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Pranteda A, Piastra V, Serra M, Bernardini R, Lo Sardo F, Carpano S, Diodoro MG, Bartolazzi A, Milella M, Blandino G, Bossi G. Activated MKK3/MYC crosstalk impairs dabrafenib response in BRAFV600E colorectal cancer leading to resistance. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 167:115480. [PMID: 37713993 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with BRAF mutations develop resistance to BRAF inhibitors at a very early stage. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in BRAF inhibitor resistance is critical for the development of novel therapeutic opportunities for this subtype of CRC patients. CRC cells bearing BRAF mutations are mostly sensitive to the abrogation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase 3 (MKK3), a specific activator of p38MAPKs signaling, suggesting that BRAF alterations might addict CRC cells to the MKK3/p38MAPK signaling. Interestingly, publicly available gene expression profiling data show significantly higher MKK3 transcript levels in CRC lines with acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors. Herein, we investigated the roles of MKK3 in the response to BRAF targeting (dabrafenib) with COLO205 and HT29 BRAFV600E CRC lines and derived dabrafenib-resistant (DABR) sublines. Dabrafenib treatments reduce MKK3 activation by inducing autophagy in parental but not DABR cells. The MKK3 knockdown induces cell death in DABR cells, whereas ectopic MKK3 expression reduces dabrafenib sensitivity in parental cells. Mechanistically, activated MKK3 interacts and co-localizes with c-Myc oncoprotein (MYC), sustaining MYC protein stability and thus preventing the dabrafenib induced effects in CRC DABR cells both in vitro and in vivo. Overall, we identify a novel molecular mechanism beyond the dabrafenib resistance, shedding light on an uncovered vulnerability for the development of novel therapeutic opportunities in BRAFV600E CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina Pranteda
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, Department of Diagnostic Research and Technological Innovation, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy; Department of Science, University Roma TRE, Viale G. Marconi, 446 I, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Piastra
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, Department of Diagnostic Research and Technological Innovation, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy; Department of Science, University Roma TRE, Viale G. Marconi, 446 I, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Serra
- Interdepartmental Centre for Comparative Medicine, Alternative Techniques and Aquaculture (CIMETA), University of Rome "Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Bernardini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Comparative Medicine, Alternative Techniques and Aquaculture (CIMETA), University of Rome "Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; Center for Research and Services "Preclinical Experimentation and Animal Welfare" (SPBA), University of Rome "La Sapienza", Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Lo Sardo
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, Department of Diagnostic Research and Technological Innovation, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Carpano
- Second Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Diodoro
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Armando Bartolazzi
- Pathology Research Laboratory, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Via di Grottarossa, 1035, 00189 Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Milella
- UOC of Oncology, Verona University and Hospital Trust (Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata-AOUI-Verona), Piazzale Aristide Stefani, 1, 37126 Verona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Blandino
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, Department of Diagnostic Research and Technological Innovation, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Bossi
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, Department of Diagnostic Research and Technological Innovation, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy.
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Dissection of the MKK3 Functions in Human Cancer: A Double-Edged Sword? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030483. [PMID: 35158751 PMCID: PMC8833818 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The role played by MKK3 in human cancer is controversial. MKK3 is an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase that activates in response to a variety of stimuli. Phosphorylates, specifically the p38MAPK family proteins, contribute to the regulation of a plethora of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, invasion, and cell migration. Genes in carcinogenesis are classified as oncogenes and tumor suppressors; however, a clear distinction is not always easily made as it depends on the cell context and tissue specificity. The aim of this study is the examination of the potential contribution of MKK3 in cancer through a systematic analysis of the recent literature. The overall results reveal a complex scenario of MKK3’s involvement in cancer. The oncogenic functions of MKK3 were univocally documented in several solid tumors, such as colorectal, prostate cancer, and melanoma, while its tumor-suppressing functions were described in glioblastoma and gastric cancer. Furthermore, a dual role of MKK3 as an oncogene as well as tumor a suppressor has been described in breast, cervical, ovarian, liver, esophageal, and lung cancer. However, overall, more evidence points to its role as an oncogene in these diseases. This review indicates that the oncogenic and tumor-suppressing roles of MKK3 are strictly dependent on the tumor type and further suggests that MKK3 could represent an efficient putative molecular target that requires contextualization within a specific tumor type in order to adequately evaluate its potential effectiveness in designing novel anticancer therapies.
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Anton DB, Ducati RG, Timmers LFSM, Laufer S, Goettert MI. A Special View of What Was Almost Forgotten: p38δ MAPK. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2077. [PMID: 33923030 PMCID: PMC8123357 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The p38δ mitogen-activated protein kinase is an important signal transduction enzyme. p38δ has recently emerged as a drug target due to its tissue-specific expression patterns and its critical roles in regulation of cellular processes related to cancer and inflammatory diseases, such as cell proliferation, cell migration, apoptosis, and inflammatory responses. However, potent and specific p38δ inhibitors have not been defined so far. Moreover, in cancer disease, p38δ appears to act as a tumor suppressor or tumor promoter according to cancer and cell type studied. In this review, we outline the current understanding of p38δ roles in each cancer type, to define whether it is possible to delineate new cancer therapies based on small-molecule p38δ inhibitors. We also highlight recent advances made in the design of molecules with potential to inhibit p38 isoforms and discuss structural approaches to guide the search for p38δ inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Débora Bublitz Anton
- Biotechnology Graduate Program, Universidade do Vale do Taquari (Univates), Lajeado, Rio Grande do Sul CEP 95914-014, Brazil; (D.B.A.); (R.G.D.); (L.F.S.M.T.)
| | - Rodrigo Gay Ducati
- Biotechnology Graduate Program, Universidade do Vale do Taquari (Univates), Lajeado, Rio Grande do Sul CEP 95914-014, Brazil; (D.B.A.); (R.G.D.); (L.F.S.M.T.)
| | - Luís Fernando Saraiva Macedo Timmers
- Biotechnology Graduate Program, Universidade do Vale do Taquari (Univates), Lajeado, Rio Grande do Sul CEP 95914-014, Brazil; (D.B.A.); (R.G.D.); (L.F.S.M.T.)
- Medical Science Graduate Program, Universidade do Vale do Taquari (Univates), Lajeado, Rio Grande do Sul CEP 95914-014, Brazil
| | - Stefan Laufer
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tuebingen, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Márcia Inês Goettert
- Biotechnology Graduate Program, Universidade do Vale do Taquari (Univates), Lajeado, Rio Grande do Sul CEP 95914-014, Brazil; (D.B.A.); (R.G.D.); (L.F.S.M.T.)
- Medical Science Graduate Program, Universidade do Vale do Taquari (Univates), Lajeado, Rio Grande do Sul CEP 95914-014, Brazil
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The p38 MAPK Signaling Activation in Colorectal Cancer upon Therapeutic Treatments. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082773. [PMID: 32316313 PMCID: PMC7215415 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pharmacological treatment of colorectal carcinoma currently proceeds through the administration of a combination of different chemotherapeutic agents. In the case of rectal carcinoma, radiation therapy also represents a therapeutic strategy. In an attempt at translating much-needed new targeted therapy to the clinics, p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors have been tested in clinical trials involving colorectal carcinoma patients, especially in combination with chemotherapy; however, despite the high expectations raised by a clear involvement of the p38 MAPK pathway in the response to therapeutic treatments, poor results have been obtained so far. In this work, we review recent insights into the exact role of the p38 MAPK pathway in response to currently available therapies for colorectal carcinoma, depicting an intricate scenario in which the p38 MAPK node presents many opportunities, as well as many challenges, for its perspective exploitation for clinical purposes.
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