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Heublein S, Pfisterer J, du Bois A, Anglesio M, Aminossadati B, Bhatti I, Sehouli J, Wimberger P, Schochter F, Hilpert F, Hillemanns P, Kalder M, Schroeder W, Mahner S, Burges A, Canzler U, Gropp-Meier M, Jackisch C, Harter P, Kommoss S, Marmé F. Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors and Ligands in Context of Bevacizumab Response in Ovarian Carcinoma: An Exploratory Analysis of AGO-OVAR11/ICON-7. J Transl Med 2024; 104:100321. [PMID: 38154497 DOI: 10.1016/j.labinv.2023.100321] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
With more novel drugs being approved for the treatment of ovarian carcinoma, the question remains to what extent patients benefit from antiangiogenic treatment with bevacizumab, either in combination with poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors or as single-agent maintenance. As fibroblast growth factor receptors and their ligands (FGFRs/FGFs) are key players in angiogenic signaling and have been linked to resistance to several drugs, we investigated the prognostic or predictive potential of FGFs/FGFRs signaling in the context of bevacizumab treatment within the prospective phase III AGO-OVAR11/ICON-7 study. FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3, FGFR4, FGF1, and FGF19 gene expressions were determined in 380 ovarian carcinoma tumor samples collected from German centers in the multicenter phase III AGO-OVAR11 trial/ICON-7 trial. All patients received carboplatin and paclitaxel, administered every 3 weeks for 6 cycles, and were randomized to bevacizumab. Expressions of FGFR1, FGFR2, FGF1, and FGF19 were associated with progression-free survival in both uni- and multivariate (FGFR1: HR, 1.6, P < .001; FGFR2: HR, 1.6, P = .002; FGF1: HR, 2.3, P < .001; and FGF19: HR, 0.7; P = .007) analysis. A signature built by FGFR1, FGFR4, and FGF19 defined a subgroup (n = 62) of patients that derived the greatest bevacizumab-associated improvement of progression-free survival (HR, 0.3; P = .004). In this exploratory analysis of a prospective randomized phase III trial, we provide evidence that the expression of FGFRs/FGFs might have independent prognostic values. An FGFR/FGF-based gene signature identified in our study appears to predict long-term benefit from bevacizumab. This observation is hypothesis-generating and requires validation on independent cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Heublein
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; National Center for Tumor Diseases Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | | | - Andreas du Bois
- Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Anglesio
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Behnaz Aminossadati
- Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials of the Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Irfan Bhatti
- National Center for Tumor Diseases Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jalid Sehouli
- Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, University Berlin, Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pauline Wimberger
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Carl-Gustav-Carus University, TU Dresden and National Cancer Center (NCT Dresden), Dresden, Germany; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Fabienne Schochter
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Felix Hilpert
- Oncologic Therapy Center Hospital Jerusalem, UKHS Kiel, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter Hillemanns
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical School Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Matthias Kalder
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Philips-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Sven Mahner
- Department of Gynecology, University Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximillians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Burges
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximillians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrich Canzler
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Carl-Gustav-Carus University, TU Dresden and National Cancer Center (NCT Dresden), Dresden, Germany
| | - Martina Gropp-Meier
- Oberschwabenklinik, Department of Gynecology, Krankenhaus St. Elisabeth, Ravensburg, Germany
| | - Christian Jackisch
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, SANA-Klinikum Offenbach, Offenbach, Germany
| | - Philipp Harter
- Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen, Germany
| | - Stefan Kommoss
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Klinikum Schwäbisch-Hall, Schwäbisch-Hall, Germany
| | - Frederik Marmé
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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Lee YY, Ryu JY, Cho YJ, Choi JY, Choi JJ, Choi CH, Sa JK, Hwang JR, Lee JW. The anti-tumor effects of AZD4547 on ovarian cancer cells: differential responses based on c-Met and FGF19/FGFR4 expression. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:43. [PMID: 38273381 PMCID: PMC10811874 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03235-2] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The FGF/FGFR signaling pathway plays a critical role in human cancers. We analyzed the anti-tumor effect of AZD4547, an inhibitor targeting the FGF/FGFR pathway, in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and strategies on overcoming AZD4547 resistance. METHODS The effect of AZD4547 on cell viability/migration was evaluated and in vivo experiments in intraperitoneal xenografts using EOC cells and a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model were performed. The effect of the combination of AZD4547 with SU11274, a c-Met-specific inhibitor, FGF19-specific siRNA, or an FGFR4 inhibitor was evaluated by MTT assay. RESULTS AZD4547 significantly decreased cell survival and migration in drug-sensitive EOC cells but not drug-resistant cells. AZD4547 significantly decreased tumor weight in xenograft models of drug-sensitive A2780 and SKOV3ip1 cells and in a PDX with drug sensitivity but not in models with drug-resistant A2780-CP20 and SKOV3-TR cells. Furthermore, c-Met expression was high in SKOV3-TR and HeyA8-MDR cells, and co-administration of SU11274 and AZD4547 synergistically induced cell death. In addition, expressions of FGF19 and FGFR4 were high in A2780-CP20 cells. Combining AZD4547 with FGF19 siRNA or with a selective FGFR4 inhibitor led to significantly reduced cell proliferation in A2780-CP20 cells. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that AZD4547 has significant anti-cancer effects in drug-sensitive cells and PDX models but not in drug-resistant EOC cells. In drug-resistant cells, the expression level of c-Met or FGF19/FGFR4 may be a predictive biomarker for AZD4547 treatment response, and a combination strategy of drugs targeting c-Met or FGF19/FGFR4 together with AZD4547 may be an effective therapeutic strategy for EOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoo-Young Lee
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - Ji-Yoon Ryu
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - Young-Jae Cho
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - Ju-Yeon Choi
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - Jung-Joo Choi
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - Chel Hun Choi
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea
| | - Jason K Sa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Ryoung Hwang
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea.
| | - Jeong-Won Lee
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, Korea.
- Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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Zhu W, Huang M, Thakur A, Yan Y, Wu X. FGF19 promotes cell autophagy and cisplatin chemoresistance by activating MAPK signaling in ovarian cancer. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14827. [PMID: 36751636 PMCID: PMC9899438 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chemotherapy is one of the primary treatments for ovarian cancer patients. Autophagy has been linked to chemotherapy resistance in tumor cells. Recent studies have suggested that fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) may be involved in the onset and progression of malignancies. However, the relationship between FGF19 and autophagy in ovarian cancer is still unknown. Methods Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was conducted to analyze gene mutation profiles of 62 cases of high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to validate the amplification of FGF19 in HGSOC tissues. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to analyze the difference of FGF19 in mRNA and protein expression. Meanwhile, bioinformatics techniques were used to analyze the expression profiles of FGF19 and the correlation with prognosis. Besides, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy and Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) were used to investigate the potential mechanisms. Results In this study, we found that FGF19 promotes cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells by inducing autophagy. NGS analysis of 62 HGSOC cases identified a significantly amplified gene, FGF19. In addition, the expression level of FGF19 in ovarian cancer samples was higher than that in normal samples. FISH results showed a positive correlation between amplification and expression of FGF19. Knockdown of FGF19 inhibited the cell autophagy through decrease in the expression of LC3 and Beclin 1, and increase in the expression of SQSTM1/p62. Furthermore, we observed that p38 MAPK phosphorylation was down-regulated after FGF19 knockdown. IFN-γ, a potential p38 MAPK activator, counteracted the inhibition of cell autophagy and the anti-proliferation effect of cisplatin induced by FGF19 knockdown in ovarian cancer cells. Conclusion FGF19 increases autophagy and chemoresistance in ovarian cancer by activating the p38 MAPK pathway. These results could point to FGF19 being a potential therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhu
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China,Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Meiyuan Huang
- Department of Pathology, Zhuzhou Hospital Affiliated to Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Zhuzhou, China
| | - Abhimanyu Thakur
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, Ben May Department for Cancer Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Yuanliang Yan
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoying Wu
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China,Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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The FGFR Family Inhibitor AZD4547 Exerts an Antitumor Effect in Ovarian Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910817. [PMID: 34639155 PMCID: PMC8509426 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The dysregulation of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling has been implicated in tumorigenesis, tumor progression, angiogenesis, and chemoresistance. The small-molecule AZD4547 is a potent inhibitor of FGF receptors. This study was performed to investigate the antitumor effects and determine the mechanistic details of AZD4547 in ovarian cancer cells. AZD4547 markedly inhibited the proliferation and increased the apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells. AZD4547 also suppressed the migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells under nontoxic conditions. Furthermore, it attenuated the formation of spheroids and the self-renewal capacities of ovarian cancer stem cells and exerted an antiangiogenic effect. It also suppressed in vivo tumor growth in mice. Collectively, this study demonstrated the antitumor effect of AZD4547 in ovarian cancer cells and suggests that it is a promising agent for ovarian cancer therapy.
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Quah SY, Wong CC, Wong HC, Ho KL, Abdul Manan N, Deb PK, Sagineedu SR, Stanslas J. Microarray-based identification of differentially expressed genes associated with andrographolide derivatives-induced resistance in colon and prostate cancer cell lines. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2021; 425:115605. [PMID: 34087331 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Chemoresistance poses a major hurdle to cancer treatments. Andrographolide-derived SRJ09 and SRJ23 were reported to exhibit potent, selective inhibitory activities against colon and prostate cancer cells, respectively. In this study, previously developed resistant colon (HCT-116rst09) and prostate (PC-3rst23) cancer cell lines were used to elucidate the molecular mechanisms contributing to chemoresistance. Cytotoxic effects of SRJ09 and SRJ23 on both parental and resistant cells were investigated. Cell cycle distributions in HCT-116rst09 cells following SRJ09 treatment were analysed using flow cytometry. Whole-genome microarray analysis was performed on both parental and resistant cells to obtain differential gene expression profiles. Microarray data were subjected to protein-protein interaction network, functional enrichment, and pathway analyses. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to validate the changes in expression levels of selected genes. Besides morphological changes, HCT-116rst09 cells showed 7.0-fold resistance to SRJ09 while PC-3rst23 cells displayed a 5.5-fold resistance to SRJ23, as compared with their respective parental cells. G0/G1-phase cell cycle arrest was observed in HCT-116rst09 cells upon SRJ09 treatment. Collectively, 77 and 21 genes were found differentially modulated in HCT-116rst09 and PC-3rst23 cells, respectively. Subsequent bioinformatics analysis revealed several genes associated with FGFR4 and PI3K pathways, and cancer stemness, were chemoresistance mediators in HCT-116rst09 cells. RT-PCR confirmed the HMOX1 upregulation and ATG12 downregulation protected the PC-3rst23 cells from SRJ23 cytotoxicity. In conclusion, acquired chemoresistance to SRJ09 and SRJ23 in colon and prostate cancer cells, respectively, could be attributed to the alterations in the expression of genes such as those related to PI3K and autophagy pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Ying Quah
- Pharmacotherapeutics Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Charng Choon Wong
- Pharmacotherapeutics Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hui Chyn Wong
- Pharmacotherapeutics Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Kok Lian Ho
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nizar Abdul Manan
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Pran Kishore Deb
- Faculty of Pharmacy, P.O.BOX (1), Philadelphia University, 19392 Amman, Jordan
| | - Sreenivasa Rao Sagineedu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Johnson Stanslas
- Pharmacotherapeutics Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Zhu DL, Tuo XM, Rong Y, Zhang K, Guo Y. Fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling as therapeutic targets in female reproductive system cancers. J Cancer 2020; 11:7264-7275. [PMID: 33193890 PMCID: PMC7646179 DOI: 10.7150/jca.44727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and endometrial cancer are three relatively common malignant cancers of the female reproductive system. Despite improvements in female genital tract cancer detection and development of new therapeutic approaches, there are still poor prognoses and some do not respond to therapeutic patterns, displaying low survival and high frequency of recurrence. In an era of personalized medicine, novel therapeutic approaches with greater efficacy for these cancers represent an unmet need. One of the actionable signaling pathways is the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling pathway. Several mutations and alterations in FGF/FGFR family members have been reported in human cancers. FGF/FGFR signaling pathway has become a new target for cancer therapy. This review will summarize the role of FGFR pathway and the genetic alterations of the FGF/FGFR related to female reproductive system cancer. We will describe the available inhibitors of FGFR pathway for potential treatment of female reproductive system cancer. Furthermore, we will discuss FGFR-targeted therapies under clinical development for treatment of female reproductive system cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Li Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Trauma Surgery, Honghui Hospital, College of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, P. R. China.,Biomedical Informatics & Genomics Center, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, P. R. China, 710054.,Research institute of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China, 311215
| | - Xiao-Mei Tuo
- Biomedical Informatics & Genomics Center, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, P. R. China, 710054
| | - Yu Rong
- Biomedical Informatics & Genomics Center, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, P. R. China, 710054
| | - Kun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Trauma Surgery, Honghui Hospital, College of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Yan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Trauma Surgery, Honghui Hospital, College of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, P. R. China.,Biomedical Informatics & Genomics Center, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, P. R. China, 710054
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Yousefi M, Dehghani S, Nosrati R, Ghanei M, Salmaninejad A, Rajaie S, Hasanzadeh M, Pasdar A. Current insights into the metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer - hopes and hurdles. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2020; 43:515-538. [PMID: 32418122 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-020-00513-9] [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] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. Despite various attempts to improve the diagnosis and therapy of ovarian cancer patients, the survival rate for these patients is still dismal, mainly because most of them are diagnosed at a late stage. Up to 90% of ovarian cancers arise from neoplastic transformation of ovarian surface epithelial cells, and are usually referred to as epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Unlike most human cancers, which are disseminated through blood-borne metastatic routes, EOC has traditionally been thought to be disseminated through direct migration of ovarian tumor cells to the peritoneal cavity and omentum via peritoneal fluid. It has recently been shown, however, that EOC can also be disseminated through blood-borne metastatic routes, challenging previous thoughts about ovarian cancer metastasis. CONCLUSIONS Here, we review our current understanding of the most updated cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying EOC metastasis and discuss in more detail two main metastatic routes of EOC, i.e., transcoelomic metastasis and hematogenous metastasis. The emerging concept of blood-borne EOC metastasis has led to exploration of the significance of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as novel and non-invasive prognostic markers in this daunting cancer. We also evaluate the role of tumor stroma, including cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), tumor associated macrophages (TAMs), endothelial cells, adipocytes, dendritic cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) components in EOC growth and metastasis. Lastly, we discuss therapeutic approaches for targeting EOC. Unraveling the mechanisms underlying EOC metastasis will open up avenues to the design of new therapeutic options. For instance, understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the hematogenous metastasis of EOC, the biology of CTCs, and the detailed mechanisms through which EOC cells take advantage of stromal cells may help to find new opportunities for targeting EOC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meysam Yousefi
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Sadegh Dehghani
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Rahim Nosrati
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Ghanei
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Arash Salmaninejad
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Halal Research Center of IRI, FDA, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Rajaie
- Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University, Arsanjan Branch, Arsanjan, Iran
| | - Malihe Hasanzadeh
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Alireza Pasdar
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. .,Bioinformatics Research Group, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. .,Division of Applied Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK.
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Lang L, Shull AY, Teng Y. Interrupting the FGF19-FGFR4 Axis to Therapeutically Disrupt Cancer Progression. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2020; 19:17-25. [PMID: 29557750 DOI: 10.2174/1568009618666180319091731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Coordination between the amplification of the fibroblast growth factor FGF19, overexpression of its corresponding receptor FGFR4, and hyperactivation of the downstream transmembrane enzyme β-klotho has been found to play pivotal roles in mediating tumor development and progression. Aberrant FGF19-FGFR4 signaling has been implicated in driving specific tumorigenic events including cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis resistance, and metastasis by activating a myriad of downstream signaling cascades. As an attractive target, several strategies implemented to disrupt the FGF19-FGFR4 axis have been developed in recent years, and FGF19-FGFR4 binding inhibitors are being intensely evaluated for their clinical use in treating FGF19-FGFR4 implicated cancers. Based on the established work, this review aims to detail how the FGF19-FGFR4 signaling pathway plays a vital role in cancer progression and why disrupting communication between FGF19 and FGFR4 serves as a promising therapeutic strategy for disrupting cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwei Lang
- Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Austin Y Shull
- Department of Biology, Presbyterian College, Clinton, SC 29325, United States
| | - Yong Teng
- Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States.,Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
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Heublein S, Anglesio MS, Marmé F, Kommoss S. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) as detected by immunohistochemistry is associated with postoperative residual disease in ovarian cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2019; 145:2251-2259. [PMID: 31385026 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-019-02986-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 4 (FGFR4) was proposed to hold prognostic significance in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC). However, information on this deriving from large, representative patient panels is still missing, though such data would be indispensable to validate suitability of FGFR4 as prognostic marker or even pharmacological target. METHODS 1063 ovarian cancer cases were included in this study. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed using two different anti-FGFR4 specific antibodies (HPA027273, sc-124) on an automated staining system. IHC data of both FGFR4 antibodies were available from 995 cases. FGFR4 immunostaining was correlated to prognostic factors including survival using uni- and multivariate proportional hazard models. RESULTS FGFR4 was positively associated with advanced FIGO stage, high grade and presence of residual disease. When progression free (PFS) of FGFR4 negative vs. positive patients was compared, patients scored as FGFR4 positive had significantly shortened PFS as compared to those that stained negative. All associations of FGFR4 and shortened PFS were lost during multivariate testing. No significant associations were found in terms of OS. CONCLUSIONS We were not able to confirm FGFR4 as an independent negative prognosticator as described before. However, FGFR4 was highly prevalent in those cases harboring residual disease after debulking surgery. Since especially patients that could only be debulked sub-optimally may benefit from targeted adjuvant treatment, tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting FGFRs might turn out to be an interesting future treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Heublein
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael S Anglesio
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Frederik Marmé
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mannheim University Hospital, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Stefan Kommoss
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
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MicroRNA-520e restricts the proliferation and invasion of glioma cells through the downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by targeting fibroblast growth factor 19. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 511:619-625. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.02.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 4 Targeting in Cancer: New Insights into Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies. Cells 2019; 8:cells8010031. [PMID: 30634399 PMCID: PMC6356571 DOI: 10.3390/cells8010031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), a tyrosine kinase receptor for FGFs, is involved in diverse cellular processes, including the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, metabolism, and bile acid biosynthesis. High activation of FGFR4 is strongly associated with the amplification of its specific ligand FGF19 in many types of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, where it acts as an oncogene driving the cancer development and progression. Currently, the development and therapeutic evaluation of FGFR4-specific inhibitors, such as BLU9931 and H3B-6527, in animal models and cancer patients, are paving the way to suppress hyperactive FGFR4 signaling in cancer. This comprehensive review not only covers the recent discoveries in understanding FGFR4 regulation and function in cancer, but also reveals the therapeutic implications and applications regarding emerging anti-FGFR4 agents. Our aim is to pinpoint the potential of FGFR4 as a therapeutic target and identify new avenues for advancing future research in the field.
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Somm E, Jornayvaz FR. Fibroblast Growth Factor 15/19: From Basic Functions to Therapeutic Perspectives. Endocr Rev 2018; 39:960-989. [PMID: 30124818 DOI: 10.1210/er.2018-00134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Discovered 20 years ago, fibroblast growth factor (FGF)19, and its mouse ortholog FGF15, were the first members of a new subfamily of FGFs able to act as hormones. During fetal life, FGF15/19 is involved in organogenesis, affecting the development of the ear, eye, heart, and brain. At adulthood, FGF15/19 is mainly produced by the ileum, acting on the liver to repress hepatic bile acid synthesis and promote postprandial nutrient partitioning. In rodents, pharmacologic doses of FGF19 induce the same antiobesity and antidiabetic actions as FGF21, with these metabolic effects being partly mediated by the brain. However, activation of hepatocyte proliferation by FGF19 has long been a challenge to its therapeutic use. Recently, genetic reengineering of the molecule has resolved this issue. Despite a global overlap in expression pattern and function, murine FGF15 and human FGF19 exhibit several differences in terms of regulation, molecular structure, signaling, and biological properties. As most of the knowledge originates from the use of FGF19 in murine models, differences between mice and humans in the biology of FGF15/19 have to be considered for a successful translation from bench to bedside. This review summarizes the basic knowledge concerning FGF15/19 in mice and humans, with a special focus on regulation of production, morphogenic properties, hepatocyte growth, bile acid homeostasis, as well as actions on glucose, lipid, and energy homeostasis. Moreover, implications and therapeutic perspectives concerning FGF19 in human diseases (including obesity, type 2 diabetes, hepatic steatosis, biliary disorders, and cancer) are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Somm
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Hypertension, and Nutrition, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - François R Jornayvaz
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Hypertension, and Nutrition, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
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Abstract
FGF19 is a noncanonical FGF ligand that can control a broad spectrum of physiological responses, which include bile acid homeostasis, liver metabolism and glucose uptake. Many of these responses are mediated by FGF19 binding to its FGFR4/β-klotho receptor complex and controlling activation of an array of intracellular signaling events. Overactivation of the FGF19/FGFR4 axis has been implicated in tumorigenic formation, progression and metastasis, and inhibitors of this axis have recently been developed for single agent use or in combination with other anticancer drugs. Considering the critical role of this receptor complex in cancer, this review focuses on recent developments and applications of FGF19/FGFR4-targeted therapeutics.
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Gamma-Klotho exhibits multiple roles in tumor growth of human bladder cancer. Oncotarget 2018; 9:19508-19524. [PMID: 29731962 PMCID: PMC5929405 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpha-Klotho (KLα) and beta-Klotho (KLβ) have recently been reported to correlate with cancer prognosis in some malignancies and we previously reported the association between KLα, KLβ, and urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB), indicating that KLβ acts as a tumor promoter. However, the association between gamma-Klotho (KLγ) and cancer prognosis remains unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the association between KLγ and UCB. To evaluate the effect of KLγ on human bladder cancer cell lines in vitro assays were performed. Exogenous KLγ increased the ability of human bladder cancer cells to proliferate, migrate, invade, form colonies, and provide anchorage-independent growth potential. In in vivo assays, eighteen mice bearing xenografts inoculated using UM-UC-3, were randomly divided into three groups and treated with a small interfering RNA (siRNA) by intratumoral administration once a week for four weeks. Knockdown of KLγ with siRNA led to a dramatic change in tumor growth and suggested that KLγ had effects on tumor growth, including promotion of cell proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, and enhancement of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. To confirm the study, human tissue samples were used and patients were divided into two groups according to KLγ expression level. High expression of KLγ was significantly associated with higher stage and grade cancer and the presence of lymphovascular invasion compared to patients with lower expression of KLγ. Our results suggest that KLγ plays an important role in tumor invasion and progression and these results may lead to the development of new therapies and diagnostic methods for UCB.
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The FGFR4-388arg Variant Promotes Lung Cancer Progression by N-Cadherin Induction. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2394. [PMID: 29402970 PMCID: PMC5799167 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20570-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The FGFR4-388Arg variant has been related to poor prognosis in several types of cancer, including lung cancer. The mechanism underlying this association has not been addressed in detail in patients with this pathology. Here, we report that this FGFR4 variant induces MAPK and STAT3 activation and causes pro-oncogenic effects in NSCLC in vitro and in vivo. This variant induces the expression of EMT-related genes, such as N-cadherin, vimentin, Snail1 and Twist1. Indeed, the induction of N-cadherin protein expression by this variant is essential for its pro-tumorigenic role. The presence of the FGFR4-388Arg variant correlates with higher N-cadherin expression levels in clinical NSCLC samples and with poorer outcome in patients with FGFR expression. These results support the prognostic role of this FGFR variant in lung cancer and show that these effects may be mediated by the induction of N-cadherin expression and an EMT phenotype.
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Estienne A, Price CA. The fibroblast growth factor 8 family in the female reproductive tract. Reproduction 2018; 155:R53-R62. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Several growth factor families have been shown to be involved in the function of the female reproductive tract. One subfamily of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) superfamily, namely the FGF8 subfamily (including FGF17 and FGF18), has become important as Fgf8 has been described as an oocyte-derived factor essential for glycolysis in mouse cumulus cells and aberrant expression ofFGF18has been described in ovarian and endometrial cancers. In this review, we describe the pattern of expression of these factors in normal ovaries and uteri in rodents, ruminants and humans, as well as the expression of their receptors and intracellular negative feedback regulators. Expression of these molecules in gynaecological cancers is also reviewed. The role of FGF8 and FGF18 in ovarian and uterine function is described, and potential differences between rodents and ruminants have been highlighted especially with respect to FGF18 signalling within the ovarian follicle. Finally, we identify major questions about the reproductive biology of FGFs that remain to be answered, including (1) the physiological concentrations within the ovary and uterus, (2) which cell types within the endometrial stroma and theca layer express FGFs and (3) which receptors are activated by FGF8 subfamily members in reproductive tissues.
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Prognostic Role of the FGFR4-388Arg Variant in Lung Squamous-Cell Carcinoma Patients With Lymph Node Involvement. Clin Lung Cancer 2017; 18:667-674.e1. [PMID: 28583379 DOI: 10.1016/j.cllc.2017.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The identification of prognostic biomarkers for lung squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) pathology is crucial because of its poor prognosis. A variant of the FGFR4 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 4) gene, FGFR4-388Arg, has been associated with prognosis and is linked to oncogenesis in vitro in several types of cancer. We analyzed the association of this variant with prognosis and downstream signaling alteration in lung SCC patients. METHODS The presence of the FGFR4-388Arg variant was determined in 114 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lung SCC tissue samples by DNA genotyping and was correlated with clinicopathologic data. The activation of the protein kinase B (AKT) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways was determined by immunohistochemistry, and its association with the presence of FGFR4-388Arg was analyzed. RESULTS We found that tumor differentiation status and adjuvant chemotherapy administration could be independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) in lymph node-affected patients, as expected. The progression-free survival and OS of patients with lymph node involvement (n = 41) and the FGFR4-388Arg genotype were significantly lower than those of patients lacking this variant (P = .035 and P = .042, respectively). Importantly, multivariate analysis supported the independent prognostic role of the FGFR4-388Arg genotype in OS (P = .025). Regarding downstream signaling, the FGFR4-388Arg genotype was not correlated with altered AKT signaling but was associated with increased MAPK activation in the SCC tumor samples (P = .017). CONCLUSION The FGFR4-388Arg variant may represent a promising prognostic biomarker in SCC patients with lymph node involvement. For these patients, FGFR4 may be a potential therapeutic target.
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