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Nakamura M, Chonabayashi K, Narita M, Matsumura Y, Nishikawa M, Ochi Y, Nannya Y, Hishizawa M, Inoue D, Delwel R, Ogawa S, Takaori-Kondo A, Yoshida Y. Modelling and drug targeting of a myeloid neoplasm with atypical 3q26/MECOM rearrangement using patient-specific iPSCs. Br J Haematol 2024. [PMID: 39187468 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19720] [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: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Structural variations involving enhancer hijacking induce aberrant oncogene expression and cause tumorigenesis. A rare translocation, t(3;8)(q26.2;q24), is associated with MECOM and MYC rearrangement, causing myeloid neoplasms with a dismal prognosis. The most recent World Health Organization classification recognises myeloid neoplasms with MECOM rearrangement as acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) with defining genetic abnormalities. Recently, the increasing use of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has helped elucidate the pathogenic processes of haematological malignancies. However, its utility for investigating enhancer hijacking in myeloid neoplasms remains unclear. In this study, we generated iPSC lines from patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) harbouring t(3;8)(q26.2;q24) and differentiated them into haematopoietic progenitor cells to model the pathophysiology of MDS with t(3;8)(q26.2;q24). Our iPSC model reproduced the primary patient's MECOM expression changes and histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) patterns in the MECOM promoter and MYC blood enhancer cluster (BENC). Furthermore, we revealed the apoptotic effects of the bromodomain and extra-terminal motif (BET) inhibitor on iPSC-derived MDS cells by suppressing activated MECOM. Our study demonstrates the usefulness of iPSC models for uncovering the precise mechanism of enhancer hijacking due to chromosomal structural changes and discovering potential therapeutic drug candidates for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Momoko Nakamura
- Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kazuhisa Chonabayashi
- Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Megumi Narita
- Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yasuko Matsumura
- Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Misato Nishikawa
- Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yotaro Ochi
- Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Nannya
- Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Division of Hematopoietic Disease Control, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masakatsu Hishizawa
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Hematology, Kyoto-Katsura Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Daichi Inoue
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation, Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Ruud Delwel
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Seishi Ogawa
- Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akifumi Takaori-Kondo
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Yoshida
- Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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2
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Shields MA, Metropulos AE, Spaulding C, Alzahrani KA, Hirose T, Ohno S, Pham TND, Munshi HG. BET Inhibition Rescues Acinar-Ductal-Metaplasia and Ciliogenesis and Ameliorates Chronic Pancreatitis-Driven Changes in Mice with Loss of the Polarity Protein Par3. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024:101389. [PMID: 39128653 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2024.101389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The apical-basal polarity of pancreatic acinar cells is essential for maintaining tissue architecture. However, the mechanisms by which polarity proteins regulate acinar pancreas injury and regeneration are poorly understood. METHODS Cerulein-induced pancreatitis was induced in mice with conditional deletion of the polarity protein Par3 in the pancreas. The impact of Par3 loss on pancreas injury and regeneration was assessed by histologic analyses and transcriptional profiling by RNA sequencing. Mice were pretreated with the bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) inhibitor JQ1 before cotreatment with cerulein to determine the effect of BET inhibition on pancreas injury and regeneration. RESULTS Initially, we show that Par3 is increased in acinar-ductal metaplasia (ADM) lesions present in human and mouse chronic pancreatitis specimens. Although Par3 loss disrupts tight junctions, Par3 is dispensable for pancreatogenesis. However, with aging, Par3 loss results in low-grade inflammation, acinar degeneration, and pancreatic lipomatosis. Par3 loss exacerbates acute pancreatitis-induced injury and chronic pancreatitis-induced acinar cell loss, promotes pancreatic lipomatosis, and prevents regeneration. Par3 loss also results in suppression of chronic pancreatitis-induced ADM and primary ciliogenesis. Notably, targeting BET proteins attenuates chronic pancreatitis-induced loss of primary cilia and promotes ADM in mice lacking pancreatic Par3. Targeting BET proteins also attenuates cerulein-induced acinar cell loss and enhances recovery of acinar cell mass and body weight of mice lacking pancreatic Par3. CONCLUSIONS Combined, this study demonstrates how Par3 restrains chronic pancreatitis-induced changes in the pancreas and identifies a potential role for BET inhibitors to attenuate pancreas injury and facilitate regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario A Shields
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois.
| | - Anastasia E Metropulos
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Christina Spaulding
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Khulood A Alzahrani
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Tomonori Hirose
- Department of Molecular Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan; Department of Cell Biology, Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeo Ohno
- Department of Molecular Biology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Thao N D Pham
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Hidayatullah G Munshi
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois; Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
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3
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Chen L, Qi Q, Jiang X, Wu J, Li Y, Liu Z, Cai Y, Ran H, Zhang S, Zhang C, Wu H, Cao S, Mi L, Xiao D, Huang H, Jiang S, Wu J, Li B, Xie J, Qi J, Li F, Liang P, Han Q, Wu M, Zhou W, Wang C, Zhang W, Jiang X, Zhang K, Li H, Zhang X, Li A, Zhou T, Man J. Phosphocreatine Promotes Epigenetic Reprogramming to Facilitate Glioblastoma Growth Through Stabilizing BRD2. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:1547-1565. [PMID: 38563585 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-1348] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) exhibits profound metabolic plasticity for survival and therapeutic resistance, while the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that GBM stem cells reprogram the epigenetic landscape by producing substantial amounts of phosphocreatine (PCr). This production is attributed to the elevated transcription of brain-type creatine kinase, mediated by Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1. PCr inhibits the poly-ubiquitination of the chromatin regulator bromodomain containing protein 2 (BRD2) by outcompeting the E3 ubiquitin ligase SPOP for BRD2 binding. Pharmacological disruption of PCr biosynthesis by cyclocreatine (cCr) leads to BRD2 degradation and a decrease in its targets' transcription, which inhibits chromosome segregation and cell proliferation. Notably, cyclocreatine treatment significantly impedes tumor growth and sensitizes tumors to a BRD2 inhibitor in mouse GBM models without detectable side effects. These findings highlight that high production of PCr is a druggable metabolic feature of GBM and a promising therapeutic target for GBM treatment. Significance: Glioblastoma (GBM) exhibits an adaptable metabolism crucial for survival and therapy resistance. We demonstrate that GBM stem cells modify their epigenetics by producing phosphocreatine (PCr), which prevents bromodomain containing protein 2 (BRD2) degradation and promotes accurate chromosome segregation. Disrupting PCr biosynthesis impedes tumor growth and improves the efficacy of BRD2 inhibitors in mouse GBM models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lishu Chen
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Qinghui Qi
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoqing Jiang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study and the Center for Medical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- Research Unit for Blindness Prevention, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU026), Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Jin Wu
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control Technology for Environment and Food Safety, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaodan Liu
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Cai
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Haowen Ran
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Songyang Zhang
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Huiran Wu
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Shuailiang Cao
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Lanjuan Mi
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Dake Xiao
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Haohao Huang
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Jiang
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Wu
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Bohan Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Fengtai Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiong Xie
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Fengtai Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ji Qi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Fengtai Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fangye Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Panpan Liang
- Intelligent Pathology Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Qiuying Han
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Min Wu
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Wenchao Zhou
- Intelligent Pathology Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Chenhui Wang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study and the Center for Medical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Weina Zhang
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Jiang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study and the Center for Medical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- Research Unit for Blindness Prevention, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU026), Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Ultrasound, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Huiyan Li
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Xuemin Zhang
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
| | - Ailing Li
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Zhou
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
| | - Jianghong Man
- Nanhu Laboratory, National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China
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4
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Peng X, Huang X, Zhang S, Zhang N, Huang S, Wang Y, Zhong Z, Zhu S, Gao H, Yu Z, Yan X, Tao Z, Dai Y, Zhang Z, Chen X, Wang F, Claret FX, Elkabets M, Ji N, Zhong Y, Kong D. Sequential Inhibition of PARP and BET as a Rational Therapeutic Strategy for Glioblastoma. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2307747. [PMID: 38896791 PMCID: PMC11321613 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202307747] [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: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
PARP inhibitors (PARPi) hold substantial promise in treating glioblastoma (GBM). However, the adverse effects have restricted their broad application. Through unbiased transcriptomic and proteomic sequencing, it is discovered that the BET inhibitor (BETi) Birabresib profoundly alters the processes of DNA replication and cell cycle progression in GBM cells, beyond the previously reported impact of BET inhibition on homologous recombination repair. Through in vitro experiments using established GBM cell lines and patient-derived primary GBM cells, as well as in vivo orthotopic transplantation tumor experiments in zebrafish and nude mice, it is demonstrated that the concurrent administration of PARPi and BETi can synergistically inhibit GBM. Intriguingly, it is observed that DNA damage lingers after discontinuation of PARPi monotherapy, implying that sequential administration of PARPi followed by BETi can maintain antitumor efficacy while reducing toxicity. In GBM cells with elevated baseline replication stress, the sequential regimen exhibits comparable efficacy to concurrent treatment, protecting normal glial cells with lower baseline replication stress from DNA toxicity and subsequent death. This study provides compelling preclinical evidence supporting the development of innovative drug administration strategies focusing on PARPi for GBM therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Peng
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and DiagnosticsSchool of PharmacyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education)International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases (Ministry of Education)Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
- Department of Systems Biologythe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTX77030USA
| | - Xin Huang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and DiagnosticsSchool of PharmacyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education)International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases (Ministry of Education)Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
| | - Shaolu Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and DiagnosticsSchool of PharmacyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education)International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases (Ministry of Education)Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical CountermeasuresBeijing Institute of Pharmacology and ToxicologyBeijing100850China
| | - Naixin Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and DiagnosticsSchool of PharmacyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education)International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases (Ministry of Education)Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
| | - Shengfan Huang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and DiagnosticsSchool of PharmacyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education)International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases (Ministry of Education)Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
| | - Yingying Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and DiagnosticsSchool of PharmacyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education)International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases (Ministry of Education)Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
| | - Zhenxing Zhong
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and DiagnosticsSchool of PharmacyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education)International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases (Ministry of Education)Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
| | - Shan Zhu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and DiagnosticsSchool of PharmacyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education)International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases (Ministry of Education)Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
| | - Haiwang Gao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and DiagnosticsSchool of PharmacyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education)International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases (Ministry of Education)Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
| | - Zixiang Yu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and DiagnosticsSchool of PharmacyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education)International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases (Ministry of Education)Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
| | - Xiaotong Yan
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and DiagnosticsSchool of PharmacyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education)International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases (Ministry of Education)Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
| | - Zhennan Tao
- Department of Neurosurgerythe Affiliated Drum Tower HospitalSchool of MedicineNanjing UniversityNanjing210008China
| | - Yuxiang Dai
- Department of Neurosurgerythe Affiliated Drum Tower HospitalSchool of MedicineNanjing UniversityNanjing210008China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and DiagnosticsSchool of PharmacyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education)International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases (Ministry of Education)Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
| | - Xi Chen
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual ScienceTianjin Eye InstituteTianjin Eye HospitalTianjin300020China
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical BiologyNankai UniversityTianjin300071China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of GeneticsSchool of Basic Medical SciencesTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
| | - Francois X. Claret
- Department of Systems Biologythe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTX77030USA
| | - Moshe Elkabets
- The Shraga Segal Department of MicrobiologyImmunology and GeneticsFaculty of Health SciencesBen‐Gurion University of the NegevBeer‐Sheva84105Israel
| | - Ning Ji
- National Clinical Research Center for CancerTianjin's Clinical Research Center for CancerKey Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and TherapyTianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalTianjin300060China
| | - Yuxu Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical CountermeasuresBeijing Institute of Pharmacology and ToxicologyBeijing100850China
| | - Dexin Kong
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Technologies Enabling Development of Clinical Therapeutics and DiagnosticsSchool of PharmacyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases (Ministry of Education)International Joint Laboratory of Ocular Diseases (Ministry of Education)Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
- Department of PharmacyTianjin Medical University General HospitalTianjin300052China
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5
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Wu D, Yin H, Yang C, Zhang Z, Fang F, Wang J, Li X, Xie Y, Hu X, Zhuo R, Chen Y, Yu J, Li T, Li G, Pan J. The BET PROTAC inhibitor GNE-987 displays anti-tumor effects by targeting super-enhancers regulated gene in osteosarcoma. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:928. [PMID: 39090568 PMCID: PMC11292958 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12691-y] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteosarcoma (OS) is one of the most common primary malignant tumors of bone in children, which develops from osteoblasts and typically occurs during the rapid growth phase of the bone. Recently, Super-Enhancers(SEs)have been reported to play a crucial role in osteosarcoma growth and metastasis. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify specific targeted inhibitors of SEs to assist clinical therapy. This study aimed to elucidate the role of BRD4 inhibitor GNE-987 targeting SEs in OS and preliminarily explore its mechanism. METHODS We evaluated changes in osteosarcoma cells following treatment with a BRD4 inhibitor GNE-987. We assessed the anti-tumor effect of GNE-987 in vitro and in vivo by Western blot, CCK8, flow cytometry detection, clone formation, xenograft tumor size measurements, and Ki67 immunohistochemical staining, and combined ChIP-seq with RNA-seq techniques to find its anti-tumor mechanism. RESULTS In this study, we found that extremely low concentrations of GNE-987(2-10 nM) significantly reduced the proliferation and survival of OS cells by degrading BRD4. In addition, we found that GNE-987 markedly induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in OS cells. Further study indicated that VHL was critical for GNE-987 to exert its antitumor effect in OS cells. Consistent with in vitro results, GNE-987 administration significantly reduced tumor size in xenograft models with minimal toxicity, and partially degraded the BRD4 protein. KRT80 was identified through analysis of the RNA-seq and ChIP-seq data. U2OS HiC analysis suggested a higher frequency of chromatin interactions near the KRT80 binding site. The enrichment of H3K27ac modification at KRT80 was significantly reduced after GNE-987 treatment. KRT80 was identified as playing an important role in OS occurrence and development. CONCLUSIONS This research revealed that GNE-987 selectively degraded BRD4 and disrupted the transcriptional regulation of oncogenes in OS. GNE-987 has the potential to affect KRT80 against OS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Wu
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.92 Zhongnan Street, SIP, Suzhou, 215003, China
| | - Hongli Yin
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.92 Zhongnan Street, SIP, Suzhou, 215003, China
| | - Chun Yang
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.92 Zhongnan Street, SIP, Suzhou, 215003, China
| | - Zimu Zhang
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.92 Zhongnan Street, SIP, Suzhou, 215003, China
| | - Fang Fang
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.92 Zhongnan Street, SIP, Suzhou, 215003, China
| | - Jianwei Wang
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.92 Zhongnan Street, SIP, Suzhou, 215003, China
| | - Xiaolu Li
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.92 Zhongnan Street, SIP, Suzhou, 215003, China
| | - Yi Xie
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.92 Zhongnan Street, SIP, Suzhou, 215003, China
| | - Xiaohan Hu
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.92 Zhongnan Street, SIP, Suzhou, 215003, China
| | - Ran Zhuo
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.92 Zhongnan Street, SIP, Suzhou, 215003, China
| | - Yanling Chen
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.92 Zhongnan Street, SIP, Suzhou, 215003, China
| | - Juanjuan Yu
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.92 Zhongnan Street, SIP, Suzhou, 215003, China
| | - Tiandan Li
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.92 Zhongnan Street, SIP, Suzhou, 215003, China
| | - Gen Li
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.92 Zhongnan Street, SIP, Suzhou, 215003, China.
| | - Jian Pan
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.92 Zhongnan Street, SIP, Suzhou, 215003, China.
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6
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Gu R, Fang H, Wang R, Dai W, Cai G. A comprehensive overview of the molecular features and therapeutic targets in BRAF V600E-mutant colorectal cancer. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1764. [PMID: 39073010 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
As one of the most prevalent digestive system tumours, colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a significant threat to global human health. With the emergence of immunotherapy and target therapy, the prognosis for the majority of CRC patients has notably improved. However, the subset of patients with BRAF exon 15 p.V600E mutation (BRAFV600E) has not experienced remarkable benefits from these therapeutic advancements. Hence, researchers have undertaken foundational investigations into the molecular pathology of this specific subtype and clinical effectiveness of diverse therapeutic drug combinations. This review comprehensively summarised the distinctive molecular features and recent clinical research advancements in BRAF-mutant CRC. To explore potential therapeutic targets, this article conducted a systematic review of ongoing clinical trials involving patients with BRAFV600E-mutant CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Gu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongsheng Fang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Renjie Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weixing Dai
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoxiang Cai
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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7
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Wang Z, Che S, Yu Z. PROTAC: Novel degradable approach for different targets to treat breast cancer. Eur J Pharm Sci 2024; 198:106793. [PMID: 38740076 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2024.106793] [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: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The revolutionary Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTACs) have the exciting potential to reshape the pharmaceutical industry landscape by leveraging the ubiquitin-proteasome system for targeted protein degradation. Breast cancer, the most prevalent cancer in women, could be treated using PROTAC therapy. Although substantial work has been conducted, there is not yet a comprehensive overview or progress update on PROTAC therapy for breast cancer. Hence, in this article, we've compiled recent research progress focusing on different breast cancer target proteins, such as estrogen receptor (ER), BET, CDK, HER2, PARP, EZH2, etc. This resource aims to serve as a guide for future PROTAC-based breast cancer treatment design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjie Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China; Office of Drug Clinical Trials, The People's Hospital of Gaozhou, Maoming, 525200, PR China
| | - Siyao Che
- Hepatological Surgery Department, The People's Hospital of Gaozhou, Maoming, 525200, PR China.
| | - Zhiqiang Yu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Dongguan Institute of Clinical Cancer Research, The Tenth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University (Dongguan People's Hospital), Dongguan 523018, PR China.
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8
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Zhang Y, Ming A, Wang J, Chen W, Fang Z. PROTACs targeting androgen receptor signaling: Potential therapeutic agents for castration-resistant prostate cancer. Pharmacol Res 2024; 205:107234. [PMID: 38815882 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
After the initial androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), part of the prostate cancer may continuously deteriorate into castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The majority of patients suffer from the localized illness at primary diagnosis that could rapidly assault other organs. This disease stage is referred as metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Surgery and radiation are still the treatment of CRPC, but have some adverse effects such as urinary symptoms and sexual dysfunction. Hormonal castration therapy interfering androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway is indispensable for most advanced prostate cancer patients, and the first- and second-generation of novel AR inhibitors could effectively cure hormone sensitive prostate cancer (HSPC). However, the resistance to these chemical agents is inevitable, so many of patients may experience relapses. The resistance to AR inhibitor mainly involves AR mutation, splice variant formation and amplification, which indicates the important role in CRPC. Proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC), a potent technique to degrade targeted protein, has recently undergone extensive development as a biological tool and therapeutic drug. This technique has the potential to become the next generation of antitumor therapeutics as it could overcome the shortcomings of conventional small molecule inhibitors. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms on PROTACs targeting AR signaling for CRPC, hoping to provide insights into drug development and clinical medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulu Zhang
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China; Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Ji'nan, China
| | - Annan Ming
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China; Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Ji'nan, China
| | - Junyan Wang
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China
| | | | - Zhiqing Fang
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Ji'nan, China.
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9
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Liu J, Jiao X, Ma D, Fang Y, Gao Q. CAR-T therapy and targeted treatments: Emerging combination strategies in solid tumors. MED 2024; 5:530-549. [PMID: 38547867 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2024.03.001] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/17/2024]
Abstract
CAR-T cell therapies hold great potential in achieving long-term remission in patients suffering from malignancies. However, their efficacy in treating solid tumors is impeded by challenges such as limited infiltration, compromised cancer recognition, decreased cytotoxicity, heightened exhaustion, absence of memory phenotypes, and inevitable toxicity. To surmount these obstacles, researchers are exploring innovative strategies, including the integration of CAR-T cells with targeted inhibitors. The combination of CAR-T therapies with specific targeted drugs has shown promise in enhancing CAR-T cell infiltration into tumor sites, boosting their tumor recognition capabilities, strengthening their cytotoxicity, alleviating exhaustion, promoting the development of a memory phenotype, and reducing toxicity. By harnessing the synergistic potential, a wider range of patients with solid tumors may potentially experience favorable outcomes. To summarize the current combined strategies of CAR-T therapies and targeted therapies, outline the potential mechanisms, and provide insights for future studies, we conducted this review by collecting existing experimental and clinical evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahao Liu
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaofei Jiao
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ding Ma
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yong Fang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Qinglei Gao
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Biology Research Center (Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education), Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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10
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Darwish DG, El-Sherief HAM, Abdel-Aziz SA, Abuo-Rahma GEDA. A decade's overview of 2-aminothiophenes and their fused analogs as promising anticancer agents. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2024; 357:e2300758. [PMID: 38442316 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202300758] [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: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decades, cancer has been a challenging domain for medicinal chemists as it is an international health concern. In association, small molecules such as 2-aminothiophenes and their derivatives showed significant antitumor activity through variable modes of action. Therefore, this article aims to review the advances regarding these core scaffolds over the past 10 years, where 2-aminothiophenes and their fused analogs are classified and discussed according to their biological activity and mode of action, in the interest of boosting new design pathways for medicinal chemists to develop targeted antitumor candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donia G Darwish
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Deraya University, New Minia, Minia, Egypt
| | - Hany A M El-Sherief
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Deraya University, New Minia, Minia, Egypt
| | - Salah A Abdel-Aziz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Deraya University, New Minia, Minia, Egypt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut Branch, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Gamal El-Din A Abuo-Rahma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Deraya University, New Minia, Minia, Egypt
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
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11
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Atallah-Yunes SA, Habermann TM, Khurana A. Targeted therapy in Burkitt lymphoma: Small molecule inhibitors under investigation. Br J Haematol 2024; 204:2165-2172. [PMID: 38577716 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19425] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Multiagent chemoimmunotherapy remains the standard of care treatment for Burkitt lymphoma leading to a cure in the majority of cases. However, frontline treatment regimens are associated with a significant risk of treatment related toxicity especially in elderly and immunocompromised patients. Additionally, prognosis remains dismal in refractory/relapsed Burkitt lymphoma. Thus, novel therapies are required to not only improve outcomes in relapsed/refractory Burkitt lymphoma but also minimize frontline treatment related toxicities. Recurrent genomic changes and signalling pathway alterations that have been implicated in the Burkitt lymphomagenesis include cell cycle dysregulation, cell proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, epigenetic dysregulation and tonic B-cell receptor-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (BCR-PI3K) signalling. Here, we will discuss novel targeted therapy approaches using small molecule inhibitors that could pave the way to the future treatment landscape based on the understanding of recurrent genomic changes and signalling pathway alterations in the lymphomagenesis of adult Burkitt lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas M Habermann
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Arushi Khurana
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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12
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Hashimoto M, Masuda T, Nakano Y, Tobo T, Saito H, Koike K, Takahashi J, Abe T, Ando Y, Ozato Y, Hosoda K, Higuchi S, Hisamatsu Y, Toshima T, Yonemura Y, Hata T, Uemura M, Eguchi H, Doki Y, Mori M, Mimori K. Tumor suppressive role of the epigenetic master regulator BRD3 in colorectal cancer. Cancer Sci 2024; 115:1866-1880. [PMID: 38494600 PMCID: PMC11145117 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16129] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family proteins are epigenetic master regulators of gene expression via recognition of acetylated histones and recruitment of transcription factors and co-activators to chromatin. Hence, BET family proteins have emerged as promising therapeutic targets in cancer. In this study, we examined the functional role of bromodomain containing 3 (BRD3), a BET family protein, in colorectal cancer (CRC). In vitro and vivo analyses using BRD3-knockdown or BRD3-overexpressing CRC cells showed that BRD3 suppressed tumor growth and cell cycle G1/S transition and induced p21 expression. Clinical analysis of CRC datasets from our hospital or The Cancer Genome Atlas revealed that BET family genes, including BRD3, were overexpressed in tumor tissues. In immunohistochemical analyses, BRD3 was observed mainly in the nucleus of CRC cells. According to single-cell RNA sequencing in untreated CRC tissues, BRD3 was highly expressed in malignant epithelial cells, and cell cycle checkpoint-related pathways were enriched in the epithelial cells with high BRD3 expression. Spatial transcriptomic and single-cell RNA sequencing analyses of CRC tissues showed that BRD3 expression was positively associated with high p21 expression. Furthermore, overexpression of BRD3 combined with knockdown of, a driver gene in the BRD family, showed strong inhibition of CRC cells in vitro. In conclusion, we demonstrated a novel tumor suppressive role of BRD3 that inhibits tumor growth by cell cycle inhibition in part via induction of p21 expression. BRD3 activation might be a novel therapeutic approach for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Hashimoto
- Department of SurgeryKyushu University Beppu HospitalBeppuJapan
- Department of Gastroenterological SurgeryOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineSuitaJapan
| | - Takaaki Masuda
- Department of SurgeryKyushu University Beppu HospitalBeppuJapan
| | - Yusuke Nakano
- Department of SurgeryKyushu University Beppu HospitalBeppuJapan
- Department of Gastroenterological SurgeryOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineSuitaJapan
| | - Taro Tobo
- Department of PathologyKyushu University Beppu HospitalBeppuJapan
| | - Hideyuki Saito
- Department of SurgeryKyushu University Beppu HospitalBeppuJapan
| | - Kensuke Koike
- Department of SurgeryKyushu University Beppu HospitalBeppuJapan
| | | | - Tadashi Abe
- Department of SurgeryKyushu University Beppu HospitalBeppuJapan
| | - Yuki Ando
- Department of SurgeryKyushu University Beppu HospitalBeppuJapan
| | - Yuki Ozato
- Department of SurgeryKyushu University Beppu HospitalBeppuJapan
- Department of Gastroenterological SurgeryOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineSuitaJapan
| | - Kiyotaka Hosoda
- Department of SurgeryKyushu University Beppu HospitalBeppuJapan
| | - Satoshi Higuchi
- Department of SurgeryKyushu University Beppu HospitalBeppuJapan
- Department of Gastroenterological SurgeryOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineSuitaJapan
| | | | - Takeo Toshima
- Department of SurgeryKyushu University Beppu HospitalBeppuJapan
| | - Yusuke Yonemura
- Department of SurgeryKyushu University Beppu HospitalBeppuJapan
| | - Tsuyoshi Hata
- Department of Gastroenterological SurgeryOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineSuitaJapan
| | - Mamoru Uemura
- Department of Gastroenterological SurgeryOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineSuitaJapan
| | - Hidetoshi Eguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological SurgeryOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineSuitaJapan
| | - Yuichiro Doki
- Department of Gastroenterological SurgeryOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineSuitaJapan
| | - Masaki Mori
- Tokai University School of MedicineIseharaJapan
| | - Koshi Mimori
- Department of SurgeryKyushu University Beppu HospitalBeppuJapan
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13
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Jiang Z, Cai G, Liu H, Liu L, Huang R, Nie X, Gui R, Li J, Ma J, Cao K, Luo Y. A combination of a TLR7/8 agonist and an epigenetic inhibitor suppresses triple-negative breast cancer through triggering anti-tumor immune. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:296. [PMID: 38811964 PMCID: PMC11134718 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02525-1] [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: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Combination therapy involving immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and other drugs is a potential strategy for converting immune-cold tumors into immune-hot tumors to benefit from immunotherapy. To achieve drug synergy, we developed a homologous cancer cell membrane vesicle (CM)-coated metal-organic framework (MOF) nanodelivery platform for the codelivery of a TLR7/8 agonist with an epigenetic inhibitor. METHODS A novel biomimetic codelivery system (MCM@UN) was constructed by MOF nanoparticles UiO-66 loading with a bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) inhibitor and then coated with the membrane vesicles of homologous cancer cells that embedding the 18 C lipid tail of 3M-052 (M). The antitumor immune ability and tumor suppressive effect of MCM@UN were evaluated in a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and in vitro. The tumor immune microenvironment was analyzed by multicolor immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS In vitro and in vivo data showed that MCM@UN specifically targeted to TNBC cells and was superior to the free drug in terms of tumor growth inhibition and antitumor immune activity. In terms of mechanism, MCM@UN blocked BRD4 and PD-L1 to prompt dying tumor cells to disintegrate and expose tumor antigens. The disintegrated tumor cells released damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), recruited dendritic cells (DCs) to efficiently activate CD8+ T cells to mediate effective and long-lasting antitumor immunity. In addition, TLR7/8 agonist on MCM@UN enhanced lymphocytes infiltration and immunogenic cell death and decreased regulatory T-cells (Tregs). On clinical specimens, we found that mature DCs infiltrating tumor tissues of TNBC patients were negatively correlated with the expression of BRD4, which was consistent with the result in animal model. CONCLUSION MCM@UN specifically targeted to TNBC cells and remodeled tumor immune microenvironment to inhibit malignant behaviors of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Jiang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Guangqing Cai
- Department of Orthopedics, Changsha Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Changsha Eighth Hospital), Changsha, Hunan, 410013, P. R. China
| | - Haiting Liu
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Leping Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Rong Huang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Xinmin Nie
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Rong Gui
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Jinqi Ma
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Ke Cao
- Department of Oncology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.
| | - Yanwei Luo
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.
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14
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Luo J, Chen Z, Qiao Y, Tien JCY, Young E, Mannan R, Mahapatra S, He T, Eyunni S, Zhang Y, Zheng Y, Su F, Cao X, Wang R, Cheng Y, Seri R, George J, Shahine M, Miner SJ, Vaishampayan U, Wang M, Wang S, Parolia A, Chinnaiyan AM. p300/CBP degradation is required to disable the active AR enhanceosome in prostate cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.29.587346. [PMID: 38586029 PMCID: PMC10996709 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.29.587346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is an exemplar of an enhancer-binding transcription factor-driven disease. The androgen receptor (AR) enhanceosome complex comprised of chromatin and epigenetic coregulators assembles at enhancer elements to drive disease progression. The paralog lysine acetyltransferases p300 and CBP deposit histone marks that are associated with enhancer activation. Here, we demonstrate that p300/CBP are determinant cofactors of the active AR enhanceosome in prostate cancer. Histone H2B N-terminus multisite lysine acetylation (H2BNTac), which is exclusively reliant on p300/CBP catalytic function, marked active enhancers and was notably elevated in prostate cancer lesions relative to the adjacent benign epithelia. Degradation of p300/CBP rapidly depleted acetylation marks associated with the active AR enhanceosome, which was only partially phenocopied by inhibition of their reader bromodomains. Notably, H2BNTac was effectively abrogated only upon p300/CBP degradation, which led to a stronger suppression of p300/CBP-dependent oncogenic gene programs relative to bromodomain inhibition or the inhibition of its catalytic domain. In vivo experiments using an orally active p300/CBP proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) degrader (CBPD-409) showed that p300/CBP degradation potently inhibited tumor growth in preclinical models of castration-resistant prostate cancer and synergized with AR antagonists. While mouse p300/CBP orthologs were effectively degraded in host tissues, prolonged treatment with the PROTAC degrader was well tolerated with no significant signs of toxicity. Taken together, our study highlights the pivotal role of p300/CBP in maintaining the active AR enhanceosome and demonstrates how target degradation may have functionally distinct effects relative to target inhibition, thus supporting the development of p300/CBP degraders for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Luo
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Zhixiang Chen
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Yuanyuan Qiao
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Jean Ching-Yi Tien
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Eleanor Young
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rahul Mannan
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Somnath Mahapatra
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Tongchen He
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sanjana Eyunni
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Pathology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yuping Zhang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yang Zheng
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Fengyun Su
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Xuhong Cao
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rui Wang
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yunhui Cheng
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rithvik Seri
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - James George
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Miriam Shahine
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Stephanie J. Miner
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ulka Vaishampayan
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mi Wang
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Shaomeng Wang
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Abhijit Parolia
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Arul M. Chinnaiyan
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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15
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Zhou Y, Tao L, Qiu J, Xu J, Yang X, Zhang Y, Tian X, Guan X, Cen X, Zhao Y. Tumor biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and targeted therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:132. [PMID: 38763973 PMCID: PMC11102923 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01823-2] [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: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor biomarkers, the substances which are produced by tumors or the body's responses to tumors during tumorigenesis and progression, have been demonstrated to possess critical and encouraging value in screening and early diagnosis, prognosis prediction, recurrence detection, and therapeutic efficacy monitoring of cancers. Over the past decades, continuous progress has been made in exploring and discovering novel, sensitive, specific, and accurate tumor biomarkers, which has significantly promoted personalized medicine and improved the outcomes of cancer patients, especially advances in molecular biology technologies developed for the detection of tumor biomarkers. Herein, we summarize the discovery and development of tumor biomarkers, including the history of tumor biomarkers, the conventional and innovative technologies used for biomarker discovery and detection, the classification of tumor biomarkers based on tissue origins, and the application of tumor biomarkers in clinical cancer management. In particular, we highlight the recent advancements in biomarker-based anticancer-targeted therapies which are emerging as breakthroughs and promising cancer therapeutic strategies. We also discuss limitations and challenges that need to be addressed and provide insights and perspectives to turn challenges into opportunities in this field. Collectively, the discovery and application of multiple tumor biomarkers emphasized in this review may provide guidance on improved precision medicine, broaden horizons in future research directions, and expedite the clinical classification of cancer patients according to their molecular biomarkers rather than organs of origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhou
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Lei Tao
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jiahao Qiu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xinyu Yang
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- School of Medicine, Tibet University, Lhasa, 850000, China
| | - Xinyu Tian
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xinqi Guan
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaobo Cen
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- National Chengdu Center for Safety Evaluation of Drugs, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yinglan Zhao
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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16
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Hao B, Chen K, Zhai L, Liu M, Liu B, Tan M. Substrate and Functional Diversity of Protein Lysine Post-translational Modifications. GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2024; 22:qzae019. [PMID: 38862432 DOI: 10.1093/gpbjnl/qzae019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Lysine post-translational modifications (PTMs) are widespread and versatile protein PTMs that are involved in diverse biological processes by regulating the fundamental functions of histone and non-histone proteins. Dysregulation of lysine PTMs is implicated in many diseases, and targeting lysine PTM regulatory factors, including writers, erasers, and readers, has become an effective strategy for disease therapy. The continuing development of mass spectrometry (MS) technologies coupled with antibody-based affinity enrichment technologies greatly promotes the discovery and decoding of PTMs. The global characterization of lysine PTMs is crucial for deciphering the regulatory networks, molecular functions, and mechanisms of action of lysine PTMs. In this review, we focus on lysine PTMs, and provide a summary of the regulatory enzymes of diverse lysine PTMs and the proteomics advances in lysine PTMs by MS technologies. We also discuss the types and biological functions of lysine PTM crosstalks on histone and non-histone proteins and current druggable targets of lysine PTM regulatory factors for disease therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingbing Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Tianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Kaifeng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Linhui Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan 528400, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Muyin Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Pharmaceutical Compound Screening, College of Pharmacy, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| | - Minjia Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan 528400, China
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17
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Wang Y, Wei T, Zhao M, Huang A, Sun F, Chen L, Lin R, Xie Y, Zhang M, Xu S, Sun Z, Hong L, Wang R, Tian R, Li G. Alkenyl oxindole is a novel PROTAC moiety that recruits the CRL4DCAF11 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex for targeted protein degradation. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002550. [PMID: 38768083 PMCID: PMC11104598 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002550] [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: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Alkenyl oxindoles have been characterized as autophagosome-tethering compounds (ATTECs), which can target mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT) for lysosomal degradation. In order to expand the application of alkenyl oxindoles for targeted protein degradation, we designed and synthesized a series of heterobifunctional compounds by conjugating different alkenyl oxindoles with bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) inhibitor JQ1. Through structure-activity relationship study, we successfully developed JQ1-alkenyl oxindole conjugates that potently degrade BRD4. Unexpectedly, we found that these molecules degrade BRD4 through the ubiquitin-proteasome system, rather than the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. Using pooled CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screening, we revealed that JQ1-alkenyl oxindole conjugates recruit the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex CRL4DCAF11 for substrate degradation. Furthermore, we validated the most potent heterobifunctional molecule HL435 as a promising drug-like lead compound to exert antitumor activity both in vitro and in a mouse xenograft tumor model. Our research provides new employable proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) moieties for targeted protein degradation, providing new possibilities for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tianzi Wei
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Department of Medical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Man Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Aima Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fan Sun
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Risheng Lin
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Department of Medical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yubao Xie
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shiyu Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhihui Sun
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liang Hong
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Institute of Materia Medica and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ruilin Tian
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Department of Medical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guofeng Li
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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18
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Huang D, Zou Y, Huang H, Yin J, Long S, Sun W, Du J, Fan J, Chen X, Peng X. A PROTAC Augmenter for Photo-Driven Pyroptosis in Breast Cancer. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2313460. [PMID: 38364230 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202313460] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) has recently emerged as a promising strategy for inducing post-translational knockdown of target proteins in disease treatment. The degradation of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), an essential nuclear protein for gene transcription, induced by PROTAC is proposed as an epigenetic approach to treat breast cancer. However, the poor membrane permeability and indiscriminate distribution of PROTAC in vivo results in low bioavailability, limiting its development and application. Herein, a nano "targeting chimera" (abbreviated as L@NBMZ) consisting of BRD4-PROTAC combined with a photosensitizer, to serve as the first augmenter for photo-driven pyroptosis in breast cancer, is developed. With excellent BRD4 degradation ability, high biosafety, and biocompatibility, L@NBMZ blocks gene transcription by degrading BRD4 through proteasomes in vivo, and surprisingly, induces the cleavage of caspase-3. This type of caspase-3 cleavage is synergistically amplified by light irradiation in the presence of photosensitizers, leading to efficient photo-driven pyroptosis. Both in vitro and in vivo outcomes demonstrate the remarkable anti-cancer efficacy of this augmenter, which significantly inhibits the lung metastasis of breast cancer in vivo. Thus, the photo-PROTAC "targeting chimera" augmenter construction strategy may pave a new way for expanding PROTAC applications within anti-cancer paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daipeng Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Yang Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Haiqiao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518071, P. R. China
| | - Jikai Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Saran Long
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Wen Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Jianjun Du
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Jiangli Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoqiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518071, P. R. China
| | - Xiaojun Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518071, P. R. China
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19
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Enikeeva K, Rafikova G, Sharifyanova Y, Mulyukova D, Vanzin A, Pavlov V. Epigenetics as a Key Factor in Prostate Cancer. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024; 8:e2300520. [PMID: 38379272 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300520] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Nowadays, prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of malignant neoplasms in men all over the world. Against the background of increasing incidence, there is a high mortality rate from prostate cancer, which is associated with an inadequate treatment strategy. Such a high prevalence of prostate cancer requires the development of methods that can ensure early detection of the disease, improve the effectiveness of treatment, and predict the therapeutic effect. Under these circumstances, it becomes crucial to focus on the development of effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Due to the development of molecular genetic methods, a large number of studies have been accumulated on the role of epigenetic regulation of gene activity in cancer development, since it is epigenetic changes that can be detected at the earliest stages of cancer development. The presence of epigenetic aberrations in tumor tissue and correlations with drug resistance suggest new therapeutic approaches. Detection of epigenetic alterations such as CpG island methylation, histone modification, and microRNAs as biomarkers will improve the diagnosis of the disease, and the use of these strategies as targets for therapy will allow for greater personalization of prostate cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kadriia Enikeeva
- Institute of Urology and Clinical Oncology, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, 450008, Russia
| | - Guzel Rafikova
- Institute of Urology and Clinical Oncology, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, 450008, Russia
| | - Yuliya Sharifyanova
- Institute of Urology and Clinical Oncology, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, 450008, Russia
| | - Diana Mulyukova
- Institute of Urology and Clinical Oncology, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, 450008, Russia
| | - Alexandr Vanzin
- Institute of Urology and Clinical Oncology, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, 450008, Russia
| | - Valentin Pavlov
- Institute of Urology and Clinical Oncology, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, 450008, Russia
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20
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Qiang Y, Fan J, Xie C, Yan L, Song X, Zhang N, Lin Y, Xiong J, Zhang W, Liu Y, Wei L, Li Y, Chen S, Liang K, Li F. KDM5C-Mediated Recruitment of BRD4 to Chromatin Regulates Enhancer Activation and BET Inhibitor Sensitivity. Cancer Res 2024; 84:1252-1269. [PMID: 38285760 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-2888] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
The BET family member BRD4 is a bromodomain-containing protein that plays a vital role in driving oncogene expression. Given their pivotal role in regulating oncogenic networks in various cancer types, BET inhibitors (BETi) have been developed, but the clinical application has been impeded by dose-limiting toxicity and resistance. Understanding the mechanisms of BRD4 activity and identifying predictive biomarkers could facilitate the successful clinical use of BETis. Herein, we show that KDM5C and BRD4 cooperate to sustain tumor cell growth. Mechanistically, KDM5C interacted with BRD4 and stimulated BRD4 enhancer recruitment. Moreover, binding of the BRD4 C-terminus to KDM5C stimulated the H3K4 demethylase activity of KDM5C. The abundance of both KDM5C-associated BRD4 and H3K4me1/3 determined the transcriptional activation of many oncogenes. Notably, depletion or pharmacologic degradation of KDM5C dramatically reduced BRD4 chromatin enrichment and significantly increased BETi efficacy across multiple cancer types in both tumor cell lines and patient-derived organoid models. Furthermore, targeting KDM5C in combination with BETi suppressed tumor growth in vivo in a xenograft mouse model. Collectively, this work reveals a KDM5C-mediated mechanism by which BRD4 regulates transcription, providing a rationale for incorporating BETi into combination therapies with KDM5C inhibitors to enhance treatment efficacy. SIGNIFICANCE BRD4 is recruited to enhancers in a bromodomain-independent manner by binding KDM5C and stimulates KDM5C H3K4 demethylase activity, leading to synergistic effects of BET and KDM5C inhibitor combinations in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Qiang
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiachen Fan
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuanshuai Xie
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Leilei Yan
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaofei Song
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Lin
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jie Xiong
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Wei
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Shizhen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Kaiwei Liang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Medical Genetics, TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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21
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Stolfi C. Editorial for the Special Issue "Latest Review Papers in Molecular Oncology 2023". Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3257. [PMID: 38542229 PMCID: PMC10970545 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063257] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Human cancers are products of multistep processes resulting in abnormal cell growth and differentiation, along with a loss of apoptotic function, leading to the uncontrolled expansion of neoplastic cells and their spread to surrounding tissues and, ultimately, distant parts of the body [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmine Stolfi
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
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22
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Wang X, Qin ZL, Li N, Jia MQ, Liu QG, Bai YR, Song J, Yuan S, Zhang SY. Annual review of PROTAC degraders as anticancer agents in 2022. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 267:116166. [PMID: 38281455 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116166] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Following nearly two decades of development, significant advancements have been achieved in PROTAC technology. As of the end of 2022, more than 20 drugs have entered clinical trials, with ARV-471 targeting estrogen receptor (ER) showing remarkable progress by entering phase III clinical studies. In 2022, significant progress has been made on multiple targets. The first reversible covalent degrader designed to target the KRASG12C mutant protein, based on cyclopropionamide, has been reported. Additionally, the activity HDCA1 degrader surpassed submicromolar levels during the same year. A novel FEM1B covalent ligand called EN106 was also discovered, expanding the range of available ligands. Furthermore, the first PROTAC drug targeting SOS1 was reported. Additionally, the first-in-class degraders that specifically target BRD4 isoforms (BRD4 L and BRD4 S) have recently been reported, providing a valuable tool for further investigating the biological functions of these isoforms. Lastly, a breakthrough was also achieved with the first degrader targeting both CDK9 and Cyclin T1. In this review, we aimed to update the PROTAC degraders as potential anticancer agents covering articles published in 2022. The design strategies, degradation effects, and anticancer activities were highlighted, which might provide an updated sight to develop novel PROTAC degraders with great potential as anticancer agents as well as favorable drug-like properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Zhao-Long Qin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Na Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Mei-Qi Jia
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Qiu-Ge Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Yi-Ru Bai
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery & Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies (Ministry of Education), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Jian Song
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
| | - Shuo Yuan
- Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450018, China.
| | - Sai-Yang Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention &Treatment, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
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23
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Chen M, Guo X, Guo J, Shi C, Wu Y, Chen L, Mao R, Fan Y. Cytoplasmic Accumulation of Histones Induced by BET Inhibition Protects Cells from C9orf72 Poly(PR)-Induced Cell Death. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024; 8:e2300334. [PMID: 38213020 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300334] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Repeat dipeptides such as poly(proline-arginine) (polyPR) are generated from the hexanucleotide GGGGCC repeat expansions in the C9orf72 gene. These dipeptides are often considered as the genetic cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). In the study, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled PR20 is used to investigate PR20-induced cell death. The findings reveal that the cell death induced by PR20 is dependent on its nuclear distribution and can be blocked by a nuclear import inhibitor called importazole. Further investigation reveals that BRD4 inhibitors, such as JQ-1 and I-BET762, restrict cytoplasmic localization of PR20, thereby reducing its cytotoxic effect. Mechanistically, the inhibition of BRD4 leads to an increase in the expression of numerous histones, resulting in the accumulation of histones in the cytoplasm. These cytoplasmic histones associate with PR20 and limit its distribution within the nucleus. Notably, the ectopic expression of histones alone is enough to confer protection to cells treated with PR20. In addition, phenylephrine (PE) induces cellular hypertrophy and cytoplasmic distribution of histone, which also helps protect cells from PR20-induced cell death. The research suggests that temporarily inducing the presence of cytoplasmic histones may alleviate the neurotoxic effects of dipeptide repeat proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaomiao Chen
- Laboratory of Medical Science, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Xiaohong Guo
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Jinjing Guo
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Conglin Shi
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Laboratory of Medical Science, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Liuting Chen
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Renfang Mao
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yihui Fan
- Laboratory of Medical Science, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
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24
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Ali I, Cha HJ, Lim B, Chae CH, Youm J, Park WJ, Lee SH, Kim JH, Jeong D, Lim JK, Hwang YH, Roe JS, Woo JS, Lee K, Choi G. DW71177: A novel [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline-based potent and BD1-Selective BET inhibitor for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 265:116052. [PMID: 38134745 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116052] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family proteins recognize acetyl-lysine (Kac) at the histone tail through two tandem bromodomains, i.e., BD1 and BD2, to regulate gene expression. BET proteins are attractive therapeutic targets in cancer due to their involvement in oncogenic transcriptional activation, and bromodomains have defined Kac-binding pockets. Here, we present DW-71177, a potent BET inhibitor that selectively interacts with BD1 and exhibits strong antileukemic activity. X-ray crystallography, isothermal titration calorimetry, and molecular dynamic studies have revealed the robust and specific binding of DW-71177 to the Kac-binding pocket of BD1. DW-71177 effectively inhibits oncogenes comparable to the pan-BET inhibitor OTX-015, but with a milder impact on housekeeping genes. It efficiently blocks cancer-associated transcriptional changes by targeting genes that are highly enriched with BRD4 and histone acetylation marks, suggesting that BD1-selective targeting could be an effective and safe therapeutic strategy against leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imran Ali
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea; Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, Korea National University of Science and Technology, 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung Jin Cha
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Byungho Lim
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Chong Hak Chae
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihyun Youm
- Dongwha Pharm Research Institute, 71 Tapsil-ro, 35 Beon-gil, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17084, Republic of Korea
| | - Whui Jung Park
- Dongwha Pharm Research Institute, 71 Tapsil-ro, 35 Beon-gil, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17084, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Ho Lee
- Dongwha Pharm Research Institute, 71 Tapsil-ro, 35 Beon-gil, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17084, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Hwan Kim
- Dongwha Pharm Research Institute, 71 Tapsil-ro, 35 Beon-gil, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17084, Republic of Korea
| | - Docgyun Jeong
- Dongwha Pharm Research Institute, 71 Tapsil-ro, 35 Beon-gil, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17084, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Kyung Lim
- Dongwha Pharm Research Institute, 71 Tapsil-ro, 35 Beon-gil, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17084, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Ha Hwang
- Dongwha Pharm Research Institute, 71 Tapsil-ro, 35 Beon-gil, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17084, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Seok Roe
- Department of Biochemistry, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Sung Woo
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kwangho Lee
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea; Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, Korea National University of Science and Technology, 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea.
| | - Gildon Choi
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea; Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, Korea National University of Science and Technology, 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea.
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25
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Das D, Leung JY, Balamurugan S, Tergaonkar V, Loh AHP, Chiang CM, Taneja R. BRD4 isoforms have distinct roles in tumour progression and metastasis in rhabdomyosarcoma. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:832-852. [PMID: 38191874 PMCID: PMC10897194 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-023-00033-1] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BRD4, a bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) protein, is deregulated in multiple cancers and has emerged as a promising drug target. However, the function of the two main BRD4 isoforms (BRD4-L and BRD4-S) has not been analysed in parallel in most cancers. This complicates determining therapeutic efficacy of pan-BET inhibitors. In this study, using functional and transcriptomic analysis, we show that BRD-L and BRD4-S isoforms play distinct roles in fusion negative embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. BRD4-L has an oncogenic role and inhibits myogenic differentiation, at least in part, by activating myostatin expression. Depletion of BRD4-L in vivo impairs tumour progression but does not impact metastasis. On the other hand, depletion of BRD4-S has no significant impact on tumour growth, but strikingly promotes metastasis in vivo. Interestingly, BRD4-S loss results in the enrichment of BRD4-L and RNA Polymerase II at integrin gene promoters resulting in their activation. In fusion positive alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, BRD4-L is unrestricted in its oncogenic role, with no evident involvement of BRD4-S. Our work unveils isoform-specific functions of BRD4 in rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipanwita Das
- Department of Physiology, Healthy Longevity and NUS Center for Cancer Research Translation Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
| | - Jia Yu Leung
- Department of Physiology, Healthy Longevity and NUS Center for Cancer Research Translation Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 138673, Singapore
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119074, Singapore
| | - Shivaranjani Balamurugan
- Department of Physiology, Healthy Longevity and NUS Center for Cancer Research Translation Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
| | - Vinay Tergaonkar
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 138673, Singapore
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119074, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117596, Singapore
| | - Amos Hong Pheng Loh
- VIVA-KKH Paediatric Brain and Solid Tumour Programme, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, 229899, Singapore
| | - Cheng-Ming Chiang
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Reshma Taneja
- Department of Physiology, Healthy Longevity and NUS Center for Cancer Research Translation Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore.
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26
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Peng X, Hu Z, Zeng L, Zhang M, Xu C, Lu B, Tao C, Chen W, Hou W, Cheng K, Bi H, Pan W, Chen J. Overview of epigenetic degraders based on PROTAC, molecular glue, and hydrophobic tagging technologies. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:533-578. [PMID: 38322348 PMCID: PMC10840439 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.09.003] [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: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic pathways play a critical role in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of cancer. Over the past few decades, significant progress has been made in the development of targeted epigenetic modulators (e.g., inhibitors). However, epigenetic inhibitors have faced multiple challenges, including limited clinical efficacy, toxicities, lack of subtype selectivity, and drug resistance. As a result, the design of new epigenetic modulators (e.g., degraders) such as PROTACs, molecular glue, and hydrophobic tagging (HyT) degraders has garnered significant attention from both academia and pharmaceutical industry, and numerous epigenetic degraders have been discovered in the past decade. In this review, we aim to provide an in-depth illustration of new degrading strategies (2017-2023) targeting epigenetic proteins for cancer therapy, focusing on the rational design, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, clinical status, and crystal structure information of these degraders. Importantly, we also provide deep insights into the potential challenges and corresponding remedies of this approach to drug design and development. Overall, we hope this review will offer a better mechanistic understanding and serve as a useful guide for the development of emerging epigenetic-targeting degraders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Peng
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Zhihao Hu
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Limei Zeng
- College of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Meizhu Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Congcong Xu
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Benyan Lu
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Chengpeng Tao
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Weiming Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Wen Hou
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Kui Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Huichang Bi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Wanyi Pan
- College of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 314000, China
| | - Jianjun Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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27
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Zhu Y, Zhang D, Shukla P, Jung YH, Malgulwar PB, Chagani S, Colic M, Benjamin S, Copland JA, Tan L, Lorenzi PL, Javle M, Huse JT, Roszik J, Hart T, Kwong LN. CRISPR screening identifies BET and mTOR inhibitor synergy in cholangiocarcinoma through serine glycine one carbon. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e174220. [PMID: 38060314 PMCID: PMC10906219 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.174220] [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: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with cholangiocarcinoma have poor clinical outcomes due to late diagnoses, poor prognoses, and limited treatment strategies. To identify drug combinations for this disease, we have conducted a genome-wide CRISPR screen anchored on the bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) PROTAC degrader ARV825, from which we identified anticancer synergy when combined with genetic ablation of members of the mTOR pathway. This combination effect was validated using multiple pharmacological BET and mTOR inhibitors, accompanied by increased levels of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In a xenograft model, combined BET degradation and mTOR inhibition induced tumor regression. Mechanistically, the 2 inhibitor classes converged on H3K27ac-marked epigenetic suppression of the serine glycine one carbon (SGOC) metabolism pathway, including the key enzymes PHGDH and PSAT1. Knockdown of PSAT1 was sufficient to replicate synergy with single-agent inhibition of either BET or mTOR. Our results tie together epigenetic regulation, metabolism, and apoptosis induction as key therapeutic targets for further exploration in this underserved disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhu
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Dengyong Zhang
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of general surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China
| | - Pooja Shukla
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Young-Ho Jung
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Prit Benny Malgulwar
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sharmeen Chagani
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Medina Colic
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sarah Benjamin
- Department of Natural Sciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - John A. Copland
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Lin Tan
- Metabolomics Core Facility, Department of Bioinformatics & Computational Biology
| | - Philip L. Lorenzi
- Metabolomics Core Facility, Department of Bioinformatics & Computational Biology
| | | | - Jason T. Huse
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jason Roszik
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology-Research, Division of Cancer Medicine
- Department of Genomic Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine, and
| | - Traver Hart
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Lawrence N. Kwong
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Genomic Medicine, Division of Cancer Medicine, and
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28
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Wang Y, Huang A, Chen L, Sun F, Zhao M, Zhang M, Xie Y, Xu S, Li M, Hong L, Li G, Wang R. Design and synthesis of dual BRD4/Src inhibitors for treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 264:116009. [PMID: 38070430 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116009] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an extremely aggressive tumor with limited treatment options and effectiveness. Dual-target inhibitors capable of simultaneously suppressing invasion may represent a promising therapeutic approach for TNBC. In this work, we developed a series of dual BRD4/Src inhibitors by connecting JQ1 and dasatinib using various linkers and evaluated their efficacy against TNBC both in vitro and in vivo. Among these compounds, HL403 demonstrated IC50 values of 133 nM for BRD4 inhibition and 4.5 nM for Src inhibition. Most importantly, HL403 not only exhibited potent anti-proliferative capabilities, but also effectively suppressed the invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro. Finally, the anti-tumor efficacy of HL403 was validated in a mouse MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumor model, achieving a tumor growth inhibition rate (TGI) of 70.7 %, which was superior to the combination of JQ1 and dasatinib (TGI = 54.0 %). Our research provides a promising and feasible new strategy for improving the treatment of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Aima Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Lu Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Fan Sun
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Man Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yubao Xie
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Shiyu Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Min Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Liang Hong
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Guofeng Li
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Rui Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Institute of Materia Medica and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
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29
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Holmes S, Jain P, Rodriguez KG, Williams J, Yu Z, Cerda-Smith C, Samuel ELG, Campbell J, Hakenjos JM, Monsivais D, Li F, Chamakuri S, Matzuk MM, Santini C, MacKenzie KR, Young DW. Chemical Catalysis Guides Structural Identification for the Major In Vivo Metabolite of the BET Inhibitor JQ1. ACS Med Chem Lett 2024; 15:107-115. [PMID: 38229743 PMCID: PMC10788937 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The bromodomain inhibitor (+)-JQ1 is a highly validated chemical probe; however, it exhibits poor in vivo pharmacokinetics. To guide efforts toward improving its pharmacological properties, we identified the (+)-JQ1 primary metabolite using chemical catalysis methods. Treatment of (+)-JQ1 with tetrabutylammonium decatungstate under photochemical conditions resulted in selective formation of an aldehyde at the 2-position of the thiophene ring [(+)-JQ1-CHO], which was further reduced to the 2-hydroxymethyl analog [(+)-JQ1-OH]. Comparative LC/MS analysis of (+)-JQ1-OH to the product obtained from liver microsomes suggested (+)-JQ1-OH as the major metabolite of (+)-JQ1. The 2-thienyl position was then substituted to generate a trideuterated (-CD3, (+)-JQ1-D) analog having half-lives that were 1.8- and 2.8-fold longer in mouse and human liver microsomes, respectively. This result unambiguously confirmed (+)-JQ1-OH as the major metabolite of (+)-JQ1. These studies demonstrate an efficient process for studying drug metabolism and identifying the metabolic soft spots of bioactive compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Secondra Holmes
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Verna
and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Prashi Jain
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Verna
and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Kenneth Guzman Rodriguez
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Verna
and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Jade Williams
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Verna
and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Zhifeng Yu
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Verna
and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Christian Cerda-Smith
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Errol L. G. Samuel
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - James Campbell
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - John Michael Hakenjos
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Diana Monsivais
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Feng Li
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Srinivas Chamakuri
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Martin M. Matzuk
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Conrad Santini
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Kevin R. MacKenzie
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Verna
and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Damian W. Young
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Verna
and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
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30
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Du Q, Shen W. Research progress of plant-derived natural products in thyroid carcinoma. Front Chem 2024; 11:1279384. [PMID: 38268761 PMCID: PMC10806030 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1279384] [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: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Thyroid carcinoma (TC) is a prevalent malignancy of the endocrine system, with a notable rise in its detection rate in recent decades. The primary therapeutic approaches for TC now encompass thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine therapy, yielding favorable prognoses for the majority of patients. TC survivors may necessitate ongoing surveillance, remedial treatment, and thyroid hormone supplementation, while also enduring the adverse consequences of thyroid hormone fluctuations, surgical complications, or side effects linked to radioactive iodine administration, and encountering enduring physical, psychosocial, and economic hardships. In vitro and in vivo studies of natural products against TC are demonstrating the potential of these natural products as alternatives to the treatment of thyroid cancer. This therapy may offer greater convenience, affordability, and acceptability than traditional therapies. In the early screening of natural products, we mainly use a combination of database prediction and literature search. The pharmacological effects on TC of selected natural products (quercetin, genistein, apigenin, luteolin, chrysin, myricetin, resveratrol, curcumin and nobiletin), which hold promise for therapeutic applications in TC, are reviewed in detail in this article through most of the cell-level evidence, animal-level evidence, and a small amount of human-level evidence. In addition, this article explores possible issues, such as bioavailability, drug safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiujing Du
- The Affiliated Jiangyin People’s Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangyin, China
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Weidong Shen
- The Affiliated Jiangyin People’s Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangyin, China
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31
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Zhao D, Cao W, Zha S, Wang Y, Pan Z, Zhang J, Hu K. Primary pulmonary nuclear protein of the testis midline carcinoma: case report and systematic review with pooled analysis. Front Oncol 2024; 13:1308432. [PMID: 38264746 PMCID: PMC10803636 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1308432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Nuclear protein of the testis (NUT) midline carcinoma (NMC) is a rare tumor, with particularly low incidence in the lungs, and a correspondingly poor prognosis. To determine the clinicopathological characteristics, outcomes, and prognostic factors of primary pulmonary NMC, a case was reported and a systematic review was performed. Twenty-nine records, including ours, involving 62 cases, were finally included. The median age at diagnosis was 29.5 years. At presentation, the most common symptoms at presentation were cough (47.50%) and chest/back pain (37.50%). In terms of diagnosis, 32.14% of NMC cases were identified through immunohistochemistry (IHC); However, a greater number of cases may be misdiagnosed initially, and ultimately, the diagnosis of NMC was confirmed through a combination of IHC and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Despite the clinical application of various chemotherapy-based treatments, the actual effectiveness remains unsatisfactory. Furthermore, Cox regression analysis of multiple factors identified male gender and concurrent presence of pleural effusion as indicators of shorter survival time in patients. These results emphasize the importance of increased diagnostic awareness among clinical and pathology practitioners concerning NMC. While there is currently no established standard for treating NMC, a treatment approach combining multiple methods shows promise for future research. Concurrently, clinical and foundational investigations addressing variables such as gender and the presence of pleural effusion may yield valuable insights into the diagnosis and treatment of NMC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Zhao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Cao
- Office of Cancer Screening, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shiqian Zha
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yixuan Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhou Pan
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingyi Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ke Hu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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32
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Kulshrestha S, Goel A. Protein therapeutics as an emerging strategy to deal with skin cancer: A short review. Exp Dermatol 2024; 33:e14981. [PMID: 37983960 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14981] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Cancer has turned into a global menace with an exponential increase in the rate of death every year. Amongst all forms of cancers, skin cancer is the one becoming more common day by day because of the increased exposure to ultraviolet rays, chemicals, pollutants, etc. Skin cancer is of three types namely basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma which is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer with a low survival rate and easy relapse. Melanoma is also notorious for being multi-drug resistant which accounts for its low survival rates in it. Many kinds of therapeutics are been practiced in the contemporary world, but among them, protein therapeutics is been emerging as a promising field with multiple molecular pathway targets that have revolutionized the science of oncology. Proteins acts as small-molecule targets for cancer cells by binding to the cell surface receptors. Proteins including bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) and some toxin proteins are been tried on for dealing with melanoma targeting the major pathways including MAPK, NF-κB and PI3K/AKT. The protein therapeutics also targets the tumour microenvironment including myofibrils, lymphatic vessels etc., thus inducing tumour cell death. In the review, several kinds of proteins and their function toward cell death will be highlighted in the context of skin cancer. In addition to this, the review will look into the inhibition of the function of other inflammatory pathways by inflammasomes and cytokines, both of which have a role in preventing cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anjana Goel
- Department of Biotechnology, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
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33
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van den Bosch QCC, de Klein A, Verdijk RM, Kiliç E, Brosens E. Uveal melanoma modeling in mice and zebrafish. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189055. [PMID: 38104908 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.189055] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Despite extensive research and refined therapeutic options, the survival for metastasized uveal melanoma (UM) patients has not improved significantly. UM, a malignant tumor originating from melanocytes in the uveal tract, can be asymptomatic and small tumors may be detected only during routine ophthalmic exams; making early detection and treatment difficult. UM is the result of a number of characteristic somatic alterations which are associated with prognosis. Although UM morphology and biology have been extensively studied, there are significant gaps in our understanding of the early stages of UM tumor evolution and effective treatment to prevent metastatic disease remain elusive. A better understanding of the mechanisms that enable UM cells to thrive and successfully metastasize is crucial to improve treatment efficacy and survival rates. For more than forty years, animal models have been used to investigate the biology of UM. This has led to a number of essential mechanisms and pathways involved in UM aetiology. These models have also been used to evaluate the effectiveness of various drugs and treatment protocols. Here, we provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms and pharmacological studies using mouse and zebrafish UM models. Finally, we highlight promising therapeutics and discuss future considerations using UM models such as optimal inoculation sites, use of BAP1mut-cell lines and the rise of zebrafish models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quincy C C van den Bosch
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annelies de Klein
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert M Verdijk
- Department of Pathology, Section of Ophthalmic Pathology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Emine Kiliç
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erwin Brosens
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Li JJ, Lee CS. The Role of the AT-Rich Interaction Domain 1A Gene ( ARID1A) in Human Carcinogenesis. Genes (Basel) 2023; 15:5. [PMID: 38275587 PMCID: PMC10815128 DOI: 10.3390/genes15010005] [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: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The switch/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) (SWI/SNF) complex uses energy from ATP hydrolysis to mobilise nucleosomes on chromatin. Components of SWI/SNF are mutated in 20% of all human cancers, of which mutations in AT-rich binding domain protein 1A (ARID1A) are the most common. ARID1A is mutated in nearly half of ovarian clear cell carcinoma and around one-third of endometrial and ovarian carcinomas of the endometrioid type. This review will examine in detail the molecular functions of ARID1A, including its role in cell cycle control, enhancer regulation, and the prevention of telomerase activity. ARID1A has key roles in the maintenance of genomic integrity, including DNA double-stranded break repair, DNA decatenation, integrity of the cohesin complex, and reduction in replication stress, and is also involved in mismatch repair. The role of ARID1A loss in the pathogenesis of some of the most common human cancers is discussed, with a particular emphasis on gynaecological cancers. Finally, several promising synthetic lethal strategies, which exploit the specific vulnerabilities of ARID1A-deficient cancer cells, are briefly mentioned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Jing Li
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia;
- Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
| | - Cheok Soon Lee
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia;
- Discipline of Pathology, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2560, Australia
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
- Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW 2010, Australia
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Yang L, Jing Y, Xia X, Yin X. ARV-825 Showed Antitumor Activity against BRD4-NUT Fusion Protein by Targeting the BRD4. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2023; 2023:9904143. [PMID: 38130463 PMCID: PMC10735731 DOI: 10.1155/2023/9904143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Objective The bromodomain-containing 4 (BRD4) is a member of the bromodomain and extra terminal domain (BET) family, which is an important epigenetic reader. It is currently a promising oncology target. In some tumors, BET bromodomain inhibitors have demonstrated promising results. Proteolysis-targeting methods (PROTAC), which rapidly and effectively degrade BRD4, have displayed considerable potential in the treatment of tumors in recent years. The purpose of this study is to examine the potential impact of BRD4 PROTAC compounds ARV-825 on oncogene BRD4-NUT fused protein in NUT carcinoma. Methods The effectiveness of ARV-825 was evaluated at the cellular level using the cell counting kit 8 test, wound healing, cell transfection, western blotting analysis, and RNA sequencing. The effectiveness of ARV-825 was also examined in vivo using a xenograft model. Results The BRD4-NUT fusion gene was overexpressed in 3T3 cells, and the pathogenic fusion gene was simulated. The results showed that the overexpression of BRD4-NUT could promote the proliferation and migration of 3T3 cells, but the expression of BRD4 protein was degraded after the addition of the novel cereblon-based PROTAC compound ARV-825 against BRD4, resulting in inhibition of BRD4-NUT 3T3 cell proliferation and migration. Further RNA-seq analysis showed that overexpression of BRD4-NUT was accompanied by increased expression of gene (e.g., Myc, E2F, TRAFs, Wnt, Gadd45g, and Sox6) with significantly enriched pathway (e.g., small cell lung cancer, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, and breast cancer), promoted cell cycle from G 1 phase to S phase, and increased cell proliferation and migration, activated the antiapoptosisi signal, led to abnormal cell growth, and ultimately led to tumorigenesis. The addition of ARV-825 effectively rescued this process and effectively inhibited cell vitality, proliferation, and migration. In vivo studies demonstrated that treatment with ARV-825 greatly suppressed tumor growth without causing harmful side effects and downregulated the BRD4-NUT expression level. Conclusion Through the induction of BRD4 protein degradation, ARV-825 can successfully limit BRD4-NUT 3T3 cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggested that the BRD4 inhibitor ARV-825 would be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating NUT carcinoma that with the genetic feature of BRD4-NUT fusion event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Yang
- Applied Biology Laboratory, College of Pharmaceutical and Biological Engineering, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang 110142, China
| | - Yue Jing
- Applied Biology Laboratory, College of Pharmaceutical and Biological Engineering, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang 110142, China
| | - Xia Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xiushan Yin
- Applied Biology Laboratory, College of Pharmaceutical and Biological Engineering, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang 110142, China
- Roc Rock Biotechnology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518118, China
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Ma L, Wang J, Yang Y, Lu J, Ling J, Chu X, Zhang Z, Tao Y, Li X, Tian Y, Li Z, Zhang Y, Sang X, Lu L, Wan X, Zhang K, Chen Y, Yu J, Zhuo R, Wu S, Pan J, Zhou X, Hu Y, Hu S. BRD4 PROTAC degrader MZ1 exhibits anti-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia effects via targeting CCND3. Hematology 2023; 28:2247253. [PMID: 37594294 DOI: 10.1080/16078454.2023.2247253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is the most prevalent malignant tumor affecting children. While the majority of B-ALL patients (90%) experience successful recovery, early relapse cases of B-ALL continue to exhibit high mortality rates. MZ1, a novel inhibitor of Bromodomains and extra-terminal (BET) proteins, has demonstrated potent antitumor activity against hematological malignancies. The objective of this study was to examine the role and therapeutic potential of MZ1 in the treatment of B-ALL. METHODS In order to ascertain the fundamental mechanism of MZ1, a sequence of in vitro assays was conducted on B-ALL cell lines, encompassing Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) assay, Propidium iodide (PI) staining, and Annexin V/PI staining. Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were employed to examine protein and mRNA expression levels. Transcriptomic RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was utilized to screen the target genes of MZ1, and lentiviral transfection was employed to establish stably-expressing/knockdown cell lines. RESULTS MZ1 has been observed to induce the degradation of Bromodomain Containing 4 (BRD4), Bromodomain Containing 3 (BRD3), and Bromodomain Containing 2 (BRD2) in B-ALL cell strains, leading to inhibited cell growth and induction of cell apoptosis and cycle arrest in vitro. These findings suggest that MZ1 exhibits cytotoxic effects on two distinct molecular subtypes of B-ALL, namely 697 (TCF3/PBX1) and RS4;11 (MLL-AF4) B-ALL cell lines. Additionally, RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that MZ1 significantly downregulated the expression of Cyclin D3 (CCND3) gene in B-ALL cell lines, which in turn promoted cell apoptosis, blocked cell cycle, and caused cell proliferation inhibition. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that MZ1 has potential anti-B-ALL effects and might be a novel therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ma
- Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
- Department of Pediatrics, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianwei Wang
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Yang
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Lu
- Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Ling
- Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinran Chu
- Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zimu Zhang
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanfang Tao
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaolu Li
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanyuan Tian
- Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiheng Li
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongping Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu Sang
- Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Lihui Lu
- Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaomei Wan
- Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Kunlong Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanling Chen
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Juanjuan Yu
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Ran Zhuo
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuiyan Wu
- Intensive Care Unit, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Pan
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuxia Zhou
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yixin Hu
- Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaoyan Hu
- Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
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Krauß L, Schneider C, Hessmann E, Saur D, Schneider G. Epigenetic control of pancreatic cancer metastasis. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:1113-1131. [PMID: 37659057 PMCID: PMC10713713 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10132-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Surgical resection, when combined with chemotherapy, has been shown to significantly improve the survival rate of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, this treatment option is only feasible for a fraction of patients, as more than 50% of cases are diagnosed with metastasis. The multifaceted process of metastasis is still not fully understood, but recent data suggest that transcriptional and epigenetic plasticity play significant roles. Interfering with epigenetic reprogramming can potentially control the adaptive processes responsible for metastatic progression and therapy resistance, thereby enhancing treatment responses and preventing recurrence. This review will focus on the relevance of histone-modifying enzymes in pancreatic cancer, specifically on their impact on the metastatic cascade. Additionally, it will also provide a brief update on the current clinical developments in epigenetic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Krauß
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Carolin Schneider
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Hessmann
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- CCC-N (Comprehensive Cancer Center Lower Saxony), 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dieter Saur
- Institute for Translational Cancer Research and Experimental Cancer Therapy, Technical University Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Günter Schneider
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
- CCC-N (Comprehensive Cancer Center Lower Saxony), 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
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Looi CK, Foong LC, Chung FFL, Khoo ASB, Loo EM, Leong CO, Mai CW. Targeting the crosstalk of epigenetic modifications and immune evasion in nasopharyngeal cancer. Cell Biol Toxicol 2023; 39:2501-2526. [PMID: 37755585 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-023-09830-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a distinct type of head and neck cancer that is highly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. EBV acts as an epigenetic driver in NPC tumorigenesis, reprogramming the viral and host epigenomes to regulate viral latent gene expression, and creating an environment conducive to the malignant transformation of nasopharyngeal epithelial cells. Targeting epigenetic mechanisms in pre-clinical studies has been shown promise in eradicating tumours and overcoming immune resistance in some solid tumours. However, its efficacy in NPC remains inclusive due to the complex nature of this cancer. In this review, we provide an updated understanding of the roles of epigenetic factors in regulating EBV latent gene expression and promoting NPC progression. We also explore the crosstalk between epigenetic mechanisms and immune evasion in NPC. Particularly, we discuss the potential roles of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors in reversing immune suppression and augmenting antitumour immunity. Furthermore, we highlight the advantages of combining epigenetic therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor to reverse immune resistance and improve clinical outcomes. Epigenetic drugs have the potential to modulate both epigenetic mediators and immune factors involved in NPC. However, further research is needed to fully comprehend the diverse range of epigenetic modifications in NPC. A deeper understanding of the crosstalk between epigenetic mechanisms and immune evasion during NPC progression is crucial for the development of more effective treatments for this challenging disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-King Looi
- School of Postgraduate Studies, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Lian-Chee Foong
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Felicia Fei-Lei Chung
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Alan Soo-Beng Khoo
- School of Postgraduate Studies, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Pennsylvania, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Ee-Mun Loo
- AGTC Genomics, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, No. 1, Jalan Menara Gading, UCSI Heights, Cheras, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Chee-Onn Leong
- AGTC Genomics, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Center for Cancer and Stem Cell Research, Development, and Innovation (IRDI), Institute for Research, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Chun-Wai Mai
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200127, China.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, No. 1, Jalan Menara Gading, UCSI Heights, Cheras, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Duan B, Zhou X, Zhang X, Qiu F, Zhang S, Chen Y, Yang J, Wang J, Tan W. BRD4-binding enhancer promotes CRC progression by interacting with YY1 to activate the Wnt pathway through upregulation of TCF7L2. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 218:115877. [PMID: 37879498 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal carcinoma (CRC), one of the most life-threatening cancer types, is associated with aberrant expression of epigenetic modifiers and activation of the Wnt pathway. However, the role of epigenetic regulators in driving cancer cell proliferation and their potential as therapeutic targets affecting the Wnt pathway remain unclear. In this study, BRD4 was found to promote the progression of CRC both in vitro and in vivo. The expression of BRD4 correlated with shortened CRC patient survival. In addition, BRD4 function was strongly correlated with the Wnt pathway, but rather through regulation of TCF7L2 at transcriptional levels. BRD4 and H3K27ac have overlapping occupancies in the cis-regulatory elements of TCF7L2, suggesting enhancer-based epigenetic regulation. Numerous YY1 binding sites were found in the abovementioned region. YY1 recruited BRD4 to bind to cis-regulatory elements of TCF7L2, thereby regulating the expression of TCF7L2. Altogether, this study validates that BRD4 performs a canonical epigenetic regulatory function in CRC and can be used in the treatment of Wnt pathway-dependent CRC or other malignancies with clinically available bromodomain inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Duan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Xuwei Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaoyi Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Fenglan Qiu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Shaoqing Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yue Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Juan Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wenfu Tan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China.
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Liang H, Yang C, Zeng R, Song Y, Wang J, Xiong W, Yan B, Jin X. Targeting CBX3 with a Dual BET/PLK1 Inhibitor Enhances the Antitumor Efficacy of CDK4/6 Inhibitors in Prostate Cancer. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2302368. [PMID: 37949681 PMCID: PMC10754129 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302368] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is a significant factor that reduces life expectancy among patients with prostate cancer. Previously, it is reported that CDK4/6 inhibitors can overcome the resistance of CRPC to BET inhibitors by destabilizing BRD4, suggesting that the combination of CDK4/6 inhibitors and BET inhibitors is a promising approach for treating CRPC. In this study, candidates that affect the combined antitumor effect of CDK4/6 inhibitors and BET inhibitors on CRPC is aimed to examine. The data demonstrates that CBX3 is abnormally upregulated in CDK4/6 inhibitors-resistant cells. CBX3 is almost positively correlated with the cell cycle in multiple malignancies and is downregulated by BET inhibitors. Mechanistically, it is showed that CBX3 is transcriptionally upregulated by BRD4 in CRPC cells. Moreover, it is demonstrated that CBX3 modulated the sensitivity of CRPC to CDK4/6 inhibitors by binding with RB1 to release E2F1. Furthermore, it is revealed that PLK1 phosphorylated CBX3 to enhance the interaction between RB1 and CBX3, and desensitize CRPC cells to CDK4/6 inhibitors. Given that BRD4 regulates CBX3 expression and PLK1 affects the binding between RB1 and CBX3, it is proposed that a dual BRD4/PLK1 inhibitor can increase the sensitivity of CRPC cells to CDK4/6 inhibitors partially through CBX3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaiyuan Liang
- Department of UrologyThe Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunan410011China
- Uro‐Oncology Institute of Central South UniversityChangshaHunan410011China
| | - Chunguang Yang
- Department of UrologyTongji HospitalTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430030China
| | - Ruijiang Zeng
- Department of UrologyThe Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunan410011China
- Uro‐Oncology Institute of Central South UniversityChangshaHunan410011China
| | - Yingqiu Song
- Cancer centerUnion HospitalTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430022China
| | - Jianxi Wang
- Department of UrologyThe Third Hospital of ChangshaChangshaHunan410011China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Department of UrologyThe Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunan410011China
- Uro‐Oncology Institute of Central South UniversityChangshaHunan410011China
| | - Binyuan Yan
- Department of UrologyPelvic Floor Disorders CenterThe Seventh Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhen518107China
| | - Xin Jin
- Department of UrologyThe Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunan410011China
- Uro‐Oncology Institute of Central South UniversityChangshaHunan410011China
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Wang ZQ, Zhang ZC, Wu YY, Pi YN, Lou SH, Liu TB, Lou G, Yang C. Bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) proteins: biological functions, diseases, and targeted therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:420. [PMID: 37926722 PMCID: PMC10625992 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01647-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BET proteins, which influence gene expression and contribute to the development of cancer, are epigenetic interpreters. Thus, BET inhibitors represent a novel form of epigenetic anticancer treatment. Although preliminary clinical trials have shown the anticancer potential of BET inhibitors, it appears that these drugs have limited effectiveness when used alone. Therefore, given the limited monotherapeutic activity of BET inhibitors, their use in combination with other drugs warrants attention, including the meaningful variations in pharmacodynamic activity among chosen drug combinations. In this paper, we review the function of BET proteins, the preclinical justification for BET protein targeting in cancer, recent advances in small-molecule BET inhibitors, and preliminary clinical trial findings. We elucidate BET inhibitor resistance mechanisms, shed light on the associated adverse events, investigate the potential of combining these inhibitors with diverse therapeutic agents, present a comprehensive compilation of synergistic treatments involving BET inhibitors, and provide an outlook on their future prospects as potent antitumor agents. We conclude by suggesting that combining BET inhibitors with other anticancer drugs and innovative next-generation agents holds great potential for advancing the effective targeting of BET proteins as a promising anticancer strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Qiang Wang
- Department of Gynecology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Zhao-Cong Zhang
- Department of Gynecology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Yu-Yang Wu
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ya-Nan Pi
- Department of Gynecology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Sheng-Han Lou
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Tian-Bo Liu
- Department of Gynecology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150086, China
| | - Ge Lou
- Department of Gynecology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150086, China.
| | - Chang Yang
- Department of Gynecology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150086, China.
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Oikonomou A, Valsecchi L, Quadri M, Watrin T, Scharov K, Procopio S, Tu JW, Vogt M, Savino AM, Silvestri D, Valsecchi MG, Biondi A, Borkhardt A, Bhatia S, Cazzaniga G, Fazio G, Bardini M, Palmi C. High-throughput screening as a drug repurposing strategy for poor outcome subgroups of pediatric B-cell precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 217:115809. [PMID: 37717691 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115809] [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: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Although a great cure rate has been achieved for pediatric BCP-ALL, approximately 15% of patients do not respond to conventional chemotherapy and experience disease relapse. A major effort to improve the cure rates by treatment intensification would result in an undesirable increase in treatment-related toxicity and mortality, raising the need to identify novel therapeutic approaches. High-throughput (HTP) drug screening enables the profiling of patients' responses in vitro and allows the repurposing of compounds currently used for other diseases, which can be immediately available for clinical application. The aim of this study was to apply HTP drug screening to identify potentially effective compounds for the treatment of pediatric BCP-ALL patients with poor prognosis, such as patients with Down Syndrome (DS) or carrying rearrangements involving PAX5 or KMT2A/MLL genes. Patient-derived Xenografts (PDX) samples from 34 BCP-ALL patients (9 DS CRLF2r, 15 PAX5r, 10 MLLr), 7 human BCP-ALL cell lines and 14 hematopoietic healthy donor samples were screened on a semi-automated HTP drug screening platform using a 174 compound library (FDA/EMA-approved or in preclinical studies). We identified 9 compounds active against BCP-ALL (ABT-199/venetoclax, AUY922/luminespib, dexamethasone, EC144, JQ1, NVP-HSP990, paclitaxel, PF-04929113 and vincristine), but sparing normal cells. Ex vivo validations confirmed that the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax exerts an anti-leukemic effect against all three ALL subgroups at nanomolar concentrations. Overall, this study points out the benefit of HTP screening application for drug repurposing to allow the identification of effective and clinically translatable therapeutic agents for difficult-to-treat childhood BCP-ALL subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luigia Valsecchi
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Manuel Quadri
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Titus Watrin
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Katerina Scharov
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Simona Procopio
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Jia-Wey Tu
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Melina Vogt
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Angela Maria Savino
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy; School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Daniela Silvestri
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Valsecchi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy; Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Andrea Biondi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy; Pediatrics, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Arndt Borkhardt
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sanil Bhatia
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Giovanni Cazzaniga
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy; School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
| | - Grazia Fazio
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Michela Bardini
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Chiara Palmi
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
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Senapati J, Fiskus WC, Daver N, Wilson NR, Ravandi F, Garcia-Manero G, Kadia T, DiNardo CD, Jabbour E, Burger J, Short NJ, Alvarado Y, Jain N, Masarova L, Issa GC, Qiao W, Khoury JD, Pierce S, Miller D, Sasaki K, Konopleva M, Bhalla KN, Borthakur G, Pemmaraju N. Phase I Results of Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal Inhibitor PLX51107 in Combination with Azacitidine in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Myeloid Malignancies. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:4352-4360. [PMID: 37585491 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-1429] [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: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Treatment outcomes in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains dismal. On the basis of both extensive preclinical data and emerging clinical data, treatment with bromodomain and extra-terminal domain inhibitors (BETi) is a potential approach for patients with high-risk myeloid malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a phase I trial to study the safety and efficacy of PLX51107 (BETi) and azacitidine combination therapy in patients with R/R AML and high-risk (HR) MDS and studied mechanisms of resistance to the combination therapy. RESULTS Thirty-seven patients with HR R/R MDS (n = 4) and R/R AML (n = 33) were treated. Sixteen patients (43%) had MECOM gene rearrangement and 7 other patients had TP53 mutation. Median prior number of therapies was three (range 1-9); 97% had received prior hypomethylating agent and 84% prior venetoclax. Overall response rate was 8/37 (22%): complete remission with incomplete platelet recovery (n = 1); morphologic leukemia-free state (n = 2); hematologic improvement (n = 5). The most common nonhematologic toxicities were febrile neutropenia and pneumonia in 12 (32%) patients each; 6 patients (17%) had severe hyperbilirubinemia. RNA-sequencing analysis of mononuclear cells harvested on treatment (day 3) versus pretreatment showed significant changes in mRNA expressions in responders: downregulation of MYC, BCL2, IL7R, and CDK6 and upregulation of HEXIM1, CD93, DCXR, and CDKN1A. Immunoblot analyses confirmed reduction in protein levels of c-Myc, CDK6, BCL2, and BCL-xL, and induction of BRD4 and HEXIM1 protein levels in responders. CONCLUSIONS In a heavily pretreated patient cohort with R/R MDS and AML, PLX51107+ azacitidine was well-tolerated and resulted in modest clinical benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayastu Senapati
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Warren C Fiskus
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Naval Daver
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Nathaniel R Wilson
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas
| | - Farhad Ravandi
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Tapan Kadia
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Courtney D DiNardo
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Elias Jabbour
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jan Burger
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Nicholas J Short
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Yesid Alvarado
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Nitin Jain
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Lucia Masarova
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Ghayas C Issa
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Wei Qiao
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Joseph D Khoury
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Sherry Pierce
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Darla Miller
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Koji Sasaki
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Marina Konopleva
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Kapil N Bhalla
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Gautam Borthakur
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Naveen Pemmaraju
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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Wang K, Tang J, Fan S, Su H, Yu R, Zhang Y, Wu H, Lv Y, Zhang S, Zou X. ABBV-744 induces autophagy in gastric cancer cells by regulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR/p70S6k and MAPK signaling pathways. Neoplasia 2023; 45:100936. [PMID: 37769529 PMCID: PMC10539879 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2023.100936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
The mortality rates of gastric cancer remain high due to limited therapeutic strategies. As a highly selective inhibitor of the BD2 domain of BET family proteins, ABBV-744 has potent chemotherapeutic activity against various human solid tumors. However, whether ABBV-744 has potential anti-tumor effects in gastric cancer remain largely unknown. In this study, we evaluated the effect of ABBV-744 on gastric cancer cells and explored the possible underlying mechanisms. We found that ABBV-744 inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cells and patient-derived tumor organoids in a dose-dependent manner. Cellular experiments revealed that ABBV-744 induced mitochondria damage, reactive oxygen species accumulation, cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death in gastric cancer cells. Transcriptomic analysis using RNA-sequencing data identified autophagy as a crucial pathway involved in the cell death caused by ABBV-744. Mechanically, further studies showed that ABBV-744 induced autophagy flux in gastric cancer cells by inactivating PI3K/AKT/mTOR/p70S6k and activating the MAPK signaling pathways. In vivo mouse xenograft studies demonstrated that ABBV-744 significantly suppressed the growth of gastric cancer cells via inducing autophagy. Taken together, our results suggest that ABBV-744 is a novel drug candidate for gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210008 Jiangsu, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Nanjing University Institute of Pancreatology, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiatong Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shengxian Fan
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School.Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haochen Su
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ranran Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yixuan Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Ying Lv
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210008 Jiangsu, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Nanjing University Institute of Pancreatology, Nanjing, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
| | - Shu Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210008 Jiangsu, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Nanjing University Institute of Pancreatology, Nanjing, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
| | - Xiaoping Zou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210008 Jiangsu, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Nanjing University Institute of Pancreatology, Nanjing, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China; Department of Gastroenterology, Affilated Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, Medical school of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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45
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Jiang Y, Miao X, Wu Z, Xie W, Wang L, Liu H, Gong W. Targeting SIRT1 synergistically improves the antitumor effect of JQ-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22093. [PMID: 38045194 PMCID: PMC10692793 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22093] [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: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Bromodomain and extraterminal domain protein inhibitors have shown therapeutic promise in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, resistance to bromodomain and extraterminal domain protein inhibitors has emerged in preclinical trials, presenting an immense clinical challenge, and the mechanisms are unclear. In this study, we found that overexpression of SIRT1 induced by JQ-1, a bromodomain and extraterminal domain protein inhibitor, may confer resistance to JQ-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma. SIRT1 protein expression was higher in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues than in normal tissues, and this phenotype was correlated with a poor prognosis. Cotreatment with JQ-1 and the SIRT1 inhibitor EX527 synergistically suppressed proliferation and blocked cell cycle progression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Combined administration of JQ-1 and EX527 successfully reduced the tumor burden in vivo. In addition, JQ-1 mediated AMPK/p-AMPK axis activation to upregulate SIRT1 protein expression and enhanced autophagy to inhibit cell apoptosis. Activation of AMPK could alleviate the antitumor effect of the combination of JQ-1 and EX527 on hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Furthermore, inhibition of SIRT1 further enhanced the antitumor effect of JQ-1 by blocking protective autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Our study proposes a novel and efficacious therapeutic strategy of a BET inhibitor combined with a SIRT1 inhibitor for hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuancong Jiang
- Department of Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Surgery, Shaoxing People's Hospital (Shaoxing Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine), Shaoxing, China
| | - Xiaolong Miao
- Department of Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- The Institute of Transplantation Science, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zelai Wu
- Department of Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weixun Xie
- Department of Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Han Liu
- Department of Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weihua Gong
- Department of Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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46
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Lu X, Peng L, Ding J, Li Y, Li Q, Rao M, Shu T, He X, Liu C, Ye J, Liu W, You H. A deregulated m 6A writer complex axis driven by BRD4 confers an epitranscriptomic vulnerability in combined DNA repair-targeted therapy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2304534120. [PMID: 37782793 PMCID: PMC10576145 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304534120] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant transcripts expression of the m6A methyltransferase complex (MTC) is widely found across human cancers, suggesting a dysregulated signaling cascade which integrates m6A epitranscriptome to drive tumorigenesis. However, the responsible transcriptional machinery directing the expression of distinct MTC subunits remains unclear. Here, we identified an unappreciated interplay between the histone acetyl-lysine reader BRD4 and the m6A writer complex across human cancers. BRD4 directly stimulates transcripts expression of seven MTC subunits, allowing the maintenance of the nuclear writer complex integrity. Upon BET inhibition, this BRD4-MTC signaling cascade accounts for global m6A reduction and the subsequent dynamic alteration of BRD4-dependent transcriptome, resulting in impaired DNA damage response that involves activation of homologous recombination (HR) repair and repression of apoptosis. We further demonstrated that the combined synergy upon BET/PARP inhibition largely relies on disrupted m6A modification of HR and apoptotic genes, counteracting PARP inhibitor (PARPi) resistance in patient-derived xenograft models. Our study revealed a widespread active cross-talk between BRD4-dependent epigenetic and MTC-mediated epitranscriptomic networks, which provides a unique therapeutic vulnerability that can be leveraged in combined DNA repair-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian361102, China
| | - Lichao Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian361102, China
| | - Jiancheng Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian361102, China
| | - Yuanpei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian361102, China
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian361102, China
| | - Mengchen Rao
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian361102, China
| | - Tong Shu
- Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing100142, China
| | - Xiaoniu He
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian361102, China
| | - Chen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian361102, China
| | - Jing Ye
- Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shanxi710032, China
| | - Wen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian361102, China
| | - Han You
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian361102, China
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47
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Schmitt A, Grimm M, Kreienkamp N, Junge H, Labisch J, Schuhknecht L, Schönfeld C, Görsch E, Tibello A, Menck K, Bleckmann A, Lengerke C, Rosenbauer F, Grau M, Zampieri M, Schulze-Osthoff K, Klener P, Dolnikova A, Lenz G, Hailfinger S. BRD4 inhibition sensitizes diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells to ferroptosis. Blood 2023; 142:1143-1155. [PMID: 37294920 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022019274] [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: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is characterized by an aggressive clinical course. In approximately one-third of patients with DLBCL, first-line multiagent immunochemotherapy fails to produce a durable response. Molecular heterogeneity and apoptosis resistance pose major therapeutic challenges in DLBCL treatment. To circumvent apoptosis resistance, the induction of ferroptosis might represent a promising strategy for lymphoma therapy. In this study, a compound library, targeting epigenetic modulators, was screened to identify ferroptosis-sensitizing drugs. Strikingly, bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) inhibitors sensitized cells of the germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) subtype of DLBCL to ferroptosis induction and the combination of BET inhibitors with ferroptosis inducers, such as dimethyl fumarate or RSL3, synergized in the killing of DLBCL cells in vitro and in vivo. On the molecular level, the BET protein BRD4 was found to be an essential regulator of ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 expression and thus to protect GCB-DLBCL cells from ferroptosis. Collectively, we identified and characterized BRD4 as an important player in ferroptosis suppression in GCB-DLBCL and provide a rationale for the combination of BET inhibitors with ferroptosis-inducing agents as a novel therapeutic approach for DLBCL treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Schmitt
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Melanie Grimm
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nina Kreienkamp
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Hannah Junge
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jan Labisch
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Caroline Schönfeld
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Elsa Görsch
- Department for Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine II, Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alessia Tibello
- Institute of Molecular Tumor Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Kerstin Menck
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Annalen Bleckmann
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Claudia Lengerke
- Department for Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine II, Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Frank Rosenbauer
- Institute of Molecular Tumor Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Michael Grau
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Mattia Zampieri
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Klaus Schulze-Osthoff
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung) and German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum), Heidelberg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies," University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Pavel Klener
- Institute of Pathological Physiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
- First Department of Medicine, Hematology, University General Hospital and First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alexandra Dolnikova
- Institute of Pathological Physiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Georg Lenz
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Stephan Hailfinger
- Department of Medicine A, Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
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48
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Mhlekude B, Postmus D, Stenzel S, Weiner J, Jansen J, Zapatero-Belinchón FJ, Olmer R, Richter A, Heinze J, Heinemann N, Mühlemann B, Schroeder S, Jones TC, Müller MA, Drosten C, Pich A, Thiel V, Martin U, Niemeyer D, Gerold G, Beule D, Goffinet C. Pharmacological inhibition of bromodomain and extra-terminal proteins induces an NRF-2-mediated antiviral state that is subverted by SARS-CoV-2 infection. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011657. [PMID: 37747932 PMCID: PMC10629670 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011657] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibitors of bromodomain and extra-terminal proteins (iBETs), including JQ-1, have been suggested as potential prophylactics against SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, molecular mechanisms underlying JQ-1-mediated antiviral activity and its susceptibility to viral subversion remain incompletely understood. Pretreatment of cells with iBETs inhibited infection by SARS-CoV-2 variants and SARS-CoV, but not MERS-CoV. The antiviral activity manifested itself by reduced reporter expression of recombinant viruses, and reduced viral RNA quantities and infectious titers in the culture supernatant. While we confirmed JQ-1-mediated downregulation of expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), multi-omics analysis addressing the chromatin accessibility, transcriptome and proteome uncovered induction of an antiviral nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF-2)-mediated cytoprotective response as an additional mechanism through which JQ-1 inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication. Pharmacological inhibition of NRF-2, and knockdown of NRF-2 and its target genes reduced JQ-1-mediated inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication. Serial passaging of SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of JQ-1 resulted in predominance of ORF6-deficient variant, which exhibited resistance to JQ-1 and increased sensitivity to exogenously administered type I interferon (IFN-I), suggesting a minimised need for SARS-CoV-2 ORF6-mediated repression of IFN signalling in the presence of JQ-1. Importantly, JQ-1 exhibited a transient antiviral activity when administered prophylactically in human airway bronchial epithelial cells (hBAECs), which was gradually subverted by SARS-CoV-2, and no antiviral activity when administered therapeutically following an established infection. We propose that JQ-1 exerts pleiotropic effects that collectively induce an antiviral state in the host, which is ultimately nullified by SARS-CoV-2 infection, raising questions about the clinical suitability of the iBETs in the context of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baxolele Mhlekude
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Virology and Innate Immunity Research Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
- Institute of Genetics, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Dylan Postmus
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Saskia Stenzel
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - January Weiner
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jenny Jansen
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Francisco J. Zapatero-Belinchón
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research; a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology & Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ruth Olmer
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, REBIRTH—Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Anja Richter
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julian Heinze
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicolas Heinemann
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Barbara Mühlemann
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simon Schroeder
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Terry C. Jones
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Centre for Pathogen Evolution, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Marcel A. Müller
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Pich
- Institute of Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, Core Facility Proteomics, Hannover, Germany
| | - Volker Thiel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ulrich Martin
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, REBIRTH—Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Daniela Niemeyer
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gisa Gerold
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Virology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research; a joint venture between the Hannover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Virology & Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Dieter Beule
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Goffinet
- Institute of Virology, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool United Kingdom
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Ariey-Bonnet J, Berges R, Montero MP, Mouysset B, Piris P, Muller K, Pinna G, Failes TW, Arndt GM, Morando P, Baeza-Kallee N, Colin C, Chinot O, Braguer D, Morelli X, André N, Carré M, Tabouret E, Figarella-Branger D, Le Grand M, Pasquier E. Combination drug screen targeting glioblastoma core vulnerabilities reveals pharmacological synergisms. EBioMedicine 2023; 95:104752. [PMID: 37572644 PMCID: PMC10433015 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104752] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pharmacological synergisms are an attractive anticancer strategy. However, with more than 5000 approved-drugs and compounds in clinical development, identifying synergistic treatments represents a major challenge. METHODS High-throughput screening was combined with target deconvolution and functional genomics to reveal targetable vulnerabilities in glioblastoma. The role of the top gene hit was investigated by RNA interference, transcriptomics and immunohistochemistry in glioblastoma patient samples. Drug combination screen using a custom-made library of 88 compounds in association with six inhibitors of the identified glioblastoma vulnerabilities was performed to unveil pharmacological synergisms. Glioblastoma 3D spheroid, organotypic ex vivo and syngeneic orthotopic mouse models were used to validate synergistic treatments. FINDINGS Nine targetable vulnerabilities were identified in glioblastoma and the top gene hit RRM1 was validated as an independent prognostic factor. The associations of CHK1/MEK and AURKA/BET inhibitors were identified as the most potent amongst 528 tested pairwise drug combinations and their efficacy was validated in 3D spheroid models. The high synergism of AURKA/BET dual inhibition was confirmed in ex vivo and in vivo glioblastoma models, without detectable toxicity. INTERPRETATION Our work provides strong pre-clinical evidence of the efficacy of AURKA/BET inhibitor combination in glioblastoma and opens new therapeutic avenues for this unmet medical need. Besides, we established the proof-of-concept of a stepwise approach aiming at exploiting drug poly-pharmacology to unveil druggable cancer vulnerabilities and to fast-track the identification of synergistic combinations against refractory cancers. FUNDING This study was funded by institutional grants and charities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy Ariey-Bonnet
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Marseille, France
| | - Raphael Berges
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Marseille, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Montero
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Marseille, France
| | - Baptiste Mouysset
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Marseille, France
| | - Patricia Piris
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Marseille, France
| | - Kevin Muller
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Marseille, France
| | - Guillaume Pinna
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, University Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette F-91198, France
| | - Tim W Failes
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; ACRF Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer, Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Greg M Arndt
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; ACRF Drug Discovery Centre for Childhood Cancer, Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Philippe Morando
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Marseille, France
| | - Nathalie Baeza-Kallee
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Marseille, France
| | - Carole Colin
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Marseille, France
| | - Olivier Chinot
- Aix-Marseille University, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Marseille, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Timone, Service de Neuro-Oncologie, Marseille, France
| | - Diane Braguer
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Marseille, France
| | - Xavier Morelli
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Marseille, France
| | - Nicolas André
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Marseille, France; Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Department, Hôpital pour Enfant de La Timone, AP-HM, Marseille, France; Metronomics Global Health Initiative, Marseille 13385, France
| | - Manon Carré
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Marseille, France
| | - Emeline Tabouret
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, UMR 7051, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille University, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Marseille, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire Timone, Service de Neuro-Oncologie, Marseille, France
| | | | - Marion Le Grand
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Marseille, France.
| | - Eddy Pasquier
- Aix Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut Paoli Calmettes, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Marseille, France; Metronomics Global Health Initiative, Marseille 13385, France.
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50
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Guo X, Olajuyin A, Tucker TA, Idell S, Qian G. BRD4 as a Therapeutic Target in Pulmonary Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13231. [PMID: 37686037 PMCID: PMC10487829 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713231] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins are epigenetic modulators that regulate gene transcription through interacting with acetylated lysine residues of histone proteins. BET proteins have multiple roles in regulating key cellular functions such as cell proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, oxidative and redox balance, and immune responses. As a result, BET proteins have been found to be actively involved in a broad range of human lung diseases including acute lung inflammation, asthma, pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Due to the identification of specific small molecular inhibitors of BET proteins, targeting BET in these lung diseases has become an area of increasing interest. Emerging evidence has demonstrated the beneficial effects of BET inhibitors in preclinical models of various human lung diseases. This is, in general, largely related to the ability of BET proteins to bind to promoters of genes that are critical for inflammation, differentiation, and beyond. By modulating these critical genes, BET proteins are integrated into the pathogenesis of disease progression. The intrinsic histone acetyltransferase activity of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is of particular interest, seems to act independently of its bromodomain binding activity, and has implication in some contexts. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the research on BET proteins with a focus on BRD4 in several major human lung diseases, the underlying molecular mechanisms, as well as findings of targeting BET proteins using pharmaceutical inhibitors in different lung diseases preclinically.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Guoqing Qian
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX 75708, USA; (X.G.); (A.O.); (T.A.T.); (S.I.)
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