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Lu S, Wang J, Huang J, Sun F, Zhu J, Que Y, Li H, Guo Y, Cai R, Zhen Z, Sun X, Zhang Y. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin combined with cyclophosphamide and vincristine in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory solid tumor: a single-arm, open-label, phase I study. EClinicalMedicine 2024; 73:102701. [PMID: 39007065 PMCID: PMC11246015 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The combined vincristine, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD), and cyclophosphamide (VPC) regimen has never been studied in pediatric patients. Methods This open-label, single-center, single-arm phase I study utilizing a "3 + 3" design enrolled children with relapsed/refractory (R/R) solid tumors. Three dose levels of PLD (Duomeisu®) were studied (30, 40, or 50 mg/m2) in combination with cyclophosphamide (1500 mg/m2), mesna (1500 mg/m2), and vincristine (1.5 mg/m2, maximum 2 mg) once every 3 weeks. The primary endpoints included safety, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of PLD (Duomeisu®), and the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of PLD (Duomeisu®) for further phase 2 investigation. The secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04213612. Findings Between January 7, 2020, and November 18, 2021, 34 patients were eligible and evaluable for toxicity, while 26 patients were evaluable for response. The MTD of PLD (Duomeisu®) was 30 mg/m2. The most common adverse event (AE) was grade 3 or 4 neutropenia (61.8%). The most common grade 1 or 2 non-hematologic AE and cardiotoxicity effects were vomiting (35.3%) and abnormal electrocardiogram T waves (20.6%), respectively. ORR and DCR to VPC regimen after two cycles were 50.0% and 92.3%, respectively. Targeted gene panel sequencing revealed the activation of TP53 mutation may be an adverse prognostic factor. Interpretation The VPC regimen showed a promising safety profile and had preliminary efficacy in children with R/R solid tumors. The RP2D for PLD (Duomeisu®) combined with cyclophosphamide and vincristine is 30 mg/m2 once every 3 weeks. Funding CSPC Ouyi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shijiazhuang, the National Key Research and Development Program of China [No. 2022YFC2705005], the National Natural Science Foundation of China [No. 82203303], and the Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province [No. 2021A1515110234].
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Affiliation(s)
- Suying Lu
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Juan Wang
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Junting Huang
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Feifei Sun
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Jia Zhu
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Yi Que
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Radiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Ying Guo
- Department of Clinical Research, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Ruiqing Cai
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Zijun Zhen
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Xiaofei Sun
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Yizhuo Zhang
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
- Young Talents Program of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, PR China
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2
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Tlemsani C, Heske CM, Elloumi F, Pongor L, Khandagale P, Varma S, Luna A, Meltzer PS, Khan J, Reinhold WC, Pommier Y. Sarcoma_CellminerCDB: A tool to interrogate the genomic and functional characteristics of a comprehensive collection of sarcoma cell lines. iScience 2024; 27:109781. [PMID: 38868205 PMCID: PMC11167437 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109781] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Sarcomas are a diverse group of rare malignancies composed of multiple different clinical and molecular subtypes. Due to their rarity and heterogeneity, basic, translational, and clinical research in sarcoma has trailed behind that of other cancers. Outcomes for patients remain generally poor due to an incomplete understanding of disease biology and a lack of novel therapies. To address some of the limitations impeding preclinical sarcoma research, we have developed Sarcoma_CellMinerCDB, a publicly available interactive tool that merges publicly available sarcoma cell line data and newly generated omics data to create a comprehensive database of genomic, transcriptomic, methylomic, proteomic, metabolic, and pharmacologic data on 133 annotated sarcoma cell lines. The reproducibility, functionality, biological relevance, and therapeutic applications of Sarcoma_CellMinerCDB described herein are powerful tools to address and generate biological questions and test hypotheses for translational research. Sarcoma_CellMinerCDB (https://discover.nci.nih.gov/SarcomaCellMinerCDB) aims to contribute to advancing the preclinical study of sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Tlemsani
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cochin Hospital, Paris Cancer Institute CARPEM, Université Paris Cité, APHP. Centre, Paris, France
- Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris Cancer Institute CARPEM, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Christine M. Heske
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Fathi Elloumi
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Lorinc Pongor
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine, Cancer Genomics and Epigenetics Core Group, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Prashant Khandagale
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sudhir Varma
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Augustin Luna
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Computational Biology Branch, National Library of Medicine, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Paul S. Meltzer
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - William C. Reinhold
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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3
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Yu L, Deng Y, Wang X, Santos C, Davis IJ, Earp HS, Liu P. Co-targeting JAK1/STAT6/GAS6/TAM signaling improves chemotherapy efficacy in Ewing sarcoma. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5292. [PMID: 38906855 PMCID: PMC11192891 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49667-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is a pediatric bone and soft tissue tumor treated with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Despite intensive multimodality therapy, ~50% patients eventually relapse and die of the disease due to chemoresistance. Here, using phospho-profiling, we find Ewing sarcoma cells treated with chemotherapeutic agents activate TAM (TYRO3, AXL, MERTK) kinases to augment Akt and ERK signaling facilitating chemoresistance. Mechanistically, chemotherapy-induced JAK1-SQ phosphorylation releases JAK1 pseudokinase domain inhibition allowing for JAK1 activation. This alternative JAK1 activation mechanism leads to STAT6 nuclear translocation triggering transcription and secretion of the TAM kinase ligand GAS6 with autocrine/paracrine consequences. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of either JAK1 by filgotinib or TAM kinases by UNC2025 sensitizes Ewing sarcoma to chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo. Excitingly, the TAM kinase inhibitor MRX-2843 currently in human clinical trials to treat AML and advanced solid tumors, enhances chemotherapy efficacy to further suppress Ewing sarcoma tumor growth in vivo. Our findings reveal an Ewing sarcoma chemoresistance mechanism with an immediate translational value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Yu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yu Deng
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Charlene Santos
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Ian J Davis
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - H Shelton Earp
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Pengda Liu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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Goodspeed A, Bodlak A, Duffy AB, Nelson-Taylor S, Oike N, Porfilio T, Shirai R, Walker D, Treece A, Black J, Donaldson N, Cost C, Garrington T, Greffe B, Luna-Fineman S, Demedis J, Lake J, Danis E, Verneris M, Adams DL, Hayashi M. Characterization of transcriptional heterogeneity and novel therapeutic targets using single cell RNA-sequencing of primary and circulating Ewing sarcoma cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.18.576251. [PMID: 38293103 PMCID: PMC10827204 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.18.576251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is the second most common bone cancer in children, accounting for 2% of pediatric cancer diagnoses. Patients who present with metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis have a dismal prognosis, compared to the >70% 5-year survival of those with localized disease. Here, we utilized single cell RNA-sequencing to characterize the transcriptional landscape of primary Ewing sarcoma tumors and surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME). Copy-number analysis identified subclonal evolution within patients prior to treatment. Primary tumor samples demonstrate a heterogenous transcriptional landscape with several conserved gene expression programs, including those composed of genes related to proliferation and EWS targets. Single cell RNA-sequencing and immunofluorescence of circulating tumor cells at the time of diagnosis identified TSPAN8 as a novel therapeutic target.
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5
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Stanton BZ, Pomella S. Epigenetic determinants of fusion-driven sarcomas: paradigms and challenges. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1416946. [PMID: 38946804 PMCID: PMC11211607 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1416946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
We describe exciting recent advances in fusion-driven sarcoma etiology, from an epigenetics perspective. By exploring the current state of the field, we identify and describe the central mechanisms that determine sarcomagenesis. Further, we discuss seminal studies in translational genomics, which enabled epigenetic characterization of fusion-driven sarcomas. Important context for epigenetic mechanisms include, but are not limited to, cell cycle and metabolism, core regulatory circuitry, 3-dimensional chromatin architectural dysregulation, integration with ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling, and translational animal modeling. Paradoxically, while the genetic requirements for oncogenic transformation are highly specific for the fusion partners, the epigenetic mechanisms we as a community have uncovered are categorically very broad. This dichotomy prompts the question of whether the investigation of rare disease epigenomics should prioritize studying individual cell populations, thereby examining whether the mechanisms of chromatin dysregulation are specific to a particular tumor. We review recent advances focusing on rhabdomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, alveolar soft part sarcoma, clear cell sarcoma, undifferentiated round cell sarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, myxoid/round liposarcoma, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma and desmoplastic round cell tumor. The growing number of groundbreaking discoveries in the field, motivated us to anticipate further exciting advances in the area of mechanistic epigenomics and direct targeting of fusion transcription factors in the years ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Z. Stanton
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Silvia Pomella
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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6
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Shirai R, Biebighauser T, Walker D, Oviedo J, Nelson-Taylor S, Bodlak A, Porfilio T, Oike N, Goodspeed A, Hayashi M. Cadherin-11 contributes to the heterogenous and dynamic Wnt-Wnt-β-catenin pathway activation in Ewing sarcoma. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0305490. [PMID: 38875295 PMCID: PMC11178195 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305490] [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: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is the second most common bone cancer in children, and while patients who present with metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis have a dismal prognosis. Ewing sarcoma tumors are driven by the fusion gene EWS/Fli1, and while these tumors are genetically homogenous, the transcriptional heterogeneity can lead to a variety of cellular processes including metastasis. In this study, we demonstrate that in Ewing sarcoma cells, the canonical Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway is heterogeneously activated in vitro and in vivo, correlating with hypoxia and EWS/Fli1 activity. Ewing sarcoma cells predominantly express β-Catenin on the cell membrane bound to CDH11, which can respond to exogenous Wnt ligands leading to the immediate activation of Wnt/β-Catenin signaling within a tumor. Knockdown of CDH11 leads to delayed and decreased response to exogenous Wnt ligand stimulation, and ultimately decreased metastatic propensity. Our findings strongly indicate that CDH11 is a key component of regulating Wnt//β-Catenin signaling heterogeneity within Ewing sarcoma tumors, and is a promising molecular target to alter Wnt//β-Catenin signaling in Ewing sarcoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Shirai
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Tyler Biebighauser
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Deandra Walker
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Jillian Oviedo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Sarah Nelson-Taylor
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Avery Bodlak
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Timothy Porfilio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Naoki Oike
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Andrew Goodspeed
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Masanori Hayashi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
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7
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Vanoli F, Song E, Dermawan JK, Fishinevich E, Sung P, Min SS, Xie Z, de Traux de Wardin H, Hwang S, Maki RG, Antonescu CR. Modeling Extraordinary Response Through Targeting Secondary Alterations in Fusion-Associated Sarcoma. JCO Precis Oncol 2024; 8:e2300688. [PMID: 38885476 DOI: 10.1200/po.23.00688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Targeted therapy in translocation-associated sarcomas has been limited to oncogenic activation of tyrosine kinases or ligands while gene fusions resulting in aberrant expression of transcription factors have been notoriously difficult to target. Moreover, secondary genetic alterations in sarcomas driven by translocations are uncommon, comprising mostly alterations in tumor suppressor genes (TP53, CDKN2A/B). Our study was triggered by an index patient showing a dramatic clinical response by targeting the secondary BRAF V600E mutation in a metastatic angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) harboring the typical EWSR1::CREB1 fusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS The patient, a 28-year-old female, was diagnosed with an AFH of the thigh and followed a highly aggressive clinical course, with rapid multifocal local recurrence within a year and widespread distant metastases (adrenal, bone, liver, lung). The tumor showed characteristic morphologic features, with histiocytoid cells intermixed with hemorrhagic cystic spaces and lymphoid aggregates. In addition to the pathognomonic EWSR1::CREB1 fusion, targeted DNA sequencing revealed in both primary and adrenal metastatic sites a hot spot BRAF V600E mutation and a CDKN2A/B deletion. Accordingly, the patient was treated with a BRAF-MEK inhibitor combination (encorafenib/binimetinib) showing an excellent but short-lived response. RESULTS Using a CRISPR-Cas9 approach, we introduced the BRAF c.1799 T>A point mutation in human embryonic stem (hES) cells harboring a conditional EWSR1 (exon7)::CREB1 (exon7) translocation and further differentiated to mesenchymal progenitors (hES-MP) before fusion expression. The cells maintained the fusion transcript expression and the AFH core gene signature while responding to treatment with encorafenib and binimetinib. CONCLUSION These results highlight that additional targeted DNA NGS in chemotherapy-resistant translocation-associated sarcomas may reveal actionable oncogenic drivers occurring as secondary genetic events during disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Vanoli
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Evan Song
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Josephine K Dermawan
- Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Eve Fishinevich
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Patricia Sung
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Soe S Min
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Ziyu Xie
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Henry de Traux de Wardin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Sinchun Hwang
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Robert G Maki
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Cristina R Antonescu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
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8
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Chen X, Yang W, Roberts CWM, Zhang J. Developmental origins shape the paediatric cancer genome. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:382-398. [PMID: 38698126 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-024-00684-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
In the past two decades, technological advances have brought unprecedented insights into the paediatric cancer genome revealing characteristics distinct from those of adult cancer. Originating from developing tissues, paediatric cancers generally have low mutation burden and are driven by variants that disrupt the transcriptional activity, chromatin state, non-coding cis-regulatory regions and other biological functions. Within each tumour, there are multiple populations of cells with varying states, and the lineages of some can be tracked to their fetal origins. Genome-wide genetic screening has identified vulnerabilities associated with both the cell of origin and transcription deregulation in paediatric cancer, which have become a valuable resource for designing new therapeutic approaches including those for small molecules, immunotherapy and targeted protein degradation. In this Review, we present recent findings on these facets of paediatric cancer from a pan-cancer perspective and provide an outlook on future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Chen
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Wentao Yang
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Charles W M Roberts
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jinghui Zhang
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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9
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Mabe NW, Perry JA, Malone CF, Stegmaier K. Pharmacological targeting of the cancer epigenome. NATURE CANCER 2024; 5:844-865. [PMID: 38937652 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-024-00777-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic dysregulation is increasingly appreciated as a hallmark of cancer, including disease initiation, maintenance and therapy resistance. As a result, there have been advances in the development and evaluation of epigenetic therapies for cancer, revealing substantial promise but also challenges. Three epigenetic inhibitor classes are approved in the USA, and many more are currently undergoing clinical investigation. In this Review, we discuss recent developments for each epigenetic drug class and their implications for therapy, as well as highlight new insights into the role of epigenetics in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel W Mabe
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer A Perry
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clare F Malone
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kimberly Stegmaier
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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10
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Rask GC, Taslim C, Bayanjargal A, Cannon MV, Selich-Anderson J, Crow JC, Duncan A, Theisen ER. Seclidemstat blocks the transcriptional function of multiple FET-fusion oncoproteins. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.19.594897. [PMID: 38826330 PMCID: PMC11142045 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.19.594897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Genes encoding the RNA-binding proteins FUS, EWSR1, and TAF15 (FET proteins) are involved in chromosomal translocations in rare sarcomas. FET-rearranged sarcomas are often aggressive malignancies affecting patients of all ages. New therapies are needed. These translocations fuse the 5' portion of the FET gene with a 3' partner gene encoding a transcription factor (TF). The resulting fusion proteins are oncogenic TFs with a FET protein low complexity domain (LCD) and a DNA binding domain. FET fusion proteins have proven stubbornly difficult to target directly and promising strategies target critical co-regulators. One candidate is lysine specific demethylase 1 (LSD1). LSD1 is recruited by multiple FET fusions, including EWSR1::FLI1. LSD1 promotes EWSR1::FLI1 activity and treatment with the noncompetitive inhibitor SP-2509 blocks EWSR1::FLI1 transcriptional function. A similar molecule, seclidemstat (SP-2577), is currently in clinical trials for FET-rearranged sarcomas (NCT03600649). However, whether seclidemstat has pharmacological activity against FET fusions has not been demonstrated. Here, we evaluate the in vitro potency of seclidemstat against multiple FET-rearranged sarcoma cell lines, including Ewing sarcoma, desmoplastic small round cell tumor, clear cell sarcoma, and myxoid liposarcoma. We also define the transcriptomic effects of seclidemstat treatment and evaluated the activity of seclidemstat against FET fusion transcriptional regulation. Seclidemstat showed potent activity in cell viability assays across FET-rearranged sarcomas and disrupted the transcriptional function of all tested fusions. Though epigenetic and targeted inhibitors are unlikely to be effective as a single agents in the clinic, these data suggest seclidemstat remains a promising new treatment strategy for patients with FET-rearranged sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galen C. Rask
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
| | - Cenny Taslim
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
| | - Ariunaa Bayanjargal
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Matthew V. Cannon
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
| | - Julia Selich-Anderson
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
| | - Jesse C. Crow
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
| | | | - Emily R. Theisen
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
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11
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Dermawan JK, Slotkin E, Tap WD, Meyers P, Wexler L, Healey J, Vanoli F, Vanderbilt CM, Antonescu CR. Chromoplexy Is a Frequent Early Clonal Event in EWSR1-Rearranged Round Cell Sarcomas That Can Be Detected Using Clinically Validated Targeted Sequencing Panels. Cancer Res 2024; 84:1504-1516. [PMID: 38335254 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-2573] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Chromoplexy is a phenomenon defined by large-scale chromosomal chained rearrangements. A previous study observed chromoplectic events in a subset of Ewing sarcomas (ES), which was linked to an increased relapse rate. Chromoplexy analysis could potentially facilitate patient risk stratification, particularly if it could be detected with clinically applied targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels. Using DELLY, a structural variant (SV) calling algorithm that is part of the MSK-IMPACT pipeline, we characterized the spectrum of SVs in EWSR1-fused round cell sarcomas, including 173 ES and 104 desmoplastic small round cell tumors (DSRCT), to detect chromoplexy and evaluate its association with clinical and genomic features. Chromoplectic events were detected in 31% of the ES cases and 19% of the DSRCT cases. EWSR1 involvement accounted for 76% to 93% of these events, being rearranged with diverse noncanonical gene partners across the genome, involving mainly translocations but also intrachromosomal deletions and inversions. A major breakpoint cluster was located on EWSR1 exons 8-13. In a subset of cases, the SVs disrupted adjacent loci, forming deletion bridges. Longitudinal sequencing and breakpoint allele fraction analysis showed that chromoplexy is an early event that remains detectable throughout disease progression and likely develops simultaneously with the driver fusion. The presence of chromoplexy was validated in an external ES patient cohort with whole exome sequencing. Chromoplexy was significantly more likely to be present in cases that were metastatic at presentation. Together, this study identifies chromoplexy as a frequent genomic alteration in diverse EWSR1-rearranged tumors that can be captured by targeted NGS panels. SIGNIFICANCE Chromoplexy is detectable using targeted NGS in a substantial portion of EWSR1-rearranged round cell sarcomas as an early and persistent clonal event, expanding the genomic complexity of fusion-associated sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine K Dermawan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Emily Slotkin
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - William D Tap
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Paul Meyers
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Leonard Wexler
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - John Healey
- Department of Surgery, Orthopedic Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Fabio Vanoli
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Chad M Vanderbilt
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Cristina R Antonescu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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12
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Pallotta MM, Di Nardo M, Musio A. Synthetic Lethality between Cohesin and WNT Signaling Pathways in Diverse Cancer Contexts. Cells 2024; 13:608. [PMID: 38607047 PMCID: PMC11011321 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Cohesin is a highly conserved ring-shaped complex involved in topologically embracing chromatids, gene expression regulation, genome compartmentalization, and genome stability maintenance. Genomic analyses have detected mutations in the cohesin complex in a wide array of human tumors. These findings have led to increased interest in cohesin as a potential target in cancer therapy. Synthetic lethality has been suggested as an approach to exploit genetic differences in cancer cells to influence their selective killing. In this study, we show that mutations in ESCO1, NIPBL, PDS5B, RAD21, SMC1A, SMC3, STAG2, and WAPL genes are synthetically lethal with stimulation of WNT signaling obtained following LY2090314 treatment, a GSK3 inhibitor, in several cancer cell lines. Moreover, treatment led to the stabilization of β-catenin and affected the expression of c-MYC, probably due to the occupancy decrease in cohesin at the c-MYC promoter. Finally, LY2090314 caused gene expression dysregulation mainly involving pathways related to transcription regulation, cell proliferation, and chromatin remodeling. For the first time, our work provides the underlying molecular basis for synthetic lethality due to cohesin mutations and suggests that targeting the WNT may be a promising therapeutic approach for tumors carrying mutated cohesin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Antonio Musio
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies (ITB), National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy; (M.M.P.); (M.D.N.)
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13
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Wachtel M, Surdez D, Grünewald TGP, Schäfer BW. Functional Classification of Fusion Proteins in Sarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1355. [PMID: 38611033 PMCID: PMC11010897 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16071355] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Sarcomas comprise a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin. More than 80 entities are associated with different mesenchymal lineages. Sarcomas with fibroblastic, muscle, bone, vascular, adipocytic, and other characteristics are distinguished. Nearly half of all entities contain specific chromosomal translocations that give rise to fusion proteins. These are mostly pathognomonic, and their detection by various molecular techniques supports histopathologic classification. Moreover, the fusion proteins act as oncogenic drivers, and their blockade represents a promising therapeutic approach. This review summarizes the current knowledge on fusion proteins in sarcoma. We categorize the different fusion proteins into functional classes, including kinases, epigenetic regulators, and transcription factors, and describe their mechanisms of action. Interestingly, while fusion proteins acting as transcription factors are found in all mesenchymal lineages, the others have a more restricted pattern. Most kinase-driven sarcomas belong to the fibroblastic/myofibroblastic lineage. Fusion proteins with an epigenetic function are mainly associated with sarcomas of unclear differentiation, suggesting that epigenetic dysregulation leads to a major change in cell identity. Comparison of mechanisms of action reveals recurrent functional modes, including antagonism of Polycomb activity by fusion proteins with epigenetic activity and recruitment of histone acetyltransferases by fusion transcription factors of the myogenic lineage. Finally, based on their biology, we describe potential approaches to block the activity of fusion proteins for therapeutic intervention. Overall, our work highlights differences as well as similarities in the biology of fusion proteins from different sarcomas and provides the basis for a functional classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Wachtel
- Department of Oncology and Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital, Steinwiesstrasse 75, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Didier Surdez
- Balgrist University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich (UZH), CH-8008 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas G. P. Grünewald
- Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Hopp-Children’s Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, a Partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Beat W. Schäfer
- Department of Oncology and Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital, Steinwiesstrasse 75, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland
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14
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Sundara Rajan S, Ebegboni VJ, Pichling P, Ludwig KR, Jones TL, Chari R, Tran A, Kruhlak MJ, Loncarek J, Caplen NJ. Endogenous EWSR1 Exists in Two Visual Modalities That Reflect Its Associations with Nucleic Acids and Concentration at Sites of Active Transcription. Mol Cell Biol 2024; 44:103-122. [PMID: 38506112 PMCID: PMC10986767 DOI: 10.1080/10985549.2024.2315425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
EWSR1 is a member of the FET family of nucleic acid binding proteins that includes FUS and TAF15. Here, we report the systematic analysis of endogenous EWSR1's cellular organization in human cells. We demonstrate that EWSR1, which contains low complexity and nucleic acid binding domains, is present in cells in faster and slower-recovering fractions, indicative of a protein undergoing both rapid exchange and longer-term interactions. The employment of complementary high-resolution imaging approaches shows EWSR1 exists in two visual modalities, a distributed state which is present throughout the nucleoplasm, and a concentrated state consistent with the formation of foci. Both EWSR1 visual modalities localize with nascent RNA. EWSR1 foci concentrate in regions of euchromatin, adjacent to protein markers of transcriptional activation, and significantly colocalize with phosphorylated RNA polymerase II. Our results contribute to bridging the gap between our understanding of the biophysical and biochemical properties of FET proteins, including EWSR1, their functions as transcriptional regulators, and the participation of these proteins in tumorigenesis and neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumya Sundara Rajan
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Vernon J. Ebegboni
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Patricio Pichling
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Katelyn R. Ludwig
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Tamara L. Jones
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Raj Chari
- Genome Modification Core, Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Andy Tran
- CCR Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael J. Kruhlak
- CCR Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jadranka Loncarek
- Centrosome Biology Section, Cancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Natasha J. Caplen
- Functional Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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15
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Jacobs JE, Davis L, McWeeney S. Single nucleotide variants in nuclear pore complex disassembly pathway associated with poor survival in osteosarcoma. Front Genet 2024; 15:1303404. [PMID: 38562379 PMCID: PMC10982431 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1303404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The bone tumor, osteosarcoma, remains challenging to treat in children and young adults, especially when patients present with metastatic disease. Developing new therapies based on genomic data from sequencing projects has proven difficult given the lack of recurrent genetic lesions across tumors. MYC overexpression has been associated with poor outcomes in osteosarcoma. However, other genomic markers of disease severity are lacking. Materials and Methods We utilized whole genome sequencing of 106 tumors and matched normal controls in order to define genomic characteristics that correlate with overall survival. Single nucleotide variants were overlaid onto annotated molecular pathways in order to define aberrant pathway signatures specific to aggressive osteosarcoma. Additionally, we calculated differential gene expression in a subsample of 71 tumors. Differentially expressed genes were then queried for known MYC-responsive genes. Results Molecular pathways specific to nuclear pore complex disassembly (NPCD) show significant correlation with poor overall survival in osteosarcoma when mutations were present. Genes involved in immune response and immune regulation are enriched in the differential expression analysis of samples with and without NPCD pathway aberrations. Furthermore, neither MYC nor MYC-responsive genes show differential expression between NPCD-aberrant and non-aberrant groups. The NPCD pathway mutations are dominated by regulatory region variants rather than protein-altering mutations, suggesting that dysregulation of genetic regulatory networks may be the underlying mechanism for their relation to osteosarcoma phenotype. Discussion Overall survival is significantly worse in patients whose tumors show aberrations in the NPCD pathway. Moreover, this difference in survival is not driven by MYC-overexpression, suggesting a novel mechanism for some aggressive osteosarcomas. These findings add light to the evolving understanding of the drivers of osteosarcoma and may aid in the search for new treatments based on patient-specific genetic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E. Jacobs
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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16
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Machado I, Llombart-Bosch A, Charville GW, Navarro S, Domínguez Franjo MP, Bridge JA, Linos K. Sarcomas with EWSR1::Non-ETS Fusion (EWSR1::NFATC2 and EWSR1::PATZ1). Surg Pathol Clin 2024; 17:31-55. [PMID: 38278606 DOI: 10.1016/j.path.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
The wide application of increasingly advanced molecular studies in routine clinical practice has allowed a detailed, albeit still incomplete, genetic subclassification of undifferentiated round cell sarcomas. The WHO classification continues to include provisional molecular entities, whose clinicopathologic features are in the early stages of evolution. This review focuses on the clinicopathologic, molecular, and prognostic features of undifferentiated round cell sarcomas with EWSR1/FUS::NFATC2 or EWSR1::PATZ1 fusions. Classic histopathologic findings, uncommon variations, and diagnostic pitfalls are addressed, along with the utility of recently developed immunohistochemical and molecular markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isidro Machado
- Pathology Department, Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain; Patologika Laboratory, Hospital Quiron-Salud, Valencia, Spain; Pathology Department, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Antonio Llombart-Bosch
- Pathology Department, university of Valencia, Spain and Cancer CIBER (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Samuel Navarro
- Pathology Department, university of Valencia, Spain and Cancer CIBER (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Julia A Bridge
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; Division of Molecular Pathology, ProPath, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Konstantinos Linos
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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17
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Glembocki AI, Somers GR. Prognostic and predictive biomarkers in paediatric solid tumours. Pathology 2024; 56:283-296. [PMID: 38216399 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2023.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Characterisation of histological, immunohistochemical and molecular prognostic and predictive biomarkers has contributed significantly to precision medicine and better outcomes in the management of paediatric solid tumours. Prognostic biomarkers allow predictions to be made regarding a tumour's aggressiveness and clinical course, whereas predictive biomarkers help determine responses to a specific treatment. This review summarises prognostic biomarkers currently used in the more common paediatric solid tumours, with a brief commentary on the most relevant less common predictive biomarkers. MYCN amplification is the most important genetic alteration in neuroblastoma prognosis, and the histological classification devised by Shimada in 1999 is still used in routine diagnosis. Moreover, a new subgrouping of unfavourable histology neuroblastoma enables immunohistochemical characterisation of tumours with markedly different genetic features and prognosis. The predominant histology and commonly observed cytogenetic abnormalities are recognised outcome predictors in Wilms tumour. Evaluation for anaplasia, which is tightly associated with TP53 gene mutations and poor outcomes, is central in both the International Society of Paediatric Oncology and the Children's Oncology Group approaches to disease classification. Characterisation of distinct genotype-phenotype subclasses and critical mutations has expanded overall understanding of hepatoblastoma outcomes. The C1 subclass hepatoblastoma and CTNNB1 mutations are associated with good prognosis. In contrast, the C2 subclass, NFE2L2 mutations, TERT promoter mutations and high expression of oncofetal proteins and stem cell markers are associated with poor outcomes. Risk stratification in sarcomas is highly variable depending on the entity. The prognosis of rhabdomyosarcoma, for example, primarily depends on histological and molecular characteristics. Advances in our understanding of clinically significant biomarkers will translate into more precise diagnoses, improved risk stratification and more effective and less toxic treatment in this challenging group of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida I Glembocki
- Division of Pathology, Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gino R Somers
- Division of Pathology, Department of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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18
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Pati D. Role of chromosomal cohesion and separation in aneuploidy and tumorigenesis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:100. [PMID: 38388697 PMCID: PMC10884101 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05122-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Cell division is a crucial process, and one of its essential steps involves copying the genetic material, which is organized into structures called chromosomes. Before a cell can divide into two, it needs to ensure that each newly copied chromosome is paired tightly with its identical twin. This pairing is maintained by a protein complex known as cohesin, which is conserved in various organisms, from single-celled ones to humans. Cohesin essentially encircles the DNA, creating a ring-like structure to handcuff, to keep the newly synthesized sister chromosomes together in pairs. Therefore, chromosomal cohesion and separation are fundamental processes governing the attachment and segregation of sister chromatids during cell division. Metaphase-to-anaphase transition requires dissolution of cohesins by the enzyme Separase. The tight regulation of these processes is vital for safeguarding genomic stability. Dysregulation in chromosomal cohesion and separation resulting in aneuploidy, a condition characterized by an abnormal chromosome count in a cell, is strongly associated with cancer. Aneuploidy is a recurring hallmark in many cancer types, and abnormalities in chromosomal cohesion and separation have been identified as significant contributors to various cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, colorectal, bladder, and other solid cancers. Mutations within the cohesin complex have been associated with these cancers, as they interfere with chromosomal segregation, genome organization, and gene expression, promoting aneuploidy and contributing to the initiation of malignancy. In summary, chromosomal cohesion and separation processes play a pivotal role in preserving genomic stability, and aberrations in these mechanisms can lead to aneuploidy and cancer. Gaining a deeper understanding of the molecular intricacies of chromosomal cohesion and separation offers promising prospects for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches in the battle against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debananda Pati
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics Hematology/Oncology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1102 Bates Avenue, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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19
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Di Nardo M, Astigiano S, Baldari S, Pallotta MM, Porta G, Pigozzi S, Antonini A, Emionite L, Frattini A, Valli R, Toietta G, Soddu S, Musio A. The synergism of SMC1A cohesin gene silencing and bevacizumab against colorectal cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:49. [PMID: 38365745 PMCID: PMC10870497 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-02976-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND SMC1A is a subunit of the cohesin complex that participates in many DNA- and chromosome-related biological processes. Previous studies have established that SMC1A is involved in cancer development and in particular, is overexpressed in chromosomally unstable human colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to investigate whether SMC1A could serve as a therapeutic target for CRC. METHODS At first, we studied the effects of either SMC1A overexpression or knockdown in vitro. Next, the outcome of SMC1A knocking down (alone or in combination with bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor) was analyzed in vivo. RESULTS We found that SMC1A knockdown affects cell proliferation and reduces the ability to grow in anchorage-independent manner. Next, we demonstrated that the silencing of SMC1A and the combo treatment were effective in increasing overall survival in a xenograft mouse model. Functional analyses indicated that both treatments lead to atypical mitotic figures and gene expression dysregulation. Differentially expressed genes were implicated in several pathways including gene transcription regulation, cellular proliferation, and other transformation-associated processes. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that SMC1A silencing, in combination with bevacizumab, can represent a promising therapeutic strategy for human CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddalena Di Nardo
- Istituto di Tecnologie Biomediche (ITB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Moruzzi, Pisa, 1 56124, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Baldari
- Dipartimento Ricerca e Tecnologie Avanzate, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori Regina Elena, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Michela Pallotta
- Istituto di Tecnologie Biomediche (ITB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Moruzzi, Pisa, 1 56124, Italy
| | - Giovanni Porta
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Sezione di Biologia Generale e Genetica Medica, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Simona Pigozzi
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche e Diagnostiche Integrate, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Annalisa Antonini
- Dipartimento Ricerca e Tecnologie Avanzate, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori Regina Elena, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Annalisa Frattini
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Sezione di Biologia Generale e Genetica Medica, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
- Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica (IRGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Valli
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Sezione di Biologia Generale e Genetica Medica, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Gabriele Toietta
- Dipartimento Ricerca e Tecnologie Avanzate, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori Regina Elena, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Soddu
- Dipartimento Ricerca e Tecnologie Avanzate, IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori Regina Elena, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Musio
- Istituto di Tecnologie Biomediche (ITB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Moruzzi, Pisa, 1 56124, Italy.
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20
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Kolekar P, Balagopal V, Dong L, Liu Y, Foy S, Tran Q, Mulder H, Huskey AL, Plyler E, Liang Z, Ma J, Nakitandwe J, Gu J, Namwanje M, Maciaszek J, Payne-Turner D, Mallampati S, Wang L, Easton J, Klco JM, Ma X. SJPedPanel: A pan-cancer gene panel for childhood malignancies. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2023.11.27.23299068. [PMID: 38076942 PMCID: PMC10705664 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.27.23299068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Background Large scale genomics projects have identified driver alterations for most childhood cancers that provide reliable biomarkers for clinical diagnosis and disease monitoring using targeted sequencing. However, there is lack of a comprehensive panel that matches the list of known driver genes. Here we fill this gap by developing SJPedPanel for childhood cancers. Results SJPedPanel covers 5,275 coding exons of 357 driver genes, 297 introns frequently involved in rearrangements that generate fusion oncoproteins, commonly amplified/deleted regions (e.g., MYCN for neuroblastoma, CDKN2A and PAX5 for B-/T-ALL, and SMARCB1 for AT/RT), and 7,590 polymorphism sites for interrogating tumors with aneuploidy, such as hyperdiploid and hypodiploid B-ALL or 17q gain neuroblastoma. We used driver alterations reported from an established real-time clinical genomics cohort (n=253) to validate this gene panel. Among the 485 pathogenic variants reported, our panel covered 417 variants (86%). For 90 rearrangements responsible for oncogenic fusions, our panel covered 74 events (82%). We re-sequenced 113 previously characterized clinical specimens at an average depth of 2,500X using SJPedPanel and recovered 354 (91%) of the 389 reported pathogenic variants. We then investigated the power of this panel in detecting mutations from specimens with low tumor purity (as low as 0.1%) using cell line-based dilution experiments and discovered that this gene panel enabled us to detect ∼80% variants with allele fraction of 0.2%, while the detection rate decreases to ∼50% when the allele fraction is 0.1%. We finally demonstrate its utility in disease monitoring on clinical specimens collected from AML patients in morphologic remission. Conclusions SJPedPanel enables the detection of clinically relevant genetic alterations including rearrangements responsible for subtype-defining fusions for childhood cancers by targeted sequencing of ∼0.15% of human genome. It will enhance the analysis of specimens with low tumor burdens for cancer monitoring and early detection.
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21
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De Feo A, Manfredi M, Mancarella C, Maqueda JJ, De Giorgis V, Pignochino Y, Sciandra M, Cristalli C, Donadelli M, Scotlandi K. CD99 Modulates the Proteomic Landscape of Ewing Sarcoma Cells and Related Extracellular Vesicles. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1588. [PMID: 38338867 PMCID: PMC10855178 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is an aggressive pediatric bone tumor characterized by unmet clinical needs and an incompletely understood epigenetic heterogeneity. Here, we considered CD99, a major surface molecule hallmark of EWS malignancy. Fluctuations in CD99 expression strongly impair cell dissemination, differentiation, and death. CD99 is also loaded within extracellular vesicles (EVs), and the delivery of CD99-positive or CD99-negative EVs dynamically exerts oncogenic or oncosuppressive functions to recipient cells, respectively. We undertook mass spectrometry and functional annotation analysis to investigate the consequences of CD99 silencing on the proteomic landscape of EWS cells and related EVs. Our data demonstrate that (i) the decrease in CD99 leads to major changes in the proteomic profile of EWS cells and EVs; (ii) intracellular and extracellular compartments display two distinct signatures of differentially expressed proteins; (iii) proteomic changes converge to the modulation of cell migration and immune-modulation biological processes; and (iv) CD99-silenced cells and related EVs are characterized by a migration-suppressive, pro-immunostimulatory proteomic profile. Overall, our data provide a novel source of CD99-associated protein biomarkers to be considered for further validation as mediators of EWS malignancy and as EWS disease liquid biopsy markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra De Feo
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.F.); (C.M.); (J.J.M.); (M.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Marcello Manfredi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.M.); (V.D.G.)
| | - Caterina Mancarella
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.F.); (C.M.); (J.J.M.); (M.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Joaquín J. Maqueda
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.F.); (C.M.); (J.J.M.); (M.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Veronica De Giorgis
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.M.); (V.D.G.)
| | - Ymera Pignochino
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043 Turin, Italy;
- Sarcoma Unit, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Turin, Italy
| | - Marika Sciandra
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.F.); (C.M.); (J.J.M.); (M.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Camilla Cristalli
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.F.); (C.M.); (J.J.M.); (M.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Massimo Donadelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biochemistry, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Katia Scotlandi
- Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.F.); (C.M.); (J.J.M.); (M.S.); (C.C.)
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22
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Arnedo-Pac C, Muiños F, Gonzalez-Perez A, Lopez-Bigas N. Hotspot propensity across mutational processes. Mol Syst Biol 2024; 20:6-27. [PMID: 38177930 PMCID: PMC10883281 DOI: 10.1038/s44320-023-00001-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The sparsity of mutations observed across tumours hinders our ability to study mutation rate variability at nucleotide resolution. To circumvent this, here we investigated the propensity of mutational processes to form mutational hotspots as a readout of their mutation rate variability at single base resolution. Mutational signatures 1 and 17 have the highest hotspot propensity (5-78 times higher than other processes). After accounting for trinucleotide mutational probabilities, sequence composition and mutational heterogeneity at 10 Kbp, most (94-95%) signature 17 hotspots remain unexplained, suggesting a significant role of local genomic features. For signature 1, the inclusion of genome-wide distribution of methylated CpG sites into models can explain most (80-100%) of the hotspot propensity. There is an increased hotspot propensity of signature 1 in normal tissues and de novo germline mutations. We demonstrate that hotspot propensity is a useful readout to assess the accuracy of mutation rate models at nucleotide resolution. This new approach and the findings derived from it open up new avenues for a range of somatic and germline studies investigating and modelling mutagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Arnedo-Pac
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Cáncer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ferran Muiños
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Cáncer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Abel Gonzalez-Perez
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Cáncer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Nuria Lopez-Bigas
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Cáncer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
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23
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Walker V, Jin DX, Millis SZ, Nasri E, Corao-Uribe DA, Tan AC, Fridley BL, Chen JL, Seligson ND. Gene partners of the EWSR1 fusion may represent molecularly distinct entities. Transl Oncol 2023; 38:101795. [PMID: 37797367 PMCID: PMC10593575 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
EWSR1 fusions are highly promiscuous and are associated with unique malignancies, clinical phenotypes, and molecular subtypes. However, rare fusion partners (RFP) of EWSR1 has not been well described. Here, we conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective study of 1,140 unique tumors harboring EWSR1 fusions. We identified 64 unique fusion partners. RFPs were identified more often in adults than children. Alterations in cell cycle control and DNA damage response genes as driving the differences between fusion partners. Potentially clinically actionable genomic variants were more prevalent in tumors harboring RFP than common fusions. While the data presented here is limited, tumors harboring RFP of EWSR1 may represent molecularly distinct entities and may benefit from further molecular testing to identify targeted therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Walker
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, The University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Dexter X Jin
- Foundation Medicine Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Elham Nasri
- Department of Pathology, The University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Diana A Corao-Uribe
- Department of Pathology, Nemours Children's Health, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
| | - Aik Choon Tan
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, Departments of Oncological Sciences and Biomedical Informatics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Brooke L Fridley
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - James L Chen
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA; Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Nathan D Seligson
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, The University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics and Translational Research, Nemours Children's Health, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
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24
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Zhou J, Nie R, He Z, Cai X, Chen J, Lin W, Yin Y, Xiang Z, Zhu T, Xie J, Zhang Y, Wang X, Lin P, Xie D, D'Andrea AD, Cai M. STAG2 Regulates Homologous Recombination Repair and Sensitivity to ATM Inhibition. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2302494. [PMID: 37985839 PMCID: PMC10754142 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Stromal antigen 2 (STAG2), a subunit of the cohesin complex, is recurrently mutated in various tumors. However, the role of STAG2 in DNA repair and its therapeutic implications are largely unknown. Here it is reported that knockout of STAG2 results in increased double-stranded breaks (DSBs) and chromosomal aberrations by reducing homologous recombination (HR) repair, and confers hypersensitivity to inhibitors of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATMi), Poly ADP Ribose Polymerase (PARPi), or the combination of both. Of note, the impaired HR by STAG2-deficiency is mainly attributed to the restored expression of KMT5A, which in turn methylates H4K20 (H4K20me0) to H4K20me1 and thereby decreases the recruitment of BRCA1-BARD1 to chromatin. Importantly, STAG2 expression correlates with poor prognosis of cancer patients. STAG2 is identified as an important regulator of HR and a potential therapeutic strategy for STAG2-mutant tumors is elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
- Guangxi International Travel Healthcare Centre (Port Clinic of Nanning Customs District)NanningGuangxi530021China
| | - Run‐Cong Nie
- Department of Gastric SurgeryState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Zhang‐Ping He
- Department of PathologyState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Xiao‐Xia Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Jie‐Wei Chen
- Department of PathologyState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Wen‐ping Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Yi‐Xin Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Zhi‐Cheng Xiang
- Department of PathologyState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Tian‐Chen Zhu
- Department of PathologyState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Juan‐Juan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - You‐Cheng Zhang
- Department of PathologyState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Xin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Peng Lin
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Dan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
- Department of PathologyState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
| | - Alan D D'Andrea
- Department of Radiation OncologyDana‐Farber Cancer InstituteBostonMA02215USA
- Center for DNA Damage and RepairDana‐Farber Cancer InstituteBostonMA02215USA
| | - Mu‐Yan Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
- Department of PathologyState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerSun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhou510060China
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25
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Berclaz LM, Burkhard-Meier A, Lange P, Di Gioia D, Schmidt M, Knösel T, Klauschen F, von Bergwelt-Baildon M, Heinemann V, Greif PA, Westphalen CB, Heinrich K, Lindner LH. Implementing precision oncology for sarcoma patients: the CCC LMUmolecular tumor board experience. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:13973-13983. [PMID: 37542550 PMCID: PMC10590320 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05179-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Due to poor outcomes and limited treatment options, patients with advanced bone and soft tissue sarcomas (BS/STS) may undergo comprehensive molecular profiling of tumor samples to identify possible therapeutic targets. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of routine molecular profiling in the setting of a dedicated precision oncology program in patients with BS/STS in a German large-volume sarcoma center. METHODS 92 BS/STS patients who received comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) and were subsequently discussed in our molecular tumor board (MTB) between 2016 and 2022 were included. Patient records were retrospectively reviewed, and the clinical impact of NGS-related findings was analyzed. RESULTS 89.1% of patients had received at least one treatment line before NGS testing. At least one molecular alteration was found in 71 patients (82.6%). The most common alterations were mutations in TP53 (23.3% of patients), followed by PIK3CA and MDM2 mutations (9.3% each). Druggable alterations were identified, and treatment recommended in 32 patients (37.2%). Of those patients with actionable alterations, ten patients (31.2%) received personalized treatment and six patients did benefit from molecular-based therapy in terms of a progression-free survival ratio (PFSr) > 1.3. CONCLUSION Our single-center experience shows an increasing uptake of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and highlights current challenges of implementing precision oncology in the management of patients with BS/STS. A relevant number of patients were diagnosed with clinically actionable alterations. Our results highlight the potential benefit of NGS in patients with rare cancers and currently limited therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luc M Berclaz
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Anton Burkhard-Meier
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Philipp Lange
- Department of Psychology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Dorit Di Gioia
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Schmidt
- Munich Cancer Registry, Institute of Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Knösel
- Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Frederick Klauschen
- Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael von Bergwelt-Baildon
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Volker Heinemann
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Philipp A Greif
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich and Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69121, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - C Benedikt Westphalen
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich and Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Kathrin Heinrich
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich and Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
| | - Lars H Lindner
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
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26
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Cash T, Krailo MD, Buxton AB, Pawel BR, Healey JH, Binitie O, Marcus KJ, Grier HE, Grohar PJ, Reed DR, Weiss AR, Gorlick R, Janeway KA, DuBois SG, Womer RB. Long-Term Outcomes in Patients With Localized Ewing Sarcoma Treated With Interval-Compressed Chemotherapy on Children's Oncology Group Study AEWS0031. J Clin Oncol 2023; 41:4724-4728. [PMID: 37651654 PMCID: PMC10602538 DOI: 10.1200/jco.23.00053] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned coprimary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical trial updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.Long-term outcomes from Children's Oncology Group study AEWS0031 were assessed to determine whether the survival advantage of interval-compressed chemotherapy (ICC) was maintained over 10 years in patients with localized Ewing sarcoma (ES). AEWS0031 enrolled 568 eligible patients. Patients were randomly assigned to receive vincristine-doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide-etoposide alternating once every 3 weeks (standard timing chemotherapy [STC]) versus once every 2 weeks (ICC). For this updated report, one patient was excluded because of uncertainty of original diagnosis. The 10-year event-free survival (EFS) was 70% with ICC compared with 61% with STC (P = .03), and 10-year overall survival (OS) was 76% with ICC compared with 69% with STC (P = .04). There was no difference in the 10-year cumulative incidence of second malignant neoplasms (SMNs; PC [see Data Supplement, online only] = .5). A test for interaction demonstrated that ICC provided greater risk reduction for patients with tumor volume ≥200 mL than for patients with tumors <200 mL, but no evidence for a significant interaction in other subgroups defined by age, primary site, and histologic response. With longer-term follow-up, ICC for localized ES is associated with superior EFS and OS without an increased risk for SMN compared with STC. ICC is associated with improved outcomes even in adverse-risk patient groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Cash
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
| | - Mark D. Krailo
- Children's Oncology Group, Monrovia, CA
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | | | - Bruce R. Pawel
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - John H. Healey
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Odion Binitie
- Department of Sarcoma, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | - Karen J. Marcus
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA
| | - Holcombe E. Grier
- Department of Pediatrics, Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA
| | - Patrick J. Grohar
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Damon R. Reed
- Department of Individualized Cancer Management, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | - Aaron R. Weiss
- Department of Pediatrics, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME
| | - Richard Gorlick
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Katherine A. Janeway
- Department of Pediatrics, Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA
| | - Steven G. DuBois
- Department of Pediatrics, Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA
| | - Richard B. Womer
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
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27
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Rock A, Uche A, Yoon J, Agulnik M, Chow W, Millis S. Bioinformatic Analysis of Recurrent Genomic Alterations and Corresponding Pathway Alterations in Ewing Sarcoma. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1499. [PMID: 37888109 PMCID: PMC10608227 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13101499] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Ewing Sarcoma (ES) is an aggressive, mesenchymal malignancy associated with a poor prognosis in the recurrent or metastatic setting with an estimated overall survival (OS) of <30% at 5 years. ES is characterized by a balanced, reciprocal chromosomal translocation involving the EWSR1 RNA-binding protein and ETS transcription factor gene (EWS-FLI being the most common). Interestingly, murine ES models have failed to produce tumors phenotypically representative of ES. Genomic alterations (GA) in ES are infrequent and may work synergistically with EWS-ETS translocations to promote oncogenesis. Aberrations in fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR4), a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) have been shown to contribute to carcinogenesis. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from knock-in strain of homologous Fgfr4G385R mice display a transformed phenotype with enhanced TGF-induced mammary carcinogenesis. The association between the FGFRG388R SNV in high-grade soft tissue sarcomas has previously been demonstrated conferring a statistically significant association with poorer OS. How the FGFR4G388R SNV specifically relates to ES has not previously been delineated. To further define the genomic landscape and corresponding pathway alterations in ES, comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) was performed on the tumors of 189 ES patients. The FGFR4G388R SNV was identified in a significant proportion of the evaluable cases (n = 97, 51%). In line with previous analyses, TP53 (n = 36, 19%), CDK2NA/B (n = 33, 17%), and STAG2 (n = 22, 11.6%) represented the most frequent alterations in our cohort. Co-occurrence of CDK2NA and STAG2 alterations was observed (n = 5, 3%). Notably, we identified a higher proportion of TP53 mutations than previously observed. The most frequent pathway alterations affected MAPK (n = 89, 24% of pathological samples), HRR (n = 75, 25%), Notch1 (n = 69, 23%), Histone/Chromatin remodeling (n = 57, 24%), and PI3K (n = 64, 20%). These findings help to further elucidate the genomic landscape of ES with a novel investigation of the FGFR4G388R SNV revealing frequent aberration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Rock
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (J.Y.); (M.A.)
| | - An Uche
- Alameda Health System, 1411 E. 31st St., Oakland, CA 94602, USA;
| | - Janet Yoon
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (J.Y.); (M.A.)
| | - Mark Agulnik
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010, USA; (J.Y.); (M.A.)
| | - Warren Chow
- UCI Health, 101 The City Drive, South Orange, CA 92868, USA;
| | - Sherri Millis
- Foundation Medicine, Inc., 150 Second St., Cambridge, MA 02141, USA;
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28
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Abstract
The human genome is organized into multiple structural layers, ranging from chromosome territories to progressively smaller substructures, such as topologically associating domains (TADs) and chromatin loops. These substructures, collectively referred to as long-range chromatin interactions (LRIs), have a significant role in regulating gene expression. TADs are regions of the genome that harbour groups of genes and regulatory elements that frequently interact with each other and are insulated from other regions, thereby preventing widespread uncontrolled DNA contacts. Chromatin loops formed within TADs through enhancer and promoter interactions are elastic, allowing transcriptional heterogeneity and stochasticity. Over the past decade, it has become evident that the 3D genome structure, also referred to as the chromatin architecture, is central to many transcriptional cellular decisions. In this Review, we delve into the intricate relationship between steroid receptors and LRIs, discussing how steroid receptors interact with and modulate these chromatin interactions. Genetic alterations in the many processes involved in organizing the nuclear architecture are often associated with the development of hormone-dependent cancers. A better understanding of the interplay between architectural proteins and hormone regulatory networks can ultimately be exploited to develop improved approaches for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theophilus T Tettey
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lorenzo Rinaldi
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Gordon L Hager
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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29
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Aiba H, Miwa S, Murakami H, Kimura H. Special Issue: "Pediatric Orthopedic Malignancy: Types, Symptoms, and Treatment". CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1545. [PMID: 37761506 PMCID: PMC10527715 DOI: 10.3390/children10091545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric orthopedic malignancies are extremely rare and require appropriate diagnosis and treatment by a multidisciplinary team [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisaki Aiba
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan; (H.M.); (H.K.)
| | - Shinji Miwa
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan;
| | - Hideki Murakami
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan; (H.M.); (H.K.)
| | - Hiroaki Kimura
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan; (H.M.); (H.K.)
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30
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Dupuy M, Lamoureux F, Mullard M, Postec A, Regnier L, Baud’huin M, Georges S, Brounais-Le Royer B, Ory B, Rédini F, Verrecchia F. Ewing sarcoma from molecular biology to the clinic. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1248753. [PMID: 37752913 PMCID: PMC10518617 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1248753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In Europe, with an incidence of 7.5 cases per million, Ewing sarcoma (ES) is the second most common primary malignant bone tumor in children, adolescents and young adults, after osteosarcoma. Since the 1980s, conventional treatment has been based on the use of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapeutic agents combined with surgical resection of the tumor when possible. These treatments have increased the patient survival rate to 70% for localized forms, which drops drastically to less than 30% when patients are resistant to chemotherapy or when pulmonary metastases are present at diagnosis. However, the lack of improvement in these survival rates over the last decades points to the urgent need for new therapies. Genetically, ES is characterized by a chromosomal translocation between a member of the FET family and a member of the ETS family. In 85% of cases, the chromosomal translocation found is (11; 22) (q24; q12), between the EWS RNA-binding protein and the FLI1 transcription factor, leading to the EWS-FLI1 fusion protein. This chimeric protein acts as an oncogenic factor playing a crucial role in the development of ES. This review provides a non-exhaustive overview of ES from a clinical and biological point of view, describing its main clinical, cellular and molecular aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryne Dupuy
- Nantes Université, Inserm UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, CRCI2NA, Université d'Angers, Nantes, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Franck Verrecchia
- Nantes Université, Inserm UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, CRCI2NA, Université d'Angers, Nantes, France
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31
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Kim JA, Crawford KA, Spada PA, Martin LR, Zhang J, Wong R, Reid JM, Stewart CF, Frank TM, Liu Q, Michalek JE, Keller C. Non-chemotherapy adjuvant agents in TP53 mutant Ewing sarcoma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:14360. [PMID: 37658148 PMCID: PMC10474113 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40751-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is a malignant tumor arising in bone or soft tissue that occurs in adolescent and young adult patients as well as adults later in life. Although non-metastatic EWS is typically responsive to treatment when newly diagnosed, relapsed cases have an unmet need for which no standard treatment approach exists. Recent phase III clinical trials for EWS comparing 7 vs 5 chemotherapy drugs have failed to improve survival. To extend the durability of remission for EWS, we investigated 3 non-chemotherapy adjuvant therapy drug candidates to be combined with chemotherapy. The efficacy of these adjuvant drugs was investigated via anchorage-dependent growth assays, anchorage-independent soft-agar colony formation assays and EWS xenograft mouse models. Enoxacin and entinostat were the most effective adjuvant drug in both long-term in vitro and in vivo adjuvant studies. In the context that enoxacin is an FDA-approved antibiotic, and that entinostat is an investigational agent not yet FDA-approved, we propose enoxacin as an adjuvant drug for further preclinical and clinical investigation in EWS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Ah Kim
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 9025 NE Von Neumann Drive Ste 110, Hillsboro, OR, 97006, USA.
| | - Kenneth A Crawford
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 9025 NE Von Neumann Drive Ste 110, Hillsboro, OR, 97006, USA
| | - Piero A Spada
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 9025 NE Von Neumann Drive Ste 110, Hillsboro, OR, 97006, USA
| | - Leah R Martin
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 9025 NE Von Neumann Drive Ste 110, Hillsboro, OR, 97006, USA
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 9025 NE Von Neumann Drive Ste 110, Hillsboro, OR, 97006, USA
| | - Rain Wong
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 9025 NE Von Neumann Drive Ste 110, Hillsboro, OR, 97006, USA
| | - Joel M Reid
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Clinton F Stewart
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105-2794, USA
| | - Timothy M Frank
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 9025 NE Von Neumann Drive Ste 110, Hillsboro, OR, 97006, USA
| | - Qianqian Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Joel E Michalek
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Charles Keller
- Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, 9025 NE Von Neumann Drive Ste 110, Hillsboro, OR, 97006, USA.
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32
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Vanoli F, Antonescu CR. Modeling sarcoma relevant translocations using CRISPR-Cas9 in human embryonic stem derived mesenchymal precursors. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2023; 62:501-509. [PMID: 36965130 PMCID: PMC10725040 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.23141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of cancer relevant translocations in tumorigenesis has been historically hampered by the lack of faithful in vitro and in vivo models. The development of the latest genome editing tools (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9) allowed modeling of various chromosomal translocations with different effects on proliferation and transformation capacity depending on the cell line used and secondary genetic alterations. The cellular context is particularly relevant in the case of oncogenic fusions expressed in sarcomas whose histogenesis remain uncertain. Moreover, recent studies have emphasized the increased frequency of gene fusion promiscuity across different mesenchymal tumor entities, which are clinicopathologically unrelated. This review provides a summary of different strategies utilized to generate cancer models with a focus on fusion-driven mesenchymal neoplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Vanoli
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Cristina R Antonescu
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
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33
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Ding T, Zhang J, Xu H, Zhang X, Yang F, Shi Y, Bai Y, Yang J, Chen C, Zhang H. In-depth understanding of higher-order genome architecture in orphan cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188948. [PMID: 37394019 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
The human genome is intertwined, folded, condensed, and gradually constitutes the 3D architecture, thereby affecting transcription and widely involving in tumorigenesis. Incidence and mortality rates for orphan cancers increase due to poor early diagnosis and lack of effective medical treatments, which are now getting attention. In-depth understanding in tumorigenesis has fast-tracked over the last decade, however, the further role and mechanism of 3D genome organization in variant orphan tumorigenesis remains to be fully understood. We summarize for the first time that higher-order genome organization can provide novel insights into the occurrence mechanisms of orphan cancers, and discuss probable future research directions for drug development and anti-tumor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Ding
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Research Center for Stem Cells, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China; Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Medical Department of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China; School of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China
| | - Jixing Zhang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Research Center for Stem Cells, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China; Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Medical Department of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China; School of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China
| | - Haowen Xu
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Research Center for Stem Cells, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China; Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Medical Department of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China; School of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Research Center for Stem Cells, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China; Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Medical Department of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China; School of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China
| | - Fan Yang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Research Center for Stem Cells, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China; Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Medical Department of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China; School of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China
| | - Yibing Shi
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Research Center for Stem Cells, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China; Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Medical Department of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China; School of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China
| | - Yiran Bai
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Research Center for Stem Cells, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China; Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Medical Department of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China; School of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China
| | - Jiaqi Yang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Research Center for Stem Cells, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China; Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Medical Department of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China; School of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China
| | - Chaoqun Chen
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Research Center for Stem Cells, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China; Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Medical Department of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China; School of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China
| | - He Zhang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Research Center for Stem Cells, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, PR China; Clinical Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Medical Department of Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China; School of Life Science, Jinggangshan University, Ji'an, Jiangxi province, PR China.
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Gong H, Xue B, Ru J, Pei G, Li Y. Targeted Therapy for EWS-FLI1 in Ewing Sarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4035. [PMID: 37627063 PMCID: PMC10452796 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15164035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is a rare and predominantly pediatric malignancy of bone and soft tissue in children and adolescents. Although international collaborations have greatly improved the prognosis of most EwS, the occurrence of macrometastases or relapse remains challenging. The prototypic oncogene EWS-FLI1 acts as an aberrant transcription factor that drives the cellular transformation of EwS. In addition to its involvement in RNA splicing and the DNA damage response, this chimeric protein directly binds to GGAA repeats, thereby modifying the transcriptional profile of EwS. Direct pharmacological targeting of EWS-FLI1 is difficult because of its intrinsically disordered structure. However, targeting the EWS-FLI1 protein complex or downstream pathways provides additional therapeutic options. This review describes the EWS-FLI1 protein partners and downstream pathways, as well as the related target therapies for the treatment of EwS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helong Gong
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110004, China;
| | - Busheng Xue
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China;
| | - Jinlong Ru
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Centre Munich, German Research Centre for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany;
| | - Guoqing Pei
- Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China;
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, No. 36 Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang 110004, China;
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35
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Dermawan JK, Rubin BP. The spectrum and significance of secondary (co-occurring) genetic alterations in sarcomas: the hallmarks of sarcomagenesis. J Pathol 2023; 260:637-648. [PMID: 37345731 DOI: 10.1002/path.6140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Bone and soft tissue tumors are generally classified into complex karyotype sarcomas versus those with recurrent genetic alterations, often in the form of gene fusions. In this review, we provide an overview of important co-occurring genomic alterations, organized by biological mechanisms and covering a spectrum of genomic alteration types: mutations (single-nucleotide variations or indels) in oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, copy number alterations, transcriptomic signatures, genomic complexity indices (e.g. CINSARC), and complex genomic structural variants. We discuss the biological and prognostic roles of these so-called secondary or co-occurring alterations, arguing that recognition and detection of these alterations may be significant for our understanding and management of mesenchymal tumors. On a related note, we also discuss major recurrent alterations in so-called complex karyotype sarcomas. These secondary alterations are essential to sarcomagenesis via a variety of mechanisms, such as inactivation of tumor suppressors, activation of proliferative signal transduction, telomere maintenance, and aberrant regulation of epigenomic/chromatin remodeling players. The use of comprehensive genomic profiling, including targeted next-generation sequencing panels or whole-exome sequencing, may be incorporated into clinical workflows to offer more comprehensive, potentially clinically actionable information. © 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine K Dermawan
- Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Brian P Rubin
- Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
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36
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Kitagawa R, Niikura Y, Becker A, Houghton PJ, Kitagawa K. EWSR1 maintains centromere identity. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112568. [PMID: 37243594 PMCID: PMC10758295 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The centromere is essential for ensuring high-fidelity transmission of chromosomes. CENP-A, the centromeric histone H3 variant, is thought to be the epigenetic mark of centromere identity. CENP-A deposition at the centromere is crucial for proper centromere function and inheritance. Despite its importance, the precise mechanism responsible for maintenance of centromere position remains obscure. Here, we report a mechanism to maintain centromere identity. We demonstrate that CENP-A interacts with EWSR1 (Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1) and EWSR1-FLI1 (the oncogenic fusion protein in Ewing sarcoma). EWSR1 is required for maintaining CENP-A at the centromere in interphase cells. EWSR1 and EWSR1-FLI1 bind CENP-A through the SYGQ2 region within the prion-like domain, important for phase separation. EWSR1 binds to R-loops through its RNA-recognition motif in vitro. Both the domain and motif are required for maintaining CENP-A at the centromere. Therefore, we conclude that EWSR1 guards CENP-A in centromeric chromatins by binding to centromeric RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Risa Kitagawa
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Mays Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3000, USA
| | - Yohei Niikura
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Mays Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3000, USA
| | - Argentina Becker
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Mays Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3000, USA
| | - Peter J Houghton
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Mays Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3000, USA
| | - Katsumi Kitagawa
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Mays Cancer Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3000, USA.
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37
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Chen J, Baxi K, Lipsitt AE, Hensch NR, Wang L, Sreenivas P, Modi P, Zhao XR, Baudin A, Robledo DG, Bandyopadhyay A, Sugalski A, Challa AK, Kurmashev D, Gilbert AR, Tomlinson GE, Houghton P, Chen Y, Hayes MN, Chen EY, Libich DS, Ignatius MS. Defining function of wild-type and three patient-specific TP53 mutations in a zebrafish model of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. eLife 2023; 12:e68221. [PMID: 37266578 PMCID: PMC10322150 DOI: 10.7554/elife.68221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) and generally in sarcomas, the role of wild-type and loss- or gain-of-function TP53 mutations remains largely undefined. Eliminating mutant or restoring wild-type p53 is challenging; nevertheless, understanding p53 variant effects on tumorigenesis remains central to realizing better treatment outcomes. In ERMS, >70% of patients retain wild-type TP53, yet mutations when present are associated with worse prognosis. Employing a kRASG12D-driven ERMS tumor model and tp53 null (tp53-/-) zebrafish, we define wild-type and patient-specific TP53 mutant effects on tumorigenesis. We demonstrate that tp53 is a major suppressor of tumorigenesis, where tp53 loss expands tumor initiation from <35% to >97% of animals. Characterizing three patient-specific alleles reveals that TP53C176F partially retains wild-type p53 apoptotic activity that can be exploited, whereas TP53P153Δ and TP53Y220C encode two structurally related proteins with gain-of-function effects that predispose to head musculature ERMS. TP53P153Δ unexpectedly also predisposes to hedgehog-expressing medulloblastomas in the kRASG12D-driven ERMS-model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangfei Chen
- Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouChina
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Kunal Baxi
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Amanda E Lipsitt
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology Oncology, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Nicole Rae Hensch
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Long Wang
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Prethish Sreenivas
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Paulomi Modi
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Xiang Ru Zhao
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Antoine Baudin
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Daniel G Robledo
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Abhik Bandyopadhyay
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Aaron Sugalski
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology Oncology, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Anil K Challa
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamUnited States
| | - Dias Kurmashev
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Andrea R Gilbert
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Gail E Tomlinson
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology Oncology, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Peter Houghton
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Yidong Chen
- Department of Population Health Sciences, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Madeline N Hayes
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoCanada
| | - Eleanor Y Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - David S Libich
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Myron S Ignatius
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
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Daher M, Zalaquett Z, Chalhoub R, Abi Farraj S, Abdo M, Sebaaly A, Kourie HR, Ghanem I. Molecular and biologic biomarkers of Ewing sarcoma: A systematic review. J Bone Oncol 2023; 40:100482. [PMID: 37180735 PMCID: PMC10173001 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbo.2023.100482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
With an annual incidence of less than 1%, Ewing sarcoma mainly occurs in children and young adults. It is not a frequent tumor but is the second most common bone malignancy in children. It has a 5-year survival rate of 65-75%; however, it has a poor prognosis when it relapses in patients. A genomic profile of this tumor can potentially help identify poor prognosis patients earlier and guide their treatment. A systematic review of the articles concerning genetic biomarkers in Ewing sarcoma was conducted using the Google Scholar, Cochrane, and PubMed database. There were 71 articles discovered. Numerous diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers were found. However, more research is necessary to confirm the role of some of the mentioned biomarkers. .
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Daher
- Orthopedic Department, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon
- Corresponding author at: Hotel Dieu de France, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Ziad Zalaquett
- Hematology-Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ralph Chalhoub
- Hematology-Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Sami Abi Farraj
- Orthopedic Department, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Majd Abdo
- Hematology-Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Amer Sebaaly
- Orthopedic Department, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hampig-Raphaël Kourie
- Hematology-Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ismat Ghanem
- Orthopedic Department, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon
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39
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Kjær EKR, Vase CB, Rossing M, Ahlborn LB, Hjalgrim LL. Detection of circulating tumor-derived material in peripheral blood of pediatric sarcoma patients: A systematic review. Transl Oncol 2023; 34:101690. [PMID: 37201250 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101690] [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: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Detection of circulating tumor-derived material (cTM) in the peripheral blood (PB) of cancer patients has been shown to be useful in early diagnosis, prediction of prognosis, and disease monitoring. However, it has not yet been thoroughly evaluated for pediatric sarcoma patients. METHODS We searched the PubMed and EMBASE databases for studies reporting the detection of circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, and circulating RNA in PB of pediatric sarcoma patients. Data on performance in identifying cTM and its applicability in diagnosis, and evaluation of tumor characteristics, prognostic factors, and treatment response was extracted from publications. RESULTS A total of 79 studies were assigned for the present systematic review, including detection of circulating tumor cells (116 patients), circulating tumor DNA (716 patients), and circulating RNA (2887 patients). Circulating tumor cells were detected in 76% of patients. Circulating DNA was detected in 63% by targeted NGS, 66% by shallow WGS, and 79% by digital droplet PCR. Circulating RNA was detected in 37% of patients. CONCLUSION Of the cTM from Ewing's sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma ctDNA proved to be the best target for clinical application including diagnosis, tumor characterization, prognosis, and monitoring of disease progression and treatment response. For osteosarcoma the most promising targets are copy number alterations or patient specific micro RNAs, however, further investigations are needed to obtain consensus on clinical utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Kristine Ruud Kjær
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Paediatric Oncology Research Laboratory (Bonkolab), Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 5704, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Christian Bach Vase
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Paediatric Oncology Research Laboratory (Bonkolab), Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 5704, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Maria Rossing
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Genomic Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lise Barlebo Ahlborn
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lisa Lyngsie Hjalgrim
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Paediatric Oncology Research Laboratory (Bonkolab), Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, 5704, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark.
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40
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Menon S, Breese MR, Lin YP, Allegakoen H, Perati S, Heslin A, Horlbeck MA, Weissman J, Sweet-Cordero EA, Bivona TG, Tulpule A. FET fusion oncoproteins disrupt physiologic DNA repair networks in cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.30.538578. [PMID: 37205599 PMCID: PMC10187251 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.30.538578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
While oncogenes promote cancer cell growth, unrestrained proliferation represents a significant stressor to cellular homeostasis networks such as the DNA damage response (DDR). To enable oncogene tolerance, many cancers disable tumor suppressive DDR signaling through genetic loss of DDR pathways and downstream effectors (e.g., ATM or p53 tumor suppressor mutations). Whether and how oncogenes can help "self-tolerize" by creating analogous functional deficiencies in physiologic DDR networks is not known. Here we focus on Ewing sarcoma, a FET fusion oncoprotein (EWS-FLI1) driven pediatric bone tumor, as a model for the class of FET rearranged cancers. Native FET protein family members are among the earliest factors recruited to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) during the DDR, though the function of both native FET proteins and FET fusion oncoproteins in DNA repair remains to be defined. Using preclinical mechanistic studies of the DDR and clinical genomic datasets from patient tumors, we discover that the EWS-FLI1 fusion oncoprotein is recruited to DNA DSBs and interferes with native FET (EWS) protein function in activating the DNA damage sensor ATM. As a consequence of FET fusion-mediated interference with the DDR, we establish functional ATM deficiency as the principal DNA repair defect in Ewing sarcoma and the compensatory ATR signaling axis as a collateral dependency and therapeutic target in multiple FET rearranged cancers. More generally, we find that aberrant recruitment of a fusion oncoprotein to sites of DNA damage can disrupt physiologic DSB repair, revealing a mechanism for how growth-promoting oncogenes can also create a functional deficiency within tumor suppressive DDR networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruti Menon
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10021
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 444 East 68th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10065
| | - Marcus R. Breese
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Yone Phar Lin
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Hannah Allegakoen
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Shruthi Perati
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Ann Heslin
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Max A. Horlbeck
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115
| | - Jonathan Weissman
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave, 68-132, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | | | - Trever G. Bivona
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158
| | - Asmin Tulpule
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10021
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 444 East 68th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10065
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41
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Wood GE, Graves LA, Rubin EM, Reed DR, Riedel RF, Strauss SJ. Bad to the Bone: Emerging Approaches to Aggressive Bone Sarcomas. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 2023; 43:e390306. [PMID: 37220319 DOI: 10.1200/edbk_390306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Bone sarcomas are rare heterogeneous tumors that affect patients of all ages including children, adolescent young adults, and older adults. They include many aggressive subtypes and patient groups with poor outcomes, poor access to clinical trials, and lack of defined standard therapeutic strategies. Conventional chondrosarcoma remains a surgical disease, with no defined role for cytotoxic therapy and no approved targeted systemic therapies. Here, we discuss promising novel targets and strategies undergoing evaluation in clinical trials. Multiagent chemotherapy has greatly improved outcomes for patients with Ewing sarcoma (ES) and osteosarcoma, but management of those with high-risk or recurrent disease remains challenging and controversial. We describe the impact of international collaborative trials, such as the rEECur study, that aim to define optimal treatment strategies for those with recurrent, refractory ES, and evidence for high-dose chemotherapy with stem-cell support. We also discuss current and emerging strategies for other small round cell sarcomas, such as CIC-rearranged, BCOR-rearranged tumors, and the evaluation of emerging novel therapeutics and trial designs that may offer a new paradigm to improve survival in these aggressive tumors with notoriously bad (to the bone) outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina E Wood
- Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Laurie A Graves
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Elyssa M Rubin
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA
| | - Damon R Reed
- Department of Individualized Cancer Management, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | - Richard F Riedel
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC
| | - Sandra J Strauss
- Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, UCL Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
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Dang DD, Rosenblum JS, Shah AH, Zhuang Z, Doucet-O’Hare TT. Epigenetic Regulation in Primary CNS Tumors: An Opportunity to Bridge Old and New WHO Classifications. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2511. [PMID: 37173979 PMCID: PMC10177493 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092511] [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: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Originally approved in 1979, a specific grading classification for central nervous system (CNS) tumors was devised by the World Health Organization (WHO) in an effort to guide cancer treatment and better understand prognosis. These "blue books" have since undergone several iterations based on tumor location, advancements in histopathology, and most recently, diagnostic molecular pathology in its fifth edition. As new research methods have evolved to elucidate complex molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis, a need to update and integrate these findings into the WHO grading scheme has become apparent. Epigenetic tools represent an area of burgeoning interest that encompasses all non-Mendelian inherited genetic features affecting gene expression, including but not limited to chromatin remodeling complexes, DNA methylation, and histone regulating enzymes. The SWItch/Sucrose non-fermenting (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complex is the largest mammalian family of chromatin remodeling proteins and is estimated to be altered in 20-25% of all human malignancies; however, the ways in which it contributes to tumorigenesis are not fully understood. We recently discovered that CNS tumors with SWI/SNF mutations have revealed an oncogenic role for endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), remnants of exogenous retroviruses that integrated into the germline and are inherited like Mendelian genes, several of which retain open reading frames for proteins whose expression putatively contributes to tumor formation. Herein, we analyzed the latest WHO classification scheme for all CNS tumors with documented SWI/SNF mutations and/or aberrant ERV expression, and we summarize this information to highlight potential research opportunities that could be integrated into the grading scheme to better delineate diagnostic criteria and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle D. Dang
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jared S. Rosenblum
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ashish H. Shah
- Section of Virology and Immunotherapy, Department of Neurosurgery, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Zhengping Zhuang
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Tara T. Doucet-O’Hare
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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43
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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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44
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Keller KM, Koetsier J, Schild L, Amo-Addae V, Eising S, van den Handel K, Ober K, Koopmans B, Essing A, van den Boogaard ML, Langenberg KPS, Jäger N, Kool M, Pfister S, Dolman MEM, Molenaar JJ, van Hooff SR. The potential of PARP as a therapeutic target across pediatric solid malignancies. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:310. [PMID: 37020198 PMCID: PMC10077757 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-10319-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in children and the need for better therapeutic options remains urgent. Due to the limited number of patients, target and drug development for pediatrics is often supplemented by data from studies focused on adult cancers. Recent evidence shows that pediatric cancers possess different vulnerabilities that should be explored independently from adult cancers. METHODS Using the publicly available Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer database, we explore therapeutic targets and biomarkers specific to the pediatric solid malignancies Ewing sarcoma, medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma. Results are validated using cell viability assays and high-throughput drug screens are used to identify synergistic combinations. RESULTS Using published drug screening data, PARP is identified as a drug target of interest across multiple different pediatric malignancies. We validate these findings, and we show that efficacy can be improved when combined with conventional chemotherapeutics, namely topoisomerase inhibitors. Additionally, using gene set enrichment analysis, we identify ribosome biogenesis as a potential biomarker for PARP inhibition in pediatric cancer cell lines. CONCLUSION Collectively, our results provide evidence to support the further development of PARP inhibition and the combination with TOP1 inhibition as a therapeutic approach in solid pediatric malignancies. Additionally, we propose ribosome biogenesis as a component to PARP inhibitor sensitivity that should be further investigated to help maximize the potential utility of PARP inhibition and combinations across pediatric solid malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaylee M Keller
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Joost Koetsier
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Linda Schild
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Vicky Amo-Addae
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Selma Eising
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Kimberley Ober
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Bianca Koopmans
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Anke Essing
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Natalie Jäger
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Paediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcel Kool
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Paediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Pfister
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Paediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - M Emmy M Dolman
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
- School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jan J Molenaar
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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45
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Liu Y, Klein J, Bajpai R, Dong L, Tran Q, Kolekar P, Smith JL, Ries RE, Huang BJ, Wang YC, Alonzo TA, Tian L, Mulder HL, Shaw TI, Ma J, Walsh MP, Song G, Westover T, Autry RJ, Gout AM, Wheeler DA, Wan S, Wu G, Yang JJ, Evans WE, Loh M, Easton J, Zhang J, Klco JM, Meshinchi S, Brown PA, Pruett-Miller SM, Ma X. Etiology of oncogenic fusions in 5,190 childhood cancers and its clinical and therapeutic implication. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1739. [PMID: 37019972 PMCID: PMC10076316 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37438-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncogenic fusions formed through chromosomal rearrangements are hallmarks of childhood cancer that define cancer subtype, predict outcome, persist through treatment, and can be ideal therapeutic targets. However, mechanistic understanding of the etiology of oncogenic fusions remains elusive. Here we report a comprehensive detection of 272 oncogenic fusion gene pairs by using tumor transcriptome sequencing data from 5190 childhood cancer patients. We identify diverse factors, including translation frame, protein domain, splicing, and gene length, that shape the formation of oncogenic fusions. Our mathematical modeling reveals a strong link between differential selection pressure and clinical outcome in CBFB-MYH11. We discover 4 oncogenic fusions, including RUNX1-RUNX1T1, TCF3-PBX1, CBFA2T3-GLIS2, and KMT2A-AFDN, with promoter-hijacking-like features that may offer alternative strategies for therapeutic targeting. We uncover extensive alternative splicing in oncogenic fusions including KMT2A-MLLT3, KMT2A-MLLT10, C11orf95-RELA, NUP98-NSD1, KMT2A-AFDN and ETV6-RUNX1. We discover neo splice sites in 18 oncogenic fusion gene pairs and demonstrate that such splice sites confer therapeutic vulnerability for etiology-based genome editing. Our study reveals general principles on the etiology of oncogenic fusions in childhood cancer and suggests profound clinical implications including etiology-based risk stratification and genome-editing-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanling Liu
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jonathon Klein
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Center for Advanced Genome Editing, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Richa Bajpai
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Center for Advanced Genome Editing, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Li Dong
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Quang Tran
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Pandurang Kolekar
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jenny L Smith
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rhonda E Ries
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Benjamin J Huang
- Department of Pediatrics and Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Todd A Alonzo
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Liqing Tian
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Heather L Mulder
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Timothy I Shaw
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jing Ma
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Michael P Walsh
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Guangchun Song
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Tamara Westover
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Robert J Autry
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander M Gout
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - David A Wheeler
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Shibiao Wan
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Gang Wu
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jun J Yang
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - William E Evans
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Mignon Loh
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute and the Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - John Easton
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jinghui Zhang
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jeffery M Klco
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - Soheil Meshinchi
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | | | - Shondra M Pruett-Miller
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Center for Advanced Genome Editing, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - Xiaotu Ma
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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46
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Choi JH, Ro JY. The Recent Advances in Molecular Diagnosis of Soft Tissue Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065934. [PMID: 36983010 PMCID: PMC10051446 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue tumors are rare mesenchymal tumors with divergent differentiation. The diagnosis of soft tissue tumors is challenging for pathologists owing to the diversity of tumor types and histological overlap among the tumor entities. Present-day understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of soft tissue tumors has rapidly increased with the development of molecular genetic techniques (e.g., next-generation sequencing). Additionally, immunohistochemical markers that serve as surrogate markers for recurrent translocations in soft tissue tumors have been developed. This review aims to provide an update on recently described molecular findings and relevant novel immunohistochemical markers in selected soft tissue tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon Hyuk Choi
- Department of Pathology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, 170 Hyeonchung-ro, Namgu, Daegu 42415, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Y Ro
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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47
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Kato S, Maeda Y, Sugiyama D, Watanabe K, Nishikawa H, Hinohara K. The cancer epigenome: Non-cell autonomous player in tumor immunity. Cancer Sci 2023; 114:730-740. [PMID: 36468774 PMCID: PMC9986067 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of the tumor-intrinsic epigenetic circuit is a key driver event for the development of cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that epigenetic and/or genetic drivers stimulate intrinsic oncogenic pathways as well as extrinsic factors that modulate the immune system. These modulations indeed shape the tumor microenvironment (TME), allowing pro-oncogenic factors to become oncogenic, thereby contributing to cancer development and progression. Here we review the epigenetic dysregulation arising in cancer cells that disseminates throughout the TME and beyond. Recent CRISPR screening has elucidated key epigenetic drivers that play important roles in the proliferation of cancer cells (intrinsic) and inhibition of antitumor immunity (extrinsic), which lead to the development and progression of cancer. These epigenetic players can serve as promising targets for cancer therapy as a dual (two-in-one)-targeted approach. Considering the interplay between cancer and the immune system as a key determinant of immunotherapy, we discuss a novel lineage-tracing technology that enables longitudinal monitoring of cancer and immune phenotypic heterogeneity and fate paths during cancer development, progression, and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinichiro Kato
- Department of Immunology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.,Center for 5D Cell Dynamics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yuka Maeda
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sugiyama
- Department of Immunology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Keisuke Watanabe
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Nishikawa
- Department of Immunology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.,Center for 5D Cell Dynamics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.,Division of Cancer Immunology, Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.,Institute for Advanced Study, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kunihiko Hinohara
- Department of Immunology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.,Center for 5D Cell Dynamics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.,Institute for Advanced Study, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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48
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Chavan M, Dhakal S, Singh A, Rai V, Arora S, C Mallipeddi M, Das A. Ewing sarcoma genomics and recent therapeutic advancements. PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY ONCOLOGY JOURNAL 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phoj.2023.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
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49
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Lu DY, Ellegast JM, Ross KN, Malone CF, Lin S, Mabe NW, Dharia NV, Meyer A, Conway A, Su AH, Selich-Anderson J, Taslim C, Byrum AK, Seong BKA, Adane B, Gray NS, Rivera MN, Lessnick SL, Stegmaier K. The ETS transcription factor ETV6 constrains the transcriptional activity of EWS-FLI to promote Ewing sarcoma. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:285-297. [PMID: 36658220 PMCID: PMC9928584 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-01059-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) are frequently mutated in cancer. Paediatric cancers exhibit few mutations genome-wide but frequently harbour sentinel mutations that affect TFs, which provides a context to precisely study the transcriptional circuits that support mutant TF-driven oncogenesis. A broadly relevant mechanism that has garnered intense focus involves the ability of mutant TFs to hijack wild-type lineage-specific TFs in self-reinforcing transcriptional circuits. However, it is not known whether this specific type of circuitry is equally crucial in all mutant TF-driven cancers. Here we describe an alternative yet central transcriptional mechanism that promotes Ewing sarcoma, wherein constraint, rather than reinforcement, of the activity of the fusion TF EWS-FLI supports cancer growth. We discover that ETV6 is a crucial TF dependency that is specific to this disease because it, counter-intuitively, represses the transcriptional output of EWS-FLI. This work discovers a previously undescribed transcriptional mechanism that promotes cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Y Lu
- Harvard/MIT MD-PhD Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jana M Ellegast
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth N Ross
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Clare F Malone
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Shan Lin
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nathaniel W Mabe
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Neekesh V Dharia
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ashleigh Meyer
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Amy Conway
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Angela H Su
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Julia Selich-Anderson
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Cenny Taslim
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Andrea K Byrum
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Bo Kyung A Seong
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Biniam Adane
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Miguel N Rivera
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Stephen L Lessnick
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
- Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and BMT, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kimberly Stegmaier
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA.
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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50
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Watson S, LaVigne CA, Xu L, Surdez D, Cyrta J, Calderon D, Cannon MV, Kent MR, Silvius KM, Kucinski JP, Harrison EN, Murchison W, Rakheja D, Tirode F, Delattre O, Amatruda JF, Kendall GC. VGLL2-NCOA2 leverages developmental programs for pediatric sarcomagenesis. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112013. [PMID: 36656711 PMCID: PMC10054615 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical sequencing efforts are rapidly identifying sarcoma gene fusions that lack functional validation. An example is the fusion of transcriptional coactivators, VGLL2-NCOA2, found in infantile rhabdomyosarcoma. To delineate VGLL2-NCOA2 tumorigenic mechanisms and identify therapeutic vulnerabilities, we implement a cross-species comparative oncology approach with zebrafish, mouse allograft, and patient samples. We find that VGLL2-NCOA2 is sufficient to generate mesenchymal tumors that display features of immature skeletal muscle and recapitulate the human disease. A subset of VGLL2-NCOA2 zebrafish tumors transcriptionally cluster with embryonic somitogenesis and identify VGLL2-NCOA2 developmental programs, including a RAS family GTPase, ARF6. In VGLL2-NCOA2 zebrafish, mouse, and patient tumors, ARF6 is highly expressed. ARF6 knockout suppresses VGLL2-NCOA2 oncogenic activity in cell culture, and, more broadly, ARF6 is overexpressed in adult and pediatric sarcomas. Our data indicate that VGLL2-NCOA2 is an oncogene that leverages developmental programs for tumorigenesis and that reactivation or persistence of ARF6 could represent a therapeutic opportunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Watson
- Institut Curie Research Center, Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) Research University, INSERM U830, 75005 Paris, France; Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) Research University, Medical Oncology Department, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Collette A LaVigne
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Lin Xu
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Department of Population and Data Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Didier Surdez
- Institut Curie Research Center, Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) Research University, INSERM U830, 75005 Paris, France; Balgrist University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich (UZH), 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Joanna Cyrta
- Institut Curie, Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) Research University, Department of Pathology, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Delia Calderon
- Center for Childhood Cancer, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Ph.D. Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Matthew V Cannon
- Center for Childhood Cancer, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Matthew R Kent
- Center for Childhood Cancer, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Katherine M Silvius
- Center for Childhood Cancer, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Jack P Kucinski
- Center for Childhood Cancer, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Ph.D. Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Emma N Harrison
- Center for Childhood Cancer, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Whitney Murchison
- Department of Pediatrics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Dinesh Rakheja
- Department of Pediatrics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Franck Tirode
- University Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre LéonBérard, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Olivier Delattre
- Institut Curie Research Center, Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL) Research University, INSERM U830, 75005 Paris, France; Institut Curie, SIREDO Pediatric Center, 75005 Paris, France; Institut Curie Hospital Group, Unité de Génétique Somatique, 75005 Paris, France
| | - James F Amatruda
- Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
| | - Genevieve C Kendall
- Center for Childhood Cancer, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.
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