1
|
Beckers C, Vasilikos L, Sanchez Fernandez A, Moor L, Pruschy M. Targeting the survival kinase DYRK1B: A novel approach to overcome radiotherapy-related treatment resistance. Radiother Oncol 2024; 190:110039. [PMID: 38040123 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.110039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer cell survival under stress conditions is a prerequisite for the development of treatment resistance. The survival kinase DYRK1B is a key regulator of stress survival pathways and might thereby also contribute to radiation resistance. Here we investigate the strategy of targeting DYRK1B in combination with ionizing radiation (IR) to enhance tumor cell killing under stress conditions. METHODS DYRK1B expression, ROS formation and DNA damage were investigated under serum-starvation (0.1% FBS), hypoxia (0.2%, 1% O2) and IR. The combined treatment modality of IR and DYRK1B inhibition was investigated in 2D and in spheroids derived from the colorectal cancer cell line SW620, and in primary patient-derived colorectal carcinoma (CRC) organoids. RESULTS Expression of DYRK1B was upregulated under starvation and hypoxia, but not in response to IR. The small molecule DYRK1B inhibitor AZ191 and shRNA-mediated DYRK1B knockdown significantly reduced proliferative activity and clonogenicity of SW620 tumor cells alone and in combination with IR under serum-starved conditions, which correlated with increased ROS levels and DNA damage. Furthermore, AZ191 successfully targeted the hypoxic core of tumor spheroids while IR preferentially targeted normoxic cells in the rim of the spheroids. A combined treatment effect was also observed in CRC-organoids but not in healthy tissue-derived organoids. CONCLUSION Combined treatment with the DYRK1B inhibitor AZ191 and IR resulted in (supra-) additive tumor cell killing in colorectal tumor cell systems and in primary CRC organoids. Mechanistic investigations support the rational to target the stress-enhanced survival kinase DYRK1B in combination with irradiation to overcome hypoxia- and starvation-induced treatment resistances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Beckers
- Laboratory for Applied Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Lazaros Vasilikos
- Laboratory for Applied Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Alba Sanchez Fernandez
- Laboratory for Applied Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Lorena Moor
- Laboratory for Applied Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Martin Pruschy
- Laboratory for Applied Radiobiology, Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Keenan MM, Liu B, Tang X, Wu J, Cyr D, Stevens RD, Ilkayeva O, Huang Z, Tollini LA, Murphy SK, Lucas J, Muoio DM, Kim SY, Chi JT. ACLY and ACC1 Regulate Hypoxia-Induced Apoptosis by Modulating ETV4 via α-ketoglutarate. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005599. [PMID: 26452058 PMCID: PMC4599891 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to propagate a solid tumor, cancer cells must adapt to and survive under various tumor microenvironment (TME) stresses, such as hypoxia or lactic acidosis. To systematically identify genes that modulate cancer cell survival under stresses, we performed genome-wide shRNA screens under hypoxia or lactic acidosis. We discovered that genetic depletion of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACACA or ACC1) or ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) protected cancer cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis. Additionally, the loss of ACLY or ACC1 reduced levels and activities of the oncogenic transcription factor ETV4. Silencing ETV4 also protected cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis and led to remarkably similar transcriptional responses as with silenced ACLY or ACC1, including an anti-apoptotic program. Metabolomic analysis found that while α-ketoglutarate levels decrease under hypoxia in control cells, α-ketoglutarate is paradoxically increased under hypoxia when ACC1 or ACLY are depleted. Supplementation with α-ketoglutarate rescued the hypoxia-induced apoptosis and recapitulated the decreased expression and activity of ETV4, likely via an epigenetic mechanism. Therefore, ACC1 and ACLY regulate the levels of ETV4 under hypoxia via increased α-ketoglutarate. These results reveal that the ACC1/ACLY-α-ketoglutarate-ETV4 axis is a novel means by which metabolic states regulate transcriptional output for life vs. death decisions under hypoxia. Since many lipogenic inhibitors are under investigation as cancer therapeutics, our findings suggest that the use of these inhibitors will need to be carefully considered with respect to oncogenic drivers, tumor hypoxia, progression and dormancy. More broadly, our screen provides a framework for studying additional tumor cell stress-adaption mechanisms in the future. During the development of most solid tumors, there are characteristic physiological differences in the tumor that result from tumor cells outgrowing their local blood supply. Two of these physiological differences, or “stresses,” that occur in the tumor are low oxygen levels (hypoxia) and an accumulation of lactic acidic (lactic acidosis). Cancer cells experiencing hypoxia and lactic acidosis tend to be more resistant to chemo- and radio-therapy and metastasize more readily. Therefore, it is important to understand how tumor cells adapt to and survive these stresses. We used a large scale screening experiment in order to find which genes and proteins are involved in tumor cell adaptation and survival under hypoxia or lactic acidosis. We found that inhibiting either of two genes involved in lipid synthesis allowed tumor cells to survive hypoxia. This occurred because silencing these genes led to an increase in the metabolite α-ketoglutarate, which repressed a transcription factor that contributed to cell death under hypoxia. This research specifically advances our understanding of how tumor cells survive hypoxia and lactic acidosis and more broadly enhances our understanding of the cellular biology of solid tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa M. Keenan
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Beiyu Liu
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Xiaohu Tang
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Jianli Wu
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Derek Cyr
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Robert D. Stevens
- Sarah W Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Duke Institute of Molecular Physiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Olga Ilkayeva
- Sarah W Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Duke Institute of Molecular Physiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Zhiqing Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Laura A. Tollini
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Susan K. Murphy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Joseph Lucas
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Deborah M. Muoio
- Sarah W Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Duke Institute of Molecular Physiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - So Young Kim
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Jen-Tsan Chi
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
So J, Pasculescu A, Dai AY, Williton K, James A, Nguyen V, Creixell P, Schoof EM, Sinclair J, Barrios-Rodiles M, Gu J, Krizus A, Williams R, Olhovsky M, Dennis JW, Wrana JL, Linding R, Jorgensen C, Pawson T, Colwill K. Integrative analysis of kinase networks in TRAIL-induced apoptosis provides a source of potential targets for combination therapy. Sci Signal 2015; 8:rs3. [PMID: 25852190 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2005700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2024]
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is an endogenous secreted peptide and, in preclinical studies, preferentially induces apoptosis in tumor cells rather than in normal cells. The acquisition of resistance in cells exposed to TRAIL or its mimics limits their clinical efficacy. Because kinases are intimately involved in the regulation of apoptosis, we systematically characterized kinases involved in TRAIL signaling. Using RNA interference (RNAi) loss-of-function and cDNA overexpression screens, we identified 169 protein kinases that influenced the dynamics of TRAIL-induced apoptosis in the colon adenocarcinoma cell line DLD-1. We classified the kinases as sensitizers or resistors or modulators, depending on the effect that knockdown and overexpression had on TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Two of these kinases that were classified as resistors were PX domain-containing serine/threonine kinase (PXK) and AP2-associated kinase 1 (AAK1), which promote receptor endocytosis and may enable cells to resist TRAIL-induced apoptosis by enhancing endocytosis of the TRAIL receptors. We assembled protein interaction maps using mass spectrometry-based protein interaction analysis and quantitative phosphoproteomics. With these protein interaction maps, we modeled information flow through the networks and identified apoptosis-modifying kinases that are highly connected to regulated substrates downstream of TRAIL. The results of this analysis provide a resource of potential targets for the development of TRAIL combination therapies to selectively kill cancer cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan So
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada. Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Adrian Pasculescu
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Anna Y Dai
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Kelly Williton
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Andrew James
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Vivian Nguyen
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Pau Creixell
- Cellular Signal Integration Group (C-SIG), Technical University of Denmark (DTU), DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Erwin M Schoof
- Cellular Signal Integration Group (C-SIG), Technical University of Denmark (DTU), DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - John Sinclair
- Cell Communication Team, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Miriam Barrios-Rodiles
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Jun Gu
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Aldis Krizus
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Ryan Williams
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Marina Olhovsky
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - James W Dennis
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada. Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Jeffrey L Wrana
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada. Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Rune Linding
- Cellular Signal Integration Group (C-SIG), Technical University of Denmark (DTU), DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark. Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen (UCPH), DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Claus Jorgensen
- Cell Communication Team, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK.
| | - Tony Pawson
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada. Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada. Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Karen Colwill
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mirk kinase inhibition blocks the in vivo growth of pancreatic cancer cells. Genes Cancer 2014; 5:337-47. [PMID: 25352950 PMCID: PMC4209603 DOI: 10.18632/genesandcancer.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mirk/dyrk1B gene is upregulated and sometimes amplified in pancreatic ductal carcinomas. In poor microenvironmental conditions Mirk mediates cell survival by maintaining cancer cells in a largely quiescent, noncycling state and by decreasing toxic ROS levels through maintaining expression of a series of antioxidant genes. Premature entry into cycle, increased ROS levels, DNA damage, and apoptosis follow Mirk kinase depletion or inhibition. Mirk kinase inhibitor EHT5372 treated Panc1 spheroids lost quiescence markers coincident with an increase in cyclin A showing entry into cycle, and exhibited DNA damage, apoptosis and smaller size. EHT5372 treatment in vivo led to an increased fraction of Ki67 positive, cycling cells in Panc1 xenografts whose size was reduced. Pdx-1-cre LSL/KrasG12D/Ink4a/Arf null B6 mice always develop pancreatic cancer, allowing only 30% survival by 8 weeks, while each of the Mirk kinase inhibitor treated mice survived 8 weeks. Mirk inhibition led to a roughly four-fold increase in tumor αSMA-positive fibroblasts and large stromal collagen-rich infiltrates in the pancreas that can restrain tumor growth. The mTOR inhibitor RAD001 alone, or together with EHT5372, reduced pancreatic cancer size 30-fold, while the drug combination reduced the number of microscopic tumor foci 2-fold compared to RAD001 alone.
Collapse
|
5
|
Deng X, Hu J, Cunningham MJ, Friedman E. Mirk kinase inhibition targets ovarian cancer ascites. Genes Cancer 2014; 5:201-11. [PMID: 25061503 PMCID: PMC4104763 DOI: 10.18632/genesandcancer.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 07/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Mirk/dyrk1B gene is commonly amplified or upregulated in ovarian cancers, and Mirk is an active kinase in these cancers. Mirk mediates cancer cell survival by decreasing toxic ROS levels through maintaining expression of a series of antioxidant genes, possibly through its transcriptional activator functions. Mirk has the unusual property of being most active in quiescent cancer cells because of marked transcriptional downregulation by Akt/mTOR signaling and by MEK/erk signaling in cycling cells. Metastatic ovarian cancer cells form ascites, non-adherent multicellular aggregates floating within the peritoneal fluid. Most ascites cancer cells are in a reversible quiescent, dormant state, suggesting that Mirk might be expressed in these quiescent cells and thus a therapeutic target. The current studies show that ovarian cancer cell line spheroids that mimic ascites cancer spheroids were largely quiescent in G0/G1, and enriched in Mirk and the quiescence proteins, p130/Rb2 and the CDKI p27. Mirk kinase inhibition in spheroids made from established cell lines and in patient-derived ascites cancer cell spheroids reduced spheroid volume, disrupted spheroid structure to single cells, increased apoptosis, and decreased cell numbers. Earlier studies had shown that the mTOR inhibitor RAD001 increased transcription of the Mirk/dyrk1B gene, so treatments combined RAD001 with the most active Mirk kinase inhibitor. The number of ascites cells from 9 patients was reduced a similar amount by cisplatin, Mirk kinase inhibition or RAD001, but reduced substantially more, about 90%, by concurrent treatment with both the Mirk kinase inhibitor EHT5372 and RAD001. Addition of RAD001 increased the amount of toxic ROS induced by Mirk kinase inhibition. Two ascites samples taken one month apart gave similar drug responses, showing reproducibility of the techniques. Thus Mirk/dyrk1B kinase may be a therapeutic target in ovarian cancer ascites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobing Deng
- Department of Pathology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, N.Y., USA
| | - Jing Hu
- Department of Pathology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, N.Y., USA
| | - Mary J Cunningham
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, N.Y., USA
| | - Eileen Friedman
- Department of Pathology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, N.Y., USA
| |
Collapse
|