and Future Perspectives. Cells 2021; 10:1432. [PMID: 34201149 PMCID: PMC8226523 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The vast array of metabolic adaptations that cancer cells are capable of assuming, not only support their biosynthetic activity, but also fulfill their bioenergetic demands and keep their intracellular reduction-oxidation (redox) balance. Spotlight has recently been placed on the energy metabolism reprogramming strategies employed by cancer cells to proliferate. Knowledge regarding soft tissue and bone sarcomas metabolome is relatively sparse. Further characterization of sarcoma metabolic landscape may pave the way for diagnostic refinement and new therapeutic target identification, with benefit to sarcoma patients. This review covers the state-of-the-art knowledge on cancer metabolomics and explores in detail the most recent evidence on soft tissue and bone sarcoma metabolomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Esperança-Martins
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Santa Maria, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; (I.F.); (L.C.)
- Vascular Biology & Cancer Microenvironment Lab, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; (T.S.); (S.D.)
- Translational Oncobiology Lab, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Isabel Fernandes
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Santa Maria, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; (I.F.); (L.C.)
- Translational Oncobiology Lab, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.S.d.B.); (H.V.)
| | - Joaquim Soares do Brito
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.S.d.B.); (H.V.)
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Orthopedics and Traumatology Department, Hospital Santa Maria, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Daniela Macedo
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Lusíadas Lisboa, 1500-458 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Hugo Vasques
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.S.d.B.); (H.V.)
- General Surgery Department, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil, 1099-023 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Teresa Serafim
- Vascular Biology & Cancer Microenvironment Lab, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; (T.S.); (S.D.)
| | - Luís Costa
- Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Santa Maria, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; (I.F.); (L.C.)
- Translational Oncobiology Lab, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.S.d.B.); (H.V.)
| | - Sérgio Dias
- Vascular Biology & Cancer Microenvironment Lab, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; (T.S.); (S.D.)
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.S.d.B.); (H.V.)
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17
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McNamee MJ, Michod D, Niklison-Chirou MV. Can small molecular inhibitors that stop de novo serine synthesis be used in cancer treatment? Cell Death Discov 2021; 7:87. [PMID: 33931592 PMCID: PMC8087698 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-021-00474-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To sustain their malignancy, tumour cells acquire several metabolic adaptations such as increased oxygen, glucose, glutamine, and lipids uptake. Other metabolic processes are also enhanced as part of tumour metabolic reprogramming, for example, increased serine metabolism. Serine is a non-essential amino acid that supports several metabolic processes that are crucial for the growth and survival of proliferating cells, including protein, DNA, and glutathione synthesis. Indeed, increased activity of D-3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), the enzyme rate-limiting de novo serine synthesis, has been extensively reported in several tumours. Therefore, selective inhibition of PHGDH may represent a new therapeutic strategy for over-expressing PHGDH tumours, owing to its downstream inhibition of essential biomass production such as one-carbon units and nucleotides. This perspective article will discuss the current status of research into small molecular inhibitors against PHGDH in colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and Ewing's sarcoma. We will summarise recent studies on the development of PHGDH-inhibitors, highlighting their clinical potential as new therapeutics. It also wants to shed a light on some of the key limitations of the use of PHGDH-inhibitors in cancer treatment which are worth taking into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Jessica McNamee
- Centre for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI-Bath), Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
| | - David Michod
- University College London, Institute of Child Health, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Victoria Niklison-Chirou
- Centre for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI-Bath), Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom.
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18
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Xu H, Qing X, Wang Q, Li C, Lai L. Dimerization of PHGDH via the catalytic unit is essential for its enzymatic function. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100572. [PMID: 33753166 PMCID: PMC8081924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Human D-3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), a key enzyme in de novo serine biosynthesis, is amplified in various cancers and serves as a potential target for anticancer drug development. To facilitate this process, more information is needed on the basic biochemistry of this enzyme. For example, PHGDH was found to form tetramers in solution and the structure of its catalytic unit (sPHGDH) was solved as a dimer. However, how the oligomeric states affect PHGDH enzyme activity remains elusive. We studied the dependence of PHGDH enzymatic activity on its oligomeric states. We found that sPHGDH forms a mixture of monomers and dimers in solution with a dimer dissociation constant of ∼0.58 μM, with the enzyme activity depending on the dimer content. We computationally identified hotspot residues at the sPHGDH dimer interface. Single-point mutants at these sites disrupt dimer formation and abolish enzyme activity. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that dimer formation facilitates substrate binding and maintains the correct conformation required for enzyme catalysis. We further showed that the full-length PHGDH exists as a dynamic mixture of monomers, dimers, and tetramers in solution with enzyme concentration-dependent activity. Mutations that can completely disrupt the sPHGDH dimer show different abilities to interrupt the full-length PHGDH tetramer. Among them, E108A and I121A can also disrupt the oligomeric structures of the full-length PHGDH and abolish its enzyme activity. Our study indicates that disrupting the oligomeric structure of PHGDH serves as a novel strategy for PHGDH drug design and the hotspot residues identified can guide the design process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanyu Xu
- BNLMS, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Qing
- BNLMS, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunmei Li
- Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Luhua Lai
- BNLMS, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences at College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China; Center for Quantitative Biology, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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19
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A retrospective overview of PHGDH and its inhibitors for regulating cancer metabolism. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 217:113379. [PMID: 33756126 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that cancer metabolism is closely associated to the serine biosynthesis pathway (SSP), in which glycolytic intermediate 3-phosphoglycerate is converted to serine through a three-step enzymatic transformation. As the rate-limiting enzyme in the first step of SSP, phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) is overexpressed in various diseases, especially in cancer. Genetic knockdown or silencing of PHGDH exhibits obvious anti-tumor response both in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating that PHGDH is a promising drug target for cancer therapy. So far, several types of PHGDH inhibitors have been identified as a significant and newly emerging option for anticancer treatment. Herein, this comprehensive review summarizes the recent achievements of PHGDH, especially its critical role in cancer and the development of PHGDH inhibitors in drug discovery.
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20
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Johnston K, Pachnis P, Tasdogan A, Faubert B, Zacharias LG, Vu HS, Rodgers-Augustyniak L, Johnson A, Huang F, Ricciardo S, Zhao Z, Mathews TP, Watt T, Leavey P, DeBerardinis RJ. Isotope tracing reveals glycolysis and oxidative metabolism in childhood tumors of multiple histologies. MED 2021; 2:395-410. [PMID: 33860280 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2021.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Background Survival among children with high-risk solid tumors remains poor. Reprogrammed metabolism promotes tumor growth and may contain therapeutic liabilities. Tumor metabolism has been assessed in adults using intra-operative 13C-glucose infusions. Pediatric tumors differ from adult cancers in their low mutational burden and derivation from embryonic tissues. Here we used 13C infusions to examine tumor metabolism in children, comparing phenotypes among tumor types and between childhood and adult cancers. Methods Patients recruited to study NCT03686566 received an intra-operative infusion of [U-13C]glucose during tumor resection to evaluate central carbon pathways in the tumor, with concurrent metabolomics to provide a broad overview of metabolism. Differential characteristics were determined using multiple comparison tests and mixed effect analyses. Findings We studied 23 tumors from 22 patients. All tumors analyzed by [U-13C]glucose contained labeling in glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates. Labeling in the TCA cycle indicated activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and pyruvate carboxylase (PC), with PDH predominating. Neuroblastomas had high lactate labeling relative to other childhood cancers and lung cancer, and were distinguished by abundant tyrosine catabolites consistent with catecholamine synthesis. Conclusions Intra-operative [U13C]glucose infusions are safe and informative in pediatric cancer. Tumors of various histologies use glycolysis and oxidative metabolism, with subtype-selective differences evident from this small cohort. Expanding this cohort may uncover predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets from tumor metabolism. Funding N.C.I grants to P.L. (R21CA220090-01A1) and R.J.D. (R35CA22044901); H.H.M.I. funding to R.J.D.; Children's Clinical Research Advisory Committee funding to K.J.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra Johnston
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Children's Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75235, USA.,Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Panayotis Pachnis
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Alpaslan Tasdogan
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Brandon Faubert
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Lauren G Zacharias
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Hieu Sy Vu
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | | | | | - Fang Huang
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Sean Ricciardo
- Children's Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75235, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Zhiyu Zhao
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Thomas P Mathews
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Tanya Watt
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Children's Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75235, USA
| | - Patrick Leavey
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Children's Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75235, USA
| | - Ralph J DeBerardinis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
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21
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Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is a highly aggressive pediatric bone cancer that is defined by a somatic fusion between the EWSR1 gene and an ETS family member, most frequently the FLI1 gene, leading to expression of a chimeric transcription factor EWSR1-FLI1. Otherwise, EwS is one of the most genetically stable cancers. The situation when the major cancer driver is well known looks like a unique opportunity for applying the systems biology approach in order to understand the EwS mechanisms as well as to uncover some general mechanistic principles of carcinogenesis. A number of studies have been performed revealing the direct and indirect effects of EWSR1-FLI1 on multiple aspects of cellular life. Nevertheless, the emerging picture of the oncogene action appears to be highly complex and systemic, with multiple reciprocal influences between the immediate consequences of the driver mutation and intracellular and intercellular molecular mechanisms, including regulation of transcription, epigenome, and tumoral microenvironment. In this chapter, we present an overview of existing molecular profiling resources available for EwS tumors and cell lines and provide an online comprehensive catalogue of publicly available omics and other datasets. We further highlight the systems biology studies of EwS, involving mathematical modeling of networks and integration of molecular data. We conclude that despite the seeming simplicity, a lot has yet to be understood on the systems-wide mechanisms connecting the driver mutation and the major cellular phenotypes of this pediatric cancer. Overall, this chapter can serve as a guide for a systems biology researcher to start working on EwS.
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22
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Inhibition of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) with OT-82 induces DNA damage, cell death, and suppression of tumor growth in preclinical models of Ewing sarcoma. Oncogenesis 2020; 9:80. [PMID: 32908120 PMCID: PMC7481307 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-020-00264-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
NAMPT mediates the rate-limiting step of the NAD salvage pathway, which maintains cellular bioenergetics and provides a necessary substrate for functions essential to rapidly proliferating cancer cells. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and mechanisms of action of OT-82, a novel, high-potency NAMPT inhibitor with a favorable toxicity profile, in preclinical models of Ewing sarcoma (EWS), an aggressive pediatric malignancy with previously reported selective sensitivity to NAMPT inhibition. We show that OT-82 decreased NAD concentration and impaired proliferation of EWS cells in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values in the single-digit nanomolar range. Notably, genetic depletion of NAMPT phenocopied pharmacological inhibition. On-target activity of OT-82 was confirmed with the addition of NMN, the product of NAMPT, which rescued NAD concentration and EWS cellular viability. Mechanistically, OT-82 treatment resulted in impaired DNA damage repair through loss of PARP activity, G2 cell-cycle arrest, and apoptosis in EWS cells. Additional consequences of OT-82 treatment included reduction of glycolytic and mitochondrial activity. In vivo, OT-82 impaired tumor growth and prolonged survival in mice bearing EWS xenografts. Importantly, antitumor effect correlated with pharmacodynamic markers of target engagement. Furthermore, combining low-dose OT-82 with low doses of agents augmenting DNA damage demonstrated enhanced antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. Thus, OT-82 treatment represents a potential novel targeted approach for the clinical treatment of EWS.
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23
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Li AM, Ye J. Reprogramming of serine, glycine and one-carbon metabolism in cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165841. [PMID: 32439610 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic pathways leading to the synthesis, uptake, and usage of the nonessential amino acid serine are frequently amplified in cancer. Serine encounters diverse fates in cancer cells, including being charged onto tRNAs for protein synthesis, providing head groups for sphingolipid and phospholipid synthesis, and serving as a precursor for cellular glycine and one-carbon units, which are necessary for nucleotide synthesis and methionine cycle reloading. This review will focus on the participation of serine and glycine in the mitochondrial one-carbon (SGOC) pathway during cancer progression, with an emphasis on the genetic and epigenetic determinants that drive SGOC gene expression. We will discuss recently elucidated roles for SGOC metabolism in nucleotide synthesis, redox balance, mitochondrial function, and epigenetic modifications. Finally, therapeutic considerations for targeting SGOC metabolism in the clinic will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert M Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jiangbin Ye
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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24
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Issaq SH, Mendoza A, Kidner R, Rosales TI, Duveau DY, Heske CM, Rohde JM, Boxer MB, Thomas CJ, DeBerardinis RJ, Helman LJ. EWS-FLI1-regulated Serine Synthesis and Exogenous Serine are Necessary for Ewing Sarcoma Cellular Proliferation and Tumor Growth. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 19:1520-1529. [PMID: 32371575 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-19-0748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Despite a growing body of knowledge about the genomic landscape of Ewing sarcoma, translation of basic discoveries into targeted therapies and significant clinical gains has remained elusive. Recent insights have revealed that the oncogenic transcription factor EWS-FLI1 can impact Ewing sarcoma cellular metabolism, regulating expression of 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), the first enzyme in de novo serine synthesis. Here, we have examined the importance of serine metabolism in Ewing sarcoma tumorigenesis and evaluated the therapeutic potential of targeting serine metabolism in preclinical models of Ewing sarcoma. We show that PHGDH knockdown resulted in decreased Ewing sarcoma cell proliferation, especially under serine limitation, and significantly inhibited xenograft tumorigenesis in preclinical orthotopic models of Ewing sarcoma. In addition, the PHGDH inhibitor NCT-503 caused a dose-dependent decrease in cellular proliferation. Moreover, we report a novel drug combination in which nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) inhibition, which blocks production of the PHGDH substrate NAD+, synergized with NCT-503 to abolish Ewing sarcoma cell proliferation and tumor growth. Furthermore, we show that serine deprivation inhibited Ewing sarcoma cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, indicating that Ewing sarcoma cells depend on exogenous serine in addition to de novo serine synthesis. Our findings suggest that serine metabolism is critical for Ewing sarcoma tumorigenesis, and that targeting metabolic dependencies should be further investigated as a potential therapeutic strategy for Ewing sarcoma. In addition, the combination strategy presented herein may have broader clinical applications in other PHGDH-overexpressing cancers as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameer H Issaq
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.
| | | | - Ria Kidner
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Tracy I Rosales
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Damien Y Duveau
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, Maryland
| | | | - Jason M Rohde
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Matthew B Boxer
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Craig J Thomas
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Ralph J DeBerardinis
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Lee J Helman
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
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25
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Li AM, Ye J. The PHGDH enigma: Do cancer cells only need serine or also a redox modulator? Cancer Lett 2020; 476:97-105. [PMID: 32032680 PMCID: PMC7092752 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.01.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Upregulation of serine biosynthesis pathway activity is an increasingly apparent feature of many cancers. Most notably, the first rate-limiting enzyme of the pathway, phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), is genomically amplified in some melanomas and breast cancers and can be transcriptionally regulated by various tumor suppressors and oncogenes. Yet emerging evidence suggests that serine-in particular, serine biosynthetic pathway activity-may promote cancer in ways beyond providing the building blocks to support cell proliferation. Here, we summarize how mammalian cells tightly control serine synthesis before discussing alternate ways in which increased serine synthetic flux through PHGDH may benefit cancer cells, such as maintenance of TCA cycle flux through alpha-ketoglutarate (αKG) and modulation of cellular redox balance. We will also provide an overview of the current landscape of therapeutics targeting serine synthesis and offer a perspective on future strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert M Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA; Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jiangbin Ye
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA; Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA; Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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26
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In an attempt to identify potential new therapeutic targets, efforts to describe the metabolic features unique to cancer cells are increasingly being reported. Although current standard of care regimens for several pediatric malignancies incorporate agents that target tumor metabolism, these drugs have been part of the therapeutic landscape for decades. More recent research has focused on the identification and targeting of new metabolic vulnerabilities in pediatric cancers. The purpose of this review is to describe the most recent translational findings in the metabolic targeting of pediatric malignancies. RECENT FINDINGS Across multiple pediatric cancer types, dependencies on a number of key metabolic pathways have emerged through study of patient tissue samples and preclinical modeling. Among the potentially targetable vulnerabilities are glucose metabolism via glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, amino acid and polyamine metabolism, and NAD metabolism. Although few agents have yet to move forward into clinical trials for pediatric cancer patients, the robust and promising preclinical data that have been generated suggest that future clinical trials should rationally test metabolically targeted agents for relevant disease populations. SUMMARY Recent advances in our understanding of the metabolic dependencies of pediatric cancers represent a source of potential new therapeutic opportunities for these diseases.
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27
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Yeung C, Gibson AE, Issaq SH, Oshima N, Baumgart JT, Edessa LD, Rai G, Urban DJ, Johnson MS, Benavides GA, Squadrito GL, Yohe ME, Lei H, Eldridge S, Hamre J, Dowdy T, Ruiz-Rodado V, Lita A, Mendoza A, Shern JF, Larion M, Helman LJ, Stott GM, Krishna MC, Hall MD, Darley-Usmar V, Neckers LM, Heske CM. Targeting Glycolysis through Inhibition of Lactate Dehydrogenase Impairs Tumor Growth in Preclinical Models of Ewing Sarcoma. Cancer Res 2019; 79:5060-5073. [PMID: 31431459 PMCID: PMC6774872 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-0217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Altered cellular metabolism, including an increased dependence on aerobic glycolysis, is a hallmark of cancer. Despite the fact that this observation was first made nearly a century ago, effective therapeutic targeting of glycolysis in cancer has remained elusive. One potentially promising approach involves targeting the glycolytic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which is overexpressed and plays a critical role in several cancers. Here, we used a novel class of LDH inhibitors to demonstrate, for the first time, that Ewing sarcoma cells are exquisitely sensitive to inhibition of LDH. EWS-FLI1, the oncogenic driver of Ewing sarcoma, regulated LDH A (LDHA) expression. Genetic depletion of LDHA inhibited proliferation of Ewing sarcoma cells and induced apoptosis, phenocopying pharmacologic inhibition of LDH. LDH inhibitors affected Ewing sarcoma cell viability both in vitro and in vivo by reducing glycolysis. Intravenous administration of LDH inhibitors resulted in the greatest intratumoral drug accumulation, inducing tumor cell death and reducing tumor growth. The major dose-limiting toxicity observed was hemolysis, indicating that a narrow therapeutic window exists for these compounds. Taken together, these data suggest that targeting glycolysis through inhibition of LDH should be further investigated as a potential therapeutic approach for cancers such as Ewing sarcoma that exhibit oncogene-dependent expression of LDH and increased glycolysis. SIGNIFICANCE: LDHA is a pharmacologically tractable EWS-FLI1 transcriptional target that regulates the glycolytic dependence of Ewing sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Choh Yeung
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Anna E Gibson
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Sameer H Issaq
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nobu Oshima
- Urologic Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Joshua T Baumgart
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Leah D Edessa
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ganesha Rai
- Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Daniel J Urban
- Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Michelle S Johnson
- Mitochondrial Medicine Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Gloria A Benavides
- Mitochondrial Medicine Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Giuseppe L Squadrito
- Mitochondrial Medicine Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Marielle E Yohe
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Haiyan Lei
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Sandy Eldridge
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - John Hamre
- Laboratory of Investigative Toxicology, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Tyrone Dowdy
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Victor Ruiz-Rodado
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Adrian Lita
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Arnulfo Mendoza
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jack F Shern
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Mioara Larion
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Lee J Helman
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Gordon M Stott
- Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Murali C Krishna
- Radiation Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Matthew D Hall
- Chemical Genomics Center, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Victor Darley-Usmar
- Mitochondrial Medicine Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Leonard M Neckers
- Urologic Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Christine M Heske
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
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28
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Patel PO, Pishas KI, Taslim C, Selich-Anderson J, Theisen ER, Lessnick SL. Investigating the role of LSD2 as an epigenetic regulator in Ewing sarcoma. Oncotarget 2019; 10:3865-3878. [PMID: 31231465 PMCID: PMC6570473 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.26988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is the second most common solid bone malignancy diagnosed in pediatric and young adolescent populations. Despite aggressive multi-modal treatment strategies, 5-year event-free survival remains at 75% for patients with localized disease and 20% for patients with metastases. Thus, the need for novel therapeutic options is imperative. Recent studies have focused on epigenetic misregulation in Ewing sarcoma development and potential new oncotargets for treatment. This project focused on the study of LSD2, a flavin-dependent histone demethylase found to be overexpressed in numerous cancers. We previously demonstrated that Ewing sarcoma cell lines are extremely susceptible to small molecule LSD1 blockade with SP-2509. Drug sensitivity correlated with the degree of LSD2 induction following treatment. As such, the purpose of this study was to determine the role of LSD2 in the epigenetic regulation of Ewing sarcoma, characterize genes regulated by LSD2, and examine the impact of SP-2509 drug treatment on LSD2 gene regulation. Genetic depletion (shRNA) of LSD2 significantly impaired oncogenic transformation with only a modest impact on proliferation. Transcriptional analysis of Ewing sarcoma cells following LSD2knockdown revealed modulation of genes primarily involved in metabolic regulation and nervous system development. Gene set enrichment analysis showed that SP-2509 does not impact LSD2 targeted genes. Although there are currently no small molecule agents that specifically target LSD2, our results support further investigations into agents that can inhibit this histone demethylase as a possible treatment for Ewing sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyal O Patel
- The Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology & Blood and Marrow Transplant, Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kathleen I Pishas
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Cenny Taslim
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Julia Selich-Anderson
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Emily R Theisen
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Stephen L Lessnick
- The Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology & Blood and Marrow Transplant, Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.,Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
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29
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Sen N, Cross AM, Lorenzi PL, Khan J, Gryder BE, Kim S, Caplen NJ. EWS-FLI1 reprograms the metabolism of Ewing sarcoma cells via positive regulation of glutamine import and serine-glycine biosynthesis. Mol Carcinog 2018; 57:1342-1357. [PMID: 29873416 PMCID: PMC6175245 DOI: 10.1002/mc.22849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is a soft tissue and bone tumor that occurs primarily in adolescents and young adults. In most cases of EWS, the chimeric transcription factor, EWS-FLI1 is the primary oncogenic driver. The epigenome of EWS cells reflects EWS-FLI1 binding and activation or repression of transcription. Here, we demonstrate that EWS-FLI1 positively regulates the expression of proteins required for serine-glycine biosynthesis and uptake of the alternative nutrient source glutamine. Specifically, we show that EWS-FLI1 activates expression of PHGDH, PSAT1, PSPH, and SHMT2. Using cell-based studies, we also establish that EWS cells are dependent on glutamine for cell survival and that EWS-FLI1 positively regulates expression of the glutamine transporter, SLC1A5 and two enzymes involved in the one-carbon cycle, MTHFD2 and MTHFD1L. Inhibition of serine-glycine biosynthesis in EWS cells impacts their redox state leading to an accumulation of reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, and apoptosis. Importantly, analysis of EWS primary tumor transcriptome data confirmed that the aforementioned genes we identified as regulated by EWS-FLI1 exhibit increased expression compared with normal tissues. Furthermore, retrospective analysis of an independent data set generated a significant stratification of the overall survival of EWS patients into low- and high-risk groups based on the expression of PHGDH, PSAT1, PSPH, SHMT2, SLC1A5, MTHFD2, and MTHFD1L. In summary, our study demonstrates that EWS-FLI1 reprograms the metabolism of EWS cells and that serine-glycine metabolism or glutamine uptake are potential targetable vulnerabilities in this tumor type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirmalya Sen
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR)National Cancer Institute (NCI)BethesdaMaryland
| | - Allison M. Cross
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR)National Cancer Institute (NCI)BethesdaMaryland
| | - Philip L. Lorenzi
- Proteomic and Metabolomics Core Facility, Department of Bioinformatics and Computational BiologyThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexas
| | - Javed Khan
- Oncogenomics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR)National Cancer Institute (NCI)BethesdaMaryland
| | - Berkley E. Gryder
- Oncogenomics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR)National Cancer Institute (NCI)BethesdaMaryland
| | - Suntae Kim
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR)National Cancer Institute (NCI)BethesdaMaryland
| | - Natasha J. Caplen
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR)National Cancer Institute (NCI)BethesdaMaryland
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30
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Annalora AJ, O'Neil S, Bushman JD, Summerton JE, Marcus CB, Iversen PL. A k-mer based transcriptomics approach for antisense drug discovery targeting the Ewing's family of tumors. Oncotarget 2018; 9:30568-30586. [PMID: 30093970 PMCID: PMC6078127 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing’s sarcoma treatment failures are associated with high mortality indicating a need for new therapeutic approaches. We used a k-mer counting approach to identify cancer-specific mRNA transcripts in 3 Ewing’s Family Tumor (EFT) cell lines not found in the normal human transcriptome. Phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers targeting six EFT-specific transcripts were evaluated for cytotoxicity in TC-32 and CHLA-10 EFT lines and in HEK293 renal epithelial control cells. Average morpholino efficacy (EC50) was 0.66 ± 0.13 in TC-32, 0.25 ± 0.14 in CHLA-10 and 3.07 ± 5.02 µM in HEK293 control cells (ANOVA p < 0.01). Synergy was observed for a cocktail of 12 morpholinos at low dose (0.3 µM) in TC-32 cells, but not in CHLA-10 cells. Paired synergy was also observed in both EFT cell lines when the PHGDH pre-mRNA transcript was targeted in combination with XAGE1B or CYP4F22 transcripts. Antagonism was observed when CCND1 was targeted with XAGE1B or CYP4F22, or when IGFBP-2 was targeted with CCND1 or RBM11. This transcriptome profiling approach is highly effective for cancer drug discovery, as it identified new EWS-specific target genes (e.g. CYP4F22, RBM11 and IGBP-2), and predicted effective antisense agents (EC50 < 1 µM) that demonstrate both synergy and antagonism in combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Annalora
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Shawn O'Neil
- Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | | | | | - Craig B Marcus
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Patrick L Iversen
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.,LS Pharma, LLC, Grand Junction, CO 81507, USA
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Svoboda LK, Teh SSK, Sud S, Kerk S, Zebolsky A, Treichel S, Thomas D, Halbrook CJ, Lee HJ, Kremer D, Zhang L, Klossowski S, Bankhead AR, Magnuson B, Ljungman M, Cierpicki T, Grembecka J, Lyssiotis CA, Lawlor ER. Menin regulates the serine biosynthetic pathway in Ewing sarcoma. J Pathol 2018; 245:324-336. [PMID: 29672864 DOI: 10.1002/path.5085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Developmental transcription programs are epigenetically regulated by multi-protein complexes, including the menin- and MLL-containing trithorax (TrxG) complexes, which promote gene transcription by depositing the H3K4me3 activating mark at target gene promoters. We recently reported that in Ewing sarcoma, MLL1 (lysine methyltransferase 2A, KMT2A) and menin are overexpressed and function as oncogenes. Small molecule inhibition of the menin-MLL interaction leads to loss of menin and MLL1 protein expression, and to inhibition of growth and tumorigenicity. Here, we have investigated the mechanistic basis of menin-MLL-mediated oncogenic activity in Ewing sarcoma. Bromouridine sequencing (Bru-seq) was performed to identify changes in nascent gene transcription in Ewing sarcoma cells, following exposure to the menin-MLL interaction inhibitor MI-503. Menin-MLL inhibition resulted in early and widespread reprogramming of metabolic processes. In particular, the serine biosynthetic pathway (SSP) was the pathway most significantly affected by MI-503 treatment. Baseline expression of SSP genes and proteins (PHGDH, PSAT1, and PSPH), and metabolic flux through the SSP were confirmed to be high in Ewing sarcoma. In addition, inhibition of PHGDH resulted in reduced cell proliferation, viability, and tumor growth in vivo, revealing a key dependency of Ewing sarcoma on the SSP. Loss of function studies validated a mechanistic link between menin and the SSP. Specifically, inhibition of menin resulted in diminished expression of SSP genes, reduced H3K4me3 enrichment at the PHGDH promoter, and complete abrogation of de novo serine and glycine biosynthesis, as demonstrated by metabolic tracing studies with 13 C-labeled glucose. These data demonstrate that the SSP is highly active in Ewing sarcoma and that its oncogenic activation is maintained, at least in part, by menin-dependent epigenetic mechanisms involving trithorax complexes. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie K Svoboda
- Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Selina Shiqing K Teh
- Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Sudha Sud
- Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Samuel Kerk
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Aaron Zebolsky
- Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Sydney Treichel
- Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Dafydd Thomas
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Christopher J Halbrook
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Ho-Joon Lee
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Daniel Kremer
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Szymon Klossowski
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Armand R Bankhead
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Brian Magnuson
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mats Ljungman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Tomasz Cierpicki
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jolanta Grembecka
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Costas A Lyssiotis
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Lawlor
- Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Hoang NT, Acevedo LA, Mann MJ, Tolani B. A review of soft-tissue sarcomas: translation of biological advances into treatment measures. Cancer Manag Res 2018; 10:1089-1114. [PMID: 29785138 PMCID: PMC5955018 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s159641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Soft-tissue sarcomas are rare malignant tumors arising from connective tissues and have an overall incidence of about five per 100,000 per year. While this diverse family of malignancies comprises over 100 histological subtypes and many molecular aberrations are prevalent within specific sarcomas, very few are therapeutically targeted. Instead of utilizing molecular signatures, first-line sarcoma treatment options are still limited to traditional surgery and chemotherapy, and many of the latter remain largely ineffective and are plagued by disease resistance. Currently, the mechanism of sarcoma oncogenesis remains largely unknown, thus necessitating a better understanding of pathogenesis. Although substantial progress has not occurred with molecularly targeted therapies over the past 30 years, increased knowledge about sarcoma biology could lead to new and more effective treatment strategies to move the field forward. Here, we discuss biological advances in the core molecular determinants in some of the most common soft-tissue sarcomas - liposarcoma, angiosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and synovial sarcoma - with an emphasis on emerging genomic and molecular pathway targets and immunotherapeutic treatment strategies to combat this confounding disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoc T Hoang
- Thoracic Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Luis A Acevedo
- Thoracic Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michael J Mann
- Thoracic Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bhairavi Tolani
- Thoracic Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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