1
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Aguilar M, Zhang H, Zhang M, Cantarell B, Sahoo SS, Li HD, Cuevas IC, Lea J, Miller DS, Chen H, Zheng W, Gagan J, Lucas E, Castrillon DH. Serial genomic analysis of endometrium supports the existence of histologically indistinct endometrial cancer precursors. J Pathol 2021; 254:20-30. [PMID: 33506979 PMCID: PMC8252414 DOI: 10.1002/path.5628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The endometrium is unique as an accessible anatomic location that can be repeatedly biopsied and where diagnostic biopsies do not extirpate neoplastic lesions. We exploited these features to retrospectively characterize serial genomic alterations along the precancer/cancer continuum in individual women. Cases were selected based on (1) endometrial cancer diagnosis/hysterectomy and (2) preceding serial endometrial biopsies including for some patients an early biopsy before a precancer histologic diagnosis. A comprehensive panel was designed for endometrial cancer genes. Formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded specimens for each cancer, preceding biopsies, and matched germline samples were subjected to barcoded high‐throughput sequencing to identify mutations and track their origin and allelic frequency progression. In total, 92 samples from 21 patients were analyzed, providing an opportunity for new insights into early endometrial cancer progression. Definitive invasive endometrial cancers exhibited expected mutational spectra, and canonical driver mutations were detectable in preceding biopsies. Notably, ≥1 cancer mutations were detected prior to the histopathologic diagnosis of an endometrial precancer in the majority of patients. In 18/21 cases, ≥1 mutations were confirmed by abnormal protein levels or subcellular localization by immunohistochemistry, confirming genomic data and providing unique views of histologic correlates. In 19 control endometria, mutation counts were lower, with a lack of canonical endometrial cancer hotspot mutations. Our study documents the existence of endometrial lesions that are histologically indistinct but are bona fide endometrial cancer precursors. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitzi Aguilar
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - He Zhang
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Department of Population and Data Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Musi Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Brandi Cantarell
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Subhransu S Sahoo
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Hao-Dong Li
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ileana C Cuevas
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jayanthi Lea
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - David S Miller
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Wenxin Zheng
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey Gagan
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Elena Lucas
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Diego H Castrillon
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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2
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Li HD, Lu C, Zhang H, Hu Q, Zhang J, Cuevas IC, Sahoo SS, Aguilar M, Maurais EG, Zhang S, Wang X, Akbay EA, Li GM, Li B, Koduru P, Ly P, Fu YX, Castrillon DH. A PoleP286R mouse model of endometrial cancer recapitulates high mutational burden and immunotherapy response. JCI Insight 2020; 5:138829. [PMID: 32699191 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.138829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is instigated by mutator phenotypes, including deficient mismatch repair and p53-associated chromosomal instability. More recently, a distinct class of cancers was identified with unusually high mutational loads due to heterozygous amino acid substitutions (most commonly P286R) in the proofreading domain of DNA polymerase ε, the leading strand replicase encoded by POLE. Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, but new model systems are needed to recapitulate high mutational burdens characterizing human cancers and permit study of mechanisms underlying clinical responses. Here, we show that activation of a conditional LSL-PoleP286R allele in endometrium is sufficient to elicit in all animals endometrial cancers closely resembling their human counterparts, including very high mutational burden. Diverse investigations uncovered potentially novel aspects of Pole-driven tumorigenesis, including secondary p53 mutations associated with tetraploidy, and cooperation with defective mismatch repair through inactivation of Msh2. Most significantly, there were robust antitumor immune responses with increased T cell infiltrates, accelerated tumor growth following T cell depletion, and unfailing clinical regression following immune checkpoint therapy. This model predicts that human POLE-driven cancers will prove consistently responsive to immune checkpoint blockade. Furthermore, this is a robust and efficient approach to recapitulate in mice the high mutational burdens and immune responses characterizing human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - He Zhang
- Quantitative Biomedical Research Center, Department of Population and Data Sciences
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Esra A Akbay
- Department of Pathology.,Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | - Guo-Min Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology.,Advanced Imaging Research Center
| | - Bo Li
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.,Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics.,Department of Immunology
| | | | - Peter Ly
- Department of Pathology.,Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.,Department of Cell Biology, and
| | - Yang-Xin Fu
- Department of Pathology.,Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.,Department of Immunology
| | - Diego H Castrillon
- Department of Pathology.,Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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3
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Radu AG, Torch S, Fauvelle F, Pernet-Gallay K, Lucas A, Blervaque R, Delmas V, Schlattner U, Lafanechère L, Hainaut P, Tricaud N, Pingault V, Bondurand N, Bardeesy N, Larue L, Thibert C, Billaud M. LKB1 specifies neural crest cell fates through pyruvate-alanine cycling. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaau5106. [PMID: 31328154 PMCID: PMC6636984 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau5106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic processes underlying the development of the neural crest, an embryonic population of multipotent migratory cells, are poorly understood. Here, we report that conditional ablation of the Lkb1 tumor suppressor kinase in mouse neural crest stem cells led to intestinal pseudo-obstruction and hind limb paralysis. This phenotype originated from a postnatal degeneration of the enteric nervous ganglia and from a defective differentiation of Schwann cells. Metabolomic profiling revealed that pyruvate-alanine conversion is enhanced in the absence of Lkb1. Mechanistically, inhibition of alanine transaminases restored glial differentiation in an mTOR-dependent manner, while increased alanine level directly inhibited the glial commitment of neural crest cells. Treatment with the metabolic modulator AICAR suppressed mTOR signaling and prevented Schwann cell and enteric defects of Lkb1 mutant mice. These data uncover a link between pyruvate-alanine cycling and the specification of glial cell fate with potential implications in the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of neural crest diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca G. Radu
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Sakina Torch
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Florence Fauvelle
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, Grenoble Institute of Neurosciences GIN, 38000 Grenoble, France
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, US17, MRI facility IRMaGe, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Karin Pernet-Gallay
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, Grenoble Institute of Neurosciences GIN, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Anthony Lucas
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Renaud Blervaque
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Véronique Delmas
- Institut Curie, Normal and Pathological Development of Melanocytes, CNRS UMR3347; INSERM U1021; Equipe Labellisée–Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Orsay, France
| | - Uwe Schlattner
- Laboratory of Fundamental and Applied Bioenergetics, Univ Grenoble Alpes, 38185 Grenoble, France
- INSERM U1055, 38041 Grenoble France
| | - Laurence Lafanechère
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Pierre Hainaut
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Nicolas Tricaud
- INSERM U1051, Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier (INM), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Nabeel Bardeesy
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Lionel Larue
- Institut Curie, Normal and Pathological Development of Melanocytes, CNRS UMR3347; INSERM U1021; Equipe Labellisée–Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Orsay, France
| | - Chantal Thibert
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
- Corresponding author. (M.B.); (C.T.)
| | - Marc Billaud
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
- “Clinical and experimental model of lymphomagenesis” Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Centre de recherche en cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon France
- Corresponding author. (M.B.); (C.T.)
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4
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Li HD, Cuevas I, Zhang M, Lu C, Alam MM, Fu YX, You MJ, Akbay EA, Zhang H, Castrillon DH. Polymerase-mediated ultramutagenesis in mice produces diverse cancers with high mutational load. J Clin Invest 2018; 128:4179-4191. [PMID: 30124468 PMCID: PMC6118636 DOI: 10.1172/jci122095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations underlie all cancers, and their identification and study are the foundation of cancer biology. We describe what we believe to be a novel approach to mutagenesis and cancer studies based on the DNA polymerase ε (POLE) ultramutator phenotype recently described in human cancers, in which a single amino acid substitution (most commonly P286R) in the proofreading domain results in error-prone DNA replication. We engineered a conditional PoleP286R allele in mice. PoleP286R/+ embryonic fibroblasts exhibited a striking mutator phenotype and immortalized more efficiently. PoleP286R/+ mice were born at Mendelian ratios but rapidly developed lethal cancers of diverse lineages, yielding the most cancer-prone monoallelic model described to date, to our knowledge. Comprehensive whole-genome sequencing analyses showed that the cancers were driven by high base substitution rates in the range of human cancers, overcoming a major limitation of previous murine cancer models. These data establish polymerase-mediated ultramutagenesis as an efficient in vivo approach for the generation of diverse animal cancer models that recapitulate the high mutational loads inherent to human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Dong Li
- Department of Pathology and Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Ileana Cuevas
- Department of Pathology and Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Musi Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Changzheng Lu
- Department of Pathology and Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Md Maksudul Alam
- Department of Pathology and Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Yang-Xin Fu
- Department of Pathology and Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - M. James You
- Department of Hematopathology, Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Esra A. Akbay
- Department of Pathology and Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - He Zhang
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, UTSW Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Diego H. Castrillon
- Department of Pathology and Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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5
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Whitsett TG, Mittal SK, Eschbacher JM, Carson VM, Smith MA, Bremner RM, Inge LJ. LKB1 inactivation occurs in a subset of esophageal adenocarcinomas and is sufficient to drive tumor cell proliferation. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2018; 155:1891-1899. [PMID: 29370903 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2017.11.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has increased over the last several decades. Apart from mutations in TP53 gene, there are little data on genetic drivers of EAC. Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) has emerged as a multifunctional tumor suppressor regulating cell growth, differentiation, and metabolism. Somatic inactivation of LKB1 has been described in several tumor types; however, whether LKB1 inactivation has a role in EAC is unknown. Here we analyzed patient tumors to assess the prevalence of LKB1 loss in EAC. METHODS Chromosomal deletion and expression of LKB1 in EAC were investigated using publicly available genomic data. Protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis for LKB1 in a tissue microarray (TMA) containing esophageal tumor specimens, including EAC. LKB1 was suppressed in EAC cells to determine the effects on cell growth in vitro. RESULTS Analysis of EAC data in The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset revealed significant deletion of chromosome 19p13.3, containing the LKB1 gene locus. Single copy loss (shallow deletion) of LKB1 was present in 58% of EAC samples. Expression of LKB1 was significantly lower in EAC tumors compared with normal esophagus. IHC analysis showed reduced LKB1 protein expression in EAC. Suppression of LKB1 was sufficient to enhance EAC cell growth in vitro. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that inactivation of LKB1 frequently occurs in EAC. Based on the reported oncogenic effects of LKB1 inactivation, our data indicate that LKB1 loss may play a significant role in EAC tumorigenesis, and point to the need for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy G Whitsett
- Norton Thoracic Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Ariz.
| | - Sumeet K Mittal
- Norton Thoracic Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Ariz
| | - Jennifer M Eschbacher
- Department of Pathology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Ariz
| | - Vashti M Carson
- Norton Thoracic Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Ariz
| | - Michael A Smith
- Norton Thoracic Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Ariz
| | - Ross M Bremner
- Norton Thoracic Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Ariz
| | - Landon J Inge
- Norton Thoracic Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Ariz.
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6
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LKB1 as a Tumor Suppressor in Uterine Cancer: Mouse Models and Translational Studies. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 943:211-241. [PMID: 27910069 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-43139-0_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The LKB1 tumor suppressor was identified in 1998 as the gene mutated in the Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome (PJS), a hereditary cancer predisposition characterized by gastrointestinal polyposis and a high incidence of cancers, particularly carcinomas, at a variety of anatomic sites including the gastrointestinal tract, lung, and female reproductive tract. Women with PJS have a high incidence of carcinomas of the uterine corpus (endometrium) and cervix. The LKB1 gene is also somatically mutated in human cancers arising at these sites. Work in mouse models has highlighted the potency of LKB1 as an endometrial tumor suppressor and its distinctive roles in driving invasive and metastatic growth. These in vivo models represent tractable experimental systems for the discovery of underlying biological principles and molecular processes regulated by LKB1 in the context of tumorigenesis and also serve as useful preclinical model systems for experimental therapeutics. Here we review LKB1's known roles in mTOR signaling, metabolism, and cell polarity, with an emphasis on human pathology and mouse models relevant to uterine carcinogenesis, including cancers of the uterine corpus and cervix.
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7
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Cidlinsky N, Dogliotti G, Pukrop T, Jung R, Weber F, Krahn MP. Inactivation of the LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway does not contribute to salivary gland tumor development - a short report. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2016; 39:389-96. [PMID: 27480082 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-016-0290-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Activation of AMPK by the tumor suppressor LKB1 represents an essential gatekeeping step for cells under energetic stress to prevent their growth and proliferation by inhibiting mTOR activation, until the energy supply normalizes. The LKB1/AMPK pathway is frequently downregulated in various types of cancer, thereby uncoupling tumor cell growth and proliferation from energy supply. As yet, little information is available on the role of the LKB1/AMPK pathway in tumors derived from salivary gland tissues. METHODS We performed LKB1 protein expression and AMPK and mTOR activation analyses in several salivary gland tumor types and their respective healthy control tissues using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS No significant downregulation of LKB1 expression or decreased activation of AMPK or mTOR were observed in any of the salivary gland tumors tested. In contrast, we found that the salivary gland tumors exhibited an increased rather than a decreased AMPK activation. Although the PI3K/Akt pathway was found to be activated in most of the analyzed tumor samples, the unchanged robust activity of LKB1/AMPK likely prevents (over)activation of mTOR. CONCLUSION In contrast to many other types of cancer, inactivation or downregulation of the LKB1/AMPK pathway does not substantially contribute to the pathogenesis of salivary gland tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natascha Cidlinsky
- Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Giada Dogliotti
- Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Pukrop
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Rudolf Jung
- Institute for Pathology, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Florian Weber
- Institute for Pathology, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Michael P Krahn
- Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
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8
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Ham S, Brown KA, Simpson ER, Meachem SJ. Immunolocalisation of aromatase regulators liver kinase B1, phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase and cAMP response element-binding protein-regulated transcription co-activators in the human testis. Reprod Fertil Dev 2016; 29:RD15390. [PMID: 26946412 DOI: 10.1071/rd15390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Although oestrogens are essential for spermatogenesis and their biosynthesis is dependent on aromatase expression, the molecular mechanism of aromatase regulation is poorly understood. Our laboratory has demonstrated that liver kinase B1 (LKB1) is a negative regulator of aromatase in the breast by phosphorylating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibiting the nuclear translocation of the cAMP response element-binding protein-regulated transcription co-activator (CRTC) 2. The aim of this study was to determine the location of testis-associated proteins in the LKB1-CRTC pathway. Aromatase, LKB1, phosphorylated AMPK (pAMPK) and CRTC1-3 were examined by selected immunofluorescent antibodies in testis samples from a prepubertal boy and three fertile men. Aromatase, pAMPK and LKB1 proteins were present in the seminiferous epithelium and interstitium of the testis and were expressed in a differential and developmental manner in particular cell types. The expression pattern of LKB1 was similar to that of pAMPK and inversely related to aromatase expression. CRTC1 and CRTC3 were localised in the seminiferous epithelium, whereas CRTC2 was barely detectable in testis. These results lead to the conclusion that LKB1 is involved in the molecular pathway that underpins aromatase regulation in the testis via CRTC1 and CRTC3 and may be important for the oestrogen-mediated development of germ cells.
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9
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Peña CG, Nakada Y, Saatcioglu HD, Aloisio GM, Cuevas I, Zhang S, Miller DS, Lea JS, Wong KK, DeBerardinis RJ, Amelio AL, Brekken RA, Castrillon DH. LKB1 loss promotes endometrial cancer progression via CCL2-dependent macrophage recruitment. J Clin Invest 2015; 125:4063-76. [PMID: 26413869 DOI: 10.1172/jci82152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy and the fourth most common malignancy in women. For most patients in whom the disease is confined to the uterus, treatment results in successful remission; however, there are no curative treatments for tumors that have progressed beyond the uterus. The serine/threonine kinase LKB1 has been identified as a potent suppressor of uterine cancer, but the biological modes of action of LKB1 in this context remain incompletely understood. Here, we have shown that LKB1 suppresses tumor progression by altering gene expression in the tumor microenvironment. We determined that LKB1 inactivation results in abnormal, cell-autonomous production of the inflammatory cytokine chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) within tumors, which leads to increased recruitment of macrophages with prominent tumor-promoting activities. Inactivation of Ccl2 in an Lkb1-driven mouse model of endometrial cancer slowed tumor progression and increased survival. In human primary endometrial cancers, loss of LKB1 protein was strongly associated with increased CCL2 expression by tumor cells as well as increased macrophage density in the tumor microenvironment. These data demonstrate that CCL2 is a potent effector of LKB1 loss in endometrial cancer, creating potential avenues for therapeutic opportunities.
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10
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Momcilovic M, Shackelford DB. Targeting LKB1 in cancer - exposing and exploiting vulnerabilities. Br J Cancer 2015; 113:574-84. [PMID: 26196184 PMCID: PMC4647688 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2015.261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2015] [Revised: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The LKB1 tumour suppressor is a serine/threonine kinase that functions as master regulator of cell growth, metabolism, survival and polarity. LKB1 is frequently mutated in human cancers and research spanning the last two decades have begun decoding the cellular pathways deregulated following LKB1 inactivation. This work has led to the identification of vulnerabilities present in LKB1-deficient tumour cells. Pre-clinical studies have now identified therapeutic strategies targeting this subset of tumours that promise to benefit this large patient population harbouring LKB1 mutations. Here, we review the current efforts that are underway to translate pre-clinical discovery of therapeutic strategies targeting LKB1 mutant cancers into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Momcilovic
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - D B Shackelford
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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11
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Skoulidis F, Byers LA, Diao L, Papadimitrakopoulou VA, Tong P, Izzo J, Behrens C, Kadara H, Parra ER, Canales JR, Zhang J, Giri U, Gudikote J, Cortez MA, Yang C, Fan Y, Peyton M, Girard L, Coombes KR, Toniatti C, Heffernan TP, Choi M, Frampton GM, Miller V, Weinstein JN, Herbst RS, Wong KK, Zhang J, Sharma P, Mills GB, Hong WK, Minna JD, Allison JP, Futreal A, Wang J, Wistuba II, Heymach JV. Co-occurring genomic alterations define major subsets of KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma with distinct biology, immune profiles, and therapeutic vulnerabilities. Cancer Discov 2015; 5:860-77. [PMID: 26069186 PMCID: PMC4527963 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-14-1236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 636] [Impact Index Per Article: 70.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The molecular underpinnings that drive the heterogeneity of KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma are poorly characterized. We performed an integrative analysis of genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data from early-stage and chemorefractory lung adenocarcinoma and identified three robust subsets of KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma dominated, respectively, by co-occurring genetic events in STK11/LKB1 (the KL subgroup), TP53 (KP), and CDKN2A/B inactivation coupled with low expression of the NKX2-1 (TTF1) transcription factor (KC). We further revealed biologically and therapeutically relevant differences between the subgroups. KC tumors frequently exhibited mucinous histology and suppressed mTORC1 signaling. KL tumors had high rates of KEAP1 mutational inactivation and expressed lower levels of immune markers, including PD-L1. KP tumors demonstrated higher levels of somatic mutations, inflammatory markers, immune checkpoint effector molecules, and improved relapse-free survival. Differences in drug sensitivity patterns were also observed; notably, KL cells showed increased vulnerability to HSP90-inhibitor therapy. This work provides evidence that co-occurring genomic alterations identify subgroups of KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma with distinct biology and therapeutic vulnerabilities. SIGNIFICANCE Co-occurring genetic alterations in STK11/LKB1, TP53, and CDKN2A/B-the latter coupled with low TTF1 expression-define three major subgroups of KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma with distinct biology, patterns of immune-system engagement, and therapeutic vulnerabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinandos Skoulidis
- Department of Thoracic and Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Lauren A Byers
- Department of Thoracic and Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Lixia Diao
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Vassiliki A Papadimitrakopoulou
- Department of Thoracic and Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Pan Tong
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Julie Izzo
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Carmen Behrens
- Department of Thoracic and Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Humam Kadara
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Edwin R Parra
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jaime Rodriguez Canales
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jianjun Zhang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Uma Giri
- Department of Thoracic and Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jayanthi Gudikote
- Department of Thoracic and Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Maria A Cortez
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Chao Yang
- Department of Thoracic and Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Youhong Fan
- Department of Thoracic and Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Michael Peyton
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research and Simmons Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Luc Girard
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research and Simmons Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Kevin R Coombes
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Carlo Toniatti
- Institute for Applied Cancer Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Timothy P Heffernan
- Institute for Applied Cancer Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Murim Choi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | | | | | - John N Weinstein
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Roy S Herbst
- Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Kwok-Kin Wong
- Department of Medical Oncology and Belfer Institute for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- Institute for Applied Cancer Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Padmanee Sharma
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Gordon B Mills
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Waun K Hong
- Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - John D Minna
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research and Simmons Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - James P Allison
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Andrew Futreal
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Ignacio I Wistuba
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - John V Heymach
- Department of Thoracic and Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
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12
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Yang JY, Jiang SH, Liu DJ, Yang XM, Huo YM, Li J, Hua R, Zhang ZG, Sun YW. Decreased LKB1 predicts poor prognosis in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Sci Rep 2015; 5:10575. [PMID: 26015068 PMCID: PMC4650682 DOI: 10.1038/srep10575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 04/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) has been identified as a critical modulator involved in cell proliferation and polarity. The purpose of the current study was to characterize the expression pattern of LKB1 and assess the clinical significance of LKB1 expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. LKB1 mRNA expression which was analyzed in 32 PDAC lesions and matched non-tumor tissues, was downregulated in 50% (16/32) of PDAC lesions. Similar results were also obtained by analyzing three independent datasets from Oncomine. Protein expression of LKB1 was significantly reduced in 6 PDAC cell lines and downregulated in 31.3% (10/32) of PDAC lesions compared to matched non-tumorous tissues, as determined by Western blot analysis. Additionally, tissue microarray containing 205 PDAC specimens was evaluated for LKB1 expression by IHC and demonstrated that reduced expression of LKB1 in 17.6% (36/205) of PDAC tissues was significantly correlated with clinical stage, T classification, N classification, liver metastasis and vascular invasion. Importantly, Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses were executed to evaluate the prognosis of PDAC and found that LKB1 protein expression was one of the independent prognostic factors for overall survival of PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Yu Yang
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200127 Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Shu-Heng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240 Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - De-Jun Liu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200127 Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Mei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240 Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yan-Miao Huo
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200127 Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Jiao Li
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200127 Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Rong Hua
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200127 Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Gang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240 Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yong-Wei Sun
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200127 Shanghai, P.R. China
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13
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Jiang L, Liang X, Liu M, Wang W, Ma J, Guo Q, Han L, Yang C, Nan K. Reduced expression of liver kinase B1 and Beclin1 is associated with the poor survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Oncol Rep 2014; 32:1931-8. [PMID: 25175672 DOI: 10.3892/or.2014.3432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) regulates cell polarity and has tumor-suppressor functions, while Beclin1 regulates autophagy and is associated with tumorigenesis. The present study quantified the expression level of LKB1 and Beclin1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissue specimens and examined the possible association with clinicopathological characteristics and the survival of patients. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase‑polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to assess expression of LKB1 and Beclin1 in 142 NSCLC tissue samples. The data revealed that expression levels of both LKB1 and Beclin1 mRNA and protein were significantly reduced in the NSCLC tissues compared to levels in the matched surrounding normal lung tissues, and expression of LKB1 protein was associated with Beclin1 expression in the NSCLC tissues. Reduced expression of LKB1 protein was significantly associated with tumor histology (P<0.001) and poor differentiation (P<0.001), but was not associated with tumor lymph node metastasis, TNM stage or patient gender and age, while the reduced expression of Beclin1 protein was associated with tumor histology (P<0.05) and poor differentiation (P<0.05). Univariate analysis revealed that adenocarcinoma, lymph node metastasis, advanced TNM stage and reduced expression of LKB1 and Beclin1 proteins are associated with the survival of NSCLC patients. Multivariate analysis indicated that adenocarcinoma (P<0.05), lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), advanced TNM stage (P<0.001) and reduced expression of LKB1 (P<0.05) and Beclin1 (P<0.001) are all independent prognostic indicators for the survival of NSCLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Jiang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of the Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Xuan Liang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of the Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Mengjie Liu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of the Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Wenjuan Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of the Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Jiequn Ma
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of the Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Qianqian Guo
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of the Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Lili Han
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of the Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Chengcheng Yang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of the Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Kejun Nan
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of the Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
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14
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Investigation of LKB1 Ser431 phosphorylation and Cys433 farnesylation using mouse knockin analysis reveals an unexpected role of prenylation in regulating AMPK activity. Biochem J 2014; 458:41-56. [PMID: 24295069 PMCID: PMC3898322 DOI: 10.1042/bj20131324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The LKB1 tumour suppressor protein kinase functions to activate two isoforms of AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) and 12 members of the AMPK-related family of protein kinases. The highly conserved C-terminal residues of LKB1 are phosphorylated (Ser431) by PKA (cAMP-dependent protein kinase) and RSK (ribosomal S6 kinase) and farnesylated (Cys433) within a CAAX motif. To better define the role that these post-translational modifications play, we created homozygous LKB1S431A/S431A and LKB1C433S/C433S knockin mice. These animals were viable, fertile and displayed no overt phenotypes. Employing a farnesylation-specific monoclonal antibody that we generated, we established by immunoprecipitation that the vast majority, if not all, of the endogenous LKB1 is prenylated. Levels of LKB1 localized at the membrane of the liver of LKB1C433S/C433S mice and their fibroblasts were reduced substantially compared with the wild-type mice, confirming that farnesylation plays a role in mediating membrane association. Although AMPK was activated normally in the LKB1S431A/S431A animals, we unexpectedly observed in all of the examined tissues and cells taken from LKB1C433S/C433S mice that the basal, as well as that induced by the AMP-mimetic AICAR (5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide riboside), AMPK activation, phenformin and muscle contraction were significantly blunted. This resulted in a reduced ability of AICAR to inhibit lipid synthesis in primary hepatocytes isolated from LKB1C433S/C433S mice. The activity of several of the AMPK-related kinases analysed [BRSK1 (BR serine/threonine kinase 1), BRSK2, NUAK1 (NUAK family, SNF1-like kinase 1), SIK3 (salt-inducible kinase 3) and MARK4 (MAP/microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 4)] was not affected in tissues derived from LKB1S431A/S431A or LKB1C433S/C433S mice. Our observations reveal for the first time that farnesylation of LKB1 is required for the activation of AMPK. Previous reports have indicated that a pool of AMPK is localized at the plasma membrane as a result of myristoylation of its regulatory AMPKβ subunit. This raises the possibility that LKB1 farnesylation and myristoylation of AMPKβ might promote the interaction and co-localization of these enzymes on a two-dimensional membrane surface and thereby promote efficient activation of AMPK.
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