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Grochowska A, Statkiewicz M, Kulecka M, Cybulska M, Sandowska-Markiewicz Z, Kopczynski M, Drezinska-Wolek E, Tysarowski A, Prochorec-Sobieszek M, Ostrowski J, Mikula M. Evidence supporting the oncogenic role of BAZ1B in colorectal cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:4751-4763. [PMID: 36381331 PMCID: PMC9641411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Bromodomain Adjacent to Zinc Finger Domain 1B (BAZ1B) is involved in multiple nuclear processes, and its role in tumorigenesis is emerging. However, the function of BAZ1B in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains largely unexplored. High-density tissue microarrays comprising 100 pairs of matched normal colon and treatment-naïve CRC samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry with an anti-BAZ1B antibody. The HCT116 and SW480 CRC cell lines were used for overexpression and small hairpin RNA-mediated BAZ1B knockdown models, respectively. Both cell lines were xenografted to immunodeficient NU/J mice to assess tumor burden. The molecular consequences of alterations of BAZ1B expression were assessed by RNA-Seq of xenografts and functional analyses using the Reactome database. Immunohistochemical analysis of BAZ1B showed that BAZ1B staining intensity was higher in 93 tumor specimens and significantly correlated with tumor size (P = 0.03), but not with the presence of KRAS mutation. BAZ1B overexpression significantly increased and its knockdown inhibited the proliferation of HCT116 and SW480 cell lines, respectively. These findings were reproduced when both cell lines were grown as xenografts. RNA-Seq of HCT116 and SW480 xenografts identified 2046 and 99 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (adjusted P ≤ 0.05), respectively. Functional annotation of DEGs identified already established as well as new molecular processes dependent on BAZ1B protein expression. In conclusion, BAZ1B is overexpressed in CRC tissue and contributes to CRC cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. The data support the emerging oncogenic role of BAZ1B in cancerogenesis including in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Grochowska
- Department of Genetics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of OncologyWarsaw 02-781, Poland
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Clinical Oncology, Centre for Postgraduate Medical EducationWarsaw 01-813, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Statkiewicz
- Department of Genetics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of OncologyWarsaw 02-781, Poland
| | - Maria Kulecka
- Department of Genetics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of OncologyWarsaw 02-781, Poland
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Clinical Oncology, Centre for Postgraduate Medical EducationWarsaw 01-813, Poland
| | - Magdalena Cybulska
- Department of Genetics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of OncologyWarsaw 02-781, Poland
| | | | - Michal Kopczynski
- Department of Genetics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of OncologyWarsaw 02-781, Poland
| | - Edyta Drezinska-Wolek
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Diagnostics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of OncologyWarsaw 02-781, Poland
| | - Andrzej Tysarowski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Diagnostics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of OncologyWarsaw 02-781, Poland
| | - Monika Prochorec-Sobieszek
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Diagnostics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of OncologyWarsaw 02-781, Poland
| | - Jerzy Ostrowski
- Department of Genetics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of OncologyWarsaw 02-781, Poland
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Clinical Oncology, Centre for Postgraduate Medical EducationWarsaw 01-813, Poland
| | - Michal Mikula
- Department of Genetics, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of OncologyWarsaw 02-781, Poland
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2
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Yang L, Du C, Chen H, Diao Z. Downregulation of Williams syndrome transcription factor (WSTF) suppresses glioblastoma cell growth and invasion by inhibiting PI3K/AKT signal pathway. Eur J Histochem 2021; 65. [PMID: 34784707 PMCID: PMC8611414 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2021.3255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Williams syndrome transcription factor (WSTF) participates in diverse cellular processes, including tumor cell proliferation and migration. However, the function of WSTF in glioblastoma (GBM) remains unknown. Data from the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets showed that WSTF was upregulated in GBM tissues. Moreover, WSTF was also increased in the GBM cells. pcDNA-mediated over-expression of WSTF contributed to cell proliferation and invasion of GBM cells, while GBM cell proliferation and invasion were suppressed by shRNA-mediated silencing of WSTF. Additionally, GBM cell apoptosis was reduced by over-expression of WSTF accompanied by decrease in Bax and cleaved caspase-3, while promoted by silencing of WSTF with increase in Bax and cleaved caspase-3. Protein expression of AKT phosphorylation was enhanced by WSTF over-expression while reduced by WSTF silencing. Inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase attenuated WSTF over-expression-induced increase in GBM cell proliferation and invasion. In conclusion, WSTF contributed to GBM cell growth and invasion through activation of PI3K/AKT pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyuan Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of Yaan, Sichuan.
| | - Chunfu Du
- Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of Yaan, Sichuan.
| | - Hui Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of Yaan, Sichuan.
| | - Zhengwen Diao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of Yaan, Sichuan.
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3
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Li Y, Gong H, Wang P, Zhu Y, Peng H, Cui Y, Li H, Liu J, Wang Z. The emerging role of ISWI chromatin remodeling complexes in cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:346. [PMID: 34736517 PMCID: PMC8567610 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02151-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Disordered chromatin remodeling regulation has emerged as an essential driving factor for cancers. Imitation switch (ISWI) family are evolutionarily conserved ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes, which are essential for cellular survival and function through multiple genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Omics sequencing and a growing number of basic and clinical studies found that ISWI family members displayed widespread gene expression and genetic status abnormalities in human cancer. Their aberrant expression is closely linked to patient outcome and drug response. Functional or componential alteration in ISWI-containing complexes is critical for tumor initiation and development. Furthermore, ISWI-non-coding RNA regulatory networks and some non-coding RNAs derived from exons of ISWI member genes play important roles in tumor progression. Therefore, unveiling the transcriptional regulation mechanism underlying ISWI family sparked a booming interest in finding ISWI-based therapies in cancer. This review aims at describing the current state-of-the-art in the role of ISWI subunits and complexes in tumorigenesis, tumor progression, immunity and drug response, and presenting deep insight into the physiological and pathological implications of the ISWI transcription machinery in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Li
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Molecular Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
- Molecular Biology Research Center and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Han Gong
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Molecular Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
- Molecular Biology Research Center and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Pan Wang
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Molecular Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
- Molecular Biology Research Center and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Yu Zhu
- Molecular Biology Research Center and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Hongling Peng
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Molecular Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Yajuan Cui
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Molecular Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Heng Li
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Molecular Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Molecular Biology Research Center and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Zi Wang
- Department of Hematology, Institute of Molecular Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, China.
- Molecular Biology Research Center and Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Hematology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, China.
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4
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Sharif SB, Zamani N, Chadwick BP. BAZ1B the Protean Protein. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12101541. [PMID: 34680936 PMCID: PMC8536118 DOI: 10.3390/genes12101541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The bromodomain adjacent to the zinc finger domain 1B (BAZ1B) or Williams syndrome transcription factor (WSTF) are just two of the names referring the same protein that is encoded by the WBSCR9 gene and is among the 26-28 genes that are lost from one copy of 7q11.23 in Williams syndrome (WS: OMIM 194050). Patients afflicted by this contiguous gene deletion disorder present with a range of symptoms including cardiovascular complications, developmental defects as well as a characteristic cognitive and behavioral profile. Studies in patients with atypical deletions and mouse models support BAZ1B hemizygosity as a contributing factor to some of the phenotypes. Focused analysis on BAZ1B has revealed this to be a versatile nuclear protein with a central role in chromatin remodeling through two distinct complexes as well as being involved in the replication and repair of DNA, transcriptional processes involving RNA Polymerases I, II, and III as well as possessing kinase activity. Here, we provide a comprehensive review to summarize the many aspects of BAZ1B function including its recent link to cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahin Behrouz Sharif
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA;
| | - Nina Zamani
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA;
| | - Brian P. Chadwick
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA;
- Correspondence:
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5
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Expression of Four Autophagy-Related Genes Accurately Predicts the Prognosis of Gastrointestinal Cancer in Asian Patients. DISEASE MARKERS 2021; 2021:7253633. [PMID: 34484469 PMCID: PMC8413069 DOI: 10.1155/2021/7253633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are among the most fatal diseases in the world. Numerous studies have demonstrated the relationship between autophagy and development of gastrointestinal cancers. However, whether autophagy-related genes can predict prognosis of GI cancers in individuals of Asian ancestry has not been defined. This study, evaluated the prognostic value of autophagy-related genes in gastrointestinal cancer. Expression profile of autophagy-related genes for 296 gastrointestinal cancer patients of Asian ancestry was downloaded from the TCGA database (TCGA-LIHC, TCGA-STAD, TCGA-ESCA, TCGA-PAAD, TCGA-COAD, TCGA-CHOL, and TCGA-READ). The prognostic value of the autophagy-related genes was evaluated using univariate Cox, LASSO, and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The risk score of the autophagy-related gene signature was calculated to assess its predictive prognostic value for GI cancers. Forty-seven differentially expressed autophagy-related genes, in Asian patients with gastrointestinal cancers, were identified. Of the 47 genes, 4 were associated with prognosis of GI cancer (SQSTM1, BIRC5, NRG3, and CXCR4). A prognostic model for GI cancer, based on the expression of the above 4 genes in the training set, showed that cancer patients were stratified into high-risk and low-risk groups (P < 0.05). The utility of the model for overall survival (OS) of GI cancer patients was consistent across the entire set, training set, and test set (entire set: P = 4.568 × 10−4; train set: P = 5.718 × 10−3; test set: P = 3.516 × 10−2). The sensitivity and specificity of the ROC curve of the above prognostic model in predicting the 5-year prognosis of GI cancer was satisfactory (entire set: 0.728; train set: 0.727; test set: 0.733). Analysis of clinical samples validated the overexpression of the 4 genes (SQSTM1, BIRC5, NRG3, and CXCR4) in tumor tissues relative to paired normal tissues, consistent with bioinformatic findings. Expression of the 4 autophagy-related genes (SQSTM1, BIRC5, NRG3, and CXCR4) can accurately predict the prognosis of gastrointestinal tumors in Asian patients.
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6
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Uhan S, Zidar N, Tomažič A, Hauptman N. Hypermethylated promoters of genes UNC5D and KCNA1 as potential novel diagnostic biomarkers in colorectal cancer. Epigenomics 2020; 12:1677-1688. [PMID: 33078631 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2020-0118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Identification of aberrant hypermethylation in promoter regions of candidate genes to discover potential biomarkers for colorectal cancer. Materials & Methods: Genes BMP2, IRF4, KCNA1, LRRC7, NRG3, SLC27A6 and UNC5D were pre-selected in a bioinformatics study for their hypermethylation status in colorectal cancer. Methylation analysis was performed on 202 cancer tissue specimens to validate candidate genes. Results: Genes KCNA1 and UNC5D displayed methylation in 95.3 and 99.7% of The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset samples and in 96 and 98% of our experimentally tested samples, respectively. Conclusion: KCNA1 and UNC5D promoter hypermethylation holds diagnostic biomarker potential in patients with early colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Uhan
- Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Korytkova 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nina Zidar
- Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Korytkova 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Aleš Tomažič
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Zaloška cesta 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nina Hauptman
- Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Korytkova 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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7
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Liu Y, Zhang YY, Wang SQ, Li M, Long YH, Li YF, Liu YK, Li YH, Wang YQ, Mi JS, Yu CH, Li DY, Zhang JH, Zhang XJ. WSTF acetylation by MOF promotes WSTF activities and oncogenic functions. Oncogene 2020; 39:5056-5067. [PMID: 32518374 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1350-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Williams syndrome transcription factor (WSTF) is a transcription factor and tyrosine kinase. WSTF overexpression promotes migration and proliferation of various cancers, and Ser158 (WSTFS158) phosphorylation plays an important role in this process. However, the role of the other posttranslational modifications of WSTF is unknown. Here, we report that lysine (K) 426 on WSTF is acetylated by MOF and deacetylated by SIRT1. Mechanistically, male-specific lethal (MSL) 1v1 interaction with WSTF facilitates its interaction with MOF for WSTF acetylation, which in turn promotes WSTFS158 phosphorylation. The kinase and transcriptional regulatory activity of WSTF were enhanced by acetylation. WSTFK426ac levels positively and significantly correlated with tumor size, histological grade, and age. Moreover, we demonstrated that acetylated WSTF promotes cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor formation. In conclusion, we identified the enzymes regulating WSTF K426 acetylation, and demonstrated an acetylation-dependent mechanism that modulates the activities of WSTF and contributes to tumorigenesis. Our findings provide new clues to study WSTF-mediated normal development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- College of Life Science, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China.,Cancer Institute, Affiliated Tangshan People's Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Yuan-Yue Zhang
- College of Life Science, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China.,Cancer Institute, Affiliated Tangshan People's Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China.,Graduate School of North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Shu-Qing Wang
- Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Min Li
- Orthopaedic Surgery, North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital, Tangshan, China
| | - Yue-Hong Long
- College of Life Science, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Yu-Feng Li
- Cancer Institute, Affiliated Tangshan People's Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China.
| | - Yan-Kun Liu
- Cancer Institute, Affiliated Tangshan People's Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Yu-Hui Li
- Neurosurgery, Affiliated Tangshan People's Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Ya-Qi Wang
- Cancer Institute, Affiliated Tangshan People's Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | | | | | - De-Yan Li
- Zunhua People's Hospital, Zunhua, China
| | - Jing-Hua Zhang
- Cancer Institute, Affiliated Tangshan People's Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China.
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8
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Harris KL, Myers MB, McKim KL, Elespuru RK, Parsons BL. Rationale and Roadmap for Developing Panels of Hotspot Cancer Driver Gene Mutations as Biomarkers of Cancer Risk. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2020; 61:152-175. [PMID: 31469467 PMCID: PMC6973253 DOI: 10.1002/em.22326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Cancer driver mutations (CDMs) are necessary and causal for carcinogenesis and have advantages as reporters of carcinogenic risk. However, little progress has been made toward developing measurements of CDMs as biomarkers for use in cancer risk assessment. Impediments for using a CDM-based metric to inform cancer risk include the complexity and stochastic nature of carcinogenesis, technical difficulty in quantifying low-frequency CDMs, and lack of established relationships between cancer driver mutant fractions and tumor incidence. Through literature review and database analyses, this review identifies the most promising targets to investigate as biomarkers of cancer risk. Mutational hotspots were discerned within the 20 most mutated genes across the 10 deadliest cancers. Forty genes were identified that encompass 108 mutational hotspot codons overrepresented in the COSMIC database; 424 different mutations within these hotspot codons account for approximately 63,000 tumors and their prevalence across tumor types is described. The review summarizes literature on the prevalence of CDMs in normal tissues and suggests such mutations are direct and indirect substrates for chemical carcinogenesis, which occurs in a spatially stochastic manner. Evidence that hotspot CDMs (hCDMs) frequently occur as tumor subpopulations is presented, indicating COSMIC data may underestimate mutation prevalence. Analyses of online databases show that genes containing hCDMs are enriched in functions related to intercellular communication. In its totality, the review provides a roadmap for the development of tissue-specific, CDM-based biomarkers of carcinogenic potential, comprised of batteries of hCDMs and can be measured by error-correct next-generation sequencing. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 61:152-175, 2020. Published 2019. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Environmental Mutagen Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L. Harris
- Division of Genetic and Molecular ToxicologyNational Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug AdministrationJeffersonArkansas
| | - Meagan B. Myers
- Division of Genetic and Molecular ToxicologyNational Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug AdministrationJeffersonArkansas
| | - Karen L. McKim
- Division of Genetic and Molecular ToxicologyNational Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug AdministrationJeffersonArkansas
| | - Rosalie K. Elespuru
- Division of Biology, Chemistry and Materials ScienceCDRH/OSEL, US Food and Drug AdministrationSilver SpringMaryland
| | - Barbara L. Parsons
- Division of Genetic and Molecular ToxicologyNational Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug AdministrationJeffersonArkansas
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9
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Harris FR, Zhang P, Yang L, Hou X, Leventakos K, Weroha SJ, Vasmatzis G, Kovtun IV. Targeting HER2 in patient-derived xenograft ovarian cancer models sensitizes tumors to chemotherapy. Mol Oncol 2018; 13:132-152. [PMID: 30499260 PMCID: PMC6360362 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. About 75% of ovarian cancer patients relapse and/or develop chemo‐resistant disease after initial response to standard‐of‐care treatment with platinum‐based therapies. HER2 amplifications and overexpression in ovarian cancer are reported to vary, and responses to HER2 inhibitors have been poor. Next generation sequencing technologies in conjunction with testing using patient‐derived xenografts (PDX) allow validation of personalized treatments. Using a whole‐genome mate‐pair next generation sequencing (MPseq) protocol, we identified several high grade serous ovarian cancers (HGS‐OC) with DNA alterations in genes encoding members of the ERBB2 pathway. The efficiency of anti‐HER2 therapy was tested in three different PDX lines with the identified alterations and high levels of HER2 protein expression. Treatment responses to pertuzumab or pertuzumab/trastuzumab were compared in each PDX line WITH standard carboplatin and paclitaxel combination treatment. In all three PDX models, HER2‐targeted therapy resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth compared with untreated controls. However, the responses in each case were inferior to those to chemotherapy, even for chemo‐resistant lines. When chemotherapy and HER2‐targeted therapy were administered together, a significant regression of tumor was observed after 6 weeks of treatment compared with chemotherapy alone. Post‐treatment analysis of these tissues revealed that inhibition of the ERBB2 pathway occurred at the level of phosphorylation and expression of downstream targets. In conclusion, while targeting of presumably activated ERBB2 pathway alone in HGS‐OC results in a modest treatment benefit, a combination therapy including both chemotherapy drugs and HER2 inhibitors provides a far better response. Further studies are needed to address development of recurrence and sensitivity of recurrent disease to HER2‐targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faye R Harris
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Piyan Zhang
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Lin Yang
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Xiaonan Hou
- Departments of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Saravut J Weroha
- Departments of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.,Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - George Vasmatzis
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.,Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Irina V Kovtun
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.,Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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