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Mavroeidi D, Georganta A, Panagiotou E, Syrigos K, Souliotis VL. Targeting ATR Pathway in Solid Tumors: Evidence of Improving Therapeutic Outcomes. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2767. [PMID: 38474014 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The DNA damage response (DDR) system is a complicated network of signaling pathways that detects and repairs DNA damage or induces apoptosis. Critical regulators of the DDR network include the DNA damage kinases ataxia telangiectasia mutated Rad3-related kinase (ATR) and ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM). The ATR pathway coordinates processes such as replication stress response, stabilization of replication forks, cell cycle arrest, and DNA repair. ATR inhibition disrupts these functions, causing a reduction of DNA repair, accumulation of DNA damage, replication fork collapse, inappropriate mitotic entry, and mitotic catastrophe. Recent data have shown that the inhibition of ATR can lead to synthetic lethality in ATM-deficient malignancies. In addition, ATR inhibition plays a significant role in the activation of the immune system by increasing the tumor mutational burden and neoantigen load as well as by triggering the accumulation of cytosolic DNA and subsequently inducing the cGAS-STING pathway and the type I IFN response. Taken together, we review stimulating data showing that ATR kinase inhibition can alter the DDR network, the immune system, and their interplay and, therefore, potentially provide a novel strategy to improve the efficacy of antitumor therapy, using ATR inhibitors as monotherapy or in combination with genotoxic drugs and/or immunomodulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitra Mavroeidi
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 116 35 Athens, Greece
- Third Department of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital for Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia Georganta
- Third Department of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital for Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Emmanouil Panagiotou
- Third Department of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital for Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Syrigos
- Third Department of Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital for Chest Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Vassilis L Souliotis
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 116 35 Athens, Greece
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Sturm MJ, Henao-Restrepo JA, Becker S, Proquitté H, Beck JF, Sonnemann J. Synergistic anticancer activity of combined ATR and ribonucleotide reductase inhibition in Ewing's sarcoma cells. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023:10.1007/s00432-023-04804-0. [PMID: 37097390 PMCID: PMC10374484 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-04804-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Ewing's sarcoma is a highly malignant childhood tumour whose outcome has hardly changed over the past two decades despite numerous attempts at chemotherapy intensification. It is therefore essential to identify new treatment options. The present study was conducted to explore the effectiveness of combined inhibition of two promising targets, ATR and ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), in Ewing's sarcoma cells. METHODS Effects of the ATR inhibitor VE821 in combination with the RNR inhibitors triapine and didox were assessed in three Ewing's sarcoma cell lines with different TP53 status (WE-68, SK-ES-1, A673) by flow cytometric analysis of cell death, mitochondrial depolarisation and cell cycle distribution as well as by caspase 3/7 activity determination, by immunoblotting and by real-time RT-PCR. Interactions between inhibitors were evaluated by combination index analysis. RESULTS Single ATR or RNR inhibitor treatment produced small to moderate effects, while their combined treatment produced strong synergistic ones. ATR and RNR inhibitors elicited synergistic cell death and cooperated in inducing mitochondrial depolarisation, caspase 3/7 activity and DNA fragmentation, evidencing an apoptotic form of cell death. All effects were independent of functional p53. In addition, VE821 in combination with triapine increased p53 level and induced p53 target gene expression (CDKN1A, BBC3) in p53 wild-type Ewing's sarcoma cells. CONCLUSION Our study reveals that combined targeting of ATR and RNR was effective against Ewing's sarcoma in vitro and thus rationalises an in vivo exploration into the potential of combining ATR and RNR inhibitors as a new strategy for the treatment of this challenging disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max-Johann Sturm
- Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany
- Research Centre Lobeda, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Julián Andrés Henao-Restrepo
- Placenta Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Sabine Becker
- Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany
- Research Centre Lobeda, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Hans Proquitté
- Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany
| | - James F Beck
- Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany
| | - Jürgen Sonnemann
- Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany.
- Research Centre Lobeda, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
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Soni UK, Wang Y, Pandey RN, Roberts R, Pressey JG, Hegde RS. Molecularly Defined Subsets of Ewing Sarcoma Tumors Differ in Their Responses to IGF1R and WEE1 Inhibition. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:458-471. [PMID: 36394520 PMCID: PMC9843438 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-2587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Targeted cancer therapeutics have not significantly benefited patients with Ewing sarcoma with metastatic or relapsed disease. Understanding the molecular underpinnings of drug resistance can lead to biomarker-driven treatment selection. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) pathway activation was analyzed in tumor cells derived from a panel of Ewing sarcoma tumors, including primary and metastatic tumors from the same patient. Phospho-RTK arrays, Western blots, and IHC were used. Protein localization and the levels of key markers were determined using immunofluorescence. DNA damage tolerance was measured through PCNA ubiquitination levels and the DNA fiber assay. Effects of pharmacologic inhibition were assessed in vitro and key results validated in vivo using patient-derived xenografts. RESULTS Ewing sarcoma tumors fell into two groups. In one, IGF1R was predominantly nuclear (nIGF1R), DNA damage tolerance pathway was upregulated, and cells had low replication stress and RRM2B levels and high levels of WEE1 and RAD21. These tumors were relatively insensitive to IGF1R inhibition. The second group had high replication stress and RRM2B, low levels of WEE1 and RAD21, membrane-associated IGF1R (mIGF1R) signaling, and sensitivity to IGF1R or WEE1-targeted inhibitors. Moreover, the matched primary and metastatic tumors differed in IGF1R localization, levels of replication stress, and inhibitor sensitivity. In all instances, combined IGF1R and WEE1 inhibition led to tumor regression. CONCLUSIONS IGF1R signaling mechanisms and replication stress levels can vary among Ewing sarcoma tumors (including in the same patient), influencing the effects of IGF1R and WEE1 treatment. These findings make the case for using biopsy-derived predictive biomarkers at multiple stages of Ewing sarcoma disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Upendra Kumar Soni
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Yuhua Wang
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Ram Naresh Pandey
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Ryan Roberts
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Division of Oncology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Joseph G. Pressey
- Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Research II, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Rashmi S. Hegde
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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da Costa AABA, Chowdhury D, Shapiro GI, D'Andrea AD, Konstantinopoulos PA. Targeting replication stress in cancer therapy. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:38-58. [PMID: 36202931 PMCID: PMC11132912 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00558-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 103.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Replication stress is a major cause of genomic instability and a crucial vulnerability of cancer cells. This vulnerability can be therapeutically targeted by inhibiting kinases that coordinate the DNA damage response with cell cycle control, including ATR, CHK1, WEE1 and MYT1 checkpoint kinases. In addition, inhibiting the DNA damage response releases DNA fragments into the cytoplasm, eliciting an innate immune response. Therefore, several ATR, CHK1, WEE1 and MYT1 inhibitors are undergoing clinical evaluation as monotherapies or in combination with chemotherapy, poly[ADP-ribose]polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, or immune checkpoint inhibitors to capitalize on high replication stress, overcome therapeutic resistance and promote effective antitumour immunity. Here, we review current and emerging approaches for targeting replication stress in cancer, from preclinical and biomarker development to clinical trial evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dipanjan Chowdhury
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Geoffrey I Shapiro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alan D D'Andrea
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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Labrie M, Brugge JS, Mills GB, Zervantonakis IK. Therapy resistance: opportunities created by adaptive responses to targeted therapies in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2022; 22:323-339. [PMID: 35264777 PMCID: PMC9149051 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00454-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Normal cells explore multiple states to survive stresses encountered during development and self-renewal as well as environmental stresses such as starvation, DNA damage, toxins or infection. Cancer cells co-opt normal stress mitigation pathways to survive stresses that accompany tumour initiation, progression, metastasis and immune evasion. Cancer therapies accentuate cancer cell stresses and invoke rapid non-genomic stress mitigation processes that maintain cell viability and thus represent key targetable resistance mechanisms. In this Review, we describe mechanisms by which tumour ecosystems, including cancer cells, immune cells and stroma, adapt to therapeutic stresses and describe three different approaches to exploit stress mitigation processes: (1) interdict stress mitigation to induce cell death; (2) increase stress to induce cellular catastrophe; and (3) exploit emergent vulnerabilities in cancer cells and cells of the tumour microenvironment. We review challenges associated with tumour heterogeneity, prioritizing actionable adaptive responses for optimal therapeutic outcomes, and development of an integrative framework to identify and target vulnerabilities that arise from adaptive responses and engagement of stress mitigation pathways. Finally, we discuss the need to monitor adaptive responses across multiple scales and translation of combination therapies designed to take advantage of adaptive responses and stress mitigation pathways to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilyne Labrie
- Division of Oncological Sciences, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Joan S Brugge
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ludwig Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gordon B Mills
- Division of Oncological Sciences, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Ioannis K Zervantonakis
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Martin JC, Sims JR, Gupta A, Bakin AV, Ohm JE. WEE1 inhibition augments CDC7 (DDK) inhibitor-induced cell death in Ewing sarcoma by forcing premature mitotic entry and mitotic catastrophe. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:471-482. [PMID: 36338546 PMCID: PMC9635308 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-22-0130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive childhood cancer for which treatment options remain limited and toxic. There is an urgent need for the identification of novel therapeutic strategies. Our group has recently shown that Ewing cells rely on the S-phase kinase CDC7 (DDK) to maintain replication rates and cell viability and that DDK inhibition causes an increase in the phosphorylation of CDK1 and a significant delay in mitotic entry. Here, we expand on our previous findings and show that DDK inhibitor-induced mitotic entry delay is dependent upon WEE1 kinase. Specifically, WEE1 phosphorylates CDK1 and prevents mitotic entry upon DDK inhibition due to the presence of under-replicated DNA, potentially limiting the cytotoxic effects of DDK inhibition. To overcome this, we combined the inhibition of DDK with the inhibition of WEE1 and found that this results in elevated levels of premature mitotic entry, mitotic catastrophe, and apoptosis. Importantly, we have found that DDK and WEE1 inhibitors display a synergistic relationship with regards to reducing cell viability of Ewing sarcoma cells. Interestingly, the cytotoxic nature of this combination can be suppressed by the inhibition of CDK1 or microtubule polymerization, indicating that mitotic progression is required to elicit the cytotoxic effects. This is the first study to display the potential of utilizing the combined inhibition of DDK and WEE1 for the treatment of cancer. We believe this will offer a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of Ewing sarcoma as well as other tumor types that display sensitivity to DDK inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey C. Martin
- Department of Cancer Genetics and Genomics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York
| | - Jennie R. Sims
- Department of Cancer Genetics and Genomics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York
| | - Ajay Gupta
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York
| | - Andrei V. Bakin
- Department of Cancer Genetics and Genomics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York
| | - Joyce Ellen Ohm
- Department of Cancer Genetics and Genomics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York
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Buchou C, Laud-Duval K, van der Ent W, Grossetête S, Zaidi S, Gentric G, Corbé M, Müller K, Del Nery E, Surdez D, Delattre O. Upregulation of the Mevalonate Pathway through EWSR1-FLI1/EGR2 Regulatory Axis Confers Ewing Cells Exquisite Sensitivity to Statins. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2327. [PMID: 35565457 PMCID: PMC9100622 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is an aggressive primary bone cancer in children and young adults characterized by oncogenic fusions between genes encoding FET-RNA-binding proteins and ETS transcription factors, the most frequent fusion being EWSR1-FLI1. We show that EGR2, an Ewing-susceptibility gene and an essential direct target of EWSR1-FLI1, directly regulates the transcription of genes encoding key enzymes of the mevalonate (MVA) pathway. Consequently, Ewing sarcoma is one of the tumors that expresses the highest levels of mevalonate pathway genes. Moreover, genome-wide screens indicate that MVA pathway genes constitute major dependencies of Ewing cells. Accordingly, the statin inhibitors of HMG-CoA-reductase, a rate-limiting enzyme of the MVA pathway, demonstrate cytotoxicity in EwS. Statins induce increased ROS and lipid peroxidation levels, as well as decreased membrane localization of prenylated proteins, such as small GTP proteins. These metabolic effects lead to an alteration in the dynamics of S-phase progression and to apoptosis. Statin-induced effects can be rescued by downstream products of the MVA pathway. Finally, we further show that statins impair tumor growth in different Ewing PDX models. Altogether, the data show that statins, which are off-patent, well-tolerated, and inexpensive compounds, should be strongly considered in the therapeutic arsenal against this deadly childhood disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie Buchou
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, Diversity & Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Laboratory, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Center, Institut Curie Research Center, 26 rue d’ULM, 75005 Paris, France; (C.B.); (K.L.-D.); (W.v.d.E.); (S.G.); (S.Z.); (D.S.)
| | - Karine Laud-Duval
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, Diversity & Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Laboratory, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Center, Institut Curie Research Center, 26 rue d’ULM, 75005 Paris, France; (C.B.); (K.L.-D.); (W.v.d.E.); (S.G.); (S.Z.); (D.S.)
| | - Wietske van der Ent
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, Diversity & Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Laboratory, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Center, Institut Curie Research Center, 26 rue d’ULM, 75005 Paris, France; (C.B.); (K.L.-D.); (W.v.d.E.); (S.G.); (S.Z.); (D.S.)
| | - Sandrine Grossetête
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, Diversity & Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Laboratory, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Center, Institut Curie Research Center, 26 rue d’ULM, 75005 Paris, France; (C.B.); (K.L.-D.); (W.v.d.E.); (S.G.); (S.Z.); (D.S.)
| | - Sakina Zaidi
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, Diversity & Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Laboratory, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Center, Institut Curie Research Center, 26 rue d’ULM, 75005 Paris, France; (C.B.); (K.L.-D.); (W.v.d.E.); (S.G.); (S.Z.); (D.S.)
| | - Géraldine Gentric
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, Stress and Cancer Laboratory, PSL Research University, Institut Curie Research Center, 26 rue d’ULM, 75005 Paris, France;
| | - Maxime Corbé
- Department of Translational Research, The Biophenics High-Content Screening Laboratory, PSL Research University, Institut Curie Research Center, 26 rue d’ULM, 75005 Paris, France; (M.C.); (K.M.); (E.D.N.)
| | - Kévin Müller
- Department of Translational Research, The Biophenics High-Content Screening Laboratory, PSL Research University, Institut Curie Research Center, 26 rue d’ULM, 75005 Paris, France; (M.C.); (K.M.); (E.D.N.)
| | - Elaine Del Nery
- Department of Translational Research, The Biophenics High-Content Screening Laboratory, PSL Research University, Institut Curie Research Center, 26 rue d’ULM, 75005 Paris, France; (M.C.); (K.M.); (E.D.N.)
| | - Didier Surdez
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, Diversity & Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Laboratory, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Center, Institut Curie Research Center, 26 rue d’ULM, 75005 Paris, France; (C.B.); (K.L.-D.); (W.v.d.E.); (S.G.); (S.Z.); (D.S.)
- Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Forchstrasse 340, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Delattre
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, Diversity & Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Laboratory, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Center, Institut Curie Research Center, 26 rue d’ULM, 75005 Paris, France; (C.B.); (K.L.-D.); (W.v.d.E.); (S.G.); (S.Z.); (D.S.)
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Marx C, Schaarschmidt MU, Kirkpatrick J, Marx-Blümel L, Halilovic M, Westermann M, Hoelzer D, Meyer FB, Geng Y, Buder K, Schadwinkel HM, Siniuk K, Becker S, Thierbach R, Beck JF, Sonnemann J, Wang ZQ. Cooperative treatment effectiveness of ATR and HSP90 inhibition in Ewing's sarcoma cells. Cell Biosci 2021; 11:57. [PMID: 33743824 PMCID: PMC7981928 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00571-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ewing's sarcoma is an aggressive childhood malignancy whose outcome has not substantially improved over the last two decades. In this study, combination treatments of the HSP90 inhibitor AUY922 with either the ATR inhibitor VE821 or the ATM inhibitor KU55933 were investigated for their effectiveness in Ewing's sarcoma cells. METHODS Effects were determined in p53 wild-type and p53 null Ewing's sarcoma cell lines by flow cytometric analyses of cell death, mitochondrial depolarization and cell-cycle distribution as well as fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. They were molecularly characterized by gene and protein expression profiling, and by quantitative whole proteome analysis. RESULTS AUY922 alone induced DNA damage, apoptosis and ER stress, while reducing the abundance of DNA repair proteins. The combination of AUY922 with VE821 led to strong apoptosis induction independent of the cellular p53 status, yet based on different molecular mechanisms. p53 wild-type cells activated pro-apoptotic gene transcription and underwent mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, while p53 null cells accumulated higher levels of DNA damage, ER stress and autophagy, eventually leading to apoptosis. Impaired PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling further contributed to the antineoplastic combination effects of AUY922 and VE821. In contrast, the combination of AUY922 with KU55933 did not produce a cooperative effect. CONCLUSION Our study reveals that HSP90 and ATR inhibitor combination treatment may be an effective therapeutic approach for Ewing's sarcoma irrespective of the p53 status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Marx
- Leibniz Institute On Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Marc U Schaarschmidt
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Clinic, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Research Center Lobeda, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Joanna Kirkpatrick
- Leibniz Institute On Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany.,Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Lisa Marx-Blümel
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Clinic, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Research Center Lobeda, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Melisa Halilovic
- Leibniz Institute On Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | | | - Doerte Hoelzer
- Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Nutrition, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.,Biopharmaceutical New Technologies (BioNTech) Corporation, Mainz, Germany
| | - Felix B Meyer
- Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Nutrition, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Yibo Geng
- Leibniz Institute On Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany.,Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Katrin Buder
- Leibniz Institute On Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Hauke M Schadwinkel
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Clinic, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Research Center Lobeda, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Kanstantsin Siniuk
- Leibniz Institute On Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Sabine Becker
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Clinic, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.,Research Center Lobeda, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - René Thierbach
- Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Nutrition, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - James F Beck
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Clinic, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Jürgen Sonnemann
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Clinic, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany. .,Research Center Lobeda, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany. .,Klinik Für Kinder- Und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747, Jena, Germany.
| | - Zhao-Qi Wang
- Leibniz Institute On Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany.,Faculty of Biology and Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany
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