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Németh A, Bányai GL, Dobos NK, Kós T, Gaál A, Varga Z, Buzás EI, Khamari D, Dank M, Takács I, Szász AM, Garay T. Extracellular vesicles promote migration despite BRAF inhibitor treatment in malignant melanoma cells. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:282. [PMID: 38778340 PMCID: PMC11110207 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01660-4] [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: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) constitute a vital component of intercellular communication, exerting significant influence on metastasis formation and drug resistance mechanisms. Malignant melanoma (MM) is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancers, because of its high metastatic potential and often acquired resistance to oncotherapies. The prevalence of BRAF mutations in MM underscores the importance of BRAF-targeted therapies, such as vemurafenib and dabrafenib, alone or in combination with the MEK inhibitor, trametinib. This study aimed to elucidate the involvement of EVs in MM progression and ascertain whether EV-mediated metastasis promotion persists during single agent BRAF (vemurafenib, dabrafenib), or MEK (trametinib) and combined BRAF/MEK (dabrafenib/trametinib) inhibition.Using five pairs of syngeneic melanoma cell lines, we assessed the impact of EVs - isolated from their respective supernatants - on melanoma cell proliferation and migration. Cell viability and spheroid growth assays were employed to evaluate proliferation, while migration was analyzed through mean squared displacement (MSD) and total traveled distance (TTD) measurements derived from video microscopy and single-cell tracking.Our results indicate that while EV treatments had remarkable promoting effect on cell migration, they exerted only a modest effect on cell proliferation and spheroid growth. Notably, EVs demonstrated the ability to mitigate the inhibitory effects of BRAF inhibitors, albeit they were ineffective against a MEK inhibitor and the combination of BRAF/MEK inhibitors. In summary, our findings contribute to the understanding of the intricate role played by EVs in tumor progression, metastasis, and drug resistance in MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afrodité Németh
- Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gréta L Bányai
- Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nikolett K Dobos
- Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Kós
- Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anikó Gaál
- Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry; Biological Nanochemistry Research Group, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Varga
- Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry; Biological Nanochemistry Research Group, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Edit I Buzás
- Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- ELKH-SE Translational Extracellular Vesicle Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- HCEMM-SE Extracellular Vesicle Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Delaram Khamari
- Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Magdolna Dank
- Department of Internal Medicine and Oncology, Division of Oncology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - István Takács
- Department of Internal Medicine and Oncology, Division of Oncology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - A Marcell Szász
- Department of Internal Medicine and Oncology, Division of Oncology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Garay
- Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary.
- Department of Internal Medicine and Oncology, Division of Oncology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
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Marocchi F, Palluzzi F, Nicoli P, Melixetian M, Lovati G, Bertalot G, Pece S, Ferrucci PF, Bossi D, Lanfrancone L. Actionable Genetic Screens Unveil Targeting of AURKA, MEK, and Fatty Acid Metabolism as an Alternative Therapeutic Approach for Advanced Melanoma. J Invest Dermatol 2023; 143:1993-2006.e10. [PMID: 37003468 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.03.1665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Despite the remarkable improvements achieved in the management of metastatic melanoma, there are still unmet clinical needs. A considerable fraction of patients does not respond to immune and/or targeted therapies owing to primary and acquired resistance, high-grade immune-related adverse events, and a lack of alternative treatment options. To design effective combination therapies, we set up a functional ex vivo preclinical assay on the basis of a drop-out genetic screen in metastatic melanoma patient-derived xenografts. We showed that this approach can be used to isolate actionable vulnerabilities predictive of drug efficacy. In particular, we highlighted that the dual targeting of AURKA and MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase employing the combination of alisertib and trametinib is highly effective in a cohort of metastatic melanoma patient-derived xenografts, both ex vivo and in vivo. Alisertib and trametinib combination therapy outperforms standard-of-care therapy in both BRAF-mutant patient-derived xenografts and targeted therapy-resistant models. Furthermore, alisertib and trametinib treatment modulates several critical cancer pathways, including an early metabolic reprogramming that leads to the transcriptional upregulation of the fatty acid oxidation pathway. This acquired trait unveiled an additional point of intervention for pharmacological targeting, and indeed, the triple combination of alisertib and trametinib with the fatty acid oxidation inhibitor etomoxir proved to be further beneficial, inducing tumor regression and remarkably prolonging the overall survival of the mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Marocchi
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Fernando Palluzzi
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Nicoli
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Marine Melixetian
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Lovati
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bertalot
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy; Unità Operativa Multizonale di Anatomia Patologica, Azienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari, Trento, Italy; CISMED - Centre for Medical Sciences, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Salvatore Pece
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Pier Francesco Ferrucci
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Bossi
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy; Institute of Oncology Research, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Luisa Lanfrancone
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy.
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3
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Meneveau MO, Vavolizza RD, Mohammad A, Kumar P, Manderfield JT, Callahan C, Lynch KT, Abbas T, Slingluff CL, Bekiranov S. A Step Toward Personalized Surgical Decision Making: Machine Learning Predicts 1 Versus Numerous Melanoma Lymph Node Metastases Using RNA-sequencing. Ann Surg 2023; 278:e589-e597. [PMID: 36538614 PMCID: PMC10209351 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005761] [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] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Develop a predictive model to identify patients with 1 pathologic lymph node (pLN) versus >1 pLN using machine learning applied to gene expression profiles and clinical data as input variables. BACKGROUND Standard management for clinically detected melanoma lymph node metastases is complete therapeutic LN dissection (TLND). However, >40% of patients with a clinically detected melanoma lymph node will only have 1 pLN on final review. Recent data suggest that targeted excision of just the single enlarged LN may provide excellent regional control, with less morbidity than TLND. The selection of patients for less morbid surgery requires accurate identification of those with only 1 pLN. METHODS The Cancer Genome Atlas database was used to identify patients who underwent TLND for melanoma. Pathology reports in The Cancer Genome Atlas were reviewed to identify the number of pLNs. Patients were included for machine learning analyses if RNA sequencing data were available from a pLN. After feature selection, the top 20 gene expression and clinical input features were used to train a ridge logistic regression model to predict patients with 1 pLN versus >1 pLN using 10-fold cross-validation on 80% of samples. The model was then tested on the remaining holdout samples. RESULTS A total of 153 patients met inclusion criteria: 64 with one pLN (42%) and 89 with >1 pLNs (58%). Feature selection identified 1 clinical (extranodal extension) and 19 gene expression variables used to predict patients with 1 pLN versus >1 pLN. The ridge logistic regression model identified patient groups with an accuracy of 90% and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.97. CONCLUSIONS Gene expression profiles together with clinical variables can distinguish melanoma metastasis patients with 1 pLN versus >1 pLN. Future models trained using positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging, gene expression, and relevant clinical variables may further improve accuracy and may predict patients who can be managed with a targeted LN excision rather than a complete TLND.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max O. Meneveau
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Rick D. Vavolizza
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Anwaruddin Mohammad
- Bioinformatics Core, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Pankaj Kumar
- Bioinformatics Core, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | | | - Colleen Callahan
- University of Virginia, School of Data Science, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Kevin T. Lynch
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Tarek Abbas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Craig L. Slingluff
- Department of Surgery/Division of Surgical Oncology and the Human Immune Therapy Center, Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Stefan Bekiranov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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Ruffini F, Ceci C, Atzori MG, Caporali S, Levati L, Bonmassar L, Cappellini GCA, D'Atri S, Graziani G, Lacal PM. TARGETING OF PDGF-C/NRP-1 AUTOCRINE LOOP AS A NEW STRATEGY FOR COUNTERACTING THE INVASIVENESS OF MELANOMA RESISTANT TO BRAF INHIBITORS. Pharmacol Res 2023; 192:106782. [PMID: 37127213 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma resistance to BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) is often accompanied by a switch from a proliferative to an invasive phenotype. Therefore, the identification of signaling molecules involved in the development of metastatic properties by resistant melanoma cells is of primary importance. We have previously demonstrated that activation of neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-C confers melanoma cells with an invasive behavior similar to that of BRAFi resistant tumors. Aims of the present study were to evaluate the role of PDGF-C/NRP-1 autocrine loop in the acquisition of an invasive and BRAFi-resistant phenotype by melanoma cells and the effect of its inhibition on drug resistance and extracellular matrix (ECM) invasion. Furthermore, we investigated whether PDGF-C serum levels were differentially modulated by drug treatment in metastatic melanoma patients responsive or refractory to BRAFi as a single agent or in combination with MEK inhibitors (MEKi). The results indicated that human melanoma cells resistant to BRAFi express higher levels of PDGF-C and NRP-1 as compared to their susceptible counterparts. Overexpression occurs early during development of drug resistance and contributes to the invasive properties of resistant cells. Accordingly, silencing of NRP-1 or PDGF-C reduces tumor cell invasiveness. Analysis of PDGF-C in the serum collected from patients treated with BRAFi or BRAFi+MEKi, showed that in responders PDGF-C levels decrease after treatment and raise again at tumor progression. Conversely, in non-responders treatment does not affect PDGF-C serum levels. Thus, blockade of NRP-1 activation by PDGF-C might represent a new therapeutic approach to counteract the invasiveness of BRAFi-resistant melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Ruffini
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Ceci
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Departmental Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Via di Sant'Alessandro, 8, 00131 Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Grazia Graziani
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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Tien S, Zhou H, Zhou Q, Liu H, Wu B, Guo Y. PTTG1 alleviates acute alcoholic liver injury by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced hepatocyte pyroptosis. Liver Int 2023; 43:840-854. [PMID: 36737842 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Heavy drinking is a primary cause of alcoholic liver injury (ALI). Pituitary tumour transforming gene 1 (PTTG1) is involved in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is a well-known inflammation-related cancer with various aetiologies, including alcohol consumption. However, the role of PTTG1 in alcohol-induced liver injury and inflammation is not clear. METHODS Blood samples were collected from patients with acute alcohol intoxication (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 20). PTTG1 knockout (KO) mice and PTTG1 transgenic (TG) mice were given a single gavage of alcohol (5 g/kg, 50%) to construct the alcohol-induced liver injury. RESULTS We found that serum PTTG1 levels were downregulated in acute ALI patients. In addition, acute alcohol administration significantly reduced PTTG1 levels in the serum and liver of mice. Compared to wild-type mice, PTTG1 KO mice had more serious liver injury, which was accompanied by worsened hepatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and hepatocyte pyroptosis induced by alcohol. Similarly, PTTG1 deficiency exacerbated alcohol-induced cell death in primary mouse hepatocytes and LO2 cells, by increasing hepatic ER stress and pyroptosis. Importantly, TUDCA, an ER stress inhibitor, could blocked alcohol-induced hepatic pyroptosis in PTTG1 knockdown LO2 cells. Finally, overexpression of PTTG1 substantially attenuated alcohol-induced liver injury by reducing ER stress and hepatic pyroptosis in mice. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that PTTG1 participates in ALI and has a protective effect against alcohol-induced hepatic ER stress and pyroptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiuan Tien
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haoxiong Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huiling Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bin Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunwei Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou, China
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Zhang J, Wang J, Yue K, Li P, Shen W, Qiao X, Wang Y, Wu X. FAM83B promotes the invasion of primary lung adenocarcinoma via PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. BMC Pulm Med 2023; 23:32. [PMID: 36690987 PMCID: PMC9872310 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-022-02303-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTS The family with sequence similarity 83B (FAM83B) is one of the markers for poor prognosis in several carcinomas, but the expression and the mechanism resulted in malignant phenotype in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remain to be elucidated. METHODS Data of RNA-seq in LUAD were downloaded from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database for differential expression and survival analysis, and immunohistochemistry was employed to analyze the protein expression of FAM83B in 126 cases of primary LUAD. The LUAD cell lines were collected for the detection of the effects on migration and invasion. Then, western blot was performed to measure the expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and activation of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. RESULTS FAM83B was overexpressed in multiple types of carcinomas; The differential expression analysis revealed that the level of FAM83B was higher in LUAD than that in para-carcinoma; The patients with overexpression of FAM83B were with shorter overall survival (OS), disease specific survival (DSS) and progress free interval (PFI); Enrichment analysis suggested it was related to the focal adhesion of LUAD. Immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated that higher FAM83B expression was positively related to lymph node metastasis in primary. Scratch assay and Borden chamber assay showed that the overexpression of FAM83B promoted migration and invasion activity in vitro. Furthermore, high level of FAM83B accelerated the tumorigenesis in vivo. Western blot showed that TIMP-1 was upregulated in H1299/FAM83B OE cells accompanying by the activation of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. CONCLUSIONS FAM83B was a marker for poor prognosis of LUAD and it might promote the expression of TIMP-1 by activating PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway and then affect the ECM balance, which resulted in the migration and invasion of LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 Shandong China ,grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Pathology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 Shandong China
| | - Jiajia Wang
- grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 Shandong China ,grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Pathology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 Shandong China
| | - Ke Yue
- grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 Shandong China ,grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Pathology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 Shandong China
| | - Panpan Li
- grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 Shandong China ,grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Pathology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 Shandong China
| | - Wenping Shen
- grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 Shandong China ,grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Pathology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 Shandong China
| | - Xiaowen Qiao
- grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 Shandong China ,grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Pathology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 Shandong China
| | - Yan Wang
- grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 Shandong China ,grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Pathology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 Shandong China
| | - Xiaojuan Wu
- grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 Shandong China ,grid.27255.370000 0004 1761 1174Department of Pathology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012 Shandong China
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Gong S, Wu C, Duan Y, Tang J, Wu P. A Comprehensive Pan-Cancer Analysis for Pituitary Tumor-Transforming Gene 1. Front Genet 2022; 13:843579. [PMID: 35281830 PMCID: PMC8916819 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.843579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1 (PTTG1) encodes a multifunctional protein that is involved in many cellular processes. However, the potential role of PTTG1 in tumor formation and its prognostic function in human pan-cancer is still unknown. The analysis of gene alteration, PTTG1 expression, prognostic function, and PTTG1-related immune analysis in 33 types of tumors was performed based on various databases such as The Cancer Genome Atlas database, the Genotype-Tissue Expression database, and the Human Protein Atlas database. Additionally, PTTG1-related gene enrichment analysis was performed to investigate the potential relationship and possible molecular mechanisms between PTTG1 and tumors. Overexpression of PTTG1 may lead to tumor formation and poor prognosis in various tumors. Consequently, PTTG1 acts as a potential oncogene in most tumors. Additionally, PTTG1 is related to immune infiltration, immune checkpoints, tumor mutational burden, and microsatellite instability. Thus, PTTG1 could be potential biomarker for both prognosis and outcomes of tumor treatment and it could also be a promising target in tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siming Gong
- Department of Orthopaedics, National Clinical Research Center of Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Changwu Wu
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Yingjuan Duan
- Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Juyu Tang
- Department of Orthopaedics, National Clinical Research Center of Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Panfeng Wu
- Department of Orthopaedics, National Clinical Research Center of Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Panfeng Wu,
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8
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Fraune C, Yehorov S, Luebke AM, Steurer S, Hube-Magg C, Büscheck F, Höflmayer D, Tsourlakis MC, Clauditz TS, Simon R, Sauter G, Weidemann S, Dum D, Kind S, Minner S, Schlomm T, Huland H, Heinzer H, Graefen M, Burandt E. Upregulation of PTTG1 is associated with poor prognosis in prostate cancer. Pathol Int 2020; 70:441-451. [PMID: 32314536 DOI: 10.1111/pin.12938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1 (PTTG1) is a regulator of chromosome stability. PTTG1 overexpression had been associated with tumor aggressiveness in several cancer types. To examine its prognostic utility in prostate cancer, a tissue microarray including 12 427 tumors with clinical and molecular data was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. PTTG1 immunostaining was largely absent in normal prostate epithelial cells. In cancers, staining was considered weak in 5.4%, moderate in 5.6% and strong in 0.8%. Strong staining was linked to advanced pT stage, high classical and quantitative Gleason grade, high Ki67-labeling index (all P < 0.0001) and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0083). The prognostic impact of PTTG1 expression was independent of established preoperative and postoperative prognostic features. Comparison with molecular features revealed that PTTG1 upregulation was associated with nine of 12 common genomic deletions (P < 0.05), p53 alterations and high androgen receptor levels (P < 0.001 each), but was unrelated to the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion status. In conclusion, these data identify PTTG1 as a strong and independent prognostic feature in prostate cancer. PTTG1 measurement, either alone or in combination with other biomarkers might be instrumental for determining prostate cancer aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Fraune
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Serhiy Yehorov
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas M Luebke
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Steurer
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Hube-Magg
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Franziska Büscheck
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Doris Höflmayer
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Till S Clauditz
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ronald Simon
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Guido Sauter
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sören Weidemann
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - David Dum
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Simon Kind
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Minner
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Schlomm
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Charité-Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hartwig Huland
- Martini-Clinic, Prostate Cancer Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hans Heinzer
- Martini-Clinic, Prostate Cancer Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus Graefen
- Martini-Clinic, Prostate Cancer Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eike Burandt
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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9
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Mormando M, Puliani G, Barnabei A, Lauretta R, Bianchini M, Chiefari A, Russillo M, Cognetti F, Romano L, Appetecchia M. A Rare Case of Pituitary Melanoma Metastasis: A Dramatic and Prolonged Response to Dabrafenib-Trametinib Therapy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:471. [PMID: 32793120 PMCID: PMC7390838 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Pituitary metastases (PM) are rare events and to date only very few cases of melanoma PM have been described in literature up to now. Case Presentation: We describe the clinical history of a 33-year-old male patient who underwent surgical excision of an inter-scapular melanoma in 2008. The subsequent follow-up was negative for ~10 years. In September 2018, due to the onset of a severe headache, the patient underwent a brain magnetic resonance imaging, which showed an expansive mass in the saddle and suprasellar region with a maximum diameter of 17 mm. Pituitary function tests and visual field were normal. Worsening of the headache and the appearance of a left eye ptosis led the patient to surgical removal of the lesion in October 2018. The histological examination unexpectedly showed metastasis of the melanoma. Post-operative hormonal assessment showed secondary hypothyroidism and hypoadrenalism, which were both promptly treated, and a mild hypogonadism. Three months after surgery, a sellar MRI showed a persistent, increased pituitary mass (3 cm of diameter); fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) detected an increased radiopharmaceutical uptake in the sellar region. Due to the persistence of the disease and the evidence of a BRAF V600E mutation, in February 2019, the patient underwent a combined treatment with dabrafenib (a BRAF inhibitor) and trametinib (mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulate kinase inhibitor). Sellar MRI performed 6 months later showed no evidence of mass in the sellar region. The patient was in a good clinical condition and did not complain of headaches or other symptoms; there were no significant side-effects from the anticancer therapy. After 13 months of treatment, the patient showed no recurrence of the disease on morphological imaging. Anticancer therapy was confirmed, replacement therapies with hydrocortisone and levothyroxine continued and the pituitary-gonadal axis was restored. Conclusion: This is a very interesting case, both for the rarity of the pituitary melanoma metastasis and for the singular therapeutic course carried out by the patient. This is the first case of a pituitary melanoma metastasis with BRAF mutation, successfully treated with the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib after incomplete surgical removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilda Mormando
- Oncological Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Puliani
- Oncological Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Agnese Barnabei
- Oncological Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Lauretta
- Oncological Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Bianchini
- Oncological Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfonsina Chiefari
- Oncological Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Michelangelo Russillo
- Division of Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Cognetti
- Division of Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Romano
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Appetecchia
- Oncological Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Marialuisa Appetecchia
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10
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Onconase Restores Cytotoxicity in Dabrafenib-Resistant A375 Human Melanoma Cells and Affects Cell Migration, Invasion and Colony Formation Capability. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20235980. [PMID: 31783660 PMCID: PMC6928899 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20235980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 09/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a lethal tumor because of its severe metastatic potential, and serine/threonine-protein kinase B-raf inhibitors (BRAFi) are used in patients harboring BRAF-mutation. Unfortunately, BRAFi induce resistance. Therefore, we tested the activity of onconase (ONC), a cytotoxic RNase variant, against BRAFi-resistant cells to re-establish the efficacy of the chemotherapy. To do so, an A375 dabrafenib-resistant (A375DR) melanoma cell subpopulation was selected and its behavior compared with that of parental (A375P) cells by crystal violet, 5-Bromo-2’-deoxyuridine incorporation, and cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) western blot measurements. Then, nuclear p65 Nuclear Factor kappaB (NF-κB) and IκB kinases-α/β (IKK) phosphorylation levels were measured. Gelatin zymography was performed to evaluate metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) activity. In addition, assays to measure migration, invasion and soft agar colony formation were performed to examine the tumor cell dissemination propensity. ONC affected the total viability and the proliferation rate of both A375P and A375DR cell subpopulations in a dose-dependent manner and also induced apoptotic cell death. Among its pleiotropic effects, ONC reduced nuclear p65 NF-κB amount and IKK phosphorylation level, as well as MMP2 activity in both cell subpopulations. ONC decreased cell colony formation, migration, and invasion capability. Notably, it induced apoptosis and inhibited colony formation and invasiveness more extensively in A375DR than in A375P cells. In conclusion, ONC successfully counteracts melanoma malignancy especially in BRAFi-resistant cells and could become a tool against melanoma recurrence.
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Atzori MG, Ceci C, Ruffini F, Trapani M, Barbaccia ML, Tentori L, D'Atri S, Lacal PM, Graziani G. Role of VEGFR-1 in melanoma acquired resistance to the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib. J Cell Mol Med 2019; 24:465-475. [PMID: 31758648 PMCID: PMC6933379 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐1 (VEGFR‐1) is a tyrosine kinase receptor frequently expressed in melanoma. Its activation by VEGF‐A or placental growth factor (PlGF) promotes tumour cell survival, migration and invasiveness. Moreover, VEGFR‐1 stimulation contributes to pathological angiogenesis and induces recruitment of tumour‐associated macrophages. Since melanoma acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) has been associated with activation of pro‐angiogenic pathways, we have investigated VEGFR‐1 involvement in vemurafenib resistance. Results indicate that human melanoma cells rendered resistant to vemurafenib secrete greater amounts of VEGF‐A and express higher VEGFR‐1 levels compared with their BRAFi‐sensitive counterparts. Transient VEGFR‐1 silencing in susceptible melanoma cells delays resistance development, whereas in resistant cells it increases sensitivity to the BRAFi. Consistently, enforced VEGFR‐1 expression, by stable gene transfection in receptor‐negative melanoma cells, markedly reduces sensitivity to vemurafenib. Moreover, melanoma cells expressing VEGFR‐1 are more invasive than VEGFR‐1 deficient cells and receptor blockade by a specific monoclonal antibody (D16F7 mAb) reduces extracellular matrix invasion triggered by VEGF‐A and PlGF. These data suggest that VEGFR‐1 up‐regulation might contribute to melanoma progression and spreading after acquisition of a drug‐resistant phenotype. Thus, VEGFR‐1 inhibition with D16F7 mAb might be a suitable adjunct therapy for VEGFR‐1 positive tumours with acquired resistance to vemurafenib.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claudia Ceci
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Mauro Trapani
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Lucio Tentori
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Grazia Graziani
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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12
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Pedini F, De Luca G, Felicetti F, Puglisi R, Boe A, Arasi MB, Fratini F, Mattia G, Spada M, Caporali S, Biffoni M, Giuliani A, Carè A, Felli N. Joint action of miR-126 and MAPK/PI3K inhibitors against metastatic melanoma. Mol Oncol 2019; 13:1836-1854. [PMID: 31115969 PMCID: PMC6717748 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12506] [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: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging data support the rationale of combined therapies in advanced melanoma. Specifically, the combined use of drugs with different mechanisms of action can reduce the probability of selecting resistant clones. To identify agents active against melanoma cells, we screened a library of 349 anti‐cancer compounds, currently in clinical use or trials, and selected PIK‐75, an inhibitor of the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway, as the ‘top active’ drug. PIK‐75 was then used alone or in combination with vemurafenib, the first BRAF inhibitor approved for patients with melanoma harboring BRAF mutations. We identified a combined dose of PIK‐75 and vemurafenib that inhibited both the PI3K/AKT and mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathways, thereby overcoming any compensatory activation. In view of the important tumor suppressor function induced by restoring expression of microRNA (miR)‐126 in metastatic melanoma cells, we examined whether miR‐126 has a synergistic role when included in a triple combination alongside PIK‐75 and vemurafenib. We found that enforced expression of miR‐126 (which alone can reduce tumorigenicity) significantly increased PIK‐75 activity when used as either a single agent or in combination with vemurafenib. Interestingly, PIK‐75 proved to be effective against early passage cell lines derived from patients’ biopsies and on melanoma cell lines resistant to either vemurafenib or dabrafenib, thus suggesting that it potentially has the capability to overcome drug resistance. Finally, the synergistic role played by miR‐126 in combination with vemurafenib and/or PIK‐75 was demonstrated in vivo in mouse xenograft models, in which tumor growth inhibition was associated with increased apoptosis. These results not only show the efficacy of PIK‐75 and vemurafenib co‐treatment but also indicate that restoration of miR‐126 expression in advanced melanoma can enhance their antitumor activity, which may possibly allow dose reduction to decrease adverse events without reducing the therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Pedini
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele De Luca
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Felicetti
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Puglisi
- Center for Gender Medicine, Oncology Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Boe
- Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Beatrice Arasi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Gianfranco Mattia
- Center for Gender Medicine, Oncology Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Spada
- Center of Animal Research and Welfare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Caporali
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Biffoni
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Giuliani
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Carè
- Center for Gender Medicine, Oncology Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Nadia Felli
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Sanders K, van Staalduinen GJ, Uijens MCM, Mol JA, Teske E, Slob A, Hesselink JW, Kooistra HS, Galac S. Molecular markers of prognosis in canine cortisol-secreting adrenocortical tumours. Vet Comp Oncol 2019; 17:545-552. [PMID: 31301217 PMCID: PMC6899893 DOI: 10.1111/vco.12521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Hypercortisolism is caused by a cortisol‐secreting adrenocortical tumour (ACT) in approximately 15%‐20% of cases in dogs. Little is known about which molecular markers are associated with malignant behaviour of canine ACTs. The objective of this study was to identify molecular markers of prognosis, which could be useful to refine prognostic prediction and to identify potential treatment targets. Cortisol‐secreting ACTs were included from 40 dogs, of which follow‐up information was available. The ACTs were classified as low risk of recurrence tumours (LRT; n = 14) or moderate‐high risk of recurrence tumours (MHRT; n = 26), based on the novel histopathological Utrecht score. Normal adrenals (NAs) were included from 11 healthy dogs as reference material. The mRNA expression of 14 candidate genes was analysed in the 40 ACTs and in 11 NAs with quantitative RT‐PCR. The genes' expression levels were statistically compared between NAs, LRTs and MHRTs. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the association of the genes' expression levels with survival. Seven genes were differentially expressed between NAs and ACTs, of which pituitary tumour‐transforming gene‐1 (PTTG1) and topoisomerase II alpha (TOP2A) were also differentially expressed between LRTs and MHRTs. In survival analyses, high expression levels of Steroidogenic factor‐1 (SF‐1), PTTG1 and TOP2A were significantly associated with poor survival. In conclusion, we have identified several genes that are part of the molecular signature of malignancy in canine ACTs. These findings can be used to refine prognostic prediction, but also offer insights for future studies on druggable targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Sanders
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Gerjanne J van Staalduinen
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Maarten C M Uijens
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jan A Mol
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Erik Teske
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Adri Slob
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Willem Hesselink
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hans S Kooistra
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sara Galac
- Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Caporali S, Amaro A, Levati L, Alvino E, Lacal PM, Mastroeni S, Ruffini F, Bonmassar L, Antonini Cappellini GC, Felli N, Carè A, Pfeffer U, D'Atri S. miR-126-3p down-regulation contributes to dabrafenib acquired resistance in melanoma by up-regulating ADAM9 and VEGF-A. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:272. [PMID: 31227006 PMCID: PMC6588909 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1238-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background Development of resistance to inhibitors of BRAF (BRAFi) and MEK (MEKi) remains a great challenge for targeted therapy in patients with BRAF-mutant melanoma. Here, we explored the role of miRNAs in melanoma acquired resistance to BRAFi. Methods miRNA expression in two BRAF-mutant melanoma cell lines and their dabrafenib-resistant sublines was determined using Affymetrix GeneChip® miRNA 3.1 microarrays and/or qRT-PCR. The effects of miR-126-3p re-expression on proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation, dabrafenib sensitivity, invasiveness and VEGF-A secretion were evaluated in the dabrafenib-resistant sublines using MTT assays, flow cytometry, immunoblotting, invasion assays in Boyden chambers and ELISA. ADAM9, PIK3R2, MMP7 and CXCR4 expression in the sensitive and dabrafenib-resistant cells was determined by immunoblotting. Small RNA interference was performed to investigate the consequence of VEGFA or ADAM9 silencing on proliferation, invasiveness or dabrafenib sensitivity of the resistant sublines. Long-term proliferation assays were carried out in dabrafenib-sensitive cells to assess the effects of enforced miR-126-3p expression or ADAM9 silencing on resistance development. VEGF-A serum levels in melanoma patients treated with BRAFi or BRAFi+MEKi were evaluated at baseline (T0), after two months of treatment (T2) and at progression (TP) by ELISA. Results miR-126-3p was significantly down-regulated in the dabrafenib-resistant sublines as compared with their parental counterparts. miR-126-3p replacement in the drug-resistant cells inhibited proliferation, cell cycle progression, phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and/or AKT, invasiveness, VEGF-A and ADAM9 expression, and increased dabrafenib sensitivity. VEGFA or ADAM9 silencing impaired proliferation and invasiveness of the drug-resistant sublines. ADAM9 knock-down in the resistant cells increased dabrafenib sensitivity, whereas miR-126-3p enforced expression or ADAM9 silencing in the drug-sensitive cells delayed the development of resistance. At T0 and T2, statistically significant differences were observed in VEGF-A serum levels between patients who responded to therapy and patients who did not. In responder patients, a significant increase of VEGF-A levels was observed at TP versus T2. Conclusions Strategies restoring miR-126-3p expression or targeting VEGF-A or ADAM9 could restrain growth and metastasis of dabrafenib-resistant melanomas and increase their drug sensitivity. Circulating VEGF-A is a promising biomarker for predicting patients’ response to BRAFi or BRAFi+MEKi and for monitoring the onset of resistance. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-019-1238-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Caporali
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167, Rome, Italy
| | - Adriana Amaro
- Molecular Pathology, IRCCS-Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Lauretta Levati
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167, Rome, Italy
| | - Ester Alvino
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Council of Research, Rome, Italy
| | - Pedro Miguel Lacal
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Federica Ruffini
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Bonmassar
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Nadia Felli
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Carè
- Center of Gender Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Ulrich Pfeffer
- Molecular Pathology, IRCCS-Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Stefania D'Atri
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167, Rome, Italy.
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15
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In silico repurposing the Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 for treating PTTG1-high expressing clear cell renal carcinoma. Pathol Res Pract 2019; 215:152373. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2018] [Revised: 02/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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