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Naso J, Desai A, Smith CJ, Ashara YP, Yip S, Lo YC. Predictive value and molecular correlates of MYC immunohistochemistry and copy number gain in non-small cell lung carcinomas treated with immunotherapy. Lung Cancer 2024; 195:107927. [PMID: 39173231 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2024.107927] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Accurately predicting which patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) will respond to immunotherapy remains a clinical challenge. This study aims to determine the associations between MYC immunoreactivity, MYC copy number gain (CNG), driver mutations and survival following immunotherapy treatment, to provide insight into whether clinical MYC assessment may have predictive value. MATERIALS AND METHODS MYC copy number status was determined in 82 patients with NSCLC treated with immunotherapy, and MYC immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on 80 of these cases. MYC staining in ≥ 40 % of tumor cells was considered positive. Driver gene alterations, PD-L1 status and survival outcomes were assessed through retrospective chart review. Overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were calculated from the date of immunotherapy initiation. RESULTS Nine (11 %) of 82 cases had MYC CNG and 56 (70 %) of the 80 immunostained cases were positive for MYC. MYC CNG was significantly associated with STK11 mutation (P=0.023), whereas positive MYC IHC was significantly associated with KRAS mutation (P=0.0076) and current/former smoking (P=0.0007). MYC CNG and positive MYC IHC were not significantly associated with each other (P=0.42), or with PD-L1 ≥ 1 % (MYC CNG: P=0.10; MYC IHC: P=0.09). Positive MYC IHC and PD-L1 ≥ 1 % were both significant predictors of OS (MYC: HR 2.7, 95 % CI 1.1-6.4, P=0.026; PD-L1: HR 0.33, 95 % CI 0.15-0.72, P=0.0055). MYC IHC positive/PD-L1 < 1 % cases had the shortest OS (median 230 versus 918 days, P=0.00069) and PFS (median 84 versus 254 days, P=0.0087). MYC CNG was not associated with OS or PFS. CONCLUSION We find that positive MYC IHC is an independent predictor of shorter OS after immunotherapy treatment, with MYC positive/PD-L1 < 1 % status predictive of particularly poor immunotherapy response. We identify positive MYC IHC as a feature of possible relevance to NSCLC treatment selection and of interest for future therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Naso
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Aakash Desai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Caleb J Smith
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Yash P Ashara
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Stephen Yip
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Molecular Oncology, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada; Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Ying-Chun Lo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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2
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Sun Z, Fan J, Dang Y, Zhao Y. Enhancer in cancer pathogenesis and treatment. Genet Mol Biol 2023; 46:e20220313. [PMID: 37548349 PMCID: PMC10405138 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2022-0313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Enhancers are essential cis-acting regulatory elements that determine cell identity and tumor progression. Enhancer function is dependent on the physical interaction between the enhancer and its target promoter inside its local chromatin environment. Enhancer reprogramming is an important mechanism in cancer pathogenesis and can be driven by both cis and trans factors. Super enhancers are acquired at oncogenes in numerous cancer types and represent potential targets for cancer treatment. BET and CDK inhibitors act through mechanisms of enhancer function and have shown promising results in therapy for various types of cancer. Genome editing is another way to reprogram enhancers in cancer treatment. The relationship between enhancers and cancer has been revised by several authors in the past few years, which mainly focuses on the mechanisms by which enhancers can impact cancer. Here, we emphasize SE's role in cancer pathogenesis and the new therapies involving epigenetic regulators (BETi and CDKi). We suggest that understanding mechanisms of activity would aid clinical success for these anti-cancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Sun
- Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Weiyang District, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, No.1 XinWang Rd, Weiyang District, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jinbo Fan
- Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Weiyang District, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yixiong Dang
- Xi’an Medical University, School of Public Health, Weiyang District, Xi’an, 710021 Shaanxi, China
| | - Yufeng Zhao
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, No.1 XinWang Rd, Weiyang District, Shaanxi, China
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Craddock J, Jiang J, Patrick SM, Mutambirwa SBA, Stricker PD, Bornman MSR, Jaratlerdsiri W, Hayes VM. Alterations in the Epigenetic Machinery Associated with Prostate Cancer Health Disparities. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3462. [PMID: 37444571 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is driven by acquired genetic alterations, including those impacting the epigenetic machinery. With African ancestry as a significant risk factor for aggressive disease, we hypothesize that dysregulation among the roughly 656 epigenetic genes may contribute to prostate cancer health disparities. Investigating prostate tumor genomic data from 109 men of southern African and 56 men of European Australian ancestry, we found that African-derived tumors present with a longer tail of epigenetic driver gene candidates (72 versus 10). Biased towards African-specific drivers (63 versus 9 shared), many are novel to prostate cancer (18/63), including several putative therapeutic targets (CHD7, DPF3, POLR1B, SETD1B, UBTF, and VPS72). Through clustering of all variant types and copy number alterations, we describe two epigenetic PCa taxonomies capable of differentiating patients by ancestry and predicted clinical outcomes. We identified the top genes in African- and European-derived tumors representing a multifunctional "generic machinery", the alteration of which may be instrumental in epigenetic dysregulation and prostate tumorigenesis. In conclusion, numerous somatic alterations in the epigenetic machinery drive prostate carcinogenesis, but African-derived tumors appear to achieve this state with greater diversity among such alterations. The greater novelty observed in African-derived tumors illustrates the significant clinical benefit to be derived from a much needed African-tailored approach to prostate cancer healthcare aimed at reducing prostate cancer health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna Craddock
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
| | - Jue Jiang
- Ancestry and Health Genomics Laboratory, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Sean M Patrick
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
| | - Shingai B A Mutambirwa
- Department of Urology, Sefako Makgatho Health Science University, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, Medunsa 0208, South Africa
| | - Phillip D Stricker
- Department of Urology, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - M S Riana Bornman
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
| | - Weerachai Jaratlerdsiri
- Ancestry and Health Genomics Laboratory, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Vanessa M Hayes
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
- Ancestry and Health Genomics Laboratory, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M20 4GJ, UK
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4
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Tian S, Zhang J, Yuan S, Wang Q, Lv C, Wang J, Fang J, Fu L, Yang J, Zu X, Zhao J, Zhang W. Exploring pharmacological active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine by pharmacotranscriptomic map in ITCM. Brief Bioinform 2023; 24:7017365. [PMID: 36719094 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
With the emergence of high-throughput technologies, computational screening based on gene expression profiles has become one of the most effective methods for drug discovery. More importantly, profile-based approaches remarkably enhance novel drug-disease pair discovery without relying on drug- or disease-specific prior knowledge, which has been widely used in modern medicine. However, profile-based systematic screening of active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been scarcely performed due to inadequate pharmacotranscriptomic data. Here, we develop the largest-to-date online TCM active ingredients-based pharmacotranscriptomic platform integrated traditional Chinese medicine (ITCM) for the effective screening of active ingredients. First, we performed unified high-throughput experiments and constructed the largest data repository of 496 representative active ingredients, which was five times larger than the previous one built by our team. The transcriptome-based multi-scale analysis was also performed to elucidate their mechanism. Then, we developed six state-of-art signature search methods to screen active ingredients and determine the optimal signature size for all methods. Moreover, we integrated them into a screening strategy, TCM-Query, to identify the potential active ingredients for the special disease. In addition, we also comprehensively collected the TCM-related resource by literature mining. Finally, we applied ITCM to an active ingredient bavachinin, and two diseases, including prostate cancer and COVID-19, to demonstrate the power of drug discovery. ITCM was aimed to comprehensively explore the active ingredients of TCM and boost studies of pharmacological action and drug discovery. ITCM is available at http://itcm.biotcm.net.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saisai Tian
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jinbo Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Tianjin Rehabilitation Center of Joint Logistics Support Force, Tianjin, 300110, China
| | - Shunling Yuan
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Qun Wang
- The Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Lv
- The Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinxing Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jiansong Fang
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Fu
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jian Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xianpeng Zu
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- The Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weidong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- The Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Schnell AP, Kohrt S, Thoma-Kress AK. Latency Reversing Agents: Kick and Kill of HTLV-1? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115545. [PMID: 34073995 PMCID: PMC8197370 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the cause of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), is a retrovirus, which integrates into the host genome and persistently infects CD4+ T-cells. Virus propagation is stimulated by (1) clonal expansion of infected cells and (2) de novo infection. Viral gene expression is induced by the transactivator protein Tax, which recruits host factors like positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) to the viral promoter. Since HTLV-1 gene expression is repressed in vivo by viral, cellular, and epigenetic mechanisms in late phases of infection, HTLV-1 avoids an efficient CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) response directed against the immunodominant viral Tax antigen. Hence, therapeutic strategies using latency reversing agents (LRAs) sought to transiently activate viral gene expression and antigen presentation of Tax to enhance CTL responses towards HTLV-1, and thus, to expose the latent HTLV-1 reservoir to immune destruction. Here, we review strategies that aimed at enhancing Tax expression and Tax-specific CTL responses to interfere with HTLV-1 latency. Further, we provide an overview of LRAs including (1) histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) and (2) activators of P-TEFb, that have mainly been studied in context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but which may also be powerful in the context of HTLV-1.
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Wu X, Nelson M, Basu M, Srinivasan P, Lazarski C, Zhang P, Zheng P, Sandler AD. MYC oncogene is associated with suppression of tumor immunity and targeting Myc induces tumor cell immunogenicity for therapeutic whole cell vaccination. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2020-001388. [PMID: 33757986 PMCID: PMC7993333 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background MYC oncogene is deregulated in 70% of all human cancers and is associated with multiple oncogenic functions including immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. The role of MYC in the immune microenvironment of neuroblastoma and melanoma is investigated and the effect of targeting Myc on immunogenicity of cancer cells is evaluated. Methods Immune cell infiltrates and immunogenic pathway signatures in the context of MYCN amplification were analyzed in human neuroblastoma tumors and in metastatic melanoma. Dose response and cell susceptibility to MYC inhibitors (I-BET726 and JQ1) were determined in mouse cell lines. The influence of downregulating Myc in tumor cells was characterized by immunogenic pathway signatures and functional assays. Myc-suppressed tumor cells were used as whole cell vaccines in preclinical neuroblastoma and melanoma models. Results Analysis of immune phenotype in human neuroblastoma and melanoma tumors revealed that MYCN or c-MYC amplified tumors respectively are associated with suppressed immune cell infiltrates and functional pathways. Targeting Myc in cancer cells with I-BET726 and JQ1 results in cell cycle arrest and induces cell immunogenicity. Combining vaccination of Myc-inhibited tumor cells with checkpoint inhibition induced robust antitumor immunity and resulted in therapeutic cancer vaccine therapy in mouse neuroblastoma tumors. Despite vigorous antitumor immunity in the mouse melanoma model, upregulation of immunosuppressive pathways enabled tumor escape. Conclusions This study demonstrates that the Myc oncogene is an appropriate target for inducing tumor cell immunogenicity and suggests that Myc-suppressed whole tumor cells combined with checkpoint therapy could be used for formulating a personalized therapeutic tumor vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Wu
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Childrens Hospital Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Marie Nelson
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Childrens Hospital Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Mousumi Basu
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Childrens Hospital Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Priya Srinivasan
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Childrens Hospital Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Christopher Lazarski
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Peng Zhang
- Division of Immunotherapy, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Pan Zheng
- Division of Immunotherapy, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Anthony David Sandler
- The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Childrens Hospital Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA .,Joseph E. Robert Jr. Center for Surgical Care, Childrens National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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7
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Resistance to BET inhibitors in lung adenocarcinoma is mediated by casein kinase phosphorylation of BRD4. Oncogenesis 2021; 10:27. [PMID: 33712563 PMCID: PMC7955060 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-021-00316-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeting the epigenome to modulate gene expression programs driving cancer development has emerged as an exciting avenue for therapeutic intervention. Pharmacological inhibition of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family of chromatin adapter proteins has proven effective in this regard, suppressing growth of diverse cancer types mainly through downregulation of the c-MYC oncogene, and its downstream transcriptional program. While initially effective, resistance to BET inhibitors (BETi) typically occurs through mechanisms that reactivate MYC expression. We have previously shown that lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) is inhibited by JQ1 through suppression of FOSL1, suggesting that the epigenetic landscape of tumor cells from different origins and differentiation states influences BETi response. Here, we assessed how these differences affect mechanisms of BETi resistance through the establishment of isogenic pairs of JQ1 sensitive and resistant LAC cell lines. We found that resistance to JQ1 in LAC occurs independent of FOSL1 while MYC levels remain unchanged between resistant cells and their JQ1-treated parental counterparts. Furthermore, while epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is observed upon resistance, TGF-β induced EMT did not confer resistance in JQ1 sensitive LAC lines, suggesting this is a consequence, rather than a driver of BETi resistance in our model systems. Importantly, siRNA knockdown demonstrated that JQ1 resistant cell lines are still dependent on BRD4 expression for survival and we found that phosphorylation of BRD4 is elevated in resistant LACs, identifying casein kinase 2 (CK2) as a candidate protein mediating this effect. Inhibition of CK2, as well as downstream transcriptional targets of phosphorylated BRD4—including AXL and activators of the PI3K pathway—synergize with JQ1 to inhibit BETi resistant LAC. Overall, this demonstrates that the mechanism of resistance to BETi varies depending on cancer type, with LAC cells developing JQ1 resistance independent of MYC regulation, and identifying CK2 phosphorylation of BRD4 as a potential target to overcome resistance in this cancer.
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Ross J, Miron CE, Plescia J, Laplante P, McBride K, Moitessier N, Möröy T. Targeting MYC: From understanding its biology to drug discovery. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 213:113137. [PMID: 33460833 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.113137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The MYC oncogene is considered to be a high priority target for clinical intervention in cancer patients due to its aberrant activation in more than 50% of human cancers. Direct small molecule inhibition of MYC has traditionally been hampered by its intrinsically disordered nature and lack of both binding site and enzymatic activity. In recent years, however, a number of strategies for indirectly targeting MYC have emerged, guided by the advent of protein structural information and the growing set of computational tools that can be used to accelerate the hit to lead process in medicinal chemistry. In this review, we provide an overview of small molecules developed for clinical applications of these strategies, which include stabilization of the MYC guanine quadruplex, inhibition of BET factor BRD4, and disruption of the MYC:MAX heterodimer. The recent identification of novel targets for indirect MYC inhibition at the protein level is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Ross
- Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), 110 Pine Ave W., Montréal, Québec, H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Caitlin E Miron
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. W., Montréal, Québec, H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Jessica Plescia
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. W., Montréal, Québec, H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Patricia Laplante
- AmorChem II Ventures Inc., 4 Westmount Sq. Bureau 160, Westmount, Québec, H3Z 2S6, Canada
| | - Kevin McBride
- AmorChem II Ventures Inc., 4 Westmount Sq. Bureau 160, Westmount, Québec, H3Z 2S6, Canada
| | - Nicolas Moitessier
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. W., Montréal, Québec, H3A 0B8, Canada.
| | - Tarik Möröy
- Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), 110 Pine Ave W., Montréal, Québec, H2W 1R7, Canada; Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, 2900, boul. Édouard-Montpetit, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1J4, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. W., Montréal, Québec, H3A 0B8, Canada.
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Huan S, Gui T, Xu Q, Zhuang S, Li Z, Shi Y, Lin J, Gong B, Miao G, Tam M, Zhang HT, Zha Z, Wu C. Combination BET Family Protein and HDAC Inhibition Synergistically Elicits Chondrosarcoma Cell Apoptosis Through RAD51-Related DNA Damage Repair. Cancer Manag Res 2020; 12:4429-4439. [PMID: 32606937 PMCID: PMC7294047 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s254412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chondrosarcoma is the second-most common type of bone tumor and has inherent resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Present study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect and specific mechanism(s) of combination BET family protein and HDAC inhibition in chondrosarcoma. Methods Two chondrosarcoma cells were treated with BET family protein inhibitor (JQ1) and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) (vorinostat/SAHA or panobinostat/PANO) separately or in combination; then, the cell viability was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and the combination index (CI) was calculated by the Chou method; cell proliferation was evaluated by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation and colony formation assay; cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level were determined by flow cytometry; protein expressions of caspase-3, Bcl-XL, Bcl-2, γ-H2AX, and RAD51 were examined by Immunoblotting; DNA damage was determined by comet assay; RAD51 and γ-H2AX foci were observed by immunofluorescence. Results Combined treatment with JQ1 and SAHA or PANO synergistically suppressed the growth and colony formation ability of the chondrosarcoma cells. Combined BET and HDAC inhibition also significantly elevated the ROS level, followed by the activation of cleaved-caspase-3, and the downregulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL. Mechanistically, combination treatment with JQ1 and SAHA caused numerous DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), as evidenced by the comet assay. The increase in γ-H2AX expression and foci formation also consistently indicated the accumulation of DNA damage upon cotreatment with JQ1 and SAHA. Furthermore, RAD51, a key protein of homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair, was found to be profoundly suppressed. In contrast, ectopic expression of RAD51 partially rescued SW 1353 cell apoptosis by inhibiting the expression of cleaved-caspase-3. Conclusion Taken together, our results disclose that BET and HDAC inhibition synergistically inhibit cell growth and induce cell apoptosis through a mechanism that involves the suppression of RAD51-related HR DNA repair in chondrosarcoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songwei Huan
- Institute of Orthopedic Diseases and Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Gui
- Institute of Orthopedic Diseases and Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiutong Xu
- Institute of Orthopedic Diseases and Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Songkuan Zhuang
- School of Life Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenyan Li
- Institute of Orthopedic Diseases and Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuling Shi
- Department of Orthopedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510405, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiebin Lin
- Department of Orthopedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510405, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Gong
- Institute of Orthopedic Diseases and Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Guiqiang Miao
- Institute of Orthopedic Diseases and Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Manseng Tam
- IAN WO Medical Center, Macao Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Huan-Tian Zhang
- Institute of Orthopedic Diseases and Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengang Zha
- Institute of Orthopedic Diseases and Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunfei Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510405, People's Republic of China
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Dahl NA, Danis E, Balakrishnan I, Wang D, Pierce A, Walker FM, Gilani A, Serkova NJ, Madhavan K, Fosmire S, Green AL, Foreman NK, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R. Super Elongation Complex as a Targetable Dependency in Diffuse Midline Glioma. Cell Rep 2020; 31:107485. [PMID: 32268092 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.03.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone 3 gene mutations are the eponymous drivers in diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs), aggressive pediatric brain cancers for which no curative therapy currently exists. These recurrent oncohistones induce a global loss of repressive H3K27me3 residues and broad epigenetic dysregulation. In order to identify therapeutically targetable dependencies within this disease context, we performed an RNAi screen targeting epigenetic/chromatin-associated genes in patient-derived DMG cultures. This identified AFF4, the scaffold protein of the super elongation complex (SEC), as a molecular dependency in DMG. Interrogation of SEC function demonstrates a key role for maintaining clonogenic potential while promoting self-renewal of tumor stem cells. Small-molecule inhibition of SEC using clinically relevant CDK9 inhibitors restores regulatory RNA polymerase II pausing, promotes cellular differentiation, and leads to potent anti-tumor effect both in vitro and in patient-derived xenograft models. These studies present a rationale for further exploration of SEC inhibition as a promising therapeutic approach to this intractable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A Dahl
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Etienne Danis
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ilango Balakrishnan
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Angela Pierce
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Faye M Walker
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ahmed Gilani
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Natalie J Serkova
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Krishna Madhavan
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Susan Fosmire
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Adam L Green
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nicholas K Foreman
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
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11
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Bechter O, Schöffski P. Make your best BET: The emerging role of BET inhibitor treatment in malignant tumors. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 208:107479. [PMID: 31931101 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Bromodomains are protein-protein interaction modules with a great diversity in terms of number of proteins and their function. The bromodomain and extraterminal protein (BET) represents a distinct subclass of bromodomain proteins mainly involved in transcriptional regulation via their interaction with acetylated chromatin. In cancer cells BET proteins are found to be altered in many ways such as overexpression, mutations and fusions of BET proteins or their interference with cancer relevant signaling pathways and transcriptional programs in order to sustain cancer growth and viability. Blocking BET protein function with small molecules is associated with therapeutic activity. Consequently, a variety of small molecules have been developed and a number of phase I clinical trials have explored their tolerability and efficacy in patients with solid tumors and hematological malignancies. We will review the rational for applying BET inhibitors in the clinic and we will discuss the toxicity profile as well as efficacy of this new class of protein inhibitors. We will also highlight the emerging problem of treatment resistance and the potential these drugs might have when combined with other anti-cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Bechter
- Leuven Cancer Institute, Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium; Department of Oncology, KU, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Patrick Schöffski
- Leuven Cancer Institute, Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium; Department of Oncology, KU, Leuven, Belgium.
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12
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Waterhouse MP, Ugur R, Khaled WT. Therapeutic and Mechanistic Perspectives of Protein Complexes in Breast Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:335. [PMID: 31921847 PMCID: PMC6932950 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer affects one in eight women making it the most common cancer in the United Kingdom, accounting for 15% of all new cancer cases. One of the main challenges in treating breast cancer is the heterogeneous nature of the disease. At present, targeted therapies are available for hormone receptor- and HER2-positive tumors. However, no targeted therapies are currently available for patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). This likely contributes to the poor prognostic outcome for TNBC patients. Consequently, there is a clear clinical need for the development of novel drugs that efficiently target TNBC. Extensive genomic and transcriptomic characterization of TNBC has in recent years identified a plethora of putative oncogenes. However, these driver oncogenes are often critical in other cell types and/or transcription factors making them very difficult to target directly. Therefore, other approaches may be required for developing novel therapeutics that fully exploit the specific functions of TNBC oncogenes in tumor cells. Here, we will argue that more research is needed to identify the protein-protein interactions of TNBC oncogenes as a means for (a) mechanistically understanding the biological function of these oncogenes in TNBC and (b) providing novel therapeutic targets that can be exploited for selectively inhibiting the oncogenic roles of TNBC oncogenes in cancer cells, whilst sparing normal healthy cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Walid T. Khaled
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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13
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Ross J, Rashkovan M, Fraszczak J, Joly-Beauparlant C, Vadnais C, Winkler R, Droit A, Kosan C, Möröy T. Deletion of the Miz-1 POZ Domain Increases Efficacy of Cytarabine Treatment in T- and B-ALL/Lymphoma Mouse Models. Cancer Res 2019; 79:4184-4195. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-3038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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14
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García-Gutiérrez L, Delgado MD, León J. MYC Oncogene Contributions to Release of Cell Cycle Brakes. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E244. [PMID: 30909496 PMCID: PMC6470592 DOI: 10.3390/genes10030244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Promotion of the cell cycle is a major oncogenic mechanism of the oncogene c-MYC (MYC). MYC promotes the cell cycle by not only activating or inducing cyclins and CDKs but also through the downregulation or the impairment of the activity of a set of proteins that act as cell-cycle brakes. This review is focused on the role of MYC as a cell-cycle brake releaser i.e., how MYC stimulates the cell cycle mainly through the functional inactivation of cell cycle inhibitors. MYC antagonizes the activities and/or the expression levels of p15, ARF, p21, and p27. The mechanism involved differs for each protein. p15 (encoded by CDKN2B) and p21 (CDKN1A) are repressed by MYC at the transcriptional level. In contrast, MYC activates ARF, which contributes to the apoptosis induced by high MYC levels. At least in some cells types, MYC inhibits the transcription of the p27 gene (CDKN1B) but also enhances p27's degradation through the upregulation of components of ubiquitin ligases complexes. The effect of MYC on cell-cycle brakes also opens the possibility of antitumoral therapies based on synthetic lethal interactions involving MYC and CDKs, for which a series of inhibitors are being developed and tested in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía García-Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC) CSIC-Universidad de Cantabria and Department of Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain.
- Current address: Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - María Dolores Delgado
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC) CSIC-Universidad de Cantabria and Department of Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain.
| | - Javier León
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (IBBTEC) CSIC-Universidad de Cantabria and Department of Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain.
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15
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Steinberger J, Robert F, Hallé M, Williams DE, Cencic R, Sawhney N, Pelletier D, Williams P, Igarashi Y, Porco JA, Rodriguez AD, Kopp B, Bachmann B, Andersen RJ, Pelletier J. Tracing MYC Expression for Small Molecule Discovery. Cell Chem Biol 2019; 26:699-710.e6. [PMID: 30880156 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2019.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Our inability to effectively "drug" targets such as MYC for therapeutic purposes requires the development of new approaches. We report on the implementation of a phenotype-based assay for monitoring MYC expression in multiple myeloma cells. The open reading frame (ORF) encoding an unstable variant of GFP was engineered immediately downstream of the MYC ORF using CRISPR/Cas9, resulting in co-expression of both proteins from the endogenous MYC locus. Using fluorescence readout as a surrogate for MYC expression, we implemented a pilot screen in which ∼10,000 compounds were prosecuted. Among known MYC expression inhibitors, we identified cardiac glycosides and cytoskeletal disruptors to be quite potent. We demonstrate the power of CRISPR/Cas9 engineering in establishing phenotype-based assays to identify gene expression modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jutta Steinberger
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Francis Robert
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Maxime Hallé
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - David E Williams
- Departments of Chemistry and Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Regina Cencic
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Neha Sawhney
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37235, USA
| | - Dylan Pelletier
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Philip Williams
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Yasuhiro Igarashi
- Biotechnology Research Center, Toyama Prefectural University, Toyama 939-0398, Japan
| | - John A Porco
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Abimael D Rodriguez
- Molecular Sciences Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00926, USA
| | - Brigitte Kopp
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Brian Bachmann
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37235, USA
| | - Raymond J Andersen
- Departments of Chemistry and Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Jerry Pelletier
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada; The Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Center and the Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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16
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Cytotoxic and cell cycle arrest induction of pentacyclic triterpenoides separated from Lantana camara leaves against MCF-7 cell line in vitro. Mol Biol Rep 2018; 46:381-390. [DOI: 10.1007/s11033-018-4482-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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17
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Sayles LC, Breese MR, Koehne AL, Leung SG, Lee AG, Liu HY, Spillinger A, Shah AT, Tanasa B, Straessler K, Hazard FK, Spunt SL, Marina N, Kim GE, Cho SJ, Avedian RS, Mohler DG, Kim MO, DuBois SG, Hawkins DS, Sweet-Cordero EA. Genome-Informed Targeted Therapy for Osteosarcoma. Cancer Discov 2018; 9:46-63. [PMID: 30266815 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-17-1152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 226] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is a highly aggressive cancer for which treatment has remained essentially unchanged for more than 30 years. Osteosarcoma is characterized by widespread and recurrent somatic copy-number alterations (SCNA) and structural rearrangements. In contrast, few recurrent point mutations in protein-coding genes have been identified, suggesting that genes within SCNAs are key oncogenic drivers in this disease. SCNAs and structural rearrangements are highly heterogeneous across osteosarcoma cases, suggesting the need for a genome-informed approach to targeted therapy. To identify patient-specific candidate drivers, we used a simple heuristic based on degree and rank order of copy-number amplification (identified by whole-genome sequencing) and changes in gene expression as identified by RNA sequencing. Using patient-derived tumor xenografts, we demonstrate that targeting of patient-specific SCNAs leads to significant decrease in tumor burden, providing a road map for genome-informed treatment of osteosarcoma. SIGNIFICANCE: Osteosarcoma is treated with a chemotherapy regimen established 30 years ago. Although osteosarcoma is genomically complex, we hypothesized that tumor-specific dependencies could be identified within SCNAs. Using patient-derived tumor xenografts, we found a high degree of response for "genome-matched" therapies, demonstrating the utility of a targeted genome-informed approach.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne C Sayles
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Marcus R Breese
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Amanda L Koehne
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Stanley G Leung
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Alex G Lee
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Heng-Yi Liu
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Aviv Spillinger
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Avanthi T Shah
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Bogdan Tanasa
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Krystal Straessler
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Florette K Hazard
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Sheri L Spunt
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Neyssa Marina
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Grace E Kim
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Soo-Jin Cho
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Raffi S Avedian
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - David G Mohler
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Mi-Ok Kim
- Biostatistics Core, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, California.,Division of Biostatistics, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Steven G DuBois
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Douglas S Hawkins
- Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington, Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - E Alejandro Sweet-Cordero
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California.
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18
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Valenciaga A, Saji M, Yu L, Zhang X, Bumrah C, Yilmaz AS, Knippler CM, Miles W, Giordano TJ, Cote GJ, Ringel MD. Transcriptional targeting of oncogene addiction in medullary thyroid cancer. JCI Insight 2018; 3:122225. [PMID: 30135308 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.122225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is incurable and FDA-approved kinase inhibitors that include oncogenic RET as a target do not result in complete responses. Association studies of human MTCs and murine models suggest that the CDK/RB pathway may be an alternative target. The objective of this study was to determine if CDKs represent therapeutic targets for MTC and to define mechanisms of activity. Using human MTC cells that are either sensitive or resistant to vandetanib, we demonstrate that palbociclib (CDK4/6 inhibitor) is not cytotoxic to MTC cells but that they are highly sensitive to dinaciclib (CDK1/2/5/9 inhibitor) accompanied by reduced CDK9 and RET protein and mRNA levels. CDK9 protein was highly expressed in 83 of 83 human MTCs and array-comparative genomic hybridization had copy number gain in 11 of 30 tumors. RNA sequencing demonstrated that RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription was markedly reduced by dinaciclib. The CDK7 inhibitor THZ1 also demonstrated high potency and reduced RET and CDK9 levels. ChIP-sequencing using H3K27Ac antibody identified a superenhancer in intron 1 of RET. Finally, combined inhibition of dinaciclib with a RET kinase inhibitor was synergistic. In summary, we have identified what we believe is a novel mechanism of RET transcription regulation that potentially can be exploited to improve RET therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anisley Valenciaga
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Motoyasu Saji
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Christina M Knippler
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Wayne Miles
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Thomas J Giordano
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Gilbert J Cote
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Matthew D Ringel
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Drug-based perturbation screen uncovers synergistic drug combinations in Burkitt lymphoma. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12046. [PMID: 30104685 PMCID: PMC6089937 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30509-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a highly aggressive B-cell lymphoma associated with MYC translocation. Here, we describe drug response profiling of 42 blood cancer cell lines including 17 BL to 32 drugs targeting key cancer pathways and provide a systematic study of drug combinations in BL cell lines. Based on drug response, we identified cell line specific sensitivities, i.e. to venetoclax driven by BCL2 overexpression and partitioned subsets of BL driven by response to kinase inhibitors. In the combination screen, including BET, BTK and PI3K inhibitors, we identified synergistic combinations of PI3K and BTK inhibition with drugs targeting Akt, mTOR, BET and doxorubicin. A detailed comparison of PI3K and BTKi combinations identified subtle differences, in line with convergent pathway activity. Most synergistic combinations were identified for the BET inhibitor OTX015, which showed synergistic effects for 41% of combinations including inhibitors of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling. The strongest synergy was observed for the combination of the CDK 2/7/9 inhibitor SNS032 and OTX015. Our data provide a landscape of drug combination effects in BL and suggest that targeting CDK and BET could provide a novel vulnerability of BL.
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20
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Lambert M, Jambon S, Depauw S, David-Cordonnier MH. Targeting Transcription Factors for Cancer Treatment. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23061479. [PMID: 29921764 PMCID: PMC6100431 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23061479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 229] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors are involved in a large number of human diseases such as cancers for which they account for about 20% of all oncogenes identified so far. For long time, with the exception of ligand-inducible nuclear receptors, transcription factors were considered as “undruggable” targets. Advances knowledge of these transcription factors, in terms of structure, function (expression, degradation, interaction with co-factors and other proteins) and the dynamics of their mode of binding to DNA has changed this postulate and paved the way for new therapies targeted against transcription factors. Here, we discuss various ways to target transcription factors in cancer models: by modulating their expression or degradation, by blocking protein/protein interactions, by targeting the transcription factor itself to prevent its DNA binding either through a binding pocket or at the DNA-interacting site, some of these inhibitors being currently used or evaluated for cancer treatment. Such different targeting of transcription factors by small molecules is facilitated by modern chemistry developing a wide variety of original molecules designed to specifically abort transcription factor and by an increased knowledge of their pathological implication through the use of new technologies in order to make it possible to improve therapeutic control of transcription factor oncogenic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Lambert
- INSERM UMR-S1172-JPARC (Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Center), Lille University and Hospital Center (CHU-Lille), Institut pour la Recherche sur le Cancer de Lille (IRCL), Place de Verdun, F-59045 Lille, France.
| | - Samy Jambon
- INSERM UMR-S1172-JPARC (Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Center), Lille University and Hospital Center (CHU-Lille), Institut pour la Recherche sur le Cancer de Lille (IRCL), Place de Verdun, F-59045 Lille, France.
| | - Sabine Depauw
- INSERM UMR-S1172-JPARC (Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Center), Lille University and Hospital Center (CHU-Lille), Institut pour la Recherche sur le Cancer de Lille (IRCL), Place de Verdun, F-59045 Lille, France.
| | - Marie-Hélène David-Cordonnier
- INSERM UMR-S1172-JPARC (Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Center), Lille University and Hospital Center (CHU-Lille), Institut pour la Recherche sur le Cancer de Lille (IRCL), Place de Verdun, F-59045 Lille, France.
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21
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Scully KM, Lahmy R, Signaevskaia L, Sasik R, Medal R, Kim H, French R, James B, Wu Y, Lowy AM, Itkin-Ansari P. E47 Governs the MYC-CDKN1B/p27 KIP1-RB Network to Growth Arrest PDA Cells Independent of CDKN2A/p16 INK4A and Wild-Type p53. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018; 6:181-198. [PMID: 30003124 PMCID: PMC6039985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2018.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Oncogenic mutations in KRAS, coupled with inactivation of p53, CDKN2A/p16INK4A, and SMAD4, drive progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). Overexpression of MYC and deregulation of retinoblastoma (RB) further promote cell proliferation and make identifying a means to therapeutically alter cell-cycle control pathways in PDA a significant challenge. We previously showed that the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor E47 induced stable growth arrest in PDA cells in vitro and in vivo. Here, we identified molecular mechanisms that underlie E47-induced growth arrest in low-passage, patient-derived primary and established PDA cell lines. METHODS RNA sequencing was used to profile E47-dependent transcriptomes in 5 PDA cell lines. Gene Ontology analysis identified cell-cycle control as the most altered pathway. Small interfering RNA/short hairpin RNA knockdown, small-molecule inhibitors, and viral expression were used to examine the function of E47-dependent genes in cell-cycle arrest. Cell morphology, expression of molecular markers, and senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity assays identified cellular senescence. RESULTS E47 uniformly inhibited PDA cell-cycle progression by decreasing expression of MYC, increasing the level of CDKN1B/p27KIP1, and restoring RB tumor-suppressor function. The molecular mechanisms by which E47 elicited these changes included altering both RNA transcript levels and protein stability of MYC and CDKN1B/p27KIP1. At the cellular level, E47 elicited a senescence-like phenotype characterized by increased senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity and altered expression of senescence markers. CONCLUSIONS E47 governs a highly conserved network of cell-cycle control genes, including MYC, CDKN1B/p27KIP1, and RB, which can induce a senescence-like program in PDA cells that lack CDKN2A/p16INK4A and wild-type p53. RNA sequencing data are available at the National Center for Biotechnology Information GEO at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/; accession number: GSE100327.
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Key Words
- CDK, cyclin-dependent kinase
- CDKN1B/p27KIP1, CDKN1B/p27Kinase Inhibitory Protein 1
- CDKN2A/p16INK4A, CDKN2A/p16Inhibitor of CDK 4A
- CEBP-α, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha
- CENP-A, centromere protein A
- CIP, Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor 1
- Cell Cycle
- DDR, DNA damage response
- ERK, extracellular signal–regulated kinase
- GO, Gene Ontology
- INK, Inhibitor of CDK
- KIP, Kinase Inhibitory Protein
- MSCV, murine stem cell virus
- OIS, oncogene-induced senescence
- PCR, polymerase chain reaction
- PDA, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
- Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
- RB, retinoblastoma
- RNA-seq, RNA sequencing
- SA-βgal, senescence-associated β-galactosidase
- SKP, S-phase Kinase-associated
- Senescence
- bHLH
- bHLH, basic helix-loop-helix
- lfdr, local false discovery rate
- mRNA, messenger RNA
- shRB, short hairpin RNA directed against RB
- shRNA, short hairpin RNA
- si-p27, small interfering RNA directed against p27
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M. Scully
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Reyhaneh Lahmy
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Lia Signaevskaia
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Roman Sasik
- Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Rachel Medal
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Heejung Kim
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Randall French
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Brian James
- Genomics Core, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Yifan Wu
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Andrew M. Lowy
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Pamela Itkin-Ansari
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
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22
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Ali M, Ajore R, Wihlborg AK, Niroula A, Swaminathan B, Johnsson E, Stephens OW, Morgan G, Meissner T, Turesson I, Goldschmidt H, Mellqvist UH, Gullberg U, Hansson M, Hemminki K, Nahi H, Waage A, Weinhold N, Nilsson B. The multiple myeloma risk allele at 5q15 lowers ELL2 expression and increases ribosomal gene expression. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1649. [PMID: 29695719 PMCID: PMC5917026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04082-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, we identified ELL2 as a susceptibility gene for multiple myeloma (MM). To understand its mechanism of action, we performed expression quantitative trait locus analysis in CD138+ plasma cells from 1630 MM patients from four populations. We show that the MM risk allele lowers ELL2 expression in these cells (Pcombined = 2.5 × 10−27; βcombined = −0.24 SD), but not in peripheral blood or other tissues. Consistent with this, several variants representing the MM risk allele map to regulatory genomic regions, and three yield reduced transcriptional activity in plasmocytoma cell lines. One of these (rs3777189-C) co-locates with the best-supported lead variants for ELL2 expression and MM risk, and reduces binding of MAFF/G/K family transcription factors. Moreover, further analysis reveals that the MM risk allele associates with upregulation of gene sets related to ribosome biogenesis, and knockout/knockdown and rescue experiments in plasmocytoma cell lines support a cause–effect relationship. Our results provide mechanistic insight into MM predisposition. ELL2 was recently discovered as a susceptibility gene for multiple myeloma (MM). Here, they show that the MM risk allele lowers ELL2 expression in plasma cells, that it also upregulates gene sets related to ribosome biogenesis, and that one of the linked variants reduces binding of MAFF/G/K family transcription factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Ali
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, SE 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ram Ajore
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, SE 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anna-Karin Wihlborg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, SE 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Abhishek Niroula
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, SE 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Bhairavi Swaminathan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, SE 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ellinor Johnsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, SE 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Owen W Stephens
- Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Gareth Morgan
- Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Tobias Meissner
- Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, Avera Cancer Institute, Sioux Falls, SD, 57105, USA
| | - Ingemar Turesson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, SE 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hartmut Goldschmidt
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University of Heidelberg, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases, Ulm, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Urban Gullberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, SE 221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Markus Hansson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, SE 221 84, Lund, Sweden.,Hematology Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, SE 221 85, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kari Hemminki
- German Cancer Research Center, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, SE 205 02, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Hareth Nahi
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders Waage
- Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Niels Weinhold
- Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Björn Nilsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, SE 221 84, Lund, Sweden. .,Broad Institute, 7 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
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23
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Vázquez R, Riveiro ME, Astorgues-Xerri L, Odore E, Rezai K, Erba E, Panini N, Rinaldi A, Kwee I, Beltrame L, Bekradda M, Cvitkovic E, Bertoni F, Frapolli R, D'Incalci M. The bromodomain inhibitor OTX015 (MK-8628) exerts anti-tumor activity in triple-negative breast cancer models as single agent and in combination with everolimus. Oncotarget 2018; 8:7598-7613. [PMID: 27935867 PMCID: PMC5352346 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and heterogeneous subgroup of breast tumors clinically defined by the lack of estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors, limiting the use of the targeted therapies employed in other breast malignancies. Recent evidence indicates that c-MYC is a key driver of TNBC. The BET-bromodomain inhibitor OTX015 (MK-8628) has potent antiproliferative activity accompanied by c-MYC down-regulation in several tumor types, and has demonstrated synergism with the mTOR inhibitor everolimus in different models. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of OTX015 as single agent and in combination with everolimus in TNBC models. OTX015 was assayed in three human TNBC-derived cell lines, HCC1937, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468, all showing antiproliferative activity after 72 h (GI50 = 75–650 nM). This was accompanied by cell cycle arrest and decreased expression of cancer stem cells markers. However, c-MYC protein and mRNA levels were only down-regulated in MDA-MB-468 cells. Gene set enrichment analysis showed up-regulation of genes involved in epigenetic control of transcription, chromatin and the cell cycle, and down-regulation of stemness-related genes. In vitro, combination with everolimus was additive in HCC1937 and MDA-MB-231 cells, but antagonistic in MDA-MB-468 cells. In MDA-MB-231 murine xenografts, tumor mass was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by OTX015 with respect to vehicle-treated animals (best T/C = 40.7%). Although everolimus alone was not active, the combination was more effective than OTX015 alone (best T/C = 20.7%). This work supports current clinical trials with OTX015 in TNBC (NCT02259114).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramiro Vázquez
- Laboratory of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Elodie Odore
- Oncology Therapeutic Development, Clichy, France.,Radiopharmacology Department, Curie Institute-René Huguenin Hospital, Saint Cloud, France
| | - Keyvan Rezai
- Radiopharmacology Department, Curie Institute-René Huguenin Hospital, Saint Cloud, France
| | - Eugenio Erba
- Laboratory of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicolò Panini
- Laboratory of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Rinaldi
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Ivo Kwee
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), Bellinzona, Switzerland.,Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IDSIA), Manno, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Luca Beltrame
- Laboratory of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Esteban Cvitkovic
- Oncology Therapeutic Development, Clichy, France.,Oncoethix GmbH (formerly Oncoethix SA), Merck Sharp and Dohme Corp., Switzerland
| | - Francesco Bertoni
- Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), Bellinzona, Switzerland.,Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Roberta Frapolli
- Laboratory of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Maurizio D'Incalci
- Laboratory of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
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24
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Zhou T, Erber L, Liu B, Gao Y, Ruan HB, Chen Y. Proteomic analysis reveals diverse proline hydroxylation-mediated oxygen-sensing cellular pathways in cancer cells. Oncotarget 2018; 7:79154-79169. [PMID: 27764789 PMCID: PMC5346705 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 09/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Proline hydroxylation is a critical cellular mechanism regulating oxygen-response pathways in tumor initiation and progression. Yet, its substrate diversity and functions remain largely unknown. Here, we report a system-wide analysis to characterize proline hydroxylation substrates in cancer cells using an immunoaffinity-purification assisted proteomics strategy. We identified 562 sites from 272 proteins in HeLa cells. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that proline hydroxylation substrates are significantly enriched with mRNA processing and stress-response cellular pathways with canonical and diverse flanking sequence motifs. Structural analysis indicates a significant enrichment of proline hydroxylation participating in the secondary structure of substrate proteins. Our study identified and validated Brd4, a key transcription factor, as a novel proline hydroxylation substrate. Functional analysis showed that the inhibition of proline hydroxylation pathway significantly reduced the proline hydroxylation abundance on Brd4 and affected Brd4-mediated transcriptional activity as well as cell proliferation in AML leukemia cells. Taken together, our study identified a broad regulatory role of proline hydroxylation in cellular oxygen-sensing pathways and revealed potentially new targets that dynamically respond to hypoxia microenvironment in tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota at Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Luke Erber
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota at Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Bing Liu
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Yankun Gao
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota at Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Hai-Bin Ruan
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Yue Chen
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota at Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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25
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Suarez-Alvarez B, Rodriguez RM, Ruiz-Ortega M, Lopez-Larrea C. BET Proteins: An Approach to Future Therapies in Transplantation. Am J Transplant 2017; 17:2254-2262. [PMID: 28173625 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.14221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
In order to develop new efficient therapies for organ transplantation, it is essential to acquire a comprehensive knowledge of the molecular mechanisms and processes, such as immune activation, chronic inflammation, and fibrosis, which lead to rejection and long-term graft loss. Recent efforts have shed some light on the epigenetic regulation associated with these processes. In this context, the bromo and extraterminal (BET) family of bromodomain proteins (BRD2, BRD3, BRD4, and BRDT) have emerged as major epigenetic players, connecting chromatin structure with gene expression changes. These proteins recognize acetylated lysines in histones and master transcription factors to recruit regulatory complex and, finally, modify the transcriptional program. Recent studies indicate that BET proteins are essential in the NF-kB-mediated inflammatory response, during the activation and differentiation of Th17-immune cells, and in profibrotic processes. Here, we review this new body of data and highlight the efficiency of BET inhibitors in several models of diseases. The promising results obtained from these preclinical models indicate that it may be time to translate these outcomes to the transplantation field, where epigenetics will be of increasing value in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Suarez-Alvarez
- Department of Immunology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - R M Rodriguez
- Department of Immunology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - M Ruiz-Ortega
- Cellular Biology of Renal Disease Laboratory, Nephrology Department, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - C Lopez-Larrea
- Department of Immunology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
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26
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Ayoubian H, Fröhlich T, Pogodski D, Flatley A, Kremmer E, Schepers A, Feederle R, Arnold GJ, Grässer FA. Antibodies against the mono-methylated arginine-glycine repeat (MMA-RG) of the Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) identify potential cellular proteins targeted in viral transformation. J Gen Virol 2017; 98:2128-2142. [PMID: 28758620 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Epstein-Barr virus is a human herpes virus with oncogenic potential. The virus-encoded nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) is a key mediator of viral tumorigenesis. EBNA2 features an arginine-glycine (RG) repeat at amino acids (aa)339-354 that is essential for the transformation of lymphocytes and contains symmetrically (SDMA) and asymmetrically (ADMA) di-methylated arginine residues. The SDMA-modified EBNA2 binds the survival motor neuron protein (SMN), thus mimicking SMD3, a cellular SDMA-containing protein that interacts with SMN. Accordingly, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific for the SDMA-modified RG repeat of EBNA2 also binds to SMD3. With the novel mAb 19D4 we now show that EBNA2 contains mono-methylated arginine (MMA) residues within the RG repeat. Using 19D4, we immune-precipitated and analysed by mass spectrometry cellular proteins in EBV-transformed B-cells that feature MMA motifs that are similar to the one in EBNA2. Among the cellular proteins identified, we confirmed by immunoprecipitation and/or Western blot analyses Aly/REF, Coilin, DDX5, FXR1, HNRNPK, LSM4, MRE11, NRIP, nucleolin, PRPF8, RBM26, SMD1 (SNRDP1) and THRAP3 proteins that are either known to contain MMA residues or feature RG repeat sequences that probably serve as methylation substrates. The identified proteins are involved in splicing, tumorigenesis, transcriptional activation, DNA stability and RNA processing or export. Furthermore, we found that several proteins involved in energy metabolism are associated with MMA-modified proteins. Interestingly, the viral EBNA1 protein that features methylated RG repeat motifs also reacted with the antibodies. Our results indicate that the region between aa 34-52 of EBNA1 contains ADMA or SDMA residues, while the region between aa 328-377 mainly contains MMA residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiresh Ayoubian
- Institute of Virology, Saarland University Medical School, Kirrbergerstrasse, Haus 47, D-66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Thomas Fröhlich
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, LMU Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 25, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Dagmar Pogodski
- Institute of Virology, Saarland University Medical School, Kirrbergerstrasse, Haus 47, D-66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Andrew Flatley
- Monoclonal Antibody Core Facility, Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Marchioninistrasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Kremmer
- Monoclonal Antibody Core Facility, Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Marchioninistrasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Aloys Schepers
- Monoclonal Antibody Core Facility, Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Marchioninistrasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Regina Feederle
- Monoclonal Antibody Core Facility, Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Marchioninistrasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Georg J Arnold
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, LMU Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 25, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Friedrich A Grässer
- Institute of Virology, Saarland University Medical School, Kirrbergerstrasse, Haus 47, D-66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany
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27
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Evan GI, Hah N, Littlewood TD, Sodir NM, Campos T, Downes M, Evans RM. Re-engineering the Pancreas Tumor Microenvironment: A "Regenerative Program" Hacked. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 23:1647-1655. [PMID: 28373363 PMCID: PMC5381729 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-3275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The "hallmarks" of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) include proliferative, invasive, and metastatic tumor cells and an associated dense desmoplasia comprised of fibroblasts, pancreatic stellate cells, extracellular matrix, and immune cells. The oncogenically activated pancreatic epithelium and its associated stroma are obligatorily interdependent, with the resulting inflammatory and immunosuppressive microenvironment contributing greatly to the evolution and maintenance of PDAC. The peculiar pancreas-specific tumor phenotype is a consequence of oncogenes hacking the resident pancreas regenerative program, a tissue-specific repair mechanism regulated by discrete super enhancer networks. Defined as genomic regions containing clusters of multiple enhancers, super enhancers play pivotal roles in cell/tissue specification, identity, and maintenance. Hence, interfering with such super enhancer-driven repair networks should exert a disproportionately disruptive effect on tumor versus normal pancreatic tissue. Novel drugs that directly or indirectly inhibit processes regulating epigenetic status and integrity, including those driven by histone deacetylases, histone methyltransferase and hydroxylases, DNA methyltransferases, various metabolic enzymes, and bromodomain and extraterminal motif proteins, have shown the feasibility of disrupting super enhancer-dependent transcription in treating multiple tumor types, including PDAC. The idea that pancreatic adenocarcinomas rely on embedded super enhancer transcriptional mechanisms suggests a vulnerability that can be potentially targeted as novel therapies for this intractable disease. Clin Cancer Res; 23(7); 1647-55. ©2017 AACRSee all articles in this CCR Focus section, "Pancreatic Cancer: Challenge and Inspiration."
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard I Evan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Nasun Hah
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
| | - Trevor D Littlewood
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Nicole M Sodir
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Tania Campos
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Downes
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
| | - Ronald M Evans
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
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28
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Liu L, Zhu Y, Liu Z, Ye T, Zuo W, Peng C, Xiao K, Wang N, Yu L. Synthesis and biological evaluation of N-(3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazin-7-yl)benzenesulfonamide derivatives as new BET bromodomain inhibitors for anti-hematologic malignancies activities. Mol Divers 2017; 21:125-136. [PMID: 27858214 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-016-9707-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The bromodomain and extra-terminal proteins (BETs), in particular BRD4, has been reported to play important roles in cancer, inflammation, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders. In this paper, a series of benzomorpholinone derivatives were synthesized and biologically evaluated as BETs inhibitors. Detailed structure-activity relationship studies led to the discovery of several new potent compounds, of which 15h and 15i displayed [Formula: see text] values of 2.8 and 4.5 [Formula: see text] against BRD4 (D1), respectively, and showed good anti-proliferation activities against four hematologic malignancies cell lines at low-micromolar concentrations, including MV4-11, OCI-LY10, Pfeifer, and Su-DHL-6 cells. This chemotype could be further optimized with respect to its potency and drug-like properties in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Bioengineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, # 24, Section 1, Ren Min Nan Lu, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Yongxia Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, # 17, Section 3, Ren Min Nan Lu, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhihao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, # 17, Section 3, Ren Min Nan Lu, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Tinghong Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, # 17, Section 3, Ren Min Nan Lu, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Weiqiong Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, # 17, Section 3, Ren Min Nan Lu, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Cuiting Peng
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Bioengineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, # 24, Section 1, Ren Min Nan Lu, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Kunjie Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, # 17, Section 3, Ren Min Nan Lu, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ningyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, # 17, Section 3, Ren Min Nan Lu, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Luoting Yu
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Bioengineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, # 24, Section 1, Ren Min Nan Lu, Chengdu, 610000, China.
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29
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Jostes S, Nettersheim D, Fellermeyer M, Schneider S, Hafezi F, Honecker F, Schumacher V, Geyer M, Kristiansen G, Schorle H. The bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 triggers growth arrest and apoptosis in testicular germ cell tumours in vitro and in vivo. J Cell Mol Med 2016; 21:1300-1314. [PMID: 28026145 PMCID: PMC5487916 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Type II testicular germ cell cancers (TGCT) are the most frequently diagnosed tumours in young men (20–40 years) and are classified as seminoma or non‐seminoma. TGCTs are commonly treated by orchiectomy and chemo‐ or radiotherapy. However, a subset of metastatic non‐seminomas (embryonal carcinomas) displays only incomplete remission or relapse and requires novel treatment options. Recent studies have shown effective application of the small‐molecule inhibitor JQ1 in tumour therapy, which interferes with the function of ‘bromodomain and extraterminal (BET)’ proteins. JQ1‐treated TGCT cell lines display up‐regulation of genes indicative for DNA damage and cellular stress response and induce cell cycle arrest. Embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell lines, which presented as JQ1 sensitive, display down‐regulation of pluripotency factors and induction of mesodermal differentiation. In contrast, seminoma‐like TCam‐2 cells tolerated higher JQ1 concentrations and were resistant to differentiation. ECs xenografted in vivo showed a reduction in tumour size, proliferation rate and angiogenesis in response to JQ1. Finally, the combination of JQ1 and the histone deacetylase inhibitor romidepsin allowed for lower doses and less frequent application, compared with monotherapy. Thus, we propose that JQ1 in combination with romidepsin may serve as a novel therapeutic option for (mixed) TGCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Jostes
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Developmental Pathology, University Medical School, Bonn, Germany
| | - Daniel Nettersheim
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Developmental Pathology, University Medical School, Bonn, Germany
| | - Martin Fellermeyer
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Developmental Pathology, University Medical School, Bonn, Germany
| | - Simon Schneider
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Developmental Pathology, University Medical School, Bonn, Germany
| | - François Hafezi
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Developmental Pathology, University Medical School, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Valerie Schumacher
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthias Geyer
- Institute of Innate Immunity, Department of Structural Immunology, University Medical School, Bonn, Germany
| | - Glen Kristiansen
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical School, Bonn, Germany
| | - Hubert Schorle
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Developmental Pathology, University Medical School, Bonn, Germany
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30
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Jang JE, Eom JI, Jeung HK, Cheong JW, Lee JY, Kim JS, Min YH. AMPK-ULK1-Mediated Autophagy Confers Resistance to BET Inhibitor JQ1 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cells. Clin Cancer Res 2016; 23:2781-2794. [PMID: 27864418 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-1903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Revised: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) inhibitors are promising epigenetic agents for the treatment of various subsets of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the resistance of leukemia stem cells (LSC) to BET inhibitors remains a major challenge. In this study, we evaluated the mechanisms underlying LSC resistance to the BET inhibitor JQ1.Experimental Design: We evaluated the levels of apoptosis and autophagy induced by JQ1 in LSC-like leukemia cell lines and primary CD34+CD38- leukemic blasts obtained from AML cases with normal karyotype without recurrent mutations.Results: JQ1 effectively induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner in JQ1-sensitive AML cells. However, in JQ1-resistant AML LSCs, JQ1 induced little apoptosis and led to upregulation of beclin-1, increased LC3-II lipidation, formation of autophagosomes, and downregulation of p62/SQSTM1. Inhibition of autophagy by pharmacologic inhibitors or knockdown of beclin-1 using specific siRNA enhanced JQ1-induced apoptosis in resistant cells, indicating that prosurvival autophagy occurred in these cells. Independent of mTOR signaling, activation of the AMPK (pThr172)/ULK1 (pSer555) pathway was found to be associated with JQ1-induced autophagy in resistant cells. AMPK inhibition using the pharmacologic inhibitor compound C or by knockdown of AMPKα suppressed autophagy and promoted JQ1-induced apoptosis in AML LSCs.Conclusions: These findings revealed that prosurvival autophagy was one of the mechanisms involved in the resistance AML LSCs to JQ1. Targeting the AMPK/ULK1 pathway or inhibition of autophagy could be an effective therapeutic strategy for combating resistance to BET inhibitors in AML and other types of cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 23(11); 2781-94. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Eun Jang
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ju-In Eom
- Avison Biomedical Research Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hoi-Kyung Jeung
- Avison Biomedical Research Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - June-Won Cheong
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jung Yeon Lee
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin Seok Kim
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yoo Hong Min
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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31
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ERK5 kinase activity is dispensable for cellular immune response and proliferation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:11865-11870. [PMID: 27679845 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1609019113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Unlike other members of the MAPK family, ERK5 contains a large C-terminal domain with transcriptional activation capability in addition to an N-terminal canonical kinase domain. Genetic deletion of ERK5 is embryonic lethal, and tissue-restricted deletions have profound effects on erythroid development, cardiac function, and neurogenesis. In addition, depletion of ERK5 is antiinflammatory and antitumorigenic. Small molecule inhibition of ERK5 has been shown to have promising activity in cell and animal models of inflammation and oncology. Here we report the synthesis and biological characterization of potent, selective ERK5 inhibitors. In contrast to both genetic depletion/deletion of ERK5 and inhibition with previously reported compounds, inhibition of the kinase with the most selective of the new inhibitors had no antiinflammatory or antiproliferative activity. The source of efficacy in previously reported ERK5 inhibitors is shown to be off-target activity on bromodomains, conserved protein modules involved in recognition of acetyl-lysine residues during transcriptional processes. It is likely that phenotypes reported from genetic deletion or depletion of ERK5 arise from removal of a noncatalytic function of ERK5. The newly reported inhibitors should be useful in determining which of the many reported phenotypes are due to kinase activity and delineate which can be pharmacologically targeted.
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32
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Montenegro RC, Clark PG, Howarth A, Wan X, Ceroni A, Siejka P, Nunez-Alonso GA, Monteiro O, Rogers C, Gamble V, Burbano R, Brennan PE, Tallant C, Ebner D, Fedorov O, O'Neill E, Knapp S, Dixon D, Müller S. BET inhibition as a new strategy for the treatment of gastric cancer. Oncotarget 2016; 7:43997-44012. [PMID: 27259267 PMCID: PMC5190074 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies and a leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The prognosis of stomach cancer is generally poor as this cancer is not very sensitive to commonly used chemotherapies. Epigenetic modifications play a key role in gastric cancer and contribute to the development and progression of this malignancy. In order to explore new treatment options in this target area we have screened a library of epigenetic inhibitors against gastric cancer cell lines and identified inhibitors for the BET family of bromodomains as potent inhibitors of gastric cancer cell proliferations. Here we show that both the pan-BET inhibitor (+)-JQ1 as well as a newly developed specific isoxazole inhibitor, PNZ5, showed potent inhibition of gastric cancer cell growth. Intriguingly, we found differences in the antiproliferative response between gastric cancer cells tested derived from Brazilian patients as compared to those from Asian patients, the latter being largely resistant to BET inhibition. As BET inhibitors are entering clinical trials these findings provide the first starting point for future therapies targeting gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel C. Montenegro
- The Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
- Federal University of Pará, Institute of Biological Sciences, Belém, Pará 66075-110, Brazil
| | - Peter G.K. Clark
- Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Alison Howarth
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Xiao Wan
- CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute of Radiation Biology, University of Oxford, Headington OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Alessandro Ceroni
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Paulina Siejka
- The Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Graciela A. Nunez-Alonso
- The Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Octovia Monteiro
- The Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Catherine Rogers
- The Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Vicki Gamble
- The Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Rommel Burbano
- Federal University of Pará, Institute of Biological Sciences, Belém, Pará 66075-110, Brazil
| | - Paul E. Brennan
- The Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Cynthia Tallant
- The Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Daniel Ebner
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Oleg Fedorov
- The Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Eric O'Neill
- CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute of Radiation Biology, University of Oxford, Headington OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Stefan Knapp
- The Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Frankfurt am Main D-60438, Germany
| | - Darren Dixon
- Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Susanne Müller
- The Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK
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33
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Weng S, Matsuura S, Mowery CT, Stoner SA, Lam K, Ran D, Davis AG, Lo MC, Zhang DE. Restoration of MYC-repressed targets mediates the negative effects of GM-CSF on RUNX1-ETO leukemogenicity. Leukemia 2016; 31:159-169. [PMID: 27389055 PMCID: PMC5214981 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2016.167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
GM-CSF signaling regulates hematopoiesis and immune responses. CSF2RA, the gene encoding the α subunit for GM-CSF, is significantly downregulated in t(8;21) (RUNX1-ETO or RE) leukemia patients, suggesting that it may serve as a tumor suppressor. We previously reported that GM-CSF signaling is inhibitory to RE leukemogenesis. Here we conducted gene expression profiling of primary RE hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) treated with GM-CSF to elucidate the mechanisms mediating the negative effects of GM on RE leukemogenicity. We observed that GM treatment of RE HSPCs resulted in a unique gene expression profile that resembles primary human cells undergoing myelopoiesis, which was not observed in control HSPCs. Additionally we discovered that GM-CSF signaling attenuates MYC-associated gene signatures in RE HSPCs. In agreement with this, a functional screen of a subset of GM-CSF-responsive genes demonstrated that a MYC inhibitor, MXI1, reduced the leukemic potential of RE HSPCs and t(8;21) AML cells. Furthermore, MYC knockdown and treatment with the BET inhibitor JQ1 reduced the leukemic potential of t(8;21) cell lines. Altogether, we discovered a novel molecular mechanism mediating the GM-CSF-induced reduction in leukemic potential of RE cells, and our findings support MYC inhibition as an effective strategy for reducing the leukemogenicity of t(8;21) AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Weng
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - S Matsuura
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - C T Mowery
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - S A Stoner
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - K Lam
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - D Ran
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - A G Davis
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - M-C Lo
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - D-E Zhang
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.,Department of Pathology and Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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34
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Zhang T, Qiao X, Yang C. BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 inhibits viability of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2016; 24:1501-1510. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v24.i10.1501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To explore the effect of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) inhibitor (JQ1) on the proliferation and apoptosis of two hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.
METHODS: We used JQ1 to treat HepG2 and Bel-7402 cell lines. Cell viability was investigated by sulforhodamine B (SRB) staining. EdU incorporation assay and Hoechst 33342 staining were used to detect cell proliferation. Alteration of cell cycle and cell apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. Early apoptosis was detected by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining assay. Western blot was used to observe the level change of C-myc protein, because JQ1 mediates antiproliferative effect mainly by lowering its expression.
RESULTS: JQ1 significantly inhibited the viability of HCC cell lines HepG2 and Bel-7402. The inhibition was dose-dependent within a certain range. JQ1 inhibited cell proliferation as revealed by EdU incorporation assay. Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining analysis revealed that JQ1 can promote the cell apoptosis. JQ1 treatment significantly suppressed C-myc protein expression. Compared with JQ1 or sorafenib alone, sorafenib in combination with small dose of JQ1 more significantly inhibited HCC cell growth and increased apoptosis, suggesting that JQ1 and sorafenib have a synergistic effect.
CONCLUSION: BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 may be a potential new drug to treat hepatocellular carcinoma.
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35
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Gelato KA, Shaikhibrahim Z, Ocker M, Haendler B. Targeting epigenetic regulators for cancer therapy: modulation of bromodomain proteins, methyltransferases, demethylases, and microRNAs. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2016; 20:783-99. [DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2016.1134490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Matthias Ocker
- Global Drug Discovery, Bayer Pharma AG, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Gastroenterology/Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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36
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Abstract
MYC is a transcription factor, which not only directly modulates multiple aspects of transcription and co‐transcriptional processing (e.g. RNA‐Polymerase II initiation, elongation, and mRNA capping), but also indirectly influences several steps of RNA metabolism, including both constitutive and alternative splicing, mRNA stability, and translation efficiency. As MYC is an oncoprotein whose expression is deregulated in multiple human cancers, identifying its critical downstream activities in tumors is of key importance for designing effective therapeutic strategies. With this knowledge and recent technological advances, we now have multiple angles to reach the goal of targeting MYC in tumors, ranging from the direct reduction of MYC levels, to the dampening of selected house‐keeping functions in MYC‐overexpressing cells, to more targeted approaches based on MYC‐induced secondary effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl M Koh
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Arianna Sabò
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Milan, Italy
| | - Ernesto Guccione
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.,Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore
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37
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Doran MG, Carnazza KE, Steckler JM, Spratt DE, Truillet C, Wongvipat J, Sawyers CL, Lewis JS, Evans MJ. Applying ⁸⁹Zr-Transferrin To Study the Pharmacology of Inhibitors to BET Bromodomain Containing Proteins. Mol Pharm 2016; 13:683-8. [PMID: 26725682 PMCID: PMC4738321 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.5b00882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Chromatin modifying proteins are
attractive drug targets in oncology,
given the fundamental reliance of cancer on altered transcriptional
activity. Multiple transcription factors can be impacted downstream
of primary target inhibition, thus making it challenging to understand
the driving mechanism of action of pharmacologic inhibition of chromatin
modifying proteins. This in turn makes it difficult to identify biomarkers
predictive of response and pharmacodynamic tools to optimize drug
dosing. In this report, we show that 89Zr-transferrin,
an imaging tool we developed to measure MYC activity in cancer, can
be used to identify cancer models that respond to broad spectrum inhibitors
of transcription primarily due to MYC inhibition. As a proof of concept,
we studied inhibitors of BET bromodomain containing proteins, as they
can impart antitumor effects in a MYC dependent or independent fashion.
In vitro, we show that transferrin receptor biology is inhibited in
multiple MYC positive models of prostate cancer and double hit lymphoma
when MYC biology is impacted. Moreover, we show that bromodomain inhibition
in one lymphoma model results in transferrin receptor expression changes
large enough to be quantified with 89Zr-transferrin and
positron emission tomography (PET) in vivo. Collectively, these data
further underscore the diagnostic utility of the relationship between
MYC and transferrin in oncology, and provide the rationale to incorporate
transferrin-based PET into early clinical trials with bromodomain
inhibitors for the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Doran
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Kathryn E Carnazza
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Jeffrey M Steckler
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Daniel E Spratt
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan , 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Charles Truillet
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco , 185 Berry Street, Lobby 6 Suite 350, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - John Wongvipat
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Charles L Sawyers
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Jason S Lewis
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States.,Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Michael J Evans
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco , 185 Berry Street, Lobby 6 Suite 350, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
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38
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Stirnweiss A, McCarthy K, Oommen J, Crook ML, Hardy K, Kees UR, Wilton SD, Anazodo A, Beesley AH. A novel BRD4-NUT fusion in an undifferentiated sinonasal tumor highlights alternative splicing as a contributing oncogenic factor in NUT midline carcinoma. Oncogenesis 2015; 4:e174. [PMID: 26551281 PMCID: PMC4670959 DOI: 10.1038/oncsis.2015.33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
NUT midline carcinoma (NMC) is a fatal cancer that arises in various tissues along the upper midline of the body. The defining molecular feature of NMC is a chromosomal translocation that joins (in the majority of cases) the nuclear testis gene NUT (NUTM1) to the bromodomain protein family member 4 (BRD4) and thereby creating a fusion oncogene that disrupts cellular differentiation and drives the disease. In this study, we report the case of an adolescent NMC patient presenting with severe facial pain, proptosis and visual impairment due to a mass arising from the ethmoid sinus that invaded the right orbit and frontal lobe. Treatment involved radical resection, including exenteration of the affected eye with the view to consolidate treatment with radiation therapy; however, the patient experienced rapid tumor progression and passed away 79 days post resection. Molecular analysis of the tumor tissue identified a novel in-frame BRD4-NUT transcript, with BRD4 exon 15 fused to the last 124 nucleotides of NUT exon 2 (BRD4-NUT ex15:ex2Δnt1–585). The partial deletion of NUT exon 2 was attributed to a mid-exonic genomic breakpoint and the subsequent activation of a cryptic splice site further downstream within the exon. Inhibition of the canonical 3′ acceptor splice site of NUT intron 1 in cell lines expressing the most common NMC fusion transcripts (PER-403, BRD4-NUT ex11:ex2; PER-624, BRD4-NUT ex15:ex2) induced alternative splicing from the same cryptic splice site as identified in the patient. Detection of low levels of an in-frame BRD4-NUT ex11:ex2Δnt1–585 transcript in PER-403 confirmed endogenous splicing from this alternative exon 2 splice site. Although further studies are necessary to assess the clinical relevance of the increasing number of variant fusions described in NMC, the findings presented in this case identify alternative splicing as a mechanism that contributes to this pathogenic complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Stirnweiss
- Division of Children's Leukaemia and Cancer Research, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, West Perth, WA, Australia
| | - K McCarthy
- Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - J Oommen
- Division of Children's Leukaemia and Cancer Research, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, West Perth, WA, Australia
| | - M L Crook
- Department of Pathology, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - K Hardy
- Cyto Labs Pty Ltd, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - U R Kees
- Division of Children's Leukaemia and Cancer Research, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, West Perth, WA, Australia
| | - S D Wilton
- Molecular Therapy Laboratory, Western Australian Neuroscience Research Institute, Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - A Anazodo
- Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia.,Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - A H Beesley
- Division of Children's Leukaemia and Cancer Research, Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, West Perth, WA, Australia
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39
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Jung M, Gelato KA, Fernández-Montalván A, Siegel S, Haendler B. Targeting BET bromodomains for cancer treatment. Epigenomics 2015; 7:487-501. [PMID: 26077433 DOI: 10.2217/epi.14.91] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) subfamily of bromodomain-containing proteins has emerged in the last few years as an exciting, novel target group. BRD4, the best studied BET protein, is implicated in a number of hematological and solid tumors. This is linked to its role in modulating transcription elongation of essential genes involved in cell cycle and apoptosis such as c-Myc and BCL2. Potent BET inhibitors with promising antitumor efficacy in a number of preclinical cancer models have been identified in recent years. This led to clinical studies focusing mostly on the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma, and first encouraging signs of efficacy have already been reported. Here we discuss the biology of BRD4, its known interaction partners and implication in different tumor types. Further, we summarize the current knowledge on BET bromodomain inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Jung
- Global Drug Discovery, Bayer Pharma AG, D-13353 Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Free University, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kathy A Gelato
- Global Drug Discovery, Bayer Pharma AG, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Stephan Siegel
- Global Drug Discovery, Bayer Pharma AG, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
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40
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Wang CY, Filippakopoulos P. Beating the odds: BETs in disease. Trends Biochem Sci 2015; 40:468-79. [PMID: 26145250 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2015.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Revised: 06/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Bromodomains (BRDs) are evolutionarily conserved protein interaction modules that specifically recognise acetyl-lysine on histones and other proteins, facilitating roles in regulating gene transcription. BRD-containing proteins bound to chromatin loci such as enhancers are often deregulated in disease leading to aberrant expression of proinflammatory cytokines and growth-promoting genes. Recent developments targeting the bromo and extraterminal (BET) subset of BRD proteins demonstrated remarkable efficacy in murine models providing a compelling rationale for drug development and translation to the clinic. Here we summarise recent advances in our understanding of the roles of BETs in regulating gene transcription in normal and diseased tissue as well as the current status of their clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Yi Wang
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Panagis Filippakopoulos
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK; Structural Genomics Consortium, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK.
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41
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Swaminathan B, Thorleifsson G, Jöud M, Ali M, Johnsson E, Ajore R, Sulem P, Halvarsson BM, Eyjolfsson G, Haraldsdottir V, Hultman C, Ingelsson E, Kristinsson SY, Kähler AK, Lenhoff S, Masson G, Mellqvist UH, Månsson R, Nelander S, Olafsson I, Sigurðardottir O, Steingrimsdóttir H, Vangsted A, Vogel U, Waage A, Nahi H, Gudbjartsson DF, Rafnar T, Turesson I, Gullberg U, Stefánsson K, Hansson M, Thorsteinsdóttir U, Nilsson B. Variants in ELL2 influencing immunoglobulin levels associate with multiple myeloma. Nat Commun 2015; 6:7213. [PMID: 26007630 PMCID: PMC4455110 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 04/20/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by an uninhibited, clonal growth of plasma cells. While first-degree relatives of patients with MM show an increased risk of MM, the genetic basis of inherited MM susceptibility is incompletely understood. Here we report a genome-wide association study in the Nordic region identifying a novel MM risk locus at ELL2 (rs56219066T; odds ratio (OR)=1.25; P=9.6 × 10(-10)). This gene encodes a stoichiometrically limiting component of the super-elongation complex that drives secretory-specific immunoglobulin mRNA production and transcriptional regulation in plasma cells. We find that the MM risk allele harbours a Thr298Ala missense variant in an ELL2 domain required for transcription elongation. Consistent with a hypomorphic effect, we find that the MM risk allele also associates with reduced levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and G (IgG) in healthy subjects (P=8.6 × 10(-9) and P=6.4 × 10(-3), respectively) and, potentially, with an increased risk of bacterial meningitis (OR=1.30; P=0.0024).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhairavi Swaminathan
- Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, BMC B13, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Magnus Jöud
- 1] Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, BMC B13, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden [2] Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Laboratory Medicine, Office of Medical Services, Akutgatan 8, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden
| | - Mina Ali
- Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, BMC B13, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Ellinor Johnsson
- Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, BMC B13, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Ram Ajore
- Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, BMC B13, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Patrick Sulem
- deCODE genetics, Sturlugata 8, IS-101 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Britt-Marie Halvarsson
- Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, BMC B13, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Vilhelmina Haraldsdottir
- Department of Hematology, Landspitali, The National University Hospital of Iceland, IS-101 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Christina Hultman
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Ingelsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Epidemiology and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Anna K Kähler
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stig Lenhoff
- Hematology Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden
| | - Gisli Masson
- deCODE genetics, Sturlugata 8, IS-101 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Ulf-Henrik Mellqvist
- Section of Hematology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Robert Månsson
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sven Nelander
- Department of Immunology, Pathology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-751 05 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Isleifur Olafsson
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Landspitali, The National University Hospital of Iceland, IS-101 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Olof Sigurðardottir
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Akureyri Hospital, IS-600 Akureyri, Iceland
| | - Hlif Steingrimsdóttir
- Department of Hematology, Landspitali, The National University Hospital of Iceland, IS-101 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Annette Vangsted
- Department of Haematology, University Hospital of Copenhagen at Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulla Vogel
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders Waage
- Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Box 8905, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Hareth Nahi
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Thorunn Rafnar
- deCODE genetics, Sturlugata 8, IS-101 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Ingemar Turesson
- Hematology Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden
| | - Urban Gullberg
- Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, BMC B13, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Markus Hansson
- 1] Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, BMC B13, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden [2] Hematology Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Björn Nilsson
- 1] Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, BMC B13, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden [2] Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Laboratory Medicine, Office of Medical Services, Akutgatan 8, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden [3] Broad Institute, 7 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
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Lai YS, Chen JY, Tsai HJ, Chen TY, Hung WC. The SUV39H1 inhibitor chaetocin induces differentiation and shows synergistic cytotoxicity with other epigenetic drugs in acute myeloid leukemia cells. Blood Cancer J 2015; 5:e313. [PMID: 25978433 PMCID: PMC4476016 DOI: 10.1038/bcj.2015.37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifying enzymes have a crucial role in the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Methylation of lysine 9 on histone H3 by the methyltransferase G9a and SUV39H1 is associated with inhibition of tumor suppressor genes. We studied the effect of G9a and SUV39H1 inhibitors on viability and differentiation of AML cells and tested the cytotoxicity induced by combination of G9a and SUV39H1 inhibitors and various epigenetic drugs. The SUV39H1 inhibitor (chaetocin) and the G9a inhibitor (UNC0638) caused cell death in AML cells at high concentrations. However, only chaetocin-induced CD11b expression and differentiation of AML cells at non-cytotoxic concentration. HL-60 and KG-1a cells were more sensitive to chaetocin than U937 cells. Long-term incubation of chaetocin led to downregulation of SUV39H1 and reduction of H3K9 tri-methylation in HL-60 and KG-1a cells. Combination of chaetocin with suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA, a histone deacetylase inhibitor) or JQ (a BET (bromodomain extra terminal) bromodomain inhibitor) showed synergistic cytotoxicity. Conversely, no synergism was found by combining chaetocin and UNC0638. More importantly, chaetocin-induced differentiation and combined cytotoxicity were also found in the primary cells of AML patients. Collectively, the SUV39H1 inhibitor chaetocin alone or in combination with other epigenetic drugs may be effective for the treatment of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y-S Lai
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - J-Y Chen
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - H-J Tsai
- 1] National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan [2] Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - T-Y Chen
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - W-C Hung
- 1] National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan [2] Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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Garcia PL, Miller AL, Kreitzburg KM, Council LN, Gamblin TL, Christein JD, Heslin MJ, Arnoletti JP, Richardson JH, Chen D, Hanna CA, Cramer SL, Yang ES, Qi J, Bradner JE, Yoon KJ. The BET bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 suppresses growth of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in patient-derived xenograft models. Oncogene 2015; 35:833-45. [PMID: 25961927 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Revised: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of the bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patient-derived xenograft (tumorgraft) models. A secondary aim of the study was to evaluate whether JQ1 decreases expression of the oncogene c-Myc in PDAC tumors, as has been reported for other tumor types. We used five PDAC tumorgraft models that retain specific characteristics of tumors of origin to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of JQ1. Tumor-bearing mice were treated with JQ1 (50 mg/kg daily for 21 or 28 days). Expression analyses were performed with tumors harvested from host mice after treatment with JQ1 or vehicle control. An nCounter PanCancer Pathways Panel (NanoString Technologies) of 230 cancer-related genes was used to identify gene products affected by JQ1. Quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and immunoblots were carried out to confirm that changes in RNA expression reflected changes in protein expression. JQ1 inhibited the growth of all five tumorgraft models (P<0.05), each of which harbors a KRAS mutation; but induced no consistent change in expression of c-Myc protein. Expression profiling identified CDC25B, a regulator of cell cycle progression, as one of the three RNA species (TIMP3, LMO2 and CDC25B) downregulated by JQ1 (P<0.05). Inhibition of tumor progression was more closely related to decreased expression of nuclear CDC25B than to changes in c-Myc expression. JQ1 and other agents that inhibit the function of proteins with bromodomains merit further investigation for treating PDAC tumors. Work is ongoing in our laboratory to identify effective drug combinations that include JQ1.
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Affiliation(s)
- P L Garcia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - A L Miller
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - K M Kreitzburg
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - L N Council
- Division of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - T L Gamblin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - J D Christein
- Division of General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery or Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - M J Heslin
- Division of General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery or Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - J P Arnoletti
- Division of General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery or Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - J H Richardson
- Division of General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery or Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - D Chen
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - C A Hanna
- Division of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - S L Cramer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - E S Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - J Qi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - J E Bradner
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - K J Yoon
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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45
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When and how to test for C-MYC in aggressive B cell lymphomas. J Hematop 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s12308-014-0220-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
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Hwang DH, Sun H, Rodig SJ, Hornick JL, Sholl LM. Myc protein expression correlates with MYC amplification in small-cell lung carcinoma. Histopathology 2015; 67:81-9. [PMID: 25407018 DOI: 10.1111/his.12622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 11/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Myc family members are important contributors to oncogenesis in a variety of tumours. Identification of therapeutic targets is needed in small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), an aggressive disease with limited treatment options. Sequencing studies have identified MYC amplification in 2-7% of SCLCs. This study aims to determine the rate of MYC gene amplification and its correlation with Myc protein overexpression in SCLC. METHODS AND RESULTS One hundred and three cases of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded SCLC were examined. Myc protein expression was scored according to the extent of immunohistochemical staining. MYC copy number (CN) was evaluated with dual-colour chromogenic in-situ hybridization (CISH) for the MYC locus and a chromosome 8 (Chr8) centromeric control. Amplification was defined as a MYC/Chr8 ratio of ≥2. Thirty-eight per cent of SCLCs had some degree of Myc protein expression, and 9% of cases were MYC-amplified. MYC CN was significantly correlated with the extent of Myc protein expression (Spearman's ρ = 0.57, P < 0.01). There was no significant association between Myc expression or CN and clinicopathological features. CONCLUSIONS MYC amplification by CISH was identified in 9% of SCLCs, and correlated with protein expression. As novel Myc-targeted therapies are developed, CISH and IHC should be considered as biomarkers of Myc pathway dysregulation in SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Hwang
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Heather Sun
- Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Pathology Core, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott J Rodig
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Pathology Core, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jason L Hornick
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lynette M Sholl
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Chayka O, D'Acunto CW, Middleton O, Arab M, Sala A. Identification and pharmacological inactivation of the MYCN gene network as a therapeutic strategy for neuroblastic tumor cells. J Biol Chem 2014; 290:2198-212. [PMID: 25477524 PMCID: PMC4303671 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.624056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The MYC family of transcription factors consists of three well characterized members, c-MYC, L-MYC, and MYCN, deregulated in the majority of human cancers. In neuronal tumors such as neuroblastoma, MYCN is frequently activated by gene amplification, and reducing its expression by RNA interference has been shown to promote growth arrest and apoptosis of tumor cells. From a clinical perspective, RNA interference is not yet a viable option, and small molecule inhibitors of transcription factors are difficult to develop. We therefore planned to identify, at the global level, the genes interacting functionally with MYCN required to promote fitness of tumor cells facing oncogenic stress. To find genes whose inactivation is synthetically lethal to MYCN, we implemented a genome-wide approach in which we carried out a drop-out shRNA screen using a whole genome library that was delivered into isogenic neuroblastoma cell lines expressing or not expressing MYCN. After the screen, we selected for in-depth analysis four shRNAs targeting AHCY, BLM, PKMYT1, and CKS1B. These genes were chosen because they are directly regulated by MYC proteins, associated with poor prognosis of neuroblastoma patients, and inhibited by small molecule compounds. Mechanistically, we found that BLM and PKMYT1 are required to limit oncogenic stress and promote stabilization of the MYCN protein. Cocktails of small molecule inhibitors of CKS1B, AHCY, BLM, and PKMYT1 profoundly affected the growth of all neuroblastoma cell lines but selectively caused death of MYCN-amplified cells. Our findings suggest that drugging the MYCN network is a promising avenue for the treatment of high risk, neuroblastic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olesya Chayka
- From the Brunel Institute of Cancer Genetics and Pharmacogenomics, Brunel University London, London UB8 3PH, United Kingdom and the Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Cosimo Walter D'Acunto
- the Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Odette Middleton
- the Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Maryam Arab
- From the Brunel Institute of Cancer Genetics and Pharmacogenomics, Brunel University London, London UB8 3PH, United Kingdom and
| | - Arturo Sala
- From the Brunel Institute of Cancer Genetics and Pharmacogenomics, Brunel University London, London UB8 3PH, United Kingdom and the Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
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Sahai V, Kumar K, Knab LM, Chow CR, Raza SS, Bentrem DJ, Ebine K, Munshi HG. BET bromodomain inhibitors block growth of pancreatic cancer cells in three-dimensional collagen. Mol Cancer Ther 2014; 13:1907-17. [PMID: 24807963 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-13-0925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with pronounced fibrosis that contributes to chemoresistance, in part, through increased histone acetylation. Because bromodomain (BRD) and extra terminal domain (BET) proteins are "readers" of histone acetylation marks, we targeted BET proteins in PDAC cells grown in three-dimensional collagen. We show that treatment with BET inhibitors decreases growth of PDAC cells (AsPC1, CD18, and Panc1) in collagen. Transfection with siRNA against BRD4, which is increased in human PDAC tumors, also decreases growth of PDAC cells. BET inhibitors additionally decrease growth in collagen of PDAC cells that have undergone epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or have become resistant to chemotherapy. Although BET inhibitors and BRD4 siRNA repress c-MYC only in AsPC1 and CD18 cells, downregulating c-MYC decreases growth of all three PDAC cell lines in collagen. FOSL1, which is also targeted by BET inhibitors and BRD4 siRNA in AsPC1, CD18, and Panc1 cells, additionally regulates growth of all three PDAC cell lines in collagen. BET inhibitors and BRD4 siRNA repress HMGA2, an architectural protein that modulates chromatin state and also contributes to chemoresistance, in PDAC cells grown in collagen. Importantly, we show that there is a statistically significant correlation between BRD4 and HMGA2 in human PDAC tumors. Significantly, overexpression of HMGA2 partially mitigates the effect of BET inhibitors on growth and c-MYC and/or FOSL1 expression in collagen. Overall, these results demonstrate that BET inhibitors block growth of PDAC cells in collagen and that BET proteins may be potential targets for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaibhav Sahai
- Authors' Affiliations: Divisions of Hematology/Oncology and
| | - Krishan Kumar
- Authors' Affiliations: Divisions of Hematology/Oncology and Jesse Brown VA Medical Center; and
| | - Lawrence M Knab
- Surgical Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
| | | | - Sania S Raza
- Authors' Affiliations: Divisions of Hematology/Oncology and
| | - David J Bentrem
- Surgical Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University; Jesse Brown VA Medical Center; and The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kazumi Ebine
- Authors' Affiliations: Divisions of Hematology/Oncology and
| | - Hidayatullah G Munshi
- Authors' Affiliations: Divisions of Hematology/Oncology and Jesse Brown VA Medical Center; and The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
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