1
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Prasad CB, Oo A, Liu Y, Qiu Z, Zhong Y, Li N, Singh D, Xin X, Cho YJ, Li Z, Zhang X, Yan C, Zheng Q, Wang QE, Guo D, Kim B, Zhang J. The thioredoxin system determines CHK1 inhibitor sensitivity via redox-mediated regulation of ribonucleotide reductase activity. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4667. [PMID: 38821952 PMCID: PMC11143221 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48076-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) is critical for cell survival under replication stress (RS). CHK1 inhibitors (CHK1i's) in combination with chemotherapy have shown promising results in preclinical studies but have displayed minimal efficacy with substantial toxicity in clinical trials. To explore combinatorial strategies that can overcome these limitations, we perform an unbiased high-throughput screen in a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line and identify thioredoxin1 (Trx1), a major component of the mammalian antioxidant-system, as a determinant of CHK1i sensitivity. We establish a role for redox recycling of RRM1, the larger subunit of ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), and a depletion of the deoxynucleotide pool in this Trx1-mediated CHK1i sensitivity. Further, the TrxR inhibitor auranofin, an approved anti-rheumatoid arthritis drug, shows a synergistic interaction with CHK1i via interruption of the deoxynucleotide pool. Together, we show a pharmacological combination to treat NSCLC that relies on a redox regulatory link between the Trx system and mammalian RNR activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandra Bhushan Prasad
- Department of Radiation Oncology, James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Adrian Oo
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Yujie Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Zhaojun Qiu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Yaogang Zhong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center, Center for Cancer Metabolism, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Na Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Deepika Singh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Xiwen Xin
- The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Young-Jae Cho
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Zaibo Li
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Xiaoli Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Wexner Medical Center, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Chunhong Yan
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Qingfei Zheng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center, Center for Cancer Metabolism, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Qi-En Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Deliang Guo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center, Center for Cancer Metabolism, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Baek Kim
- Center for ViroScience and Cure, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Junran Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center, Center for Cancer Metabolism, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center, Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
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2
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Kim HS, Park JE, Lee WH, Kwon YB, Seu YB, Kim KS. Novel Amidine Derivative K1586 Sensitizes Colorectal Cancer Cells to Ionizing Radiation by Inducing Chk1 Instability. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4396. [PMID: 38673980 PMCID: PMC11049894 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084396] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) is a key mediator of the DNA damage response that regulates cell cycle progression, DNA damage repair, and DNA replication. Small-molecule Chk1 inhibitors sensitize cancer cells to genotoxic agents and have shown preclinical activity as single agents in cancers characterized by high levels of replication stress. However, the underlying genetic determinants of Chk1-inhibitor sensitivity remain unclear. Although treatment options for advanced colorectal cancer are limited, radiotherapy is effective. Here, we report that exposure to a novel amidine derivative, K1586, leads to an initial reduction in the proliferative potential of colorectal cancer cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed that the length of the G2/M phase increased with K1586 exposure as a result of Chk1 instability. Exposure to K1586 enhanced the degradation of Chk1 in a time- and dose-dependent manner, increasing replication stress and sensitizing colorectal cancer cells to radiation. Taken together, the results suggest that a novel amidine derivative may have potential as a radiotherapy-sensitization agent that targets Chk1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Soo Kim
- School of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea;
| | - Ji-Eun Park
- Divisions of Radiation Biomedical Research, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul 01812, Republic of Korea;
- School of Radiological & Medico-Oncological Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Hyung Lee
- R&D Center, Chemical Business Unit, Pharmicell Co., Ltd., Ulsan 45009, Republic of Korea;
| | - Young Bin Kwon
- Central Research Institute, Kyung Nong Co., Ltd., Gyeongju 38175, Republic of Korea;
| | - Young-Bae Seu
- School of Life Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea;
| | - Kwang Seok Kim
- Divisions of Radiation Biomedical Research, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul 01812, Republic of Korea;
- School of Radiological & Medico-Oncological Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
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3
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Ichikawa T, Suekane A, Nakahata S, Iha H, Shimoda K, Murakami T, Morishita K. Inhibition of PRMT5/MEP50 Arginine Methyltransferase Activity Causes Cancer Vulnerability in NDRG2 low Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2842. [PMID: 38474089 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052842] [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: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2), which is a tumour suppressor, is frequently lost in many types of tumours, including adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL). The downregulation of NDRG2 expression is involved in tumour progression through the aberrant phosphorylation of several important signalling molecules. We observed that the downregulation of NDRG2 induced the translocation of protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) from the nucleus to the cytoplasm via the increased phosphorylation of PRMT5 at Serine 335. In NDRG2low ATL, cytoplasmic PRMT5 enhanced HSP90A chaperone activity via arginine methylation, leading to tumour progression and the maintenance of oncogenic client proteins. Therefore, we examined whether the inhibition of PRMT5 activity is a drug target in NDRG2low tumours. The knockdown of PRMT5 and binding partner methylsome protein 50 (MEP50) expression significantly demonstrated the suppression of cell proliferation via the degradation of AKT and NEMO in NDRG2low ATL cells, whereas NDRG2-expressing cells did not impair the stability of client proteins. We suggest that the relationship between PRMT5/MEP50 and the downregulation of NDRG2 may exhibit a novel vulnerability and a therapeutic target. Treatment with the PRMT5-specific inhibitors CMP5 and HLCL61 was more sensitive in NDRG2low cancer cells than in NDRG2-expressing cells via the inhibition of HSP90 arginine methylation, along with the degradation of client proteins. Thus, interference with PRMT5 activity has become a feasible and effective strategy for promoting cancer vulnerability in NDRG2low ATL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomonaga Ichikawa
- Division of Tumor and Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
- Department of Microbiology, Saitama Medical University, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama, Iruma-gun, Saitama 350-0495, Japan
| | - Akira Suekane
- Trauma and Acute Critical Care Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Shingo Nakahata
- Division of Tumor and Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
- Division of HTLV-1/ATL Carcinogenesis and Therapeutics, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan
| | - Hidekatsu Iha
- Division of Pathophysiology, The Research Center for GLOBAL and LOCAL Infectious Diseases (RCGLID), Oita University, Yufu 879-5503, Japan
| | - Kazuya Shimoda
- Division of Hematology, Diabetes, and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
| | - Takashi Murakami
- Department of Microbiology, Saitama Medical University, 38 Morohongo, Moroyama, Iruma-gun, Saitama 350-0495, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Morishita
- Division of Tumor and Cellular Biochemistry, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
- Project for Advanced Medical Research and Development, Project Research Division, Frontier Science Research Center, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
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Yamaguchi H, Chang LC, Chang OSS, Chen YF, Hsiao YC, Wu CS, Hung MC. MRCK as a Potential Target for Claudin-Low Subtype of Breast Cancer. Int J Biol Sci 2024; 20:1-14. [PMID: 38164185 PMCID: PMC10750295 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.88285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
To find new molecular targets for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), we analyzed a large-scale drug screening dataset based on breast cancer subtypes. We discovered that BDP-9066, a specific MRCK inhibitor (MRCKi), may be an effective drug against TNBC. After confirming the efficacy and specificity of BDP-9066 against TNBC in vitro and in vivo, we further analyzed the underlying mechanism of specific activity of BDP-9066 against TNBC. Comparing the transcriptome of BDP-9066-sensitive and -resistant cells, the activation of the focal adhesion and YAP/TAZ pathway were found to play an important role in the sensitive cells. Furthermore, YAP/TAZ is indeed repressed by BDP-9066 in the sensitive cells, and active form of YAP suppresses the effects of BDP-9066. YAP/TAZ expression and activity are high in TNBC, especially the Claudin-low subtype, consistent with the expression of focal adhesion-related genes. Interestingly, NF-κB functions downstream of YAP/TAZ in TNBC cells and is suppressed by BDP-9066. Furthermore, the PI3 kinase pathway adversely affected the effects of BDP-9066 and that alpelisib, a PI3 kinase inhibitor, synergistically increased the effects of BDP-9066, in PIK3CA mutant TNBC cells. Taken together, we have shown for the first time that MRCKi can be new drugs against TNBC, particularly the Claudin-low subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirohito Yamaguchi
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung City 406040, Taiwan R.O.C
- Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan R.O.C
- Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Ling-Chu Chang
- Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan R.O.C
- Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Olin Shih-Shin Chang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA
| | - Yu-Fu Chen
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung City 406040, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Yu-Chun Hsiao
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung City 406040, Taiwan R.O.C
- Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan R.O.C
- Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Chen-Shiou Wu
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung City 406040, Taiwan R.O.C
- Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan R.O.C
- Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Mien-Chie Hung
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung City 406040, Taiwan R.O.C
- Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan R.O.C
- Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan R.O.C
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5
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Chowdhury SR, Chuong P, Mgbemena VE, Statsyuk A. Development of a PROTAC Targeting Chk1. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.30.573733. [PMID: 38260247 PMCID: PMC10802242 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.30.573733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
A series of Chk1 degraders were designed and synthesized. The degraders were developed through the conjugation of a promiscuous kinase binder and thalidomide. One of the degraders PROTAC-2 was able to decrease Chk1 levels in a concentration-dependent manner in A375 cells. The developed probes can be useful for the development of selective and more potent Chk1 degraders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandipan Roy Chowdhury
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Health 2, 4349 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, Texas, 77204
| | - Patrick Chuong
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Health 2, 4349 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, Texas, 77204
| | - Victoria E Mgbemena
- Department of Biology, MD and S Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA
| | - Alexander Statsyuk
- Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Health 2, 4349 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, Texas, 77204
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6
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Oropeza E, Seker S, Carrel S, Mazumder A, Lozano D, Jimenez A, VandenHeuvel SN, Noltensmeyer DA, Punturi NB, Lei JT, Lim B, Waltz SE, Raghavan SA, Bainbridge MN, Haricharan S. Molecular portraits of cell cycle checkpoint kinases in cancer evolution, progression, and treatment responsiveness. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf2860. [PMID: 37390209 PMCID: PMC10313178 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf2860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Cell cycle dysregulation is prerequisite for cancer formation. However, it is unknown whether the mode of dysregulation affects disease characteristics. Here, we conduct comprehensive analyses of cell cycle checkpoint dysregulation using patient data and experimental investigations. We find that ATM mutation predisposes the diagnosis of primary estrogen receptor (ER)+/human epidermal growth factor (HER)2- cancer in older women. Conversely, CHK2 dysregulation induces formation of metastatic, premenopausal ER+/HER2- breast cancer (P = 0.001) that is treatment-resistant (HR = 6.15, P = 0.01). Lastly, while mutations in ATR alone are rare, ATR/TP53 co-mutation is 12-fold enriched over expected in ER+/HER2- disease (P = 0.002) and associates with metastatic progression (HR = 2.01, P = 0.006). Concordantly, ATR dysregulation induces metastatic phenotypes in TP53 mutant, not wild-type, cells. Overall, we identify mode of cell cycle dysregulation as a distinct event that determines subtype, metastatic potential, and treatment responsiveness, providing rationale for reconsidering diagnostic classification through the lens of the mode of cell cycle dysregulation..
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Oropeza
- Aging and Cancer Immunology, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- NCI-designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sinem Seker
- Aging and Cancer Immunology, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- NCI-designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sabrina Carrel
- Aging and Cancer Immunology, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- NCI-designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Aloran Mazumder
- Aging and Cancer Immunology, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- NCI-designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Lozano
- Aging and Cancer Immunology, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- NCI-designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Athena Jimenez
- Aging and Cancer Immunology, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- NCI-designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Nindo B. Punturi
- Aging and Cancer Immunology, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- NCI-designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan T. Lei
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bora Lim
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Oncology/Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Susan E. Waltz
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Research Service, Cincinnati Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, 3200 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | | | - Svasti Haricharan
- Aging and Cancer Immunology, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- NCI-designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
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7
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Groelly FJ, Fawkes M, Dagg RA, Blackford AN, Tarsounas M. Targeting DNA damage response pathways in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2023; 23:78-94. [PMID: 36471053 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00535-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 161.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cells have evolved a complex network of biochemical pathways, collectively known as the DNA damage response (DDR), to prevent detrimental mutations from being passed on to their progeny. The DDR coordinates DNA repair with cell-cycle checkpoint activation and other global cellular responses. Genes encoding DDR factors are frequently mutated in cancer, causing genomic instability, an intrinsic feature of many tumours that underlies their ability to grow, metastasize and respond to treatments that inflict DNA damage (such as radiotherapy). One instance where we have greater insight into how genetic DDR abrogation impacts on therapy responses is in tumours with mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2. Due to compromised homologous recombination DNA repair, these tumours rely on alternative repair mechanisms and are susceptible to chemical inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), which specifically kill homologous recombination-deficient cancer cells, and have become a paradigm for targeted cancer therapy. It is now clear that many other synthetic-lethal relationships exist between DDR genes. Crucially, some of these interactions could be exploited in the clinic to target tumours that become resistant to PARP inhibition. In this Review, we discuss state-of-the-art strategies for DDR inactivation using small-molecule inhibitors and highlight those compounds currently being evaluated in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian J Groelly
- Genome Stability and Tumourigenesis Group, Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Matthew Fawkes
- Department of Oncology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Rebecca A Dagg
- Genome Stability and Tumourigenesis Group, Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrew N Blackford
- Department of Oncology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
| | - Madalena Tarsounas
- Genome Stability and Tumourigenesis Group, Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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8
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Echeverria GV, Cai S, Tu Y, Shao J, Powell E, Redwood AB, Jiang Y, McCoy A, Rinkenbaugh AL, Lau R, Trevarton AJ, Fu C, Gould R, Ravenberg EE, Huo L, Candelaria R, Santiago L, Adrada BE, Lane DL, Rauch GM, Yang WT, White JB, Chang JT, Moulder SL, Symmans WF, Hilsenbeck SG, Piwnica-Worms H. Predictors of success in establishing orthotopic patient-derived xenograft models of triple negative breast cancer. NPJ Breast Cancer 2023; 9:2. [PMID: 36627285 PMCID: PMC9831981 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-022-00502-1] [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: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of breast cancer are an effective discovery platform and tool for preclinical pharmacologic testing and biomarker identification. We established orthotopic PDX models of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) from the primary breast tumors of patients prior to and following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) while they were enrolled in the ARTEMIS trial (NCT02276443). Serial biopsies were obtained from patients prior to treatment (pre-NACT), from poorly responsive disease after four cycles of Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (AC, mid-NACT), and in cases of AC-resistance, after a 3-month course of different experimental therapies and/or additional chemotherapy (post-NACT). Our study cohort includes a total of 269 fine needle aspirates (FNAs) from 217 women, generating a total of 62 PDX models (overall success-rate = 23%). Success of PDX engraftment was generally higher from those cancers that proved to be treatment-resistant, whether poorly responsive to AC as determined by ultrasound measurements mid-NACT (p = 0.063), RCB II/III status after NACT (p = 0.046), or metastatic relapse within 2 years of surgery (p = 0.008). TNBC molecular subtype determined from gene expression microarrays of pre-NACT tumors revealed no significant association with PDX engraftment rate (p = 0.877). Finally, we developed a statistical model predictive of PDX engraftment using percent Ki67 positive cells in the patient's diagnostic biopsy, positive lymph node status at diagnosis, and low volumetric reduction of the patient's tumor following AC treatment. This novel bank of 62 PDX models of TNBC provides a valuable resource for biomarker discovery and preclinical therapeutic trials aimed at improving neoadjuvant response rates for patients with TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria V Echeverria
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Shirong Cai
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yizheng Tu
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jiansu Shao
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Emily Powell
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Abena B Redwood
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yan Jiang
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Aaron McCoy
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Amanda L Rinkenbaugh
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Rosanna Lau
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Alexander J Trevarton
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Chunxiao Fu
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Rebekah Gould
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Elizabeth E Ravenberg
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Lei Huo
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Rosalind Candelaria
- Department of Breast Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Lumarie Santiago
- Department of Breast Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Beatriz E Adrada
- Department of Breast Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Deanna L Lane
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Gaiane M Rauch
- Department of Abdominal Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Wei T Yang
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jason B White
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Chang
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Stacy L Moulder
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - W Fraser Symmans
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Susan G Hilsenbeck
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Helen Piwnica-Worms
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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9
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Marvalim C, Datta A, Lee SC. Role of p53 in breast cancer progression: An insight into p53 targeted therapy. Theranostics 2023; 13:1421-1442. [PMID: 36923534 PMCID: PMC10008729 DOI: 10.7150/thno.81847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor p53 is an important regulator of a multitude of cellular processes. In the presence of genotoxic stress, p53 is activated to facilitate DNA repair, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. In breast cancer, the tumor suppressive activities of p53 are frequently inactivated by either the overexpression of its negative regulator MDM2, or mutation which is present in 30-35% of all breast cancer cases. Notably, the frequency of p53 mutation is highly subtype dependent in breast cancers, with majority of hormone receptor-positive or luminal subtypes retaining the wild-type p53 status while hormone receptor-negative patients predominantly carry p53 mutations with gain-of-function oncogenic activities that contribute to poorer prognosis. Thus, a two-pronged strategy of targeting wild-type and mutant p53 in different subtypes of breast cancer can have clinical relevance. The development of p53-based therapies has rapidly progressed in recent years, and include unique small molecule chemical inhibitors, stapled peptides, PROTACs, as well as several genetic-based approaches using vectors and engineered antibodies. In this review, we highlight the therapeutic strategies that are in pre-clinical and clinical development to overcome p53 inactivation in both wild-type and mutant p53-bearing breast tumors, and discuss their efficacies and limitations in pre-clinical and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie Marvalim
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- ✉ Corresponding authors: C.M. E-mail: ; L.S.C. E-mail: ; Tel: (65) 6516 7282
| | - Arpita Datta
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
| | - Soo Chin Lee
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore 119228, Singapore
- ✉ Corresponding authors: C.M. E-mail: ; L.S.C. E-mail: ; Tel: (65) 6516 7282
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10
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Meister MT, Groot Koerkamp MJA, de Souza T, Breunis WB, Frazer‐Mendelewska E, Brok M, DeMartino J, Manders F, Calandrini C, Kerstens HHD, Janse A, Dolman MEM, Eising S, Langenberg KPS, van Tuil M, Knops RRG, van Scheltinga ST, Hiemcke‐Jiwa LS, Flucke U, Merks JHM, van Noesel MM, Tops BBJ, Hehir‐Kwa JY, Kemmeren P, Molenaar JJ, van de Wetering M, van Boxtel R, Drost J, Holstege FCP. Mesenchymal tumor organoid models recapitulate rhabdomyosarcoma subtypes. EMBO Mol Med 2022; 14:e16001. [PMID: 35916583 PMCID: PMC9549731 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202216001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are mesenchyme-derived tumors and the most common childhood soft tissue sarcomas. Treatment is intense, with a nevertheless poor prognosis for high-risk patients. Discovery of new therapies would benefit from additional preclinical models. Here, we describe the generation of a collection of 19 pediatric RMS tumor organoid (tumoroid) models (success rate of 41%) comprising all major subtypes. For aggressive tumors, tumoroid models can often be established within 4-8 weeks, indicating the feasibility of personalized drug screening. Molecular, genetic, and histological characterization show that the models closely resemble the original tumors, with genetic stability over extended culture periods of up to 6 months. Importantly, drug screening reflects established sensitivities and the models can be modified by CRISPR/Cas9 with TP53 knockout in an embryonal RMS model resulting in replicative stress drug sensitivity. Tumors of mesenchymal origin can therefore be used to generate organoid models, relevant for a variety of preclinical and clinical research questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T Meister
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands,Oncode InstituteUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Marian J A Groot Koerkamp
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands,Oncode InstituteUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Terezinha de Souza
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands,Oncode InstituteUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Willemijn B Breunis
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands,Department of Oncology and Children's Research CenterUniversity Children's Hospital ZürichZürichSwitzerland
| | - Ewa Frazer‐Mendelewska
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands,Oncode InstituteUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Mariël Brok
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands,Oncode InstituteUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Jeff DeMartino
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands,Oncode InstituteUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Freek Manders
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands,Oncode InstituteUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Camilla Calandrini
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands,Oncode InstituteUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | | | - Alex Janse
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - M Emmy M Dolman
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands,Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer CentreUNSW SydneyKensingtonNSWAustralia,School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of MedicineUNSW SydneyKensingtonNSWAustralia
| | - Selma Eising
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | | | - Marc van Tuil
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Rutger R G Knops
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | | | | | - Uta Flucke
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | | | - Max M van Noesel
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | | | | | - Patrick Kemmeren
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands,Center for Molecular MedicineUMC Utrecht and Utrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Jan J Molenaar
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Marc van de Wetering
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands,Oncode InstituteUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Ruben van Boxtel
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands,Oncode InstituteUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Jarno Drost
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands,Oncode InstituteUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Frank C P Holstege
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric OncologyUtrechtThe Netherlands,Center for Molecular MedicineUMC Utrecht and Utrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
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11
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Chen K, Zhang J, Beeraka NM, Tang C, Babayeva YV, Sinelnikov MY, Zhang X, Zhang J, Liu J, Reshetov IV, Sukocheva OA, Lu P, Fan R. Advances in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity-Driven Effects in Breast Cancers. Front Oncol 2022; 12:820968. [PMID: 35814391 PMCID: PMC9258420 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.820968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Obesity and associated chronic inflammation were shown to facilitate breast cancer (BC) growth and metastasis. Leptin, adiponectin, estrogen, and several pro-inflammatory cytokines are involved in the development of obesity-driven BC through the activation of multiple oncogenic and pro-inflammatory pathways. The aim of this study was to assess the reported mechanisms of obesity-induced breast carcinogenesis and effectiveness of conventional and complementary BC therapies. We screened published original articles, reviews, and meta-analyses that addressed the involvement of obesity-related signaling mechanisms in BC development, BC treatment/prevention approaches, and posttreatment complications. PubMed, Medline, eMedicine, National Library of Medicine (NLM), and ReleMed databases were used to retrieve relevant studies using a set of keywords, including "obesity," "oncogenic signaling pathways," "inflammation," "surgery," "radiotherapy," "conventional therapies," and "diet." Multiple studies indicated that effective BC treatment requires the involvement of diet- and exercise-based approaches in obese postmenopausal women. Furthermore, active lifestyle and diet-related interventions improved the patients' overall quality of life and minimized adverse side effects after traditional BC treatment, including postsurgical lymphedema, post-chemo nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Further investigation of beneficial effects of diet and physical activity may help improve obesity-linked cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo Chen
- Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Narasimha M. Beeraka
- Department of Human Anatomy, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
- Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CEMR), Department of Biochemistry, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (JSS AHER), JSS Medical College, Mysuru, India
| | - Chengyun Tang
- Department of Human Anatomy, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Yulia V. Babayeva
- Department of Human Anatomy, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail Y. Sinelnikov
- Department of Human Anatomy, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Xinliang Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Jiacheng Zhang
- Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Junqi Liu
- Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Igor V. Reshetov
- Department of Human Anatomy, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga A. Sukocheva
- Discipline of Health Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Pengwei Lu
- Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ruitai Fan
- Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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12
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Segeren HA, Westendorp B. Mechanisms used by cancer cells to tolerate drug-induced replication stress. Cancer Lett 2022; 544:215804. [PMID: 35750276 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Activation of oncogenes in cancer cells forces cell proliferation, leading to DNA replication stress (RS). As a consequence, cancer cells heavily rely on the intra S-phase checkpoint for survival. This fundamental principle formed the basis for the development of inhibitors against key players of the intra S-phase checkpoint, ATR and CHK1. These drugs are often combined with chemotherapeutic drugs that interfere with DNA replication to exacerbate RS and exhaust the intra S-phase checkpoint in cancer cells. However, drug resistance impedes efficient clinical use, suggesting that some cancer cells tolerate severe RS. In this review, we describe how an increased nucleotide pool, boosted stabilization and repair of stalled forks and firing of dormant origins fortify the RS response in cancer cells. Notably, the vast majority of the genes that confer RS tolerance are regulated by the E2F and NRF2 transcription factors. These transcriptional programs are frequently activated in cancer cells, allowing simultaneous activation of multiple tolerance avenues. We propose that the E2F and NRF2 transcriptional programs can be used as biomarker to select patients for treatment with RS-inducing drugs and as novel targets to kill RS-tolerant cancer cells. Together, this review aims to provide a framework to maximally exploit RS as an Achilles' heel of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrika A Segeren
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Bart Westendorp
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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13
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Yuan M, Zhao Y, Arkenau HT, Lao T, Chu L, Xu Q. Signal pathways and precision therapy of small-cell lung cancer. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:187. [PMID: 35705538 PMCID: PMC9200817 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01013-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) encounters up 15% of all lung cancers, and is characterized by a high rate of proliferation, a tendency for early metastasis and generally poor prognosis. Most of the patients present with distant metastatic disease at the time of clinical diagnosis, and only one-third are eligible for potentially curative treatment. Recently, investigations into the genomic make-up of SCLC show extensive chromosomal rearrangements, high mutational burden and loss-of-function mutations of several tumor suppressor genes. Although the clinical development of new treatments for SCLC has been limited in recent years, a better understanding of oncogenic driver alterations has found potential novel targets that might be suitable for therapeutic approaches. Currently, there are six types of potential treatable signaling pathways in SCLC, including signaling pathways targeting the cell cycle and DNA repair, tumor development, cell metabolism, epigenetic regulation, tumor immunity and angiogenesis. At this point, however, there is still a lack of understanding of their role in SCLC tumor biology and the promotion of cancer growth. Importantly optimizing drug targets, improving drug pharmacology, and identifying potential biomarkers are the main focus and further efforts are required to recognize patients who benefit most from novel therapies in development. This review will focus on the current learning on the signaling pathways, the status of immunotherapy, and targeted therapy in SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Yuan
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, 200072, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, 200072, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Tongnei Lao
- Department of Oncology, Centro Medico BO CHI, Macao, SAR, China
| | - Li Chu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 200032, Shanghai, China. .,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qing Xu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, 200072, Shanghai, China.
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14
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Watanabe S, Yogo A, Otsubo T, Umehara H, Oishi J, Kodo T, Masui T, Takaishi S, Seno H, Uemoto S, Hatano E. Establishment of patient-derived organoids and a characterization-based drug discovery platform for treatment of pancreatic cancer. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:489. [PMID: 35505283 PMCID: PMC9063137 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09619-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal tumors. The aim of this study is to provide an effective therapeutic discovery platform for pancreatic cancer by establishing and characterizing patient-derived organoids (PDOs). METHODS PDOs were established from pancreatic tumor surgical specimens, and the mutations were examined using a panel sequence. Expression of markers was assessed by PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry; tumorigenicity was examined using immunodeficient mice, and drug responses were examined in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS PDOs were established from eight primary and metastatic tumors, and the characteristic mutations and expression of cancer stem cell markers and CA19-9 were confirmed. Tumorigenicity of the PDOs was confirmed in subcutaneous transplantation and in the peritoneal cavity in the case of PDOs derived from disseminated nodules. Gemcitabine-sensitive/resistant PDOs showed consistent responses in vivo. High throughput screening in PDOs identified a compound effective for inhibiting tumor growth of a gemcitabine-resistant PDO xenograft model. CONCLUSIONS This PDO-based platform captures important aspects of treatment-resistant pancreatic cancer and its metastatic features, suggesting that this study may serve as a tool for the discovery of personalized therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadanori Watanabe
- DSK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
- Cancer Research Unit, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Akitada Yogo
- DSK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tsuguteru Otsubo
- DSK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Cancer Research Unit, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroki Umehara
- DSK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Cancer Research Unit, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jun Oishi
- DSK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Cancer Research Unit, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toru Kodo
- DSK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Cancer Research Unit, Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Masui
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Shigeo Takaishi
- DSK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Seno
- DSK Project, Medical Innovation Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shinji Uemoto
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Etsuro Hatano
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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15
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Advanced Strategies for Therapeutic Targeting of Wild-Type and Mutant p53 in Cancer. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12040548. [PMID: 35454137 PMCID: PMC9029346 DOI: 10.3390/biom12040548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
TP53 is a tumor suppressor gene that encodes a sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factor activated by stressful stimuli; it upregulates target genes involved in growth suppression, cell death, DNA repair, metabolism, among others. TP53 is the most frequently mutated gene in tumors, with mutations not only leading to loss-of-function (LOF), but also gain-of-function (GOF) that promotes tumor progression, and metastasis. The tumor-specific status of mutant p53 protein has suggested it is a promising target for cancer therapy. We summarize the current progress of targeting wild-type and mutant p53 for cancer therapy through biotherapeutic and biopharmaceutical methods for (1) boosting p53 activity in cancer, (2) p53-dependent and p53-independent strategies for targeting p53 pathway functional restoration in p53-mutated cancer, (3) targeting p53 in immunotherapy, and (4) combination therapies targeting p53, p53 checkpoints, or mutant p53 for cancer therapy.
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16
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The Landscape of PDK1 in Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030811. [PMID: 35159078 PMCID: PMC8834120 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Given that 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1) plays a crucial role in the malignant biological behaviors of a wide range of cancers, we review the influence of PDK1 in breast cancer (BC). First, we describe the power of PDK1 in cellular behaviors and characterize the interaction networks of PDK1. Then, we establish the roles of PDK1 in carcinogenesis, growth and survival, metastasis, and chemoresistance in BC cells. More importantly, we sort the current preclinical or clinical trials of PDK1-targeted therapy in BC and find that, even though no selective PDK1 inhibitor is currently available for BC therapy, the combination trials of PDK1-targeted therapy and other agents have provided some benefit. Thus, there is increasing anticipation that PDK1-targeted therapy will have its space in future therapeutic approaches related to BC, and we hope the novel approaches of targeted therapy will be conducive to ameliorating the dismal prognosis of BC patients.
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17
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Disrupted mitochondrial homeostasis coupled with mitotic arrest generates antineoplastic oxidative stress. Oncogene 2022; 41:427-443. [PMID: 34773075 PMCID: PMC8755538 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-02105-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) serve as critical signals in various cellular processes. Excessive ROS cause cell death or senescence and mediates the therapeutic effect of many cancer drugs. Recent studies showed that ROS increasingly accumulate during G2/M arrest, the underlying mechanism, however, has not been fully elucidated. Here, we show that in cancer cells treated with anticancer agent TH287 or paclitaxel that causes M arrest, mitochondria accumulate robustly and produce excessive mitochondrial superoxide, which causes oxidative DNA damage and undermines cell survival and proliferation. While mitochondrial mass is greatly increased in cells arrested at M phase, the mitochondrial function is compromised, as reflected by reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, increased SUMOylation and acetylation of mitochondrial proteins, as well as an increased metabolic reliance on glycolysis. CHK1 functional disruption decelerates cell cycle, spares the M arrest and attenuates mitochondrial oxidative stress. Induction of mitophagy and blockade of mitochondrial biogenesis, measures that reduce mitochondrial accumulation, also decelerate cell cycle and abrogate M arrest-coupled mitochondrial oxidative stress. These results suggest that cell cycle progression and mitochondrial homeostasis are interdependent and coordinated, and that impairment of mitochondrial homeostasis and the associated redox signaling may mediate the antineoplastic effect of the M arrest-inducing chemotherapeutics. Our findings provide insights into the fate of cells arrested at M phase and have implications in cancer therapy.
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18
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Kemp JA, Kwon YJ. Cancer nanotechnology: current status and perspectives. NANO CONVERGENCE 2021; 8:34. [PMID: 34727233 PMCID: PMC8560887 DOI: 10.1186/s40580-021-00282-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Modern medicine has been waging a war on cancer for nearly a century with no tangible end in sight. Cancer treatments have significantly progressed, but the need to increase specificity and decrease systemic toxicities remains. Early diagnosis holds a key to improving prognostic outlook and patient quality of life, and diagnostic tools are on the cusp of a technological revolution. Nanotechnology has steadily expanded into the reaches of cancer chemotherapy, radiotherapy, diagnostics, and imaging, demonstrating the capacity to augment each and advance patient care. Nanomaterials provide an abundance of versatility, functionality, and applications to engineer specifically targeted cancer medicine, accurate early-detection devices, robust imaging modalities, and enhanced radiotherapy adjuvants. This review provides insights into the current clinical and pre-clinical nanotechnological applications for cancer drug therapy, diagnostics, imaging, and radiation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Kemp
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Young Jik Kwon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
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19
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Wang M, Attardi LD. A Balancing Act: p53 Activity from Tumor Suppression to Pathology and Therapeutic Implications. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY-MECHANISMS OF DISEASE 2021; 17:205-226. [PMID: 34699262 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathol-042320-025840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
TP53, encoding the p53 transcription factor, is the most frequently mutated tumor suppressor gene across all human cancer types. While p53 has long been appreciated to induce antiproliferative cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and senescence programs in response to diverse stress signals, various studies in recent years have revealed additional important functions for p53 that likely also contribute to tumor suppression, including roles in regulating tumor metabolism, ferroptosis, signaling in the tumor microenvironment, and stem cell self-renewal/differentiation. Not only does p53 loss or mutation cause cancer, but hyperactive p53 also drives various pathologies, including developmental phenotypes, premature aging, neurodegeneration, and side effects of cancer therapies. These findings underscore the importance of balanced p53 activity and influence our thinking of how to best develop cancer therapies based on modulating the p53 pathway. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Pathology: Mechanisms of Disease, Volume 17 is January 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxiong Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA;
| | - Laura D Attardi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA; .,Department of Genetics and Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
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20
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Casey DL, Pitter KL, Wexler LH, Slotkin EK, Gupta GP, Wolden SL. TP53 mutations increase radioresistance in rhabdomyosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. Br J Cancer 2021; 125:576-581. [PMID: 34017087 PMCID: PMC8368014 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01438-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND p53 plays a key role in the DNA repair process and response to ionising radiation. We sought to determine the clinical phenotype of TP53 mutations and p53 pathway alterations in patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and Ewing sarcoma (ES) treated with radiation. METHODS Of patients with available genomic sequencing, we identified 109 patients with RMS and ES treated to a total of 286 radiation sites. We compared irradiated tumour control among tumours with TP53 mutations (n = 40) to those that were TP53 wild-type (n = 246). We additionally compared irradiated tumour control among tumours with any p53 pathway alteration (defined as tumours with TP53 mutations or TP53 wild-type tumours identified to have MDM2/4 amplification and/or CDKN2A/B deletion, n = 78) to those without such alterations (n = 208). RESULTS The median follow-up was 26 months from radiation. TP53 mutations were associated with worse irradiated tumour control among the entire cohort (hazard ratio, HR = 2.8, P < 0.0001). Tumours with any p53 pathway alteration also had inferior irradiated tumour control (HR = 2.0, P = 0.003). On multivariable analysis, after controlling for tumour histology, intent of radiation, presence of gross disease, and biologically effective dose, TP53 mutations continued to be associated with a radioresistant phenotype (HR = 7.1, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Our results show that TP53 mutations are associated with increased radioresistance in RMS and ES. Novel strategies to overcome this radioresistance are important for improved outcomes in p53 disruptive RMS and ES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana L. Casey
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA ,grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC USA ,grid.429995.aLineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Kenneth L. Pitter
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Leonard H. Wexler
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Department of Pediatric Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Emily K. Slotkin
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Department of Pediatric Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Gaorav P. Gupta
- grid.10698.360000000122483208Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC USA ,grid.429995.aLineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| | - Suzanne L. Wolden
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
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21
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Yu P, Zhu X, Zhu JL, Han YB, Zhang H, Zhou X, Yang L, Xia YZ, Zhang C, Kong LY. The Chk2-PKM2 axis promotes metabolic control of vasculogenic mimicry formation in p53-mutated triple-negative breast cancer. Oncogene 2021; 40:5262-5274. [PMID: 34244606 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01933-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation, which participates in the process of neovascularization, is highly activated in p53-mutated triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Here, we show that Chk2 is negatively correlated with VM formation in p53-mutated TNBC. Its activation by DNA-damaging agents such as cisplatin, etoposide, and DPT reduces VM formation. Mechanistically, the Chk2-PKM2 axis plays an important role in the inhibition of VM formation at the level of metabolic regulation. Chk2 promotes the Chk2-PKM2 interaction through the Chk2 SCD (SQ/TQ cluster domain) and the PKM2 C domain. Furthermore, Chk2 promotes the nuclear export of PKM2 by phosphorylating PKM2 at Ser100. P-PKM2 S100 reduces VM formation by decreasing glucose flux, and the PKM2 S100A mutation abolishes the inhibition of glucose flux and VM formation induced by Chk2 activation. Overall, this study proposes a novel strategy of VM suppression through Chk2 induction, which prevents PKM2-mediated glucose flux in p53-mutated TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiong Zhu
- Medical and Chemical Institute, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jia-Le Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yu-Bao Han
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuan-Zheng Xia
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Ling-Yi Kong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
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22
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Na D, Moon HG. Patient-Derived Xenograft Models in Breast Cancer Research. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1187:283-301. [PMID: 33983584 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-32-9620-6_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model can be used as a platform to study the individual patient's sensitivity to targeted agents as well as its ability to guide our understanding in various aspects of tumor biology including the tumor's clonal evolution and interaction with microenvironment. In this chapter, we review the history of PDX models in various tumor types. Additionally, we highlight the key studies that suggested potential value of PDX models in cancer treatment. Specifically, we will briefly introduce several studies on the issue of PDX models for precision medicine. In latter part of this chapter, we focus on the studies that used PDX models to investigate the molecular biology of breast cancer that underlies the process of drug resistance and tumor metastasis. Also, we will address our own experience in developing PDX models using breast cancer tissues from Korean breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deukchae Na
- Institute of Convergence Medicine, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyeong-Gon Moon
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
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23
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Liebl MC, Hofmann TG. The Role of p53 Signaling in Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2125. [PMID: 33924934 PMCID: PMC8125348 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor p53 functions as a critical tumor suppressor by orchestrating a plethora of cellular responses such as DNA repair, cell cycle arrest, cellular senescence, cell death, cell differentiation, and metabolism. In unstressed cells, p53 levels are kept low due to its polyubiquitination by the E3 ubiquitin ligase MDM2. In response to various stress signals, including DNA damage and aberrant growth signals, the interaction between p53 and MDM2 is blocked and p53 becomes stabilized, allowing p53 to regulate a diverse set of cellular responses mainly through the transactivation of its target genes. The outcome of p53 activation is controlled by its dynamics, its interactions with other proteins, and post-translational modifications. Due to its involvement in several tumor-suppressing pathways, p53 function is frequently impaired in human cancers. In colorectal cancer (CRC), the TP53 gene is mutated in 43% of tumors, and the remaining tumors often have compromised p53 functioning because of alterations in the genes encoding proteins involved in p53 regulation, such as ATM (13%) or DNA-PKcs (11%). TP53 mutations in CRC are usually missense mutations that impair wild-type p53 function (loss-of-function) and that even might provide neo-morphic (gain-of-function) activities such as promoting cancer cell stemness, cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, thereby promoting cancer progression. Although the first compounds targeting p53 are in clinical trials, a better understanding of wild-type and mutant p53 functions will likely pave the way for novel CRC therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena C. Liebl
- Institute of Toxicology, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55131 Mainz, Germany;
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24
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Ly S, Anand V, El-Dana F, Nguyen K, Cai Y, Cai S, Piwnica-Worms H, Tripathy D, Sahin AA, Andreeff M, Battula VL. Anti-GD2 antibody dinutuximab inhibits triple-negative breast tumor growth by targeting GD2 + breast cancer stem-like cells. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:e001197. [PMID: 33722905 PMCID: PMC7970220 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype with no effective standard therapy. Breast cancer stem-like cells (BCSCs) in primary TNBCs are reported to be responsible for metastatic spread of the disease and resistance to chemotherapy, but no available therapeutic tools target BCSCs. We previously reported that the ganglioside GD2 is highly expressed on BCSCs and that inhibition of its expression hampers TNBC growth. We therefore hypothesized that the anti-GD2 antibody dinutuximab (ch14.18) targets GD2+ BCSCs and inhibits TNBC growth. METHOD To test our hypothesis, we first determined GD2 expression via immunohistochemistry in frozen primary tumor samples from patients with TNBC (n=89). Then, we examined the effects of dinutuximab on TNBC cell adhesion, migration, and mammosphere formation in vitro and on tumor growth in vivo using TNBC cell-line and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. RESULTS We found that GD2 was expressed in around 60% of primary TNBC tumors at variable levels and was associated with worse overall survival of patients with TNBC (p=0.002). GD2 was found to be expressed in tumors and stroma, but normal ducts and lobules in adjacent tissues have shown low or no GD2 staining, indicating that GD2 is potentially a novel biomarker for tumor and its microenvironment. Treatment with dinutuximab significantly decreased adhesion and migration of MDA-MB-231 and SUM159 TNBC cells. Moreover, dinutuximab treatment inhibited mTOR signaling, which has been shown to be regulated by GD2 in BCSCs. Dinutuximab also reduced tumor growth in nude mice bearing TNBC cell-line xenografts. Finally, dinutuximab in combination with activated natural killer cells inhibited tumor growth in a TNBC PDX model and improved overall survival of tumor-bearing mice. CONCLUSIONS Dinutuximab successfully eliminated GD2+ cells and reduced tumor growth in both in vivo models. Our data provide proof-of-concept for the criticality of GD2 in BCSCs and demonstrate the potential of dinutuximab as a novel therapeutic approach for TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley Ly
- Leukemia, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Vivek Anand
- Leukemia, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Fouad El-Dana
- Leukemia, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Khoa Nguyen
- Leukemia, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yiming Cai
- Leukemia, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Shirong Cai
- Experimental Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Helen Piwnica-Worms
- Experimental Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Debasish Tripathy
- Breast Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Aysegul A Sahin
- Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Michael Andreeff
- Leukemia, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Venkata Lokesh Battula
- Leukemia, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
- Breast Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA
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25
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Gruener RF, Ling A, Chang YF, Morrison G, Geeleher P, Greene GL, Huang RS. Facilitating Drug Discovery in Breast Cancer by Virtually Screening Patients Using In Vitro Drug Response Modeling. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:885. [PMID: 33672646 PMCID: PMC7924213 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Drug imputation methods often aim to translate in vitro drug response to in vivo drug efficacy predictions. While commonly used in retrospective analyses, our aim is to investigate the use of drug prediction methods for the generation of novel drug discovery hypotheses. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a severe clinical challenge in need of new therapies. (2) Methods: We used an established machine learning approach to build models of drug response based on cell line transcriptome data, which we then applied to patient tumor data to obtain predicted sensitivity scores for hundreds of drugs in over 1000 breast cancer patients. We then examined the relationships between predicted drug response and patient clinical features. (3) Results: Our analysis recapitulated several suspected vulnerabilities in TNBC and identified a number of compounds-of-interest. AZD-1775, a Wee1 inhibitor, was predicted to have preferential activity in TNBC (p < 2.2 × 10-16) and its efficacy was highly associated with TP53 mutations (p = 1.2 × 10-46). We validated these findings using independent cell line screening data and pathway analysis. Additionally, co-administration of AZD-1775 with standard-of-care paclitaxel was able to inhibit tumor growth (p < 0.05) and increase survival (p < 0.01) in a xenograft mouse model of TNBC. (4) Conclusions: Overall, this study provides a framework to turn any cancer transcriptomic dataset into a dataset for drug discovery. Using this framework, one can quickly generate meaningful drug discovery hypotheses for a cancer population of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert F. Gruener
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; (R.F.G.); (Y.-F.C.); (G.L.G.)
| | - Alexander Ling
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
| | - Ya-Fang Chang
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; (R.F.G.); (Y.-F.C.); (G.L.G.)
| | - Gladys Morrison
- Committee for Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA;
| | - Paul Geeleher
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA;
| | - Geoffrey L. Greene
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; (R.F.G.); (Y.-F.C.); (G.L.G.)
| | - R. Stephanie Huang
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
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26
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Medulloblastoma drugs in development: Current leads, trials and drawbacks. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 215:113268. [PMID: 33636537 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Current treatment for MB includes surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Despite significant progress in its management, a portion of children relapse and tumor recurrence carries a poor prognosis. Based on their molecular and clinical characteristics, MB patients are clinically classified into four groups: Wnt, Hh, Group 3, and Group 4. With our increased understanding of relevant molecular pathways disrupted in MB, the development of targeted therapies for MB has also increased. Targeted drugs have shown unique privileges over traditional cytotoxic therapies in balancing efficacy and toxicity, with many of them approved and widely used clinically. The aim of this review is to present the recent progress on targeted chemotherapies for the treatment of all classes of MB.
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27
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DNA damage response inhibitors: An avenue for TNBC treatment. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2021; 1875:188521. [PMID: 33556453 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The DNA damage response (DDR) is critical for the maintenance of genomic stability by sensing DNA damage, regulating cell cycle and initiating DNA repair. Drugs targeting DDR pathways have been increasingly exploited in treating various tumors. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly heterogeneous and aggressive tumor with constitutive activation of oncogenes, inducing replication stress and DNA damage, which require the DDR for survival. In addition, emerging studies have demonstrated that TNBC harbors aberrant genetic alterations in DDR pathways, such as a high frequency of p53 dysfunction and BRCA1/2 mutations. DDR alterations force TNBC to rely on the existing DDR pathways for survival, and make TNBC particularly sensitive to specific DDR inhibitors, such as high sensitivity of TNBC with BRCA1/2 mutations to PARP inhibitors. This review first and comprehensively covers the current status of the development of DDR inhibitors and discusses the mechanism of targeting the DDR in TNBC. Preclinical and clinical studies on inhibitors of the ATR-CHK1-WEE1 pathway and PARP inhibitors, the most studied inhibitors, and some other DDR inhibitors as monotherapy or combination therapy in TNBC are summarized. We also highlight the possible predictive biomarkers for these DDR inhibitors and their potential combination strategies with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other targeted agents to optimize the efficacy of DDR inhibitors in TNBC treatment. In conclusion, this review discussed the recent considerations related to the use of DDR inhibitors for TNBC and provides a perspective to address future directions and potential therapeutic strategies for patients with TNBC.
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28
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Meireles Da Costa N, Palumbo A, De Martino M, Fusco A, Ribeiro Pinto LF, Nasciutti LE. Interplay between HMGA and TP53 in cell cycle control along tumor progression. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:817-831. [PMID: 32920697 PMCID: PMC11071717 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03634-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The high mobility group A (HMGA) proteins are found to be aberrantly expressed in several tumors. Studies (in vitro and in vivo) have shown that HMGA protein overexpression has a causative role in carcinogenesis process. HMGA proteins regulate cell cycle progression through distinct mechanisms which strongly influence its normal dynamics along malignant transformation. Tumor protein p53 (TP53) is the most frequently altered gene in cancer. The loss of its activity is recognized as the fall of a barrier that enables neoplastic transformation. Among the different functions, TP53 signaling pathway is tightly involved in control of cell cycle, with cell cycle arrest being the main biological outcome observed upon p53 activation, which prevents accumulation of damaged DNA, as well as genomic instability. Therefore, the interaction and opposing effects of HMGA and p53 proteins on regulation of cell cycle in normal and tumor cells are discussed in this review. HMGA proteins and p53 may reciprocally regulate the expression and/or activity of each other, leading to the counteraction of their regulation mechanisms at different stages of the cell cycle. The existence of a functional crosstalk between these proteins in the control of cell cycle could open the possibility of targeting HMGA and p53 in combination with other therapeutic strategies, particularly those that target cell cycle regulation, to improve the management and prognosis of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalia Meireles Da Costa
- Programa de Carcinogênese Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Câncer-INCA, Rua André Cavalcanti, 37-6th floor-Centro, 20231-050, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Antonio Palumbo
- Laboratório de Interações Celulares, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Prédio de Ciências da Saúde-Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, A. Carlos Chagas, 373-Bloco F, Sala 26, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marco De Martino
- Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale-CNR c/o Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Alfredo Fusco
- Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale-CNR c/o Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Luis Felipe Ribeiro Pinto
- Programa de Carcinogênese Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Câncer-INCA, Rua André Cavalcanti, 37-6th floor-Centro, 20231-050, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luiz Eurico Nasciutti
- Laboratório de Interações Celulares, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Prédio de Ciências da Saúde-Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, A. Carlos Chagas, 373-Bloco F, Sala 26, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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29
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DNA damage response and breast cancer development: Possible therapeutic applications of ATR, ATM, PARP, BRCA1 inhibition. DNA Repair (Amst) 2020; 98:103032. [PMID: 33494010 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2020.103032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common and significant cancers in females regarding the loss of life quality. Similar to other cancers, one of the etiologic factors in breast cancer is DNA damage. A plethora of molecules are responsible for sensing DNA damage and mediating actions which lead to DNA repair, senescence, cell cycle arrest and if damage is unbearable to apoptosis. In each of these, aberrations leading to unrepaired damage was resulted in uncontrolled proliferation and cancer. Another cellular function is autophagy defined as a process eliminating of unnecessary proteins in stress cases involved in pathogenesis of cancer. Knowing their role in cancer, scholars have tried to develop strategies in order to target DDR and autophagy. Further, the interactions of DDR and autophagy plus their regulatory role on each other have been focused simultaneously. The present review study has aimed to illustrate the importance of DDR and autophagy in breast cancer according to the related studies and uncover the relation between DDR and autophagy and its significance in breast cancer therapy.
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30
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Pharmacologic profiling of patient-derived xenograft models of primary treatment-naïve triple-negative breast cancer. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17899. [PMID: 33087803 PMCID: PMC7578025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74882-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 15-20% of breast cancer cases in the United States, lacks targeted therapeutic options, and is associated with a 40-80% risk of recurrence. Thus, identifying actionable targets in treatment-naïve and chemoresistant TNBC is a critical unmet medical need. To address this need, we performed high-throughput drug viability screens on human tumor cells isolated from 16 patient-derived xenograft models of treatment-naïve primary TNBC. The models span a range of TNBC subtypes and exhibit a diverse set of putative driver mutations, thus providing a unique patient-derived, molecularly annotated pharmacologic resource that is reflective of TNBC. We identified therapeutically actionable targets including kinesin spindle protein (KSP). The KSP inhibitor targets the mitotic spindle through mechanisms independent of microtubule stability and showed efficacy in models that were resistant to microtubule inhibitors used as part of the current standard of care for TNBC. We also observed subtype selectivity of Prima-1Met, which showed higher levels of efficacy in the mesenchymal subtype. Coupling pharmacologic data with genomic and transcriptomic information, we showed that Prima-1Met activity was independent of its canonical target, mutant p53, and was better associated with glutathione metabolism, providing an alternate molecularly defined biomarker for this drug.
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31
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Neizer-Ashun F, Bhattacharya R. Reality CHEK: Understanding the biology and clinical potential of CHK1. Cancer Lett 2020; 497:202-211. [PMID: 32991949 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The DNA damage response enables cells to cope with various stresses that threaten genomic integrity. A critical component of this response is the serine/threonine kinase CHK1 which is encoded by the CHEK1 gene. Originally identified as a regulator of the G2/M checkpoint, CHK1 has since been shown to play important roles in DNA replication, mitotic progression, DNA repair, and overall cell cycle regulation. However, the potential of CHK1 as a cancer therapy has not been realized clinically. Herein we expound our current understanding of the principal roles of CHK1 and highlight different avenues for CHK1 targeting in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiifi Neizer-Ashun
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, United States
| | - Resham Bhattacharya
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, United States; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, United States; Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, United States.
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32
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Drápela S, Khirsariya P, van Weerden WM, Fedr R, Suchánková T, Búzová D, Červený J, Hampl A, Puhr M, Watson WR, Culig Z, Krejčí L, Paruch K, Souček K. The CHK1 inhibitor MU380 significantly increases the sensitivity of human docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer cells to gemcitabine through the induction of mitotic catastrophe. Mol Oncol 2020; 14:2487-2503. [PMID: 32579780 PMCID: PMC7530791 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
As treatment options for patients with incurable metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) are considerably limited, novel effective therapeutic options are needed. Checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) is a highly conserved protein kinase implicated in the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway that prevents the accumulation of DNA damage and controls regular genome duplication. CHK1 has been associated with prostate cancer (PCa) induction, progression, and lethality; hence, CHK1 inhibitors SCH900776 (also known as MK-8776) and the more effective SCH900776 analog MU380 may have clinical applications in the therapy of PCa. Synergistic induction of DNA damage with CHK1 inhibition represents a promising therapeutic approach that has been tested in many types of malignancies, but not in chemoresistant mCRPC. Here, we report that such therapeutic approach may be exploited using the synergistic action of the antimetabolite gemcitabine (GEM) and CHK1 inhibitors SCH900776 and MU380 in docetaxel-resistant (DR) mCRPC. Given the results, both CHK1 inhibitors significantly potentiated the sensitivity to GEM in a panel of chemo-naïve and matched DR PCa cell lines under 2D conditions. MU380 exhibited a stronger synergistic effect with GEM than clinical candidate SCH900776. MU380 alone or in combination with GEM significantly reduced spheroid size and increased apoptosis in all patient-derived xenograft 3D cultures, with a higher impact in DR models. Combined treatment induced premature mitosis from G1 phase resulting in the mitotic catastrophe as a prestage of apoptosis. Finally, treatment by MU380 alone, or in combination with GEM, significantly inhibited tumor growth of both PC339-DOC and PC346C-DOC xenograft models in mice. Taken together, our data suggest that metabolically robust and selective CHK1 inhibitor MU380 can bypass docetaxel resistance and improve the effectiveness of GEM in DR mCRPC models. This approach might allow for dose reduction of GEM and thereby minimize undesired toxicity and may represent a therapeutic option for patients with incurable DR mCRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav Drápela
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Prashant Khirsariya
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Chemistry, CZ Openscreen, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Wytske M van Weerden
- Department of Urology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Radek Fedr
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Suchánková
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Diana Búzová
- Department of Adaptive Biotechnologies, Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Červený
- Department of Adaptive Biotechnologies, Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Hampl
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Puhr
- Department of Urology, Experimental Urology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | - William R Watson
- School of Medicine, Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Zoran Culig
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Urology, Experimental Urology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Lumír Krejčí
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.,National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kamil Paruch
- International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Chemistry, CZ Openscreen, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Souček
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,International Clinical Research Center, Center for Biomolecular and Cellular Engineering, St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Gatti-Mays ME, Karzai FH, Soltani SN, Zimmer A, Green JE, Lee MJ, Trepel JB, Yuno A, Lipkowitz S, Nair J, McCoy A, Lee JM. A Phase II Single Arm Pilot Study of the CHK1 Inhibitor Prexasertib (LY2606368) in BRCA Wild-Type, Advanced Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Oncologist 2020; 25:1013-e1824. [PMID: 32510664 DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2020-0491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
LESSONS LEARNED Monotherapy with prexasertib demonstrated modest activity in BRCA wild-type, recurrent triple-negative breast cancer, highlighting the unmet need for combination treatment strategies. Neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia are common with the use of prexasertib but are manageable with supportive care measures. Prophylactic use of granulocyte colony stimulating factor should be considered to avoid dose reductions or treatment delays. Pharmacodynamic studies showed prexasertib treatment induced DNA damage in peripheral immune cells. BACKGROUND Cell cycle checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) is a major G2/M cell cycle regulator in tumors with p53 dysfunction, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We hypothesized the second-generation CHK1 inhibitor, prexasertib, would yield clinical activity in sporadic TNBC. METHODS This single arm, phase II trial evaluated prexasertib at 105 mg/m2 IV every 2 weeks in patients with metastatic/recurrent TNBC. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR). RESULTS All nine patients enrolled were germline BRCA wild-type (BRCAwt) and had at least one prior treatment. One partial response (PR) was observed (ORR of 11.1%). Four patients experienced stable disease. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 86 days (range 17 to 159 days). Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events included afebrile neutropenia (n = 8; 88.9%), anemia (n = 3; 33.3%), and thrombocytopenia (n = 1; 11.1%). Pharmacodynamic studies showed prexasertib treatment induced DNA damage in peripheral immune cells and demonstrated a decrease in activated/reinvigorated CD8 T cells; however, the one patient with a PR showed evidence of T-cell recovery. CONCLUSION Prexasertib monotherapy had modest clinical efficacy in BRCAwt TNBC. Further studies of prexasertib in combination with other agents are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret E Gatti-Mays
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Women's Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Fatima H Karzai
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sanaz N Soltani
- Women's Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Alexandra Zimmer
- Women's Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeffrey E Green
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Min-Jung Lee
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jane B Trepel
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Akira Yuno
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Stanley Lipkowitz
- Women's Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jayakumar Nair
- Women's Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ann McCoy
- Women's Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jung-Min Lee
- Women's Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Liang S, Hu L, Wu Z, Chen Z, Liu S, Xu X, Qian A. CDK12: A Potent Target and Biomarker for Human Cancer Therapy. Cells 2020; 9:E1483. [PMID: 32570740 PMCID: PMC7349380 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are a group of serine/threonine protein kinases and play crucial roles in various cellular processes by regulating cell cycle and gene transcription. Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) is an important transcription-associated CDK. It shows versatile roles in regulating gene transcription, RNA splicing, translation, DNA damage response (DDR), cell cycle progression and cell proliferation. Recently, increasing evidence demonstrates the important role of CDK12 in various human cancers, illustrating it as both a biomarker of cancer and a potential target for cancer therapy. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of CDK12, and review the research advances of CDK12's biological functions, especially its role in human cancers and as a potential target and biomarker for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujing Liang
- Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Special Medicine and Health Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China; (S.L.); (L.H.); (Z.W.); (Z.C.); (S.L.); (X.X.)
- Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Research Center for Special Medicine and Health Systems Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
- NPU-UAB Joint Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
| | - Lifang Hu
- Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Special Medicine and Health Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China; (S.L.); (L.H.); (Z.W.); (Z.C.); (S.L.); (X.X.)
- Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Research Center for Special Medicine and Health Systems Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
- NPU-UAB Joint Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
| | - Zixiang Wu
- Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Special Medicine and Health Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China; (S.L.); (L.H.); (Z.W.); (Z.C.); (S.L.); (X.X.)
- Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Research Center for Special Medicine and Health Systems Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
- NPU-UAB Joint Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
| | - Zhihao Chen
- Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Special Medicine and Health Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China; (S.L.); (L.H.); (Z.W.); (Z.C.); (S.L.); (X.X.)
- Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Research Center for Special Medicine and Health Systems Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
- NPU-UAB Joint Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
| | - Shuyu Liu
- Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Special Medicine and Health Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China; (S.L.); (L.H.); (Z.W.); (Z.C.); (S.L.); (X.X.)
- Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Research Center for Special Medicine and Health Systems Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
- NPU-UAB Joint Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
| | - Xia Xu
- Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Special Medicine and Health Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China; (S.L.); (L.H.); (Z.W.); (Z.C.); (S.L.); (X.X.)
- Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Research Center for Special Medicine and Health Systems Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
- NPU-UAB Joint Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
| | - Airong Qian
- Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Special Medicine and Health Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China; (S.L.); (L.H.); (Z.W.); (Z.C.); (S.L.); (X.X.)
- Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences and Biotechnology, Research Center for Special Medicine and Health Systems Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
- NPU-UAB Joint Laboratory for Bone Metabolism, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
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Xu W, Huang M, Guo J, Zhang H, Wang D, Liu T, Liu H, Chen S, Gao P, Mu K. The Role of CHK1 Varies with the Status of Oestrogen-receptor and Progesterone-receptor in the Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer. Int J Biol Sci 2020; 16:1388-1402. [PMID: 32210727 PMCID: PMC7085233 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.41627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: The therapeutic effects of the checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1)-targeted inhibition in tumor therapy have been confirmed, but how to choose an effective application method in breast cancer with heterogeneous molecular characteristics has remained unclear. Methods: We evaluated the status of CHK1 in breast cancer using the cancer genome atlas database. Chemosensitivity and single-agent antitumor activity of CHK1 inhibition were measured by drug sensitivity assay, cell proliferation assay, cell cycle and apoptosis analysis in breast cancer with different ER/PR status. And based on the conjoint transcriptome atlas analyses, the corresponding mechanism were explored. Results: In ER-/PR-/HER2- breast cancer, CHK1 inhibition enhanced adriamycin (ADR) chemosensitivity which was mediated by the mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC)-anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C)-cyclin B1 axis, Msh homeobox 2 (MSX2) and Bcl-2-like protein 11 (BIM). However, in ER+/PR+/HER2- breast cancer, because of the significant suppression for centromere protein F (CENPF)-mediated transcriptional activation of CHK1 induced by ADR itself, CHK1 inhibition fails to sensitize ADR toxicity. Interestingly, CHK1 inhibition showed the single-agent antitumor activity in ER+/PR+/HER2- breast cancer which was mediated by the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (p21), kinesin family member 11 (Eg5) and cell surface death receptor (Fas). Conclusions: CHK1's variable role determines the application of CHK1 inhibition in breast cancer with ER/PR heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Xu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Minghua Huang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The second affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China
| | - Jia Guo
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Huiting Zhang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Depeng Wang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Tiantian Liu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Haiting Liu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Shiming Chen
- Department of Pathology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Peng Gao
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.,Department of Pathology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Kun Mu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.,Department of Pathology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
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Hu X, Harvey SE, Zheng R, Lyu J, Grzeskowiak CL, Powell E, Piwnica-Worms H, Scott KL, Cheng C. The RNA-binding protein AKAP8 suppresses tumor metastasis by antagonizing EMT-associated alternative splicing. Nat Commun 2020; 11:486. [PMID: 31980632 PMCID: PMC6981122 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14304-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing has been shown to causally contribute to the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor metastasis. However, the scope of splicing factors that govern alternative splicing in these processes remains largely unexplored. Here we report the identification of A-Kinase Anchor Protein (AKAP8) as a splicing regulatory factor that impedes EMT and breast cancer metastasis. AKAP8 not only is capable of inhibiting splicing activity of the EMT-promoting splicing regulator hnRNPM through protein–protein interaction, it also directly binds to RNA and alters splicing outcomes. Genome-wide analysis shows that AKAP8 promotes an epithelial cell state splicing program. Experimental manipulation of an AKAP8 splicing target CLSTN1 revealed that splice isoform switching of CLSTN1 is crucial for EMT. Moreover, AKAP8 expression and the alternative splicing of CLSTN1 predict breast cancer patient survival. Together, our work demonstrates the essentiality of RNA metabolism that impinges on metastatic breast cancer. Splice isoform switching regulated by the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein M (hnRNPM) induces EMT and metastasis. Here, the authors report that AKAP8 is a metastasis suppressor that inhibits the splicing activity of hnRNPM and antagonizes genome-wide EMT-associated alternative splicing to maintain epithelial cell state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Hu
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Samuel E Harvey
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Rong Zheng
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jingyi Lyu
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Caitlin L Grzeskowiak
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Emily Powell
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Helen Piwnica-Worms
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kenneth L Scott
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Chonghui Cheng
- Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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Laroche-Clary A, Lucchesi C, Rey C, Verbeke S, Bourdon A, Chaire V, Algéo MP, Cousin S, Toulmonde M, Vélasco V, Shutzman J, Savina A, Le Loarer F, Italiano A. CHK1 inhibition in soft-tissue sarcomas: biological and clinical implications. Ann Oncol 2019; 29:1023-1029. [PMID: 29409053 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdy039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Inhibition of ChK1 appears as a promising strategy for selectively potentiate the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in G1 checkpoint-defective tumor cells such as those that lack functional p53 protein. The p53 pathway is commonly dysregulated in soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) through mutations affecting TP53 or MDM2 amplification. GDC-0575 is a selective ATP-competitive inhibitor of CHK1. Methods We have performed a systematic screening of a panel of 10 STS cell lines by combining the treatment of GDC-0575 with chemotherapy. Cell proliferation, cell death and cell cycle analysis were evaluated with high throughput assay. In vivo experiments were carried out by using TP53-mutated and TP53 wild-type patient-derived xenograft models of STS. Clinical activity of GDC-0575 combined with chemotherapy in patients with TP53-mutated and TP53 wild-type STS was also assessed. Results We found that GDC-0575 abrogated DNA damage-induced S and G2-M checkpoints, exacerbated DNA double-strand breaks and induced apoptosis in STS cells. Moreover, we observed a synergistic or additive effect of GDC-0575 together with gemcitabine in vitro and in vivo in TP53-proficient but not TP53-deficient sarcoma models. In a phase I study of GDC-0575 in combination with gemcitabine, two patients with metastatic TP53-mutated STS had an exceptional, long-lasting response despite administration of a very low dose of gemcitabine whereas one patient with wild-type TP53 STS had no clinical benefit. Genetic profiling of samples from a patient displaying secondary resistance after 1 year showed loss of one preexisting loss-of-function mutation in the helical domain of DNA2. Conclusion We provide the first preclinical and clinical evidence that potentiation of chemotherapy activity with a CHK1 inhibitor is a promising strategy in TP53-deficient STS and deserves further investigation in the phase II setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Laroche-Clary
- INSERM ACTION U1218; Sarcoma Uni, Medical Oncology, Institute Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - C Lucchesi
- INSERM ACTION U1218; Sarcoma Uni, Medical Oncology, Institute Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - C Rey
- INSERM ACTION U1218; Sarcoma Uni, Medical Oncology, Institute Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - S Verbeke
- INSERM ACTION U1218; Sarcoma Uni, Medical Oncology, Institute Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - A Bourdon
- INSERM ACTION U1218; Sarcoma Uni, Medical Oncology, Institute Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - V Chaire
- INSERM ACTION U1218; Sarcoma Uni, Medical Oncology, Institute Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - M-P Algéo
- Animalerie mutualisée, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - S Cousin
- INSERM ACTION U1218; Sarcoma Uni, Medical Oncology, Institute Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - M Toulmonde
- INSERM ACTION U1218; Sarcoma Uni, Medical Oncology, Institute Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - V Vélasco
- Sarcoma Uni, Medical Oncology, Institute Bergonié, Bordeaux, France; Department of Pathology, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - J Shutzman
- Institut Roche, Boulogne Billancourt, France
| | - A Savina
- Institut Roche, Boulogne Billancourt, France
| | - F Le Loarer
- Sarcoma Uni, Medical Oncology, Institute Bergonié, Bordeaux, France; Department of Pathology, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - A Italiano
- INSERM ACTION U1218; Sarcoma Uni, Medical Oncology, Institute Bergonié, Bordeaux, France; Animalerie mutualisée, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
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Abstract
DNA topoisomerases are enzymes that catalyze changes in the torsional and flexural strain of DNA molecules. Earlier studies implicated these enzymes in a variety of processes in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, including DNA replication, transcription, recombination, and chromosome segregation. Studies performed over the past 3 years have provided new insight into the roles of various topoisomerases in maintaining eukaryotic chromosome structure and facilitating the decatenation of daughter chromosomes at cell division. In addition, recent studies have demonstrated that the incorporation of ribonucleotides into DNA results in trapping of topoisomerase I (TOP1)–DNA covalent complexes during aborted ribonucleotide removal. Importantly, such trapped TOP1–DNA covalent complexes, formed either during ribonucleotide removal or as a consequence of drug action, activate several repair processes, including processes involving the recently described nuclear proteases SPARTAN and GCNA-1. A variety of new TOP1 inhibitors and formulations, including antibody–drug conjugates and PEGylated complexes, exert their anticancer effects by also trapping these TOP1–DNA covalent complexes. Here we review recent developments and identify further questions raised by these new findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary-Ann Bjornsti
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294-0019, USA
| | - Scott H Kaufmann
- Departments of Oncology and Molecular Pharmacolgy & Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
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Colavito SA, Platt JT, Held MA, Liu Z, Sokup R, Stern DF. Combinatorial drug screening of mammary cells with induced mesenchymal transformation to identify drug combinations for triple-negative breast cancer. Oncotarget 2019; 10:4822-4839. [PMID: 31448050 PMCID: PMC6690678 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27104] [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: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem-like (MSL) breast cancers are enriched for cells with tumor reconstituting and mesenchymal characteristics. These cancers are often triple-negative and have a poor prognosis. Few effective targeted treatment options exist for patients with these cancers, and even when targeted therapies exist, resistance often arises and tumors recur, due in part to drug-tolerant persisting tumor cells with self-renewal capability. Effective treatment strategies will combine agents that target the bulk-tumor and reconstituting cells. In order to identify such a combination therapy, we conducted an inhibitor screen using 40 targeted agents at three different doses in all pairwise combinations. Checkpoint Kinase 1 (CHK1) inhibitors were identified as potent inhibitors of MSL breast cancers. When combined with a pro-apoptotic agent/B Cell Lymphoma 2 (BCL2) inhibitor, the effectiveness of the combination regimen was super-additive compared to either treatment alone and was selective for MSL cancers. Treatment of MSL breast cancer cells results in DNA damage, cell-cycle defects characterized by a prolonged S-phase, increased apoptosis and decreased colony forming abilities compared to untreated cells. These data suggest that a combination of a CHK1 and BCL2 inhibitor could be an effective treatment for patients with MSL breast cancer. Several other effective drug combinations were also identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sierra A Colavito
- Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI, USA
| | - James T Platt
- Department of Internal Medicine and Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Matthew A Held
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
| | - Zongzhi Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine and Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ryan Sokup
- Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI, USA
| | - David F Stern
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, USA
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Targeting the cell cycle in head and neck cancer by Chk1 inhibition: a novel concept of bimodal cell death. Oncogenesis 2019; 8:38. [PMID: 31209198 PMCID: PMC6572811 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-019-0147-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) coincide with poor survival rates. The lack of driver oncogenes complicates the development of targeted treatments for HNSCC. Here, we follow-up on two previous genome-wide RNA and microRNA interference screens in HNSCC to cross-examine tumor-specific lethality by targeting ATM, ATR, CHEK1, or CHEK2. Our results uncover CHEK1 as the most promising target for HNSCC. CHEK1 expression is essential across a panel of HNSCC cell lines but redundant for growth and survival of untransformed oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts. LY2603618 (Rabusertib), which specifically targets Chk1 kinase, kills HNSCC cells effectively and specifically. Our findings show that HNSCC cells depend on Chk1-mediated signaling to progress through S-phase successfully. Chk1 inhibition coincides with stalled DNA replication, replication fork collapses, and accumulation of DNA damage. We further show that Chk1 inhibition leads to bimodal HNSCC cell killing. In the most sensitive cell lines, apoptosis is induced in S-phase, whereas more resistant cell lines manage to bypass replication-associated apoptosis, but accumulate chromosomal breaks that become lethal in subsequent mitosis. Interestingly, CDK1 expression correlates with treatment outcome. Moreover, sensitivity to Chk1 inhibition requires functional CDK1 and CDK4/6 to drive cell cycle progression, arguing against combining Chk1 inhibitors with CDK inhibitors. In contrast, Wee1 inhibitor Adavosertib progresses the cell cycle and thereby increases lethality to Chk1 inhibition in HNSCC cell lines. We conclude that Chk1 has become a key molecule in HNSCC cell cycle regulation and a very promising therapeutic target. Chk1 inhibition leads to S-phase apoptosis or death in mitosis. We provide a potential efficacy biomarker and combination therapy to follow-up in clinical setting.
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Rajput S, Guo Z, Li S, Ma CX. PI3K inhibition enhances the anti-tumor effect of eribulin in triple negative breast cancer. Oncotarget 2019; 10:3667-3680. [PMID: 31217901 PMCID: PMC6557212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss of the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is commonly observed in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), leading to activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling to promote tumor cell growth and chemotherapy resistance. In this study, we investigated whether adding a pan-PI3K inhibitor could improve the cytotoxic effect of eribulin, a non-taxane microtubule inhibitor, in TNBC patient-derived xenograft models (PDX) with loss of PTEN, and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Three TNBC-PDX models (WHIM6, WHIM12 and WHIM21), all with loss of PTEN expression, were tested for their response to BKM120 and eribulin, alone or in combination in vivo. In addition, the effect of drug treatment on cell proliferation and cell cycle progression were also performed in vitro using a panel of TNBC cell lines, including 2 derived from PDX models. The combination of eribulin and BKM120 led to additive or synergistic anti-tumor effect in 2 of the 3 PDX models, accompanied by an enhanced mitotic arrest and apoptosis in sensitive PDX models. In addition, the combination was synergistic in reducing mammosphere formation, and markers for epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In conclusion, PI3K inhibition induces synergistic anti-tumor effect when combined with eribulin, by enhancing mitotic arrest and apoptosis, as well as, reducing the cancer stem cell population. This study provides a preclinical rationale to investigate the therapeutic potential for the combination of PI3K inhibition and eribulin in the difficult to treat TNBC. Further studies are needed to identify the biomarkers of response for target patient selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Rajput
- 1 Section of Medical Oncology, Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Zhanfang Guo
- 1 Section of Medical Oncology, Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Shunqiang Li
- 1 Section of Medical Oncology, Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA,2 Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Cynthia X. Ma
- 1 Section of Medical Oncology, Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA,2 Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Rajput S, Guo Z, Li S, Ma CX. PI3K inhibition enhances the anti-tumor effect of eribulin in triple negative breast cancer. Oncotarget 2019. [DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.26960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Rajput
- Section of Medical Oncology, Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Zhanfang Guo
- Section of Medical Oncology, Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Shunqiang Li
- Section of Medical Oncology, Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Cynthia X. Ma
- Section of Medical Oncology, Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Hunter AM, Sallman DA. Current status and new treatment approaches in TP53 mutated AML. Best Pract Res Clin Haematol 2019; 32:134-144. [PMID: 31203995 DOI: 10.1016/j.beha.2019.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the essential tumor suppressor gene, TP53, are observed in only 5-10% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases, but are highly associated with therapy-related AML and cases with complex karyotype. The mutational status of TP53 is a critical prognostic indicator, with dismal outcomes consistently observed across studies. Response rates to traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy are poor and long-term survival after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant is rare. Therapy with hypomethylating agents has resulted in a modest improvement in outcomes over intensive chemotherapy, but durable responses are seldom observed. In view of the intrinsic resistance to standard chemotherapies conferred by mutations in TP53, novel treatment approaches are required. In this review, we examine the current treatment landscape in TP53 mutated AML and discuss emerging therapeutic approaches currently under clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony M Hunter
- Malignant Hematology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA; University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - David A Sallman
- Malignant Hematology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.
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Ca 2+-Stimulated AMPK-Dependent Phosphorylation of Exo1 Protects Stressed Replication Forks from Aberrant Resection. Mol Cell 2019; 74:1123-1137.e6. [PMID: 31053472 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2019.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal processing of stressed replication forks by nucleases can cause fork collapse, genomic instability, and cell death. Despite its importance, it is poorly understood how the cell properly controls nucleases to prevent detrimental fork processing. Here, we report a signaling pathway that controls the activity of exonuclease Exo1 to prevent aberrant fork resection during replication stress. Our results indicate that replication stress elevates intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), leading to activation of CaMKK2 and the downstream kinase 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Following activation, AMPK directly phosphorylates Exo1 at serine 746 to promote 14-3-3 binding and inhibit Exo1 recruitment to stressed replication forks, thereby avoiding unscheduled fork resection. Disruption of this signaling pathway results in excessive ssDNA, chromosomal instability, and hypersensitivity to replication stress inducers. These findings reveal a link between [Ca2+]i and the replication stress response as well as a function of the Ca2+-CaMKK2-AMPK signaling axis in safeguarding fork structure to maintain genome stability.
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Mukhopadhyay UK, Oturkar CC, Adams C, Wickramasekera N, Bansal S, Medisetty R, Miller A, Swetzig WM, Silwal-Pandit L, Børresen-Dale AL, Creighton CJ, Park JH, Konduri SD, Mukhopadhyay A, Caradori A, Omilian A, Bshara W, Kaipparettu BA, Das GM. TP53 Status as a Determinant of Pro- vs Anti-Tumorigenic Effects of Estrogen Receptor-Beta in Breast Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 2019; 111:1202-1215. [PMID: 30990221 PMCID: PMC6855950 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djz051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anti-tumorigenic vs pro-tumorigenic roles of estrogen receptor-beta (ESR2) in breast cancer remain unsettled. We investigated the potential of TP53 status to be a determinant of the bi-faceted role of ESR2 and associated therapeutic implications for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS ESR2-TP53 interaction was analyzed with multiple assays including the in situ proximity ligation assay. Transcriptional effects on TP53-target genes and cell proliferation in response to knocking down or overexpressing ESR2 were determined. Patient survival according to ESR2 expression levels and TP53 mutation status was analyzed in the basal-like TNBC subgroup in the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (n = 308) and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (n = 46) patient cohorts by univariate Cox regression and log-rank test. All statistical tests are two-sided. RESULTS ESR2 interaction with wild-type and mutant TP53 caused pro-proliferative and anti-proliferative effects, respectively. Depleting ESR2 in cells expressing wild-type TP53 resulted in increased expression of TP53-target genes CDKN1A (control group mean [SD] = 1 [0.13] vs ESR2 depletion group mean [SD] = 2.08 [0.24], P = .003) and BBC3 (control group mean [SD] = 1 [0.06] vs ESR2 depleted group mean [SD] = 1.92 [0.25], P = .003); however, expression of CDKN1A (control group mean [SD] = 1 [0.21] vs ESR2 depleted group mean [SD] = 0.56 [0.12], P = .02) and BBC3 (control group mean [SD] = 1 [0.03] vs ESR2 depleted group mean [SD] = 0.55 [0.09], P = .008) was decreased in cells expressing mutant TP53. Overexpressing ESR2 had opposite effects. Tamoxifen increased ESR2-mutant TP53 interaction, leading to reactivation of TP73 and apoptosis. High levels of ESR2 expression in mutant TP53-expressing basal-like tumors is associated with better prognosis (Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium cohort: log-rank P = .001; hazard ratio = 0.26, 95% confidence interval = 0.08 to 0.84, univariate Cox P = .02). CONCLUSIONS TP53 status is a determinant of the functional duality of ESR2. Our study suggests that ESR2-mutant TP53 combination prognosticates survival in TNBC revealing a novel strategy to stratify TNBC for therapeutic intervention potentially by repurposing tamoxifen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Gokul M Das
- Correspondence to: Gokul M. Das, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Center for Genetics and Pharmacology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Elm & Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263 (e-mail: )
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Levine AJ. Targeting Therapies for the p53 Protein in Cancer Treatments. ANNUAL REVIEW OF CANCER BIOLOGY-SERIES 2019. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cancerbio-030518-055455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Half of all human cancers contain TP53 mutations, and in many other cancers, the function of the p53 protein is compromised. The diversity of these mutations and phenotypes presents a challenge to the development of drugs that target p53 mutant cancer cells. This review describes the rationale for many different approaches in the development of p53 targeted therapies: ( a) viruses and gene therapies, ( b) increased levels and activity of wild-type p53 proteins in cancer cells, ( c) p53 protein gain-of-function inhibitors, ( d) p53 protein loss-of-function structural correctors, ( e) mutant p53 protein synthetic lethal drugs interfering with the p53 pathway, and ( f) cellular immune responses to mutant p53 protein antigens. As these types of therapies are developed, tested, and evaluated, the best of them will have a significant impact upon cancer treatments and possibly prevention.
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Hwang SY, Park S, Kwon Y. Recent therapeutic trends and promising targets in triple negative breast cancer. Pharmacol Ther 2019; 199:30-57. [PMID: 30825473 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2019.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer accounts for 25% of all types of cancer in women, and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) comprises around 15~20% of breast cancers. Conventional chemotherapy and radiation are the primary systemic therapeutic strategies; no other FDA-approved targeted therapies are yet available as for TNBC. TNBC is generally characterized by a poor prognosis and high rates of proliferation and metastases. Due to these aggressive features and lack of targeted therapies, numerous attempts have been made to discover viable molecular targets for TNBC. Massive cohort studies, clinical trials, and in-depth analyses have revealed diverse molecular alterations in TNBC; however, controversy exists as to whether many of these changes are beneficial or detrimental in caner progression. Here we review the complicated tumorigenic processes and discuss critical findings and therapeutic trends in TNBC with a focus on promising therapeutic approaches, the clinical trials currently underway, and potent experimental compounds under preclinical and evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo-Yeon Hwang
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Seojeong Park
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngjoo Kwon
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea.
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A common Chk1-dependent phenotype of DNA double-strand break suppression in two distinct radioresistant cancer types. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2019; 174:605-613. [PMID: 30607635 PMCID: PMC6440812 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-018-05079-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) are often resistant to treatment with ionizing radiation (IR). We sought to investigate whether pharmacologic inhibition of Chk1 kinase, which is commonly overexpressed in TNBC, preferentially sensitizes TNBC cells to IR. METHODS Ten breast cancer cell lines were screened with small molecule inhibitors against Chk1 and other kinases. Chk1 inhibition was also tested in isogenic KRAS mutant or wild-type cancer cells. Cellular radiosensitization was measured by short-term and clonogenic survival assays and by staining for the DNA double-strand break (DSB) marker γ-H2AX. Radiosensitization was also assessed in breast cancer biopsies using an ex vivo assay. Aurora B kinase-dependent mitosis-like chromatin condensation, a marker of radioresistance, was detected using a specific antibody against co-localized phosphorylation of serine 10 and trimethylation of lysine 9 on histone 3 (H3K9me3/S10p). Expression of CHEK1 and associated genes was evaluated in TNBC and lung adenocarcinoma. RESULTS Inhibition of Chk1 kinase preferentially radiosensitized TNBC cells in vitro and in patient biopsies. Interestingly, TNBC cells displayed lower numbers of IR-induced DSBs than non-TNBC cells, correlating with their observed radioresistance. We found that Chk1 suppressed IR-induced DSBs in these cells, which was dependent on H3K9me3/S10p-a chromatin mark previously found to indicate radioresistance in KRAS mutant cancers. Accordingly, the effects of Chk1 inhibition in TNBC were reproduced in KRAS mutant but not wild-type cells. We also observed co-expression of genes in this Chk1 chromatin pathway in TNBC and KRAS mutant lung cancers. CONCLUSIONS Chk1 promotes an unexpected, common phenotype of chromatin-dependent DSB suppression in radioresistant TNBC and KRAS mutant cancer cells, providing a direction for future investigations into overcoming the treatment resistance of TNBC.
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Chung S, Vail P, Witkiewicz AK, Knudsen ES. Coordinately Targeting Cell-Cycle Checkpoint Functions in Integrated Models of Pancreatic Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 25:2290-2304. [PMID: 30538111 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-1620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cancer cells often have deficiencies in cell-cycle control mechanisms and could be dependent on specific cell-cycle checkpoints to maintain viability. Because of the documented role of KRAS in driving replication stress, we targeted the checkpoint governing DNA replication using CHK1 kinase inhibitors in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) models and examined mechanisms of resistance. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Single-agent efficacy of CHK1 inhibition was investigated in established and primary PDAC lines. Drug screening was performed to identify cooperative agents. In vitro and in vivo studies were employed to interrogate combination treatment efficacy and mechanisms of resistance. RESULTS Many PDAC models evade single-agent inhibition through mechanisms that allow S-phase progression with CHK1 inhibited. Gene expression analysis revealed FOXM1 as a potential marker of CHK1 sensitivity and defined a form of pancreatic cancer with poor prognosis. Drug screen analysis identified WEE1 as a cooperative agent with CHK1 and was effective in cell culture. In vivo experiments validated the combination efficacy; however, resistance could evolve. Resistance was due to selection of a stable subclone from the original PDX tumor, which harbored high baseline replication stress. In vitro analysis revealed that gemcitabine could eliminate viability in the resistant models. The triplet regimen of gemcitabine, CHK1, and WEE1 inhibition provided strong disease control in all xenograft models interrogated. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate the therapeutic resiliency of pancreatic cancer and indicate that coordinately targeting cell-cycle checkpoints in concert with chemotherapy could be particularly efficacious.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sejin Chung
- Center for Personalized Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York
| | - Paris Vail
- The University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Agnieszka K Witkiewicz
- Center for Personalized Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York. .,Department of Pathology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York
| | - Erik S Knudsen
- Center for Personalized Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York. .,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York
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