1
|
Ngoi NYL, Pilié PG, McGrail DJ, Zimmermann M, Schlacher K, Yap TA. Targeting ATR in patients with cancer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2024; 21:278-293. [PMID: 38378898 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-024-00863-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Pharmacological inhibition of the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein serine/threonine kinase (ATR; also known as FRAP-related protein (FRP1)) has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer treatment that exploits synthetic lethal interactions with proteins involved in DNA damage repair, overcomes resistance to other therapies and enhances antitumour immunity. Multiple novel, potent ATR inhibitors are being tested in clinical trials using biomarker-directed approaches and involving patients across a broad range of solid cancer types; some of these inhibitors have now entered phase III trials. Further insight into the complex interactions of ATR with other DNA replication stress response pathway components and with the immune system is necessary in order to optimally harness the potential of ATR inhibitors in the clinic and achieve hypomorphic targeting of the various ATR functions. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of the diverse range of predictive biomarkers of response to ATR inhibitors and of the intraclass differences between these agents could help to refine trial design and patient selection strategies. Key challenges that remain in the clinical development of ATR inhibitors include the optimization of their therapeutic index and the development of rational combinations with these agents. In this Review, we detail the molecular mechanisms regulated by ATR and their clinical relevance, and discuss the challenges that must be addressed to extend the benefit of ATR inhibitors to a broad population of patients with cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Y L Ngoi
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I Clinical Trials Program), Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Patrick G Pilié
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Daniel J McGrail
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - Katharina Schlacher
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Timothy A Yap
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I Clinical Trials Program), Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Therapeutics Discovery Division, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Khalifa Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Denu RA, Dann AM, Keung EZ, Nakazawa MS, Nassif Haddad EF. The Future of Targeted Therapy for Leiomyosarcoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:938. [PMID: 38473300 PMCID: PMC10930698 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050938] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is an aggressive subtype of soft tissue sarcoma that arises from smooth muscle cells, most commonly in the uterus and retroperitoneum. LMS is a heterogeneous disease with diverse clinical and molecular characteristics that have yet to be fully understood. Molecular profiling has uncovered possible targets amenable to treatment, though this has yet to translate into approved targeted therapies in LMS. This review will explore historic and recent findings from molecular profiling, highlight promising avenues of current investigation, and suggest possible future strategies to move toward the goal of molecularly matched treatment of LMS. We focus on targeting the DNA damage response, the macrophage-rich micro-environment, the PI3K/mTOR pathway, epigenetic regulators, and telomere biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A. Denu
- Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Amanda M. Dann
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA;
| | - Emily Z. Keung
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Michael S. Nakazawa
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Elise F. Nassif Haddad
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rosso I, Jones-Weinert C, Rossiello F, Cabrini M, Brambillasca S, Munoz-Sagredo L, Lavagnino Z, Martini E, Tedone E, Garre' M, Aguado J, Parazzoli D, Mione M, Shay JW, Mercurio C, d'Adda di Fagagna F. Alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) cells viability is dependent on C-rich telomeric RNAs. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7086. [PMID: 37925537 PMCID: PMC10625592 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42831-0] [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: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) is a telomere maintenance mechanism activated in ~10-15% of cancers, characterized by telomeric damage. Telomeric damage-induced long non-coding RNAs (dilncRNAs) are transcribed at dysfunctional telomeres and contribute to telomeric DNA damage response (DDR) activation and repair. Here we observed that telomeric dilncRNAs are preferentially elevated in ALT cells. Inhibition of C-rich (teloC) dilncRNAs with antisense oligonucleotides leads to DNA replication stress responses, increased genomic instability, and apoptosis induction selectively in ALT cells. Cell death is dependent on DNA replication and is increased by DNA replication stress. Mechanistically, teloC dilncRNA inhibition reduces RAD51 and 53BP1 recruitment to telomeres, boosts the engagement of BIR machinery, and increases C-circles and telomeric sister chromatid exchanges, without increasing telomeric non-S phase synthesis. These results indicate that teloC dilncRNA is necessary for a coordinated recruitment of DDR factors to ALT telomeres and it is essential for ALT cancer cells survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Rosso
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Corey Jones-Weinert
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
- The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Matteo Cabrini
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Brambillasca
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (Experimental Therapeutics Program), Milan, Italy
| | - Leonel Munoz-Sagredo
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
- School of Medicine, Universidad de Valparaiso, Valparaiso, Chile
| | - Zeno Lavagnino
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuele Martini
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
- Dipartimento di Oncologia ed Emato-Oncologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Enzo Tedone
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Massimiliano Garre'
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
- RCSI, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Department of Chemistry, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Julio Aguado
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Dario Parazzoli
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Marina Mione
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Jerry W Shay
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ciro Mercurio
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (Experimental Therapeutics Program), Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio d'Adda di Fagagna
- IFOM ETS - The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy.
- Institute of Molecular Genetics IGM-CNR "Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza", Pavia, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ali JH, Walter M. Combining old and new concepts in targeting telomerase for cancer therapy: transient, immediate, complete and combinatory attack (TICCA). Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:197. [PMID: 37679807 PMCID: PMC10483736 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03041-2] [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: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase can overcome replicative senescence by elongation of telomeres but is also a specific element in most cancer cells. It is expressed more vastly than any other tumor marker. Telomerase as a tumor target inducing replicative immortality can be overcome by only one other mechanism: alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). This limits the probability to develop resistance to treatments. Moreover, telomerase inhibition offers some degree of specificity with a low risk of toxicity in normal cells. Nevertheless, only one telomerase antagonist reached late preclinical studies. The underlying causes, the pitfalls of telomerase-based therapies, and future chances based on recent technical advancements are summarized in this review. Based on new findings and approaches, we propose a concept how long-term survival in telomerase-based cancer therapies can be significantly improved: the TICCA (Transient Immediate Complete and Combinatory Attack) strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaber Haj Ali
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany
| | - Michael Walter
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Ernst-Heydemann-Straße 6, 18057, Rostock, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Umaru B, Sengupta S, Senthil Kumar S, Drissi R. Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres in Pediatric High-Grade Glioma and Therapeutic Implications. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3070. [PMID: 37370681 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123070] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs), including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), are highly aggressive tumors with dismal prognoses despite multimodal therapy including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. To achieve cellular immortality cancer cells must overcome replicative senescence and apoptosis by activating telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMMs) through the reactivation of telomerase activity or using alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT) pathways. Although the ALT phenotype is more prevalent in pHGGs compared to adult HGGs, the molecular pathway and the prognostic significance of ALT activation are not well understood in pHGGs. Here, we report the heterogeneity of TMM in pHGGs and their association with genetic alterations. Additionally, we show that sensitivity to the protein kinase ataxia telangiectasia- and RAD3-related protein (ATR) inhibitor and the ATR downstream target CHK1 is not specific to pHGG ALT-positive cells. Together, these findings underscore the need for novel therapeutic strategies to target ALT in pHGG tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Banlanjo Umaru
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Satarupa Sengupta
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Shiva Senthil Kumar
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Rachid Drissi
- Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Carson LM, Flynn RL. Highlighting vulnerabilities in the alternative lengthening of telomeres pathway. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2023; 70:102380. [PMID: 37149932 PMCID: PMC10247456 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2023.102380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway is a telomere elongation mechanism found in a small but often aggressive subset of cancers. Dependent on break-induced replication, telomere extension in ALT-positive cells relies on a baseline level of DNA replication stress to initiate elongation events. This results in an elevated level of DNA damage and presents a possible vulnerability to be exploited in the development of ALT-targeted cancer therapies. Currently, there are no treatment options that target the ALT mechanism or that are specific for ALT-positive tumors. Here, we review recent developments and promising directions in the development of ALT-targeted therapeutics, many of which involve tipping the balance towards inhibition or exacerbation of ALT activity to selectively target these cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Carson
- Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, and Medicine, Cancer Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Rachel L Flynn
- Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, and Medicine, Cancer Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Barnes RP, Thosar SA, Opresko PL. Telomere Fragility and MiDAS: Managing the Gaps at the End of the Road. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14020348. [PMID: 36833275 PMCID: PMC9956152 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres present inherent difficulties to the DNA replication machinery due to their repetitive sequence content, formation of non-B DNA secondary structures, and the presence of the nucleo-protein t-loop. Especially in cancer cells, telomeres are hot spots for replication stress, which can result in a visible phenotype in metaphase cells termed "telomere fragility". A mechanism cells employ to mitigate replication stress, including at telomeres, is DNA synthesis in mitosis (MiDAS). While these phenomena are both observed in mitotic cells, the relationship between them is poorly understood; however, a common link is DNA replication stress. In this review, we will summarize what is known to regulate telomere fragility and telomere MiDAS, paying special attention to the proteins which play a role in these telomere phenotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan P. Barnes
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5117 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Correspondence: (R.P.B.); (P.L.O.)
| | - Sanjana A. Thosar
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5117 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Patricia L. Opresko
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5117 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Correspondence: (R.P.B.); (P.L.O.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
da Costa AABA, Chowdhury D, Shapiro GI, D'Andrea AD, Konstantinopoulos PA. Targeting replication stress in cancer therapy. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:38-58. [PMID: 36202931 PMCID: PMC11132912 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00558-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 106.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Replication stress is a major cause of genomic instability and a crucial vulnerability of cancer cells. This vulnerability can be therapeutically targeted by inhibiting kinases that coordinate the DNA damage response with cell cycle control, including ATR, CHK1, WEE1 and MYT1 checkpoint kinases. In addition, inhibiting the DNA damage response releases DNA fragments into the cytoplasm, eliciting an innate immune response. Therefore, several ATR, CHK1, WEE1 and MYT1 inhibitors are undergoing clinical evaluation as monotherapies or in combination with chemotherapy, poly[ADP-ribose]polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, or immune checkpoint inhibitors to capitalize on high replication stress, overcome therapeutic resistance and promote effective antitumour immunity. Here, we review current and emerging approaches for targeting replication stress in cancer, from preclinical and biomarker development to clinical trial evaluation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dipanjan Chowdhury
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Geoffrey I Shapiro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alan D D'Andrea
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Viol F, Sipos B, Fahl M, Clauditz TS, Amin T, Kriegs M, Nieser M, Izbicki JR, Huber S, Lohse AW, Schrader J. Novel preclinical gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasia models demonstrate the feasibility of mutation-based targeted therapy. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2022; 45:1401-1419. [PMID: 36269546 PMCID: PMC9747820 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-022-00727-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NEN) form a rare and remarkably heterogeneous group of tumors. Therefore, establishing personalized therapies is eminently challenging. To achieve progress in preclinical drug development, there is an urgent need for relevant tumor models. METHODS We successfully established three gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (GEP-NET) cell lines (NT-18P, NT-18LM, NT-36) and two gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma (GEP-NEC) cell lines (NT-32 and NT-38). We performed a comprehensive characterization of morphology, NET differentiation, proliferation and intracellular signaling pathways of these five cell lines and, in addition, of the NT-3 GEP-NET cell line. Additionally, we conducted panel sequencing to identify genomic alterations suitable for mutation-based targeted therapy. RESULTS We found that the GEP-NEN cell lines exhibit a stable neuroendocrine phenotype. Functional kinome profiling revealed a higher activity of serine/threonine kinases (STK) as well as protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) in the GEP-NET cell lines NT-3 and NT-18LM compared to the GEP-NEC cell lines NT-32 and NT-38. Panel sequencing revealed a mutation in Death Domain Associated Protein (DAXX), sensitizing NT-18LM to the Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related (ATR) inhibitor Berzosertib, and a mutation in AT-Rich Interaction Domain 1A (ARID1A), sensitizing NT-38 to the Aurora kinase A inhibitor Alisertib. Small interfering RNA-mediated knock down of DAXX in the DAXX wild type cell line NT-3 sensitized these cells to Berzosertib. CONCLUSIONS The newly established GEP-NET and GEP-NEC cell lines represent comprehensive preclinical in vitro models suitable to decipher GEP-NEN biology and pathogenesis. Additionally, we present the first results of a GEP-NEN-specific mutation-based targeted therapy. These findings open up new potentialities for personalized therapies in GEP-NEN.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabrice Viol
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Bence Sipos
- Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Martina Fahl
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Till S Clauditz
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tania Amin
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Malte Kriegs
- Laboratory of Radiobiology & Experimental Radiation Oncology, UCCH Kinomics Core Facility, Hubertus Wald Tumorzentrum, University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maike Nieser
- Center for Genomics and Transcriptomics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jakob R Izbicki
- Department for General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Samuel Huber
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ansgar W Lohse
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jörg Schrader
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
- Department for General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
- Department of Medicine, Klinikum Nordfriesland, Husum, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Chen L, Zhang C, Ma W, Huang J, Zhao Y, Liu H. METTL3-mediated m6A modification stabilizes TERRA and maintains telomere stability. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:11619-11634. [PMID: 36399511 PMCID: PMC9723618 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA) is a type of long non-coding RNA transcribed from telomeres, and it forms R-loops by invasion into telomeric DNA. Since either an excessive or inadequate number of R-loops leads to telomere instability, the TERRA levels need to be delicately modulated. In this study, we found that m6A modification presents on the subtelomeric regions of TERRA and stabilizes it, and the loss of METTL3 impacts telomere stability. Mechanically, the m6A modification on TERRA is catalyzed by METTL3, recognized and stabilized by the m6A reader YTHDC1. Knockdown of either METTL3 or YTHDC1 enhances TERRA degradation. The m6A-modified TERRA forms R-loops and promotes homologous recombination which is essential for the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway in cancer cells. METTL3 depletion leads to R-loop reduction, telomere shortening and instability. Altogether, these findings reveal that METTL3 protects telomeres by catalyzing m6A modification on TERRA, indicating that inhibition or deletion of METTL3 is potentially a new avenue for ALT cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wenbin Ma
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Junjiu Huang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Baxter JS, Zatreanu D, Pettitt SJ, Lord CJ. Resistance to DNA repair inhibitors in cancer. Mol Oncol 2022; 16:3811-3827. [PMID: 35567571 PMCID: PMC9627783 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The DNA damage response (DDR) represents a complex network of proteins which detect and repair DNA damage, thereby maintaining the integrity of the genome and preventing the transmission of mutations and rearranged chromosomes to daughter cells. Faults in the DDR are a known driver and hallmark of cancer. Furthermore, inhibition of DDR enzymes can be used to treat the disease. This is exemplified by PARP inhibitors (PARPi) used to treat cancers with defects in the homologous recombination DDR pathway. A series of novel DDR targets are now also under pre-clinical or clinical investigation, including inhibitors of ATR kinase, WRN helicase or the DNA polymerase/helicase Polθ (Pol-Theta). Drug resistance is a common phenomenon that impairs the overall effectiveness of cancer treatments and there is already some understanding of how resistance to PARPi occurs. Here, we discuss how an understanding of PARPi resistance could inform how resistance to new drugs targeting the DDR emerges. We also discuss potential strategies that could limit the impact of these therapy resistance mechanisms in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph S. Baxter
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research CentreThe Institute of Cancer ResearchLondonUK
| | - Diana Zatreanu
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research CentreThe Institute of Cancer ResearchLondonUK
| | - Stephen J. Pettitt
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research CentreThe Institute of Cancer ResearchLondonUK
| | - Christopher J. Lord
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research CentreThe Institute of Cancer ResearchLondonUK
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Gao J, Pickett HA. Targeting telomeres: advances in telomere maintenance mechanism-specific cancer therapies. Nat Rev Cancer 2022; 22:515-532. [PMID: 35790854 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00490-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells establish replicative immortality by activating a telomere-maintenance mechanism (TMM), be it telomerase or the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway. Targeting telomere maintenance represents an intriguing opportunity to treat the vast majority of all cancer types. Whilst telomerase inhibitors have historically been heralded as promising anticancer agents, the reality has been more challenging, and there are currently no therapeutic options for cancer types that use ALT despite their aggressive nature and poor prognosis. In this Review, we discuss the mechanistic differences between telomere maintenance by telomerase and ALT, the current methods used to detect each mechanism, the utility of these tests for clinical diagnosis, and recent developments in the therapeutic strategies being employed to target both telomerase and ALT. We present notable developments in repurposing established therapeutic agents and new avenues that are emerging to target cancer types according to which TMM they employ. These opportunities extend beyond inhibition of telomere maintenance, by finding and exploiting inherent weaknesses in the telomeres themselves to trigger rapid cellular effects that lead to cell death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jixuan Gao
- Telomere Length Regulation Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Hilda A Pickett
- Telomere Length Regulation Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Zimmermann M, Bernier C, Kaiser B, Fournier S, Li L, Desjardins J, Skeldon A, Rimkunas V, Veloso A, Young JTF, Roulston A, Zinda M. Guiding ATR and PARP inhibitor combinationswith chemogenomic screens. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111081. [PMID: 35830811 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Combinations of ataxia telangiectasia- and Rad3-related kinase inhibitors (ATRis) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) synergistically kill tumor cells through modulation of complementary DNA repair pathways, but their tolerability is limited by hematological toxicities. To address this, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen to identify genetic alterations that hypersensitize cells to a combination of the ATRi RP-3500 with PARPi, including deficiency in RNase H2, RAD51 paralog mutations, or the "alternative lengthening of telomeres" telomere maintenance mechanism. We show that RP-3500 and PARPi combinations kill cells carrying these genetic alterations at doses sub-therapeutic as single agents. We also demonstrate the mechanism of combination hypersensitivity in RNase H2-deficient cells, where we observe an irreversible replication catastrophe, allowing us to design a highly efficacious and tolerable in vivo dosing schedule. We present a comprehensive dataset to inform development of ATRi and PARPi combinations and an experimental framework applicable to other drug combination strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michal Zimmermann
- Repare Therapeutics, 7171 Rue Frederick-Banting, St-Laurent, QC H4S 1Z9, Canada.
| | - Cynthia Bernier
- Repare Therapeutics, 7171 Rue Frederick-Banting, St-Laurent, QC H4S 1Z9, Canada
| | - Beatrice Kaiser
- Repare Therapeutics, 7171 Rue Frederick-Banting, St-Laurent, QC H4S 1Z9, Canada
| | - Sara Fournier
- Repare Therapeutics, 7171 Rue Frederick-Banting, St-Laurent, QC H4S 1Z9, Canada
| | - Li Li
- Repare Therapeutics, 7171 Rue Frederick-Banting, St-Laurent, QC H4S 1Z9, Canada
| | - Jessica Desjardins
- Repare Therapeutics, 7171 Rue Frederick-Banting, St-Laurent, QC H4S 1Z9, Canada
| | - Alexander Skeldon
- Ventus Therapeutics, 7150 Rue Frederick-Banting, St-Laurent, QC H4S 2A1, Canada
| | - Victoria Rimkunas
- Repare Therapeutics, 101 Main Street, Suite 1650, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Artur Veloso
- Repare Therapeutics, 101 Main Street, Suite 1650, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jordan T F Young
- Repare Therapeutics, 7171 Rue Frederick-Banting, St-Laurent, QC H4S 1Z9, Canada
| | - Anne Roulston
- Repare Therapeutics, 7171 Rue Frederick-Banting, St-Laurent, QC H4S 1Z9, Canada
| | - Michael Zinda
- Repare Therapeutics, 101 Main Street, Suite 1650, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Frank L, Rademacher A, Mücke N, Tirier SM, Koeleman E, Knotz C, Schumacher S, Stainczyk S, Westermann F, Fröhling S, Chudasama P, Rippe K. ALT-FISH quantifies alternative lengthening of telomeres activity by imaging of single-stranded repeats. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:e61. [PMID: 35188570 PMCID: PMC9226501 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) occurs in ∼10% of cancer entities. However, little is known about the heterogeneity of ALT activity since robust ALT detection assays with high-throughput in situ readouts are lacking. Here, we introduce ALT-FISH, a method to quantitate ALT activity in single cells from the accumulation of single-stranded telomeric DNA and RNA. It involves a one-step fluorescent in situ hybridization approach followed by fluorescence microscopy imaging. Our method reliably identified ALT in cancer cell lines from different tumor entities and was validated in three established models of ALT induction and suppression. Furthermore, we successfully applied ALT-FISH to spatially resolve ALT activity in primary tissue sections from leiomyosarcoma and neuroblastoma tumors. Thus, our assay provides insights into the heterogeneity of ALT tumors and is suited for high-throughput applications, which will facilitate screening for ALT-specific drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Frank
- Division of Chromatin Networks, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne Rademacher
- Division of Chromatin Networks, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Norbert Mücke
- Division of Chromatin Networks, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephan M Tirier
- Division of Chromatin Networks, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Emma Koeleman
- Division of Chromatin Networks, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Caroline Knotz
- Division of Chromatin Networks, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabrina Schumacher
- Division of Chromatin Networks, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabine A Stainczyk
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Neuroblastoma Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Westermann
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Neuroblastoma Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Fröhling
- Division of Translational Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Priya Chudasama
- Precision Sarcoma Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Karsten Rippe
- Division of Chromatin Networks, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Bioquant, Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Brenner KA, Nandakumar J. Consequences of telomere replication failure: the other end-replication problem. Trends Biochem Sci 2022; 47:506-517. [PMID: 35440402 PMCID: PMC9106919 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2022.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are chromosome-capping structures that protect ends of the linear genome from DNA damage sensors. However, these structures present obstacles during DNA replication. Incomplete telomere replication accelerates telomere shortening and limits replicative lifespan. Therefore, continued proliferation under conditions of replication stress requires a means of telomere repair, particularly in the absence of telomerase. It was recently revealed that replication stress triggers break-induced replication (BIR) and mitotic DNA synthesis (MiDAS) at mammalian telomeres; however, these mechanisms are error prone and primarily utilized in tumorigenic contexts. In this review article, we discuss the consequences of replication stress at telomeres and how use of available repair pathways contributes to genomic instability. Current research suggests that fragile telomeres are ultimately tumor-suppressive and thus may be better left unrepaired.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten A Brenner
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Jayakrishnan Nandakumar
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Bhargava R, Lynskey ML, O’Sullivan RJ. New twists to the ALTernative endings at telomeres. DNA Repair (Amst) 2022; 115:103342. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2022.103342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
17
|
Dall GV, Hamilton A, Ratnayake G, Scott C, Barker H. Interrogating the Genomic Landscape of Uterine Leiomyosarcoma: A Potential for Patient Benefit. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14061561. [PMID: 35326717 PMCID: PMC8946513 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) is a rare and aggressive gynaecological malignancy. Surgical removal and chemotherapy are commonly used to treat uLMS, but recurrence rates are high. Over the last few decades, clarification of the genomic landscape of uLMS has revealed a number of recurring mutations, including TP53, RB1, ATRX, PTEN, and MED12. Such genomic aberrations are difficult to target therapeutically or are actively targeted in other malignancies, and their potential as targets for the treatment of uLMS remains largely unexplored. Recent identification of deficiencies in homologous recombination in a minority of these tumours, however, has provided a rationale for investigation of PARP inhibitors in this sub-set. Here, we review these mutations and the evidence for therapeutic avenues that may be applied in uLMS. We also provide a comprehensive background on diagnosis and current therapeutic strategies as well as reviewing preclinical models of uLMS, which may be employed not only in testing emerging therapies but also in understanding this challenging and deadly disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve V. Dall
- Walter and Eliza Hall, Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.S.); (H.B.)
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia;
- Correspondence:
| | - Anne Hamilton
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia;
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
- Royal Women’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
| | | | - Clare Scott
- Walter and Eliza Hall, Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.S.); (H.B.)
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia;
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
- Royal Women’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
| | - Holly Barker
- Walter and Eliza Hall, Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; (C.S.); (H.B.)
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia;
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Genetic and Histopathological Heterogeneity of Neuroblastoma and Precision Therapeutic Approaches for Extremely Unfavorable Histology Subgroups. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12010079. [PMID: 35053227 PMCID: PMC8773700 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Peripheral neuroblastic tumors (neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma and ganglioneuroma) are heterogeneous and their diverse and wide range of clinical behaviors (spontaneous regression, tumor maturation and aggressive progression) are closely associated with genetic/molecular properties of the individual tumors. The International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification, a biologically relevant and prognostically significant morphology classification distinguishing the favorable histology (FH) and unfavorable histology (UH) groups in this disease, predicts survival probabilities of the patients with the highest hazard ratio. The recent advance of neuroblastoma research with precision medicine approaches demonstrates that tumors in the UH group are also heterogeneous and four distinct subgroups—MYC, TERT, ALT and null—are identified. Among them, the first three subgroups are collectively named extremely unfavorable histology (EUH) tumors because of their highly aggressive clinical behavior. As indicated by their names, these EUH tumors are individually defined by their potential targets detected molecularly and immunohistochemically, such as MYC-family protein overexpression, TERT overexpression and ATRX (or DAXX) loss. In the latter half on this paper, the current status of therapeutic targeting of these EUH tumors is discussed for the future development of effective treatments of the patients.
Collapse
|
19
|
Akter J, Katai Y, Sultana P, Takenobu H, Haruta M, Sugino RP, Mukae K, Satoh S, Wada T, Ohira M, Ando K, Kamijo T. Loss of p53 suppresses replication stress-induced DNA damage in ATRX-deficient neuroblastoma. Oncogenesis 2021; 10:73. [PMID: 34743173 PMCID: PMC8572175 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-021-00363-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic aberrations are present in the ATRX gene in older high-risk neuroblastoma (NB) patients with very poor clinical outcomes. Its loss-of-function (LoF) facilitates the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway in tumor cells and is strongly linked to replication stress (RS) and DNA damage through G-quadruplex (G4) DNA secondary structures. However, limited information is available on ATRX alteration-related NB tumorigenesis. We herein knocked out (KO) ATRX in MYCN-amplified (NGP) and MYCN single copy (SK-N-AS) NB cells with wild-type (wt) and truncated TP53 at the C terminus, respectively, using CRISPR/Cas9 technologies. The loss of ATRX increased DNA damage and G4 formation related to RS in TP53 wt isogenic ATRX KO NGP cells, but not in SK-N-AS clones. A gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed that the gene sets related to DNA double-strand break repair, negative cell cycle regulation, the G2M checkpoint, and p53 pathway activation were enriched in NGP clones. The accumulation of DNA damage activated the ATM/CHK2/p53 pathway, leading to cell cycle arrest in NGP clones. Interestingly, ATRX loss did not induce RS related to DNA damage response (DDR) in TP53-truncated SK-N-AS cells. p53 inactivation abrogated cell cycle arrest and reduced G4 accumulation in NGP clones. The loss of p53 also induced G4 DNA helicases or Fanconi anemia group D2 protein (FANCD2) with ATRX deficiency, suggesting that ATRX maintained genome integrity and p53 deficiency attenuated RS-induced DNA damage in NB cells featuring inactivated ATRX by regulating DNA repair mechanisms and replication fork stability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jesmin Akter
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yutaka Katai
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Parvin Sultana
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan.,Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Department of Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hisanori Takenobu
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Masayuki Haruta
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Ryuichi P Sugino
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kyosuke Mukae
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Shunpei Satoh
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Tomoko Wada
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Miki Ohira
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kiyohiro Ando
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Takehiko Kamijo
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan. .,Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Department of Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Stainczyk SA, Westermann F. Neuroblastoma-Telomere maintenance, deregulated signaling transduction and beyond. Int J Cancer 2021; 150:903-915. [PMID: 34636058 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The childhood malignancy neuroblastoma belongs to the group of embryonal tumors and originates from progenitor cells of the sympathoadrenal lineage. Treatment options for children with high-risk and relapsed disease are still very limited. In recent years, an ever-growing molecular diversity was identified using (epi)-genetic profiling of neuroblastoma tumors, indicating that molecularly targeted therapies could be a promising therapeutic option. In this review article, we summarize the various molecular subtypes and genetic events associated with neuroblastoma and describe recent advances in targeted therapies. We lay a strong emphasis on the importance of telomere maintenance mechanisms for understanding tumor progression and risk classification of neuroblastoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabine A Stainczyk
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Neuroblastoma Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Westermann
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Neuroblastoma Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Koneru B, Farooqi A, Nguyen TH, Chen WH, Hindle A, Eslinger C, Makena MR, Burrow TA, Wilson J, Smith A, Pilla Reddy V, Cadogan E, Durant ST, Reynolds CP. ALT neuroblastoma chemoresistance due to telomere dysfunction-induced ATM activation is reversible with ATM inhibitor AZD0156. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:eabd5750. [PMID: 34408079 PMCID: PMC9208664 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abd5750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Cancers overcome replicative immortality by activating either telomerase or an alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism. ALT occurs in ~25% of high-risk neuroblastomas, and progression in patients with ALT neuroblastoma during or after front-line therapy is frequent and often fatal. Temozolomide + irinotecan is commonly used as salvage therapy for neuroblastoma. Patient-derived cell lines and xenografts established from patients with relapsed ALT neuroblastoma demonstrated de novo resistance to temozolomide + irinotecan [SN-38 in vitro, P < 0.05; in vivo mouse event-free survival (EFS), P < 0.0001] vs. telomerase-positive neuroblastomas. We observed that ALT neuroblastoma cells manifested constitutive ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) activation due to spontaneous telomere dysfunction which was not observed in telomerase-positive neuroblastoma cells. We demonstrated that induction of telomere dysfunction resulted in ATM activation that, in turn, conferred resistance to temozolomide + SN-38 (4.2-fold change in IC50, P < 0.001). ATM knockdown (shRNA) or inhibition using a clinical-stage small-molecule inhibitor (AZD0156) reversed resistance to temozolomide + irinotecan in ALT neuroblastoma cell lines in vitro (P < 0.001) and in four ALT xenografts in vivo (EFS, P < 0.0001). AZD0156 showed modest to no enhancement of temozolomide + irinotecan activity in telomerase-positive neuroblastoma cell lines and xenografts. Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related (ATR) inhibition using AZD6738 did not enhance temozolomide + SN-38 activity in ALT neuroblastoma cells. Thus, ALT neuroblastoma chemotherapy resistance occurs via ATM activation and is reversible with ATM inhibitor AZD0156. Combining AZD0156 with temozolomide + irinotecan warrants clinical testing for neuroblastoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Balakrishna Koneru
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Ahsan Farooqi
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Thinh H Nguyen
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Wan Hsi Chen
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Ashly Hindle
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Cody Eslinger
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Monish Ram Makena
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Trevor A Burrow
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - Joanne Wilson
- Early Oncology, R&D AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB10 1XL, UK
| | - Aaron Smith
- Early Oncology, R&D AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB10 1XL, UK
| | - Venkatesh Pilla Reddy
- Clinical Pharmacology and Quantitative Pharmacology, Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge SG8 6EE, UK
| | | | | | - C Patrick Reynolds
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Akter J, Kamijo T. How Do Telomere Abnormalities Regulate the Biology of Neuroblastoma? Biomolecules 2021; 11:1112. [PMID: 34439779 PMCID: PMC8392161 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere maintenance plays important roles in genome stability and cell proliferation. Tumor cells acquire replicative immortality by activating a telomere-maintenance mechanism (TMM), either telomerase, a reverse transcriptase, or the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism. Recent advances in the genetic and molecular characterization of TMM revealed that telomerase activation and ALT define distinct neuroblastoma (NB) subgroups with adverse outcomes, and represent promising therapeutic targets in high-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB), an aggressive childhood solid tumor that accounts for 15% of all pediatric-cancer deaths. Patients with HRNB frequently present with widely metastatic disease, with tumors harboring recurrent genetic aberrations (MYCN amplification, TERT rearrangements, and ATRX mutations), which are mutually exclusive and capable of promoting TMM. This review provides recent insights into our understanding of TMM in NB tumors, and highlights emerging therapeutic strategies as potential treatments for telomerase- and ALT-positive tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jesmin Akter
- Saitama Cancer Center, Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama 362-0806, Japan;
| | - Takehiko Kamijo
- Saitama Cancer Center, Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama 362-0806, Japan;
- Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Department of Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama 362-0806, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Robinson NJ, Miyagi M, Scarborough JA, Scott JG, Taylor DJ, Schiemann WP. SLX4IP promotes RAP1 SUMOylation by PIAS1 to coordinate telomere maintenance through NF-κB and Notch signaling. Sci Signal 2021; 14:eabe9613. [PMID: 34187905 PMCID: PMC8353884 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abe9613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The maintenance of telomere length supports repetitive cell division and therefore plays a central role in cancer development and progression. Telomeres are extended by either the enzyme telomerase or the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway. Here, we found that the telomere-associated protein SLX4IP dictates telomere proteome composition by recruiting and activating the E3 SUMO ligase PIAS1 to the SLX4 complex. PIAS1 SUMOylated the telomere-binding protein RAP1, which disrupted its interaction with the telomere-binding protein TRF2 and facilitated its nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. In the cytosol, RAP1 bound to IκB kinase (IKK), resulting in activation of the transcription factor NF-κB and its induction of Jagged-1 expression, which promoted Notch signaling and the institution of ALT. This axis could be targeted therapeutically in ALT-driven cancers and in tumor cells that develop resistance to antitelomerase therapies. Our results illuminate the mechanisms underlying SLX4IP-dependent telomere plasticity and demonstrate the role of telomere proteins in directly coordinating intracellular signaling and telomere maintenance dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel J Robinson
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Masaru Miyagi
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Jessica A Scarborough
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Jacob G Scott
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Derek J Taylor
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - William P Schiemann
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
MacKenzie D, Watters AK, To JT, Young MW, Muratori J, Wilkoff MH, Abraham RG, Plummer MM, Zhang D. ALT Positivity in Human Cancers: Prevalence and Clinical Insights. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2384. [PMID: 34069193 PMCID: PMC8156225 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Many exciting advances in cancer-related telomere biology have been made in the past decade. Of these recent advances, great progress has also been made with respect to the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway. Along with a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of this unique telomere maintenance pathway, many studies have also evaluated ALT activity in various cancer subtypes. We first briefly review and assess a variety of commonly used ALT biomarkers. Then, we provide both an update on ALT-positive (ALT+) tumor prevalence as well as a systematic clinical assessment of the presently studied ALT+ malignancies. Additionally, we discuss the pathogenetic alterations in ALT+ cancers, for example, the mutation status of ATRX and DAXX, and their correlations with the activation of the ALT pathway. Finally, we highlight important ALT+ clinical associations within each cancer subtype and subdivisions within, as well as their prognoses. We hope this alternative perspective will allow scientists, clinicians, and drug developers to have greater insight into the ALT cancers so that together, we may develop more efficacious treatments and improved management strategies to meet the urgent needs of cancer patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Maria M. Plummer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA; (D.M.J.); (A.K.W.); (J.T.T.); (M.W.Y.); (J.M.); (M.H.W.); (R.G.A.)
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA; (D.M.J.); (A.K.W.); (J.T.T.); (M.W.Y.); (J.M.); (M.H.W.); (R.G.A.)
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Nersisyan L, Simonyan A, Binder H, Arakelyan A. Telomere Maintenance Pathway Activity Analysis Enables Tissue- and Gene-Level Inferences. Front Genet 2021; 12:662464. [PMID: 33897770 PMCID: PMC8058386 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.662464] [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: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere maintenance is one of the mechanisms ensuring indefinite divisions of cancer and stem cells. Good understanding of telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMM) is important for studying cancers and designing therapies. However, molecular factors triggering selective activation of either the telomerase dependent (TEL) or the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway are poorly understood. In addition, more accurate and easy-to-use methodologies are required for TMM phenotyping. In this study, we have performed literature based reconstruction of signaling pathways for the ALT and TEL TMMs. Gene expression data were used for computational assessment of TMM pathway activities and compared with experimental assays for TEL and ALT. Explicit consideration of pathway topology makes bioinformatics analysis more informative compared to computational methods based on simple summary measures of gene expression. Application to healthy human tissues showed high ALT and TEL pathway activities in testis, and identified genes and pathways that may trigger TMM activation. Our approach offers a novel option for systematic investigation of TMM activation patterns across cancers and healthy tissues for dissecting pathway-based molecular markers with diagnostic impact.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lilit Nersisyan
- Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia.,Pathverse, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Arman Simonyan
- Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Hans Binder
- Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arsen Arakelyan
- Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia.,Pathverse, Yerevan, Armenia
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Goncalves T, Zoumpoulidou G, Alvarez-Mendoza C, Mancusi C, Collopy LC, Strauss SJ, Mittnacht S, Tomita K. Selective Elimination of Osteosarcoma Cell Lines with Short Telomeres by Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-Related Inhibitors. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2020; 3:1253-1264. [PMID: 33344901 PMCID: PMC7737214 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
![]()
To
avoid replicative senescence or telomere-induced apoptosis,
cancers employ telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMMs) involving either
the upregulation of telomerase or the acquisition of recombination-based
alternative telomere lengthening (ALT). The choice of TMM may differentially
influence cancer evolution and be exploitable in targeted therapies.
Here, we examine TMMs in a panel of 17 osteosarcoma-derived cell lines,
defining three separate groups according to TMM and the length of
telomeres maintained. Eight were ALT-positive, including the previously
uncharacterized lines, KPD and LM7. While ALT-positive lines all showed
excessive telomere length, ALT-negative cell lines fell into two groups
according to their telomere length: HOS-MNNG, OHSN, SJSA-1, HAL, 143b,
and HOS displayed subnormally short telomere length, while MG-63,
MHM, and HuO-3N1 displayed long telomeres. Hence, we further subcategorized
ALT-negative TMM into long-telomere (LT) and short-telomere (ST) maintenance groups.
Importantly, subnormally short telomeres were significantly associated
with hypersensitivity to three different therapeutics targeting the
protein kinase ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) (AZD-6738/Ceralasertib,
VE-822/Berzoserib, and BAY-1895344) compared to long telomeres maintained
via ALT or telomerase. Within 24 h of ATR inhibition, cells with short
but not long telomeres displayed chromosome bridges and underwent
cell death, indicating a selective dependency on ATR for chromosome
stability. Collectively, our work provides a resource to identify
links between the mode of telomere maintenance and drug sensitivity
in osteosarcoma and indicates that telomere length predicts ATR inhibitor
sensitivity in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Goncalves
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.,Chromosome Maintenance Group, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
| | - Georgia Zoumpoulidou
- Cancer Cell Signalling, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
| | - Carlos Alvarez-Mendoza
- Cancer Cell Signalling, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
| | - Caterina Mancusi
- Cancer Cell Signalling, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
| | - Laura C Collopy
- Chromosome Maintenance Group, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra J Strauss
- Department of Oncology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom.,London Sarcoma Service, University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
| | - Sibylle Mittnacht
- Cancer Cell Signalling, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
| | - Kazunori Tomita
- Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.,Chromosome Maintenance Group, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Wu Y, Poulos RC, Reddel RR. Role of POT1 in Human Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12102739. [PMID: 32987645 PMCID: PMC7598640 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The segmentation of eukaryotic genomes into discrete linear chromosomes requires processes to solve several major biological problems, including prevention of the chromosome ends being recognized as DNA breaks and compensation for the shortening that occurs when linear DNA is replicated. A specialized set of six proteins, collectively referred to as shelterin, is involved in both of these processes, and mutations in several of these are now known to be involved in cancer. Here, we focus on Protection of Telomeres 1 (POT1), the shelterin protein that appears to be most commonly involved in cancer, and consider the clinical significance of findings about its biological functions and the prevalence of inherited and acquired mutations in the POT1 gene. Abstract Telomere abnormalities facilitate cancer development by contributing to genomic instability and cellular immortalization. The Protection of Telomeres 1 (POT1) protein is an essential subunit of the shelterin telomere binding complex. It directly binds to single-stranded telomeric DNA, protecting chromosomal ends from an inappropriate DNA damage response, and plays a role in telomere length regulation. Alterations of POT1 have been detected in a range of cancers. Here, we review the biological functions of POT1, the prevalence of POT1 germline and somatic mutations across cancer predisposition syndromes and tumor types, and the dysregulation of POT1 expression in cancers. We propose a framework for understanding how POT1 abnormalities may contribute to oncogenesis in different cell types. Finally, we summarize the clinical implications of POT1 alterations in the germline and in cancer, and possible approaches for the development of targeted cancer therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yangxiu Wu
- Cancer Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead NSW 2145, Australia;
- ProCan® Cancer Data Science Group, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead NSW 2145, Australia;
| | - Rebecca C. Poulos
- ProCan® Cancer Data Science Group, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead NSW 2145, Australia;
| | - Roger R. Reddel
- Cancer Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead NSW 2145, Australia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-2-8865-2901
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Shi G, Hu Y, Zhu X, Jiang Y, Pang J, Wang C, Huang W, Zhao Y, Ma W, Liu D, Huang J, Songyang Z. A critical role of telomere chromatin compaction in ALT tumor cell growth. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:6019-6031. [PMID: 32379321 PMCID: PMC7293046 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
ALT tumor cells often contain abundant DNA damage foci at telomeres and rely on the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism to maintain their telomeres. How the telomere chromatin is regulated and maintained in these cells remains largely unknown. In this study, we present evidence that heterochromatin protein 1 binding protein 3 (HP1BP3) can localize to telomeres and is particularly enriched on telomeres in ALT cells. HP1BP3 inhibition led to preferential growth inhibition of ALT cells, which was accompanied by telomere chromatin decompaction, increased presence of C-circles, more pronounced ALT-associated phenotypes and elongated telomeres. Furthermore, HP1BP3 appeared to participate in regulating telomere histone H3K9me3 epigenetic marks. Taken together, our data suggest that HP1BP3 functions on telomeres to maintain telomere chromatin and represents a novel target for inhibiting ALT cancer cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guang Shi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research and SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.,Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Yang Hu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research and SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Xing Zhu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research and SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yuanling Jiang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research and SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Junjie Pang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research and SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Chuanle Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research and SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Wenjun Huang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research and SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research and SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Wenbin Ma
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research and SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Verna and Marrs Mclean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA 77030
| | - Junjiu Huang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research and SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.,Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Zhou Songyang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research and SYSU-BCM Joint Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.,Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.,Verna and Marrs Mclean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA 77030.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Moreno L, Barone G, DuBois SG, Molenaar J, Fischer M, Schulte J, Eggert A, Schleiermacher G, Speleman F, Chesler L, Geoerger B, Hogarty MD, Irwin MS, Bird N, Blanchard GB, Buckland S, Caron H, Davis S, De Wilde B, Deubzer HE, Dolman E, Eilers M, George RE, George S, Jaroslav Š, Maris JM, Marshall L, Merchant M, Mortimer P, Owens C, Philpott A, Poon E, Shay JW, Tonelli R, Valteau-Couanet D, Vassal G, Park JR, Pearson ADJ. Accelerating drug development for neuroblastoma: Summary of the Second Neuroblastoma Drug Development Strategy forum from Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer and International Society of Paediatric Oncology Europe Neuroblastoma. Eur J Cancer 2020; 136:52-68. [PMID: 32653773 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Only one class of targeted agents (anti-GD2 antibodies) has been incorporated into front-line therapy for neuroblastoma since the 1980s. The Neuroblastoma New Drug Development Strategy (NDDS) initiative commenced in 2012 to accelerate the development of new drugs for neuroblastoma. Advances have occurred, with eight of nine high-priority targets being evaluated in paediatric trials including anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitors being investigated in front-line, but significant challenges remain. This article reports the conclusions of the second NDDS forum, which expanded across the Atlantic to further develop the initiative. Pre-clinical and clinical data for 40 genetic targets and mechanisms of action were prioritised and drugs were identified for early-phase trials. Strategies to develop drugs targeting TERT, telomere maintenance, ATRX, alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT), BRIP1 and RRM2 as well as direct targeting of MYCN are high priority and should be championed for drug discovery. Promising pre-clinical data suggest that targeting of ALT by ATM or PARP inhibition may be potential strategies. Drugs targeting CDK2/9, CDK7, ATR and telomere maintenance should enter paediatric clinical development rapidly. Optimising the response to anti-GD2 by combinations with chemotherapy, targeted agents and other immunological targets are crucial. Delivering this strategy in the face of small patient cohorts, genomically defined subpopulations and a large number of permutations of combination trials, demands even greater international collaboration. In conclusion, the NDDS provides an internationally agreed, biologically driven selection of prioritised genetic targets and drugs. Improvements in the strategy for conducting trials in neuroblastoma will accelerate bringing these new drugs more rapidly to front-line therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Moreno
- Paediatric Haematology & Oncology Division, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Giuseppe Barone
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
| | - Steven G DuBois
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jan Molenaar
- Princess Máxima Centre for Paediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Matthias Fischer
- Experimental Pediatric Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Johannes Schulte
- Department of Pediatric Oncology & Hematology, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany
| | - Angelika Eggert
- Department of Pediatric Oncology & Hematology, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK Berlin), Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Gudrun Schleiermacher
- SIREDO, Department of Paediatric, Adolescents and Young Adults Oncology and INSERM U830, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Frank Speleman
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent (CMGG), Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
| | - Louis Chesler
- Paediatric Drug Development, Children & Young People's Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, UK; Division of Clinical Studies and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, UK
| | - Birgit Geoerger
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Center, University Paris-Saclay & Inserm U1015, Villejuif, France
| | - Michael D Hogarty
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, USA; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Meredith S Irwin
- Department of Paediatrics, Medical Biophysics and Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, The Hospital for Sick Kids, Toronto, Canada
| | - Nick Bird
- Solving Kids' Cancer, UK and National Cancer Research Institute Children's Cancer & Leukaemia Clinical Studies Group, UK
| | - Guy B Blanchard
- Neuroblastoma UK & Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | - Bram De Wilde
- Center for Medical Genetics Ghent (CMGG), Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium
| | - Hedwig E Deubzer
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Emmy Dolman
- Department of Translational Research, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Martin Eilers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Rani E George
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sally George
- Paediatric Drug Development, Children & Young People's Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, UK; Division of Clinical Studies and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, UK
| | - Štěrba Jaroslav
- Pediatric Oncology Department, University Hospital Brno, School of Medicine Masaryk University Brno, Regional Centre for Applied Molecular Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, ICRC Brno, St Anna University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic
| | - John M Maris
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania, USA; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lynley Marshall
- Paediatric Drug Development, Children & Young People's Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, UK; Division of Clinical Studies and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, UK
| | - Melinda Merchant
- Astrazeneca, Early Clinical Projects, Oncology Translation Medicines Unit, Innovative Medicines Unit, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter Mortimer
- Astrazeneca, Early Clinical Projects, Oncology Translation Medicines Unit, Innovative Medicines Unit, Cambridge, UK
| | - Cormac Owens
- Department of Paediatric Haemaology/Oncology, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Evon Poon
- Division of Clinical Studies and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, UK
| | - Jerry W Shay
- Department of Cell Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Roberto Tonelli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Dominique Valteau-Couanet
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Center, University Paris-Saclay & Inserm U1015, Villejuif, France
| | - Gilles Vassal
- Department of Clinical Research, Gustave Roussy, Paris-Sud University, Paris, France
| | - Julie R Park
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine and Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Hospital, USA
| | - Andrew D J Pearson
- Paediatric Drug Development, Children & Young People's Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton, UK; Division of Clinical Studies and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, UK
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Sung JY, Lim HW, Joung JG, Park WY. Pan-Cancer Analysis of Alternative Lengthening of Telomere Activity. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12082207. [PMID: 32784588 PMCID: PMC7465155 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) is a telomerase-independent mechanism that extends telomeres in cancer cells. It influences tumorigenesis and patient survival. Despite the clinical significance of ALT in tumors, the manner in which ALT is activated and influences prognostic outcomes in distinct cancer types is unclear. In this work, we profiled distinct telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMMs) using 8953 transcriptomes of 31 different cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Our results demonstrated that approximately 29% of cancer types display high ALT activity with low telomerase activity in the telomere-lengthening group. Among the distinct ALT mechanisms, homologous recombination was frequently observed in sarcoma, adrenocortical carcinoma, and kidney chromophobe. Five cancer types showed a significant difference in survival in the presence of high ALT activity. Sarcoma patients with elevated ALT had unfavorable risks (p < 0.038) coupled with a high expression of TOP2A, suggesting this as a potential drug target. On the contrary, glioblastoma patients had favorable risks (p < 0.02), and showed low levels of antigen-presenting cells. Together, our analyses highlight cancer type-dependent TMM activities and ALT-associated genes as potential therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Yong Sung
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Korea;
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute of Health Science and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06351, Korea
| | - Hee-Woong Lim
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA;
| | - Je-Gun Joung
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Korea;
- Correspondence: (J.-G.J.); (W.-Y.P.); Tel.: +82-2-3410-1706 (J.-G.J.); +82-2-3410-6128 (W.-Y.P.); Fax: +82-2-2148-9819 (W.-Y.P.)
| | - Woong-Yang Park
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 06351, Korea;
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute of Health Science and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06351, Korea
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06351, Korea
- Correspondence: (J.-G.J.); (W.-Y.P.); Tel.: +82-2-3410-1706 (J.-G.J.); +82-2-3410-6128 (W.-Y.P.); Fax: +82-2-2148-9819 (W.-Y.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
George SL, Parmar V, Lorenzi F, Marshall LV, Jamin Y, Poon E, Angelini P, Chesler L. Novel therapeutic strategies targeting telomere maintenance mechanisms in high-risk neuroblastoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2020; 39:78. [PMID: 32375866 PMCID: PMC7201617 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-020-01582-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of high-risk neuroblastomas can be divided into three distinct molecular subgroups defined by the presence of MYCN amplification, upstream TERT rearrangements or alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). The common defining feature of all three subgroups is altered telomere maintenance; MYCN amplification and upstream TERT rearrangements drive high levels of telomerase expression whereas ALT is a telomerase independent telomere maintenance mechanism. As all three telomere maintenance mechanisms are independently associated with poor outcomes, the development of strategies to selectively target either telomerase expressing or ALT cells holds great promise as a therapeutic approach that is applicable to the majority of children with aggressive disease.Here we summarise the biology of telomere maintenance and the molecular drivers of aggressive neuroblastoma before describing the most promising therapeutic strategies to target both telomerase expressing and ALT cancers. For telomerase-expressing neuroblastoma the most promising targeted agent to date is 6-thio-2'-deoxyguanosine, however clinical development of this agent is required. In osteosarcoma cell lines with ALT, selective sensitivity to ATR inhibition has been reported. However, we present data showing that in fact ALT neuroblastoma cells are more resistant to the clinical ATR inhibitor AZD6738 compared to other neuroblastoma subtypes. More recently a number of additional candidate compounds have been shown to show selectivity for ALT cancers, such as Tetra-Pt (bpy), a compound targeting the telomeric G-quadruplex and pifithrin-α, a putative p53 inhibitor. Further pre-clinical evaluation of these compounds in neuroblastoma models is warranted.In summary, telomere maintenance targeting strategies offer a significant opportunity to develop effective new therapies, applicable to a large proportion of children with high-risk neuroblastoma. In parallel to clinical development, more pre-clinical research specifically for neuroblastoma is urgently needed, if we are to improve survival for this common poor outcome tumour of childhood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S L George
- Paediatric Tumour Biology, Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
- Children and Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
| | - V Parmar
- Children and Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - F Lorenzi
- Paediatric Tumour Biology, Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - L V Marshall
- Paediatric Tumour Biology, Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Children and Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Y Jamin
- Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - E Poon
- Paediatric Tumour Biology, Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - P Angelini
- Children and Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - L Chesler
- Paediatric Tumour Biology, Division of Clinical Studies, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Children and Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Laroche-Clary A, Chaire V, Verbeke S, Algéo MP, Malykh A, Le Loarer F, Italiano A. ATR Inhibition Broadly Sensitizes Soft-Tissue Sarcoma Cells to Chemotherapy Independent of Alternative Lengthening Telomere (ALT) Status. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7488. [PMID: 32366852 PMCID: PMC7198496 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63294-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Only few drugs have shown activity in patients with advanced soft-tissue and the median overall survival is only 18 months. Alterations of genes involved in the DNA damage repair pathway have been associated with sarcoma risk and prognosis. ATR plays a crucial role in maintaining genomic integrity by responding to a large spectrum of DNA damage, including double strand breaks (DSBs) that interfere with replication. The objective of this study is to evaluate the pre-clinical activity of ATR inhibition in soft tissue sarcomas (STS). We explored the ability of the ATR inhibitor, VE-822, to prevent chemotherapy-induced intra-S-phase checkpoint activation and evaluated the antitumor potential of this combination in vitro and in vivo in STS cell lines and in a patient-derived xenograft model. The combination of VE-822 and gemcitabine in vitro was synergistic, inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and accumulated in the S phase of the cell cycle with higher efficacy than either single agent alone. The combination also resulted in enhanced γH2AX intranuclear accumulation as a result of DNA damage induction. These effects were unrelated to the alternative lengthening of telomeres pathway. In vivo, the combination of VE-822 and gemcitabine significantly enhanced tumor growth inhibition and progression-free survival in an aggressive model of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. The combination of ATR inhibitor and chemotherapy is beneficial in pre-clinical models of soft-tissue sarcoma and deserves further exploration in the clinical setting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Laroche-Clary
- INSERM ACTION U1218, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France.,Sarcoma Unit, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - Vanessa Chaire
- INSERM ACTION U1218, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France.,Sarcoma Unit, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - Stéphanie Verbeke
- INSERM ACTION U1218, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France.,Sarcoma Unit, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | | | | | - François Le Loarer
- INSERM ACTION U1218, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France.,Sarcoma Unit, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France.,University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Antoine Italiano
- INSERM ACTION U1218, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France. .,Sarcoma Unit, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France. .,University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Southgate HED, Chen L, Curtin NJ, Tweddle DA. Targeting the DNA Damage Response for the Treatment of High Risk Neuroblastoma. Front Oncol 2020; 10:371. [PMID: 32309213 PMCID: PMC7145987 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite intensive multimodal therapy, the survival rate for high risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB) remains <50%. Most cases initially respond to treatment but almost half will subsequently relapse with aggressive treatment resistant disease. Novel treatments exploiting the molecular pathology of NB and/or overcoming resistance to current genotoxic therapies are needed before survival rates can significantly improve. DNA damage response (DDR) defects are frequently observed in HR-NB including allelic deletion and loss of function mutations in key DDR genes, oncogene induced replication stress and cell cycle checkpoint dysfunction. Exploiting defects in the DDR has been a successful treatment strategy in some adult cancers. Here we review the genetic features of HR-NB which lead to DDR defects and the emerging molecular targeting agents to exploit them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harriet E D Southgate
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Lindi Chen
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J Curtin
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Deborah A Tweddle
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Gorecki L, Andrs M, Rezacova M, Korabecny J. Discovery of ATR kinase inhibitor berzosertib (VX-970, M6620): Clinical candidate for cancer therapy. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 210:107518. [PMID: 32109490 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chemoresistance, radioresistance, and the challenge of achieving complete resection are major driving forces in the search for more robust and targeted anticancer therapies. Targeting the DNA damage response has recently attracted research interest, as these processes are enhanced in tumour cells. The major replication stress responder is ATM and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase, which is attracting attention worldwide with four drug candidates currently in phase I/II clinical trials. This review addresses a potent and selective small-molecule ATR inhibitor, which is known as VX-970 (also known as berzosertib or M6620), and summarizes the existing preclinical data to provide deep insight regarding its real potential. We also outline the transition from preclinical to clinical studies, as well as its relationships with other clinical candidates (AZD6738, VX-803 [M4344], and BAY1895344). The results suggest that VX-970 is indeed a promising anticancer drug that can be used both as monotherapy and in combination with either chemotherapy or radiotherapy strategies. Based on patient anamnesis and biomarker identification, VX-970 could become a valuable tool for oncologists in the fight against cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Gorecki
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Andrs
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; Laboratory of Cancer Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Rezacova
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Simkova 870, 500 38 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Korabecny
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Robinson NJ, Morrison-Smith CD, Gooding AJ, Schiemann BJ, Jackson MW, Taylor DJ, Schiemann WP. SLX4IP and telomere dynamics dictate breast cancer metastasis and therapeutic responsiveness. Life Sci Alliance 2020; 3:3/4/e201900427. [PMID: 32071280 PMCID: PMC7032570 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201900427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
An unbiased genetic screen established SLX4IP as an essential driver of telomere maintenance mechanism identity, metastatic progression, and therapeutic response of breast cancers. Metastasis is the leading cause of breast cancer-related death and poses a substantial clinical burden owing to a paucity of targeted treatment options. The clinical manifestations of metastasis occur years-to-decades after initial diagnosis and treatment because disseminated tumor cells readily evade detection and resist therapy, ultimately giving rise to recurrent disease. Using an unbiased genetic screen, we identified SLX4-interacting protein (SLX4IP) as a regulator of metastatic recurrence and established its relationship in governing telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMMs). Inactivation of SLX4IP suppressed alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT), coinciding with activation of telomerase. Importantly, TMM selection dramatically influenced metastatic progression and survival of patients with genetically distinct breast cancer subtypes. Notably, pharmacologic and genetic modulation of TMMs elicited telomere-dependent cell death and prevented disease recurrence by disseminated tumor cells. This study illuminates SLX4IP as a potential predictive biomarker for breast cancer progression and metastatic relapse. SLX4IP expression correlates with TMM identity, which also carries prognostic value and informs treatment selection, thereby revealing new inroads into combating metastatic breast cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel J Robinson
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - Alex J Gooding
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Barbara J Schiemann
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mark W Jackson
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Derek J Taylor
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - William P Schiemann
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres: Building Bridges To Connect Chromosome Ends. Trends Cancer 2020; 6:247-260. [PMID: 32101727 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2019.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) is a mechanism of telomere maintenance that is observed in many of the most recalcitrant cancer subtypes. Telomeres in ALT cancer cells exhibit a distinctive nucleoprotein architecture shaped by the mismanagement of chromatin that fosters cycles of DNA damage and replicative stress that activate homology-directed repair (HDR). Mutations in specific chromatin-remodeling factors appear to be key determinants of the emergence and survival of ALT cancer cells. However, these may represent vulnerabilities for the targeted elimination of ALT cancer cells that infiltrate tissues and organs to become devastating tumors. In this review we examine recent findings that provide new insights into the factors and mechanisms that mediate telomere length maintenance and survival of ALT cancer cells.
Collapse
|
37
|
Kent T, Gracias D, Shepherd S, Clynes D. Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres in Pediatric Cancer: Mechanisms to Therapies. Front Oncol 2020; 9:1518. [PMID: 32039009 PMCID: PMC6985284 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Achieving replicative immortality is a crucial step in tumorigenesis and requires both bypassing cell cycle checkpoints and the extension of telomeres, sequences that protect the distal ends of chromosomes during replication. In the majority of cancers this is achieved through the enzyme telomerase, however a subset of cancers instead utilize a telomerase-independent mechanism of telomere elongation-the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway. Recent work has aimed to decipher the exact mechanism that underlies this pathway. To this end, this pathway has now been shown to extend telomeres through exploitation of DNA repair machinery in a unique process that may present a number of druggable targets. The identification of such targets, and the subsequent development or repurposing of therapies to these targets may be crucial to improving the prognosis for many ALT-positive cancers, wherein mean survival is lower than non-ALT counterparts and the cancers themselves are particularly unresponsive to standard of care therapies. In this review we summarize the recent identification of many aspects of the ALT pathway, and the therapies that may be employed to exploit these new targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Kent
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Deanne Gracias
- Department of Oncology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Shepherd
- Department of Oncology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - David Clynes
- Department of Oncology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Domingues-Silva B, Silva B, Azzalin CM. ALTernative Functions for Human FANCM at Telomeres. Front Mol Biosci 2019; 6:84. [PMID: 31552268 PMCID: PMC6743340 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2019.00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The human FANCM ATPase/translocase is involved in various cellular pathways including DNA damage repair, replication fork remodeling and R-loop resolution. Recently, reports from three independent laboratories have disclosed a previously unappreciated role for FANCM in telomerase-negative human cancer cells that maintain their telomeres through the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway. In ALT cells, FANCM limits telomeric replication stress and damage, and, in turn, ALT activity by suppressing accumulation of telomeric R-loops and by regulating the action of the BLM helicase. As a consequence, FANCM inactivation leads to exaggerated ALT activity and ultimately cell death. The studies reviewed here not only unveil a novel function for human FANCM, but also point to this enzyme as a promising target for anti-ALT cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Domingues-Silva
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (iMM), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Bruno Silva
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (iMM), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Claus M Azzalin
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (iMM), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Weidema M, Versleijen-Jonkers Y, Flucke U, Desar I, van der Graaf W. Targeting angiosarcomas of the soft tissues: A challenging effort in a heterogeneous and rare disease. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2019; 138:120-131. [DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
|
40
|
Chromatin Bottlenecks in Cancer. Trends Cancer 2019; 5:183-194. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
|
41
|
Pilié PG, Tang C, Mills GB, Yap TA. State-of-the-art strategies for targeting the DNA damage response in cancer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2019; 16:81-104. [PMID: 30356138 PMCID: PMC8327299 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-018-0114-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 691] [Impact Index Per Article: 138.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Genomic instability is a key hallmark of cancer that arises owing to defects in the DNA damage response (DDR) and/or increased replication stress. These alterations promote the clonal evolution of cancer cells via the accumulation of driver aberrations, including gene copy-number changes, rearrangements and mutations; however, these same defects also create vulnerabilities that are relatively specific to cancer cells, which could potentially be exploited to increase the therapeutic index of anticancer treatments and thereby improve patient outcomes. The discovery that BRCA-mutant cancer cells are exquisitely sensitive to inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase has ushered in a new era of research on biomarker-driven synthetic lethal treatment strategies for different cancers. The therapeutic landscape of antitumour agents targeting the DDR has rapidly expanded to include inhibitors of other key mediators of DNA repair and replication, such as ATM, ATR, CHK1 and CHK2, DNA-PK and WEE1. Efforts to optimize these therapies are ongoing across a range of cancers, involving the development of predictive biomarker assays of responsiveness (beyond BRCA mutations), assessment of the mechanisms underlying intrinsic and acquired resistance, and evaluation of rational, tolerable combinations with standard-of-care treatments (such as chemotherapeutics and radiation), novel molecularly targeted agents and immune-checkpoint inhibitors. In this Review, we discuss the current status of anticancer therapies targeting the DDR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick G Pilié
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chad Tang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I Program), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gordon B Mills
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Khalifa Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Timothy A Yap
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I Program), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Khalifa Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- The Institute for Applied Cancer Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Abstract
The chemical treatment of cancer started with the realization that DNA damaging agents such as mustard gas present notable antitumoural properties. Consequently, early drug development focused on genotoxic chemicals, some of which are still widely used in the clinic. However, the efficacy of such therapies is often limited by the side effects of these drugs on healthy cells. A refinement to this approach is to use compounds that can exploit the presence of DNA damage in cancer cells. Given that replication stress (RS) is a major source of genomic instability in cancer, targeting the RS-response kinase ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR) has emerged as a promising alternative. With ATR inhibitors now entering clinical trials, we here revisit the biology behind this strategy and discuss potential biomarkers that could be used for a better selection of patients who respond to therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Lecona
- Genomic Instability Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Oscar Fernandez-Capetillo
- Genomic Instability Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
|
44
|
Ren X, Tu C, Tang Z, Ma R, Li Z. Alternative lengthening of telomeres phenotype and loss of ATRX expression in sarcomas. Oncol Lett 2018; 15:7489-7496. [PMID: 29725455 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcoma is a rare and heterogeneous type of cancer with an early mean onset age and a poor prognosis. However, its genetic basis remains unclear. A series of recent genomic studies in sarcomas have identified the occurrence of mutations in the α-thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked (ATRX) gene. The ATRX protein belongs to the SWI/SNF family of chromatin remodeling proteins, which are frequently associated with α-thalassemia syndrome. Cancer cells depend on telomerase or the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway to overcome replicative programmed mortality. Loss of ATRX is associated with ALT in sarcoma. In the present review, recent whole genome and/or whole exome genomic studies are summarized. In addition ATRX immunohistochemistry and ALT fluorescence in situ hybridization in sarcomas of various subtypes and at diverse sites, including osteosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma, angiosarcoma and chondrosarcoma are evaluated. The present review involves certain studies associated with the molecular mechanisms underlying the loss of ATRX controlling the activation of ALT in sarcomas. Identification of the loss of ATRX and ALT in sarcomas may provide novel methods for the treatment of aggressive sarcomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Ren
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, P.R. China
| | - Chao Tu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, P.R. China
| | - Zhenchu Tang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, P.R. China
| | - Ruofei Ma
- Department of Orthopaedics, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, P.R. China
| | - Zhihong Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Brandsma I, Fleuren ED, Williamson CT, Lord CJ. Directing the use of DDR kinase inhibitors in cancer treatment. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2017; 26:1341-1355. [PMID: 28984489 PMCID: PMC6157710 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2017.1389895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Defects in the DNA damage response (DDR) drive the development of cancer by fostering DNA mutation but also provide cancer-specific vulnerabilities that can be exploited therapeutically. The recent approval of three different PARP inhibitors for the treatment of ovarian cancer provides the impetus for further developing targeted inhibitors of many of the kinases involved in the DDR, including inhibitors of ATR, ATM, CHEK1, CHEK2, DNAPK and WEE1. Areas covered: We summarise the current stage of development of these novel DDR kinase inhibitors, and describe which predictive biomarkers might be exploited to direct their clinical use. Expert opinion: Novel DDR inhibitors present promising candidates in cancer treatment and have the potential to elicit synthetic lethal effects. In order to fully exploit their potential and maximize their utility, identifying highly penetrant predictive biomarkers of single agent and combinatorial DDR inhibitor sensitivity are critical. Identifying the optimal drug combination regimens that could used with DDR inhibitors is also a key objective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inger Brandsma
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Emmy D.G. Fleuren
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Chris T. Williamson
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Christopher J. Lord
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory and Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Sobinoff AP, Pickett HA. Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres: DNA Repair Pathways Converge. Trends Genet 2017; 33:921-932. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2017] [Revised: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
|
47
|
Nandakumar P, Mansouri A, Das S. The Role of ATRX in Glioma Biology. Front Oncol 2017; 7:236. [PMID: 29034211 PMCID: PMC5626857 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2017.00236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The current World Health Organization classification of CNS tumors has made a tremendous leap from past editions by incorporating molecular criteria in addition to the pre-existing histological parameters. The revised version has had a particular impact on the classification of diffuse low-grade gliomas and their high-grade variants. The ATRX status is one of the critical markers that define the molecular classification of gliomas. In this review, we will first provide an overview of the role of ATRX in regular cell biology. Furthermore, the role of ATRX in tumorigenesis, specifically gliomas, is comprehensively elucidated. The possible correlation of ATRX status with other genetic/epigenetic modifications is also presented. We conclude by discussing some of the challenges associated with incorporating ATRX status assessment into routine clinical practice while also exploring opportunities for future diagnostics/therapeutics in gliomas based on ATRX status.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pravanya Nandakumar
- Division of Neurosurgery, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alireza Mansouri
- Center for Cancer Research, Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.,Division of Neuro-Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sunit Das
- Division of Neurosurgery, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Centre, Hospital for Sick Kids, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Carrassa L, Damia G. DNA damage response inhibitors: Mechanisms and potential applications in cancer therapy. Cancer Treat Rev 2017; 60:139-151. [PMID: 28961555 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2017.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decade the unravelling of the molecular mechanisms of the DNA damage response pathways and of the genomic landscape of human tumors have paved the road to new therapeutic approaches in oncology. It is now clear that tumors harbour defects in different DNA damage response steps, mainly signalling and repair, rendering them more dependent on the remaining pathways. We here focus on the proteins ATM, ATR, CHK1 and WEE1, reviewing their roles in the DNA damage response and as targets in cancer therapy. In the last decade specific inhibitors of these proteins have been designed, and their potential antineoplastic activity has been explored both in monotherapy strategies against tumors with specific defects (synthetic lethality approach) and in combination with radiotherapy or chemotherapeutic or molecular targeted agents. The preclinical and clinical evidence of antitumor activity of these inhibitors emanating from these research efforts will be critically reviewed. Lastly, the potential therapeutic feasibility of combining together such inhibitors with the aim to target particular subsets of tumors will be also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Carrassa
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Oncology, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy.
| | - Giovanna Damia
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Oncology, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Williamson CT, Miller R, Pemberton HN, Jones SE, Campbell J, Konde A, Badham N, Rafiq R, Brough R, Gulati A, Ryan CJ, Francis J, Vermulen PB, Reynolds AR, Reaper PM, Pollard JR, Ashworth A, Lord CJ. ATR inhibitors as a synthetic lethal therapy for tumours deficient in ARID1A. Nat Commun 2016; 7:13837. [PMID: 27958275 PMCID: PMC5159945 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 251] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying genetic biomarkers of synthetic lethal drug sensitivity effects provides one approach to the development of targeted cancer therapies. Mutations in ARID1A represent one of the most common molecular alterations in human cancer, but therapeutic approaches that target these defects are not yet clinically available. We demonstrate that defects in ARID1A sensitize tumour cells to clinical inhibitors of the DNA damage checkpoint kinase, ATR, both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, ARID1A deficiency results in topoisomerase 2A and cell cycle defects, which cause an increased reliance on ATR checkpoint activity. In ARID1A mutant tumour cells, inhibition of ATR triggers premature mitotic entry, genomic instability and apoptosis. The data presented here provide the pre-clinical and mechanistic rationale for assessing ARID1A defects as a biomarker of single-agent ATR inhibitor response and represents a novel synthetic lethal approach to targeting tumour cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chris T. Williamson
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Rowan Miller
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Helen N. Pemberton
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Samuel E. Jones
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
| | - James Campbell
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Asha Konde
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Nicholas Badham
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Rumana Rafiq
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Rachel Brough
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Aditi Gulati
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Colm J. Ryan
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin
4, Ireland
| | - Jeff Francis
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Peter B. Vermulen
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
- GZA Hospitals Sint-Augustinus, Wilrijk, Belgium and Center for Oncological Research, University of Antwerp, Oosterveldlaan 24, Wilrijk Antwerp
2610, Belgium
| | - Andrew R. Reynolds
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Philip M. Reaper
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Limited, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire
OX14 4RY, UK
| | - John R. Pollard
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Limited, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire
OX14 4RY, UK
| | - Alan Ashworth
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Christopher J. Lord
- The CRUK Gene Function Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London
SW3 6JB, UK
| |
Collapse
|