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Shackleford TJ, Hariharan S, Vaseva AV, Alagoa K, Espinoza M, Bid HK, Li F, Zhong H, Phelps DA, Roberts RD, Cam H, London CA, Guttridge DC, Chen Y, Rao M, Shiio Y, Houghton PJ. Redundant Signaling as the Predominant Mechanism for Resistance to Antibodies Targeting the Type-I Insulin-Like Growth Factor Receptor in Cells Derived from Childhood Sarcoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2023; 22:539-550. [PMID: 36696581 PMCID: PMC10073271 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Antibodies targeting insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) induce objective responses in only 5% to 15% of children with sarcoma. Understanding the mechanisms of resistance may identify combination therapies that optimize efficacy of IGF-1R-targeted antibodies. Sensitivity to the IGF-1R-targeting antibody TZ-1 was determined in rhabdomyosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma cell lines. Acquired resistance to TZ-1 was developed and characterized in sensitive Rh41 cells. The BRD4 inhibitor, JQ1, was evaluated as an agent to prevent acquired TZ-1 resistance in Rh41 cells. The phosphorylation status of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) was assessed. Sensitivity to TZ-1 in vivo was determined in Rh41 parental and TZ-1-resistant xenografts. Of 20 sarcoma cell lines, only Rh41 was sensitive to TZ-1. Cells intrinsically resistant to TZ-1 expressed multiple (>10) activated RTKs or a relatively less complex set of activated RTKs (∼5). TZ-1 decreased the phosphorylation of IGF-1R but had little effect on other phosphorylated RTKs in all resistant lines. TZ-1 rapidly induced activation of RTKs in Rh41 that was partially abrogated by knockdown of SOX18 and JQ1. Rh41/TZ-1 cells selected for acquired resistance to TZ-1 constitutively expressed multiple activated RTKs. TZ-1 treatment caused complete regressions in Rh41 xenografts and was significantly less effective against the Rh41/TZ-1 xenograft. Intrinsic resistance is a consequence of redundant signaling in pediatric sarcoma cell lines. Acquired resistance in Rh41 cells is associated with rapid induction of multiple RTKs, indicating a dynamic response to IGF-1R blockade and rapid development of resistance. The TZ-1 antibody had greater antitumor activity against Rh41 xenografts compared with other IGF-1R-targeted antibodies tested against this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry J. Shackleford
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
- Saint Mary’s University, San Antonio, TX
| | | | - Angelina V. Vaseva
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | | | | | - Hemant K. Bid
- Resonant Therapeutics, Inc. Life Sciences Institute (LSI) University of Michigan
| | - Fuyang Li
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | | | - Doris A. Phelps
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | | | - Hakan Cam
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH
| | - Cheryl A. London
- Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, Boston
| | - Denis C. Guttridge
- Darby Children’s Research Institute, Medical College of South Carolina, Charleston
| | - Yidong Chen
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Manjeet Rao
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Yuzuru Shiio
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Peter J. Houghton
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
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2
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Hebron KE, Wan X, Roth JS, Liewehr DJ, Sealover NE, Frye WJ, Kim A, Stauffer S, Perkins OL, Sun W, Isanogle KA, Robinson CM, James A, Awasthi P, Shankarappa P, Luo X, Lei H, Butcher D, Smith R, Edmondson EF, Chen JQ, Kedei N, Peer CJ, Shern JF, Figg WD, Chen L, Hall MD, Difilippantonio S, Barr FG, Kortum RL, Robey RW, Vaseva AV, Khan J, Yohe ME. The Combination of Trametinib and Ganitumab is Effective in RAS-Mutated PAX-Fusion Negative Rhabdomyosarcoma Models. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:472-487. [PMID: 36322002 PMCID: PMC9852065 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-1646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE PAX-fusion negative rhabdomyosarcoma (FN RMS) is driven by alterations in the RAS/MAP kinase pathway and is partially responsive to MEK inhibition. Overexpression of IGF1R and its ligands is also observed in FN RMS. Preclinical and clinical studies have suggested that IGF1R is itself an important target in FN RMS. Our previous studies revealed preclinical efficacy of the MEK1/2 inhibitor, trametinib, and an IGF1R inhibitor, BMS-754807, but this combination was not pursued clinically due to intolerability in preclinical murine models. Here, we sought to identify a combination of an MEK1/2 inhibitor and IGF1R inhibitor, which would be tolerated in murine models and effective in both cell line and patient-derived xenograft models of RAS-mutant FN RMS. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Using proliferation and apoptosis assays, we studied the factorial effects of trametinib and ganitumab (AMG 479), a mAb with specificity for human and murine IGF1R, in a panel of RAS-mutant FN RMS cell lines. The molecular mechanism of the observed synergy was determined using conventional and capillary immunoassays. The efficacy and tolerability of trametinib/ganitumab was assessed using a panel of RAS-mutated cell-line and patient-derived RMS xenograft models. RESULTS Treatment with trametinib and ganitumab resulted in synergistic cellular growth inhibition in all cell lines tested and inhibition of tumor growth in four of six models of RAS-mutant RMS. The combination had little effect on body weight and did not produce thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, or hyperinsulinemia in tumor-bearing SCID beige mice. Mechanistically, ganitumab treatment prevented the phosphorylation of AKT induced by MEK inhibition alone. Therapeutic response to the combination was observed in models without a mutation in the PI3K/PTEN axis. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that combined trametinib and ganitumab is effective in a genomically diverse panel of RAS-mutated FN RMS preclinical models. Our data also show that the trametinib/ganitumab combination likely has a favorable tolerability profile. These data support testing this combination in a phase I/II clinical trial for pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory RAS-mutated FN RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie E. Hebron
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892,Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, 8560 Progress Drive, Frederick, MD 21701
| | - Xiaolin Wan
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Jacob S. Roth
- Early Translation Branch, Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - David J. Liewehr
- Biostatistics and Data Management Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Nancy E. Sealover
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Services, Bethesda, MD 20814
| | - William J.E. Frye
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Angela Kim
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, 8560 Progress Drive, Frederick, MD 21701
| | - Stacey Stauffer
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, 8560 Progress Drive, Frederick, MD 21701
| | - Olivia L. Perkins
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Wenyue Sun
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Kristine A. Isanogle
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701
| | - Christina M. Robinson
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701
| | - Amy James
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701
| | - Parirokh Awasthi
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701
| | - Priya Shankarappa
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Xiaoling Luo
- Collaborative Protein Technology Resource, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Haiyan Lei
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Donna Butcher
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701
| | - Roberta Smith
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701
| | - Elijah F. Edmondson
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701
| | - Jin-Qiu Chen
- Collaborative Protein Technology Resource, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Noemi Kedei
- Collaborative Protein Technology Resource, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Cody J. Peer
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Jack F. Shern
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - W. Douglas Figg
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Lu Chen
- Early Translation Branch, Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Matthew D. Hall
- Early Translation Branch, Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Simone Difilippantonio
- Laboratory Animal Sciences Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21701
| | - Frederic G. Barr
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Robert L. Kortum
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Services, Bethesda, MD 20814
| | - Robert W. Robey
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Angelina V. Vaseva
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892,Co-corresponding authors Correspondence: Marielle Yohe, M.D., Ph.D., Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 8560 Progress Drive Room D3026, Frederick, MD 27101, Phone: (240) 760-7436,
| | - Marielle E. Yohe
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892,Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, 8560 Progress Drive, Frederick, MD 21701,Co-corresponding authors Correspondence: Marielle Yohe, M.D., Ph.D., Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 8560 Progress Drive Room D3026, Frederick, MD 27101, Phone: (240) 760-7436,
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Hensch NR, Bondra K, Wang L, Sreenivas P, Zhao XR, Modi P, Vaseva AV, Houghton PJ, Ignatius MS. Sensitization to Ionizing Radiation by MEK Inhibition Is Dependent on SNAI2 in Fusion-Negative Rhabdomyosarcoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2023; 22:123-134. [PMID: 36162055 PMCID: PMC10046682 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-22-0310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
In fusion-negative rhabdomyosarcoma (FN-RMS), a pediatric malignancy with skeletal muscle characteristics, >90% of high-risk patients have mutations that activate the RAS/MEK signaling pathway. We recently discovered that SNAI2, in addition to blocking myogenic differentiation downstream of MEK signaling in FN-RMS, represses proapoptotic BIM expression to protect RMS tumors from ionizing radiation (IR). As clinically relevant concentrations of the MEK inhibitor trametinib elicit poor responses in preclinical xenograft models, we investigated the utility of low-dose trametinib in combination with IR for the treatment of RAS-mutant FN-RMS. We hypothesized that trametinib would sensitize FN-RMS to IR through its downregulation of SNAI2 expression. While we observed little to no difference in myogenic differentiation or cell survival with trametinib treatment alone, robust differentiation and reduced survival were observed after IR. In addition, IR-induced apoptosis was significantly increased in FN-RMS cells treated concurrently with trametinib, as was increased BIM expression. SNAI2's role in these processes was established using overexpression rescue experiments, where overexpression of SNAI2 prevented IR-induced myogenic differentiation and apoptosis. Moreover, combining MEK inhibitor with IR resulted in complete tumor regression and a 2- to 4-week delay in event-free survival (EFS) in preclinical xenograft and patient-derived xenograft models. Our findings demonstrate that the combination of MEK inhibition and IR results in robust differentiation and apoptosis, due to the reduction of SNAI2, which leads to extended EFS in FN-RMS. SNAI2 thus is a potential biomarker of IR insensitivity and target for future therapies to sensitize aggressive sarcomas to IR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole R. Hensch
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Kathryn Bondra
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Long Wang
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Prethish Sreenivas
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Xiang R. Zhao
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Paulomi Modi
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Angelina V. Vaseva
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Peter J. Houghton
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Myron S. Ignatius
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Yohe ME, Hebron KE, Wan X, Roth JS, Liewehr DJ, Sealover NE, Stauffer S, Feehan-Nelson O, Sun W, Isanogle KA, Robinson CM, James A, Awasthi P, Shankarappa P, Liu X, Lei H, Butcher D, Smith R, Edmonson EF, Chen JQ, Kedei N, Peer CS, Shern JF, Figg WD, Chen L, Hall MD, Difillipantonio S, Barr FG, Kortum RL, Vaseva AV, Khan J. Abstract IA023: Therapeutic efficacy of trametinib and ganitumab in RAS-mutated rhabdomyosarcoma. Clin Cancer Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1158/1557-3265.sarcomas22-ia023] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: PAX-fusion negative rhabdomyosarcoma (FN RMS) is driven by alterations in the RAS/MAP kinase pathway and is partially responsive to MEK inhibition. Overexpression of IGF1R and its ligands is also observed in FN RMS. Preclinical and clinical studies have suggested that IGF1R is itself an important target in FN RMS. Our previous studies revealed preclinical efficacy of the MEK1/2 inhibitor, trametinib, and an IGF1R inhibitor, BMS75807, but this combination was not pursued clinically due to excessive toxicity in preclinical murine models. Here, we sought to identify a combination of an MEK1/2 inhibitor and IGF1R inhibitor that would be better tolerated in murine models and effective in both cell line and patient derived xenograft models of RAS-mutant FN RMS. Methods: Using proliferation and apoptosis assays, we studied the factorial effects of trametinib and ganitumab (AMG 479), a monoclonal antibody with specificity for human and murine IGF1R, in a panel of RAS-mutant FN RMS cell lines. The molecular mechanism of the observed synergy was determined using conventional and capillary immunoassays. The efficacy and tolerability of the combination was assessed using a panel of RAS-mutated cell-line and patient-derived RMS xenograft models. Results: Treatment with trametinib and ganitumab resulted in synergistic cellular growth inhibition in all cell lines tested and inhibition of tumor growth in five out of six models of RAS-mutant RMS. Evidence suggests that the combination had little effect on body weight loss, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, or hyperinsulinemia in tumor-bearing SCID beige mice. Mechanistically, ganitumab treatment prevented the AKT phosphorylation that is induced by MEK inhibition alone. Therapeutic response to the combination was observed in models with an intact PI3K/PTEN axis. Conclusions: We demonstrate that combined trametinib and ganitumab is effective in a genomically diverse panel of RAS-mutated FN RMS preclinical models. The trametinib/ganitumab combination also likely has an improved tolerability profile compared to other IGF1R/MEK inhibitor combinations. These data support testing this combination in a phase I/II clinical trial for pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory RAS-mutated FN RMS.
Citation Format: Marielle E. Yohe, Katie E. Hebron, Xiaolin Wan, Jacob S. Roth, David J. Liewehr, Nancy E. Sealover, Stacey Stauffer, Olivia Feehan-Nelson, Wenyue Sun, Kristine A. Isanogle, Christina M. Robinson, Amy James, Parirokh Awasthi, Priya Shankarappa, Xiaoling Liu, Haiyan Lei, Donna Butcher, Roberta Smith, Elijah F. Edmonson, Jin-Qui Chen, Noemi Kedei, Cody S. Peer, Jack F. Shern, W. Douglas Figg, Lu Chen, Matthew D. Hall, Simone Difillipantonio, Frederic G. Barr, Robert L. Kortum, Angelina V. Vaseva, Javed Khan. Therapeutic efficacy of trametinib and ganitumab in RAS-mutated rhabdomyosarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Sarcomas; 2022 May 9-12; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2022;28(18_Suppl):Abstract nr IA023.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jacob S. Roth
- 3National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Rockville, MD,
| | | | | | | | | | - Wenyue Sun
- 2National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD,
| | | | | | - Amy James
- 1National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD,
| | | | | | | | - Haiyan Lei
- 2National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lu Chen
- 3National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Rockville, MD,
| | - Matthew D. Hall
- 3National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Rockville, MD,
| | | | | | | | - Angelina V. Vaseva
- 5University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Javed Khan
- 2National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD,
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Odeniyide P, Yohe ME, Pollard K, Vaseva AV, Calizo A, Zhang L, Rodriguez FJ, Gross JM, Allen AN, Wan X, Somwar R, Schreck KC, Kessler L, Wang J, Pratilas CA. Correction: Targeting farnesylation as a novel therapeutic approach in HRAS-mutant rhabdomyosarcoma. Oncogene 2022; 41:3037. [PMID: 35534540 PMCID: PMC9122821 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02342-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Odeniyide P, Yohe ME, Pollard K, Vaseva AV, Calizo A, Zhang L, Rodriguez FJ, Gross JM, Allen AN, Wan X, Somwar R, Schreck KC, Kessler L, Wang J, Pratilas CA. Targeting farnesylation as a novel therapeutic approach in HRAS-mutant rhabdomyosarcoma. Oncogene 2022; 41:2973-2983. [PMID: 35459782 PMCID: PMC9122815 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02305-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Activating RAS mutations are found in a subset of fusion-negative rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), and therapeutic strategies to directly target RAS in these tumors have been investigated, without clinical success to date. A potential strategy to inhibit oncogenic RAS activity is the disruption of RAS prenylation, an obligate step for RAS membrane localization and effector pathway signaling, through inhibition of farnesyltransferase (FTase). Of the major RAS family members, HRAS is uniquely dependent on FTase for prenylation, whereas NRAS and KRAS can utilize geranylgeranyl transferase as a bypass prenylation mechanism. Tumors driven by oncogenic HRAS may therefore be uniquely sensitive to FTase inhibition. To investigate the mutation-specific effects of FTase inhibition in RMS we utilized tipifarnib, a potent and selective FTase inhibitor, in in vitro and in vivo models of RMS genomically characterized for RAS mutation status. Tipifarnib reduced HRAS processing, and plasma membrane localization leading to decreased GTP-bound HRAS and decreased signaling through RAS effector pathways. In HRAS-mutant cell lines, tipifarnib reduced two-dimensional and three-dimensional cell growth, and in vivo treatment with tipifarnib resulted in tumor growth inhibition exclusively in HRAS-mutant RMS xenografts. Our data suggest that small molecule inhibition of FTase is active in HRAS-driven RMS and may represent an effective therapeutic strategy for a genomically-defined subset of patients with RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patience Odeniyide
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marielle E Yohe
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Kai Pollard
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Angelina V Vaseva
- The Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ana Calizo
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lindy Zhang
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Fausto J Rodriguez
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - John M Gross
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Amy N Allen
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Xiaolin Wan
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Romel Somwar
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karisa C Schreck
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Jiawan Wang
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christine A Pratilas
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Ghilu S, Morton CL, Vaseva AV, Zheng S, Kurmasheva RT, Houghton PJ. Approaches to identifying drug resistance mechanisms to clinically relevant treatments in childhood rhabdomyosarcoma. Cancer Drug Resist 2022; 5:80-89. [PMID: 35450020 PMCID: PMC8992598 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2021.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Aim Despite aggressive multiagent protocols, patients with metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) have poor prognosis. In a recent high-risk trial (ARST0431), 25% of patients failed within the first year, while on therapy and 80% had tumor progression within 24 months. However, the mechanisms for tumor resistance are essentially unknown. Here we explore the use of preclinical models to develop resistance to complex chemotherapy regimens used in ARST0431. Methods A Single Mouse Testing (SMT) protocol was used to evaluate the sensitivity of 34 RMS xenograft models to one cycle of vincristine, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide (VAC) treatment. Tumor response was determined by caliper measurement, and tumor regression and event-free survival (EFS) were used as endpoints for evaluation. Treated tumors at regrowth were transplanted into recipient mice, and the treatment was repeated until tumors progressed during the treatment period (i.e., became resistant). At transplant, tumor tissue was stored for biochemical and omics analysis. Results The sensitivity to VAC of 34 RMS models was determined. EFS varied from 3 weeks to > 20 weeks. Tumor models were classified as having intrinsic resistance, intermediate sensitivity, or high sensitivity to VAC therapy. Resistance to VAC was developed in multiple models after 2-5 cycles of therapy; however, there were examples where sensitivity remained unchanged after 3 cycles of treatment. Conclusion The SMT approach allows for in vivo assessment of drug sensitivity and development of drug resistance in a large number of RMS models. As such, it provides a platform for assessing in vivo drug resistance mechanisms at a "population" level, simulating conditions in vivo that lead to clinical resistance. These VAC-resistant models represent "high-risk" tumors that mimic a preclinical phase 2 population and will be valuable for identifying novel agents active against VAC-resistant disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samson Ghilu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Christopher L. Morton
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Angelina V. Vaseva
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Siyuan Zheng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Raushan T. Kurmasheva
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Peter J. Houghton
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
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8
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Garcia N, Del Pozo V, Yohe ME, Goodwin CM, Shackleford TJ, Wang L, Baxi K, Chen Y, Rogojina AT, Zimmerman SM, Peer CJ, Figg WD, Ignatius MS, Wood KC, Houghton PJ, Vaseva AV. Vertical Inhibition of the RAF-MEK-ERK Cascade Induces Myogenic Differentiation, Apoptosis and Tumor Regression in H/NRAS Q61X-mutant Rhabdomyosarcoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 21:170-183. [PMID: 34737198 PMCID: PMC8742779 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Oncogenic RAS signaling is an attractive target for fusion-negative rhabdomyosarcoma (FN-RMS). Our study validates the role of the ERK MAPK effector pathway in mediating RAS dependency in a panel of H/NRASQ61X-mutant RMS cells and correlates in vivo efficacy of the MEK inhibitor trametinib with pharmacodynamics of ERK activity. A screen is used to identify trametinib-sensitizing targets and combinations are evaluated in cells and tumor xenografts. We find that the ERK MAPK pathway is central to H/NRASQ61X-dependency in RMS cells, however there is poor in vivo response to clinically relevant exposures with trametinib, which correlates with inefficient suppression of ERK activity. CRISPR screening points to vertical inhibition of the RAF-MEK-ERK cascade by co-suppression of MEK and either CRAF or ERK. CRAF is central to rebound pathway activation following MEK or ERK inhibition. Concurrent CRAF suppression and MEK or ERK inhibition, or concurrent pan-RAF and MEK/ERK inhibition (pan-RAFi + MEKi/ERKi), or concurrent MEK and ERK inhibition (MEKi + ERKi) all synergistically block ERK activity and induce myogenic differentiation and apoptosis. In vivo assessment of pan-RAFi + ERKi or MEKi + ERKi potently suppress growth of H/NRASQ61X RMS tumor xenografts, with pan-RAFi + ERKi being more effective and better tolerated. We conclude that CRAF reactivation limits the activity of single agent MEK/ERK inhibitors in FN-RMS. Vertical targeting of the RAF-MEK-ERK cascade, and particularly co-targeting of CRAF and MEK or ERK, or the combination of pan-RAF inhibitors with MEK or ERK inhibitors, have synergistic activity and potently suppress H/NRASQ61X-mutant RMS tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Craig M Goodwin
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | | | - Long Wang
- Cancer Therapy & Research Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center
| | - Kunal Baxi
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, UTHSCSA
| | - Yidong Chen
- Department of Population Health Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
| | | | | | - Cody J Peer
- Clinical Pharmacology Program, National Cancer Institute
| | - William D Figg
- Clinical Pharmacology Program and Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute
| | | | - Kris C Wood
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University
| | - Peter J Houghton
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
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9
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Wang L, Hensch NR, Bondra K, Sreenivas P, Zhao XR, Chen J, Moreno Campos R, Baxi K, Vaseva AV, Sunkel BD, Gryder BE, Pomella S, Stanton BZ, Zheng S, Chen EY, Rota R, Khan J, Houghton PJ, Ignatius MS. SNAI2-Mediated Repression of BIM Protects Rhabdomyosarcoma from Ionizing Radiation. Cancer Res 2021; 81:5451-5463. [PMID: 34462275 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-4191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ionizing radiation (IR) and chemotherapy are mainstays of treatment for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma, yet the molecular mechanisms that underlie the success or failure of radiotherapy remain unclear. The transcriptional repressor SNAI2 was previously identified as a key regulator of IR sensitivity in normal and malignant stem cells through its repression of the proapoptotic BH3-only gene PUMA/BBC3. Here, we demonstrate a clear correlation between SNAI2 expression levels and radiosensitivity across multiple rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines. Modulating SNAI2 levels in rhabdomyosarcoma cells through its overexpression or knockdown altered radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo. SNAI2 expression reliably promoted overall cell growth and inhibited mitochondrial apoptosis following exposure to IR, with either variable or minimal effects on differentiation and senescence, respectively. Importantly, SNAI2 knockdown increased expression of the proapoptotic BH3-only gene BIM, and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing experiments established that SNAI2 is a direct repressor of BIM/BCL2L11. Because the p53 pathway is nonfunctional in the rhabdomyosarcoma cells used in this study, we have identified a new, p53-independent SNAI2/BIM signaling axis that could potentially predict clinical responses to IR treatment and be exploited to improve rhabdomyosarcoma therapy. SIGNIFICANCE: SNAI2 is identified as a major regulator of radiation-induced apoptosis in rhabdomyosarcoma through previously unknown mechanisms independent of p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Wang
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Nicole R Hensch
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Kathryn Bondra
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Prethish Sreenivas
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Xiang R Zhao
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Jiangfei Chen
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,School of Environmental Safety and Public Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Rodrigo Moreno Campos
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Kunal Baxi
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Angelina V Vaseva
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Benjamin D Sunkel
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Berkley E Gryder
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Silvia Pomella
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Benjamin Z Stanton
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Siyuan Zheng
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Eleanor Y Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Peter J Houghton
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Myron S Ignatius
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas. .,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
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10
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Vaseva AV, Bandyopadhyay A, Pozo VD, Goodwin CM, Gautam P, Wennerberg K, Wood KC, Chen Y, Der CJ, Houghton PJ. Abstract A54: Parallel targeting of RAF/MEK/ERK pathway in RAS-mutant embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Cancer Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.pedca19-a54] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
RAS pathway mutations are found in nearly 75% of high-risk embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS). While RAS oncoproteins are well-established therapeutic targets for many adult human cancers, still very little is known about the role of RAS mutations in the development and maintenance of ERMS. By sequencing, we identified cell lines and PDX tumors harboring activating mutations in H- or NRAS. Further, we showed that mutant H- or NRAS was critical for the growth of all RAS-mutant ERMS cell lines and that RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway, but not PI3K/AKT, was mediator of RAS dependency in these cells. However, in vivo treatment of RAS-mutant ERMS xenografts with the MEK inhibitor trametinib showed modest response as compared to BRAF-mutant astrocytoma xenografts. We reasoned that similarly to other RAS-driven cancers, ERMS cells and tumors are able to acquire resistance to inhibitors of the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway. We performed drug-sensitizing pooled CRISPR library screen and identified that inhibition of ERK2 potentiated trametinib treatment. We show that combining trametinib with ERK1/2 inhibitor leads to potent synergistic ERK inhibition and ERMS tumor growth suppression.
Citation Format: Angelina V. Vaseva, Abhik Bandyopadhyay, Vanessa Del Pozo, Craig M. Goodwin, Prson Gautam, Krister Wennerberg, Kris C. Wood, Yidong Chen, Channing J. Der, Peter J. Houghton. Parallel targeting of RAF/MEK/ERK pathway in RAS-mutant embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 17-20; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(14 Suppl):Abstract nr A54.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina V. Vaseva
- 1Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX,
| | - Abhik Bandyopadhyay
- 1Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX,
| | - Vanessa Del Pozo
- 1Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX,
| | - Craig M. Goodwin
- 2Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC,
| | - Prson Gautam
- 3Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,
| | - Krister Wennerberg
- 3Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,
| | - Kris C. Wood
- 4Department of Pharmacology, Duke University, Duke, NC
| | - Yidong Chen
- 1Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX,
| | - Channing J. Der
- 2Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC,
| | - Peter J. Houghton
- 1Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX,
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11
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Vaseva AV, Bandyopadhyay A, Pozzo VD, Goodwin CM, Gautam P, Wennerberg K, Wood KC, Der CJ, Houghton PJ. Abstract B13: Parallel targeting of RAF/MEK/ERK pathway in RAS-mutant embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Mol Cancer Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1158/1557-3125.ras18-b13] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Recent sequencing of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma identified the presence of RAS pathway mutations in nearly 75% of high-risk embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS). While RAS oncoproteins (HRAS, NRAS and KRAS) are well-established therapeutic targets for many adult human cancers, still very little is known about the role of RAS mutations in the development and maintenance of ERMS. We sequenced ERMS cell lines and PDX tumors and identified 4 cell lines harboring activating mutations in H- or NRAS and two cell lines with wild-type RAS. By siRNA mediated knockdown, we showed that mutant H- or NRAS was critical for the growth of all RAS-mutant ERMS cell lines and that RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway, but not PI3K/AKT, was mediator of RAS dependency in these cells. However, in vivo treatment of RAS-mutant ERMS xenografts with the MEK inhibitor trametinib showed modest response as compared to BRAF-mutant astrocytoma xenografts. We reasoned that similarly to other RAS-driven cancers, ERMS tumors are able to acquire resistance to inhibitors of the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway. We performed CRISPR screen and identified that inhibition of ERK2 potentiated trametinib treatment. We show that combining trametinib with ERK1/2 inhibitor leads to potent synergistic MEK/ERK pathway inhibition and ERMS tumor growth suppression.
Citation Format: Angelina V. Vaseva, Abhik Bandyopadhyay, Vanessa Del Pozzo, Craig M. Goodwin, Prson Gautam, Krister Wennerberg, Kris C. Wood, Channing J. Der, Peter J. Houghton. Parallel targeting of RAF/MEK/ERK pathway in RAS-mutant embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Targeting RAS-Driven Cancers; 2018 Dec 9-12; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2020;18(5_Suppl):Abstract nr B13.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina V. Vaseva
- 1Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX,
| | - Abhik Bandyopadhyay
- 1Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX,
| | - Vanessa Del Pozzo
- 1Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX,
| | - Craig M. Goodwin
- 2Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC,
| | - Prson Gautam
- 3Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,
| | - Krister Wennerberg
- 3Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland,
| | - Kris C. Wood
- 4Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC
| | - Channing J. Der
- 2Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC,
| | - Peter J. Houghton
- 1Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX,
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12
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Blake DR, Vaseva AV, Hodge RG, Kline MP, Gilbert TSK, Tyagi V, Huang D, Whiten GC, Larson JE, Wang X, Pearce KH, Herring LE, Graves LM, Frye SV, Emanuele MJ, Cox AD, Der CJ. Application of a MYC degradation screen identifies sensitivity to CDK9 inhibitors in KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer. Sci Signal 2019; 12:12/590/eaav7259. [PMID: 31311847 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aav7259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Stabilization of the MYC oncoprotein by KRAS signaling critically promotes the growth of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Thus, understanding how MYC protein stability is regulated may lead to effective therapies. Here, we used a previously developed, flow cytometry-based assay that screened a library of >800 protein kinase inhibitors and identified compounds that promoted either the stability or degradation of MYC in a KRAS-mutant PDAC cell line. We validated compounds that stabilized or destabilized MYC and then focused on one compound, UNC10112785, that induced the substantial loss of MYC protein in both two-dimensional (2D) and 3D cell cultures. We determined that this compound is a potent CDK9 inhibitor with a previously uncharacterized scaffold, caused MYC loss through both transcriptional and posttranslational mechanisms, and suppresses PDAC anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent growth. We discovered that CDK9 enhanced MYC protein stability through a previously unknown, KRAS-independent mechanism involving direct phosphorylation of MYC at Ser62 Our study thus not only identifies a potential therapeutic target for patients with KRAS-mutant PDAC but also presents the application of a screening strategy that can be more broadly adapted to identify regulators of protein stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon R Blake
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Angelina V Vaseva
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Richard G Hodge
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - McKenzie P Kline
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Thomas S K Gilbert
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Vikas Tyagi
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Daowei Huang
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Gabrielle C Whiten
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jacob E Larson
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kenneth H Pearce
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Laura E Herring
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lee M Graves
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Stephen V Frye
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Michael J Emanuele
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Adrienne D Cox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Channing J Der
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. .,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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13
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Vaseva AV, Blake DR, Gilbert TSK, Ng S, Hostetter G, Azam SH, Ozkan-Dagliyan I, Gautam P, Bryant KL, Pearce KH, Herring LE, Han H, Graves LM, Witkiewicz AK, Knudsen ES, Pecot CV, Rashid N, Houghton PJ, Wennerberg K, Cox AD, Der CJ. KRAS Suppression-Induced Degradation of MYC Is Antagonized by a MEK5-ERK5 Compensatory Mechanism. Cancer Cell 2018; 34:807-822.e7. [PMID: 30423298 PMCID: PMC6321749 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2018.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Our recent ERK1/2 inhibitor analyses in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) indicated ERK1/2-independent mechanisms maintaining MYC protein stability. To identify these mechanisms, we determined the signaling networks by which mutant KRAS regulates MYC. Acute KRAS suppression caused rapid proteasome-dependent loss of MYC protein, through both ERK1/2-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Surprisingly, MYC degradation was independent of PI3K-AKT-GSK3β signaling and the E3 ligase FBWX7. We then established and applied a high-throughput screen for MYC protein degradation and performed a kinome-wide proteomics screen. We identified an ERK1/2-inhibition-induced feedforward mechanism dependent on EGFR and SRC, leading to ERK5 activation and phosphorylation of MYC at S62, preventing degradation. Concurrent inhibition of ERK1/2 and ERK5 disrupted this mechanism, synergistically causing loss of MYC and suppressing PDAC growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina V Vaseva
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; The Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Devon R Blake
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Thomas S K Gilbert
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Serina Ng
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Galen Hostetter
- Pathology and Biorepository Core, The Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Salma H Azam
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Irem Ozkan-Dagliyan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Prson Gautam
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kirsten L Bryant
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kenneth H Pearce
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Laura E Herring
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Haiyong Han
- Molecular Medicine Division, Translational Genomic Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Lee M Graves
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | | | - Erik S Knudsen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Chad V Pecot
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Naim Rashid
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Peter J Houghton
- The Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Krister Wennerberg
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Adrienne D Cox
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Channing J Der
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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14
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Waters AM, Ozkan-Dagliyan I, Vaseva AV, Fer N, Strathern LA, Hobbs GA, Tessier-Cloutier B, Gillette WK, Bagni R, Whiteley GR, Hartley JL, McCormick F, Cox AD, Houghton PJ, Huntsman DG, Philips MR, Der CJ. Evaluation of the selectivity and sensitivity of isoform- and mutation-specific RAS antibodies. Sci Signal 2017; 10:10/498/eaao3332. [PMID: 28951536 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aao3332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
There is intense interest in developing therapeutic strategies for RAS proteins, the most frequently mutated oncoprotein family in cancer. Development of effective anti-RAS therapies will be aided by the greater appreciation of RAS isoform-specific differences in signaling events that support neoplastic cell growth. However, critical issues that require resolution to facilitate the success of these efforts remain. In particular, the use of well-validated anti-RAS antibodies is essential for accurate interpretation of experimental data. We evaluated 22 commercially available anti-RAS antibodies with a set of distinct reagents and cell lines for their specificity and selectivity in recognizing the intended RAS isoforms and mutants. Reliability varied substantially. For example, we found that some pan- or isoform-selective anti-RAS antibodies did not adequately recognize their intended target or showed greater selectivity for another; some were valid for detecting G12D and G12V mutant RAS proteins in Western blotting, but none were valid for immunofluorescence or immunohistochemical analyses; and some antibodies recognized nonspecific bands in lysates from "Rasless" cells expressing the oncoprotein BRAFV600E Using our validated antibodies, we identified RAS isoform-specific siRNAs and shRNAs. Our results may help to ensure the accurate interpretation of future RAS studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Waters
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Irem Ozkan-Dagliyan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Angelina V Vaseva
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Nicole Fer
- National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Leslie A Strathern
- National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - G Aaron Hobbs
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Basile Tessier-Cloutier
- Department of Molecular Oncology, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - William K Gillette
- National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Rachel Bagni
- National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Gordon R Whiteley
- National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - James L Hartley
- National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Frank McCormick
- National Cancer Institute RAS Initiative, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick, MD 21702, USA.,UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Adrienne D Cox
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Peter J Houghton
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - David G Huntsman
- Department of Molecular Oncology, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Mark R Philips
- Perlmutter Cancer Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Channing J Der
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. .,Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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15
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Vaseva AV, Blake DR, Azam SH, Gilbert KT, Pecot CV, Pearce KH, Herring LE, Graves LM, Houghton PJ, Der CJ. Abstract 4458: Regulation of MYC protein stability by mutant KRAS in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2017-4458] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
With the nearly 100% mutation frequency of KRAS in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the development of therapeutic strategies to target KRAS is a high priority for the pancreatic cancer field. In the current study, we aimed to identify signaling changes caused by the acute suppression of mutant KRAS in PDAC cell lines. Strikingly, acute suppression of mutant KRAS in PDAC cell lines caused potent and rapid proteasome-dependent degradation of MYC protein. Ablation of MYC also suppressed PDAC growth both in vitro and in vivo, indicating a critical driver role for MYC in KRAS-dependent PDAC maintenance. A mechanism by which RAS effector signaling regulates MYC protein stability has been described, however we determined that this mechanism cannot fully account for how endogenous mutant KRAS stabilizes MYC protein in PDAC cells. We verified a role for the Raf-MEK-ERK but not the PI3K-AKT-GSK3β effector signaling pathway. Unexpectedly, we also excluded a role for MYC protein phosphorylation at MYC residue T58, and determined that ubiquitin ligases other than FBW7 are involved. These findings prompted us to search for additional KRAS-dependent protein kinases that facilitate MYC protein stability. We applied multiple screening strategies. First, we developed a novel fluorescence-based system to monitor real-time MYC protein degradation in PDAC cells and we adapted this system for use in a high-throughput flow-cytometry based assay. Second, we applied a mass spectrometry-based approach to profile the human kinome for KRAS-dependent changes in protein kinases. Finally, we applied gain-of-function (Cancer Toolkit) and loss-of-function (CRISPR/Cas9) genetic screens to identify signaling regulators of MYC protein stability. The results of these screens will be presented.
Citation Format: Angelina V. Vaseva, Devon R. Blake, Salma H. Azam, Karim T. Gilbert, Chad V. Pecot, Kenneth H. Pearce, Laura E. Herring, Lee M. Graves, Peter J. Houghton, Channing J. Der. Regulation of MYC protein stability by mutant KRAS in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4458. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4458
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16
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Klingler S, Guo B, Yao J, Yan H, Zhang L, Vaseva AV, Chen S, Canoll P, Horner JW, Wang YA, Paik JH, Ying H, Zheng H. Development of Resistance to EGFR-Targeted Therapy in Malignant Glioma Can Occur through EGFR-Dependent and -Independent Mechanisms. Cancer Res 2015; 75:2109-19. [PMID: 25808866 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-14-3122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is highly amplified, mutated, and overexpressed in human malignant gliomas. Despite its prevalence and growth-promoting functions, therapeutic strategies to inhibit EGFR kinase activity have not been translated into profound beneficial effects in glioma clinical trials. To determine the roles of oncogenic EGFR signaling in gliomagenesis and tumor maintenance, we generated a novel glioma mouse model driven by inducible expression of a mutant EGFR (EGFR*). Using combined genetic and pharmacologic interventions, we revealed that EGFR*-driven gliomas were insensitive to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, although they could efficiently inhibit EGFR* autophosphorylation in vitro and in vivo. This is in contrast with the genetic suppression of EGFR* induction that led to significant tumor regression and prolonged animal survival. However, despite their initial response to genetic EGFR* extinction, all tumors would relapse and propagate independent of EGFR*. We further showed that EGFR*-independent tumor cells existed prior to treatment and were responsible for relapse following genetic EGFR* suppression. And, the addition of a PI3K/mTOR inhibitor could significantly delay relapse and prolong animal survival. Our findings shed mechanistic insight into EGFR drug resistance in glioma and provide a platform to test therapies targeting aberrant EGFR signaling in this setting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Baofeng Guo
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York
| | - Jun Yao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Haiyan Yan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ling Zhang
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York
| | | | - Sida Chen
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York
| | - Peter Canoll
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - James W Horner
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Y Alan Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Ji-Hye Paik
- Department of Pathology, Weill-Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Haoqiang Ying
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Hongwu Zheng
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York.
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17
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Vaseva AV, Marchenko ND, Ji K, Tsirka SE, Holzmann S, Moll UM. p53 opens the mitochondrial permeability transition pore to trigger necrosis. Cell 2012; 149:1536-48. [PMID: 22726440 PMCID: PMC3383624 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2012.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 565] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.1] [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] [Received: 09/20/2011] [Revised: 02/01/2012] [Accepted: 05/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Ischemia-associated oxidative damage leading to necrosis is a major cause of catastrophic tissue loss, and elucidating its signaling mechanism is therefore of paramount importance. p53 is a central stress sensor responding to multiple insults, including oxidative stress to orchestrate apoptotic and autophagic cell death. Whether p53 can also activate oxidative stress-induced necrosis is, however, unknown. Here, we uncover a role for p53 in activating necrosis. In response to oxidative stress, p53 accumulates in the mitochondrial matrix and triggers mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) opening and necrosis by physical interaction with the PTP regulator cyclophilin D (CypD). Intriguingly, a robust p53-CypD complex forms during brain ischemia/reperfusion injury. In contrast, reduction of p53 levels or cyclosporine A pretreatment of mice prevents this complex and is associated with effective stroke protection. Our study identifies the mitochondrial p53-CypD axis as an important contributor to oxidative stress-induced necrosis and implicates this axis in stroke pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kyungmin Ji
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook NY 11794, USA
| | - Stella E. Tsirka
- Dept. of Pharmacology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook NY 11794, USA
| | - Sonja Holzmann
- Dept. of Molecular Oncology, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ute M. Moll
- Dept. of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook NY 11794, USA
- Dept. of Molecular Oncology, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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18
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Zuber J, Rappaport AR, Luo W, Wang E, Chen C, Vaseva AV, Shi J, Weissmueller S, Fellmann C, Fellman C, Taylor MJ, Weissenboeck M, Graeber TG, Kogan SC, Vakoc CR, Lowe SW. An integrated approach to dissecting oncogene addiction implicates a Myb-coordinated self-renewal program as essential for leukemia maintenance. Genes Dev 2011; 25:1628-40. [PMID: 21828272 DOI: 10.1101/gad.17269211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Although human cancers have complex genotypes and are genomically unstable, they often remain dependent on the continued presence of single-driver mutations-a phenomenon dubbed "oncogene addiction." Such dependencies have been demonstrated in mouse models, where conditional expression systems have revealed that oncogenes able to initiate cancer are often required for tumor maintenance and progression, thus validating the pathways they control as therapeutic targets. Here, we implement an integrative approach that combines genetically defined mouse models, transcriptional profiling, and a novel inducible RNAi platform to characterize cellular programs that underlie addiction to MLL-AF9-a fusion oncoprotein involved in aggressive forms of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We show that MLL-AF9 contributes to leukemia maintenance by enforcing a Myb-coordinated program of aberrant self-renewal involving genes linked to leukemia stem cell potential and poor prognosis in human AML. Accordingly, partial and transient Myb suppression precisely phenocopies MLL-AF9 withdrawal and eradicates aggressive AML in vivo without preventing normal myelopoiesis, indicating that strategies to inhibit Myb-dependent aberrant self-renewal programs hold promise as effective and cancer-specific therapeutics. Together, our results identify Myb as a critical mediator of oncogene addiction in AML, delineate relevant Myb target genes that are amenable to pharmacologic inhibition, and establish a general approach for dissecting oncogene addiction in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Zuber
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA
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19
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Vaseva AV, Yallowitz AR, Marchenko ND, Xu S, Moll UM. Blockade of Hsp90 by 17AAG antagonizes MDMX and synergizes with Nutlin to induce p53-mediated apoptosis in solid tumors. Cell Death Dis 2011; 2:e156. [PMID: 21562588 PMCID: PMC3122118 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2011.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 03/10/2011] [Accepted: 03/10/2011] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Strategies to induce p53 activation in wtp53-retaining tumors carry high potential in cancer therapy. Nutlin, a potent highly selective MDM2 inhibitor, induces non-genotoxic p53 activation. Although Nutlin shows promise in promoting cell death in hematopoietic malignancies, a major roadblock is that most solid cancers do not undergo apoptosis but merely reversible growth arrest. p53 inhibition by unopposed MDMX is one major cause for apoptosis resistance to Nutlin. The Hsp90 chaperone is ubiquitously activated in cancer cells and supports oncogenic survival pathways, many of which antagonize p53. The Hsp90 inhibitor 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17AAG) is known to induce p53-dependent apoptosis. We show here that in multiple difficult-to-kill solid tumor cells 17AAG modulates several critical components that synergize with Nutlin-activated p53 signaling to convert Nutlin's transient cytostatic response into a cytotoxic killing response in vitro and in xenografts. Combined with Nutlin, 17AAG destabilizes MDMX, reduces MDM2, induces PUMA and inhibits oncogenic survival pathways, such as PI3K/AKT, which counteract p53 signaling at multiple levels. Mechanistically, 17AAG interferes with the repressive MDMX-p53 axis by inducing robust MDMX degradation, thereby markedly increasing p53 transcription compared with Nutlin alone. To our knowledge Nutlin+17AAG represents the first effective pharmacologic knockdown of MDMX. Our study identifies 17AAG as a promising synthetic lethal partner for a more efficient Nutlin-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A V Vaseva
- Graduate program in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - A R Yallowitz
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - N D Marchenko
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - S Xu
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - U M Moll
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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20
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Kimple RJ, Vaseva AV, Cox AD, Baerman KM, Calvo BF, Tepper JE, Shields JM, Sartor CI. Radiosensitization of epidermal growth factor receptor/HER2-positive pancreatic cancer is mediated by inhibition of Akt independent of ras mutational status. Clin Cancer Res 2010; 16:912-23. [PMID: 20103665 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-09-1324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family members (e.g., EGFR, HER2, HER3, and HER4) are commonly overexpressed in pancreatic cancer. We investigated the effects of inhibition of EGFR/HER2 signaling on pancreatic cancer to elucidate the role(s) of EGFR/HER2 in radiosensitization and to provide evidence in support of further clinical investigations. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Expression of EGFR family members in pancreatic cancer lines was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Cell growth inhibition was determined by MTS assay. The effects of inhibition of EGFR family receptors and downstream signaling pathways on in vitro radiosensitivity were evaluated using clonogenic assays. Growth delay was used to evaluate the effects of nelfinavir on in vivo tumor radiosensitivity. RESULTS Lapatinib inhibited cell growth in four pancreatic cancer cell lines, but radiosensitized only wild-type K-ras-expressing T3M4 cells. Akt activation was blocked in a wild-type K-ras cell line, whereas constitutive phosphorylation of Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was seen in lines expressing mutant K-ras. Overexpression of constitutively active K-ras (G12V) abrogated lapatinib-mediated inhibition of both Akt phosphorylation and radiosensitization. Inhibition of MAP/ERK kinase/ERK signaling with U0126 had no effect on radiosensitization, whereas inhibition of activated Akt with LY294002 (enhancement ratio, 1.2-1.8) or nelfinavir (enhancement ratio, 1.2-1.4) radiosensitized cells regardless of K-ras mutation status. Oral nelfinavir administration to mice bearing mutant K-ras-containing Capan-2 xenografts resulted in a greater than additive increase in radiation-mediated tumor growth delay (synergy assessment ratio of 1.5). CONCLUSIONS Inhibition of EGFR/HER2 enhances radiosensitivity in wild-type K-ras pancreatic cancer. Nelfinavir, and other phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt inhibitors, are effective pancreatic radiosensitizers regardless of K-ras mutation status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randall J Kimple
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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21
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Zimmer Y, Vaseva AV, Medová M, Streit B, Blank-Liss W, Greiner RH, Schiering N, Aebersold DM. Differential inhibition sensitivities of MET mutants to the small molecule inhibitor SU11274. Cancer Lett 2009; 289:228-36. [PMID: 19783361 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2009.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2009] [Revised: 08/11/2009] [Accepted: 08/12/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Point mutations emerge as one of the rate-limiting steps in tumor response to small molecule inhibitors of protein kinases. Here we characterized the response of the MET mutated variants, V1110I, V1238I, V1206L and H1112L to the small molecule SU11274. Our results reveal a distinct inhibition pattern of the four mutations with IC(50) values for autophosphorylation inhibition ranging between 0.15 and 1.5muM. Differences were further seen on the ability of SU11274 to inhibit phosphorylation of downstream MET transducers such as AKT, ERK, PLCgamma and STAT3 and a variety of MET-dependent biological endpoints. In all the assays, H1112L was the most sensitive to SU11274, while V1206L was less affected under the used concentration range. The differences in responses to SU11274 are discussed based on a structural model of the MET kinase domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yitzhak Zimmer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Inselspital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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22
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Vaseva AV, Marchenko ND, Moll UM. The transcription-independent mitochondrial p53 program is a major contributor to nutlin-induced apoptosis in tumor cells. Cell Cycle 2009; 8:1711-9. [PMID: 19411846 DOI: 10.4161/cc.8.11.8596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Strategies to induce p53 activation in tumors that retain wild-type p53 are promising for cancer therapy. Nutlin is a potent and selective pharmacological MDM2 inhibitor that competitively binds to its p53-binding pocket, thereby leading to non-genotoxic p53 stabilization and activation of growth arrest and apoptosis pathways. Nutlin-induced apoptosis is thought to occur via p53's transcriptional program. Here we report that the transcription-independent mitochondrial p53 program plays an important role in Nutlin-induced p53-mediated tumor cell death. Aside from nuclear stabilization, Nutlin causes cytoplasmic p53 accumulation and translocation to mitochondria. Monoubiquitinated p53, originating from a distinct cytoplasmic pool, is the preferred p53 species that translocates to mitochondria in response to stress. Nutlin does not interfere with MDM2's ability to monoubiquitinate p53, due to the fact that MDM2-p53 complexes are only partially disrupted and that Nutlin-stabilized MDM2 retains its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Nutlin-induced mitochondrial p53 translocation is rapid and associated with cytochrome C release that precedes induction of p53 target genes. Specific inhibition of mitochondrial p53 translocation by Pifithrin mu reduces the apoptotic Nutlin response by 2.5-fold, underlining the significance of p53's mitochondrial program in Nutlin-induced apoptosis. Surprisingly, blocking the transcriptional arm of p53, either via alpha-Amanitin or the p53-specific transcriptional inhibitor Pifithrin alpha, not only fails to inhibit, but greatly potentiates Nutlin-induced apoptosis. In sum, the direct mitochondrial program is a major mechanism in Nutlin-induced p53-mediated apoptosis. Moreover, at least in some tumors the transcriptional p53 activities in net balance not only are dispensable for the apoptotic Nutlin response, but appear to actively block its therapeutic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina V Vaseva
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8691, USA
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23
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Vaseva AV, Moll UM. The mitochondrial p53 pathway. Biochim Biophys Acta 2008; 1787:414-20. [PMID: 19007744 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2008.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 440] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2008] [Revised: 10/13/2008] [Accepted: 10/15/2008] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
p53 is one of the most mutated tumor suppressors in human cancers and as such has been intensively studied for a long time. p53 is a major orchestrator of the cellular response to a broad array of stress types by regulating apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, senescence, DNA repair and genetic stability. For a long time it was thought that these functions of p53 solely rely on its function as a transcription factor, and numerous p53 target genes have been identified [1]. In the last 8 years however, a novel transcription-independent proapoptotic function mediated by the cytoplasmic pool of p53 has been revealed. p53 participates directly in the intrinsic apoptosis pathway by interacting with the multidomain members of the Bcl-2 family to induce mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization. Our review will discuss these studies, focusing on recent advances in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina V Vaseva
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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24
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Freemantle SJ, Vaseva AV, Ewings KE, Bee T, Krizan KA, Kelley MR, Hattab EM, Memoli VA, Black CC, Spinella MJ, Dmitrovsky E. Repression of cyclin D1 as a target for germ cell tumors. Int J Oncol 2007; 30:333-40. [PMID: 17203214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic germ cell tumors (GCT) are curable, however GCTs refractory to cisplatin-based chemotherapy have a poor prognosis. This study explores D-type cyclins as molecular targets in GCTs because all-trans-retinoic acid (RA)-mediated differentiation of the human embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell line NT2/D1 is associated with G1 cell cycle arrest and proteasomal degradation of cyclin D1. RA effects on D-type cyclins are compared in human EC cells that are RA sensitive or dually RA and cisplatin resistant (NT2/D1-R1) and in clinical GCTs that have both EC and mature teratoma components. Notably, GCT differentiation was associated with reduced cyclin D1 but increased cyclin D3 expression. RA was shown here to repress cyclin D1 through a transcriptional mechanism in addition to causing its degradation. The siRNA-mediated repression of individual cyclin D species resulted in growth inhibition in both RA sensitive and resistant EC cells. Only repression of cyclin D1 occurred in vitro and when clinical GCTs mature, implicating cyclin D1 as a molecular therapeutic target. To confirm this, the EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Erlotinib, was used to repress cyclin D1. This inhibited proliferation in RA and cisplatin sensitive and resistant EC cells. Taken together, these findings implicate cyclin D1 targeting agents for the treatment of GCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Freemantle
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dartmouth Medical School, HB 7650, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
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25
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White KA, Yore MM, Warburton SL, Vaseva AV, Rieder E, Freemantle SJ, Spinella MJ. Negative Feedback at the Level of Nuclear Receptor Coregulation. J Biol Chem 2003; 278:43889-92. [PMID: 14506269 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.c300374200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear receptor-mediated gene expression is proposed to be regulated by the ordered recruitment of large protein complexes in which activity depends on mutual interactions and posttranslational modifications. In contrast, relatively little attention has been given to mechanisms regulating the expression of the coregulator proteins themselves. Previously we have shown that the ligand-dependent corepressor, RIP140, is a direct transcriptional target of all-trans retinoic acid (RA). Here we demonstrate that RA induction of RIP140 constitutes a rate-limiting step in the regulation of retinoic acid receptor signaling. Silencing of the RA induction of RIP140 dramatically enhances and accelerates retinoid receptor transactivation, endogenous expression of other RA target genes, and RA-induced neuronal differentiation and cell cycle arrest in human embryonal carcinoma cells. The data suggest that RA induction of RIP140 constitutes a functional negative feedback loop that limits activation of retinoid receptors in the continued presence of RA and that acutely regulated expression of coregulators may be a general regulatory mechanism in hormonal signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina A White
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dartmouth Medical School, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA
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