1
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Williams I, DeHart H, O'Malley M, Walker B, Ulhaskumar V, Ray H, Delaney JR, Nephew KP, Carpenter RL. MYC and HSF1 Cooperate to Drive PLK1 inhibitor Sensitivity in High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.11.598486. [PMID: 38915574 PMCID: PMC11195273 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.11.598486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is a deadly female cancer with high rates of recurrence. The primary treatment strategy for patients is platinum-based therapy regimens that almost universally develop resistance. Consequently, new therapeutic avenues are needed to overcome the plateau that current therapies have on patient outcomes. We describe a gene amplification involving both HSF1 and MYC, wherein these two genes on chromosome 8q are co-amplified in over 7% of human tumors that is enriched to over 30% of patients with ovarian cancer. We further found that HSF1 and MYC transcriptional activity is correlated in human tumors and ovarian cancer cell lines, suggesting they may cooperate in ovarian cancer cells. CUT&RUN for HSF1 and MYC in co-amplified ovarian cancer cells revealed that HSF1 and MYC have overlapping binding at a substantial number of locations throughout the genome where their binding peaks are near identical. Consistent with these data, a protein-protein interaction between HSF1 and MYC was detected in ovarian cancer cells, implying these two transcription factors have a molecular cooperation. Further supporting their cooperation, growth of HSF1-MYC co-amplified ovarian cancer cells were found to be dependent on both HSF1 and MYC. In an attempt to identify a therapeutic target that could take advantage of this dependency on both HSF1 and MYC, PLK1 was identified as being correlated with HSF1 and MYC in primary human tumor specimens, consistent with a previously established effect of PLK1 on HSF1 and MYC protein levels. Targeting PLK1 with the compound volasertib (BI-6727) revealed a greater than 200-fold increased potency of volasertib in HSF1-MYC co-amplified ovarian cancer cells compared to ovarian cancer cells wild-type HSF1 and MYC copy number, which extended to several growth assays, including spheroid growth. Volasertib, and other PLK1 inhibitors, have not shown great success in clinical trials and this study suggests that targeting PLK1 may be viable in a precision medicine approach using HSF1-MYC co-amplification as a biomarker for response.
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2
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Hauck JS, Moon D, Jiang X, Wang ME, Zhao Y, Xu L, Quang H, Butler W, Chen M, Macias E, Gao X, He Y, Huang J. Heat shock factor 1 directly regulates transsulfuration pathway to promote prostate cancer proliferation and survival. Commun Biol 2024; 7:9. [PMID: 38172561 PMCID: PMC10764307 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05727-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
There are limited therapeutic options for patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa). We previously found that heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) expression is increased in PCa and is an actionable target. In this manuscript, we identify that HSF1 regulates the conversion of homocysteine to cystathionine in the transsulfuration pathway by altering levels of cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS). We find that HSF1 directly binds the CBS gene and upregulates CBS mRNA levels. Targeting CBS decreases PCa growth and induces tumor cell death while benign prostate cells are largely unaffected. Combined inhibition of HSF1 and CBS results in more pronounced inhibition of PCa cell proliferation and reduction of transsulfuration pathway metabolites. Combination of HSF1 and CBS knockout decreases tumor size for a small cell PCa xenograft mouse model. Our study thus provides new insights into the molecular mechanism of HSF1 function and an effective therapeutic strategy against advanced PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Spencer Hauck
- Department of Pathology and Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Room 301M, Duke South DUMC 3712, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - David Moon
- Department of Pathology and Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Room 301M, Duke South DUMC 3712, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Xue Jiang
- Department of Pathology and Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Room 301M, Duke South DUMC 3712, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Mu-En Wang
- Department of Pathology and Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Room 301M, Duke South DUMC 3712, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Yue Zhao
- Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, and the First Hospital of China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, 110122, Shenyang, China
| | - Lingfan Xu
- Urology Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 218 Jixi Road, 230001, Hefei, China
| | - Holly Quang
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1100 Bates Ave One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - William Butler
- Department of Pathology and Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Room 301M, Duke South DUMC 3712, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Pathology and Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Room 301M, Duke South DUMC 3712, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Everardo Macias
- Department of Pathology and Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Room 301M, Duke South DUMC 3712, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Xia Gao
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1100 Bates Ave One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, 1100 Bates Ave Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yiping He
- Department of Pathology and Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Room 301M, Duke South DUMC 3712, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Jiaoti Huang
- Department of Pathology and Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Room 301M, Duke South DUMC 3712, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
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3
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Wang Y, Zhu Q, Guo S, Ao J, Zhang W, Fei J, Yu S, Niu M, Zhang Y, Sherman MY, Xiao ZXJ, Yi Y. HSF1 activates the FOXO3a-ΔNp63α-CDK4 axis to promote head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell proliferation and tumour growth. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:1125-1137. [PMID: 36700826 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14588] [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: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is a conserved transcriptional factor that plays a critical role in maintaining cellular proteostasis. However, the role of HSF1 in HNSCC development remains largely unclear. Here, we report that HSF1 promotes forkhead box protein O3a (FOXO3a)-dependent transcription of ΔNp63α (p63 isoform in the p53 family; inhibits cell migration, invasion, and metastasis), which leads to upregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 expression and HNSCC tumour growth. Ablation of HSF1 or treatment with KRIBB11, a specific pharmacological inhibitor of HSF1, significantly suppresses ΔNp63α expression and HNSCC tumour growth. Clinically, the expression of HSF1 is positively correlated with the expression of ΔNp63α in HNSCC tumours. Together, this study demonstrates that the HSF1-ΔNp63α pathway is critically important for HNSCC tumour growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuemeng Wang
- Center of Growth, Metabolism and Aging, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qile Zhu
- Center of Growth, Metabolism and Aging, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shiya Guo
- Center of Growth, Metabolism and Aging, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Juan Ao
- Center of Growth, Metabolism and Aging, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenhua Zhang
- Center of Growth, Metabolism and Aging, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Junjie Fei
- Center of Growth, Metabolism and Aging, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuhan Yu
- Center of Growth, Metabolism and Aging, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mengmeng Niu
- Center of Growth, Metabolism and Aging, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yujun Zhang
- Center of Growth, Metabolism and Aging, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | | | - Zhi-Xiong Jim Xiao
- Center of Growth, Metabolism and Aging, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yong Yi
- Center of Growth, Metabolism and Aging, Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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4
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Cyran AM, Zhitkovich A. Heat Shock Proteins and HSF1 in Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:860320. [PMID: 35311075 PMCID: PMC8924369 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.860320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fitness of cells is dependent on protein homeostasis which is maintained by cooperative activities of protein chaperones and proteolytic machinery. Upon encountering protein-damaging conditions, cells activate the heat-shock response (HSR) which involves HSF1-mediated transcriptional upregulation of a group of chaperones - the heat shock proteins (HSPs). Cancer cells experience high levels of proteotoxic stress due to the production of mutated proteins, aneuploidy-induced excess of components of multiprotein complexes, increased translation rates, and dysregulated metabolism. To cope with this chronic state of proteotoxic stress, cancers almost invariably upregulate major components of HSR, including HSF1 and individual HSPs. Some oncogenic programs show dependence or coupling with a particular HSR factor (such as frequent coamplification of HSF1 and MYC genes). Elevated levels of HSPs and HSF1 are typically associated with drug resistance and poor clinical outcomes in various malignancies. The non-oncogene dependence ("addiction") on protein quality controls represents a pancancer target in treating human malignancies, offering a potential to enhance efficacy of standard and targeted chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors. In cancers with specific dependencies, HSR components can serve as alternative targets to poorly druggable oncogenic drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anatoly Zhitkovich
- Legoretta Cancer Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
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5
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Su MX, Xu YL, Jiang XM, Huang MY, Zhang LL, Yuan LW, Xu XH, Zhu Q, Gao JL, Lu JH, Chen X, Huang MQ, Wang Y, Lu JJ. c-MYC-mediated TRIB3/P62 + aggresomes accumulation triggers paraptosis upon the combination of everolimus and ginsenoside Rh2. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:1240-1253. [PMID: 35530150 PMCID: PMC9072243 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is abnormally activated in lung cancer. However, the anti-lung cancer effect of mTOR inhibitors as monotherapy is modest. Here, we identified that ginsenoside Rh2, an active component of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey., enhanced the anti-cancer effect of the mTOR inhibitor everolimus both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, ginsenoside Rh2 alleviated the hepatic fat accumulation caused by everolimus in xenograft nude mice models. The combination of everolimus and ginsenoside Rh2 (labeled Eve-Rh2) induced caspase-independent cell death and cytoplasmic vacuolation in lung cancer cells, indicating that Eve-Rh2 prevented tumor progression by triggering paraptosis. Eve-Rh2 up-regulated the expression of c-MYC in cancer cells as well as tumor tissues. The increased c-MYC mediated the accumulation of tribbles homolog 3 (TRIB3)/P62+ aggresomes and consequently triggered paraptosis, bypassing the classical c-MYC/MAX pathway. Our study offers a potential effective and safe strategy for the treatment of lung cancer. Moreover, we have identified a new mechanism of TRIB3/P62+ aggresomes-triggered paraptosis and revealed a unique function of c-MYC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Xia Su
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Yu-Lian Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Mu-Yang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Le-Le Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Luo-Wei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Xiao-Huang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Qi Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Jian-Li Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Jia-Hong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Xiuping Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Ming-Qing Huang
- College of Pharmacy, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350000, China
| | - Yitao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Jin-Jian Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
- MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +853 88224674; fax: +853 28841358.
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6
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Gu CY, Lee TKW. Preclinical mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma: An overview and update. Exp Cell Res 2022; 412:113042. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2022.113042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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7
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Cervantes PW, Corton JC. A Gene Expression Biomarker Predicts Heat Shock Factor 1 Activation in a Gene Expression Compendium. Chem Res Toxicol 2021; 34:1721-1737. [PMID: 34170685 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) recently developed a tiered testing strategy to use advances in high-throughput transcriptomics (HTTr) testing to identify molecular targets of thousands of environmental chemicals that can be linked to adverse outcomes. Here, we describe a method that uses a gene expression biomarker to predict chemical activation of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), a transcription factor critical for proteome maintenance. The HSF1 biomarker was built from transcript profiles derived from A375 cells exposed to a HSF1-activating heat shock protein (HSP) 90 inhibitor in the presence or absence of HSF1 expression. The resultant 44 identified genes included those that (1) are dependent on HSF1 for regulation, (2) have direct interactions with HSF1 assessed by ChIP-Seq, and (3) are in the molecular chaperone family. To test for accuracy, the biomarker was compared in a pairwise manner to gene lists derived from treatments with known HSF1 activity (HSP and proteasomal inhibitors) using the correlation-based Running Fisher test; the balanced accuracy for prediction was 96%. A microarray compendium consisting of 12,092 microarray comparisons from human cells exposed to 2670 individual chemicals was screened using our approach; 112 and 19 chemicals were identified as putative HSF1 activators or suppressors, respectively, and most appear to be novel modulators. A large percentage of the chemical treatments that induced HSF1 also induced oxidant-activated NRF2 (∼46%). For five compounds or mixtures, we found that NRF2 activation occurred at lower concentrations or at earlier times than HSF1 activation, supporting the concept of a tiered cellular protection system dependent on the level of chemical-induced stress. The approach described here could be used to identify environmentally relevant chemical HSF1 activators in HTTr data sets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick W Cervantes
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison 53706, Wisconsin, United States
| | - J Christopher Corton
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
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8
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Prince TL, Lang BJ, Guerrero-Gimenez ME, Fernandez-Muñoz JM, Ackerman A, Calderwood SK. HSF1: Primary Factor in Molecular Chaperone Expression and a Major Contributor to Cancer Morbidity. Cells 2020; 9:E1046. [PMID: 32331382 PMCID: PMC7226471 DOI: 10.3390/cells9041046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is the primary component for initiation of the powerful heat shock response (HSR) in eukaryotes. The HSR is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for responding to proteotoxic stress and involves the rapid expression of heat shock protein (HSP) molecular chaperones that promote cell viability by facilitating proteostasis. HSF1 activity is amplified in many tumor contexts in a manner that resembles a chronic state of stress, characterized by high levels of HSP gene expression as well as HSF1-mediated non-HSP gene regulation. HSF1 and its gene targets are essential for tumorigenesis across several experimental tumor models, and facilitate metastatic and resistant properties within cancer cells. Recent studies have suggested the significant potential of HSF1 as a therapeutic target and have motivated research efforts to understand the mechanisms of HSF1 regulation and develop methods for pharmacological intervention. We review what is currently known regarding the contribution of HSF1 activity to cancer pathology, its regulation and expression across human cancers, and strategies to target HSF1 for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas L. Prince
- Department of Molecular Functional Genomics, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, PA 17821, USA
| | - Benjamin J. Lang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Martin E. Guerrero-Gimenez
- Laboratory of Oncology, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo (IMBECU), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires B1657, Argentina
| | - Juan Manuel Fernandez-Muñoz
- Laboratory of Oncology, Institute of Medicine and Experimental Biology of Cuyo (IMBECU), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires B1657, Argentina
| | - Andrew Ackerman
- Department of Molecular Functional Genomics, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, PA 17821, USA
| | - Stuart K. Calderwood
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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9
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Zhang S, Zhang J, Evert K, Li X, Liu P, Kiss A, Schaff Z, Ament C, Zhang Y, Serra M, Evert M, Chen N, Xu F, Chen X, Tao J, Calvisi DF, Cigliano A. The Hippo Effector Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-Binding Motif Cooperates with Oncogenic β-Catenin to Induce Hepatoblastoma Development in Mice and Humans. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2020; 190:1397-1413. [PMID: 32283103 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2020.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common pediatric liver tumor. Though Wnt/β-catenin and Hippo cascades are implicated in HB development, studies on crosstalk between β-catenin and Hippo downstream effector transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) in HB are lacking. Expression levels of TAZ and β-catenin in human HB specimens were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Functional interplay between TAZ and β-catenin was determined by overexpression of an activated form of TAZ (TAZS89A), either alone or combined with an oncogenic form of β-catenin (ΔN90-β-catenin), in mouse liver via hydrodynamic transfection. Activation of TAZ often co-occurred with that of β-catenin in clinical specimens. Although the overexpression of TAZS89A alone did not induce hepatocarcinogenesis, concomitant overexpression of TAZS89A and ΔN90-β-catenin triggered the development of HB lesions exhibiting both epithelial and mesenchymal features. Mechanistically, TAZ/β-catenin-driven HB development required TAZ interaction with transcriptional enhanced associate domain factors. Blockade of the Notch cascade did not inhibit TAZ/β-catenin-dependent HB formation in mice but suppressed the mesenchymal phenotype. Neither Yes-associated protein nor heat shock factor 1 depletion affected HB development in TAZ/β-catenin mice. In human HB cell lines, silencing of TAZ resulted in decreased cell growth, which was further reduced when TAZ knockdown was associated with suppression of either β-catenin or Yes-associated protein. Overall, our study identified TAZ as a crucial oncogene in HB development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Zhang
- Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China; Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Department of Thoracic Oncology II, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Ministry of Education, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, PR China
| | - Katja Evert
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Xiaolei Li
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The 960th Hospital of the PLA, Jinan, PR China
| | - Pin Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Andras Kiss
- Second Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsa Schaff
- Second Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Cindy Ament
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Monica Serra
- Department of Medical, Surgical, and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Matthias Evert
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Nianyong Chen
- Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Feng Xu
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, PR China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Junyan Tao
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
| | - Diego F Calvisi
- Department of Medical, Surgical, and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
| | - Antonio Cigliano
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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10
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Pascale RM, Simile MM, Peitta G, Seddaiu MA, Feo F, Calvisi DF. Experimental Models to Define the Genetic Predisposition to Liver Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11101450. [PMID: 31569678 PMCID: PMC6826893 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11101450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 08/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequent human cancer and the most frequent liver tumor. The study of genetic mechanisms of the inherited predisposition to HCC, implicating gene-gene and gene-environment interaction, led to the discovery of multiple gene loci regulating the growth and multiplicity of liver preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions, thus uncovering the action of multiple genes and epistatic interactions in the regulation of the individual susceptibility to HCC. The comparative evaluation of the molecular pathways involved in HCC development in mouse and rat strains differently predisposed to HCC indicates that the genes responsible for HCC susceptibility control the amplification and/or overexpression of c-Myc, the expression of cell cycle regulatory genes, and the activity of Ras/Erk, AKT/mTOR, and of the pro-apoptotic Rassf1A/Nore1A and Dab2IP/Ask1 pathways, the methionine cycle, and DNA repair pathways in mice and rats. Comparative functional genetic studies, in rats and mice differently susceptible to HCC, showed that preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of resistant mouse and rat strains cluster with human HCC with better prognosis, while the lesions of susceptible mouse and rats cluster with HCC with poorer prognosis, confirming the validity of the studies on the influence of the genetic predisposition to hepatocarinogenesis on HCC prognosis in mouse and rat models. Recently, the hydrodynamic gene transfection in mice provided new opportunities for the recognition of genes implicated in the molecular mechanisms involved in HCC pathogenesis and prognosis. This method appears to be highly promising to further study the genetic background of the predisposition to this cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa M Pascale
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, Via P. Manzella 4, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
| | - Maria M Simile
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, Via P. Manzella 4, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
| | - Graziella Peitta
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, Via P. Manzella 4, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
| | - Maria A Seddaiu
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, Via P. Manzella 4, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
| | - Francesco Feo
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, Via P. Manzella 4, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
| | - Diego F Calvisi
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, Via P. Manzella 4, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
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11
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HSF1 Regulates Mevalonate and Cholesterol Biosynthesis Pathways. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11091363. [PMID: 31540279 PMCID: PMC6769575 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11091363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is an essential transcription factor in cellular adaptation to various stresses such as heat, proteotoxic stress, metabolic stress, reactive oxygen species, and heavy metals. HSF1 promotes cancer development and progression, and increased HSF1 levels are frequently observed in multiple types of cancers. Increased activity in the mevalonate and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways, which are very important for cancer growth and progression, is observed in various cancers. However, the functional role of HSF1 in the mevalonate and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways has not yet been investigated. Here, we demonstrated that the activation of RAS-MAPK signaling through the overexpression of H-RasV12 increased HSF1 expression and the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. In addition, the activation of HSF1 was also found to increase cholesterol biosynthesis. Inversely, the suppression of HSF1 by the pharmacological inhibitor KRIBB11 and short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) reversed H-RasV12-induced cholesterol biosynthesis. From the standpoint of therapeutic applications for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment, HSF1 inhibition was shown to sensitize the antiproliferative effects of simvastatin in HCC cells. Overall, our findings demonstrate that HSF1 is a potential target for statin-based HCC treatment.
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Yang LN, Ning ZY, Wang L, Yan X, Meng ZQ. HSF2 regulates aerobic glycolysis by suppression of FBP1 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:1607-1621. [PMID: 31497345 PMCID: PMC6726997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat shock factors (HSFs) are essential for all organisms to survive exposures to acute stress. Recent years have witnessed the progress in uncovering the importance of HSFs in cancer cell oncogenesis, progression and metastasis. However, their roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) proliferation and the underlying mechanism have seldom been discussed. The present study aims to uncover the two important HSFs members HSF1 and HSF2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). By using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset analysis, we investigated the prognosis value of HSF1 and HSF2 in HCC and identified HSF2 as a prediction factor of overall survival of HCC. In vitro cell line studies demonstrated that silencing HSF2 expression could decrease the proliferation in HCC cells. In depth mechanism analysis demonstrated that HSF2 promoted cell proliferation via positive regulation of aerobic glycolysis, and HSF2 interacted with euchromatic histone lysine methyltransferase 2 (EHMT2) to epigenetically silence fructose-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1), which is a tumor suppressor and negative regulator of aerobic glycolysis in HCC. HSF2 expression indicated unfavorable prognosis of HCC patients and it could regulate aerobic glycolysis by suppression of FBP1 to support uncontrolled proliferation of HCC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Na Yang
- Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai, China
- Deparment of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhou-Yu Ning
- Deparment of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Lai Wang
- Deparment of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Xia Yan
- Deparment of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Meng
- Deparment of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityShanghai, China
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Wang XN, Su XX, Cheng SQ, Sun ZY, Huang ZS, Ou TM. MYC modulators in cancer: a patent review. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2019; 29:353-367. [PMID: 31068032 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2019.1612878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The important role of MYC in tumorigenesis makes it particularly important to design MYC modulators. Over the past decade, researchers have raised a number of strategies for designing MYC modulators, some of which are already in clinical trials. This paper aims to review the patents of MYC modulators. AREAS COVERED The important biological relevance of c-MYC and the regulation pathways related to c-MYC are briefly introduced. Base on that, the MYC modulators reported in published patents and references primarily for cancer treatment are outlined, highlighting the structures and biological activities. EXPERT OPINION There has been a growing awareness of finding and designing MYC modulators as novel anticancer drugs over recent years. Patents involving the discovery, synthesis, and application of MYC modulators are particularly important for further development in this field. Although finding direct MYC inhibitors or binders is challenging, MYC cannot be simply defined as an undruggable target. There is still substantial evidence proving the concept that MYC modulators can benefit to the treatment of both human hematological malignancies and solid tumors. More efforts should be taken to improve the activity and specificity of MYC modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Na Wang
- a School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou , Guangdong , China
| | - Xiao-Xuan Su
- a School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou , Guangdong , China
| | - Sui-Qi Cheng
- a School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou , Guangdong , China
| | - Zhi-Yin Sun
- a School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou , Guangdong , China
| | - Zhi-Shu Huang
- a School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou , Guangdong , China
| | - Tian-Miao Ou
- a School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou , Guangdong , China
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Caforio M, Sorino C, Iacovelli S, Fanciulli M, Locatelli F, Folgiero V. Recent advances in searching c-Myc transcriptional cofactors during tumorigenesis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2018; 37:239. [PMID: 30261904 PMCID: PMC6161371 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-018-0912-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Background The mechanism by which c-Myc exerts its oncogenic functions is not completely clear and different hypotheses are still under investigation. The knowledge of the capacity of c-Myc to bind exclusively E-box sequences determined the discrepancy between, on the one hand, genomic studies showing the binding of c-Myc to all active promoters and, on the other hand, the evidence that only 60% or less of the binding sites have E-box sequences. Main body In this review, we provide support to the hypothesis that the cooperation of c-Myc with transcriptional cofactors mediates c-Myc-induced cellular functions. We produce evidence that recently identified cofactors are involved in c-Myc control of survival mechanisms of cancer cells. Conclusion The identification of new c-Myc cofactors could favor the development of therapeutic strategies able to compensate the difficulty of targeting c-Myc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Caforio
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and of Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Sorino
- SAFU, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Iacovelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and of Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Fanciulli
- SAFU, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and of Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, 00146, Rome, Italy.,Department of Pediatric Science, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Valentina Folgiero
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and of Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, 00146, Rome, Italy.
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Liang W, Liao Y, Li Z, Wang Y, Zheng S, Xu X, Ran F, Tang B, Wang Z. MicroRNA-644a promotes apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by downregulating the expression of heat shock factor 1. Cell Commun Signal 2018; 16:30. [PMID: 29898735 PMCID: PMC6001142 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-018-0244-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the role of microRNA-644a (miR-644a) in the growth and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. MiR-644a levels were lower in HCC tissues than in adjacent peri-cancerous tissues (n = 135). MiR-644a expression was inversely correlated with heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) expression, tumour diameter and TNM stage. Moreover, HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cell lines showed lower miR-644a expression than normal L-O2 hepatocytes. MiR-644a overexpression in HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells increased apoptosis by downregulating HSF1. Dual luciferase reporter assays confirmed the presence of a miR-644a binding site in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of HSF1. Xenograft tumours derived from SMMC-7721 cells transfected with a miR-664a mimic showed less growth than tumours derived from untransfected controls. Protein chip analysis revealed that miR-644a-overexpressing SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells strongly expressed pro-apoptotic BH3-only proteins, such as BID, BAD, BIM, SMAC, Apaf-1 and cleaved caspases-3 and -9. These findings suggest miR-644a promotes apoptosis in HCC cells by inhibiting HSF1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjin Liang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guilin Medical University, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin, Guangxi, 541001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Liao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guilin Medical University, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin, Guangxi, 541001, People's Republic of China
| | - Zeming Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guilin Medical University, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin, Guangxi, 541001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guilin Medical University, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin, Guangxi, 541001, People's Republic of China
| | - Siqi Zheng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guilin Medical University, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin, Guangxi, 541001, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaochen Xu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guilin Medical University, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin, Guangxi, 541001, People's Republic of China
| | - Fulin Ran
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guilin Medical University, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin, Guangxi, 541001, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Tang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guilin Medical University, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin, Guangxi, 541001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhenran Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guilin Medical University, Affiliated Hospital, Guilin, Guangxi, 541001, People's Republic of China.
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