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Lu Y, Yang Y, Zhu G, Zeng H, Fan Y, Guo F, Xu D, Wang B, Chen D, Ge G. Emerging Pharmacotherapeutic Strategies to Overcome Undruggable Proteins in Cancer. Int J Biol Sci 2023; 19:3360-3382. [PMID: 37496997 PMCID: PMC10367563 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.83026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapies in cancer treatment can improve in vivo efficacy and reduce adverse effects by altering the tissue exposure of specific biomolecules. However, there are still large number of target proteins in cancer are still undruggable, owing to the following factors including (1) lack of ligand-binding pockets, (2) function based on protein-protein interactions (PPIs), (3) the highly specific conserved active sites among protein family members, and (4) the variability of tertiary docking structures. The current status of undruggable targets proteins such as KRAS, TP53, C-MYC, PTP, are carefully introduced in this review. Some novel techniques and drug designing strategies have been applicated for overcoming these undruggable proteins, and the most classic and well-known technology is proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs). In this review, the novel drug development strategies including targeting protein degradation, targeting PPI, targeting intrinsically disordered regions, as well as targeting protein-DNA binding are described, and we also discuss the potential of these strategies for overcoming the undruggable targets. Besides, intelligence-assisted technologies like Alpha-Fold help us a lot to predict the protein structure, which is beneficial for drug development. The discovery of new targets and the development of drugs targeting them, especially those undruggable targets, remain a huge challenge. New drug development strategies, better extraction processes that do not disrupt protein-protein interactions, and more precise artificial intelligence technologies may provide significant assistance in overcoming these undruggable targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Lu
- Dalian Medical University, 116044 Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Yuewen Yang
- Dalian Medical University, 116044 Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Guanghao Zhu
- Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 201203 Shanghai City, China
| | - Hairong Zeng
- Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 201203 Shanghai City, China
| | - Yiming Fan
- Dalian Harmony Medical Testing Laboratory Co., Ltd, 116620 Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Fujia Guo
- Dalian Medical University, 116044 Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Dongshu Xu
- Dalian Medical University, 116044 Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Boya Wang
- Dalian Medical University, 116044 Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Dapeng Chen
- Dalian Medical University, 116044 Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Guangbo Ge
- Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 201203 Shanghai City, China
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Yu L, Davis IJ, Liu P. Regulation of EWSR1-FLI1 Function by Post-Transcriptional and Post-Translational Modifications. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:382. [PMID: 36672331 PMCID: PMC9857208 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is the second most common bone tumor in childhood and adolescence. Currently, first-line therapy includes multidrug chemotherapy with surgery and/or radiation. Although most patients initially respond to chemotherapy, recurrent tumors become treatment refractory. Pathologically, Ewing sarcoma consists of small round basophilic cells with prominent nuclei marked by expression of surface protein CD99. Genetically, Ewing sarcoma is driven by a fusion oncoprotein that results from one of a small number of chromosomal translocations composed of a FET gene and a gene encoding an ETS family transcription factor, with ~85% of tumors expressing the EWSR1::FLI1 fusion. EWSR1::FLI1 regulates transcription, splicing, genome instability and other cellular functions. Although a tumor-specific target, EWSR1::FLI1-targeted therapy has yet to be developed, largely due to insufficient understanding of EWSR1::FLI1 upstream and downstream signaling, and the challenges in targeting transcription factors with small molecules. In this review, we summarize the contemporary molecular understanding of Ewing sarcoma, and the post-transcriptional and post-translational regulatory mechanisms that control EWSR1::FLI1 function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Yu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ian J. Davis
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Pengda Liu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Johnson CN, Xu X, Holloway SP, Libich DS. The 1H, 15N and 13C resonance assignments of the low-complexity domain from the oncogenic fusion protein EWS-FLI1. BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS 2022; 16:67-73. [PMID: 34994941 PMCID: PMC9081151 DOI: 10.1007/s12104-021-10061-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The RNA-binding protein EWS is a multifunctional protein with roles in the regulation of transcription and RNA splicing. It is one of the FET (FUS, EWS and TAF15) family of RNA binding proteins that contain an intrinsically disordered, low-complexity N-terminal domain. The FET family proteins are prone to chromosomal translocations, often fusing their low-complexity domain with a transcription factor derived DNA-binding domain, that are oncogenic drivers in several leukemias and sarcomas. The fusion protein disrupts the normal function of cells through non-canonical DNA binding and alteration of normal transcriptional programs. However, the exact mechanism for how the intrinsically disordered domain contributes to aberrant DNA binding and abnormal transcription is unknown. The purification and 1H, 13C, and 15N backbone resonance assignments of the amino terminal domain comprising 264 residues of EWS is described. This segment is common to all known EWS-fusions that are the hallmark of the pediatric cancer Ewing sarcoma. This domain is intrinsically disordered and features significant sequence degeneracy resulting in spectra with poor chemical shift dispersion. To alleviate this problem, the domain was divided into three overlapping fragments, reducing the complexity of the spectra and enabling almost complete backbone resonance assignment of the full domain. These solution NMR chemical shift assignments represent the first steps towards understanding, at atomic resolution, how the low-complexity domain of EWS contributes to the aberrant functions of its oncogenic fusion proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney N Johnson
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Xiaoping Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Stephen P Holloway
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - David S Libich
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
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Flores G, Grohar PJ. One oncogene, several vulnerabilities: EWS/FLI targeted therapies for Ewing sarcoma. J Bone Oncol 2021; 31:100404. [PMID: 34976713 PMCID: PMC8686064 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbo.2021.100404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
EWS/FLI is the defining mutation of Ewing sarcoma. This oncogene drives malignant transformation and progression and occurs in a genetic background characterized by few other recurrent cooperating mutations. In addition, the tumor is absolutely dependent on the continued expression of EWS/FLI to maintain the malignant phenotype. However, EWS/FLI is a transcription factor and therefore a challenging drug target. The difficulty of directly targeting EWS/FLI stems from unique features of this fusion protein as well as the network of interacting proteins required to execute the transcriptional program. This network includes interacting proteins as well as upstream and downstream effectors that together reprogram the epigenome and transcriptome. While the vast number of proteins involved in this process challenge the development of a highly specific inhibitors, they also yield numerous therapeutic opportunities. In this report, we will review how this vast EWS-FLI transcriptional network has been exploited over the last two decades to identify compounds that directly target EWS/FLI and/or associated vulnerabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Flores
- Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, USA
| | - Patrick J Grohar
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, 3501 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Ramachandran B, Rajkumar T, Gopisetty G. Challenges in modeling EWS-FLI1-driven transgenic mouse model for Ewing sarcoma. Am J Transl Res 2021; 13:12181-12194. [PMID: 34956445 PMCID: PMC8661172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
EWS-FLI1 is a master regulator of Ewing sarcoma (ES) oncogenesis. Although EWS-FLI1 represents a clear therapeutic target, targeted therapeutic inhibitors are lacking. Scientific literature has indicated accumulating information pertaining to EWS-FLI1 translocation, pathogenesis, function, oncogenic partnerships, and potential clinical relevance. However, attempts to develop EWS-FLI1-driven human-like ES mouse models or in vivo systems ended up with limited success. Establishing such models as preclinical screening tools may accelerate the development of EWS-FLI1 targeted therapeutic inhibitors. This review summarizes the current scenario, which focuses on the limitations, challenges, and possible reasons for past failures in model development and also plausible interim alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balaji Ramachandran
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute (W.I.A) No. 38, Sardar Patel Road, Adyar, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Thangarajan Rajkumar
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute (W.I.A) No. 38, Sardar Patel Road, Adyar, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Gopal Gopisetty
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute (W.I.A) No. 38, Sardar Patel Road, Adyar, Chennai 600036, India
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García-Domínguez DJ, Hontecillas-Prieto L, León EA, Sánchez-Molina S, Rodríguez-Núñez P, Morón FJ, Hajji N, Mackintosh C, de Álava E. An inducible ectopic expression system of EWSR1-FLI1 as a tool for understanding Ewing sarcoma oncogenesis. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234243. [PMID: 32502203 PMCID: PMC7274397 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of the chimeric EWSR1-FLI1 oncoprotein is the main and initiating event defining Ewing sarcoma (ES). The dysregulation of epigenomic and proteomic homeostasis induced by the oncoprotein contributes to a wide variety of events involved in oncogenesis and tumor progression. Attempts at studying the effects of EWSR1-FLI1 in non-tumor cells to understand the mechanisms underlying sarcomagenesis have been unsuccessful to date, as ectopic expression of EWSR1-FLI1 blocks cell cycle progression and induces apoptosis in the tested cell lines. Therefore, it is essential to find a permissive cell type for EWSR1-FLI1 expression that allows its endogenous molecular functions to be studied. Here we have demonstrated that HeLa cell lines are permissive to EWSR1-FLI1 ectopic expression, and that our model substantially recapitulates the endogenous activity of the EWSR1-FLI1 fusion protein. This model could contribute to better understanding ES sarcomagenesis by helping to understand the molecular mechanisms induced by the EWSR1-FLI1 oncoprotein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. García-Domínguez
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla/CIBERONC, Seville, Spain
- * E-mail: (DJGD); (EDA)
| | - Lourdes Hontecillas-Prieto
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla/CIBERONC, Seville, Spain
| | - Eduardo Andrés León
- Bioinformatics Unit, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra”, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPBLN-CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Sara Sánchez-Molina
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica—Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pablo Rodríguez-Núñez
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla/CIBERONC, Seville, Spain
| | - Francisco J. Morón
- Genomics Core Facility, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Nabil Hajji
- Division of Brain Sciences, The John Fulcher Molecular Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Imperial College London, London, England, United Kingdom
| | | | - Enrique de Álava
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla/CIBERONC, Seville, Spain
- Department of Normal and Pathological Cytology and Histology, School of Medicine, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
- * E-mail: (DJGD); (EDA)
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Thangaretnam KP, Gopisetty G, Ramanathan P, Rajkumar T. A polypeptide from the junction region sequence of EWS-FLI1 inhibits Ewing's sarcoma cells, interacts with the EWS-FLI1 and partner proteins. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7172. [PMID: 28775288 PMCID: PMC5543137 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07482-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The EWS-FLI1 chimeric protein uniquely expressed in Ewing’s sarcoma has an obligate role in its aetiology. In our previous report we showed that ectopic expression of the DNA sequences form the junction region (a.a 251–280) can inhibit Ewing’s sarcoma cell growth. In the present report, we introduced a peptide (TAT/NLS/EWS-PEP) comprising of thirty amino acids spanning the junction in conjunction with HIV-1-trans-activating (TAT) and nuclear localization signal sequence (NLS). Peptide uptake and localization studies revealed presence of peptide in ~99% of transduced cells and in the nucleus. Peptide transfection induced cytotoxicity relative to untreated and TAT-NLS peptide treated Ewing’s sarcoma cells. The peptide inhibited clonogenicity, cell cycle, bromo-deoxy uridine (BrdU) uptake and invasion capacity of treated cells. The treatment also affected epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and EWS-FLI1 target gene expression levels. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments involving ectopically expressed full-length EWS-FLI1 protein and the peptide revealed an interaction. Additionally, we found that peptide interaction also occurs with the protein-GGAA microsatellite sequences complex known to contain EWS-FLI1. Further, in the pull-down assay, the peptide was found to interact with proteins known to potentially interact with EWS-FLI1. Based on these results we conclude that peptide could be applied in targeting EWS-FLI1 protein.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gopal Gopisetty
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, India.
| | - Priya Ramanathan
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, India
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Ramaswamy A, Rekhi B, Bakhshi S, Hingmire S, Agarwal M. Indian data on bone and soft tissue sarcomas: A summary of published study results. South Asian J Cancer 2016; 5:138-45. [PMID: 27606300 PMCID: PMC4991135 DOI: 10.4103/2278-330x.187587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone sarcomas are rare tumors, approximating 0.2% of all cancers, with osteosarcoma (OGS), chondrosarcoma, and Ewing sarcoma being the most common cancers in this subset. The formation of disease management groups/clinics focused on sarcomas has resulted in better understanding and management of these uncommon tumors. Multiple large-scale retrospective data from Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) and All India Institute of Medical Sciences have reported outcomes comparable to Western data in the field of OGS and Ewing sarcoma, with interesting prognostic factors identified for further evaluation. Soft tissue sarcomas are a rare heterogeneous group of tumors, more than 50 different tumor entities. The common subtypes identified in India include Ewing sarcoma and synovial sarcoma. Valuable work regarding brachytherapy has been done by radiation oncologists from the TMH, especially in pediatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anant Ramaswamy
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Bharat Rekhi
- Department of Pathology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sameer Bakhshi
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sachin Hingmire
- Department of Oncology, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Manish Agarwal
- Department of Orthopedic Oncology, P. D. Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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