1
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Sroka MW, Skopelitis D, Vermunt MW, Preall JB, El Demerdash O, de Almeida LMN, Chang K, Utama R, Gryder B, Caligiuri G, Ren D, Nalbant B, Milazzo JP, Tuveson DA, Dobin A, Hiebert SW, Stengel KR, Mantovani R, Khan J, Kohli RM, Shi J, Blobel GA, Vakoc CR. Myo-differentiation reporter screen reveals NF-Y as an activator of PAX3-FOXO1 in rhabdomyosarcoma. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2303859120. [PMID: 37639593 PMCID: PMC10483665 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2303859120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Recurrent chromosomal rearrangements found in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) produce the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein, which is an oncogenic driver and a dependency in this disease. One important function of PAX3-FOXO1 is to arrest myogenic differentiation, which is linked to the ability of RMS cells to gain an unlimited proliferation potential. Here, we developed a phenotypic screening strategy for identifying factors that collaborate with PAX3-FOXO1 to block myo-differentiation in RMS. Unlike most genes evaluated in our screen, we found that loss of any of the three subunits of the Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) complex leads to a myo-differentiation phenotype that resembles the effect of inactivating PAX3-FOXO1. While the transcriptomes of NF-Y- and PAX3-FOXO1-deficient RMS cells bear remarkable similarity to one another, we found that these two transcription factors occupy nonoverlapping sites along the genome: NF-Y preferentially occupies promoters, whereas PAX3-FOXO1 primarily binds to distal enhancers. By integrating multiple functional approaches, we map the PAX3 promoter as the point of intersection between these two regulators. We show that NF-Y occupies CCAAT motifs present upstream of PAX3 to function as a transcriptional activator of PAX3-FOXO1 expression in RMS. These findings reveal a critical upstream role of NF-Y in the oncogenic PAX3-FOXO1 pathway, highlighting how a broadly essential transcription factor can perform tumor-specific roles in governing cellular state.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marit W. Vermunt
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | | | | | | | - Kenneth Chang
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY11724
| | - Raditya Utama
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY11724
| | - Berkley Gryder
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH44106
| | | | - Diqiu Ren
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Benan Nalbant
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY11724
| | | | | | | | - Scott W. Hiebert
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN37232
| | - Kristy R. Stengel
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY10461
| | - Roberto Mantovani
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133Milano, Italy
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD20892
| | - Rahul M. Kohli
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Junwei Shi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA19104
| | - Gerd A. Blobel
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA19104
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2
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Bottino C, Vitale C, Dondero A, Castriconi R. B7-H3 in Pediatric Tumors: Far beyond Neuroblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3279. [PMID: 37444389 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
B7-H3 is a 4Ig transmembrane protein that emerged as a tumor-associated antigen in neuroblastoma. It belongs to the B7 family, shows an immunoregulatory role toward NK and T cells, and, therefore, has been included in the growing family of immune checkpoints. Besides neuroblastoma, B7-H3 is expressed by many pediatric cancers including tumors of the central nervous system, sarcomas, and acute myeloid leukemia. In children, particularly those affected by solid tumors, the therapeutic protocols are aggressive and cause important life-threatening side effects. Moreover, despite the improved survival observed in the last decade, a relevant number of patients show therapy resistance and fatal relapses. Immunotherapy represents a new frontier in the cure of cancer patients and the targeting of tumor antigens or immune checkpoints blockade showed exciting results in adults. In this encouraging scenario, researchers and clinicians are exploring the possibility to use immunotherapeutics targeting B7-H3; these include mAbs and chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T). These tools are rapidly evolving to improve the efficacy and decrease the unwanted side effects; drug-conjugated mAbs, bi-tri-specific mAbs or CAR-T, and, very recently, NK cell engagers (NKCE), tetra-specific molecules engaging a tumor-associated antigen and NK cells, have been generated. Preclinical data are promising, and clinical trials are ongoing. Hopefully, the B7-H3 targeting will provide important benefits to cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Bottino
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Chiara Vitale
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Alessandra Dondero
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Roberta Castriconi
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
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3
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Genetic Characterization, Current Model Systems and Prognostic Stratification in PAX Fusion-Negative vs. PAX Fusion-Positive Rhabdomyosarcoma. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12101500. [PMID: 34680895 PMCID: PMC8535289 DOI: 10.3390/genes12101500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and adolescents and accounts for approximately 2% of soft tissue sarcomas in adults. It is subcategorized into distinct subtypes based on histological features and fusion status (PAX-FOXO1/VGLL2/NCOA2). Despite advances in our understanding of the pathobiological and molecular landscape of RMS, the prognosis of these tumors has not significantly improved in recent years. Developing a better understanding of genetic abnormalities and risk stratification beyond the fusion status are crucial to developing better therapeutic strategies. Herein, we aim to highlight the genetic pathways/abnormalities involved, specifically in fusion-negative RMS, assess the currently available model systems to study RMS pathogenesis, and discuss available prognostic factors as well as their importance for risk stratification to achieve optimal therapeutic management.
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4
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Panicker S, Venkatabalasubramanian S, Pathak S, Ramalingam S. The impact of fusion genes on cancer stem cells and drug resistance. Mol Cell Biochem 2021; 476:3771-3783. [PMID: 34095988 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-021-04203-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
With ever increasing evidences on the role of fusion genes as the oncogenic protagonists in myriad cancers, it's time to explore if fusion genes can be the next generational drug targets in meeting the current demands of higher drug efficacy. Eliminating cancer stem cells (CSC) has become the current focus; however, we have reached a standstill in drug development owing to the lack of effective strategies to eradicate CSC. We believe that fusion genes could be the novel targets to overcome this limitation. The intriguing feature of fusion genes is that it dominantly impacts every aspect of CSC including self-renewal, differentiation, lineage commitment, tumorigenicity and stemness. Given the clinical success of fusion gene-based drugs in hematological cancers, our attempt to target fusion genes in eradicating CSC can be rewarding. As fusion genes are expressed explicitly in cancer cells, eradicating CSC by targeting fusion genes provides yet an another advantage of negligible patient side effects since normal cells remain unaffected by the drug. We hereby delineate the latest evidences on how fusion genes regulate CSC and drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurav Panicker
- Department of Genetic Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Kanchipuram, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Surajit Pathak
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Chennai, 603103, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Satish Ramalingam
- Department of Genetic Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Kanchipuram, 603203, Tamil Nadu, India.
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5
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Shields CE, Potlapalli S, Cuya-Smith SM, Chappell SK, Chen D, Martinez D, Pogoriler J, Rathi KS, Patel SA, Oristian KM, Linardic CM, Maris JM, Haynes KA, Schnepp RW. Epigenetic regulator BMI1 promotes alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma proliferation and constitutes a novel therapeutic target. Mol Oncol 2021; 15:2156-2171. [PMID: 33523558 PMCID: PMC8333775 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an aggressive pediatric soft tissue sarcoma. There are two main subtypes of RMS, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. ARMS typically encompasses fusion‐positive rhabdomyosarcoma, which expresses either PAX3‐FOXO1 or PAX7‐FOXO1 fusion proteins. There are no targeted therapies for ARMS; however, recent studies have begun to illustrate the cooperation between epigenetic proteins and the PAX3‐FOXO1 fusion, indicating that epigenetic proteins may serve as targets in ARMS. Here, we investigate the contribution of BMI1, given the established role of this epigenetic regulator in sustaining aggression in cancer. We determined that BMI1 is expressed across ARMS tumors, patient‐derived xenografts, and cell lines. We depleted BMI1 using RNAi and inhibitors (PTC‐209 and PTC‐028) and found that this leads to a decrease in cell growth/increase in apoptosis in vitro, and delays tumor growth in vivo. Our data suggest that BMI1 inhibition activates the Hippo pathway via phosphorylation of LATS1/2 and subsequent reduction in YAP levels and YAP/TAZ target genes. These results identify BMI1 as a potential therapeutic vulnerability in ARMS and warrant further investigation of BMI1 in ARMS and other sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara E Shields
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sindhu Potlapalli
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Selma M Cuya-Smith
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sarah K Chappell
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Dongdong Chen
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Daniel Martinez
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jennifer Pogoriler
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Komal S Rathi
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Division of Oncology and Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shiv A Patel
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kristianne M Oristian
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Corinne M Linardic
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John M Maris
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Division of Oncology and Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Karmella A Haynes
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Robert W Schnepp
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
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6
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Boudjadi S, Pandey PR, Chatterjee B, Nguyen TH, Sun W, Barr FG. A Fusion Transcription Factor-Driven Cancer Progresses to a Fusion-Independent Relapse via Constitutive Activation of a Downstream Transcriptional Target. Cancer Res 2021; 81:2930-2942. [PMID: 33589519 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-1613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Targeted monotherapies usually fail due to development of resistance by a subgroup of cells that evolve into recurrent tumors. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive myogenic soft-tissue cancer that is associated with a characteristic PAX3-FOXO1 gene fusion encoding a novel fusion transcription factor. In our myoblast model of PAX3-FOXO1-induced rhabdomyosarcoma, deinduction of PAX3-FOXO1 simulates a targeted therapy that antagonizes the fusion oncoprotein. This simulated therapy results initially in regression of the primary tumors, but PAX3-FOXO1-independent recurrent tumors eventually form after a delay. We report here that upregulation of FGF8, a direct transcriptional target of PAX3-FOXO1, is a mechanism responsible for PAX3-FOXO1-independent tumor recurrence. As a transcriptional target of PAX3-FOXO1, FGF8 promoted oncogenic activity in PAX3-FOXO1-expressing primary tumors that developed in the myoblast system. In the recurrent tumors forming after PAX3-FOXO1 deinduction, FGF8 expression was necessary and sufficient to induce PAX3-FOXO1-independent tumor growth through an autocrine mechanism. FGF8 was also expressed in human PAX3-FOXO1-expressing rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines and contributed to proliferation and transformation. In a human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line with reduced PAX3-FOXO1 expression, FGF8 upregulation rescued oncogenicity and simulated recurrence after PAX3-FOXO1-targeted therapy. We propose that deregulated expression of a PAX3-FOXO1 transcriptional target can generate resistance to therapy directed against this oncogenic transcription factor and postulate that this resistance mechanism may ultimately be countered by therapeutic approaches that antagonize the corresponding downstream pathways. SIGNIFICANCE: In a model of cancer initiated by a fusion transcription factor, constitutive activation of a downstream transcriptional target leads to fusion oncoprotein-independent recurrences, thereby highlighting a novel progression mechanism and therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salah Boudjadi
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Puspa Raj Pandey
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Thanh Hung Nguyen
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Wenyue Sun
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Frederic G Barr
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland.
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7
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Hu Q, Zhu L, Li Y, Zhou J, Xu J. ACTA1 is inhibited by PAX3-FOXO1 through RhoA-MKL1-SRF signaling pathway and impairs cell proliferation, migration and tumor growth in Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. Cell Biosci 2021; 11:25. [PMID: 33509264 PMCID: PMC7842031 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00534-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is a pediatric malignant soft tissue tumor with skeletal muscle phenotype. Little work about skeletal muscle proteins in ARMS was reported. PAX3-FOXO1 is a specific fusion gene generated from the chromosomal translocation t (2;13) (q35; q14) in most ARMS. ACTA1 is the skeletal muscle alpha actin gene whose transcript was detected in ARMS. However, ACTA1 expression and regulation in ARMS have not been well investigated. This work aims to explore the expression, regulation and potential role of ACTA1 in ARMS. Results ACTA1 protein was detected in the studied RH30, RH4 and RH41 ARMS cells. ACTA1 was found to be inhibited by PAX3-FOXO1 at transcription and protein levels by employing western blot, luciferase reporter, qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence assays. The activities of ACTA1 gene reporter induced by RhoA, MKL1, SRF, STARS or Cytochalasin D molecule were reduced in the presence of overexpressed PAX3-FOXO1 protein. CCG-1423 is an inhibitor of RhoA-MKL1-SRF signaling, we observed there was a synergistic effect between this inhibitor and PAX3-FOXO1 to suppress ACTA1 reporter activity. Furthermore, PAX3-FOXO1 overexpression decreased ACTA1 protein level and knockdown of PAX3-FOXO1 by siRNA enhanced ACTA1 expression. In addition, both MKL1 and SRF, but not RhoA were also found to be inhibited by PAX3-FOXO1 gene at protein levels and increased once knockdown of PAX3-FOXO1 expression. The association between MKL1 and SRF in cells was decreased accordingly with ectopic expression of PAX3-FOXO1. However, the distribution of MKL1 and SRF in nuclear or cytoplasm fraction was not changed by PAX3-FOXO1 expression. Finally, we showed that ACTA1 overexpression in RH30 cells could inhibit cell proliferation and migration in vitro and impair tumor growth in vivo compared with the control groups. Conclusions ACTA1 is inhibited by PAX3-FOXO1 at transcription and protein levels through RhoA-MKL1-SRF signaling pathway and this inhibition may partially contribute to the tumorigenesis and development of ARMS. Our findings improved the understanding of PAX3-FOXO1 in ARMS and provided a potential strategy for the treatment of ARMS in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiande Hu
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 150 Jimo Road, Shanghai, 200120, China.
| | - Liang Zhu
- Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 150 Jimo Road, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Jianjun Zhou
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 150 Jimo Road, Shanghai, 200120, China.
| | - Jun Xu
- Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China.
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8
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Helm BR, Zhan X, Pandya PH, Murray ME, Pollok KE, Renbarger JL, Ferguson MJ, Han Z, Ni D, Zhang J, Huang K. Gene Co-Expression Networks Restructured Gene Fusion in Rhabdomyosarcoma Cancers. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10090665. [PMID: 31480361 PMCID: PMC6770752 DOI: 10.3390/genes10090665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma is subclassified by the presence or absence of a recurrent chromosome translocation that fuses the FOXO1 and PAX3 or PAX7 genes. The fusion protein (FOXO1-PAX3/7) retains both binding domains and becomes a novel and potent transcriptional regulator in rhabdomyosarcoma subtypes. Many studies have characterized and integrated genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic differences among rhabdomyosarcoma subtypes that contain the FOXO1-PAX3/7 gene fusion and those that do not; however, few investigations have investigated how gene co-expression networks are altered by FOXO1-PAX3/7. Although transcriptional data offer insight into one level of functional regulation, gene co-expression networks have the potential to identify biological interactions and pathways that underpin oncogenesis and tumorigenicity. Thus, we examined gene co-expression networks for rhabdomyosarcoma that were FOXO1-PAX3 positive, FOXO1-PAX7 positive, or fusion negative. Gene co-expression networks were mined using local maximum Quasi-Clique Merger (lmQCM) and analyzed for co-expression differences among rhabdomyosarcoma subtypes. This analysis observed 41 co-expression modules that were shared between fusion negative and positive samples, of which 17/41 showed significant up- or down-regulation in respect to fusion status. Fusion positive and negative rhabdomyosarcoma showed differing modularity of co-expression networks with fusion negative (n = 109) having significantly more individual modules than fusion positive (n = 53). Subsequent analysis of gene co-expression networks for PAX3 and PAX7 type fusions observed 17/53 were differentially expressed between the two subtypes. Gene list enrichment analysis found that gene ontology terms were poorly matched with biological processes and molecular function for most co-expression modules identified in this study; however, co-expressed modules were frequently localized to cytobands on chromosomes 8 and 11. Overall, we observed substantial restructuring of co-expression networks relative to fusion status and fusion type in rhabdomyosarcoma and identified previously overlooked genes and pathways that may be targeted in this pernicious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan R Helm
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202-3082, USA
| | - Xiaohui Zhan
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202-3082, USA
- National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Pankita H Pandya
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202-3082, USA
| | - Mary E Murray
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202-3082, USA
| | - Karen E Pollok
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202-3082, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202-3082, USA
| | - Jamie L Renbarger
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202-3082, USA
| | - Michael J Ferguson
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202-3082, USA
| | - Zhi Han
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202-3082, USA
| | - Dong Ni
- National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202-3082, USA.
| | - Kun Huang
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202-3082, USA.
- Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and represents a high-grade neoplasm of skeletal myoblast-like cells. Decades of clinical and basic research have gradually improved our understanding of the pathophysiology of RMS and helped to optimize clinical care. The two major subtypes of RMS, originally characterized on the basis of light microscopic features, are driven by fundamentally different molecular mechanisms and pose distinct clinical challenges. Curative therapy depends on control of the primary tumour, which can arise at many distinct anatomical sites, as well as controlling disseminated disease that is known or assumed to be present in every case. Sophisticated risk stratification for children with RMS incorporates various clinical, pathological and molecular features, and that information is used to guide the application of multifaceted therapy. Such therapy has historically included cytotoxic chemotherapy as well as surgery, ionizing radiation or both. This Primer describes our current understanding of RMS epidemiology, disease susceptibility factors, disease mechanisms and elements of clinical care, including diagnostics, risk-based care of newly diagnosed and relapsed disease and the prevention and management of late effects in survivors. We also outline potential opportunities to further translate new biological insights into improved clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen X Skapek
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Andrea Ferrari
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Abha A Gupta
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Philip J Lupo
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Erin Butler
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Janet Shipley
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Belmont, UK
| | - Frederic G Barr
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Douglas S Hawkins
- Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington, and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
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10
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Bach DH, Long NP, Luu TTT, Anh NH, Kwon SW, Lee SK. The Dominant Role of Forkhead Box Proteins in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E3279. [PMID: 30360388 PMCID: PMC6213973 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19103279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Forkhead box (FOX) proteins are multifaceted transcription factors that are significantly implicated in cancer, with various critical roles in biological processes. Herein, we provide an overview of several key members of the FOXA, FOXC, FOXM1, FOXO and FOXP subfamilies. Important pathophysiological processes of FOX transcription factors at multiple levels in a context-dependent manner are discussed. We also specifically summarize some major aspects of FOX transcription factors in association with cancer research such as drug resistance, tumor growth, genomic alterations or drivers of initiation. Finally, we suggest that targeting FOX proteins may be a potential therapeutic strategy to combat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duc-Hiep Bach
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
| | | | | | - Nguyen Hoang Anh
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
| | - Sung Won Kwon
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
| | - Sang Kook Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.
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11
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Akaike K, Suehara Y, Kohsaka S, Hayashi T, Tanabe Y, Kazuno S, Mukaihara K, Toda-Ishii M, Kurihara T, Kim Y, Okubo T, Hayashi Y, Takamochi K, Takahashi F, Kaneko K, Ladanyi M, Saito T. PPP2R1A regulated by PAX3/FOXO1 fusion contributes to the acquisition of aggressive behavior in PAX3/FOXO1-positive alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Oncotarget 2018; 9:25206-25215. [PMID: 29861864 PMCID: PMC5982774 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
To better characterize the oncogenic role of the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein in the acquisition of aggressive behavior in ARMS, we employed a proteomic approach using a PAX3-FOXO1 knockdown system in ARMS cell lines. This approach revealed a protein list consisting of 107 consistently upregulated and 114 consistently downregulated proteins that were expected to be regulated by PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein. Furthermore, we identified 16 upregulated and 17 downregulated critical proteins based on a data-mining analysis. We also evaluated the function of PPP2R1A in ARMS cells. The PPP2R1A expression was upregulated at both the mRNA and protein levels by PAX3-FOXO1 silencing. The silencing of PPP2R1A significantly increased the cell growth of all four ARMS cells, suggesting that PPP2R1A still has a tumor suppressive function in ARMS cells; however, the native expression of PPP2R1A was low in the presence of PAX3-FOXO1. In addition, the activation of PP2A-part of which was encoded by PPP2R1A-by FTY720 treatment in ARMS cell lines inhibited cell growth. On the human phospho-kinase array analysis of 46 specific Ser/Thr or Tyr phosphorylation sites on 39 selected proteins, eNOS, AKT1/2/3, RSK1/2/3 and STAT3 phosphorylation were decreased by FTY-720 treatment. These findings suggest that PPP2R1A is a negatively regulated by PAX3-FOXO1 in ARMS. The activation of PP2A-probably in combination with kinase inhibitors-may represent a therapeutic target in ARMS. We believe that the protein expression profile associated with PAX3-FOXO1 would be valuable for discovering new therapeutic targets in ARMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Akaike
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Human Pathology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Suehara
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinji Kohsaka
- Department of Medical Genomics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuo Hayashi
- Department of Human Pathology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yu Tanabe
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Saiko Kazuno
- Laboratory of Proteomics and Biomolecular Science, Research Support Center, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenta Mukaihara
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Midori Toda-Ishii
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taisei Kurihara
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Youngji Kim
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Taketo Okubo
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhide Hayashi
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Gunma Children's Medical Center, Shibukawa, Gunma, Japan
| | - Kazuya Takamochi
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumiyuki Takahashi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuo Kaneko
- Department of Human Pathology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Marc Ladanyi
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tsuyoshi Saito
- Department of Human Pathology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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12
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Boudjadi S, Chatterjee B, Sun W, Vemu P, Barr FG. The expression and function of PAX3 in development and disease. Gene 2018; 666:145-157. [PMID: 29730428 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.04.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Revised: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The PAX3 gene encodes a member of the PAX family of transcription factors that is characterized by a highly conserved paired box motif. The PAX3 protein is a transcription factor consisting of an N-terminal DNA binding domain (containing a paired box and homeodomain) and a C-terminal transcriptional activation domain. This protein is expressed during development of skeletal muscle, central nervous system and neural crest derivatives, and regulates expression of target genes that impact on proliferation, survival, differentiation and motility in these lineages. Germline mutations of the murine Pax3 and human PAX3 genes cause deficiencies in these developmental lineages and result in the Splotch phenotype and Waardenburg syndrome, respectively. Somatic genetic rearrangements that juxtapose the PAX3 DNA binding domain to the transcriptional activation domain of other transcription factors deregulate PAX3 function and contribute to the pathogenesis of the soft tissue cancers alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma and biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma. The wild-type PAX3 protein is also expressed in other cancers related to developmental lineages that normally express this protein and exerts phenotypic effects related to its normal developmental role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salah Boudjadi
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Wenyue Sun
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Prasantha Vemu
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Frederic G Barr
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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13
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Farhan M, Wang H, Gaur U, Little PJ, Xu J, Zheng W. FOXO Signaling Pathways as Therapeutic Targets in Cancer. Int J Biol Sci 2017; 13:815-827. [PMID: 28808415 PMCID: PMC5555100 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.20052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 304] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Many transcription factors play a key role in cellular differentiation and the delineation of cell phenotype. Transcription factors are regulated by phosphorylation, ubiquitination, acetylation/deacetylation and interactions between two or more proteins controlling multiple signaling pathways. These pathways regulate different physiological processes and pathological events, such as cancer and other diseases. The Forkhead box O (FOXO) is one subfamily of the fork head transcription factor family with important roles in cell fate decisions and this subfamily is also suggested to play a pivotal functional role as a tumor suppressor in a wide range of cancers. During apoptosis, FOXOs are involved in mitochondria-dependent and -independent processes triggering the expression of death receptor ligands like Fas ligand, TNF apoptosis ligand and Bcl‑XL, bNIP3, Bim from Bcl-2 family members. Different types of growth factors like insulin play a vital role in the regulation of FOXOs. The most important pathway interacting with FOXO in different types of cancers is the PI3K/AKT pathway. Some other important pathways such as the Ras-MEK-ERK, IKK and AMPK pathways are also associated with FOXOs in tumorigenesis. Therapeutically targeting the FOXO signaling pathway(s) could lead to the discovery and development of efficacious agents against some cancers, but this requires an enhanced understanding and knowledge of FOXO transcription factors and their regulation and functioning. This review focused on the current understanding of cell biology of FOXO transcription factors which relates to their potential role as targets for the treatment and prevention of human cancers. We also discuss drugs which are currently being used for cancer treatment along with their target pathways and also point out some potential drawbacks of those drugs, which further signifies the need for development of new drug strategies in the field of cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Farhan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Haitao Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Uma Gaur
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Peter J Little
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, 4102 Australia and Xin Hua College, Sun Yat- Sen University, China
| | - Jiangping Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenhua Zheng
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
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14
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Pandey PR, Chatterjee B, Olanich ME, Khan J, Miettinen MM, Hewitt SM, Barr FG. PAX3-FOXO1 is essential for tumour initiation and maintenance but not recurrence in a human myoblast model of rhabdomyosarcoma. J Pathol 2017; 241:626-637. [PMID: 28138962 DOI: 10.1002/path.4867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The PAX3-FOXO1 fusion gene is generated by a 2;13 chromosomal translocation and is a characteristic feature of an aggressive subset of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). To dissect the mechanism of oncogene action during RMS tumourigenesis and progression, doxycycline-inducible PAX3-FOXO1 and constitutive MYCN expression constructs were introduced into immortalized human myoblasts. Although myoblasts expressing PAX3-FOXO1 or MYCN alone were not transformed in focus formation assays, combined PAX3-FOXO1 and MYCN expression resulted in transformation. Following intramuscular injection into immunodeficient mice, myoblasts expressing PAX3-FOXO1 and MYCN formed rapidly growing RMS tumours, whereas myoblasts expressing only PAX3-FOXO1 formed tumours after a longer latency period. Doxycycline withdrawal in myoblasts expressing inducible PAX3-FOXO1 and constitutive MYCN following tumour formation in vivo or focus formation in vitro resulted in tumour regression or smaller foci associated with myogenic differentiation and cell death. Following regression, most tumours recurred in the absence of doxycycline. Analysis of recurrent tumours revealed a subset without PAX3-FOXO1 expression, and cell lines derived from these recurrent tumours showed transformation in the absence of doxycycline. The doxycycline-independent oncogenicity in these recurrent tumour-derived lines persisted even after PAX3-FOXO1 was inactivated with a CRISPR/Cas9 editing strategy. Whereas cell lines derived from primary tumours were dependent on PAX3-FOXO1 and differentiated following doxycycline withdrawal, recurrent tumour-derived cells without PAX3-FOXO1 expression did not differentiate under these conditions. These findings indicate that PAX3-FOXO1 collaborates with MYCN during early RMS tumourigenesis to dysregulate proliferation and inhibit myogenic differentiation and cell death. Although most cells in the primary tumours are dependent on PAX3-FOXO1, recurrent tumours can develop by a PAX3-FOXO1-independent mechanism, in which rare cells are postulated to acquire secondary transforming events that were activated or selected by initial PAX3-FOXO1 expression. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puspa R Pandey
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Bishwanath Chatterjee
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mary E Olanich
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Markku M Miettinen
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Stephen M Hewitt
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Frederic G Barr
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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15
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Arnold MA, Barr FG. Molecular diagnostics in the management of rhabdomyosarcoma. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2017; 17:189-194. [PMID: 28058850 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2017.1275965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A classification of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) with prognostic relevance has primarily relied on clinical features and histologic classification as either embryonal or alveolar RMS. The PAX3-FOXO1 and PAX7-FOXO1 gene fusions occur in 80% of cases with the alveolar subtype and are more predictive of outcome than histologic classification. Identifying additional molecular hallmarks that further subclassify RMS is an active area of research. Areas Covered: The authors review the current state of the PAX3-FOXO1 and PAX7-FOXO1 fusions as prognostic biomarkers. Emerging biomarkers, including mRNA expression profiling, MYOD1 mutations, RAS pathway mutations and gene fusions involving NCOA2 or VGLL2 are also reviewed. Expert commentary: Strategies for modifying RMS risk stratification based on molecular biomarkers are emerging with the potential to transform the clinical management of RMS, ultimately improving patient outcomes by tailoring therapy to predicted patient risk and identifying targets for novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Arnold
- a Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine , Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus , OH , USA.,b Department of Pathology , The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center , Columbus , OH , USA
| | - Fredric G Barr
- c Laboratory of Pathology , National Cancer Institute , Bethesda , MD , USA
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16
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Rengaswamy V, Zimmer D, Süss R, Rössler J. RGD liposome-protamine-siRNA (LPR) nanoparticles targeting PAX3-FOXO1 for alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma therapy. J Control Release 2016; 235:319-327. [PMID: 27261335 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.05.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2016] [Revised: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) are aggressive soft tissue tumors harboring specific fusion transcripts, notably PAX3-FOXO1 (P3F). Current therapy concepts result in unsatisfactory survival rates making the search for innovative approaches necessary: targeting PAX3-FOXO1 could be a promising strategy. In this study, we developed integrin receptor-targeted Lipid-Protamine-siRNA (LPR) nanoparticles using the RGD peptide and validated target specificity as well as their post-silencing effects. We demonstrate that RGD-LPRs are specific to ARMS in vitro and in vivo. Loaded with siRNA directed against the breakpoint of P3F, these particles efficiently down regulated the fusion transcript and inhibited cell proliferation, but did not induce substantial apoptosis. In a xenograft ARMS model, LPR nanoparticles targeting P3F showed statistically significant tumor growth delay as well as inhibition of tumor initiation when injected in parallel with the tumor cells. These findings suggest that RGD-LPR targeting P3F are promising to be highly effective in the setting of minimal residual disease for ARMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkatesh Rengaswamy
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Doris Zimmer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy and Freiburger, Materialforschungszentrum (FMF), University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Regine Süss
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy and Freiburger, Materialforschungszentrum (FMF), University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jochen Rössler
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany.
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17
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Coomans de Brachène A, Demoulin JB. FOXO transcription factors in cancer development and therapy. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:1159-72. [PMID: 26686861 PMCID: PMC11108379 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-2112-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Revised: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factors are considered as tumor suppressors that limit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. FOXO gene alterations have been described in a limited number of human cancers, such as rhabdomyosarcoma, leukemia and lymphoma. In addition, FOXO proteins are inactivated by major oncogenic signals such as the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase pathway and MAP kinases. Their expression is also repressed by micro-RNAs in multiple cancer types. FOXOs are mediators of the tumor response to various therapies. However, paradoxical roles of FOXOs in cancer progression were recently described. FOXOs contribute to the maintenance of leukemia-initiating cells in acute and chronic myeloid leukemia. These factors may also promote invasion and metastasis of subsets of colon and breast cancers. Resistance to treatment was also ascribed to FOXO activation in multiple cases, including targeted therapies. In this review, we discuss the complex role of FOXOs in cancer development and response to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Coomans de Brachène
- de Duve Institute, MEXP-UCL 74.30, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 75, B1.74.05, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-Baptiste Demoulin
- de Duve Institute, MEXP-UCL 74.30, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 75, B1.74.05, 1200, Brussels, Belgium.
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18
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Wong WJ, Lauria A, Hornick JL, Xiao S, Fletcher JA, Marino-Enriquez A. Alternate PAX3-FOXO1 oncogenic fusion in biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2015; 55:25-9. [PMID: 26355893 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.22295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Revised: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 08/07/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma (SNS) is a low grade spindle cell sarcoma that affects middle-aged adults, in which the PAX3-MAML3 chimeric transcription factor induces an aberrant dual myogenic and neuroectodermal phenotype. We report an alternate PAX3-FOXO1 oncogenic fusion in SNS, confirming the crucial role of PAX3 in SNS oncogenesis. The presence of PAX3-FOXO1 in SNS and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma suggests that these two entities are genetically similar lesions arising from distinct progenitor cell pools. This finding has important implications for the molecular diagnosis of SNS and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, and underscores the critical contribution of the cell of origin to the phenotype induced by oncogenic transcription factor reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waihay J Wong
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Alexandra Lauria
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jason L Hornick
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Sheng Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jonathan A Fletcher
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Adrian Marino-Enriquez
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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19
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Schmitt-Ney M, Camussi G. The PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein present in rhabdomyosarcoma interferes with normal FOXO activity and the TGF-β pathway. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121474. [PMID: 25806826 PMCID: PMC4373809 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 02/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
PAX3-FOXO1 (PAX3-FKHR) is the fusion protein produced by the genomic translocation that characterizes the alveolar subtype of Rhabdomyosarcoma, a pediatric sarcoma with myogenic phenotype. PAX3-FOXO1 is an aberrant but functional transcription factor. It retains PAX3-DNA-binding activity and functionally overlaps PAX3 function while also disturbing it, in particular its role in myogenic differentiation. We herein show that PAX3-FOXO1 interferes with normal FOXO function. PAX3-FOXO1 affects FOXO-family member trans-activation capability and the FOXO-dependent TGF-β response. PAX3-FOXO1 may contribute to tumor formation by inhibiting the tumor suppressor activities which are characteristic of both FOXO family members and TGF-β pathways. The recognition of this mechanism raises new questions about how FOXO family members function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Schmitt-Ney
- Molecular Biotechnology Center and Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Giovanni Camussi
- Molecular Biotechnology Center and Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
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20
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Fang WH, Wang Q, Li HM, Ahmed M, Kumar P, Kumar S. PAX3 in neuroblastoma: oncogenic potential, chemosensitivity and signalling pathways. J Cell Mol Med 2013; 18:38-48. [PMID: 24188742 PMCID: PMC3916116 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.12155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2013] [Accepted: 09/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor PAX3/Pax3 contributes to diverse cell lineages during embryonic development and is important in tumourigenesis. We found that PAX3 is re-expressed in neuroblastoma and malignant neuroblastic (N-type) neuroblastoma cells had significantly higher PAX3 protein expression than their benign substrate-adherent (S-type) counterparts. Knock-down of PAX3 expression by siRNA transfection resulted in persistent cell growth inhibition in both types of neuroblastoma cell, owing to G1 cell cycle arrest and progressive apoptosis. Inhibition of PAX3 expression significantly decreased the attachment of S-type SH-EP1 cells to extra-cellular matrix proteins, fibronectin, laminin and collagen IV. Migration and invasion of both neuroblastoma cell types were markedly reduced after PAX3 down-regulation. PAX3 knock-down significantly augmented the cytotoxic effect of chemotherapeutic agents, etoposide, vincristine and cisplatin, commonly used to treat neuroblastoma. Microarray analyses revealed that particularly signalling pathways involving cell cycle, apoptosis, cell adhesion, cytoskeletal remodelling and development were altered by PAX3 down-regulation. Changes in PAX3 downstream genes identified by microarray analyses were validated in 47 genes by quantitative PCR. These novel findings lead us to propose that PAX3 might contribute to oncogenic characteristics of neuroblastoma cells by regulating a variety of crucial signalling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hui Fang
- Institute of Inflammation and Repair, Faculty of Medicine and Human Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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21
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Jothi M, Mal M, Keller C, Mal AK. Small molecule inhibition of PAX3-FOXO1 through AKT activation suppresses malignant phenotypes of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:2663-74. [PMID: 24107448 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-13-0277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma comprises a rare highly malignant tumor presumed to be associated with skeletal muscle lineage in children. The hallmark of the majority of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is a chromosomal translocation that generates the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein, which is an oncogenic transcription factor responsible for the development of the malignant phenotype of this tumor. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells are dependent on the oncogenic activity of PAX3-FOXO1, and its expression status in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma tumors correlates with worst patient outcome, suggesting that blocking this activity of PAX3-FOXO1 may be an attractive therapeutic strategy against this fusion-positive disease. In this study, we screened small molecule chemical libraries for inhibitors of PAX3-FOXO1 transcriptional activity using a cell-based readout system. We identified the Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPases (SERCA) inhibitor thapsigargin as an effective inhibitor of PAX3-FOXO1. Subsequent experiments in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells showed that activation of AKT by thapsigargin inhibited PAX3-FOXO1 activity via phosphorylation. Moreover, this AKT activation appears to be associated with the effects of thapsigargin on intracellular calcium levels. Furthermore, thapsigargin inhibited the binding of PAX3-FOXO1 to target genes and subsequently promoted its proteasomal degradation. In addition, thapsigargin treatment decreases the growth and invasive capacity of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells while inducing apoptosis in vitro. Finally, thapsigargin can suppress the growth of an alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma xenograft tumor in vivo. These data reveal that thapsigargin-induced activation of AKT is an effective mechanism to inhibit PAX3-FOXO1 and a potential agent for targeted therapy against alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathivanan Jothi
- Corresponding Author: Asoke K. Mal, Department of Cell Stress Biology, BLSC-L3-319 Roswell Park Cancer Institute Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263.
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22
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Hu Q, Yuan Y, Wang C. Structural and functional studies of FKHR-PAX3, a reciprocal fusion gene of the t(2;13) chromosomal translocation in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. PLoS One 2013; 8:e68065. [PMID: 23799156 PMCID: PMC3683129 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is an aggressive pediatric cancer of skeletal muscle. More than 70% of ARMS tumors carry balanced t(2;13) chromosomal translocation that leads to the production of two novel fusion genes, PAX3-FKHR and FKHR-PAX3. While the PAX3-FKHR gene has been intensely studied, the reciprocal FKHR-PAX3 gene has rarely been described. We report here the cloning and functional characterization of the FKHR-PAX3 gene as the first step towards a better understanding of its potential impact on ARMS biology. From RH30 ARMS cells, we detected and isolated three versions of FKHR-PAX3 cDNAs whose C-terminal sequences corresponded to PAX3c, PAX3d, and PAX3e isoforms. Unlike the nuclear-specific localization of PAX3-FKHR, the reciprocal FKHR-PAX3 proteins stayed predominantly in the cytoplasm. FKHR-PAX3 potently inhibited myogenesis in both non-transformed myoblast cells and ARMS cells. We showed that FKHR-PAX3 was not a classic oncogene but could act as a facilitator in oncogenic pathways by stabilizing PAX3-FKHR expression, enhancing cell proliferation, clonogenicity, anchorage-independent growth, and matrix adhesion in vitro, and accelerating the onset of tumor formation in xenograft mouse model in vivo. In addition to these pro-oncogenic behaviors, FKHR-PAX3 also negatively affected cell migration and invasion in vitro and lung metastasis in vivo. Taken together, these functional characteristics suggested that FKHR-PAX3 might have a critical role in the early stage of ARMS development.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Cell Adhesion
- Cell Differentiation
- Cell Movement
- Cell Proliferation
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13/genetics
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2/genetics
- Forkhead Box Protein O1
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/genetics
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Gene Expression
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Lung Neoplasms/genetics
- Lung Neoplasms/metabolism
- Lung Neoplasms/secondary
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Nude
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Muscle Neoplasms/genetics
- Muscle Neoplasms/metabolism
- Muscle Neoplasms/pathology
- Myoblasts/metabolism
- NIH 3T3 Cells
- Neoplasm Transplantation
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/metabolism
- PAX3 Transcription Factor
- Paired Box Transcription Factors/genetics
- Paired Box Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Protein Transport
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar/genetics
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar/metabolism
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar/secondary
- Transcriptional Activation
- Translocation, Genetic
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiande Hu
- Center for Molecular Biology of Oral Diseases, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Yewen Yuan
- Center for Molecular Biology of Oral Diseases, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Chiayeng Wang
- Center for Molecular Biology of Oral Diseases, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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23
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Ahn EH, Mercado GE, Laé M, Ladanyi M. Identification of target genes of PAX3-FOXO1 in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Oncol Rep 2013; 30:968-78. [PMID: 23733015 PMCID: PMC3776721 DOI: 10.3892/or.2013.2513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a soft tissue sarcoma categorized into two major subtypes: alveolar RMS (ARMS) and embryonal RMS (ERMS). Most ARMS express the PAX3-FOXO1 (P3F) fusion oncoprotein generated by the 2;13 chromosomal translocation. In the present study, the downstream target genes of P3F were identified by analyzing two independent sets of gene expression profiles: primary RMS tumors and RD ERMS cells transduced with inducible P3F constructs. We found 34 potential target genes (27 upregulated and 7 downregulated) that were significantly and differentially expressed between P3F-positive and P3F-negative categories, both in primary RMS tumors and in the inducible P3F cell culture system. Gene ontology analysis of microarray data of the inducible P3F cell culture system employed indicated apoptosis, cell death, development, and signal transduction as overrepresented significant functional categories found in both upregulated and downregulated genes. Therefore, among the 34 potential target genes, the expression of cell death-related [Gremlin1, cysteine knot superfamily 1, BMP antagonist 1 (GREM1) and death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1)] and development-related [myogenic differentiation 1 (MYOD1) and hairy/enhancer-of-split related with YRPW motif 1 (HEY1)] genes were further investigated. The differential expression of GREM1, DAPK1, MYOD1 and HEY1 was confirmed in independent tumors and inducible cell culture systems. The expression of GREM1, DAPK1 and MYOD1 were significantly upregulated; HEY1 was significantly downregulated in independent P3F-positive ARMS tumors and transcriptionally active P3F cells, compared to those in ERMS tumors and transcriptionally inactive P3F cells. This study identified target genes of P3F and suggested that four downstream targets (GREM1, DAPK1, MYOD1 and HEY1) can contribute to the biological activities of P3F involved in growth suppression or cell death and myogenic differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Hyun Ahn
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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24
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Olanich ME, Barr FG. A call to ARMS: targeting the PAX3-FOXO1 gene in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2013; 17:607-23. [PMID: 23432728 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2013.772136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Expression of fusion oncoproteins generated by recurrent chromosomal translocations represents a major tumorigenic mechanism characteristic of multiple cancers, including one-third of all sarcomas. Oncogenic fusion genes provide novel targets for therapeutic intervention. The PAX3-FOXO1 oncoprotein in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is presented as a paradigm to examine therapeutic strategies for targeting sarcoma-associated fusion genes. AREAS COVERED This review discusses the role of PAX3-FOXO1 in ARMS tumors. Besides evaluating various approaches to molecularly target PAX3-FOXO1 itself, this review highlights therapeutically attractive downstream genes activated by PAX3-FOXO1. EXPERT OPINION Oncogenic fusion proteins represent desirable therapeutic targets because their expression is specific to tumor cells, but these fusions generally characterize rare malignancies. Full development and testing of potential drugs targeted to these fusions are complicated by the small numbers of patients in these disease categories. Although efforts to develop targeted therapies against fusion proteins should continue, molecular targets that are applicable to a broader tumor landscape should be pursued. A shift of the traditional paradigm to view therapeutic intervention as target-specific rather than tumor-specific will help to circumvent the challenges posed by rare tumors and maximize the possibility of developing successful new treatments for patients with these rare translocation-associated sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Olanich
- National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research, Laboratory of Pathology , Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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25
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Walters ZS, Villarejo-Balcells B, Olmos D, Buist TWS, Missiaglia E, Allen R, Al-Lazikani B, Garrett MD, Blagg J, Shipley J. JARID2 is a direct target of the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein and inhibits myogenic differentiation of rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Oncogene 2013; 33:1148-57. [PMID: 23435416 PMCID: PMC3982124 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2012] [Revised: 12/10/2012] [Accepted: 01/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are the most frequent soft-tissue sarcoma in children and characteristically show features of developing skeletal muscle. The alveolar subtype is frequently associated with a PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein that is known to contribute to the undifferentiated myogenic phenotype of RMS cells. Histone methylation of lysine residues controls developmental processes in both normal and malignant cell contexts. Here we show that JARID2, which encodes a protein known to recruit various complexes with histone-methylating activity to their target genes, is significantly overexpressed in RMS with PAX3-FOXO1 compared with the fusion gene-negative RMS (t-test; P < 0.0001). Multivariate analyses showed that higher JARID2 levels are also associated with metastases at diagnosis, independent of fusion gene status and RMS subtype (n = 120; P = 0.039). JARID2 levels were altered by silencing or overexpressing PAX3-FOXO1 in RMS cell lines with and without the fusion gene, respectively. Consistent with this, we demonstrated that JARID2 is a direct transcriptional target of the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein. Silencing JARID2 resulted in reduced cell proliferation coupled with myogenic differentiation, including increased expression of Myogenin (MYOG) and Myosin Light Chain (MYL1) in RMS cell lines representative of both the alveolar and embryonal subtypes. Induced myogenic differentiation was associated with a decrease in JARID2 levels and this phenotype could be rescued by overexpressing JARID2. Furthermore, we that showed JARID2 binds to and alters the methylation status of histone H3 lysine 27 in the promoter regions of MYOG and MYL1 and that the interaction of JARID2 at these promoters is dependent on EED, a core component of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). Therefore, JARID2 is a downstream effector of PAX3-FOXO1 that maintains an undifferentiated myogenic phenotype that is characteristic of RMS. JARID2 and other components of PRC2 may represent novel therapeutic targets for treating RMS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z S Walters
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, London, UK
| | - B Villarejo-Balcells
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, London, UK
| | - D Olmos
- 1] Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, London, UK [2] Sarcoma Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - T W S Buist
- 1] Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, London, UK [2] Computational Biology and Chemogenomics, Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London, UK
| | - E Missiaglia
- 1] Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, London, UK [2] Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Bioinformatics Core Facility, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - R Allen
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, London, UK
| | - B Al-Lazikani
- Computational Biology and Chemogenomics, Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London, UK
| | - M D Garrett
- Cell Cycle Control Team, Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, London, UK
| | - J Blagg
- Medicinal Chemistry, Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London, UK
| | - J Shipley
- Sarcoma Molecular Pathology Team, Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, London, UK
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26
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Marshall AD, Grosveld GC. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma - The molecular drivers of PAX3/7-FOXO1-induced tumorigenesis. Skelet Muscle 2012. [PMID: 23206814 PMCID: PMC3564712 DOI: 10.1186/2044-5040-2-25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a soft tissue sarcoma arising from cells of a mesenchymal or skeletal muscle lineage. Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is more aggressive than the more common embryonal (ERMS) subtype. ARMS is more prone to metastasis and carries a poorer prognosis. In contrast to ERMS, the majority of ARMS tumors carry one of several characteristic chromosomal translocations, such as t(2;13)(q35;q14), which results in the expression of a PAX3-FOXO1 fusion transcription factor. In this review we discuss the genes that cooperate with PAX3-FOXO1, as well as the target genes of the fusion transcription factor that contribute to various aspects of ARMS tumorigenesis. The characterization of these pathways will lead to a better understanding of ARMS tumorigenesis and will allow the design of novel targeted therapies that will lead to better treatment for this aggressive pediatric tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy D Marshall
- Department of Genetics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.
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27
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Liu L, Wang YD, Wu J, Cui J, Chen T. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A): a transcriptional target of PAX3-FKHR and mediates PAX3-FKHR-dependent motility in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells. BMC Cancer 2012; 12:154. [PMID: 22533991 PMCID: PMC3453510 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2011] [Accepted: 04/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) has a high propensity to metastasize, leading to its aggressiveness and a poor survival rate among those with the disease. More than 80% of aggressive ARMSs harbor a PAX3-FKHR fusion transcription factor, which regulates cell migration and promotes metastasis, most likely by regulating the fusion protein’s transcriptional targets. Therefore, identifying druggable transcription targets of PAX3-FKHR that are also downstream effectors of PAX3-FKHR–mediated cell migration and metastasis may lead to novel therapeutic approaches for treating ARMS. Methods To identify genes whose expression is directly affected by the level of PAX3-FKHR in an ARMS cellular-context, we first developed an ARMS cell line in which PAX3-FKHR is stably down-regulated, and showed that stably downregulating PAX3-FKHR in ARMS cells significantly decreased the cells’ motility. We used microarray analysis to identify genes whose expression level decreased when PAX3-FKHR was downregulated. We used mutational analysis, promoter reporter assays, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays to determine whether PAX3-FKHR binds to the promoter region of the target gene. We used siRNA and pharmacologic inhibitor to downregulate the target gene of PAX3-FKHR and investigated the effect of such downregulation on cell motility. Results We found that when PAX3-FKHR was downregulated, the expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) decreased. We showed that PAX3-FKHR binds to a paired-domain binding-site in the CPT1A promoter region, indicating that CPT1A is a novel transcriptional target of PAX3-FKHR. Furthermore, downregulating CPT1A decreased cell motility in ARMS cells, indicating that CPT1A is a downstream effector of PAX3-FKHR–mediated cell migration and metastasis. Conclusions Taken together, we have identified CPT1A as a novel transcriptional target of PAX3-FKHR and revealed the novel function of CPT1A in promoting cell motility. CPT1A may represent a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of ARMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Liu
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St, Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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28
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Duan F, Smith LM, Gustafson DM, Zhang C, Dunlevy MJ, Gastier-Foster JM, Barr FG. Genomic and clinical analysis of fusion gene amplification in rhabdomyosarcoma: a report from the Children's Oncology Group. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2012; 51:662-74. [PMID: 22447499 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.21953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2011] [Accepted: 02/10/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an aggressive pediatric cancer of the myogenic lineage with frequent chromosomal translocations involving the PAX3 or PAX7 and FOXO1 genes. Based on previous studies indicating that the fusion genes are amplified in a subset of these cancers, we conducted a comprehensive molecular and clinical investigation of these amplification events. Using oligonucleotide arrays to localize amplicons, we found that the minimal 1p36 amplicon measured 0.13 Mb and only contained PAX7 whereas the minimal 13q14 amplicon measured 0.53 Mb and contained FOXO1 and the poorly characterized LOC646982 gene. Application of a fluorescence in situ hybridization assay to over 100 fusion-positive cases revealed that the fusion gene is amplified in 93% of PAX7-FOXO1-positive and 9% of PAX3-FOXO1-positive cases. While most cells in amplified PAX7-FOXO1-positive cases contained the amplicon, only a fraction of cells in the amplified PAX3-FOXO1-positive cases contained the amplicon. Expression studies demonstrated that the fusion transcripts were generally expressed at higher levels in amplified cases, and that the PAX7-FOXO1 fusion transcript was expressed at higher levels than the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion transcript. Finally, fusion gene amplification and PAX7-FOXO1 fusion status were each associated with significantly improved outcome; a multivariate analysis demonstrated that this predictive value was independent of other standard prognostic parameters. These findings therefore provide further evidence for a novel good prognosis subset of fusion-positive RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenghai Duan
- Center for Statistical Sciences, Department of Biostatistics, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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29
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Abstract
To address the poor outcomes in rhabdomyosarcoma, particularly the alveolar subtype, new therapies are needed. Potential cancer-specific alterations that may be molecular targets include gene fusions or copy number changes. Following the latter strategy, an attractive antigene approach was developed to inhibit MYCN oncogene expression in rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic G Barr
- Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892
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30
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Liu L, Chen T. PAX3-FKHR regulates the expression of pleiotrophin to mediate motility in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 1. [PMID: 24348888 DOI: 10.6000/1929-2279.2012.01.01.09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
More than 80% of the aggressive alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMSs) harbor a PAX3-FKHR fusion transcription factor, which regulates cell motility and promotes metastasis. Our hypothesis is that PAX3-FKHR regulates cell motility by regulating the expression of its transcriptional targets that are also its downstream effectors, which if identified, may lead to novel therapeutic approaches for treating ARMS. Here we report that PAX3-FKHR regulates the expression of pleiotrophin (PTN) by binding specifically to a paired-box domain binding-site in the PTN promoter, indicating that PTN is a transcriptional target of PAX3-FKHR. Significantly, we show that PTN regulates ARMS cell motility. Taken together, we have identified PTN as a novel transcriptional target of PAX3-FKHR that promotes ARMS cell motility. PTN may be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of ARMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Liu
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Taosheng Chen
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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Tonelli R, McIntyre A, Camerin C, Walters ZS, Di Leo K, Selfe J, Purgato S, Missiaglia E, Tortori A, Renshaw J, Astolfi A, Taylor KR, Serravalle S, Bishop R, Nanni C, Valentijn LJ, Faccini A, Leuschner I, Formica S, Reis-Filho JS, Ambrosini V, Thway K, Franzoni M, Summersgill B, Marchelli R, Hrelia P, Cantelli-Forti G, Fanti S, Corradini R, Pession A, Shipley J. Antitumor activity of sustained N-myc reduction in rhabdomyosarcomas and transcriptional block by antigene therapy. Clin Cancer Res 2011; 18:796-807. [PMID: 22065083 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-11-1981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Rhabdomyosarcomas are a major cause of cancer death in children, described with MYCN amplification and, in the alveolar subtype, transcription driven by the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of N-Myc protein expression and the potential therapeutic effects of reducing expression in rhabdomyosarcomas, including use of an antigene strategy that inhibits transcription. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. MYCN expression was reduced in representative cell lines by RNA interference and an antigene peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligonucleotide conjugated to a nuclear localization signal peptide. Associated gene expression changes, cell viability, and apoptosis were analyzed in vitro. As a paradigm for antigene therapy, the effects of systemic treatment of mice with rhabdomyosarcoma cell line xenografts were determined. RESULTS High N-Myc levels were significantly associated with genomic amplification, presence of the PAX3/7-FOXO1 fusion genes, and proliferative capacity. Sustained reduction of N-Myc levels in all rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines that express the protein decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. Positive feedback was shown to regulate PAX3-FOXO1 and N-Myc levels in the alveolar subtype that critically decrease PAX3-FOXO1 levels on reducing N-Myc. Pharmacologic systemic administration of the antigene PNA can eliminate alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma xenografts in mice, without relapse or toxicity. CONCLUSION N-Myc, with its restricted expression in non-fetal tissues, is a therapeutic target to treat rhabdomyosarcomas, and blocking gene transcription using antigene oligonucleotide strategies has therapeutic potential in the treatment of cancer and other diseases that has not been previously realized in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Tonelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
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Marshall AD, van der Ent MA, Grosveld GC. PAX3-FOXO1 and FGFR4 in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Mol Carcinog 2011; 51:807-15. [PMID: 21882254 DOI: 10.1002/mc.20848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2010] [Revised: 06/16/2011] [Accepted: 07/27/2011] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
We and others have identified FGFR4 as a direct transcriptional target of the alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) specific fusion protein, PAX3-FOXO1. We hypothesized fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) may act as an effector of PAX3-FOXO1, contributing to PAX3-FOXO1 tumorigenic phenotypes. However, we demonstrate that enhanced expression of FGFR4 does not contribute to inhibited differentiation, enhanced proliferation, or transformation downstream of PAX3-FOXO1 in primary mouse myoblasts. Therefore we were unable to identify any contribution of up regulation of wild type FGFR4 to PAX3-FOXO1 driven tumorigenesis. Conversely, a constitutively active mutant of FGFR4 can enhance primary myoblast proliferation and transformation, indicating activating mutations of FGFR4 could contribute to the development and progression of ARMS. We sequenced the FGFR4 mRNA from five ARMS cell lines and identified no somatic mutations, nor any association with any human single nucleotide polymorphism within the FGFR4 coding region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy D Marshall
- Department of Genetics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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