1
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Wen Z, Rajagopalan A, Flietner ED, Yun G, Chesi M, Furumo Q, Burns RT, Papadas A, Ranheim EA, Pagenkopf AC, Morrow ZT, Finn R, Zhou Y, Li S, You X, Jensen J, Yu M, Cicala A, Menting J, Mitsiades CS, Callander NS, Bergsagel PL, Wang D, Asimakopoulos F, Zhang J. Expression of NrasQ61R and MYC transgene in germinal center B cells induces a highly malignant multiple myeloma in mice. Blood 2021; 137:61-74. [PMID: 32640012 PMCID: PMC7808014 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020007156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
NRAS Q61 mutations are prevalent in advanced/relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) and correlate with poor patient outcomes. Thus, we generated a novel MM model by conditionally activating expression of endogenous NrasQ61R and an MYC transgene in germinal center (GC) B cells (VQ mice). VQ mice developed a highly malignant MM characterized by a high proliferation index, hyperactivation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and AKT signaling, impaired hematopoiesis, widespread extramedullary disease, bone lesions, kidney abnormalities, preserved programmed cell death protein 1 and T-cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif domain immune-checkpoint pathways, and expression of human high-risk MM gene signatures. VQ MM mice recapitulate most of the biological and clinical features of human advanced/high-risk MM. These MM phenotypes are serially transplantable in syngeneic recipients. Two MM cell lines were also derived to facilitate future genetic manipulations. Combination therapies based on MEK inhibition significantly prolonged the survival of VQ mice with advanced-stage MM. Our study provides a strong rationale to develop MEK inhibition-based therapies for treating advanced/relapsed MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Wen
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research and
| | | | - Evan D Flietner
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Grant Yun
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research and
| | - Marta Chesi
- Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ
| | | | | | - Athanasios Papadas
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Erik A Ranheim
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Adam C Pagenkopf
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Zachary T Morrow
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | | | - Yun Zhou
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research and
| | - Shuyi Li
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research and
| | - Xiaona You
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research and
| | - Jeffrey Jensen
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Mei Yu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI; and
| | - Alexander Cicala
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - James Menting
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Constantine S Mitsiades
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Natalie S Callander
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | | | - Demin Wang
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti, Milwaukee, WI
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI; and
| | - Fotis Asimakopoulos
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UW Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Jing Zhang
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research and
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2
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Wu JY, Li B, Jia YJ, Zhang PH, Xu ZF, Qin TJ, Qu SQ, Pan LJ, Liu JQ, Yan X, Zhang YD, Chen J, Gong JY, Xiao ZJ. [Genetic characteristics and prognostic values of RAS mutations in patients with myelofibrosis]. ZHONGHUA XUE YE XUE ZA ZHI = ZHONGHUA XUEYEXUE ZAZHI 2020; 41:989-995. [PMID: 33445845 PMCID: PMC7840545 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-2727.2020.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To explore the genetic characteristics, clinical features, and prognostic values of RAS mutations in patients with myelofibrosis (MF) . Methods: We analyzed 112-gene targeted sequencing data from 226 patients who had a diagnosis of either primary myelofibrosis (PMF) or post-polycythemia vera/post-essential thrombocythemia (post-PV MF and post-ET MF) from December 2011 to December 2019. A retrospective analysis of the genetic characteristics, clinical features, and prognosis of RAS mutations was performed. Results: Among 266 patients diagnosed PMF or post-PV/ET MF, RAS mutations were found in 14 (6.2%) cases, including 9 (4.0%) cases of NRAS mutations, 8 (3.5%) cases of KRAS mutations, and 3 (1.3%) cases of both NRAS and KRAS mutations. All of the NRAS mutations were located in codons 12 and 13. The median VAFs of RAS mutations were significantly lower than those of the driver mutations, confirming that they represent sub-clonal events that are acquired during the disease course. SETBP1, SRSF2, and MPL tended to be clustered with RAS mutations. Patients with RAS mutations had a higher number of additional oncogenic mutations (median, 3.36 vs 1.17, P<0.001) . RAS mutations had a statistically significant association with elevated monocyte cell counts (P=0.003) , lower platelet counts (P=0.026) , higher bone marrow blasts (P=0.022) , splenomegaly (P=0.005) , and very high-risk (VHR) karyotype abnormality percentage (P=0.031) . In univariate analysis, the OS of patients with NRAS mutations were significantly inferior in the entire MF and PMF cohorts (P=0.001, P=0.008) . In a multivariate model, NRAS retained an independent negative prognostic factor in PMF. Conclusion: RAS gene mutations were constantly related to elevated monocyte cell counts, lower platelet counts, higher bone marrow blasts, and VHR karyotype abnormality percentage that usually defined high-risk disease and often occurred as sub-clonal events. NRAS mutation is an independent poor prognostic factor in PMF.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Y Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - B Li
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Y J Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - P H Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Z F Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - T J Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - S Q Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - L J Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - J Q Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - X Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Y D Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - J Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - J Y Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
| | - Z J Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300020, China
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3
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Sachs Z, Been RA, DeCoursin KJ, Nguyen HT, Mohd Hassan NA, Noble-Orcutt KE, Eckfeldt CE, Pomeroy EJ, Diaz-Flores E, Geurts JL, Diers MD, Hasz DE, Morgan KJ, MacMillan ML, Shannon KM, Largaespada DA, Wiesner SM. Stat5 is critical for the development and maintenance of myeloproliferative neoplasm initiated by Nf1 deficiency. Haematologica 2016; 101:1190-1199. [PMID: 27418650 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2015.136002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia is a rare myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by hyperactive RAS signaling. Neurofibromin1 (encoded by the NF1 gene) is a negative regulator of RAS activation. Patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 harbor loss-of-function mutations in NF1 and have a 200- to 500-fold increased risk of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia. Leukemia cells from patients with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia display hypersensitivity to certain cytokines, such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. The granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor utilizes pre-associated JAK2 to initiate signals after ligand binding. JAK2 subsequently activates STAT5, among other downstream effectors. Although STAT5 is gaining recognition as an important mediator of growth factor signaling in myeloid leukemias, the contribution of STAT5 to the development of hyperactive RAS-initiated myeloproliferative disease has not been well described. In this study, we investigated the consequence of STAT5 attenuation via genetic and pharmacological approaches in Nf1-deficient murine models of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia. We found that homozygous Stat5 deficiency extended the lifespan of Nf1-deficient mice and eliminated the development of myeloproliferative neoplasm associated with Nf1 gene loss. Likewise, we found that JAK inhibition with ruxolitinib attenuated myeloproliferative neoplasm in Nf1-deficient mice. Finally, we found that primary cells from a patient with KRAS-mutant juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia displayed reduced colony formation in response to JAK2 inhibition. Our findings establish a central role for STAT5 activation in the pathogenesis of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia and suggest that targeting this pathway may be of clinical utility in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohar Sachs
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Raha A Been
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA College of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Comparative and Molecular Biosciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | | | - Hanh T Nguyen
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Klara E Noble-Orcutt
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Craig E Eckfeldt
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Emily J Pomeroy
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ernesto Diaz-Flores
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer L Geurts
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Miechaleen D Diers
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Diane E Hasz
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Kelly J Morgan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Margaret L MacMillan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Kevin M Shannon
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - David A Largaespada
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Stephen M Wiesner
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA Center for Allied Health Programs, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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4
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Wang T, Li C, Xia C, Dong Y, Yang D, Geng Y, Cai J, Zhang J, Zhang X, Wang J. Oncogenic NRAS hyper-activates multiple pathways in human cord blood stem/progenitor cells and promotes myelomonocytic proliferation in vivo. Am J Transl Res 2015; 7:1963-1973. [PMID: 26692939 PMCID: PMC4656772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Oncogenic NRAS mutations are prevalent in human myeloid leukemia, especially in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). NrasG12D mutation at its endogenous locus in murine hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) leads to CMML and acute T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia in a dose-dependent manner. Hyper-activated MAPK and STAT5 pathways by oncogenic Nras contribute to the leukemogenesis in vivo. However, it is unclear whether these conclusions remain true in a more human relevant model. Here, we evaluated the effects of NRASG12D on human hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis in vitro and in vivo by ectopically expressing NRASG12D in human cord blood stem/progenitor cells (hSPCs). NRASG12D expressing hSPCs preferentially differentiated into myelomonocytic lineage cells, demonstrated by forming more colony forming unit-macrophages than control hSPCs in cultures. Transplantation of NRASG12D expressing hSPCs initiated myeloproliferative neoplasm in immune deficiency mice. All the recipient mice died of myeloid tumor burdens in spleens and bone marrows and none developed lymphoid leukemia. Phospho-flow analysis of CD34(+) CD38(-) hSPCs confirmed that NRASG12D hyper-activated MAPK, AKT and STAT5 pathways. Our study provides the strong evidence that NRASG12D mutation mainly targets monocytic lineage cells and leads to myelomonocytic proliferation in vivo in a highly human relevant context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongjie Wang
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of ChinaAnhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineGuangzhou, China
| | - Chen Li
- Department of Hematology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou, China
| | - Chengxiang Xia
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of ChinaAnhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineGuangzhou, China
| | - Yong Dong
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineGuangzhou, China
| | - Dan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineGuangzhou, China
| | - Yang Geng
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineGuangzhou, China
| | - Jizhen Cai
- Laboratory Animal Center, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of SciencesChina
| | - Jing Zhang
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Xiangzhong Zhang
- Department of Hematology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou, China
| | - Jinyong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of ChinaAnhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineGuangzhou, China
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5
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Kirschner MMJ, Schemionek M, Schubert C, Chatain N, Sontag S, Isfort S, Ortiz-Brüchle N, Schmitt K, Krüger L, Zerres K, Zenke M, Brümmendorf TH, Koschmieder S. Dissecting Genomic Aberrations in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms by Multiplex-PCR and Next Generation Sequencing. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123476. [PMID: 25894969 PMCID: PMC4404337 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to assess the feasibility of amplicon-based parallel next generation sequencing (NGS) for the diagnosis of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), we investigated multiplex-PCR of 212 amplicons covering genomic mutational hotspots in 48 cancer-related genes. Samples from 64 patients with MPN and five controls as well as seven (myeloid) cell lines were analyzed. Healthy donor and reactive erythrocytosis samples showed several frequent single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) but no known pathogenic mutation. Sequencing of the cell lines confirmed the presence of the known mutations. In the patient samples, JAK2 V617F was present in all PV, 4 of 10 ET, and 16 of 19 MF patients. The JAK2 V617F allele burden was different in the three groups (ET, 33+/-22%; PV 48+/-28% and MF 68+/- 29%). Further analysis detected both previously described and undescribed mutations (i.e., G12V NRAS, IDH1 R132H, E255G ABL, and V125G IDH1 mutations). One patient with lymphoid BC/Ph+ ALL who harbored a T315I ABL mutation and was treated with ponatinib was found to have developed a newly acquired V216M TP53 mutation (12% of transcripts) when becoming resistant to ponatinib. Ponatinib led to a decrease of ABL T315I positive transcripts from 47% before ponatinib treatment to 16% at the time of ponatinib resistance in this patient, suggesting that both TP53 and ABL mutations were present in the same clone and that the newly acquired TP53 mutation might have caused ponatinib resistance in this patient. In conclusion, amplicon-sequencing-based NGS allows simultaneous analysis of multiple MPN associated genes for diagnosis and during treatment and measurement of the mutant allele burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin M. J. Kirschner
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mirle Schemionek
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Claudia Schubert
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Nicolas Chatain
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Stephanie Sontag
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering—Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Susanne Isfort
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Nadina Ortiz-Brüchle
- Institute for Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Karla Schmitt
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Luisa Krüger
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Klaus Zerres
- Institute for Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Martin Zenke
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering—Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tim H. Brümmendorf
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Steffen Koschmieder
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Hemostaseology, and Stem Cell Transplantation, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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6
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Knight T, Irving JAE. Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK Pathway Activation in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Its Therapeutic Targeting. Front Oncol 2014; 4:160. [PMID: 25009801 PMCID: PMC4067595 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2014.00160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 06/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of the Ras/Raf/MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway is a common event in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is caused by point mutation, gene deletion, and chromosomal translocation of a vast array of gene types, highlighting its importance in leukemia biology. Pathway activation can be therapeutically exploited and may guide new therapies needed for relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia and other high risk subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Knight
- Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Julie Anne Elizabeth Irving
- Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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7
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Kong G, Wunderlich M, Yang D, Ranheim EA, Young KH, Wang J, Chang YI, Du J, Liu Y, Tey SR, Zhang X, Juckett M, Mattison R, Damnernsawad A, Zhang J, Mulloy JC, Zhang J. Combined MEK and JAK inhibition abrogates murine myeloproliferative neoplasm. J Clin Invest 2014; 124:2762-73. [PMID: 24812670 DOI: 10.1172/jci74182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Overactive RAS signaling is prevalent in juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) and the myeloproliferative variant of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (MP-CMML) in humans, and both are refractory to conventional chemotherapy. Conditional activation of a constitutively active oncogenic Nras (NrasG12D/G12D) in murine hematopoietic cells promotes an acute myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) that recapitulates many features of JMML and MP-CMML. We found that NrasG12D/G12D-expressing HSCs, which serve as JMML/MP-CMML-initiating cells, show strong hyperactivation of ERK1/2, promoting hyperproliferation and depletion of HSCs and expansion of downstream progenitors. Inhibition of the MEK pathway alone prolonged the presence of NrasG12D/G12D-expressing HSCs but failed to restore their proper function. Consequently, approximately 60% of NrasG12D/G12D mice treated with MEK inhibitor alone died within 20 weeks, and the remaining animals continued to display JMML/MP-CMML-like phenotypes. In contrast, combined inhibition of MEK and JAK/STAT signaling, which is commonly hyperactivated in human and mouse CMML, potently inhibited human and mouse CMML cell growth in vitro, rescued mutant NrasG12D/G12D-expressing HSC function in vivo, and promoted long-term survival without evident disease manifestation in NrasG12D/G12D animals. These results provide a strong rationale for further exploration of combined targeting of MEK/ERK and JAK/STAT in treating patients with JMML and MP-CMML.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Genes, ras
- Humans
- Janus Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic/enzymology
- Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic/genetics
- Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile/enzymology
- Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile/genetics
- MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects
- Mice
- Mice, Mutant Strains
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Myeloproliferative Disorders/drug therapy
- Myeloproliferative Disorders/enzymology
- Myeloproliferative Disorders/pathology
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/administration & dosage
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
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8
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Ly B, Modi A, Rogers HJ, Makishima H, Hanna R, Cook JR, Theil KS, Maciejewski JP. Concurrent juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma with a shared missense mutation in NRAS. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014; 61:946-8. [PMID: 24610751 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.24797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 09/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Single cases of B- and T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma occurring after remission of JMML, and JMML occurring after remission of B-lymphoblastic leukemia have been reported in the literature. We present a unique case of a child with concurrent JMML and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma in which an identical missense mutation in NRAS was found in both the neoplastic JMML and T-LBL cells. JMML has been considered a stem cell disorder, and our case provides additional molecular evidence for a stem cell lesion underlying the two different disease phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda Ly
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
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9
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Nras(G12D/+) promotes leukemogenesis by aberrantly regulating hematopoietic stem cell functions. Blood 2013; 121:5203-7. [PMID: 23687087 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2012-12-475863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncogenic NRAS mutations are frequently identified in human myeloid leukemias. In mice, expression of endogenous oncogenic Nras (Nras(G12D/+)) in hematopoietic cells leads to expansion of myeloid progenitors, increased long-term reconstitution of bone marrow cells, and a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN). However, acute expression of Nras(G12D/+) in a pure C57BL/6 background does not induce hyperactivated granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor signaling or increased proliferation in myeloid progenitors. It is thus unclear how Nras(G12D/+) signaling promotes leukemogenesis. Here, we show that hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) expressing Nras(G12D/+) serve as MPN-initiating cells. They undergo moderate hyperproliferation with increased self-renewal. The aberrant Nras(G12D/+) HSC function is associated with hyperactivation of ERK1/2 in HSCs. Conversely, downregulation of MEK/ERK by pharmacologic and genetic approaches attenuates the cycling of Nras(G12D/+) HSCs and prevents the expansion of Nras(G12D/+) HSCs and myeloid progenitors. Our data delineate critical mechanisms of oncogenic Nras signaling in HSC function and leukemogenesis.
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Harnessing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: eliminating activity by targeting at different levels. Oncotarget 2013; 3:811-23. [PMID: 22885370 PMCID: PMC3478458 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive malignant hematological disorder arising in the thymus from T-cell progenitors. T-ALL mainly affects children and young adults, and remains fatal in 20% of adolescents and 50% of adults, despite progress in polychemotherapy protocols. Therefore, innovative targeted therapies are desperately needed for patients with a dismal prognosis. Aberrant activation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling is a common event in T-ALL patients and portends a poor prognosis. Preclinical studies have highlighted that modulators of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling could have a therapeutic relevance in T-ALL. However, the best strategy for inhibiting this highly complex signal transduction pathway is still unclear, as the pharmaceutical companies have disclosed an impressive array of small molecules targeting this signaling network at different levels. Here, we demonstrate that a dual PI3K/PDK1 inhibitor, NVP-BAG956, displayed the most powerful cytotoxic effects against T-ALL cell lines and primary patients samples, when compared with a pan class I PI3K inhibitor (GDC-0941), an allosteric Akt inhibitor (MK-2206), an mTORC1 allosteric inhibitor (RAD-001), or an ATP-competitive mTORC1/mTORC2 inhibitor (KU-63794). Moreover, we also document that combinations of some of the aforementioned drugs strongly synergized against T-ALL cells at concentrations well below their respective IC50. This observation indicates that vertical inhibition at different levels of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR network could be considered as a future innovative strategy for treating T-ALL patients.
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McCubrey JA, Steelman LS, Chappell WH, Abrams SL, Montalto G, Cervello M, Nicoletti F, Fagone P, Malaponte G, Mazzarino MC, Candido S, Libra M, Bäsecke J, Mijatovic S, Maksimovic-Ivanic D, Milella M, Tafuri A, Cocco L, Evangelisti C, Chiarini F, Martelli AM. Mutations and deregulation of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR cascades which alter therapy response. Oncotarget 2012; 3:954-87. [PMID: 23006971 PMCID: PMC3660063 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/PTEN/Akt/mTOR cascades are often activated by genetic alterations in upstream signaling molecules such as receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK). Certain components of these pathways, RAS, NF1, BRAF, MEK1, DUSP5, PP2A, PIK3CA, PIK3R1, PIK3R4, PIK3R5, IRS4, AKT, NFKB1, MTOR, PTEN, TSC1, and TSC2 may also be activated/inactivated by mutations or epigenetic silencing. Upstream mutations in one signaling pathway or even in downstream components of the same pathway can alter the sensitivity of the cells to certain small molecule inhibitors. These pathways have profound effects on proliferative, apoptotic and differentiation pathways. Dysregulation of components of these cascades can contribute to: resistance to other pathway inhibitors, chemotherapeutic drug resistance, premature aging as well as other diseases. This review will first describe these pathways and discuss how genetic mutations and epigenetic alterations can result in resistance to various inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
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Lassen LB, Ballarín-González B, Schmitz A, Füchtbauer A, Pedersen FS, Füchtbauer EM. Nras overexpression results in granulocytosis, T-cell expansion and early lethality in mice. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42216. [PMID: 22876308 PMCID: PMC3410918 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2012] [Accepted: 07/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
NRAS is a proto-oncogene involved in numerous myeloid malignancies. Here, we report on a mouse line bearing a single retroviral long terminal repeat inserted into Nras. This genetic modification resulted in an increased level of wild type Nras mRNA giving the possibility of studying the function and activation of wild type NRAS. Flow cytometry was used to show a variable but significant increase of immature myeloid cells in spleen and thymus, and of T-cells in the spleen. At an age of one week, homozygous mice began to retard compared to their wild type and heterozygous littermates. Two weeks after birth, animals started to progressively lose weight and die before weaning. Heterozygous mice showed a moderate increase of T-cells and granulocytes but survived to adulthood and were fertile. In homozygous and heterozygous mice Gfi1 and Gcsf mRNA levels were upregulated, possibly explaining the increment in immature myeloid cells detected in these mice. The short latency period indicates that Nras overexpression alone is sufficient to cause dose-dependent granulocytosis and T-cell expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alexander Schmitz
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Haematology, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Annette Füchtbauer
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Finn Skou Pedersen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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