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Grunewald TGP, Postel-Vinay S, Nakayama RT, Berlow NE, Bolzicco A, Cerullo V, Dermawan JK, Frezza AM, Italiano A, Jin JX, Loarer FL, Martin-Broto J, Pecora A, Perez-Martinez A, Tam YB, Tirode F, Trama A, Pasquali S, Vescia M, ortmann L, Wortmann M, Yoshida A, Webb K, Huang PH, Keller C, Antonescu CR. Translational Aspects of Epithelioid Sarcoma: Current Consensus. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:1079-1092. [PMID: 37916971 PMCID: PMC10947972 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-2174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Epithelioid sarcoma (EpS) is an ultra-rare malignant soft-tissue cancer mostly affecting adolescents and young adults. EpS often exhibits an unfavorable clinical course with fatal outcome in ∼50% of cases despite aggressive multimodal therapies combining surgery, chemotherapy, and irradiation. EpS is traditionally classified in a more common, less aggressive distal (classic) type and a rarer aggressive proximal type. Both subtypes are characterized by a loss of nuclear INI1 expression, most often following homozygous deletion of its encoding gene, SMARCB1-a core subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. In 2020, the EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat was the first targeted therapy approved for EpS, raising new hopes. Still, the vast majority of patients did not benefit from this drug or relapsed rapidly. Further, other recent therapeutic modalities, including immunotherapy, are only effective in a fraction of patients. Thus, novel strategies, specifically targeted to EpS, are urgently needed. To accelerate translational research on EpS and eventually boost the discovery and development of new diagnostic tools and therapeutic options, a vibrant translational research community has formed in past years and held two international EpS digital expert meetings in 2021 and 2023. This review summarizes our current understanding of EpS from the translational research perspective and points to innovative research directions to address the most pressing questions in the field, as defined by expert consensus and patient advocacy groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G. P. Grunewald
- Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Hopp Children’s Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT Heidelberg, a partnership between DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sophie Postel-Vinay
- Département d’Innovation Thérapeutique et d’Essais Précoces (DITEP), Gustave Roussy, Université Paris Saclay, Villejuif, France
- U981 INSERM, ERC StG team, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Robert T. Nakayama
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noah E. Berlow
- Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Hillsboro, Oregon
| | - Andrea Bolzicco
- Patients association ‘Orchestra per la vita’ Aps, Rome, Italy
- Patients association: ‘MC4 in corsa per la vita!’ ETS, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Cerullo
- Drug Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Josephine K. Dermawan
- Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Anna Maria Frezza
- Department of Medical Oncology 2, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Antoine Italiano
- Early Phase Trials and Sarcoma Units, Institut Bergonie, Bordeaux, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jia xiang Jin
- Division of Translational Pediatric Sarcoma Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Hopp Children’s Cancer Center (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Francois Le Loarer
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Department of Pathology, Institut Bergonie, Bordeaux, France
| | - Javier Martin-Broto
- Medical Oncology Department, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz University Hospital; University Hospital General de Villalba, and Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Fundacion Jimenez Diaz (IIS/FJD; UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrew Pecora
- John Theurer Cancer Center, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC
| | - Antonio Perez-Martinez
- Patients association: ‘MC4 in corsa per la vita!’ ETS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Autonomous University of Madrid, Institute for Health Research, IdiPAZ, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yuen Bun Tam
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Franck Tirode
- Universite Claude Bernard, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Centre Leon Berard, Lyon, France
| | - Annalisa Trama
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science; Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Sandro Pasquali
- Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Lukas ortmann
- Patients association “Smarcb1” e.V., Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | | | - Akihiko Yoshida
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kim Webb
- Patients association “Smarcb1” e.V., Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Paul H. Huang
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
- Sarcoma Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Belmont, United Kingdom
| | - Charles Keller
- Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Hillsboro, Oregon
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Fobare S, Elgamal OA, Wunderlich M, Stahl E, Mehmood A, Furby C, Lerma JR, Sesterhenn TM, Pan J, Rai J, Johnstone ME, Abdul-Aziz A, Johnson ML, Rai SN, Byrd JC, Hertlein E. Inhibition of Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Induces Blast Differentiation, Impairs Engraftment and Prolongs Survival in Murine Models of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:569. [PMID: 38339323 PMCID: PMC10854504 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030569] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the malignant proliferation of immature myeloid cells characterized by a block in differentiation. As such, novel therapeutic strategies to promote the differentiation of immature myeloid cells have been successful in AML, although these agents are targeted to a specific mutation that is only present in a subset of AML patients. In the current study, we show that targeting the epigenetic modifier enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) can induce the differentiation of immature blast cells into a more mature myeloid phenotype and promote survival in AML murine models. METHODS The EZH2 inhibitor EPZ011989 (EPZ) was studied in AML cell lines, primary in AML cells and normal CD34+ stem cells. A pharmacodynamic assessment of H3K27me3; studies of differentiation, cell growth, and colony formation; and in vivo therapeutic studies including the influence on primary AML cell engraftment were also conducted. RESULTS EPZ inhibited H3K27me3 in AML cell lines and primary AML samples in vitro. EZH2 inhibition reduced colony formation in multiple AML cell lines and primary AML samples, while exhibiting no effect on colony formation in normal CD34+ stem cells. In AML cells, EPZ promoted phenotypic evidence of differentiation. Finally, the pretreatment of primary AML cells with EPZ significantly delayed engraftment and prolonged the overall survival when engrafted into immunodeficient mice. CONCLUSIONS Despite evidence that EZH2 silencing in MDS/MPN can promote AML pathogenesis, our data demonstrate that the therapeutic inhibition of EZH2 in established AML has the potential to improve survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Fobare
- Medical Scientist Training Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
| | - Ola A. Elgamal
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
| | - Mark Wunderlich
- Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Emily Stahl
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Abeera Mehmood
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Casie Furby
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
| | - James R. Lerma
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
| | - Thomas M. Sesterhenn
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
| | - Jianmin Pan
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Environmental Health and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- The Cancer Data Science Center, Department of Environmental Health and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Biostatistics and Informatics Shared Resource, University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Jayesh Rai
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Environmental Health and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- The Cancer Data Science Center, Department of Environmental Health and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Biostatistics and Informatics Shared Resource, University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Megan E. Johnstone
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
| | - Amina Abdul-Aziz
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
| | - Mariah L. Johnson
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Shesh N. Rai
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Environmental Health and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- The Cancer Data Science Center, Department of Environmental Health and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Biostatistics and Informatics Shared Resource, University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - John C. Byrd
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
| | - Erin Hertlein
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA (J.C.B.)
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Costa A, Gozzellino L, Nannini M, Astolfi A, Pantaleo MA, Pasquinelli G. Preclinical Models of Visceral Sarcomas. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1624. [PMID: 38002306 PMCID: PMC10669128 DOI: 10.3390/biom13111624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral sarcomas are a rare malignant subgroup of soft tissue sarcomas (STSs). STSs, accounting for 1% of all adult tumors, are derived from mesenchymal tissues and exhibit a wide heterogeneity. Their rarity and the high number of histotypes hinder the understanding of tumor development mechanisms and negatively influence clinical outcomes and treatment approaches. Although some STSs (~20%) have identifiable genetic markers, as specific mutations or translocations, most are characterized by complex genomic profiles. Thus, identification of new therapeutic targets and development of personalized therapies are urgent clinical needs. Although cell lines are useful for preclinical investigations, more reliable preclinical models are required to develop and test new potential therapies. Here, we provide an overview of the available in vitro and in vivo models of visceral sarcomas, whose gene signatures are still not well characterized, to highlight current challenges and provide insights for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Costa
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Livia Gozzellino
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Margherita Nannini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
- Division of Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Annalisa Astolfi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Abbondanza Pantaleo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
- Division of Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Gianandrea Pasquinelli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
- Division of Pathology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
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Lanzi C, Arrighetti N, Pasquali S, Cassinelli G. Targeting EZH2 in SMARCB1-deficient sarcomas: Advances and opportunities to potentiate the efficacy of EZH2 inhibitors. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 215:115727. [PMID: 37541451 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are rare mesechymal malignancies characterized by distintive molecular, histological and clinical features. Many STSs are considered as predominatly epigenetic diseases due to underlying chromatin deregulation. Discovery of deregulated functional antagonism between the chromatin remodeling BRG1/BRM-associated (BAFs) and the histone modifying Polycomb repressor complexes (PRCs) has provided novel actionable targets. In epithelioid sarcoma (ES), extracranial, extrarenal malignant rhabdoid tumors (eMRTs) and synovial sarcoma (SS), the total or partial loss of the BAF core subunit SMARCB1, driven by different alterations, is associated with PRC2 deregulation and dependency on its enzymatic subunit, EZH2. In these SMARCB1-deficient STSs, aberrant EZH2 expression and/or activity emerged as a druggable vulnerability. Although preclinical investigation supported EZH2 targeting as a promising therapeutic option, clinical studies demonstrated a variable response to EZH2 inhibitors. Actually, whereas the clinical benefit recorded in ES patients prompted the FDA approval of the EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat, the modest and sporadic responses observed in eMRT and SS patients highlighted the need to deepen mechanistic as well as pharmacological investigations to improve drug effectiveness. We summarize the current knowledge of different mechanisms driving SMARCB1 deficiency and EZH2 deregulation in ES, eMRT and SS along with preclinical and clinical studies of EZH2-targeting agents. Possible implication of the PRC2- and enzymatic-independent functions of EZH2 and of its homolog, EZH1, in the response to anti-EZH2 agents will be discussed together with combinatorial strategies under investigation to improve the efficacy of EZH2 targeting in these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Lanzi
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Noemi Arrighetti
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Sandro Pasquali
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuliana Cassinelli
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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Fuchs JW, Schulte BC, Fuchs JR, Agulnik M. Targeted therapies for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1122508. [PMID: 36969064 PMCID: PMC10034045 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1122508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas are rare malignant tumors derived from mesenchymal cells that have a high morbidity and mortality related to frequent occurrence of advanced and metastatic disease. Over the past two decades there have been significant advances in the use of targeted therapies for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma. The ability to study various cellular markers and pathways related to sarcomagenesis has led to the creation and approval of multiple novel therapies. Herein, we describe the current landscape of targeted medications used in the management of advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcomas, excluding GIST. We distinguish three categories: targeted therapies that have current US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treatment of soft tissue sarcoma, non-FDA approved targeted therapies, and medications in development for treatment of patients with soft tissue sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey W. Fuchs
- Department of Medicine, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Brian C. Schulte
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Joseph R. Fuchs
- Department of Medicine, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Mark Agulnik
- Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Mark Agulnik,
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Shu F, Xiao H, Li QN, Ren XS, Liu ZG, Hu BW, Wang HS, Wang H, Jiang GM. Epigenetic and post-translational modifications in autophagy: biological functions and therapeutic targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:32. [PMID: 36646695 PMCID: PMC9842768 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01300-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a conserved lysosomal degradation pathway where cellular components are dynamically degraded and re-processed to maintain physical homeostasis. However, the physiological effect of autophagy appears to be multifaced. On the one hand, autophagy functions as a cytoprotective mechanism, protecting against multiple diseases, especially tumor, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative and infectious disease. Conversely, autophagy may also play a detrimental role via pro-survival effects on cancer cells or cell-killing effects on normal body cells. During disorder onset and progression, the expression levels of autophagy-related regulators and proteins encoded by autophagy-related genes (ATGs) are abnormally regulated, giving rise to imbalanced autophagy flux. However, the detailed mechanisms and molecular events of this process are quite complex. Epigenetic, including DNA methylation, histone modifications and miRNAs, and post-translational modifications, including ubiquitination, phosphorylation and acetylation, precisely manipulate gene expression and protein function, and are strongly correlated with the occurrence and development of multiple diseases. There is substantial evidence that autophagy-relevant regulators and machineries are subjected to epigenetic and post-translational modulation, resulting in alterations in autophagy levels, which subsequently induces disease or affects the therapeutic effectiveness to agents. In this review, we focus on the regulatory mechanisms mediated by epigenetic and post-translational modifications in disease-related autophagy to unveil potential therapeutic targets. In addition, the effect of autophagy on the therapeutic effectiveness of epigenetic drugs or drugs targeting post-translational modification have also been discussed, providing insights into the combination with autophagy activators or inhibitors in the treatment of clinical diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Shu
- grid.452859.70000 0004 6006 3273Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong China
| | - Han Xiao
- grid.452859.70000 0004 6006 3273Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong China
| | - Qiu-Nuo Li
- grid.452859.70000 0004 6006 3273Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong China
| | - Xiao-Shuai Ren
- grid.452859.70000 0004 6006 3273Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong China
| | - Zhi-Gang Liu
- grid.284723.80000 0000 8877 7471Cancer Center, Affiliated Dongguan Hospital, Southern Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong China
| | - Bo-Wen Hu
- grid.452859.70000 0004 6006 3273Department of Urology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong China
| | - Hong-Sheng Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Guan-Min Jiang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.
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Cassinelli G, Pasquali S, Lanzi C. Beyond targeting amplified MDM2 and CDK4 in well differentiated and dedifferentiated liposarcomas: From promise and clinical applications towards identification of progression drivers. Front Oncol 2022; 12:965261. [PMID: 36119484 PMCID: PMC9479065 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.965261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Well differentiated and dedifferentiated liposarcomas (WDLPS and DDLPS) are tumors of the adipose tissue poorly responsive to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy which currently remains the standard-of-care. The dismal prognosis of the DDLPS subtype indicates an urgent need to identify new therapeutic targets to improve the patient outcome. The amplification of the two driver genes MDM2 and CDK4, shared by WDLPD and DDLPS, has provided the rationale to explore targeting the encoded ubiquitin-protein ligase and cell cycle regulating kinase as a therapeutic approach. Investigation of the genomic landscape of WD/DDLPS and preclinical studies have revealed additional potential targets such as receptor tyrosine kinases, the cell cycle kinase Aurora A, and the nuclear exporter XPO1. While the therapeutic significance of these targets is being investigated in clinical trials, insights into the molecular characteristics associated with dedifferentiation and progression from WDLPS to DDLPS highlighted additional genetic alterations including fusion transcripts generated by chromosomal rearrangements potentially providing new druggable targets (e.g. NTRK, MAP2K6). Recent years have witnessed the increasing use of patient-derived cell and tumor xenograft models which offer valuable tools to accelerate drug repurposing and combination studies. Implementation of integrated "multi-omics" investigations applied to models recapitulating WD/DDLPS genetics, histologic differentiation and biology, will hopefully lead to a better understanding of molecular alterations driving liposarcomagenesis and DDLPS progression, as well as to the identification of new therapies tailored on tumor histology and molecular profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuliana Cassinelli
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Applied Research and Technological Development, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Sandro Pasquali
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Applied Research and Technological Development, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
- Sarcoma Service, Department of Surgery, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Cinzia Lanzi
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Applied Research and Technological Development, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
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Del Savio E, Maestro R. Beyond SMARCB1 Loss: Recent Insights into the Pathobiology of Epithelioid Sarcoma. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172626. [PMID: 36078034 PMCID: PMC9454995 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelioid sarcoma (ES) is a very rare and aggressive mesenchymal tumor of unclear origin and uncertain lineage characterized by a prevalent epithelioid morphology. The only recurrent genetic alteration reported in ES as yet is the functional inactivation of SMARCB1 (SWI/SNF-related matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily B member 1), a key component of the SWI/SNF (SWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable) chromatin remodeling complexes. How SMARCB1 deficiency dictates the clinicopathological characteristics of ES and what other molecular defects concur to its malignant progression is still poorly understood. This review summarizes the recent findings about ES pathobiology, including defects in chromatin remodeling and other signaling pathways and their role as therapeutic vulnerabilities.
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Chemical biology and pharmacology of histone lysine methylation inhibitors. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2022; 1865:194840. [PMID: 35753676 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2022.194840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Histone lysine methylation is a post-translational modification that plays a key role in the epigenetic regulation of a broad spectrum of biological processes. Moreover, the dysregulation of histone lysine methyltransferases (KMTs) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases particularly cancer. Due to their pathobiological importance, KMTs have garnered immense attention over the last decade as attractive therapeutic targets. These endeavors have culminated in tens of chemical probes that have been used to interrogate many aspects of histone lysine methylation. Besides, over a dozen inhibitors have been advanced to clinical trials, including the EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat approved for the treatment of follicular lymphoma and advanced epithelioid sarcoma. In this Review, we highlight the chemical biology and pharmacology of KMT inhibitors and targeted protein degraders focusing on the clinical development of EZH1/2, DOT1L, Menin-MLL, and WDR5-MLL inhibitors. We also briefly discuss the pharmacologic targeting of other KMTs.
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Wakamatsu T, Ogawa H, Yoshida K, Matsuoka Y, Shizuma K, Imura Y, Tamiya H, Nakai S, Yagi T, Nagata S, Yui Y, Sasagawa S, Takenaka S. Establishment of Organoids From Human Epithelioid Sarcoma With the Air-Liquid Interface Organoid Cultures. Front Oncol 2022; 12:893592. [PMID: 35677170 PMCID: PMC9169059 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.893592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although biological resources are essential for basic and preclinical research in the oncological field, those of sarcoma are not sufficient for rapid development of the treatment. So far, some sarcoma cell lines have been established, however, the success rate was low and the established sarcoma types were frequently biased. Therefore, an efficient culture method is needed to determine the various types of sarcomas. Organoid culture is a 3-dimentional culture method that enables the recapitulation of the tumor microenvironment and the success rate reported is higher than the 2-dimentional culture. The purpose of this study was to report our newly established organoids from human epithelioid sarcoma using the air-liquid interface organoid culture method. Methods We treated 2 patients with epithelioid sarcoma in our institute. The remaining sarcoma specimens after surgical resection were embedded in collagen type 1 gels according to the air-liquid interface organoid culture method. After serial passages, we xenografted the organoids to NOD-scid IL2Rgnull (NSG) mice. Using the developed tumors, we performed histological and genomic analyses to compare the similarities and differences with the original epithelioid sarcoma from the patient. Results Organoids from the epithelioid sarcoma could be serially cultured and maintained in collagen type 1 gels for more than 3 passages. Developed orthotopic tumor xenografts were detected in the NSG mice. After the process was repeated severally, the patient derived organoid lines from the epithelioid sarcoma were established. The established organoids showed loss of integrase interactor 1 expression with polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analyses. The xenografted organoids of the epithelioid sarcoma had histologically similar phenotypes with the original tumor and genetically resembled it to some degree. Conclusions The present study demonstrated 2 novel established organoid models of epithelioid sarcoma, and our organoid models could be used to investigate the molecular pathogenesis and develop a novel treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toru Wakamatsu
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology Service, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hisataka Ogawa
- Nitto joint Research Department for Nucleic Acid Medicine, Research Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keiichi Yoshida
- Next-generation Precision Medicine Research Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yukiko Matsuoka
- Next-generation Precision Medicine Research Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuko Shizuma
- Nitto joint Research Department for Nucleic Acid Medicine, Research Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Imura
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hironari Tamiya
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology Service, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Sho Nakai
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology Service, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toshinari Yagi
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology Service, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shigenori Nagata
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology and Cytology, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Yui
- Sarcoma Treatment Laboratory, Research Institute, Nozaki Tokushukai Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Satoru Sasagawa
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Research Institute, Nozaki Tokushukai Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Satoshi Takenaka
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology Service, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
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11
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Identification of SET/EED dual binders as innovative PRC2 inhibitors. Future Med Chem 2022; 14:609-621. [DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2022-0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The inhibition of PRC2, implicated in the pathogenesis of several tumors, can be a useful therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. In the literature, two types of PRC2 modulators are reported: competitive inhibitors of S-adenosyl methionine binding to the catalytic subunit EZH2; and allosteric ligands that prevent the interaction of the trimethylated H3K27 lysine in histone 3 to the EED subunit. The lack of dual EZH2/EED modulators drove us to search for compounds capable of recognizing both domains. Materials & methods: This goal was pursued by combining pharmacophore- and docking-based virtual screening of the Multi-Target Ligand Chemotheca database. Prediction tools for absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion and pan-assay interference compounds were also applied. Results: Finally, five 1,2,3-triazole derivatives were identified as promising dual EZH2/EED modulators. Conclusion: Our multistage screening protocol highlighted the great potential of Chemotheca for identifying polypharmacological agents.
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12
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Autophagy Modulators in Cancer: Focus on Cancer Treatment. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11080839. [PMID: 34440583 PMCID: PMC8401266 DOI: 10.3390/life11080839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Uncontrolled autophagy has been associated with the development and progression of various cancers that are resistant to cancer therapy. Therefore, many efforts to modulate uncontrolled autophagy as a cancer treatment have been attempted, from basic science to clinical trials. However, it remains difficult to equally apply autophagy modulators to cancer therapy because autophagy is a double-edged sword in cancer: it can be tumor-suppressive or tumor-protective. Therefore, the precise mechanisms of autophagy modulators and their varied responsiveness to each cancer type should be addressed in detail. This study will describe the precise mechanisms of developing various autophagy modulators, their current therapeutic applications and future perspectives.
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13
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Tang F, Tie Y, Wei YQ, Tu CQ, Wei XW. Targeted and immuno-based therapies in sarcoma: mechanisms and advances in clinical trials. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2021; 1876:188606. [PMID: 34371128 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Sarcomas represent a distinct group of rare malignant tumors with high heterogeneity. Limited options with clinical efficacy for the metastatic or local advanced sarcoma existed despite standard therapy. Recently, targeted therapy according to the molecular and genetic phenotype of individual sarcoma is a promising option. Among these drugs, anti-angiogenesis therapy achieved favorable efficacy in sarcomas. Inhibitors targeting cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6, poly-ADP-ribose polymerase, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, mTOR, NTRK, metabolisms, and epigenetic drugs are under clinical evaluation for sarcomas bearing the corresponding signals. Immunotherapy represents a promising and favorable method in advanced solid tumors. However, most sarcomas are immune "cold" tumors, with only alveolar soft part sarcoma and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Cellular therapies with TCR-engineered T cells, chimeric antigen receptor T cells, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, and nature killer cells transfer show therapeutic potential. Identifying tumor-specific antigens and exploring immune modulation factors arguing the efficacy of these immunotherapies are the current challenges. This review focuses on the mechanisms, advances, and potential strategies of targeted and immune-based therapies in sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Tang
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Orthopeadics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Tie
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu-Quan Wei
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chong-Qi Tu
- Department of Orthopeadics, Orthopedic Research Institute, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Xia-Wei Wei
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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14
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Prospects for Epigenetic Targeted Therapies of Bone and Soft-Tissue Sarcomas. Sarcoma 2021; 2021:5575444. [PMID: 34349608 PMCID: PMC8328687 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5575444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapies have revolutionized cancer treatment. It is well established that alterations of chromatin configuration and modifications affect tumorigenesis of some, possibly most, bone and soft-tissue sarcomas. As epigenetic regulators play a major role in the development of bone and soft-tissue sarcomas, epigenetic drugs provide a novel potential avenue for rational targeted therapies for these aggressive cancers. The present review summarizes the application of epigenetic drugs for clinical utilization in bone and soft-tissue sarcomas and provides an overview of clinical trials currently evaluating epigenetic therapies in this space.
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15
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Jiang F, Mao Y, Lu B, Zhou G, Wang J. A hypoxia risk signature for the tumor immune microenvironment evaluation and prognosis prediction in acute myeloid leukemia. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14657. [PMID: 34282207 PMCID: PMC8289869 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94128-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most prevalent form of acute leukemia. Patients with AML often have poor clinical prognoses. Hypoxia can activate a series of immunosuppressive processes in tumors, resulting in diseases and poor clinical prognoses. However, how to evaluate the severity of hypoxia in tumor immune microenvironment remains unknown. In this study, we downloaded the profiles of RNA sequence and clinicopathological data of pediatric AML patients from Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) database, as well as those of AML patients from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). In order to explore the immune microenvironment in AML, we established a risk signature to predict clinical prognosis. Our data showed that patients with high hypoxia risk score had shorter overall survival, indicating that higher hypoxia risk scores was significantly linked to immunosuppressive microenvironment in AML. Further analysis showed that the hypoxia could be used to serve as an independent prognostic indicator for AML patients. Moreover, we found gene sets enriched in high-risk AML group participated in the carcinogenesis. In summary, the established hypoxia-related risk model could act as an independent predictor for the clinical prognosis of AML, and also reflect the response intensity of the immune microenvironment in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Jiang
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Neonatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, No. 419, Fangxie Road, Shanghai, 200011 China
| | - Yan Mao
- grid.412676.00000 0004 1799 0784Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Binbin Lu
- grid.412676.00000 0004 1799 0784Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Guoping Zhou
- grid.412676.00000 0004 1799 0784Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029 China
| | - Jimei Wang
- grid.8547.e0000 0001 0125 2443Department of Neonatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, No. 419, Fangxie Road, Shanghai, 200011 China
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16
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Zhang X, Deng HW, Shen H, Ehrlich M. Prioritization of Osteoporosis-Associated Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) Using Epigenomics and Transcriptomics. JBMR Plus 2021; 5:e10481. [PMID: 33977200 PMCID: PMC8101624 DOI: 10.1002/jbm4.10481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic risk factors for osteoporosis, a prevalent disease associated with aging, have been examined in many genome-wide association studies (GWASs). A major challenge is to prioritize transcription-regulatory GWAS-derived variants that are likely to be functional. Given the critical role of epigenetics in gene regulation, we have used an unusual epigenetics-based and transcription-based approach to identify some of the credible regulatory single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) relevant to osteoporosis from 38 reported bone mineral density (BMD) GWASs. Using Roadmap databases, we prioritized SNPs based upon their overlap with strong enhancer or promoter chromatin preferentially in osteoblasts relative to 12 heterologous cell culture types. We also required that these SNPs overlap open chromatin (Deoxyribonuclease I [DNaseI]-hypersensitive sites) and DNA sequences predicted to bind to osteoblast-relevant transcription factors in an allele-specific manner. From >50,000 GWAS-derived SNPs, we identified 14 novel and credible regulatory SNPs (Tier-1 SNPs) for osteoporosis risk. Their associated genes, BICC1, LGR4, DAAM2, NPR3, or HMGA2, are involved in osteoblastogenesis or bone homeostasis and regulate cell signaling or enhancer function. Four of these genes are preferentially expressed in osteoblasts. BICC1, LGR4, and DAAM2 play important roles in canonical Wnt signaling, a pathway critical for bone formation and repair. The transcription factors predicted to bind to the Tier-1 SNP-containing DNA sequences also have bone-related functions. We present evidence that some of the Tier-1 SNPs exert their effects on BMD risk indirectly through little-studied long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) genes, which may, in turn, control the nearby bone-related protein-encoding gene. Our study illustrates a method to identify novel BMD-related causal regulatory SNPs for future study and to prioritize candidate regulatory GWAS-derived SNPs, in general. © 2021 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Zhang
- Tulane Center for Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, School of Medicine Tulane University New Orleans LA USA
| | - Hong-Wen Deng
- Tulane Center for Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, School of Medicine Tulane University New Orleans LA USA
| | - Hui Shen
- Tulane Center for Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, School of Medicine Tulane University New Orleans LA USA
| | - Melanie Ehrlich
- Tulane Center for Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, School of Medicine Tulane University New Orleans LA USA.,Tulane Cancer Center and Hayward Genetics Center Tulane University New Orleans LA USA
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17
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Zuco V, Pasquali S, Tortoreto M, Brich S, Percio S, Dagrada GP, Colombo C, Sanfilippo R, Lauricella C, Gounder M, El Bezawy R, Barisella M, Dei Tos AP, Casali PG, Gronchi A, Stacchiotti S, Zaffaroni N. Selinexor versus doxorubicin in dedifferentiated liposarcoma PDXs: evidence of greater activity and apoptotic response dependent on p53 nuclear accumulation and survivin down-regulation. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:83. [PMID: 33648535 PMCID: PMC7923610 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01886-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS), a tumor that lacks effective treatment strategies and is associated with poor outcomes, expresses amplified MDM2 in the presence of wild-type p53. MDM2 ubiquitination of p53 facilitates its XPO1-mediated nuclear export, thus limiting p53 tumor suppressor functions. Consequently, nuclear export is a rational target in DDLPS. We directly compared the antitumor activity of the first-in class XPO1 inhibitor selinexor and doxorubicin, the standard front-line therapy in sarcomas, in DDLPS patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) and primary cell lines. METHODS Drug activity was assessed in three PDXs (and two corresponding cell lines) established from the dedifferentiated component of primary untreated retroperitoneal DDLPS with myogenic (N = 2) and rhabdomyoblastic (N = 1) differentiation from patients who underwent surgery. These models were marked by amplification of MDM2, CDK4 and HMGA2 genes. RESULTS Selinexor was moderately active in the three PDXs but achieved greater tumor response compared to doxorubicin (maximum tumor volume inhibition: 46-80 % vs. 37-60 %). The PDX harboring rhabdomyoblastic dedifferentiation showed the highest sensitivity to both agents. PDX response to selinexor and doxorubicin was not associated with the extent of MDM2 and CDK4 gene amplification. Interestingly, the most chemosensitive PDX model showed the lowest extent of HMGA2 amplification. Selinexor was also more efficient than doxorubicinin in inducing an apoptotic response in PDXs and cell lines. Consistently, an increased nuclear accumulation of p53 was seen in all selinexor-treated models. In addition, a time-dependent decrease of survivin expression, with an almost complete abrogation of the cytoplasmic anti-apoptotic pool of this protein, was observed as a consequence of the decreased acetylation/activation of STAT3 and the increased ubiquitination of nuclear survivin. CONCLUSIONS Selinexor showed a moderate antitumor activity in three DDLPS PDXs, which was, however, consistently higher than doxorubicin across all different models regardless the extent of MDM2 amplification and the histological differentiation. The depletion of survivin protein seems to significantly contribute to the induction of apoptosis through which selinexor exerts its antitumor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Zuco
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Applied Research and Technological Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Sandro Pasquali
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Applied Research and Technological Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Tortoreto
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Applied Research and Technological Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Brich
- Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Percio
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Applied Research and Technological Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Gian Paolo Dagrada
- Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Colombo
- Sarcoma Service, Department of Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Sanfilippo
- Adult Mesenchymal Tumor and Rare Cancer Unit, Department of Cancer Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Mrinal Gounder
- Sarcoma Medical Oncology and Early Drug Development, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, 10065, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rihan El Bezawy
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Applied Research and Technological Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Barisella
- Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Paolo Dei Tos
- Department of Medicine, University of Padua School of Medicine, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Paolo Giovanni Casali
- Adult Mesenchymal Tumor and Rare Cancer Unit, Department of Cancer Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences L. Sacco, University of Milan, Via Grassi 74, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gronchi
- Sarcoma Service, Department of Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Stacchiotti
- Adult Mesenchymal Tumor and Rare Cancer Unit, Department of Cancer Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Nadia Zaffaroni
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Applied Research and Technological Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Via Amadeo 42, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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18
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Simeone N, Frezza AM, Zaffaroni N, Stacchiotti S. Tazemetostat for advanced epithelioid sarcoma: current status and future perspectives. Future Oncol 2020; 17:1253-1263. [PMID: 33289402 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2020-0781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelioid sarcoma (ES) is an aggressive ultra-rare soft-tissue sarcoma marked by SMARCB1/INI1 deficiency. SMARCB1/INI1 deficiency leads to elevated expression of EZH2, a component of polycomb repressive complex 2, which mediates gene silencing by catalyzing H3K27me3. Tazemetostat is an oral, SAM-competitive inhibitor of EZH2, whose blockade prevents the methylation of histone H3K27, thus decreasing the growth of EZH2 mutated or over-expressing cancer cells. Tazemetostat has been approved for the treatment of patients aged 16 years and older with metastatic or advanced ES not eligible for complete resection, based on the positive results of a single-arm Phase II basket study. Tazemetostat though represents a new treatment option for ES patients, although clinical/molecular predictors of response are still to be identified. The combination of tazemetostat with other drugs like doxorubicin and immunotherapeutic agents is currently under investigation in ES patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemi Simeone
- Department of Cancer Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Frezza
- Department of Cancer Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Nadia Zaffaroni
- Department of Experimental Oncology & Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Silvia Stacchiotti
- Department of Cancer Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, 20133, Italy
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19
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Li Q, Liu KY, Liu Q, Wang G, Jiang W, Meng Q, Yi Y, Yang Y, Wang R, Zhu S, Li C, Wu L, Zhao D, Yan L, Zhang L, Kim JS, Zu X, Kozielski AJ, Qian W, Chang JC, Patnaik A, Chen K, Cao Q. Antihistamine Drug Ebastine Inhibits Cancer Growth by Targeting Polycomb Group Protein EZH2. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 19:2023-2033. [PMID: 32855270 PMCID: PMC7541747 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Enhancer of zester homolog 2 (EZH2), a histone lysine methyltransferase and the catalytic component of polycomb repressive complex 2, has been extensively investigated as a chromatin regulator and a transcriptional suppressor by methylating H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27). EZH2 is upregulated or mutated in most cancers, and its expression levels are negatively associated with clinical outcomes. However, the current developed small-molecule inhibitors targeting EZH2 enzymatic activities could not inhibit the growth and progression of solid tumors. Here, we discovered an antihistamine drug, ebastine, as a novel EZH2 inhibitor by targeting EZH2 transcription and subsequently downregulating EZH2 protein level and H3K27 trimethylation in multiple cancer cell lines at concentrations below 10 μmol/L. The inhibition of EZH2 by ebastine further impaired the progression, migration, and invasiveness of these cancer cells. Overexpression of Ezh2 wild-type and its mutant, H689A (lacking methyltransferase activity), rescued the neoplastic properties of these cancer cells after ebastine treatment, suggesting that EZH2 targeted by ebastine is independent of its enzymatic function. Next-generation RNA-sequencing analysis also revealed that C4-2 cells treated with 8 μmol/L ebastine showed a gene profiling pattern similar to EZH2-knockdown C4-2 cells, which was distinctively different from cells treated with GSK126, an EZH2 enzyme inhibitor. In addition, ebastine treatment effectively reduced tumor growth and progression, and enhanced progression-free survival in triple-negative breast cancer and drug-resistant castration-resistant prostate cancer patient-derived xenograft mice. Our data demonstrated that ebastine is a novel, safe, and potent anticancer agent for patients with advanced cancer by targeting the oncoprotein EZH2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaqia Li
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | - Kilia Y Liu
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Qipeng Liu
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | - Guangyu Wang
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
- Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - Weihua Jiang
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | - Qingshu Meng
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | - Yang Yi
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | - Yongyong Yang
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Rui Wang
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | - Sen Zhu
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
- Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - Chao Li
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | - Longxiang Wu
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Dongyu Zhao
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
- Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - Lin Yan
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | - Lili Zhang
- Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - Jung-Sun Kim
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | - Xiongbing Zu
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | | | - Wei Qian
- Houston Methodist Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Akash Patnaik
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kaifu Chen
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas.
- Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - Qi Cao
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
- Center for Inflammation and Epigenetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
- Houston Methodist Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
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20
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Current Approaches for Personalized Therapy of Soft Tissue Sarcomas. Sarcoma 2020; 2020:6716742. [PMID: 32317857 PMCID: PMC7152984 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6716742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a highly heterogeneous group of cancers of mesenchymal origin with diverse morphologies and clinical behaviors. While surgical resection is the standard treatment for primary STS, advanced and metastatic STS patients are not eligible for surgery. Systemic treatments, including standard chemotherapy and newer chemical agents, still play the most relevant role in the management of the disease. Discovery of specific genetic alterations in distinct STS subtypes allowed better understanding of mechanisms driving their pathogenesis and treatment optimization. This review focuses on the available targeted drugs or drug combinations based on genetic aberration involved in STS development including chromosomal translocations, oncogenic mutations, gene amplifications, and their perspectives in STS treatment. Furthermore, in this review, we discuss the possible use of chemotherapy sensitivity and resistance assays (CSRA) for the adjustment of treatment for individual patients. In summary, current trends in personalized management of advanced and metastatic STS are based on combination of both genetic testing and CSRA.
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