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Du Y, Sun H, Shi Z, Sui X, Liu B, Zheng Z, Liu Y, Xuan Z, Zhong M, Fu M, Bai Y, Zhang Q, Shao C. Targeting the hedgehog pathway in MET mutation cancers and its effects on cells associated with cancer development. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:313. [PMID: 37919751 PMCID: PMC10623711 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01333-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The mutation of MET plays a crucial role in the initiation of cancer, while the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway also plays a significant role in cell differentiation and the maintenance of tumor stem cells. Conventional chemotherapy drugs are primarily designed to target the majority of cell populations within tumors rather than tumor stem cells. Consequently, after a brief period of remission, tumors often relapse. Moreover, the exclusive targeting of tumor stemness cell disregards the potential for other tumor cells to regain stemness and acquire drug resistance. As a result, current drugs that solely target the HGF/c-MET axis and the Hh pathway demonstrate only moderate efficacy in specific types of cancer. Mounting evidence indicates that these two pathways not only play important roles in cancer but also exert significant influence on the development of resistance to single-target therapies through the secretion of their own ligands. In this comprehensive review, we analyze and compare the potential impact of the Hh pathway on the tumor microenvironment (TME) in HGF/c-MET-driven tumor models, as well as the interplay between different cell types. Additionally, we further substantiate the potential and necessity of dual-pathway combination therapy as a critical target in MET addicted cancer treatment. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Du
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Huimin Sun
- Central Laboratory, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Zhiyuan Shi
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Xiuyuan Sui
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Zeyuan Zheng
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Yankuo Liu
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Zuodong Xuan
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Min Zhong
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Meiling Fu
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Yang Bai
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Chen Shao
- Department of Urology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, China.
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Chow RY, Jeon US, Levee TM, Kaur G, Cedeno DP, Doan LT, Atwood SX. PI3K Promotes Basal Cell Carcinoma Growth Through Kinase-Induced p21 Degradation. Front Oncol 2021; 11:668247. [PMID: 34268113 PMCID: PMC8276170 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.668247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a locally invasive epithelial cancer that is primarily driven by the Hedgehog (HH) pathway. Advanced BCCs are a critical subset of BCCs that frequently acquire resistance to Smoothened (SMO) inhibitors and identifying pathways that bypass SMO could provide alternative treatments for patients with advanced or metastatic BCC. Here, we use a combination of RNA-sequencing analysis of advanced human BCC tumor-normal pairs and immunostaining of human and mouse BCC samples to identify a PI3K pathway expression signature in BCC. Pharmacological inhibition of PI3K activity in BCC cells significantly reduces cell proliferation and HH signaling. However, treatment of Ptch1fl/fl; Gli1-CreERT2 mouse BCCs with the PI3K inhibitor BKM120 results in a reduction of tumor cell growth with no significant effect on HH signaling. Downstream PI3K components aPKC and Akt1 showed a reduction in active protein, whereas their substrate, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, showed a concomitant increase in protein stability. Our results suggest that PI3K promotes BCC tumor growth by kinase-induced p21 degradation without altering HH signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Y Chow
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Ung Seop Jeon
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Taylor M Levee
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Gurleen Kaur
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Daniel P Cedeno
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Linda T Doan
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Scott X Atwood
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.,Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.,Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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Chow RY, Levee TM, Kaur G, Cedeno DP, Doan LT, Atwood SX. MTOR promotes basal cell carcinoma growth through atypical PKC. Exp Dermatol 2021; 30:358-366. [PMID: 33617094 PMCID: PMC9924159 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14255] [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: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Advanced basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are driven by the Hedgehog (HH) pathway and often possess inherent resistance to SMO inhibitors. Identifying and targeting pathways that bypass SMO could provide alternative treatments for patients with advanced or metastatic BCC. Here, we use a combination of RNA-sequencing analysis of advanced human BCC tumor-normal pairs and immunostaining of human and mouse BCC samples to identify an MTOR expression signature in BCC. Pharmacological inhibition of MTOR activity in BCC cells significantly reduces cell proliferation without affecting HH signalling. Similarly, treatment of the Ptch1 fl/fl ; Gli1-CreERT2 mouse BCC tumor model with everolimus reduces tumor growth. aPKC, a downstream target of MTOR, shows reduced activity, suggesting that MTOR promotes tumor growth by activating aPKC and demonstrating that suppressing MTOR could be a promising target for BCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Y. Chow
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Taylor M. Levee
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Gurleen Kaur
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Daniel P. Cedeno
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Linda T. Doan
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Scott X. Atwood
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA,Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA,Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
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Larsen LJ, Møller LB. Crosstalk of Hedgehog and mTORC1 Pathways. Cells 2020; 9:cells9102316. [PMID: 33081032 PMCID: PMC7603200 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hedgehog (Hh) signaling and mTOR signaling, essential for embryonic development and cellular metabolism, are both coordinated by the primary cilium. Observations from cancer cells strongly indicate crosstalk between Hh and mTOR signaling. This hypothesis is supported by several studies: Evidence points to a TGFβ-mediated crosstalk; Increased PI3K/AKT/mTOR activity leads to increased Hh signaling through regulation of the GLI transcription factors; increased Hh signaling regulates mTORC1 activity positively by upregulating NKX2.2, leading to downregulation of negative mTOR regulators; GSK3 and AMPK are, as members of both signaling pathways, potentially important links between Hh and mTORC1 signaling; The kinase DYRK2 regulates Hh positively and mTORC1 signaling negatively. In contrast, both positive and negative regulation of Hh has been observed for DYRK1A and DYRK1B, which both regulate mTORC1 signaling positively. Based on crosstalk observed between cilia, Hh, and mTORC1, we suggest that the interaction between Hh and mTORC1 is more widespread than it appears from our current knowledge. Although many studies focusing on crosstalk have been carried out, contradictory observations appear and the interplay involving multiple partners is far from solved.
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Carr RM, Duma N, McCleary-Wheeler AL, Almada LL, Marks DL, Graham RP, Smyrk TC, Lowe V, Borad MJ, Kim G, Johnson GB, Allred JB, Yin J, Lim VS, Bekaii-Saab T, Ma WW, Erlichman C, Adjei AA, Fernandez-Zapico ME. Targeting of the Hedgehog/GLI and mTOR pathways in advanced pancreatic cancer, a phase 1 trial of Vismodegib and Sirolimus combination. Pancreatology 2020; 20:1115-1122. [PMID: 32778368 DOI: 10.1016/j.pan.2020.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Preclinical data indicated a functional and molecular interaction between Hedgehog (HH)/GLI and PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathways promoting pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). A phase I study was conducted of Vismodegib and Sirolimus combination to evaluate maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and preliminary anti-tumor efficacy. METHODS Cohort I included advanced solid tumors patients following a traditional 3 + 3 design. Vismodegib was orally administered at 150 mg daily with Sirolimus starting at 3 mg daily, increasing to 6 mg daily at dose level 2. Cohort II included only metastatic PDAC patients. Anti-tumor efficacy was evaluated every two cycles and target assessment at pre-treatment and after a single cycle. RESULTS Nine patient were enrolled in cohort I and 22 patients in cohort II. Twenty-eight patients were evaluated for dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs). One DLT was observed in each cohort, consisting of grade 2 mucositis and grade 3 thrombocytopenia. The MTD for Vismodegib and Sirolimus were 150 mg daily and 6 mg daily, respectively. The most common grade 3-4 toxicities were fatigue, thrombocytopenia, dehydration, and infections. A total of 6 patients had stable disease. No partial or complete responses were observed. Paired biopsy analysis before and after the first cycle in cohort II consistently demonstrated reduced GLI1 expression. Conversely, GLI and mTOR downstream targets were not significantly affected. CONCLUSIONS The combination of Vismodegib and Sirolimus was well tolerated. Clinical benefit was limited to stable disease in a subgroup of patients. Targeting efficacy demonstrated consistent partial decreases in HH/GLI signaling with limited impact on mTOR signaling. These findings conflict with pre-clinical models and warrant further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan M Carr
- Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Division of Oncology Research, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN, 55902, USA
| | - Narjust Duma
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Angela L McCleary-Wheeler
- Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Division of Oncology Research, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Luciana L Almada
- Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Division of Oncology Research, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - David L Marks
- Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Division of Oncology Research, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Rondell P Graham
- Department of Laboratory Medicine Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Thomas C Smyrk
- Department of Laboratory Medicine Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Val Lowe
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Mitesh J Borad
- Division of Hematology-Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - George Kim
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Jacob B Allred
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jun Yin
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Vun-Sin Lim
- Department of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN, 55902, USA
| | - Tanios Bekaii-Saab
- Division of Hematology-Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Wen We Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN, 55902, USA
| | - Charles Erlichman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN, 55902, USA
| | - Alex A Adjei
- Department of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN, 55902, USA.
| | - Martin E Fernandez-Zapico
- Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, Division of Oncology Research, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St SW, Rochester, MN, 55902, USA.
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Pietrobono S, Gagliardi S, Stecca B. Non-canonical Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Cancer: Activation of GLI Transcription Factors Beyond Smoothened. Front Genet 2019; 10:556. [PMID: 31244888 PMCID: PMC6581679 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hedgehog-GLI (HH-GLI) pathway is a highly conserved signaling that plays a critical role in controlling cell specification, cell–cell interaction and tissue patterning during embryonic development. Canonical activation of HH-GLI signaling occurs through binding of HH ligands to the twelve-pass transmembrane receptor Patched 1 (PTCH1), which derepresses the seven-pass transmembrane G protein-coupled receptor Smoothened (SMO). Thus, active SMO initiates a complex intracellular cascade that leads to the activation of the three GLI transcription factors, the final effectors of the HH-GLI pathway. Aberrant activation of this signaling has been implicated in a wide variety of tumors, such as those of the brain, skin, breast, gastrointestinal, lung, pancreas, prostate and ovary. In several of these cases, activation of HH-GLI signaling is mediated by overproduction of HH ligands (e.g., prostate cancer), loss-of-function mutations in PTCH1 or gain-of-function mutations in SMO, which occur in the majority of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), SHH-subtype medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. Besides the classical canonical ligand-PTCH1-SMO route, mounting evidence points toward additional, non-canonical ways of GLI activation in cancer. By non-canonical we refer to all those mechanisms of activation of the GLI transcription factors occurring independently of SMO. Often, in a given cancer type canonical and non-canonical activation of HH-GLI signaling co-exist, and in some cancer types, more than one mechanism of non-canonical activation may occur. Tumors harboring non-canonical HH-GLI signaling are less sensitive to SMO inhibition, posing a threat for therapeutic efficacy of these antagonists. Here we will review the most recent findings on the involvement of alternative signaling pathways in inducing GLI activity in cancer and stem cells. We will also discuss the rationale of targeting these oncogenic pathways in combination with HH-GLI inhibitors as a promising anti-cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Pietrobono
- Tumor Cell Biology Unit - Core Research Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), Florence, Italy
| | - Sinforosa Gagliardi
- Tumor Cell Biology Unit - Core Research Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), Florence, Italy
| | - Barbara Stecca
- Tumor Cell Biology Unit - Core Research Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), Florence, Italy
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Montagnani V, Stecca B. Role of Protein Kinases in Hedgehog Pathway Control and Implications for Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11040449. [PMID: 30934935 PMCID: PMC6520855 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11040449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Hedgehog (HH) signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that is crucial for growth and tissue patterning during embryonic development. It is mostly quiescent in the adult, where it regulates tissue homeostasis and stem cell behavior. Aberrant reactivation of HH signaling has been associated to several types of cancer, including those in the skin, brain, prostate, breast and hematological malignancies. Activation of the canonical HH signaling is triggered by binding of HH ligand to the twelve-transmembrane protein PATCHED. The binding releases the inhibition of the seven-transmembrane protein SMOOTHENED (SMO), leading to its phosphorylation and activation. Hence, SMO activates the transcriptional effectors of the HH signaling, that belong to the GLI family of transcription factors, acting through a not completely elucidated intracellular signaling cascade. Work from the last few years has shown that protein kinases phosphorylate several core components of the HH signaling, including SMO and the three GLI proteins, acting as powerful regulatory mechanisms to fine tune HH signaling activities. In this review, we will focus on the mechanistic influence of protein kinases on HH signaling transduction. We will also discuss the functional consequences of this regulation and the possible implications for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Montagnani
- Core Research Laboratory⁻Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), 50139 Florence, Italy.
| | - Barbara Stecca
- Core Research Laboratory⁻Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), 50139 Florence, Italy.
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Diao Y, Azatyan A, Rahman MFU, Zhao C, Zhu J, Dahlman-Wright K, Zaphiropoulos PG. Blockade of the Hedgehog pathway downregulates estrogen receptor alpha signaling in breast cancer cells. Oncotarget 2018; 7:71580-71593. [PMID: 27689403 PMCID: PMC5342103 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-estrogen treatment, exemplified by tamoxifen, is a well-established adjuvant therapy for estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive breast cancer. However, the effectiveness of this drug is limited due to the development of resistance. The Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway is critical in embryonic development, and aberrant activation of this transduction cascade is linked to various malignancies. However, it remains unclear whether HH signaling is activated in human breast cancer and related to tamoxifen resistance. Deciphering how this pathway may be involved in breast cancer is a crucial step towards the establishment of targeted combinatorial treatments for this disease. Here, we show that the expression of the HH signaling effector protein GLI1 is higher in tamoxifen resistant compared to sensitive cells. Tamoxifen resistant cells have stronger ERα transcriptional activity relative to sensitive cells, even though the ERα expression is similar in both cell types. Knockdown of GLI1 attenuates cell proliferation and reduces ERα transcriptional activity in both sensitive and resistant cells, irrespective of estrogen stimulation. Combinatorial treatment of tamoxifen and the GLI antagonist GANT61 further suppresses the growth of sensitive and resistant cells relative to administration of only tamoxifen, and this was irrespective of estrogen stimulation. Moreover, a positive correlation between GLI1 and ERα expression was identified in breast cancer samples. Additionally, high GLI1 expression predicted worse distant metastasis-free survival in breast cancer patients. These data suggest that the HH pathway may be a new candidate for therapeutic targeting and prognosis in ERα-positive breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumei Diao
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Ani Azatyan
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | | | - Chunyan Zhao
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jian Zhu
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Karin Dahlman-Wright
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
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