Paths of FGFR-driven tumorigenesis

FGF6 inhibits oral squamous cell carcinoma progression by regulating PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways

To explore diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to reveal their regulatory mechanisms in key pathways. A RayBiotech protein chip was used to screen differentially expressed serum proteins in OSCC, oral leukoplakia (OLK), and healthy participants. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were used to determine the pathways enriched by characteristic differential proteins. Immunohistochemical analysis and western blotting were used to verify the expression of characteristic differential proteins and key regulatory factors in human tissues and in a nude mouse model. Fibroblast growth factor 6 (FGF6) was identified as a key differential protein and was weakly expressed in OSCC tissues. The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and PI3K-AKT pathways were identified as key signaling pathways. The results showed that pERK, Cyclin D1, pAKT, and BCL2 were highly expressed in OSCC, Caspase9 was lowly expressed in OSCC. With an increase in FGF6 expression in nude mice, the expression of FGFR4, pERK, Cyclin D1, pAKT, BCL2, GPX4, and ACSL4 increased, and the expression of Caspase9 decreased. FGF6 may change the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and proliferation factors by binding to FGFR4 in the PI3K-AKT/MAPK pathway and may inhibit the ferroptosis of OSCC, thereby possibly participating in the process of inhibiting OSCC.

Physiological and tumor-associated angiogenesis: Key factors and therapy targeting VEGF/VEGFR pathway

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide and poses a significant challenge to effective treatment due to its complexity. Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is one of the cancer hallmarks and is a critical process in tumor growth and metastasis. The pivotal role of angiogenesis in cancer development has made antiangiogenic treatment a promising strategy for cancer therapy. To develop an effective therapy, it is essential to understand the basics of the physiological and tumor angiogenesis process. This review presents the primary factors related to physiological and tumor angiogenesis and the mechanisms of angiogenesis in tumors. We summarize potential molecular targets for cancer treatment by focusing on the vasculature, with the VEGF/VEGFR pathway being one of the most important and well-studied. Additionally, we present the advantages and limitations of currently used clinical protocols for cancer treatment targeting the VEGF/VEGFR pathway.

Emerging molecular therapies in the treatment of bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is a leading cancer type in men. The complexity of treatment in late-stage bladder cancer after systemic spread through the lymphatic system highlights the importance of modulating disease-free progression as early as possible in cancer staging. With current therapies relying on previous standards, such as platinum-based chemotherapeutics and immunomodulation with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, researchers, and clinicians are looking for targeted therapies to stop bladder cancer at its source early in progression. A new era of molecular therapies that target specific features upregulated in bladder cancer cell lines is surfacing, which may be able to provide clinicians and patients with better control of disease progression. Here, we discuss multiple emerging therapies including immune checkpoint inhibitors of the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway, antibody-drug conjugates, modulation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) cell proliferation pathway, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, and fibroblast growth factor receptor targeting. Together, these modern treatments provide potentially promising results for bladder cancer patients with the possibility of increasing remission and survival rates.

Mathematical Modeling of Tumor Immune Interactions: The Role of Anti-FGFR and Anti-PD-1 in the Combination Therapy

Bladder cancer poses a significant global health burden with high incidence and recurrence rates. This study addresses the therapeutic challenges in advanced bladder cancer, focusing on the competitive mechanisms of ligand or drug binding to receptors. We developed a refined mathematical model that integrates the dynamics of tumor cells and immune responses, particularly targeting fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This study contributes to understanding combination therapies by elucidating the competitive binding dynamics and quantifying the synergistic effects. The findings highlight the importance of personalized immunotherapeutic strategies, considering factors such as drug dosage, dosing schedules, and patient-specific parameters. Our model further reveals that ligand-independent activated-state receptors are the most essential drivers of tumor proliferation. Moreover, we found that PD-L1 expression rate was more important than PD-1 in driving the dynamic evolution of tumor and immune cells. The proposed mathematical model provides a comprehensive framework for unraveling the complexities of combination therapies in advanced bladder cancer. As research progresses, this multidisciplinary approach contributes valuable insights toward optimizing therapeutic strategies and advancing cancer treatment paradigms.

Effect of Carbamazepine on the Pharmacokinetics of Erdafitinib in Healthy Participants

Erdafitinib, a selective and potent oral pan-FGFR inhibitor, is metabolized mainly through CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 enzymes. This phase 1, open-label, single-sequence, drug-drug interaction study evaluated the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of a single oral dose of erdafitinib alone and when co-administered with steady state oral carbamazepine, a dual inducer of CYP3A4 and CYP2C9, in 13 healthy adult participants (NCT04330248). Compared with erdafitinib administration alone, carbamazepine co-administration decreased total and free maximum plasma concentrations of erdafitinib (Cmax) by 35% (95% CI 30%-39%) and 22% (95% CI 17%-27%), respectively. The areas under the concentration-time curve over the time interval from 0 to 168 hours, to the last quantifiable data point, and to time infinity (AUC168h, AUClast, AUCinf), were markedly decreased for both total erdafitinib (56%-62%) and free erdafitinib (48%-55%). The safety profile of erdafitinib was consistent with previous clinical studies in healthy participants, with no new safety concerns when administered with or without carbamazepine. Co-administration with carbamazepine may reduce the activity of erdafitinib due to reduced exposure. Concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inducers with erdafitinib should be avoided.

Exploring a distinct FGFR2::DLG5 rearrangement in a low-grade neuroepithelial tumor: A case report and mini-review of protein fusions in brain tumors

We report the novel clinical presentation of a primary brain neoplasm in a 30-year-old man with a mass-like area in the anteromedial temporal lobe. Histopathological analysis revealed a low-grade neuroepithelial tumor with cytologically abnormal neurons and atypical glial cells within the cerebral cortex. Molecular analysis showed a previously undescribed FGFR2::DLG5 rearrangement. We discuss the clinical significance and molecular implications of this fusion event, shedding light on its potential impact on tumor development and patient prognosis. Additionally, an extensive review places the finding in this case in the context of protein fusions in brain tumors in general and highlights their diverse manifestations, underlying molecular mechanisms, and therapeutic implications.

Characterization of Alternative Splicing in High-Risk Wilms' Tumors

The significant heterogeneity of Wilms' tumors between different patients is thought to arise from genetic and epigenetic distortions that occur during various stages of fetal kidney development in a way that is poorly understood. To address this, we characterized the heterogeneity of alternative mRNA splicing in Wilms' tumors using a publicly available RNAseq dataset of high-risk Wilms' tumors and normal kidney samples. Through Pareto task inference and cell deconvolution, we found that the tumors and normal kidney samples are organized according to progressive stages of kidney development within a triangle-shaped region in latent space, whose vertices, or "archetypes", resemble the cap mesenchyme, the nephrogenic stroma, and epithelial tubular structures of the fetal kidney. We identified a set of genes that are alternatively spliced between tumors located in different regions of latent space and found that many of these genes are associated with the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and muscle development. Using motif enrichment analysis, we identified putative splicing regulators, some of which are associated with kidney development. Our findings provide new insights into the etiology of Wilms' tumors and suggest that specific splicing mechanisms in early stages of development may contribute to tumor development in different patients.

Identification of antisense and sense RNAs of intracrine fibroblast growth factor components as novel biomarkers in colorectal cancer and in silico studies for drug and nanodrug repurposing

INTRODUCTION

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most malignant tumors and in which various efforts for screening is inconclusive.The intracrine FGF panel, the non-tyrosine kinase receptors (NTKR) FGFs and affiliated antisenses play a pivotal role in FGF signaling.The expression levels of coding and non-coding intracrine FGFs were assessed in CRC donors.Also, substantial costs and slow pace of drug discovery give high attraction to repurpose of previously discovered drugs to new opportunities.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of present study was to evaluate the potential role of the coding and non-coding intracrine FGFs as a new biomarkers for CRC cases and defining drug repurposing to alleviate FGF down regulation.

METHODS

RNA-seq data of colon adenocarcinomas (COAD) was downloaded using TCGA biolinks package in R.The DrugBank database (https://go.drugbank.com/) was used to extract interactions between drugs and candidate genes. A total of 200 CRC patients with detailed criteria were enrolled.RNAs were extracted with TRIzol-based protocol and amplified via LightCycler® instrument.FGF11 and FGF13 proteins validation was performed by used of immunohistochemistry technique in tumor and non-tumoral samples.Pearson's correlation analysis and ROC curve plotted by Prism 8.0 software.

RESULTS

RNA-seq data from TCGA was analyzed by normalizing with edgeR.Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis was generated. WCC algorithm extracted the most significant genes with a total of 47 genes. Expression elevation of iFGF antisenses (12AS,13As,14AS) compared with the normal colon tissue were observed (P = 0.0003,P = 0.042,P = 0.026, respectively). Moreover,a significant decrease in expression of the corresponding sense iFGF genes was detected (P < 0.0001).Plotted receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for iFGF components' expression showed an area of over 0.70 (FGF11-13: 0.71% and FGF12-14: 0.78%, P < 0.001) for sense mRNA expression, with the highest sensitivity for FGF12 (92.8%) and lowest for FGF11 (61.41%).The artificial intelligence (AI) revealed the valproic acid as a repurposing drug to relief the down regulation of FGF12 and 13 in CRC patients.

CONCLUSION

Intracrine FGFs panel was down regulated versus up regulation of dependent antisenses. Thus, developing novel biomarkers based on iFGF can be considered as a promising strategy for CRC screening.In advanced, valporic acid detected by AI as a repurposing drug which may be applied in clinical trials for CRC treatment.

KDM6A promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression and dictates lenvatinib efficacy by upregulating FGFR4 expression

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the major causes of death from cancer and has a very poor prognosis with few effective therapeutic options. Despite the approval of lenvatinib for the treatment of patients suffering from advanced HCC, only a small number of patients can benefit from this targeted therapy.

METHODS

Diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-CCL4 mouse liver tumour and the xenograft tumour models were used to evaluate the function of KDM6A in HCC progression. The xenograft tumour model and HCC cell lines were used to evaluate the role of KDM6A in HCC drug sensitivity to lenvatinib. RNA-seq and ChIP assays were conducted for mechanical investigation.

RESULTS

We revealed that KDM6A exhibited a significant upregulation in HCC tissues and was associated with an unfavourable prognosis. We further demonstrated that KDM6A knockdown remarkably suppressed HCC cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Moreover, hepatic Kdm6a loss also inhibited liver tumourigenesis in a mouse liver tumour model. Mechanistically, KDM6A loss downregulated the FGFR4 expression to suppress the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signalling pathway, leading to a glucose and lipid metabolism re-programming in HCC. KDM6A and FGFR4 levels were positively correlated in HCC specimens and mouse liver tumour tissues. Notably, KDM6A knockdown significantly inhibited the efficacy of lenvatinib therapy in HCC cells in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings revealed that KDM6A promoted HCC progression by activating FGFR4 expression and may be an essential molecule for influencing the efficacy of lenvatinib in HCC therapy.

Ligand-Free Signaling of G-Protein-Coupled Receptors: Physiology, Pharmacology, and Genetics

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are ubiquitous sensors and regulators of cellular functions. Each GPCR exists in complex aggregates with multiple resting and active conformations. Designed to detect weak stimuli, GPCRs can also activate spontaneously, resulting in basal ligand-free signaling. Agonists trigger a cascade of events leading to an activated agonist-receptor G-protein complex with high agonist affinity. However, the ensuing signaling process can further remodel the receptor complex to reduce agonist affinity, causing rapid ligand dissociation. The acutely activated ligand-free receptor can continue signaling, as proposed for rhodopsin and μ opioid receptors, resulting in robust receptor activation at low agonist occupancy with enhanced agonist potency. Continued receptor stimulation can further modify the receptor complex, regulating sustained ligand-free signaling-proposed to play a role in opioid dependence. Basal, acutely agonist-triggered, and sustained elevated ligand-free signaling could each have distinct functions, reflecting multi-state conformations of GPCRs. This review addresses basal and stimulus-activated ligand-free signaling, its regulation, genetic factors, and pharmacological implications, focusing on opioid and serotonin receptors, and the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR). The hypothesis is proposed that ligand-free signaling of 5-HT2A receptors mediate therapeutic effects of psychedelic drugs. Research avenues are suggested to close the gaps in our knowledge of ligand-free GPCR signaling.

Angiogenic signaling pathways and anti-angiogenic therapy for cancer

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is a complex and dynamic process regulated by various pro- and anti-angiogenic molecules, which plays a crucial role in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. With the advances in molecular and cellular biology, various biomolecules such as growth factors, chemokines, and adhesion factors involved in tumor angiogenesis has gradually been elucidated. Targeted therapeutic research based on these molecules has driven anti-angiogenic treatment to become a promising strategy in anti-tumor therapy. The most widely used anti-angiogenic agents include monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. However, the clinical benefit of this modality has still been limited due to several defects such as adverse events, acquired drug resistance, tumor recurrence, and lack of validated biomarkers, which impel further research on mechanisms of tumor angiogenesis, the development of multiple drugs and the combination therapy to figure out how to improve the therapeutic efficacy. Here, we broadly summarize various signaling pathways in tumor angiogenesis and discuss the development and current challenges of anti-angiogenic therapy. We also propose several new promising approaches to improve anti-angiogenic efficacy and provide a perspective for the development and research of anti-angiogenic therapy.

The Role of Genetic Mutations in Mitochondrial-Driven Cancer Growth in Selected Tumors: Breast and Gynecological Malignancies

There is an increasing understanding of the molecular and cytogenetic background of various tumors that helps us better conceptualize the pathogenesis of specific diseases. Additionally, in many cases, these molecular and cytogenetic alterations have diagnostic, prognostic, and/or therapeutic applications that are heavily used in clinical practice. Given that there is always room for improvement in cancer treatments and in cancer patient management, it is important to discover new therapeutic targets for affected individuals. In this review, we discuss mitochondrial changes in breast and gynecological (endometrial and ovarian) cancers. In addition, we review how the frequently altered genes in these diseases (BRCA1/2, HER2, PTEN, PIK3CA, CTNNB1, RAS, CTNNB1, FGFR, TP53, ARID1A, and TERT) affect the mitochondria, highlighting the possible associated individual therapeutic targets. With this approach, drugs targeting mitochondrial glucose or fatty acid metabolism, reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial biogenesis, mtDNA transcription, mitophagy, or cell death pathways could provide further tailored treatment.

A novel small molecule RK-019 inhibits FGFR2-amplification gastric cancer cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in vitro and in vivo

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most malignant cancers and is estimated to be fifth in incidence ratio and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Despite advances in GC treatment, poor prognosis and low survival rate necessitate the development of novel treatment options. Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) have been suggested to be potential targets for GC treatment. In this study, we report a novel selective FGFR inhibitor, RK-019, with a pyrido [1, 2-a] pyrimidinone skeleton. In vitro, RK-019 showed excellent FGFR1-4 inhibitory activities and strong anti-proliferative effects against FGFR2-amplification (FGFR2-amp) GC cells, including SNU-16 and KATO III cells. Treatment with RK-019 suppressed phosphorylation of FGFR and its downstream pathway proteins, such as FRS2, PLCγ, AKT, and Erk, resulting in cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, daily oral administration of RK-019 could attenuate tumor xenograft growth with no adverse effects. Here, we reported a novel specific FGFR inhibitor, RK-019, with potent anti-FGFR2-amp GC activity both in vitro and in vivo.

New Insights in the Interaction of FGF/FGFR and Steroid Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer

Luminal breast cancer (BrCa) has a favorable prognosis compared with other tumor subtypes. However, with time, tumors may evolve and lead to disease progression; thus, there is a great interest in unraveling the mechanisms that drive tumor metastasis and endocrine resistance. In this review, we focus on one of the many pathways that have been involved in tumor progression, the fibroblast growth factor/fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) axis. We emphasize in data obtained from in vivo experimental models that we believe that in luminal BrCa, tumor growth relies in a crosstalk with the stromal tissue. We revisited the studies that illustrate the interaction between hormone receptors and FGFR. We also highlight the most frequent alterations found in BrCa cell lines and provide a short review on the trials that use FGFR inhibitors in combination with endocrine therapies. Analysis of these data suggests there are many players involved in this pathway that might be also targeted to decrease FGF signaling, in addition to specific FGFR inhibitors that may be exploited to increase their efficacy.

FGFR blockade by pemigatinib treats naïve and castration resistant prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of cancer mortality in the male population commonly treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and relapsing as aggressive and androgen-independent castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). In PCa the FGF/FGFR family of growth factors and receptors represents a relevant mediator of cancer growth, tumor-stroma interaction, and a driver of resistance and relapse to ADT. In the present work, we validate the therapeutic efficacy the FDA-approved FGFR inhibitor pemigatinib, in an integrated platform consisting of human and murine PCa cells, and the transgenic multistage TRAMP model of PCa that recapitulates both androgen-dependent and CRPC settings. Our results show for the first time that pemigatinib causes intracellular stress and cell death in PCa cells and prevents tumor growth in vivo and in the multistage model. In addition, the combination of pemigatinib with enzalutamide resulted in long-lasting tumor inhibition and prevention of CRPC relapse in TRAMP mice. These data are confirmed by the implementation of a stochastic mathematical model and in silico simulation. Pemigatinib represents a promising FDA-approved FGFR inhibitor for the treatment of PCa and CRPC alone and in combination with enzalutamide.

Impact of Alternative Splicing Variants on Liver Cancer Biology

Simple Summary

Among the top ten deadly solid tumors are the two most frequent liver cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma, and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, whose development and malignancy are favored by multifactorial conditions, which include aberrant maturation of pre-mRNA due to abnormalities in either the machinery involved in the splicing, i.e., the spliceosome and associated factors, or the nucleotide sequences of essential sites for the exon recognition process. As a consequence of cancer-associated aberrant splicing in hepatocytes- and cholangiocytes-derived cancer cells, abnormal proteins are synthesized. They contribute to the dysregulated proliferation and eventually transformation of these cells to phenotypes with enhanced invasiveness, migration, and multidrug resistance, which contributes to the poor prognosis that characterizes these liver cancers.

Abstract

The two most frequent primary cancers affecting the liver, whose incidence is growing worldwide, are hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), which are among the five most lethal solid tumors with meager 5-year survival rates. The common difficulty in most cases to reach an early diagnosis, the aggressive invasiveness of both tumors, and the lack of favorable response to pharmacotherapy, either classical chemotherapy or modern targeted therapy, account for the poor outcome of these patients. Alternative splicing (AS) during pre-mRNA maturation results in changes that might affect proteins involved in different aspects of cancer biology, such as cell cycle dysregulation, cytoskeleton disorganization, migration, and adhesion, which favors carcinogenesis, tumor promotion, and progression, allowing cancer cells to escape from pharmacological treatments. Reasons accounting for cancer-associated aberrant splicing include mutations that create or disrupt splicing sites or splicing enhancers or silencers, abnormal expression of splicing factors, and impaired signaling pathways affecting the activity of the splicing machinery. Here we have reviewed the available information regarding the impact of AS on liver carcinogenesis and the development of malignant characteristics of HCC and iCCA, whose understanding is required to develop novel therapeutical approaches aimed at manipulating the phenotype of cancer cells.

Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1 Drives the Metastatic Progression of Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND

No curative therapy is currently available for metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). The diverse mechanisms of progression include fibroblast growth factor (FGF) axis activation.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the molecular and clinical implications of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) and its isoforms (α/β) in the pathogenesis of PCa bone metastases.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In silico, in vitro, and in vivo preclinical approaches were used. RNA-sequencing and immunohistochemical (IHC) studies in human samples were conducted.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

In mice, bone metastases (chi-square/Fisher's test) and survival (Mantel-Cox) were assessed. In human samples, FGFR1 and ladinin 1 (LAD1) analysis associated with PCa progression were evaluated (IHC studies, Fisher's test).

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

FGFR1 isoform expression varied among PCa subtypes. Intracardiac injection of mice with FGFR1-expressing PC3 cells reduced mouse survival (α, p < 0.0001; β, p = 0.032) and increased the incidence of bone metastases (α, p < 0.0001; β, p = 0.02). Accordingly, IHC studies of human castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) bone metastases revealed significant enrichment of FGFR1 expression compared with treatment-naïve, nonmetastatic primary tumors (p = 0.0007). Expression of anchoring filament protein LAD1 increased in FGFR1-expressing PC3 cells and was enriched in human CRPC bone metastases (p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

FGFR1 expression induces bone metastases experimentally and is significantly enriched in human CRPC bone metastases, supporting its prometastatic effect in PCa. LAD1 expression, found in the prometastatic PCa cells expressing FGFR1, was also enriched in CRPC bone metastases. Our studies support and provide a roadmap for the development of FGFR blockade for advanced PCa.

PATIENT SUMMARY

We studied the role of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) in prostate cancer (PCa) progression. We found that PCa cells with high FGFR1 expression increase metastases and that FGFR1 expression is increased in human PCa bone metastases, and identified genes that could participate in the metastases induced by FGFR1. These studies will help pinpoint PCa patients who use fibroblast growth factor to progress and will benefit by the inhibition of this pathway.

Targeted Inhibition of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1-GLI Through AZD4547 and GANT61 Modulates Breast Cancer Progression

The underlying mechanism of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) mediated carcinogenesis is still not fully understood. For instance, FGFR1 upregulation leads to endocrine therapy resistance in breast cancer patients. The current study aimed to identify FGFR1-linked genes to devise improved therapeutic strategies. RNA-seq and microarray expression data of 1,425 breast cancer patients from two independent cohorts were downloaded for the analysis. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was performed to identify differentially expressed pathways associated with FGFR1 expression. Validation was done using 150 fresh tumor biopsy samples of breast cancer patients. The clinical relevance of mRNA and protein expression of FGFR1 and its associated genes were also evaluated in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231). Furthermore, MDA-MB-231 cell line was treated with AZD4547 and GANT61 to identify the probable role of FGFR1 and its associated genes on cells motility and invasion. According to GSEA results, SHH pathway genes were significantly upregulated in FGFR1 patients in both discovery cohorts of breast cancer. Statistical analyses using both discovery cohorts and 150 fresh biopsy samples revealed strong association of FGFR1 and GLI1, a member of SHH pathway. The increase in the expression of these molecules was associated with poor prognosis, lymph node involvement, late stage, and metastasis. Combined exposures to AZD4547 (FGFR1 inhibitor) and GANT61 (GLI1 inhibitor) significantly reduced cell proliferation, cell motility, and invasion, suggesting molecular crosstalk in breast cancer progression and metastasis. A strong positive feedback mechanism between FGFR1-GLI1 axis was observed, which significantly increased cell proliferation and metastasis. Targeting FGFR1-GLI1 simultaneously will significantly improve the prognosis of breast cancer in patients.

Targeting PI3K, FGFR, CDK4/6 Signaling Pathways Together With Cytostatics and Radiotherapy in Two Medulloblastoma Cell Lines

Objectives

Medulloblastoma (MB) is treated with surgery and chemotherapy, with or without irradiation, but unfortunately >20% of the patients are not cured, and treatment comes with serious long-term side effects, so novel treatments are urgently needed. Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K), fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR), and cyclin-D kinases (CDK) play critical roles in cancer, and especially PI3K is crucial in MB, so here targeted therapies against them were explored.

Methods

MB cell lines DAOY and UW228-3 were exposed to PI3K (BYL719), FGFR (JNJ-42756493), and CDK4/6 (PD-0332991) inhibitors, as single or combined treatments, and their viability, cell confluence, apoptosis, and cytotoxicity were examined. Moreover, the inhibitors were combined with cisplatin, vincristine, or irradiation.

Results

Single treatments with FGFR, PI3K, or CDK4/6 inhibitors decreased viability and proliferation slightly; however, when combining two inhibitors, or the inhibitors with irradiation, sensitivity was enhanced and lower doses could be used. A more complex pattern was obtained when combining the inhibitors with cisplatin and vincristine.

Conclusions

The data suggest that combination treatments with PI3K, FGFR, and CDK4/6 inhibitors for MB could be beneficial and their use should be pursued further. Likewise, their combination with irradiation gave positive effects, while the addition of cisplatin and vincristine resulted in more complex patterns, which need to be investigated further.

2b or Not 2b: How Opposing FGF Receptor Splice Variants Are Blocking Progress in Precision Oncology

More than ten thousand peer-reviewed studies have assessed the role of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) in cancer, but few patients have yet benefited from drugs targeting this molecular family. Strategizing how best to use FGFR-targeted drugs is complicated by multiple variables, including RNA splicing events that alter the affinity of ligands for FGFRs and hence change the outcomes of stromal-epithelial interactions. The effects of splicing are most relevant to FGFR2; expression of the FGFR2b splice isoform can restore apoptotic sensitivity to cancer cells, whereas switching to FGFR2c may drive tumor progression by triggering epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The differentiating and regulatory actions of wild-type FGFR2b contrast with the proliferative actions of FGFR1 and FGFR3, and may be converted to mitogenicity either by splice switching or by silencing of tumor suppressor genes such as CDH1 or PTEN. Exclusive use of small-molecule pan-FGFR inhibitors may thus cause nonselective blockade of FGFR2 isoforms with opposing actions, undermining the rationale of FGFR2 drug targeting. This splice-dependent ability of FGFR2 to switch between tumor-suppressing and -driving functions highlights an unmet oncologic need for isoform-specific drug targeting, e.g., by antibody inhibition of ligand-FGFR2c binding, as well as for more nuanced molecular pathology prediction of FGFR2 actions in different stromal-tumor contexts.

Transcriptome Analyses of Myometrium from Fibroid Patients Reveals Phenotypic Differences Compared to Non-Diseased Myometrium

Uterine fibroid tissues are often compared to their matched myometrium in an effort to understand their pathophysiology, but it is not clear whether the myometria of uterine fibroid patients represent truly non-disease control tissues. We analyzed the transcriptomes of myometrial samples from non-fibroid patients (M) and compared them with fibroid (F) and matched myometrial (MF) samples to determine whether there is a phenotypic difference between fibroid and non-fibroid myometria. Multidimensional scaling plots revealed that M samples clustered separately from both MF and F samples. A total of 1169 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (false discovery rate < 0.05) were observed in the MF comparison with M. Overrepresented Gene Ontology terms showed a high concordance of upregulated gene sets in MF compared to M, particularly extracellular matrix and structure organization. Gene set enrichment analyses showed that the leading-edge genes from the TGFβ signaling and inflammatory response gene sets were significantly enriched in MF. Overall comparison of the three tissues by three-dimensional principal component analyses showed that M, MF, and F samples clustered separately from each other and that a total of 732 DEGs from F vs. M were not found in the F vs. MF, which are likely understudied in the pathogenesis of uterine fibroids and could be key genes for future investigation. These results suggest that the transcriptome of fibroid-associated myometrium is different from that of non-diseased myometrium and that fibroid studies should consider using both matched myometrium and non-diseased myometrium as controls.

Alternative splicing modulates cancer aggressiveness: role in EMT/metastasis and chemoresistance

Enhanced metastasis and disease recurrence accounts for the high mortality rates associated with cancer. The process of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) contributes towards the augmentation of cancer invasiveness along with the gain of stem-like and the subsequent drug-resistant behavior. Apart from the well-established transcriptional regulation, EMT is also controlled post-transcriptionally by virtue of alternative splicing (AS). Numerous genes including Fibroblast Growth Factor receptor (FGFR) as well as CD44 are differentially spliced during this trans-differentiation process which, in turn, governs cancer progression. These splicing alterations are controlled by various splicing factors including ESRP, RBFOX2 as well as hnRNPs. Here, we have depicted the mechanisms governing the splice isoform switching of FGFR and CD44. Moreover, the role of the splice variants generated by AS of these gene transcripts in modulating the metastatic potential and stem-like/chemoresistant behavior of cancer cells has also been highlighted. Additionally, the involvement of splicing factors in regulating EMT/invasiveness along with drug-resistance as well as the metabolic properties of the cells has been emphasized. Tumorigenesis is accompanied by a remodeling of the cellular splicing profile generating diverse protein isoforms which, in turn, control the cancer-associated hallmarks. Therefore, we have also briefly discussed about a wide variety of genes which are differentially spliced in the tumor cells and promote cancer progression. We have also outlined different strategies for targeting the tumor-associated splicing events which have shown promising results and therefore this approach might be useful in developing therapies to reduce cancer aggressiveness in a more specific manner.

Vaccarin hastens wound healing by promoting angiogenesis via activation of MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways in vivo

Purpose

To explore the potential role and unclear molecular mechanisms of vaccarin in wound healing.

Methods

Rats’ skin excision model to study the effects of vaccarin on wound healing in vivo . Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to evaluate Histopathologic characteristics. Immunohistochemistry was employed to assess the effects of vaccarin in accelerating angiogenesis. Western blot was used to evaluate relative protein expressed levels.

Results

Vaccarin could significantly promote wound healing and endothelial cells and fibroblasts proliferation in the wound site. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot studies showed that the nodal proteins and receptor (bFGFR) related to angiogenesis signaling pathway were activated, and the microvascular density in the wound site was markedly higher than that in the control group.

Conclusions

The present study was the first to demonstrate that vaccarin is able to induce angiogenesis and accelerate wound healing in vivo by increasing expressions of p-Akt, p-Erk and p-bFGFR. This process is mediated by MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

C11, a novel fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) inhibitor, suppresses breast cancer metastasis and angiogenesis

The fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are increasingly considered attractive targets for therapeutic cancer intervention due to their roles in tumor metastasis and angiogenesis. Here, we identified a new selective FGFR inhibitor, C11, and assessed its antitumor activities. C11 was a selective FGFR1 inhibitor with an IC₅₀ of 19 nM among a panel of 20 tyrosine kinases. C11 inhibited cell proliferation in various tumors, particularly bladder cancer and breast cancer. C11 also inhibited breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell migration and invasion via suppression of FGFR1 phosphorylation and its downstream signaling pathway. Suppression of matrix metalloproteinases 2/9 (MMP2/9) was associated with the anti-motility activity of C11. Furthermore, the anti-angiogenesis activity of C11 was verified in endothelial cells and chicken chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs). C11 inhibited the migration and tube formation of HMEC-1 endothelial cells and inhibited angiogenesis in a CAM assay. In sum, C11 is a novel selective FGFR1 inhibitor that exhibits potent activity against breast cancer metastasis and angiogenesis.

ODM-203, a Selective Inhibitor of FGFR and VEGFR, Shows Strong Antitumor Activity, and Induces Antitumor Immunity

Alterations in the gene encoding for the FGFR and upregulation of the VEGFR are found often in cancer, which correlate with disease progression and unfavorable survival. In addition, FGFR and VEGFR signaling synergistically promote tumor angiogenesis, and activation of FGFR signaling has been described as functional compensatory angiogenic signal following development of resistance to VEGFR inhibition. Several selective small-molecule FGFR kinase inhibitors are currently in clinical development. ODM-203 is a novel, selective, and equipotent inhibitor of the FGFR and VEGFR families. In this report we show that ODM-203 inhibits FGFR and VEGFR family kinases selectively and with equal potency in the low nanomolar range (IC₅₀ 6-35 nmol/L) in biochemical assays. In cellular assays, ODM-203 inhibits VEGFR-induced tube formation (IC₅₀ 33 nmol/L) with similar potency as it inhibits proliferation in FGFR-dependent cell lines (IC₅₀ 50-150 nmol/L). In vivo, ODM-203 shows strong antitumor activity in both FGFR-dependent xenograft models and in an angiogenic xenograft model at similar well-tolerated doses. In addition, ODM-203 inhibits metastatic tumor growth in a highly angiogenesis-dependent kidney capsule syngenic model. Interestingly, potent antitumor activity in the subcutaneous syngenic model correlated well with immune modulation in the tumor microenvironment as indicated by marked decrease in the expression of immune check points PD-1 and PD-L1 on CD8 T cells and NK cells, and increased activation of CD8 T cells. In summary, ODM-203 shows equipotent activity for both FGFR and VEGFR kinase families and antitumor activity in both FGFR and angigogenesis models.

FGF5 is expressed in melanoma and enhances malignancy in vitro and in vivo

Although FGF5 mRNA was previously found expressed in some melanoma cell lines in contrast to normal human melanocytes, neither its contribution to melanoma growth nor its expression in melanoma tissue has been investigated. Here we demonstrate that ectopic overexpression of FGF5 in human melanoma cells with low endogenous FGF5 expression increased clonogenicity and invasion but not short-term growth in vitro. Silencing of FGF5 in melanoma cells with high endogenous FGF5 expression had the opposite effect on clonogenicity. FGF overexpression led to increased signaling along the MAPK and NFAT axis but had no effect on STAT3 signaling. In an in vivo experiment in immunocompromised mice, human melanoma xenografts overexpressing FGF5 showed enhanced tumor growth, a higher Ki-67 proliferation index, decreased apoptosis and enhanced angiogenesis. Immunohistochemistry performed on a tissue microarray demonstrated FGF5 protein expression in more than 50% of samples of melanoma and benign nevi. These data suggest that FGF5 has oncogenic potential in melanoma cells and contributes to melanoma growth in a subset of patients. This highlights the importance of further evaluating FGF5 as potential biomarker and therapy target in melanoma.

Fibroblast growth factor modulates mast cell recruitment in a murine model of prostate cancer

Mast cells are important modifiers of prostate tumor microenvironment. The fibroblast growth factor/fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGF/FGFR) system plays a non-redundant autocrine/paracrine role in the growth, vascularization and progression of prostate tumors. Accordingly, the FGF antagonist long pentraxin-3 (PTX3) and the PTX3-derived small molecule FGF-trap NSC12 have been shown to inhibit the growth and vascularization of different FGF-dependent tumor types, including prostate cancer. In this study, we show that recombinant FGF2 is able to cause mast cell recruitment in vivo in the Matrigel plug assay. Conversely, PTX3 overexpression in transgenic mice or treatment with the FGF inhibitor NSC12 result in a significant inhibition of the growth and vascularization of TRAMP-C2 tumor grafts, a murine model of prostate cancer, that were paralleled by a decrease of mast cell infiltrate into the lesion. These data confirm and extend previous observations about the capacity of mast cells to respond chemotactically to FGF2 stimulation and provide evidence about a relationship among mast cell recruitment, angiogenesis, and tumor growth in human prostate adenocarcinoma.

Glypican-3: A promising biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis and treatment

Liver cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type. Therefore, molecular targets are urgently required for the early detection of HCC and the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Glypican-3 (GPC3), an oncofetal proteoglycan anchored to the cell membrane, is normally detected in the fetal liver but not in the healthy adult liver. However, in HCC patients, GPC3 is overexpressed at both the gene and protein levels, and its expression predicts a poor prognosis. Mechanistic studies have revealed that GPC3 functions in HCC progression by binding to molecules such as Wnt signaling proteins and growth factors. Moreover, GPC3 has been used as a target for molecular imaging and therapeutic intervention in HCC. To date, GPC3-targeted magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and near-infrared imaging have been investigated for early HCC detection, and various immunotherapeutic protocols targeting GPC3 have been developed, including the use of humanized anti-GPC3 cytotoxic antibodies, treatment with peptide/DNA vaccines, immunotoxin therapies, and genetic therapies. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the structure, function, and biology of GPC3 with a focus on its clinical potential as a diagnostic molecule and a therapeutic target in HCC immunotherapy.

Small role with big impact: miRNAs as communicators in the cross-talk between cancer-associated fibroblasts and cancer cells

Cancer microenvironment is composed of numerous components that can support cancer cell proliferation, promote cancer progression and contribute to cancer treatment resistance. The major components of caner microenvironment are fibroblasts, endothelial cells, immune cells as well as cytokines, chemokines, and extracellular matrix (ECM) all of which surround tumor cells as the core and cross talk with each other. Among them, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an important role in promoting cancer progression by secreting various pro-inflammatory factors. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that negatively regulate protein expression both in cancer cell and normal stromal cells. Changes of miRNAs expression in cancer-associated fibroblasts can be induced both by cancer cells and other stromal cells. This change can arise through direct interaction or by secreted paracrine factors or even by secreted miRNAs. The desregulated miRNAs in cancer-associated fibroblasts then enhance the CAFs phenotype and assist their cancer promotion ability. Explore the regulatory function of miRNAs in the complex communication between cancer cells and cancer microenvironment is important to understand the process of tumor progression and may help to develop new therapeutic strategies. This review provides an updated content of latest research advances about the relevance of miRNAs in the interaction between cancer cells and the CAFs. We will describe miRNAs which are differential expressed by NFs and CAFs, their function in regulating fibroblasts activation as well as miRNAs expressed in CAFs as prognostic factors in cancer stroma in recent studies. We will also discuss miRNA as an important player in CAFs mediated regulation of cancer progression and metastasis, cancer metabolism, cancer stem cell property and chemoresistance.

Antitumor effects and molecular mechanisms of ponatinib on endometrial cancer cells harboring activating FGFR2 mutations

Aberrant mutational activation of FGFR2 is associated with endometrial cancers (ECs). AP24534 (ponatinib) currently undergoing clinical trials has been known to be an orally available multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Our biochemical kinase assay showed that AP24534 is potent against wild-type FGFR1-4 and 5 mutant FGFRs (V561M-FGFR1, N549H-FGFR2, K650E-FGFR3, G697C-FGFR3, N535K-FGFR4) and possesses the strongest kinase-inhibitory activity on N549H-FGFR2 (IC50 of 0.5 nM) among all FGFRs tested. We therefore investigated the effects of AP24534 on endometrial cancer cells harboring activating FGFR2 mutations and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms. AP24534 significantly inhibited the proliferation of endometrial cancer cells bearing activating FGFR2 mutations (N549K, K310R/N549K, S252W) and mainly induced G1/S cell cycle arrest leading to apoptosis. AP24534 also diminished the kinase activity of immunoprecipitated FGFR2 derived from MFE-296 and MFE-280 cells and reduced the phosphorylation of FGFR2 and FRS2 on MFE-296 and AN3CA cells. AP24534 caused substantial reductions in ERK phosphorylation, PLCγ signaling and STAT5 signal transduction on ECs bearing FGFR2 activating mutations. Akt signaling pathway was also deactivated by AP24534. AP24534 causes the chemotherapeutic effect through mainly the blockade of ERK, PLCγ and STAT5 signal transduction on ECs. Moreover, AP24534 inhibited migration and invasion of endometrial cancer cells with FGFR2 mutations. In addition, AP24534 significantly blocked anchorage-independent growth of endometrial cancer cells. We, for the first time, report the molecular mechanisms by which AP24534 exerts antitumor effects on ECs with FGFR2 activating mutations, which would provide mechanistic insight into ongoing clinical investigations of AP24534 for ECs.

Characterization of FGFR signaling pathway as therapeutic targets for sarcoma patients

The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) family plays important roles in regulating cell growth, proliferation, survival, differentiation and angiogenesis. Deregulation of the FGF/FGFR signaling pathway has been associated with multiple development syndromes and cancers, and thus therapeutic strategies targeting FGFs and FGFR in human cancer are currently being explored. However, few studies on the FGF/FGFR pathway have been conducted in sarcoma, which has a poor outcome with traditional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Hence, in the present review, we provide an overview of the role of the FGF/FGFR pathway signal in sarcoma and FGFR inhibitors, which might be new targets for the treatment of sarcomas according to recent research.

Spectrum of genomic alterations in FGFR3: current appraisal of the potential role of FGFR3 in advanced urothelial carcinoma

Molecular analysis has identified subsets of urothelial carcinoma (UC) expressing distinct genetic signatures. Genomic alterations in the oncogenic fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) pathway are among the most well described in UC and have led to extensive and ongoing investigation of FGFR3-targeted therapies in this disease, although no new drugs have yet been approved. Given the unmet need for effective treatments in advanced and metastatic UC, a better understanding of the known molecular alterations of FGFR3 and of the previous and ongoing clinical investigations of this promising target in UC deserves attention. The objective of the present review is to describe the landscape of alterations and biology of FGFR3 in UC, comprehensively summarize the current state of UC clinical trials of FGFR3 inhibitors, and discuss future therapeutic applications. Using the Pubmed and Clinicaltrials.gov databases, articles describing the spectrum and biological activity of FGFR3 genomic alterations and trials of FGFR3 inhibitors in UC were identified. Search terms included 'FGFR3 genomic alterations' and 'urothelial cancer' or 'bladder cancer'. Genomic alterations, including translocations and activating mutations, are increasingly described in advanced and metastatic UC. The majority of clinical trials have been performed in unselected populations; however, recent studies have reported encouraging preliminary data. We argue that routine use of molecular genomic tumour analysis in UC may inform selection of patients for appropriate trials and we further investigate the potential of FGFR3 as a meaningful clinical target for this difficult disease.

Presence of both alterations in FGFR/FGF and PI3K/AKT/mTOR confer improved outcomes for patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors

There is limited data on co-expression of FGFR/FGR amplifications and PI3K/ AKT/mTOR alterations in breast cancer. Tumors from patients with metastatic breast cancer referred to our Phase I Program were analyzed by next generation sequencing (NGS). Genomic libraries were selected for all exons of 236 (or 182) cancer-related genes sequenced to average depth of >500× in a CLIA laboratory (Foundation Medicine, Cambridge, MA, USA) and analyzed for all classes of genomic alterations. We report genomic profiles of 112 patients with metastatic breast cancer, median age 55 years (range, 27-78). Twenty-four patients (21%) had at least one amplified FGFR or FGF. Fifteen of the 24 patients (63%) also had an alteration in the PI3K/ AKT/mTOR pathway. There was no association between alterations in FGFR/FGF and PI3K/AKT/mTOR (P=0.49). Patients with simultaneous amplification in FGFR/FGF signaling and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway had a higher rate of SD≥6 months/PR/ CR when treated with therapies targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway than patients with only alterations in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway (73% vs. 34%; P=0.0376) and remained on treatment longer (6.8 vs. 3.7 months; P=0.053). Higher response rates were seen in patients with simultaneous amplification in FGFR/FGF signaling and alterations in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway who were treated with inhibitors of that pathway.

Functional Interference in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment by Disseminated Breast Cancer Cells

Skeletal metastasis of breast cancer is associated with a poor prognosis and significant morbidity. Investigations in other solid tumors have revealed an impairment in hematopoietic function upon bone marrow invasion. However, the interaction between disseminated breast cancer cells and the bone marrow microenvironment which harbors them has not been addressed comprehensively. Employing advanced co-culture assays, proteomic studies, organotypic models as well as in vivo xenotransplant models, we define the consequences of this interaction on the stromal compartment of bone marrow, affected molecular pathways and subsequent effects on the hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). The results showed a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-mediated, synergistic increase in proliferation of breast cancer cells and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in co-culture. The stromal induction was associated with elevated phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) signaling in the stroma, which coupled with elevated bFGF levels resulted in increased migration of breast cancer cells towards the MSCs. The perturbed cytokine profile in the stroma led to reduction in the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs via downregulation of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB). Long term co-cultures of breast cancer cells, HSPCs, MSCs and in vivo studies in NOD.Cg-Prkdc(scid) Il2rg(tm1Wjl) /SzJ (NSG) mice showed a reduced support for HSPCs in the altered niche. The resultant non- conducive phenotype of the niche for HSPC support emphasizes the importance of the affected molecular pathways in the stroma as clinical targets. These findings can be a platform for further development of therapeutic strategies aiming at the blockade of bone marrow support to disseminated breast cancer cells. Stem Cells 2016;34:2224-2235.

The agar diffusion scratch assay--A novel method to assess the bioactive and cytotoxic potential of new materials and compounds

A profound in vitro evaluation not only of the cytotoxic but also of bioactive potential of a given compound or material is crucial for predicting potential effects in the in vivo situation. However, most of the current methods have weaknesses in either the quantitative or qualitative assessment of cytotoxicity and/or bioactivity of the test compound. Here we describe a novel assay combining the ISO 10993-5 agar diffusion test and the scratch also termed wound healing assay. In contrast to these original tests this assay is able to detect and distinguish between cytotoxic, cell migration modifying and cytotoxic plus cell migration modifying compounds, and this at higher sensitivity and in a quantitative way.

The Fibroblast Growth Factor signaling pathway

The signaling component of the mammalian Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) family is comprised of eighteen secreted proteins that interact with four signaling tyrosine kinase FGF receptors (FGFRs). Interaction of FGF ligands with their signaling receptors is regulated by protein or proteoglycan cofactors and by extracellular binding proteins. Activated FGFRs phosphorylate specific tyrosine residues that mediate interaction with cytosolic adaptor proteins and the RAS-MAPK, PI3K-AKT, PLCγ, and STAT intracellular signaling pathways. Four structurally related intracellular non-signaling FGFs interact with and regulate the family of voltage gated sodium channels. Members of the FGF family function in the earliest stages of embryonic development and during organogenesis to maintain progenitor cells and mediate their growth, differentiation, survival, and patterning. FGFs also have roles in adult tissues where they mediate metabolic functions, tissue repair, and regeneration, often by reactivating developmental signaling pathways. Consistent with the presence of FGFs in almost all tissues and organs, aberrant activity of the pathway is associated with developmental defects that disrupt organogenesis, impair the response to injury, and result in metabolic disorders, and cancer. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.

Discovery of novel non-ATP competitive FGFR1 inhibitors and evaluation of their anti-tumor activity in non-small cell lung cancer in vitro and in vivo

Accumulating evidence suggests that high expression of FGFR1 is closely related to the development of lung cancer especially in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), to which non-ATP competitive inhibitors represent an effective therapeutical approach due to their good specificity. Herein, a series of NDGA analogues with the framework of bisaryl-1,4-dien-3-one as novel FGFR1 inhibitors have been designed and screened. Among them Aea4 and Aea25 showed strong FGFR1 ‵inhibition and high selectivity over other receptor kinases. The kinase inhibitory assay in different ATP concentrations and computer-assistant molecular docking showed that the FGFR1 inhibition mode of both Aea4 and Aea25 was non-ATP-competitive. The in vitro and in vivo study on anticancer efficacy of Aea4 and Aea25 against non-small cell lung cancer involves inhibition of cell proliferation, apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest with no toxicity. Thus, these two novel non-ATP competitive inhibitors derived from NDGA may have a great therapeutic potential in the treatment of NSCLC. This work also provides a structural lead for the design of new non-ATP-competitive FGFR1 inhibitors.

Molecularly targeted therapies in non-small-cell lung cancer annual update 2014

There have been significant advances in the understanding of the biology and treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) during the past few years. A number of molecularly targeted agents are in the clinic or in development for patients with advanced NSCLC. We are beginning to understand the mechanisms of acquired resistance after exposure to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with oncogene addicted NSCLC. The advent of next-generation sequencing has enabled to study comprehensively genomic alterations in lung cancer. Finally, early results from immune checkpoint inhibitors are very encouraging. This review summarizes recent advances in the area of cancer genomics, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy.

A novel FGF2 antagonist peptide P8 with potent antiproliferation activity

Some fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play a critical role in tumorigenesis and progression. Among them, FGF2 was highly expressed in some tumors, and antagonists binding to FGF2 can suppress the growth of tumor cells. Therefore, FGF2 has been considered as an important target in cancer therapy. In this study, we identified a novel FGF2-binding short peptide (P8, PLLQATAGGGS-NH2) using phage display technology and alanine scanning. The P8 peptide suppressed FGF2-induced proliferation with no cytotoxic effect on cells, arrested the cycle at the G0/G1 phase in B16-F10 cells, and downregulated the activation of fibroblast growth factor receptor substrate 2α (FRS2α)/ERK cascade in B16-F10, NIH-H460, and SGC-7901 cells. Besides, P8 peptide can also inhibit the phosphorylation of FRS2α stimulated by FGF1 and KGF2. These implied that P8 peptide may develop as a multi-target antagonist peptide contributing to tumor treatment.

A molecular signature predictive of indolent prostate cancer

Many newly diagnosed prostate cancers present as low Gleason score tumors that require no treatment intervention. Distinguishing the many indolent tumors from the minority of lethal ones remains a major clinical challenge. We now show that low Gleason score prostate tumors can be distinguished as indolent and aggressive subgroups on the basis of their expression of genes associated with aging and senescence. Using gene set enrichment analysis, we identified a 19-gene signature enriched in indolent prostate tumors. We then further classified this signature with a decision tree learning model to identify three genes--FGFR1, PMP22, and CDKN1A--that together accurately predicted outcome of low Gleason score tumors. Validation of this three-gene panel on independent cohorts confirmed its independent prognostic value as well as its ability to improve prognosis with currently used clinical nomograms. Furthermore, protein expression of this three-gene panel in biopsy samples distinguished Gleason 6 patients who failed surveillance over a 10-year period. We propose that this signature may be incorporated into prognostic assays for monitoring patients on active surveillance to facilitate appropriate courses of treatment.

Finding novel molecular connections between developmental processes and disease

Identifying molecular connections between developmental processes and disease can lead to new hypotheses about health risks at all stages of life. Here we introduce a new approach to identifying significant connections between gene sets and disease genes, and apply it to several gene sets related to human development. To overcome the limits of incomplete and imperfect information linking genes to disease, we pool genes within disease subtrees in the MeSH taxonomy, and we demonstrate that such pooling improves the power and accuracy of our approach. Significance is assessed through permutation. We created a web-based visualization tool to facilitate multi-scale exploration of this large collection of significant connections (http://gda.cs.tufts.edu/development). High-level analysis of the results reveals expected connections between tissue-specific developmental processes and diseases linked to those tissues, and widespread connections to developmental disorders and cancers. Yet interesting new hypotheses may be derived from examining the unexpected connections. We highlight and discuss the implications of three such connections, linking dementia with bone development, polycystic ovary syndrome with cardiovascular development, and retinopathy of prematurity with lung development. Our results provide additional evidence that plays a key role in the early pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome. Our evidence also suggests that the VEGF pathway and downstream NFKB signaling may explain the complex relationship between bronchopulmonary dysplasia and retinopathy of prematurity, and may form a bridge between two currently-competing hypotheses about the molecular origins of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Further data exploration and similar queries about other gene sets may generate a variety of new information about the molecular relationships between additional diseases.

Understanding the roles that genes involved in normal human development can play in disease processes is an important part of predicting disease risk and designing novel treatment approaches. In this study, we have identified classes of disease that are associated with a surprisingly large number of genes involved in any of several tissue-specific developmental processes. To do so, we developed a novel approach whose strength comes from pooling genetic information across related diseases, overcoming problems ordinarily posed by limited information about individual gene-disease relationships. We demonstrate the method's efficacy both by examining its ability to highlight connections between gene sets and disease classes that are known to be related, and by demonstrating that the approach recovers expected broad classes of connections, such as those between heart development and cardiovascular disorders. However, by examining unexpected connections in this data set, we are able to develop new understanding of some surprising disease relationships, such as the one between dementia and osteoporosis. Such connections may lead to a better overall understanding of the role of development in lifelong health, as well as to the design of new methods to treat a range of diseases.

Human marrow stromal cells downsize the stem cell fraction of lung cancers by fibroblast growth factor 10

The functional interplay between cancer cells and marrow stromal cells (MSCs) has attracted a great deal of interest due to the MSC tropism for tumors but remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated human MSC-secreted paracrine factors that appear to have critical functions in cancer stem cell subpopulations. We show that MSC-conditioned medium reduced the cancer stem cell-enriched subpopulation, which was detected as a side population and quiescent (G0) cell cycle fraction in human lung cancer cells by virtue of fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10). This reduction of the stem cell-enriched fraction was also observed in lung cancer cells supplemented with recombinant human FGF10 protein. Moreover, supplementary FGF10 attenuated the expression of stemness genes encoding transcription factors, such as OCT3/4 and SOX2, and crippled the self-renewal capacity of lung cancer cells, as evidenced by the impaired formation of floating spheres in the suspension culture. We finally confirmed the therapeutic potential of the FGF10 treatment, which rendered lung cancer cells prone to a chemotherapeutic agent, probably due to the reduced cancer stem cell subpopulation. Collectively, these results add further clarification to the molecular mechanisms underlying MSC-mediated cancer cell kinetics, facilitating the development of future therapies.

The ins and outs of fibroblast growth factor receptor signalling

FGFR (fibroblast growth factor receptor) signalling plays critical roles in embryogensis, adult physiology, tissue repair and many pathologies. Of particular interest over recent years, it has been implicated in a wide range of cancers, and concerted efforts are underway to target different aspects of FGFR signalling networks. A major focus has been identifying the canonical downstream signalling pathways in cancer cells, and these are now relatively well understood. In the present review, we focus on two distinct but emerging hot topics in FGF biology: its role in stromal cross-talk during cancer progression and the potential roles of FGFR signalling in the nucleus. These neglected areas are proving to be of great interest clinically and are intimately linked, at least in pancreatic cancer. The importance of the stroma in cancer is well accepted, both as a conduit/barrier for treatment and as a target in its own right. Nuclear receptors are less acknowledged as targets, largely due to historical scepticism as to their existence or importance. However, increasing evidence from across the receptor tyrosine kinase field is now strong enough to make the study of nuclear growth factor receptors a major area of interest.