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Glinkina K, Nemati F, Teunisse AFAS, Gelmi MC, Etienne V, Kuipers MJ, Alsafadi S, Jager MJ, Decaudin D, Jochemsen AG. Preclinical Evaluation of Trabectedin in Combination With Targeted Inhibitors for Treatment of Metastatic Uveal Melanoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:14. [PMID: 36515935 PMCID: PMC9756579 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.13.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Uveal melanoma (UM) is considered a rare disease; yet, it is the most common intraocular malignancy in adults. Although the primary tumor may be efficiently managed, more than 50% of patients with UM develop distant metastases. The mortality at the first year after diagnosis of metastatic UM has been estimated at 81%, and the poor prognosis has not improved in the past years due to the lack of effective therapies. Methods In order to search for novel therapeutic possibilities for metastatic UM, we performed a small-scale screen of targeted drug combinations. We verified the targets of the tested compounds by western blotting and PCR and clarified the mechanism of action of the selected combinations by caspase 3 and 7 activity assay and flow cytometry. The best two combinations were tested in a mouse patient-derived xenograft (PDX) UM model as putative therapeutics for metastatic UM. Results Combinations of the multitarget drug trabectedin with either the CK2/CLK double-inhibitor CX-4945 (silmitasertib) or the c-MET/TAM (TYRO3, Axl, MERTK) receptor inhibitors foretinib and cabozantinib demonstrated synergistic effects and induced apoptosis (relative caspase 3 and 7 activity increased up to 20.5-fold in UM cell lines). In the case of the combination of foretinib and cabozantinib, inhibition of the TAM receptors, but not c-Met, was essential to inhibit the growth of UM cells. Monotreatment with trabectedin inhibited tumor growth by 42%, 49%, and 35% in the MM26, MM309, and MM339 PDX mouse models, respectively. Conclusions Trabectedin alone or in combination with cabozantinib inhibited tumor growth in PDX UM mouse models. Blocking of MERTK, rather than TYRO3, activity inhibited UM cell growth and synergized with trabectedin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kseniya Glinkina
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Fariba Nemati
- Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation, Department of Translational Research, Institut Curie, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Amina F. A. S. Teunisse
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Chiara Gelmi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Vesnie Etienne
- Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation, Department of Translational Research, Institut Curie, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Muriel J. Kuipers
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Samar Alsafadi
- Uveal Melanoma Translational Group, Department of Translational Research, Institut Curie, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Martine J. Jager
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Didier Decaudin
- Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation, Department of Translational Research, Institut Curie, PSL University, Paris, France,Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Aart G. Jochemsen
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Heijkants RC, Teunisse AFAS, de Jong D, Glinkina K, Mei H, Kielbasa SM, Szuhai K, Jochemsen AG. MDMX Regulates Transcriptional Activity of p53 and FOXO Proteins to Stimulate Proliferation of Melanoma Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14184482. [PMID: 36139642 PMCID: PMC9496676 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary We have investigated the transcriptional changes occurring in uveal and cutaneous melanoma cell lines upon depletion of MDMX (aka:MDM4). Computational analyses of the mRNAs/genes affected upon MDMX depletion determined that many were containing a p53-bindingsite, but even more contained a FOX recognition site(s). Since connections between MDM2 and FOXO1 had already been published, we investigated whether indeed a subset of the MDMX-regulated genes are dependent on FOXO1/FOXO3 expression. Indeed, a number of such target genes, i.e., PIK3IP1, MXD4 and ZMAT3, were found to be FOXO target genes in our cell models. Some of these genes were recently identified as indirect p53-target genes, and their expression was found to be regulated by RFX7 transcription factor, which was found activated upon pharmacological activation of p53, e.g., by Nutlin-3. However, a clear involvement of RFX7 in our model could not be established, but an interplay between FOXO and RFX7 factors seems evident. Abstract The tumor suppressor protein p53 has an important role in cell-fate determination. In cancer cells, the activity of p53 is frequently repressed by high levels of MDMX and/or MDM2. MDM2 is a ubiquitin ligase whose activity results in ubiquitin- and proteasome-dependent p53 degradation, while MDMX inhibits p53-activated transcription by shielding the p53 transactivation domain. Interestingly, the oncogenic functions of MDMX appear to be more wide-spread than inhibition of p53. The present study aimed to elucidate the MDMX-controlled transcriptome. Therefore, we depleted MDMX with four distinct shRNAs from a high MDMX expressing uveal melanoma cell line and determined the effect on the transcriptome by RNAseq. Biological function analyses indicate the inhibition of the cell cycle regulatory genes and stimulation of cell death activating genes upon MDMX depletion. Although the inhibition of p53 activity clearly contributes to the transcription regulation controlled by MDMX, it appeared that the transcriptional regulation of multiple genes did not only rely on p53 expression. Analysis of gene regulatory networks indicated a role for Forkhead box (FOX) transcription factors. Depletion of FOXO proteins partly prevented the transcriptional changes upon MDMX depletion. Furthermore, depletion of FOXO proteins relatively diminished the growth inhibition upon MDMX knockdown, although the knockdown of the FOXO transcription factors also reduces cell growth. In conclusion, the p53-independent oncogenic functions of MDMX could be partially explained by its regulation of FOXO activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renier C. Heijkants
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Amina F. A. S. Teunisse
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Danielle de Jong
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Kseniya Glinkina
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Szymon M. Kielbasa
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Karoly Szuhai
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Aart G. Jochemsen
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
- Correspondence:
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3
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Christodoulou E, Rashid M, Pacini C, Droop A, Robertson H, van Groningen T, Teunisse AFAS, Iorio F, Jochemsen AG, Adams DJ, van Doorn R. Analysis of CRISPR-Cas9 screens identifies genetic dependencies in melanoma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2021; 34:122-131. [PMID: 32767816 PMCID: PMC7818247 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Targeting the MAPK signaling pathway has transformed the treatment of metastatic melanoma. CRISPR-Cas9 genetic screens provide a genome-wide approach to uncover novel genetic dependencies that might serve as therapeutic targets. Here, we analyzed recently reported CRISPR-Cas9 screens comparing data from 28 melanoma cell lines and 313 cell lines of other tumor types in order to identify fitness genes related to melanoma. We found an average of 1,494 fitness genes in each melanoma cell line. We identified 33 genes, inactivation of which specifically reduced the fitness of melanoma. This set of tumor type-specific genes includes established melanoma fitness genes as well as many genes that have not previously been associated with melanoma growth. Several genes encode proteins that can be targeted using available inhibitors. We verified that genetic inactivation of DUSP4 and PPP2R2A reduces the proliferation of melanoma cells. DUSP4 encodes an inhibitor of ERK, suggesting that further activation of MAPK signaling activity through its loss is selectively deleterious to melanoma cells. Collectively, these data present a resource of genetic dependencies in melanoma that may be explored as potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mamunur Rashid
- Experimental Cancer Genetics GroupWellcome Trust Sanger InstituteCambridgeUK
| | - Clare Pacini
- Cancer Dependency Map AnalyticsWellcome Trust Sanger InstituteCambridgeUK
| | - Alastair Droop
- Experimental Cancer Genetics GroupWellcome Trust Sanger InstituteCambridgeUK
| | - Holly Robertson
- Experimental Cancer Genetics GroupWellcome Trust Sanger InstituteCambridgeUK
| | - Tim van Groningen
- Department of DermatologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Amina F. A. S. Teunisse
- Department of Cell and Chemical BiologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Francesco Iorio
- Cancer Dependency Map AnalyticsWellcome Trust Sanger InstituteCambridgeUK
- Centre for Computational BiologyHuman TechnopoleMilanoItaly
| | - Aart G. Jochemsen
- Department of Cell and Chemical BiologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - David J. Adams
- Experimental Cancer Genetics GroupWellcome Trust Sanger InstituteCambridgeUK
| | - Remco van Doorn
- Department of DermatologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
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Beyranvand Nejad E, Labrie C, Abdulrahman Z, van Elsas MJ, Rademaker E, Kleinovink JW, van der Sluis TC, van Duikeren S, Teunisse AFAS, Jochemsen AG, Oosting J, de Miranda NFCC, Van Hall T, Arens R, van der Burg SH. Lack of myeloid cell infiltration as an acquired resistance strategy to immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2020; 8:jitc-2020-001326. [PMID: 32873723 PMCID: PMC7467529 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunotherapy of cancer is successful but tumor regression often is incomplete and followed by escape. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this acquired resistance will aid the development of more effective treatments. METHODS We exploited a mouse model where tumor-specific therapeutic vaccination results in tumor regression, followed by local recurrence and resistance. In depth studies on systemic, local and tumor intrinsic changes were performed with flow and mass cytometry, immunohistochemistry, transcriptomics and several perturbation studies with inhibitors or agonistic antibodies in mice. Main findings were recapitulated in vaccinated patients. RESULTS Full tumor regression and cure of tumor-bearing mice is dependent on the magnitude of the vaccine-induced T-cell response. Recurrence of tumors did not involve classical immune escape mechanisms, such as antigen-presentation alterations, immune checkpoint expression, resistance to killing or local immune suppression. However, the recurrent tumors displayed a changed transcriptome with alterations in p53, tumor necrosis factor-α and transforming growth factor-β signaling pathways and they became immunologically cold. Remarkably, ex vivo cell-sorted recurrent tumors, directly reinjected in naïve hosts retained their resistance to vaccination despite a strong infiltration with tumor-specific CD8+ T cells, similar to that of vaccine-responsive tumors. The influx of inflammatory mature myeloid effector cells in the resistant tumors, however, was impaired and this turned out to be the underlying mechanisms as restoration of inflammatory myeloid cell infiltration reinstated the sensitivity of these refractory tumors to vaccination. Notably, impaired myeloid cell infiltration after vaccination was also associated with vaccine resistance in patients. CONCLUSION An immunotherapy-induced disability of tumor cells to attract innate myeloid effector cells formed a major mechanism underlying immune escape and acquired resistance. These data not only stresses the importance of myeloid effector cells during immunotherapy but also demands for new studies to harness their tumoricidal activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Beyranvand Nejad
- Oncode institute, Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Camilla Labrie
- Oncode institute, Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ziena Abdulrahman
- Oncode institute, Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marit J van Elsas
- Oncode institute, Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Eva Rademaker
- Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Willem Kleinovink
- Oncode institute, Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tetje C van der Sluis
- Immunohematology and Bloodtransfusion, Leiden Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Suzanne van Duikeren
- Immunohematology and Bloodtransfusion, Leiden Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Amina F A S Teunisse
- Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Aart G Jochemsen
- Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Oosting
- Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Thorbald Van Hall
- Oncode institute, Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ramon Arens
- Immunohematology and Bloodtransfusion, Leiden Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd H van der Burg
- Oncode institute, Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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5
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Dogrusöz M, Ruschel Trasel A, Cao J, Ҫolak S, van Pelt SI, Kroes WGM, Teunisse AFAS, Alsafadi S, van Duinen SG, Luyten GPM, van der Velden PA, Amaro A, Pfeffer U, Jochemsen AG, Jager MJ. Differential Expression of DNA Repair Genes in Prognostically-Favorable versus Unfavorable Uveal Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11081104. [PMID: 31382494 PMCID: PMC6721581 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11081104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Expression of DNA repair genes was studied in uveal melanoma (UM) in order to identify genes that may play a role in metastases formation. We searched for genes that are differentially expressed between tumors with a favorable and unfavorable prognosis. Gene-expression profiling was performed on 64 primary UM from the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden, The Netherlands. The expression of 121 genes encoding proteins involved in DNA repair pathways was analyzed: a total of 44 genes differed between disomy 3 and monosomy 3 tumors. Results were validated in a cohort from Genoa and Paris and the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort. Expression of the PRKDC, WDR48, XPC, and BAP1 genes was significantly associated with clinical outcome after validation. PRKDC was highly expressed in metastasizing UM (p < 0.001), whereas WDR48, XPC, and BAP1 were lowly expressed (p < 0.001, p = 0.006, p = 0.003, respectively). Low expression of WDR48 and XPC was related to a large tumor diameter (p = 0.01 and p = 0.004, respectively), and a mixed/epithelioid cell type (p = 0.007 and p = 0.03, respectively). We conclude that the expression of WDR48, XPC, and BAP1 is significantly lower in UM with an unfavorable prognosis, while these tumors have a significantly higher expression of PRKDC. Pharmacological inhibition of DNA-PKcs resulted in decreased survival of UM cells. PRKDC may be involved in proliferation, invasion and metastasis of UM cells. Unraveling the role of DNA repair genes may enhance our understanding of UM biology and result in the identification of new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Dogrusöz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 AZ Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea Ruschel Trasel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 AZ Leiden, The Netherlands
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 90040-060 Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Jinfeng Cao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 AZ Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Selҫuk Ҫolak
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 AZ Leiden, The Netherlands
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, 5022 GC Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Sake I van Pelt
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 AZ Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Wilma G M Kroes
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 AZ Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Amina F A S Teunisse
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 AZ Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Samar Alsafadi
- Department of Translational Research, PSL Research University, Institute Curie, 75248 Paris, France
| | - Sjoerd G van Duinen
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 AZ Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Gregorius P M Luyten
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 AZ Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter A van der Velden
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 AZ Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Adriana Amaro
- Laboratory of Tumor Epigenetics, Department of Integrated Oncology Therapies, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16133 Genoa, Italy
| | - Ulrich Pfeffer
- Laboratory of Tumor Epigenetics, Department of Integrated Oncology Therapies, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16133 Genoa, Italy
| | - Aart G Jochemsen
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 AZ Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Martine J Jager
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 AZ Leiden, The Netherlands.
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6
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Heijkants RC, Nieveen M, Hart KC', Teunisse AFAS, Jochemsen AG. Targeting MDMX and PKCδ to improve current uveal melanoma therapeutic strategies. Oncogenesis 2018; 7:33. [PMID: 29593251 PMCID: PMC5874255 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-018-0041-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Revised: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most frequent ocular cancer in adults, accounting for ~5% of the total melanoma incidence. Although the primary tumor is well treatable, patients frequently develop metastases for which no curative therapy exists. Highly activated protein kinase C (PKC) is a common feature of UM and has shown potential as therapeutic intervention for UM patients. Unfortunately, PKC inhibition as single treatment appears to have only limited clinical benefit. Combining PKC inhibition with activation of p53, which is rarely mutated in UM, by MDM2 inhibitors has shown promising results in vitro and in vivo. However, clinical studies have shown strong adverse effects of MDM2 inhibition. Therefore, we investigated alternative approaches to achieve similar anticancer effects, but with potentially less adverse effects. We studied the potential of targeting MDMX, an essential p53 inhibitor during embryonal development but less universally expressed in adult tissues compared with MDM2. Therefore, targeting MDMX is predicted to have less adverse effects in patients. Depletion of MDMX, like the pharmacological activation of p53, inhibits the survival of UM cells, which is enhanced in combination with PKC inhibition. Also pan-PKC inhibitors elicit adverse effects in patients. As the PKC family consists of 10 different isoforms, it could be hypothesized that targeting a single PKC isoform would have less adverse effects compared with a pan-PKC inhibitor. Here we show that specifically depleting PKCδ inhibits UM cell growth, which can be further enhanced by p53 reactivation. In conclusion, our data show that the synergistic effects of p53 activation by MDM2 inhibition and broad spectrum PKC inhibition on survival of UM cells can also largely be achieved by the presumably less toxic combination of depletion of MDMX and targeting a specific PKC isoform, PKCδ.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Heijkants
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - M Nieveen
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - K C 't Hart
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - A F A S Teunisse
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - A G Jochemsen
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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7
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Haupt S, Buckley D, Pang JMB, Panimaya J, Paul PJ, Gamell C, Takano EA, Lee YY, Hiddingh S, Rogers TM, Teunisse AFAS, Herold MJ, Marine JC, Fox SB, Jochemsen A, Haupt Y. Targeting Mdmx to treat breast cancers with wild-type p53. Cell Death Dis 2015; 6:e1821. [PMID: 26181202 PMCID: PMC4650725 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2015.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Revised: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The function of the tumor suppressor p53 is universally compromised in cancers. It is the most frequently mutated gene in human cancers (reviewed). In cases where p53 is not mutated, alternative regulatory pathways inactivate its tumor suppressive functions. This is primarily achieved through elevation in the expression of the key inhibitors of p53: Mdm2 or Mdmx (also called Mdm4) (reviewed). In breast cancer (BrCa), the frequency of p53 mutations varies markedly between the different subtypes, with basal-like BrCas bearing a high frequency of p53 mutations, whereas luminal BrCas generally express wild-type (wt) p53. Here we show that Mdmx is unexpectedly highly expressed in normal breast epithelial cells and its expression is further elevated in most luminal BrCas, whereas p53 expression is generally low, consistent with wt p53 status. Inducible knockdown (KD) of Mdmx in luminal BrCa MCF-7 cells impedes the growth of these cells in culture, in a p53-dependent manner. Importantly, KD of Mdmx in orthotopic xenograft transplants resulted in growth inhibition associated with prolonged survival, both in a preventative model and also in a treatment model. Growth impediment in response to Mdmx KD was associated with cellular senescence. The growth inhibitory capacity of Mdmx KD was recapitulated in an additional luminal BrCa cell line MPE600, which expresses wt p53. Further, the growth inhibitory capacity of Mdmx KD was also demonstrated in the wt p53 basal-like cell line SKBR7 line. These results identify Mdmx growth dependency in wt p53 expressing BrCas, across a range of subtypes. Based on our findings, we propose that Mdmx targeting is an attractive strategy for treating BrCas harboring wt p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Haupt
- Tumor Suppression Laboratory, Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - D Buckley
- Tumor Suppression Laboratory, Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - J-M B Pang
- Department of Pathology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - J Panimaya
- Tumor Suppression Laboratory, Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - P J Paul
- Tumor Suppression Laboratory, Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - C Gamell
- Tumor Suppression Laboratory, Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - E A Takano
- Department of Pathology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Y Ying Lee
- Tumor Suppression Laboratory, Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - S Hiddingh
- Tumor Suppression Laboratory, Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - T-M Rogers
- Department of Pathology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - A F A S Teunisse
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - M J Herold
- 1] Department of Molecular Genetics of Cancer, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia [2] Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - J-C Marine
- Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - S B Fox
- 1] Department of Pathology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia [2] Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - A Jochemsen
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Y Haupt
- 1] Tumor Suppression Laboratory, Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia [2] Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia [3] Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia [4] Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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8
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Grawenda AM, Møller EK, Lam S, Repapi E, Teunisse AFAS, Alnæs GIG, Børresen-Dale AL, Kristensen VN, Goding CR, Jochemsen AG, Edvardsen H, Bond GL. Interaction between p53 mutation and a somatic HDMX biomarker better defines metastatic potential in breast cancer. Cancer Res 2015; 75:698-708. [PMID: 25649770 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-14-2637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
TP53 gene mutation is associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer, but additional biomarkers that can further refine the impact of the p53 pathway are needed to achieve clinical utility. In this study, we evaluated a role for the HDMX-S/FL ratio as one such biomarker, based on its association with other suppressor mutations that confer worse prognosis in sarcomas, another type of cancer that is surveilled by p53. We found that HDMX-S/FL ratio interacted with p53 mutational status to significantly improve prognostic capability in patients with breast cancer. This biomarker pair offered prognostic utility that was comparable with a microarray-based prognostic assay. Unexpectedly, the utility tracked independently of DNA-damaging treatments and instead with different tumor metastasis potential. Finally, we obtained evidence that this biomarker pair might identify patients who could benefit from anti-HDM2 strategies to impede metastatic progression. Taken together, our work offers a p53 pathway marker, which both refines our understanding of the impact of p53 activity on prognosis and harbors potential utility as a clinical tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Grawenda
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Elen K Møller
- Department of Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway. KG Jebsen Center for Breast Cancer Research, Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Suzanne Lam
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Emmanouela Repapi
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Amina F A S Teunisse
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Grethe I G Alnæs
- Department of Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anne-Lise Børresen-Dale
- Department of Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway. KG Jebsen Center for Breast Cancer Research, Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vessela N Kristensen
- Department of Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway. KG Jebsen Center for Breast Cancer Research, Institute for Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. Department of Clinical Molecular Biology (EpiGen), Medical Division, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Colin R Goding
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Aart G Jochemsen
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Hege Edvardsen
- Department of Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gareth L Bond
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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9
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van der Ent W, Burrello C, Teunisse AFAS, Ksander BR, van der Velden PA, Jager MJ, Jochemsen AG, Snaar-Jagalska BE. Modeling of human uveal melanoma in zebrafish xenograft embryos. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2014; 55:6612-22. [PMID: 25249605 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.14-15202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Uveal melanoma (UM) is fatal in up to 50% of patients because of liver metastases that are refractory to therapies currently available. While murine xenograft models for human uveal melanoma are available, they have limited utility for screening large compound libraries in drug discovery studies. Therefore, new robust preclinical models are needed that can efficiently evaluate drug efficacy for treatment of this malignancy. METHODS Uveal melanoma cell lines generated from primary tumors (92.1, Mel270) and metastases (OMM2.3, OMM2.5, OMM1) were injected into the yolk of 2-day-old zebrafish embryos. After 6 days, proliferation and active migration was quantified via automated confocal image analysis. To determine the suitability of this xenotransplantation model for drug testing, drugs with three different activities (dasatinib, quisinostat, and MLN-4924) were added to the water of uveal melanoma-engrafted embryos. RESULTS All tested UM cell lines proliferated and migrated in the embryos; significant differences could be discerned between cell lines: Cells derived from metastases showed more migration and proliferation than cells derived from the primary tumors, and provided preclinical models for drug testing. Addition of the Src-inhibitor dasatinib in the water of engrafted embryos reduced proliferation and migration of high Src-expressing 92.1 cells, but did not affect low Src-expressing metastatic OMM2.3 cells. Two experimental anticancer drugs, quisinostat (a histone deacetylase inhibitor) and MLN-4924 (neddylation pathway inhibitor), blocked migration and proliferation of 92.1 and OMM2.3. CONCLUSIONS We established a zebrafish xenograft model of human uveal melanoma with demonstrated applicability for screening large libraries of compounds in drug discovery studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wietske van der Ent
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Claudia Burrello
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Amina F A S Teunisse
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bruce R Ksander
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | | | - Martine J Jager
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Aart G Jochemsen
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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10
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Lenos K, Grawenda AM, Lodder K, Kuijjer ML, Teunisse AFAS, Repapi E, Grochola LF, Bartel F, Hogendoorn PCW, Wuerl P, Taubert H, Cleton-Jansen AM, Bond GL, Jochemsen AG. Alternate splicing of the p53 inhibitor HDMX offers a superior prognostic biomarker than p53 mutation in human cancer. Cancer Res 2012; 72:4074-84. [PMID: 22700878 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-0215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Conventional high-grade osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy. Although altered expression of the p53 inhibitor HDMX (Mdmx/Mdm4) is associated with cancer risk, progression, and outcome in other tumor types, little is known about its role in osteosarcoma. High expression of the Hdmx splice variant HDMX-S relative to the full-length transcript (the HDMX-S/HDMX-FL ratio) correlates with reduced HDMX protein expression, faster progression, and poorer survival in several cancers. Here, we show that the HDMX-S/HDMX-FL ratio positively correlates with less HDMX protein expression, faster metastatic progression, and a trend to worse overall survival in osteosarcomas. We found that the HDMX-S/HDMX-FL ratio associated with common somatic genetic lesions connected with p53 inhibition, such as p53 mutation and HDM2 overexpression in osteosarcoma cell lines. Interestingly, this finding was not limited to osteosarcomas as we observed similar associations in breast cancer and a variety of other cancer cell lines, as well as in tumors from patients with soft tissue sarcoma. The HDMX-S/HDMX-FL ratio better defined patients with sarcoma with worse survival rates than p53 mutational status. We propose a novel role for alternative splicing of HDMX, whereby it serves as a mechanism by which HDMX protein levels are reduced in cancer cells that have already inhibited p53 activity. Alternative splicing of HDMX could, therefore, serve as a more effective biomarker for p53 pathway attenuation in cancers than p53 gene mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristiaan Lenos
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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11
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Lenos K, de Lange J, Teunisse AFAS, Lodder K, Verlaan-de Vries M, Wiercinska E, van der Burg MJM, Szuhai K, Jochemsen AG. Oncogenic functions of hMDMX in in vitro transformation of primary human fibroblasts and embryonic retinoblasts. Mol Cancer 2011; 10:111. [PMID: 21910853 PMCID: PMC3179748 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-10-111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2011] [Accepted: 09/12/2011] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In around 50% of all human cancers the tumor suppressor p53 is mutated. It is generally assumed that in the remaining tumors the wild-type p53 protein is functionally impaired. The two main inhibitors of p53, hMDM2 (MDM2) and hMDMX (MDMX/MDM4) are frequently overexpressed in wild-type p53 tumors. Whereas the main activity of hMDM2 is to degrade p53 protein, its close homolog hMDMX does not degrade p53, but it represses its transcriptional activity. Here we study the role of hMDMX in the neoplastic transformation of human fibroblasts and embryonic retinoblasts, since a high number of retinoblastomas contain elevated hMDMX levels. METHODS We made use of an in vitro transformation model using a retroviral system of RNA interference and gene overexpression in primary human fibroblasts and embryonic retinoblasts. Consecutive knockdown of RB and p53, overexpression of SV40-small t, oncogenic HRasV12 and HA-hMDMX resulted in a number of stable cell lines representing different stages of the transformation process, enabling a comparison between loss of p53 and hMDMX overexpression. The cell lines were tested in various assays to assess their oncogenic potential. RESULTS Both p53-knockdown and hMDMX overexpression accelerated proliferation and prevented growth suppression induced by introduction of oncogenic Ras, which was required for anchorage-independent growth and the ability to form tumors in vivo. Furthermore, we found that hMDMX overexpression represses basal p53 activity to some extent. Transformed fibroblasts with very high levels of hMDMX became largely resistant to the p53 reactivating drug Nutlin-3. The Nutlin-3 response of hMDMX transformed retinoblasts was intact and resembled that of retinoblastoma cell lines. CONCLUSIONS Our studies show that hMDMX has the essential properties of an oncogene. Its constitutive expression contributes to the oncogenic phenotype of transformed human cells. Its main function appears to be p53 inactivation. Therefore, developing new drugs targeting hMDMX is a valid approach to obtain new treatments for a subset of human tumors expressing wild-type p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristiaan Lenos
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P,O, Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
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12
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Meulmeester E, Maurice MM, Boutell C, Teunisse AFAS, Ovaa H, Abraham TE, Dirks RW, Jochemsen AG. Loss of HAUSP-mediated deubiquitination contributes to DNA damage-induced destabilization of Hdmx and Hdm2. Mol Cell 2005; 18:565-76. [PMID: 15916963 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2005.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2004] [Revised: 03/22/2005] [Accepted: 04/28/2005] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The p53 tumor suppressor protein has a major role in protecting the integrity of the genome. In unstressed cells, p53 is maintained at low levels by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. A balance between ubiquitin ligase activity (Hdm2, COP1, and Pirh2) and the ubiquitin protease activity of the Herpes virus-associated ubiquitin-specific protease (HAUSP) determines the half-life of p53. HAUSP also modulates p53 stability indirectly by deubiquitination and stabilization of Hdm2. The Hdmx protein affects p53 stability as well through its interaction with and regulation of Hdm2. Vice versa, Hdmx is a target for Hdm2-mediated ubiquitination and degradation. Here, we show that HAUSP also interacts with Hdmx, resulting in its direct deubiquitination and stabilization. HAUSP activity is required to maintain normal Hdmx protein levels. Therefore, the balance between HAUSP and Hdm2 activity determines Hdmx protein stability. Importantly, impaired deubiquitination of Hdmx/Hdm2 by HAUSP contributes to the DNA damage-induced degradation of Hdmx and transient instability of Hdm2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Meulmeester
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9503, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
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13
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Pereg Y, Shkedy D, de Graaf P, Meulmeester E, Edelson-Averbukh M, Salek M, Biton S, Teunisse AFAS, Lehmann WD, Jochemsen AG, Shiloh Y. Phosphorylation of Hdmx mediates its Hdm2- and ATM-dependent degradation in response to DNA damage. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2005; 102:5056-61. [PMID: 15788536 PMCID: PMC555986 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0408595102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of genomic stability depends on the DNA damage response, an extensive signaling network that is activated by DNA lesions such as double-strand breaks (DSBs). The primary activator of the mammalian DSB response is the nuclear protein kinase ataxia-telangiectasia, mutated (ATM), which phosphorylates key players in various arms of this network. The activation and stabilization of the p53 protein play a major role in the DNA damage response and are mediated by ATM-dependent posttranslational modifications of p53 and Mdm2, a ubiquitin ligase of p53. p53's response to DNA damage also depends on Mdm2-dependent proteolysis of Mdmx, a homologue of Mdm2 that represses p53's transactivation function. Here we show that efficient damage-induced degradation of human Hdmx depends on functional ATM and at least three sites on the Hdmx that are phosphorylated in response to DSBs. One of these sites, S403, is a direct ATM target. Accordingly, each of these sites is important for Hdm2-mediated ubiquitination of Hdmx after DSB induction. These results demonstrate a sophisticated mechanism whereby ATM fine-tunes the optimal activation of p53 by simultaneously modifying each player in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaron Pereg
- The David and Inez Myers Laboratory for Genetic Research, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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