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Sturtzel C, Grissenberger S, Bozatzi P, Scheuringer E, Wenninger-Weinzierl A, Zajec Z, Dernovšek J, Pascoal S, Gehl V, Kutsch A, Granig A, Rifatbegovic F, Carre M, Lang A, Valtingojer I, Moll J, Lötsch D, Erhart F, Widhalm G, Surdez D, Delattre O, André N, Stampfl J, Tomašič T, Taschner-Mandl S, Distel M. Refined high-content imaging-based phenotypic drug screening in zebrafish xenografts. NPJ Precis Oncol 2023; 7:44. [PMID: 37202469 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-023-00386-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish xenotransplantation models are increasingly applied for phenotypic drug screening to identify small compounds for precision oncology. Larval zebrafish xenografts offer the opportunity to perform drug screens at high-throughput in a complex in vivo environment. However, the full potential of the larval zebrafish xenograft model has not yet been realized and several steps of the drug screening workflow still await automation to increase throughput. Here, we present a robust workflow for drug screening in zebrafish xenografts using high-content imaging. We established embedding methods for high-content imaging of xenografts in 96-well format over consecutive days. In addition, we provide strategies for automated imaging and analysis of zebrafish xenografts including automated tumor cell detection and tumor size analysis over time. We also compared commonly used injection sites and cell labeling dyes and show specific site requirements for tumor cells from different entities. We demonstrate that our setup allows us to investigate proliferation and response to small compounds in several zebrafish xenografts ranging from pediatric sarcomas and neuroblastoma to glioblastoma and leukemia. This fast and cost-efficient assay enables the quantification of anti-tumor efficacy of small compounds in large cohorts of a vertebrate model system in vivo. Our assay may aid in prioritizing compounds or compound combinations for further preclinical and clinical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sturtzel
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
- Zebrafish Platform Austria for Preclinical Drug Screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria
| | - S Grissenberger
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - P Bozatzi
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - E Scheuringer
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
- Zebrafish Platform Austria for Preclinical Drug Screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria
| | - A Wenninger-Weinzierl
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
- Zebrafish Platform Austria for Preclinical Drug Screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria
| | - Z Zajec
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - J Dernovšek
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - S Pascoal
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - V Gehl
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - A Kutsch
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Advanced Polymers for Biomaterials and 3D Printing, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Granig
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Advanced Polymers for Biomaterials and 3D Printing, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - F Rifatbegovic
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria
| | - M Carre
- Service d'Hématologie & Oncologie Pédiatrique, Timone Hospital, AP-HM, Marseille, France
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Paoli Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - A Lang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Central Nervous System Tumors Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - I Valtingojer
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Sanofi Research Center, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - J Moll
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Sanofi Research Center, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
- Renon Biotech and Pharma Consulting, Unterinn am Ritten (Bz), Italy
| | - D Lötsch
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Central Nervous System Tumors Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - F Erhart
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Central Nervous System Tumors Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - G Widhalm
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Central Nervous System Tumors Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - D Surdez
- Balgrist University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - O Delattre
- INSERM U830, Diversity and Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Lab, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Center, Institut Curie Research Center, Paris, France
| | - N André
- Service d'Hématologie & Oncologie Pédiatrique, Timone Hospital, AP-HM, Marseille, France
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Paoli Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - J Stampfl
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Advanced Polymers for Biomaterials and 3D Printing, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - T Tomašič
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - S Taschner-Mandl
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria.
| | - M Distel
- St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI), Vienna, Austria.
- Zebrafish Platform Austria for Preclinical Drug Screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria.
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Tammaccaro S, Prigent P, Le Bail J, Santos OD, Dassencourt L, Picard-Vernier P, Eskandar M, Buzy A, Guillemot JC, Veeranagouda Y, Didier M, Spanakis E, Kanno T, Cesaroni M, Mathieu S, Canard L, Casse A, Debussche L, Moll J, Valtingojer I. 80P Dual cell cycle arrest in KRAS mutant cell lines by co-inhibition of MAPK and Hippo-YAP1 pathways. Ann Oncol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2022.09.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Zettl M, Wurm M, Schaaf O, Mostböck S, Tirapu I, Apfler I, Lorenz IC, Frego L, Kenny C, Thibodeau M, Oquendo Cifuentes E, Reschke M, Moll J, Kraut N, Vogt A, Sedgwick JD, Waizenegger IC. Combination of two novel blocking antibodies, anti-PD-1 antibody ezabenlimab (BI 754091) and anti-LAG-3 antibody BI 754111, leads to increased immune cell responses. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2080328. [PMID: 35756842 PMCID: PMC9225207 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2080328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [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: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Upregulation of inhibitory receptors, such as lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3), may limit the antitumor activity of therapeutic antibodies targeting the programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) pathway. We describe the binding properties of ezabenlimab, an anti-human PD-1 antibody, and BI 754111, an anti-human LAG-3 antibody, and assess their activity alone and in combination. Ezabenlimab bound with high affinity to human PD-1 (KD = 6 nM) and blocked the interaction of PD-1 with PD-L1 and PD-L2. Ezabenlimab dose-dependently increased interferon-γ secretion in human T cells expressing PD-1 in co-culture with PD-L1-expressing dendritic cells. Administration of ezabenlimab to human PD-1 knock-in mice dose-dependently inhibited growth of MC38 tumors. To reduce immunogenicity, ezabenlimab was reformatted from a human IgG4 to a chimeric variant with a mouse IgG1 backbone (BI 905725) for further in vivo studies. Combining BI 905725 with anti-mouse LAG-3 antibodies improved antitumor activity versus BI 905725 monotherapy in the MC38 tumor model. We generated BI 754111, which bound with high affinity to human LAG-3 and prevented LAG-3 interaction with its ligand, major histocompatibility complex class II. In an in vitro model of antigen-experienced memory T cells expressing PD-1 and LAG-3, interferon-γ secretion increased by an average 1.8-fold versus isotype control (p = 0.027) with BI 754111 monotherapy, 6.9-fold (p < 0.0001) with ezabenlimab monotherapy and 13.2-fold (p < 0.0001) with BI 754111 plus ezabenlimab. Overall, ezabenlimab and BI 754111 bound to their respective targets with high affinity and prevented ligand binding. Combining ezabenlimab with BI 754111 enhanced in vitro activity versus monotherapy, supporting clinical investigation of this combination (NCT03156114; NCT03433898).
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Zettl
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Melanie Wurm
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Otmar Schaaf
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sven Mostböck
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Iñigo Tirapu
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ilse Apfler
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ivo C Lorenz
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, CT, USA
| | - Lee Frego
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, CT, USA
| | - Cynthia Kenny
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ridgefield, CT, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jürgen Moll
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Norbert Kraut
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anne Vogt
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
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Henry C, Péron P, Blanchet AM, Genevois-Borella A, Trellu M, Bourges D, Lienard P, Basset A, Jouannot E, Philippo C, Debussche L, Moll J. Abstract 130: Pharmacological effects of selective xCT inhibition in ARID1A mutated cancer models. Cancer Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2022-130] [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
xCT is a cystine/glutamate antiporter that exports intracellular glutamate for extracellular cystine. In the intracellular space, cystine is converted into cysteine which is subsequently used for glutathione (GSH) synthesis (a major antioxidant species). ARID1A is part of the SWI-SNF remodeling complex that binds on the xCT promoter and as such controls its gene expression. ARID1A deficiency which is highly prevalent in many cancers results in downregulation of xCT, impaired GSH biosynthesis and subsequent ROS induction, raising potential rationale to target xCT in ARID1A deficient cancers. By using a selective nanomolar range xCT inhibitor, we first showed that cell lines deficient for ARID1A were significantly more sensitive to the inhibition of xCT. Effects on proliferation could be reversed by N-acetylcysteine supplementation in the culture medium. In vivo, the xCT inhibitor confirmed its drug-like properties showing significant target engagement in an ARID1A deficient ovarian cell line xenograft model together with good PK and tolerability profiles. Altogether these studies have provided evidence that a specific drug-like inhibitor of xCT can be developed. This proprietary compound was used to confirm that in vitro the deficiency of ARID1A in ovarian cancer predicts sensitivity to xCT inhibition. Further in vivo pharmacological studies are required to confirm a specific molecular context predicting sensitivity towards xCT inhibition.
Citation Format: Christophe Henry, Philippe Péron, Anne-Marie Blanchet, Arielle Genevois-Borella, Marc Trellu, Dorothée Bourges, Philippe Lienard, Alexandra Basset, Erwan Jouannot, Christophe Philippo, Laurent Debussche, Jürgen Moll. Pharmacological effects of selective xCT inhibition in ARID1A mutated cancer models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 130.
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Calvet L, Dos-Santos O, Spanakis E, Jean-Baptiste V, Le Bail JC, Buzy A, Paul P, Henry C, Valence S, Dib C, Pollard J, Sidhu S, Moll J, Debussche L, Valtingojer I. YAP1 is essential for malignant mesothelioma tumor maintenance. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:639. [PMID: 35689194 PMCID: PMC9188206 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09686-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma, a tumor arising from the membrane covering the lungs and the inner side of the ribs, is a cancer in which genetic alterations of genes encoding proteins that act on or are part of the Hippo-YAP1 signaling pathway are frequent. Dysfunctional Hippo signaling may result in aberrant activation of the transcriptional coactivator protein YAP1, which binds to and activates transcription factors of the TEAD family. Recent studies have associated elevated YAP1 protein activity with a poor prognosis of malignant mesothelioma and its resistance to current therapies, but its role in tumor maintenance is unclear. In this study, we investigate the dependence of malignant mesothelioma on YAP1 signaling to maintain fully established tumors in vivo. We show that downregulation of YAP1 in a dysfunctional Hippo genetic background results in the inhibition of YAP1/TEAD-dependent gene expression, the induction of apoptosis, and the inhibition of tumor cell growth in vitro. The conditional downregulation of YAP1 in established tumor xenografts leads to the inhibition of YAP1-dependent gene transcription and eventually tumor regression. This effect is only seen in the YAP1-activated MSTO-211H mesothelioma xenograft model, but not in the Hippo-independent HCT116 colon cancer xenograft model. Our data demonstrate that, in the context of a Hippo pathway mutated background, YAP1 activity alone is enough to maintain the growth of established tumors in vivo, thus validating the concept of inhibiting the activated YAP1-TEAD complex for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loreley Calvet
- Department of Oncology, In Vivo Pharmacology, Sanofi Research Center, Vitry-sur-Seine, France.
| | - Odette Dos-Santos
- Department of Oncology, Molecular Oncology, Sanofi Research Center, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Emmanuel Spanakis
- Department of Oncology, Precision Oncology, Sanofi Research Center, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | | | | | - Armelle Buzy
- Department of Translational Sciences, Sanofi Research Center, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Pascal Paul
- Department of Translational Sciences, Sanofi Research Center, Chilly Mazarin, France
| | - Christophe Henry
- Department of Oncology, Molecular Oncology, Sanofi Research Center, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Sandrine Valence
- Department of Oncology, Precision Oncology, Sanofi Research Center, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Colette Dib
- Department of Oncology, Precision Oncology, Sanofi Research Center, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Jack Pollard
- Department of Oncology, Precision Oncology, Sanofi Research Center, Cambridge, USA
| | - Sukhvinder Sidhu
- Department of Oncology, In Vivo Pharmacology, Sanofi Research Center, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Jürgen Moll
- Department of Oncology, Molecular Oncology, Sanofi Research Center, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Laurent Debussche
- Department of Oncology, In Vivo Pharmacology, Sanofi Research Center, Vitry-sur-Seine, France.,Department of Oncology, Molecular Oncology, Sanofi Research Center, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
| | - Iris Valtingojer
- Department of Oncology, Molecular Oncology, Sanofi Research Center, Vitry-sur-Seine, France
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Sendel M, Lienau F, Fischer D, Moll J, Koch S, Forstenpointner J, Binder A, Baron R. The descending pain modulation system predicts short term efficacy of multimodal pain therapy - an observational prospective cohort study. Postgrad Med 2022; 134:277-287. [PMID: 34895019 DOI: 10.1080/00325481.2021.2017646] [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] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Treating chronic pain patients with multimodal pain therapy (MMPT) alters perception, awareness, and processing of pain at multiple therapeutic levels. Several clinical observations suggest that the effects of therapy may go beyond the possible sum of each level of therapy and may be due to a central descending inhibitory effect measurable by conditioned pain modulation (CPM). Thus, we investigated whether CPM is able to identify a group of patients that benefit particularly from MMPT. METHODS This was an observational prospective cohort study. Patients were hospitalized on a special pain medicine ward with specially trained staff for 10 days. The patients were questioned and had investigations before and shortly after MMPT and were followed-up on 3 months post discharge. Before and after treatment, subjects were investigated via CPM and quantitative sensory testing (QST) as well as completing questionnaires. The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00006850). RESULTS During the study period of 24 months, 224 chronic pain patients were recruited. 51 percent of patients completed the study period. There was an improvement in overall groups regarding all domains assessed, lasting beyond the end of the intervention. Patients with a sufficient CPM effect, defined as a reduction in pain during the conditioning stimulus, at baseline did show a more pronounced reduction in mean pain ratings than those without. This was not the case 3 months after therapy. Furthermore, sufficient CPM was identified as a predictor for pain reduction using a linear regression model. CONCLUSION In conclusion, this study shows that while a heterogeneous group of patients with chronic pain disorders does sustainably benefit from MMPT in general, patients with a sufficient CPM effect do show a more pronounced decrease in pain ratings directly after therapy in comparison to those without.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sendel
- Division of Neurological Pain Research and -therapy, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - F Lienau
- Katholisches Marienkrankenhaus, Department. Of Neurology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - D Fischer
- Asklepios Klinik Nord, Center of Interdisciplinary Pain Therapy, Hamburg, Germany
| | - J Moll
- Asklepios Klinik Nord, Center of Interdisciplinary Pain Therapy, Hamburg, Germany
| | - S Koch
- Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - J Forstenpointner
- Division of Neurological Pain Research and -therapy, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - A Binder
- Division of Neurological Pain Research and -therapy, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.,Klinikum Saarbrücken, Department. Of Neurology
| | - R Baron
- Division of Neurological Pain Research and -therapy, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
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Paumen Y, Mälzer M, Alipek S, Moll J, Lüdtke B, Schauer-Weisshahn H. Development and test of a bat calls detection and classification method based on convolutional neural networks. BIOACOUSTICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/09524622.2021.1978863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Y. Paumen
- Department of Physics, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - M. Mälzer
- Department of Physics, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - S. Alipek
- Department of Physics, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - J. Moll
- Department of Physics, Goethe University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - B. Lüdtke
- Freiburg Institute of Applied Animal Ecology, Freiburg, Germany
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Meaux I, Gorge-Bernat D, Paz A, Geslin C, Debussche L, Moll J, Henry C. Abstract 2125: Roles of KAT6A and KAT6B in the biology of estrogen positive breast cancer. Cancer Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2021-2125] [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
KAT6A and KAT6B are histone acetyl transferase (HAT) that are controlling gene expression by transferring acetyl groups to histones. Yu et al (Oncogene, 2017 36, 2910-2918) have shown that KAT6A has a role in breast cancer development by activating the ERα promoter and was found frequently amplified in 11% and is overexpressed in 15% of breast cancers. Altogether, these data support KAT6A as an attractive target in estrogen receptor driven breast cancer. KAT6B is a close homolog that shares 91% identity in the acetyl coA binding site. While the prevalence of gene amplification for KAT6B in breast cancer is only 1-2%, it is often overexpressed. In this study, we are exploring how KAT6A and KAT6B are contributing to ERα expression and the growth of KAT6A amplified breast cancer cell lines. To decipher each protein's role, we have designed specific siRNA against KAT6A and KAT6B and we tested their action either individually or in combination in the KAT6A gene amplified breast cancer cell lines T-47D, CAM-1 and ZR-75. Following treatment of T-47D, CAMA-1 and ZR75 cell lines with KAT6A or B siRNA we observed a decrease of ERα gene and protein expression for all siRNAs. The effect was more pronounced when using KAT6A over KAT6B and the effect of both siRNA A/B were additive. Phenotypically, the impact on cell line proliferation by applying clonogenic and incucyte assays, mirrors what is observed on ERα gene and protein expression. The effect on cellular proliferation of KAT6A is more prominent than KAT6B silencing, while the combined KAT6A + KAT6B silencing being more impactful than KAT6A silencing alone. In conclusion, our data show that KAT6A and KAT6B share similar function in the control of ER gene and protein expression. This study suggests that KAT6A and KAT6B may be paralogs, one compensating for the loss of the other. This translates into a more pronounced antiproliferative effect when both genes are silenced concomitantly.
Citation Format: Isabelle Meaux, Dimitri Gorge-Bernat, Angele Paz, Catherine Geslin, Laurent Debussche, Jürgen Moll, Christophe Henry. Roles of KAT6A and KAT6B in the biology of estrogen positive breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 2125.
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Henry C, Berthelot K, Lanneau C, Orsini C, Gorge-Bernat D, Meaux I, Chassin D, Moll J, Thiers B, Machnik D, Debussche L. Abstract 242: Identification of biomarkers predicting sensitivity to GLS1 inhibition using a CRISPR screen. Cancer Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2020-242] [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
The conditional essential amino acid glutamine is utilized by tumors to sustain bioenergetic requirements in a nutrient-poor microenvironment. Based on this specific tumor need, efforts have been made to target the glutamine metabolism using glutaminase inhibitors. This approach has demonstrated activity in preclinical models and in a range of phase I studies. It was shown that a subset of models/patients are benefiting from glutaminase inhibition, however, biomarkers predicting sensitivity to GLS1 inhibitors are lacking. The objective of this study is to identify molecular predictors of the sensitivity towards GLS1 inhibition. Using the cBioportal, we analyzed the most prevalent genetic deficiencies in Triple Negative Breast cancers, Kidney cancers, Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Multiple Myeloma. From this analysis, a library of CRISPR gRNA including the most disease relevant LOF linked-genes was created. Individual cell lines stably expressing Cas9 were used for a focused CRISPR screen in the presence of suboptimal doses of GLS1 inhibitor. The sgRNA library mimicking the major genetic deficiencies identified from the cBioportal datamining was delivered in pool lentiviral particles. Genes deficiencies associated with increased GLS1 sensitivity were identified with sgRNA targeted NGS sequencing of the remaining cell population at treatment completion. We present the setup and validation of an innovative experimental design for the identification of biomarkers predictive to GLS1 inhibition with the aim to identify gene deficiencies associated with increased sensitivity to GLS1 inhibitors that could be used as predictive biomarkers in the clinic.
Citation Format: Christophe Henry, Karine Berthelot, Christophe Lanneau, Cécile Orsini, Dimitri Gorge-Bernat, Isabelle Meaux, Dorine Chassin, Jürgen Moll, Berangere Thiers, David Machnik, Laurent Debussche. Identification of biomarkers predicting sensitivity to GLS1 inhibition using a CRISPR screen [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 242.
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Zahn R, Lythe K, Gethin J, Green S, Deakin J, Workman C, Moll J. Negative emotions towards others are diminished in remitted major depression. Eur Psychiatry 2020; 30:448-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2015.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2014] [Revised: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractBackground:One influential view is that vulnerability to major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with a proneness to experience negative emotions in general. In contrast, blame attribution theories emphasise the importance of blaming oneself rather than others for negative events. Our previous exploratory study provided support for the attributional hypothesis that patients with remitted MDD show no overall bias towards negative emotions, but a selective bias towards emotions entailing self-blame relative to emotions that entail blaming others. More specifically, we found a decreased proneness for contempt/disgust towards others relative to oneself (i.e. self-contempt bias). Here, we report a definitive test of the competing general negative versus specific attributional bias theories of MDD.Methods:We compared a medication-free remitted MDD (n = 101) and a control group (n = 70) with no family or personal history of MDD on a previously validated experimental test of moral emotions. The task measures proneness to specific emotions associated with different types of self-blame (guilt, shame, self-contempt/disgust, self-indignation/anger) and blame of others (other-indignation/anger, other-contempt/disgust) whilst controlling for the intensity of unpleasantness.Results:We confirmed the hypothesis that patients with MDD exhibit an increased self-contempt bias with a reduction in contempt/disgust towards others. Furthermore, they also showed a decreased proneness for indignation/anger towards others.Conclusions:This corroborates the prediction that vulnerability to MDD is associated with an imbalance of specific self- and other-blaming emotions rather than a general increase in negative emotions. This has important implications for neurocognitive models and calls for novel focussed interventions to rebalance blame in MDD.
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Hofmann MH, Mani R, Engelhardt H, Impagnatiello MA, Carotta S, Kerenyi M, Lorenzo-Herrero S, Böttcher J, Scharn D, Arnhof H, Zoephel A, Schnitzer R, Gerstberger T, Sanderson MP, Rajgolikar G, Goswami S, Vasu S, Ettmayer P, Gonzalez S, Pearson M, McConnell DB, Kraut N, Muthusamy N, Moll J. Selective and Potent CDK8/19 Inhibitors Enhance NK-Cell Activity and Promote Tumor Surveillance. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 19:1018-1030. [PMID: 32024684 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-19-0789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells play a pivotal role in controlling cancer. Multiple extracellular receptors and internal signaling nodes tightly regulate NK activation. Cyclin-dependent kinases of the mediator complex (CDK8 and CDK19) were described as a signaling intermediates in NK cells. Here, we report for the first time the development and use of CDK8/19 inhibitors to suppress phosphorylation of STAT1S727 in NK cells and to augment the production of the cytolytic molecules perforin and granzyme B (GZMB). Functionally, this resulted in enhanced NK-cell-mediated lysis of primary leukemia cells. Treatment with the CDK8/19 inhibitor BI-1347 increased the response rate and survival of mice bearing melanoma and breast cancer xenografts. In addition, CDK8/19 inhibition augmented the antitumoral activity of anti-PD-1 antibody and SMAC mimetic therapy, both agents that promote T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity. Treatment with the SMAC mimetic compound BI-8382 resulted in an increased number of NK cells infiltrating EMT6 tumors. Combination of the CDK8/19 inhibitor BI-1347, which augments the amount of degranulation enzymes, with the SMAC mimetic BI-8382 resulted in increased survival of mice carrying the EMT6 breast cancer model. The observed survival benefit was dependent on an intermittent treatment schedule of BI-1347, suggesting the importance of circumventing a hyporesponsive state of NK cells. These results suggest that CDK8/19 inhibitors can be combined with modulators of the adaptive immune system to inhibit the growth of solid tumors, independent of their activity on cancer cells, but rather through promoting NK-cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rajeswaran Mani
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | | | | | | | - Marc Kerenyi
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Seila Lorenzo-Herrero
- Department of Functional Biology, Universidad de Oviedo, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria del Principado de Asturias (IISPA), IUOPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Jark Böttcher
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dirk Scharn
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Girish Rajgolikar
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Swagata Goswami
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Sumithira Vasu
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | | | - Segundo Gonzalez
- Department of Functional Biology, Universidad de Oviedo, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria del Principado de Asturias (IISPA), IUOPA, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Mark Pearson
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Norbert Kraut
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Natarajan Muthusamy
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Jürgen Moll
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
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12
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Rudolph D, Weyer-Czernilofsky U, Reschke M, Sykora M, Rinnenthal J, Blake S, Gremel G, Wernitznig A, Gollner A, Kraut N, Moll J. Abstract 3197: BI-907828, a novel and potent MDM2-p53 antagonist, acts synergistically in a triple combination with anti-PD-1 and anti-LAG-3 antibodies in syngeneic mouse models of cancer. Cancer Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2019-3197] [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
MDM2-p53 antagonists block the interaction between the Tumor Protein p53 and MDM2, its key negative regulator, and represent a new therapeutic concept for cancer therapy. MDM2-p53 antagonists are designed to restore p53 activity in TP53 wild-type tumors. Several MDM2-p53 antagonists are currently being evaluated in early clinical development. BI-907828 is a novel and potent MDM2-p53 antagonist with optimized drug-like properties that has shown efficacy in human tumor xenograft models at daily low oral dose as well as intermittent high dose schedules. Recent preclinical studies in syngeneic mouse models of cancer have demonstrated that BI-907828, apart from its direct tumor-targeting activity, also has immunomodulatory activity shown to contribute to efficacy. Single-agent BI-907828 induced anti-tumor immunological memory that controlled tumor growth in a re-challenge study. Moreover, a dual combination with an anti-mouse PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor resulted in synergistic efficacy in a syngeneic mouse model of cancer (AACR 2018, abstract 4866). Here we present data for the triple combination of BI-907828 with two checkpoint inhibitors. In syngeneic mouse tumor models (Colon-26 and B16-F10), the combination of BI-907828 with tool antibodies against mouse PD-1 and mouse LAG-3 shows high response rates of 50-90% with tumor regressions observed for even very large tumors. Moreover, efficacy of the triple combination is superior to each single agent and all dual combinations. An antibody-mediated depletion study suggests a contribution of CD8+ T cells but not of CD4+ T cells to full efficacy of the triple combination. FACS analysis of tumors isolated from Colon-26 tumor-bearing mice indicates that treatment with the triple combination leads to expansion of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. In summary, BI-907828 is a novel, potent, orally bioavailable MDM2-p53 antagonist that shows synergistic efficacy in a triple combination with antibodies targeting the immune checkpoints PD-1 and LAG-3 in syngeneic mouse models of cancer. BI-907828 is currently under evaluation in a Phase I clinical study (NCT03449381).
Citation Format: Dorothea Rudolph, Ulrike Weyer-Czernilofsky, Markus Reschke, Martina Sykora, Jörg Rinnenthal, Sophia Blake, Gabriela Gremel, Andreas Wernitznig, Andreas Gollner, Norbert Kraut, Jürgen Moll. BI-907828, a novel and potent MDM2-p53 antagonist, acts synergistically in a triple combination with anti-PD-1 and anti-LAG-3 antibodies in syngeneic mouse models of cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3197.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Sophia Blake
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Wien, Austria
| | | | | | | | - Norbert Kraut
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Wien, Austria
| | - Jürgen Moll
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Wien, Austria
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13
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Marins T, Rodrigues EC, Bortolini T, Melo B, Moll J, Tovar-Moll F. Structural and functional connectivity changes in response to short-term neurofeedback training with motor imagery. Neuroimage 2019; 194:283-290. [PMID: 30898654 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [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: 07/01/2018] [Revised: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent findings have been challenging current understanding of how fast the human brain change its structural and functional connections in response to training. One powerful way to deepen the inner workings of human brain plasticity is using neurofeedback (NFB) by fMRI, a technique that allows self-induced brain plasticity by means of modulating brain activity in real time. In the present randomized, double-blind and sham-controlled study, we use NFB to train healthy individuals to reinforce brain patterns related to motor execution while performing a motor imagery task, with no overt movement. After 1 h of NFB training, participants displayed increased fractional anisotropy (FA) in the sensorimotor segment of corpus callosum and increased functional connectivity of the sensorimotor resting state network. Increased functional connectivity was also observed in the default mode network. These results were not observed in the control group, which was trained with sham feedback. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of white matter FA changes following a very short training schedule (<1 h). Our results suggest that NFB by fMRI can be an interesting tool to explore dynamic aspects of brain plasticity and open new venues for investigating brain plasticity in healthy individuals and in neurological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Marins
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Post-Graduate Program in Morphological Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - E C Rodrigues
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Augusto Motta University (Unisuam), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - T Bortolini
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Bruno Melo
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - J Moll
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Post-Graduate Program in Morphological Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - F Tovar-Moll
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Post-Graduate Program in Morphological Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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Rudolph D, Gollner A, Blake S, Rinnenthal J, Wernitznig A, Weyer-Czernilofsky U, Haslinger C, Garin-Chesa P, Quant J, McConnell DB, Moll J, Norbert K. Abstract 4868: BI 907828: A novel, potent MDM2 inhibitor that is suitable for high-dose intermittent schedules. Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2018-4868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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
MDM2 inhibitors block the interaction between the Tumor Protein p53 (TP53) and MDM2, its key negative regulator, and represent a new therapeutic concept for cancer therapy. MDM2 inhibitors are designed to restore p53 activity in TP53 wild-type tumors. Several MDM2 inhibitors are currently being evaluated in early clinical development with mainly daily dosing regimens. However, recent clinical data suggest myelosuppression as an on-target, dose-limiting toxicity for this class of inhibitors. Particularly, thrombocytopenia could limit the clinical utility of MDM2 inhibitors. Hence there is a need to mitigate these side effects and to improve the therapeutic window. One approach is less frequent dosing to allow bone marrow recovery while still maintaining efficacious exposure levels and clinical activity. Here we present data on BI 907828, a novel and potent MDM2 inhibitor with optimized drug-like properties including a reliable, dose-linear PK across species with good bioavailability after oral dosing that allows various dose schedules. Remarkably, a single oral dose of 2 mg/kg led to tumor regressions in a SJSA-1 xenograft model in all treated mice, as did treatment on a daily low dose schedule. Data on PK, PD and efficacy relationships in this xenograft model will be presented including dose-dependent induction of TP53 target genes and markers of apoptosis. Moreover, BI 907828 significantly prolonged the survival by more than 50 days with a daily oral dose of 2.5 mg/kg in a difficult to treat disseminated MOLM-13 AML model, as noted by profiling of a clinical-stage MDM2 inhibitor. In summary, BI 907828 is a novel, potent, orally bioavailable MDM2 inhibitor that shows excellent efficacy with daily low dose but also intermittent high dose schedules in preclinical models of cancer.
Citation Format: Dorothea Rudolph, Andreas Gollner, Sophia Blake, Jörg Rinnenthal, Andreas Wernitznig, Ulrike Weyer-Czernilofsky, Christian Haslinger, Pilar Garin-Chesa, Jens Quant, Darryl B. McConnell, Jürgen Moll, Kraut Norbert. BI 907828: A novel, potent MDM2 inhibitor that is suitable for high-dose intermittent schedules [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4868.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sophia Blake
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jens Quant
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Jürgen Moll
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kraut Norbert
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
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15
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Zettl M, Wurm M, Schaaf O, Tirapu I, Mostböck S, Reschke M, Schmidbauer SM, Frego L, Lorenz IC, Thibodeau M, Blanset D, Cifuentes EO, Moll J, Kraut N, Borges E, Vogt A, Sedgwick J, Waizenegger IC. Abstract 4547: Characterization of the LAG-3 targeting antibody BI 754111 in monotherapy and in combination with the anti-PD-1 antibody BI 754091. Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2018-4547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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
Lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) is an inhibitory receptor involved in maintaining immunological tolerance via regulation of T-cell activation, proliferation and response. Ligand-mediated activation of LAG-3 negatively regulates T-cell activity that is thought to actively contribute to tumor immune evasion beyond the established programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) pathway.
BI 754111, a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) with high affinity against LAG-3, blocks the interaction between LAG-3 and MHC II. BI 754111 was characterized in a panel of binding, blocking and functional cell-based assays; safety assessment was done in cynomolgus monkeys. BI 754111 is not mouse cross-reactive; therefore a surrogate mLAG-3 antibody was used for in vivo mouse efficacy studies. The ability of BI 754111 to stimulate cytokine production by exhausted human T cells in vitro was tested in an autologous assay system with antigen specific memory T cells being re-stimulated by antigen-pulsed dendritic cells in the presence of increasing amounts of BI 754111 or BI 754091 (anti-hPD-1 mAb) or a combination of increasing amounts of BI 754111 and a saturating dose of BI 754091. Under these assay conditions the majority of T cells co-expressed the exhaustion markers PD-1 and LAG-3 on the surface. At the end of the experiment supernatants were harvested and analyzed for IFNγ secretion as a measure of T-cell activation. Monotherapy of BI 754111 moderately increased IFNγ secretion (average of 1.8 fold) compared to BI 754091 monotherapy (6.9-fold average increase). Combining BI 754111 with BI 754091 was synergistic and led to a 13.2-fold increase in IFNγ secretion.
MC-38 tumor-bearing mice (C57BL/6NTac-PDCD1tm(PDCD1)Arte mice expressing parts of the human instead of the murine extracellular domain of PD-1) were used to determine the in vivo activity of the anti-LAG3 and anti-PD-1 combination. A mouse tool antibody against mLAG-3 (IgG1 D265A) and BI 905725 (a mouse IgG1 D265A version of BI 754091, anti-hPD-1 mAb) were tested at a dose of 10 mg/kg in a q3or4d schedule as monotherapy or in combination. No anti-tumor activity was observed under mLAG-3 mAb treatment, whereas treatment with anti-PD-1 resulted in a median TGI of 100% and 4 out of 10 tumors showed a complete response. The combination of anti-PD-1 and anti-LAG-3 resulted in a median TGI of 103% and doubled the number of complete responses (8/10).
BI 754111 binds to cynomolgus monkey LAG-3 with comparable affinity as to hLAG-3 thus allowing pharmacokinetic and toxicological assessment in this species. Repeated high doses of BI 754111 were well tolerated without adverse immune-related side effects.
The above results describe synergistic effects upon combination of PD-1 and LAG-3 treatment thus supporting the ongoing clinical trial in which BI 754111 is being tested in combination with BI 754091 (NCT03156114).
Citation Format: Markus Zettl, Melanie Wurm, Otmar Schaaf, Iñigo Tirapu, Sven Mostböck, Markus Reschke, Stephan-Michael Schmidbauer, Lee Frego, Ivo C. Lorenz, Michael Thibodeau, Diann Blanset, Elisa Oquendo Cifuentes, Jürgen Moll, Norbert Kraut, Eric Borges, Anne Vogt, Jonathon Sedgwick, Irene C. Waizenegger. Characterization of the LAG-3 targeting antibody BI 754111 in monotherapy and in combination with the anti-PD-1 antibody BI 754091 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4547.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Zettl
- 1Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Melanie Wurm
- 1Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Otmar Schaaf
- 1Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Iñigo Tirapu
- 1Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sven Mostböck
- 1Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Lee Frego
- 2Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT
| | - Ivo C. Lorenz
- 2Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT
| | | | - Diann Blanset
- 2Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT
| | | | - Jürgen Moll
- 1Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Norbert Kraut
- 1Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eric Borges
- 3Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Anne Vogt
- 1Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
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16
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Zettl M, Wurm M, Schaaf O, Tirapu I, Mostböck S, Reschke M, Schmidbauer SM, Frego L, Lorenz IC, Thibodeau M, Blanset D, Cifuentes EO, Moll J, Kraut N, Borges E, Vogt A, Sedgwick J, Waizenegger IC. Abstract 4558: In vitro and in vivo characterization of the PD-1 targeting antibody BI 754091. Cancer Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2018-4558] [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
The programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) receptor provides inhibitory checkpoint signals to activated T cells upon binding to its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, which are expressed on antigen-presenting cells and cancer cells leading to suppression of T-cell effector function and tumor immune evasion. Blockade of the PD-1 axis using either anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 approved monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) results in improved T-cell effector function and anti-tumor immune responses. Durable tumor responses occur in 15-30% of cancer patients.
BI 754091, a humanized IgG4 mAb with high affinity against hPD-1 blocks the interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1 or PD-L2. BI 754091 was characterized in a panel of binding, blocking and functional cell-based assays. In addition, efficacy and safety was assessed in mice and in cynomolgus monkeys, respectively. The ability of BI 754091 to stimulate cytokine production in exhausted human T cells in vitro was tested in an autologous assay system with antigen-specific memory CD4+ T cells being re-stimulated by antigen-pulsed dendritic cells in the presence of BI 754091 or isotype control. Under these assay conditions the majority of T cells co-expressed the exhaustion markers PD-1 and LAG-3 on their surface. Furthermore, PD-L1 and PD-L2 were expressed on the dendritic cells. At the end of the experiment supernatants were harvested and analyzed for IFNγ secretion as a measure for T-cell activation. BI 754091 showed a potent dose dependent T-cell activation. The average fold increase of IFNγ was 7.9 as compared to isotype control, with an average EC50 of 0.9 nM.
The in vivo activity of BI 754091 was determined in MC-38 tumor-bearing mice, using a mouse strain where parts of the extracellular domain of murine PD-1 was replaced by the corresponding human PD-1 domain (C57BL/6NTac-PDCD1tm(PDCD1)Arte mice). A dose of 10 mg/kg BI 754091, given either as single treatment or in a twice weekly schedule, induced significant tumor growth inhibition (median TGI of 83% and 90%, respectively) and complete responses (CRs) in some tumors (3 CRs out of 10 and 2 CRs out of 10, respectively).
BI 754091 binds to PD-1 from cynomolgus monkeys with comparable affinities as to human PD-1, thus allowing pharmacokinetic and toxicological assessment in this species. Repeated high doses of BI 754091 were well tolerated without adverse immune-related effects.
BI 754091 is currently undergoing clinical investigations (NCT02952248).
Citation Format: Markus Zettl, Melanie Wurm, Otmar Schaaf, Iñigo Tirapu, Sven Mostböck, Markus Reschke, Stephan-Michael Schmidbauer, Lee Frego, Ivo C. Lorenz, Michael Thibodeau, Diann Blanset, Elisa Oquendo Cifuentes, Jürgen Moll, Norbert Kraut, Eric Borges, Anne Vogt, Jonathon Sedgwick, Irene C. Waizenegger. In vitro and in vivo characterization of the PD-1 targeting antibody BI 754091 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4558.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Zettl
- 1Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Melanie Wurm
- 1Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Otmar Schaaf
- 1Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Iñigo Tirapu
- 1Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sven Mostböck
- 1Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Lee Frego
- 2Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT
| | - Ivo C. Lorenz
- 2Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT
| | | | - Diann Blanset
- 2Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT
| | | | - Jürgen Moll
- 1Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Norbert Kraut
- 1Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eric Borges
- 3Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Anne Vogt
- 1Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
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Gethin JA, Lythe KE, Workman CI, Mayes A, Moll J, Zahn R. Early life stress explains reduced positive memory biases in remitted depression. Eur Psychiatry 2017; 45:59-64. [PMID: 28728096 PMCID: PMC5695977 DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Revised: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is contradictory evidence regarding negative memory biases in major depressive disorder (MDD) and whether these persist into remission, which would suggest their role as vulnerability traits rather than correlates of mood state. Early life stress (ELS), common in patients with psychiatric disorders, has independently been associated with memory biases, and confounds MDD versus control group comparisons. Furthermore, in most studies negative biases could have resulted from executive impairments rather than memory difficulties per se. METHODS To investigate whether memory biases are relevant to MDD vulnerability and how they are influenced by ELS, we developed an associative recognition memory task for temporo-spatial contexts of social actions with low executive demands, which were matched across conditions (self-blame, other-blame, self-praise, other-praise). We included fifty-three medication-free remitted MDD (25 with ELS, 28 without) and 24 healthy control (HC) participants without ELS. RESULTS Only MDD patients with ELS showed a reduced bias (accuracy/speed ratio) towards memory for positive vs. negative materials when compared with MDD without ELS and with HC participants; attenuated positive biases correlated with number of past major depressive episodes, but not current symptoms. There were no biases towards self-blaming or self-praising memories. CONCLUSIONS This demonstrates that reduced positive biases in associative memory were specific to MDD patients with ELS rather than a general feature of MDD, and were associated with lifetime recurrence risk which may reflect a scarring effect. If replicated, our results would call for stratifying MDD patients by history of ELS when assessing and treating emotional memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Gethin
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - K E Lythe
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - C I Workman
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - A Mayes
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - J Moll
- Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience Unit, D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), 22280-080 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - R Zahn
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK; Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Department of Psychological Medicine, Centre for Affective Disorders, King's College London, London SE5 8AZ, UK.
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Zahn R, Weingartner J, Basilio R, Bado P, Mattos P, Oliveira-Souza SJD, Fontenelle LF, Moll J. 30 Blame rebalance fmri feedback proof-of-concept trial in major depressive disorder. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2017. [DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-bnpa.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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19
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Sanderson MP, Hofmann MH, Garin-Chesa P, Schweifer N, Wernitznig A, Fischer S, Jeschko A, Meyer R, Moll J, Pecina T, Arnhof H, Weyer-Czernilofsky U, Zahn SK, Adolf GR, Kraut N. The IGF1R/INSR Inhibitor BI 885578 Selectively Inhibits Growth of IGF2-Overexpressing Colorectal Cancer Tumors and Potentiates the Efficacy of Anti-VEGF Therapy. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 16:2223-2233. [PMID: 28729397 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-0336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2017] [Revised: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Clinical studies of pharmacologic agents targeting the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway in unselected cancer patients have so far demonstrated modest efficacy outcomes, with objective responses being rare. As such, the identification of selection biomarkers for enrichment of potential responders represents a high priority for future trials of these agents. Several reports have described high IGF2 expression in a subset of colorectal cancers, with focal IGF2 amplification being responsible for some of these cases. We defined a novel cut-off value for IGF2 overexpression based on differential expression between colorectal tumors and normal tissue samples. Analysis of two independent colorectal cancer datasets revealed IGF2 to be overexpressed at a frequency of 13% to 22%. An in vitro screen of 34 colorectal cancer cell lines revealed IGF2 expression to significantly correlate with sensitivity to the IGF1R/INSR inhibitor BI 885578. Furthermore, autocrine IGF2 constitutively activated IGF1R and Akt phosphorylation, which was inhibited by BI 885578 treatment. BI 885578 significantly delayed the growth of IGF2-high colorectal cancer xenograft tumors in mice, while combination with a VEGF-A antibody increased efficacy and induced tumor regression. Besides colorectal cancer, IGF2 overexpression was detected in more than 10% of bladder carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer patient samples. Meanwhile, IGF2-high non-colorectal cancer cells lines displayed constitutive IGF1R phosphorylation and were sensitive to BI 885578. Our findings suggest that IGF2 may represent an attractive patient selection biomarker for IGF pathway inhibitors and that combination with VEGF-targeting agents may further improve clinical outcomes. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(10); 2223-33. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Reiner Meyer
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jürgen Moll
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Pecina
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | - Norbert Kraut
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
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Hofmann MH, Engelhardt H, Carotta S, Arnhof H, Scharn D, Kerenyi M, Mayer M, Gmaschitz G, Egger G, Engelhardt C, Sanderson M, Impagnatiello MA, Schnitzer R, Pearson M, McConnell D, Kraut N, Moll J. Abstract 4630: Development of selective and potent CDK8 inhibitors that increase NK cell activity, which translates in tumor surveillance. Cancer Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2017-4630] [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: Cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) is part of the mediator complex that can either positively or negatively influence transcription. CDK8 is known to phosphorylate signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) at the position Ser727. STAT1 activity is regulated by JAK-mediated phosphorylation of tyrosine701 which leads to dimerization, nuclear translocation and IFN-γ induced phosphorylation mediated by CDK8. Introduction of an alanine mutation at the phosphorylation site STAT1-S727 results in enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity accompanied by increased levels of perforin and granzyme B (Putz et al. 2013).
Method: Here we present the discovery and development of potent and selective CDK8 inhibitors guided by crystallography. The inhibitory effect of optimized compounds BI 9811 and BI 1347 on STAT1 phosphorylation and perforin release was investigated in the human NK cell line NK-92MI. Direct effects on cancer cells were furthermore analyzed in a broad panel of cell lines. The compound BI 1347 was profiled in vivo in the orthotopic B16-F10 melanoma mouse model.
Results: Highly potent and selective CDK8 inhibitors were identified with an IC50 of below 10 nM in a biochemical kinase assay, which translated in a potent down regulation of the STAT1- Ser727 signal and in increased perforin and granzyme B secretion. BI 9811 and BI 1347 were highly selective for CDK8, as tested in a broad kinase panel and showed no cytotoxic activity on NK cells and most cancer cell lines, which distinguishes this compound class from published CDK8 inhibitors. A representative molecule out of this compound class demonstrated in vivo biomarker modulation and survival increase in the murine B16-F10 melanoma mouse model.
Conclusion: We developed potent CDK8 inhibitors that show activation of NK cells that translates into biomarker modulation (pSTAT1Ser727) and in vivo efficacy.
Citation Format: Marco H. Hofmann, Harald Engelhardt, Sebastian Carotta, Heribert Arnhof, Dirk Scharn, Marc Kerenyi, Moritz Mayer, Gerhard Gmaschitz, Georg Egger, Christian Engelhardt, Michael Sanderson, Maria A. Impagnatiello, Renate Schnitzer, Mark Pearson, Darryl McConnell, Norbert Kraut, Jürgen Moll. Development of selective and potent CDK8 inhibitors that increase NK cell activity, which translates in tumor surveillance [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 4630. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4630
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Dirk Scharn
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marc Kerenyi
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Moritz Mayer
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Georg Egger
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | - Mark Pearson
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Norbert Kraut
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jürgen Moll
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
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Workman CI, Lythe KE, McKie S, Moll J, Gethin JA, Deakin JFW, Elliott R, Zahn R. A novel resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging signature of resilience to recurrent depression. Psychol Med 2017; 47:597-607. [PMID: 27821193 PMCID: PMC5426313 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291716002567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Revised: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A high proportion of patients with remitted major depressive disorder (MDD) will experience recurring episodes, whilst some develop resilience and remain in recovery. The neural basis of resilience to recurrence is elusive. Abnormal resting-state connectivity of the subgenual cingulate cortex (sgACC) was previously found in cross-sectional studies of MDD, suggesting its potential pathophysiological importance. The current study aimed to investigate whether resting-state connectivity to a left sgACC seed region distinguishes resilient patients from those developing recurring episodes. METHOD A total of 47 medication-free remitted MDD patients and 38 healthy controls underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at baseline. Over 14 months, 30 patients remained resilient whilst 17 experienced a recurring episode. RESULTS Attenuated interhemispheric left-to-right sgACC connectivity distinguished the resilient from the recurring-episode and control groups and was not correlated with residual depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The current study revealed a neural signature of resilience to recurrence in MDD and thereby elucidates the role of compensatory adaptation in sgACC networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. I. Workman
- The University of Manchester & Manchester
Academic Health Sciences Centre, Institute of Brain, Behaviour
and Mental Health, Neuroscience & Psychiatry Unit,
Manchester, UK
- The University of Manchester & Manchester
Academic Health Sciences Centre, School of Psychological
Sciences, Neuroscience and Aphasia Research Unit,
Manchester, UK
| | - K. E. Lythe
- The University of Manchester & Manchester
Academic Health Sciences Centre, School of Psychological
Sciences, Neuroscience and Aphasia Research Unit,
Manchester, UK
| | - S. McKie
- The University of Manchester & Manchester
Academic Health Sciences Centre, Institute of Brain, Behaviour
and Mental Health, Neuroscience & Psychiatry Unit,
Manchester, UK
| | - J. Moll
- Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience
Unit, D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR),
Rio de Janeiro, RJ,
Brazil
| | - J. A. Gethin
- The University of Manchester & Manchester
Academic Health Sciences Centre, School of Psychological
Sciences, Neuroscience and Aphasia Research Unit,
Manchester, UK
| | - J. F. W. Deakin
- The University of Manchester & Manchester
Academic Health Sciences Centre, Institute of Brain, Behaviour
and Mental Health, Neuroscience & Psychiatry Unit,
Manchester, UK
| | - R. Elliott
- The University of Manchester & Manchester
Academic Health Sciences Centre, Institute of Brain, Behaviour
and Mental Health, Neuroscience & Psychiatry Unit,
Manchester, UK
| | - R. Zahn
- The University of Manchester & Manchester
Academic Health Sciences Centre, School of Psychological
Sciences, Neuroscience and Aphasia Research Unit,
Manchester, UK
- Department of Psychological Medicine,
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience,
Centre for Affective Disorders, King's College
London, London, UK
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Vincent M, Pedra E, Mourão-Miranda J, Bramati IE, Henrique AR, Moll J. Enhanced Interictal Responsiveness of the Migraineous Visual Cortex to Incongruent Bar Stimulation: A Functional MRI Visual Activation Study. Cephalalgia 2016; 23:860-8. [PMID: 14616927 DOI: 10.1046/j.1468-2982.2003.00609.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Since visual aura is usually described as expanding zigzag lines, neurones involved with the perception of line orientation may initiate this phenomenon. A visual incongruent line stimulation protocol was developed to obtain functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) interictally in 5 female migraine patients with typical fortification spectra and in 5 normal matched controls. Activation in the visual cortex was present contralateral to the side of stimulation in 4 of 5 patients, notably in the extrastriate visual cortex. In 4 of 5 controls activation was observed in the medial and anterior orbitofrontal cortex. In one of them additional activation at the right nucleus accumbens/ventral striatum and right ventral pallidum was present. In the remaining control subject activation was present in the left primary visual cortex. The enhanced interictal reactivity of the visual cortex in migraineurs supports the hypothesis of abnormal cortical excitability as an important pathophysiological mechanism in migraine aura, though the role of specific regions of the visual cortex remains to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Vincent
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Butty AM, Frischknecht M, Gredler B, Baes C, Neuenschwander S, Moll J, Bieber A, Seefried F. 0327 Genome-wide association study for supernumerary teats in Swiss Brown Swiss Cattle reveals LGR5 as a major gene on chromosome 5. J Anim Sci 2016. [DOI: 10.2527/jam2016-0327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Cappella P, Gasparri F, Pulici M, Moll J. Cell Proliferation Method: Click Chemistry Based on BrdU Coupling for Multiplex Antibody Staining. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 72:7.34.1-7.34.17. [DOI: 10.1002/0471142956.cy0734s72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Cappella
- Department of Biology, Drug Discovery Oncology, Nerviano Medical Sciences Srl Milan Italy
| | - Fabio Gasparri
- Department of Biology, Drug Discovery Oncology, Nerviano Medical Sciences Srl Milan Italy
| | - Maurizio Pulici
- Department of Chemistry, Drug Discovery Oncology, Nerviano Medical Sciences Srl Milan Italy
| | - Jürgen Moll
- Department of Biology, Drug Discovery Oncology, Nerviano Medical Sciences Srl Milan Italy
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Li H, Moll J, Winkler A, Frappart L, Brunet S, Hamann J, Kroll T, Verlhac MH, Heuer H, Herrlich P, Ploubidou A. RHAMM deficiency disrupts folliculogenesis resulting in female hypofertility. Biol Open 2015; 4:562-71. [PMID: 25750434 PMCID: PMC4400598 DOI: 10.1242/bio.201410892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [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: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The postnatal mammalian ovary contains the primary follicles, each comprising an immature oocyte surrounded by a layer of somatic granulosa cells. Oocytes reach meiotic and developmental competence via folliculogenesis. During this process, the granulosa cells proliferate massively around the oocyte, form an extensive extracellular matrix (ECM) and differentiate into cumulus cells. As the ECM component hyaluronic acid (HA) is thought to form the backbone of the oocyte-granulosa cell complex, we deleted the relevant domain of the Receptor for HA Mediated Motility (RHAMM) gene in the mouse. This resulted in folliculogenesis defects and female hypofertility, although HA-induced signalling was not affected. We report that wild-type RHAMM localises at the mitotic spindle of granulosa cells, surrounding the oocyte. Deletion of the RHAMM C-terminus in vivo abolishes its spindle association, resulting in impaired spindle orientation in the dividing granulosa cells, folliculogenesis defects and subsequent female hypofertility. These data reveal the first identified physiological function for RHAMM, during oogenesis, and the importance of this spindle-associated function for female fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaibiao Li
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Jürgen Moll
- Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Institut für Toxicologie und Genetik, Postfach 3640, D-76021 Karlsruhe, Germany Present address: Boehringer-Ingelheim RCV and Co KG, Dr. Boehringer-Gasse 5-11, A-1121 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anne Winkler
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany Present address: Georg-August-University Göttingen, Dept. of Neuropathology, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lucien Frappart
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany INSERM, Oncogenèse et Progression Tumorale, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, 28 rue Laënnec, 69373 Lyon, France
| | - Stéphane Brunet
- Collège de France, 11 place Marcelin Berthelot, 75231 Paris, France
| | - Jana Hamann
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Torsten Kroll
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | | | - Heike Heuer
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine (IUF), 40021 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Peter Herrlich
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Aspasia Ploubidou
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany
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Rudolph D, Impagnatiello MA, Blaukopf C, Sommer C, Gerlich DW, Roth M, Tontsch-Grunt U, Wernitznig A, Savarese F, Hofmann MH, Albrecht C, Geiselmann L, Reschke M, Garin-Chesa P, Zuber J, Moll J, Adolf GR, Kraut N. Efficacy and mechanism of action of volasertib, a potent and selective inhibitor of Polo-like kinases, in preclinical models of acute myeloid leukemia. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2015; 352:579-89. [PMID: 25576074 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.114.221150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), a member of the Polo-like kinase family of serine/threonine kinases, is a key regulator of multiple steps in mitosis. Here we report on the pharmacological profile of volasertib, a potent and selective Plk inhibitor, in multiple preclinical models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) including established cell lines, bone marrow samples from AML patients in short-term culture, and subcutaneous as well as disseminated in vivo models in immune-deficient mice. Our results indicate that volasertib is highly efficacious as a single agent and in combination with established and emerging AML drugs, including the antimetabolite cytarabine, hypomethylating agents (decitabine, azacitidine), and quizartinib, a signal transduction inhibitor targeting FLT3. Collectively, these preclinical data support the use of volasertib as a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of AML patients, and provide a foundation for combination approaches that may further improve and prolong clinical responses.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cell Cycle Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism
- Cells, Cultured
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods
- Female
- HeLa Cells
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/enzymology
- Mice
- Mice, Nude
- Mice, SCID
- Mice, Transgenic
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism
- Pteridines/pharmacology
- Pteridines/therapeutic use
- Treatment Outcome
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays/methods
- Polo-Like Kinase 1
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea Rudolph
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Maria Antonietta Impagnatiello
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Claudia Blaukopf
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Christoph Sommer
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Daniel W Gerlich
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Mareike Roth
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Ulrike Tontsch-Grunt
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Andreas Wernitznig
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Fabio Savarese
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Marco H Hofmann
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Christoph Albrecht
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Lena Geiselmann
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Markus Reschke
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Pilar Garin-Chesa
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Johannes Zuber
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Jürgen Moll
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Günther R Adolf
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
| | - Norbert Kraut
- Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria (D.R., M.A.I., U.T.-G., A.W., F.S., M.H.H., C.A., L.G., M.R., P.G.-C., J.M., G.R.A., N.K.); Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria (C.B., C.S., D.W.G.); and Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria (M.R., J.Z.)
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Hess J, Siegelman J, Lamm R, Moll J. An Innovative Adult-Learning Curriculum Merging Evidence-Based Medicine, Knowledge Translation, and Research Design. Ann Emerg Med 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2013.07.267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Natoni A, Coyne MRE, Jacobsen A, Rainey MD, O’Brien G, Healy S, Montagnoli A, Moll J, O’Dwyer M, Santocanale C. Characterization of a Dual CDC7/CDK9 Inhibitor in Multiple Myeloma Cellular Models. Cancers (Basel) 2013; 5:901-18. [PMID: 24202326 PMCID: PMC3795371 DOI: 10.3390/cancers5030901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [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: 06/05/2013] [Revised: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Two key features of myeloma cells are the deregulation of the cell cycle and the dependency on the expression of the BCL2 family of anti-apoptotic proteins. The cell division cycle 7 (CDC7) is an essential S-phase kinase and emerging CDC7 inhibitors are effective in a variety of preclinical cancer models. These compounds also inhibit CDK9 which is relevant for MCL-1 expression. The activity and mechanism of action of the dual CDC7/CDK9 inhibitor PHA-767491 was assessed in a panel of multiple myeloma cell lines, in primary samples from patients, in the presence of stromal cells and in combination with drugs used in current chemotherapeutic regimens. We report that in all conditions myeloma cells undergo cell death upon PHA-767491 treatment and we report an overall additive effect with melphalan, bortezomib and doxorubicin, thus supporting further assessment of targeting CDC7 and CDK9 in multiple myeloma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Natoni
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; E-Mails: (A.N.); (M.R.E.C.); (A.J.); (M.D.R.); (G.O.); (S.H.)
| | - Mark R. E. Coyne
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; E-Mails: (A.N.); (M.R.E.C.); (A.J.); (M.D.R.); (G.O.); (S.H.)
- Department of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Department of Haematology, Galway University Hospital, Galway, Ireland
| | - Alan Jacobsen
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; E-Mails: (A.N.); (M.R.E.C.); (A.J.); (M.D.R.); (G.O.); (S.H.)
| | - Michael D. Rainey
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; E-Mails: (A.N.); (M.R.E.C.); (A.J.); (M.D.R.); (G.O.); (S.H.)
| | - Gemma O’Brien
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; E-Mails: (A.N.); (M.R.E.C.); (A.J.); (M.D.R.); (G.O.); (S.H.)
| | - Sandra Healy
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; E-Mails: (A.N.); (M.R.E.C.); (A.J.); (M.D.R.); (G.O.); (S.H.)
| | - Alessia Montagnoli
- Nerviano Medical Sciences S.r.l., Via Pasteur 10, Nerviano 20014, Italy; E-Mail:
| | - Jürgen Moll
- Nerviano Medical Sciences S.r.l., Via Pasteur 10, Nerviano 20014, Italy; E-Mail:
| | - Michael O’Dwyer
- Department of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Department of Haematology, Galway University Hospital, Galway, Ireland
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mails: (M.O.); (C.S.); Tel.: +353-91-544-281 (M.O.); Fax: +353-91-542-469 (M.O.); Tel.: +353-91-495-174 (C.S.); Fax: +353-91-495-547 (C.S.)
| | - Corrado Santocanale
- Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Natural Sciences National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; E-Mails: (A.N.); (M.R.E.C.); (A.J.); (M.D.R.); (G.O.); (S.H.)
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mails: (M.O.); (C.S.); Tel.: +353-91-544-281 (M.O.); Fax: +353-91-542-469 (M.O.); Tel.: +353-91-495-174 (C.S.); Fax: +353-91-495-547 (C.S.)
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Fraedrich K, Schrader J, Ittrich H, Keller G, Gontarewicz A, Matzat V, Kromminga A, Pace A, Moll J, Bläker M, Lohse AW, Hörsch D, Brümmendorf TH, Benten D. Targeting aurora kinases with danusertib (PHA-739358) inhibits growth of liver metastases from gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in an orthotopic xenograft model. Clin Cancer Res 2012; 18:4621-32. [PMID: 22753592 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-11-2968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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
PURPOSE Aurora kinases play a crucial role in cell-cycle control. Uncontrolled expression of aurora kinases causes aneuploidy and tumor growth. As conservative treatment options for advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NET) are disappointing, aurora kinases may be an interesting target for novel therapeutic strategies. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Human GEP-NETs were tested for aurora kinase expression. The efficacy of the new aurora kinase inhibitor danusertib was evaluated in two human GEP-NET cell lines (BON1 and QGP) in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS The majority of ten insulinomas and all 33 nonfunctional pancreatic or midgut GEP-NETs expressed aurora A despite a mostly high degree of cell differentiation. Both human GEP-NET cell lines expressed aurora kinase A and B, and high Ser10 phosphorylation of histone H3 revealed increased aurora B activity. Remarkably, danusertib led to cell-cycle arrest and completely inhibited cell proliferation of the GEP-NET cells in vitro. Decreased phosphorylation of histone H3 indicated effective aurora B inhibition. In a subcutaneous murine xenograft model, danusertib significantly reduced tumor growth in vivo compared with controls or mice treated with streptozotocine/5-fluorouracil. As a consequence, decreased levels of tumor marker chromogranin A were found in mouse serum samples. In a newly developed orthotopic model for GEP-NET liver metastases by intrasplenic tumor cell transplantation, dynamic MRI proved significant growth inhibition of BON1- and QGP-derived liver metastases. CONCLUSIONS These results show that danusertib may impose a new therapeutic strategy for aurora kinase expressing metastasized GEP-NETs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Fraedrich
- I. Medizinische Klinik, Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, II. Medizinische Klinik, Onkologisches Zentrum, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf; Labor Lademannbogen, Hamburg, Germany
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Fei F, Lim M, Schmidhuber S, Moll J, Groffen J, Heisterkamp N. Treatment of human pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia with the Aurora kinase inhibitor PHA-739358 (Danusertib). Mol Cancer 2012; 11:42. [PMID: 22721004 PMCID: PMC3489684 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-11-42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 01/18/2012] [Accepted: 06/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemias (Ph-positive ALL) with clinically approved inhibitors of the Bcr/Abl tyrosine kinase frequently results in the emergence of a leukemic clone carrying the T315I mutation in Bcr/Abl, which confers resistance to these drugs. PHA-739358, an Aurora kinase inhibitor, was reported to inhibit the Bcr/Abl T315I mutant in CML cells but no preclinical studies have examined this in detail in human ALL. RESULTS We compared the sensitivity of human Bcr/Abl T315I, Bcr/Abl wild type and non-Bcr/Abl ALL cells to this drug. PHA-739358 inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis independently of Bcr/Abl, the T315I mutation, or presence of the tumor suppressor p53, but the degree of effectiveness varied between different ALL samples. Since short-term treatment with a single dose of drug only transiently inhibited proliferation, we tested combination treatments of PHA-739358 with the farnesyltransferase inhibitor Lonafarnib, with vincristine and with dasatinib. All combinations reduced viability and cell numbers compared to treatment with a single drug. Clonogenic assays showed that 25 nM PHA-739358 significantly reduced the colony growth potential of Ph-positive ALL cells, and combined treatment with a second drug abrogated colony growth in this assay. PHA-739358 further effectively blocked Bcr/Abl tyrosine kinase activity and Aurora kinase B in vivo, and mice transplanted with human Bcr/Abl T315I ALL cells treated with a 3x 7-day cycle of PHA-739358 as mono-treatment had significantly longer survival. CONCLUSIONS PHA-739358 represents an alternative drug for the treatment of both Ph-positive and negative ALL, although combined treatment with a second drug may be needed to eradicate the leukemic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Fei
- Section of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Division of Hematology/Oncology and The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
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Valsasina B, Beria I, Alli C, Alzani R, Avanzi N, Ballinari D, Cappella P, Caruso M, Casolaro A, Ciavolella A, Cucchi U, De Ponti A, Felder E, Fiorentini F, Galvani A, Gianellini LM, Giorgini ML, Isacchi A, Lansen J, Pesenti E, Rizzi S, Rocchetti M, Sola F, Moll J. NMS-P937, an orally available, specific small-molecule polo-like kinase 1 inhibitor with antitumor activity in solid and hematologic malignancies. Mol Cancer Ther 2012; 11:1006-16. [PMID: 22319201 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-11-0765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a serine/threonine protein kinase considered to be the master player of cell-cycle regulation during mitosis. It is indeed involved in centrosome maturation, bipolar spindle formation, chromosome separation, and cytokinesis. PLK1 is overexpressed in a variety of human tumors and its overexpression often correlates with poor prognosis. Although five different PLKs are described in humans, depletion or inhibition of kinase activity of PLK1 is sufficient to induce cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in cancer cell lines and in xenograft tumor models. NMS-P937 is a novel, orally available PLK1-specific inhibitor. The compound shows high potency in proliferation assays having low nanomolar activity on a large number of cell lines, both from solid and hematologic tumors. NMS-P937 potently causes a mitotic cell-cycle arrest followed by apoptosis in cancer cell lines and inhibits xenograft tumor growth with clear PLK1-related mechanism of action at well-tolerated doses in mice after oral administration. In addition, NMS-P937 shows potential for combination in clinical settings with approved cytotoxic drugs, causing tumor regression in HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma xenografts upon combination with irinotecan and prolonged survival of animals in a disseminated model of acute myelogenous leukemia in combination with cytarabine. NMS-P937, with its favorable pharmacologic parameters, good oral bioavailability in rodent and nonrodent species, and proven antitumor activity in different preclinical models using a variety of dosing regimens, potentially provides a high degree of flexibility in dosing schedules and warrants investigation in clinical settings.
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Zahn R, Ralph ML, Moll J, Deakin B, Green S. MF.09 The neural basis of self-blaming bias in major depressive disorder. J Neurol Psychiatry 2011. [DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2011-300504.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Thiele W, Novac N, Mink S, Schreiber C, Plaumann D, Fritzmann J, Cremers N, Rothley M, Schwager C, Regiert T, Huber PE, Stein U, Schlag P, Moll J, Abdollahi A, Sleeman JP. Discovery of a novel tumour metastasis-promoting gene, NVM-1. J Pathol 2011; 225:96-105. [PMID: 21744341 DOI: 10.1002/path.2924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2010] [Revised: 03/25/2011] [Accepted: 04/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We have previously reported that over-expression of a panel of 119 genes correlates with the metastatic potential of pancreatic carcinoma cells. We sought to identify and functionally characterize candidate tumour metastasis promoting genes among this library using a secondary phenotype-assisted screen. Here we report the discovery of the metastasis-promoting function of a hitherto not characterized gene located on chromosome 14 (ORF138), which we have named 'novel metastasis-promoting gene 1' (NVM-1). The NVM-1 transcript is extensively alternatively spliced, is expressed endogenously in a number of different tissues, and is strongly over-expressed at the protein level in a variety of human tumour types. Importantly, NVM-1 expression stimulates the migratory and invasive behaviour of tumour cells and promotes metastasis formation in experimental animals in vivo. Up-regulation of FMNL2 and MT1E and down-regulation of TIMP4 and MHC-I is observed as a consequence of NVM-1 expression. Together these data identify NVM-1 as a gene that is functionally involved in tumour metastasis, and suggest that NVM-1 may constitute a promising therapeutic target for inhibition of tumour metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilko Thiele
- University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Germany; KIT Campus Nord, Institut für Toxikologie und Genetik, Karlsruhe, Germany.
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Balabanov S, Gontarewicz A, Keller G, Raddrizzani L, Braig M, Bosotti R, Moll J, Jost E, Barett C, Rohe I, Bokemeyer C, Holyoake TL, Brümmendorf TH. Abcg2 overexpression represents a novel mechanism for acquired resistance to the multi-kinase inhibitor Danusertib in BCR-ABL-positive cells in vitro. PLoS One 2011; 6:e19164. [PMID: 21541334 PMCID: PMC3082549 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2010] [Accepted: 03/29/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The success of Imatinib (IM) therapy in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is compromised by the development of IM resistance and by a limited IM effect on hematopoietic stem cells. Danusertib (formerly PHA-739358) is a potent pan-aurora and ABL kinase inhibitor with activity against known BCR-ABL mutations, including T315I. Here, the individual contribution of both signaling pathways to the therapeutic effect of Danusertib as well as mechanisms underlying the development of resistance and, as a consequence, strategies to overcome resistance to Danusertib were investigated. Starting at low concentrations, a dose-dependent inhibition of BCR-ABL activity was observed, whereas inhibition of aurora kinase activity required higher concentrations, pointing to a therapeutic window between the two effects. Interestingly, the emergence of resistant clones during Danusertib exposure in vitro occurred considerably less frequently than with comparable concentrations of IM. In addition, Danusertib-resistant clones had no mutations in BCR-ABL or aurora kinase domains and remained IM-sensitive. Overexpression of Abcg2 efflux transporter was identified and functionally validated as the predominant mechanism of acquired Danusertib resistance in vitro. Finally, the combined treatment with IM and Danusertib significantly reduced the emergence of drug resistance in vitro, raising hope that this drug combination may also achieve more durable disease control in vivo.
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MESH Headings
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2
- ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/antagonists & inhibitors
- ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics
- ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/metabolism
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Aurora Kinases
- Benzamides/pharmacology
- Cell Differentiation/drug effects
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Clone Cells
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Drug Synergism
- Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/antagonists & inhibitors
- Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic/drug effects
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells/drug effects
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells/pathology
- Humans
- Imatinib Mesylate
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/enzymology
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/genetics
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/pathology
- Mutation/genetics
- Neoplasm Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism
- Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
- Piperazines/pharmacology
- Polyploidy
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism
- Pyrazoles/pharmacology
- Pyrimidines/pharmacology
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Balabanov
- Klinik für Onkologie, Hämatologie und Knochenmarktransplantation mit Sektion Pneumologie, Universitäres Cancer Center Hamburg, Universitäts-Klinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Most cancers are characterized by some degree of aneuploidy, although its relevance for tumor initiation or progression and the nature of the initial trigger are still not well understood. It was Theodor Boveri who first suggested a link between aneuploidy and cancer at the beginning of the last century, but it is only recently that the molecular mechanisms involved have started to be uncovered. AREAS COVERED The molecular mechanisms that are at the origin of aneuploidy and their cellular consequences. Based on these new findings molecular targets have emerged which could lead to a specific treatment of at least some types of aneuploid tumors. EXPERT OPINION Therapeutic intervention specifically for aneuploid cells is a very promising approach, however, although new promising targets have been spotted they still need to be tested for proof of concept. Targeting the spindle checkpoint could be an interesting approach for cancer therapy, however, as for other mitotic targets, the open question of the therapeutic window and sensitivity of normal hemopoietic cells has to be considered carefully. Future challenges will not only include identifying and validating druggable targets related to the relevant pathways, but also finding predictive biomarkers to define the responding patient population(s).
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Colombo R, Caldarelli M, Mennecozzi M, Giorgini ML, Sola F, Cappella P, Perrera C, Depaolini SR, Rusconi L, Cucchi U, Avanzi N, Bertrand JA, Bossi RT, Pesenti E, Galvani A, Isacchi A, Colotta F, Donati D, Moll J. Targeting the mitotic checkpoint for cancer therapy with NMS-P715, an inhibitor of MPS1 kinase. Cancer Res 2011; 70:10255-64. [PMID: 21159646 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-2101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [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
MPS1 kinase is a key regulator of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), a mitotic mechanism specifically required for proper chromosomal alignment and segregation. It has been found aberrantly overexpressed in a wide range of human tumors and is necessary for tumoral cell proliferation. Here we report the identification and characterization of NMS-P715, a selective and orally bioavailable MPS1 small-molecule inhibitor, which selectively reduces cancer cell proliferation, leaving normal cells almost unaffected. NMS-P715 accelerates mitosis and affects kinetochore components localization causing massive aneuploidy and cell death in a variety of tumoral cell lines and inhibits tumor growth in preclinical cancer models. Inhibiting the SAC could represent a promising new approach to selectively target cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Colombo
- Department of Cell Biology-Oncology, Nerviano Medical Sciences, Viale Pasteur 10, Nerviano 20014, Italy.
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Colombo R, Moll J. Destabilizing aneuploidy by targeting cell cycle and mitotic checkpoint proteins in cancer cells. Curr Drug Targets 2011; 11:1325-35. [PMID: 20840075 DOI: 10.2174/1389450111007011325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2010] [Accepted: 04/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Aneuploidy is one of the major hallmarks of cancer cells and several paths towards aneuploidy have been described. However, the relevance for tumor initiation or progression and how tumors deal with the initial aneuploidy related stress response is still unclear and recent results suggest that aneuploidy can even have tumor suppressive effects under certain conditions. The molecular mechanisms leading to and sustaining growth of aneuploid cells are just at the beginning to be understood and might provide new targets for cancer drug development. We will discuss some of the ideas to specifically kill aneuploid cells by targeting key regulators of mitosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Colombo
- Nerviano Medical Sciences S.r.l., Viale Pasteur 10, I-20014 Nerviano (Mi), Italy
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Montagnoli A, Ballinari D, Ciavolella A, Rainoldi S, Menichincheri M, Pesenti E, Galvani A, Isacchi A, Moll J. 136 Activity of the Cdc7 inhibitor NMS-1116354 as single agent and in combination in breast cancer models. EJC Suppl 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/s1359-6349(10)71841-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Montagnoli A, Rainoldi S, Sola F, Posteri H, Lupi R, Pesenti E, Donati D, Moll J, Pezzetta D, Papeo G. 520 NMS-P118, a Parp-1 selective inhibitor with efficacy in DNA repair deficient tumor models. EJC Suppl 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/s1359-6349(10)72227-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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Cappella P, Giorgini ML, Ernestina Re C, Ubezio P, Ciomei M, Moll J. Miniaturizing bromodeoxyuridine incorporation enables the usage of flow cytometry for cell cycle analysis of adherent tissue culture cells for high throughput screening. Cytometry A 2010; 77:953-61. [DOI: 10.1002/cyto.a.20962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2010] [Revised: 07/16/2010] [Accepted: 07/19/2010] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Abstract
The cell division cycle 7 (Cdc7) is a serine-threonine kinase, originally discovered in budding yeast, required to initiate DNA replication. Human Cdc7 phosphorylates the minichromosome maintenance protein 2 (Mcm2), a component of the DNA replicative helicase needed for genome duplication. Inhibition of Cdc7 in cancer cells impairs progression through S phase, inducing a p53-independent apoptotic cell death, whereas in normal cells, it does not affect cell viability. Small molecule compounds able to interfere with Cdc7 activity have been identified and shown to be effective in controlling tumor growth in animal models. Two Cdc7 inhibitors are currently in phase I clinical development. Inhibition of Cdc7 kinase activity in cancer cells restricts DNA replication and induces apoptotic cell death by an unprecedented molecular mechanism of action.
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Tovar-Moll F, Bramati IE, Moll J, Canavagh A, Tierney M, Grafman J. Specific patterns of white matter tract damage in fronto-temporal dementia and cortico-basal degeneration. Neuroimage 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/s1053-8119(09)71028-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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Carpinelli P, Moll J. Is there a future for Aurora kinase inhibitors for anticancer therapy? Curr Opin Drug Discov Devel 2009; 12:533-542. [PMID: 19562649] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The development of Aurora kinase inhibitors is a competitive research field, with many inhibitors currently being evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies. Progress during the past few years, both preclinically and clinically, has increased the evidence supporting Aurora kinases as promising molecular targets for the treatment of cancer. Aurora kinase inhibitors differ based on their selectivity within the Aurora kinase family and their cross-reactivities with other kinases. Additional factors that will contribute to the success or failure of the Aurora kinase inhibitors include: routes of administration, drug-like properties, workable combinations with approved drugs, adequate clinical development paths, and the identification of the appropriate patient population. The clinical trial results that are emerging for the most advanced inhibitors are promising, and it is probable that clinical proof of concept will be achieved, and that Aurora kinase inhibitors will be part of treatment for cancer in the future.
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Moll J. Is there a world outside mitosis for Aurora A kinase? Cell Cycle 2009; 8:1645-6. [PMID: 19448433 DOI: 10.4161/cc.8.11.8893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Moll
- Nerviano Medical Sciences Srl., Nerviano, Italy.
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Cappella P, Gasparri F, Pulici M, Moll J. Cell proliferation method: click chemistry based on BrdU coupling for multiplex antibody staining. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; Chapter 7:Unit7.34. [PMID: 18770651 DOI: 10.1002/0471142956.cy0734s45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Determination of incorporation of the thymidine analog 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) into DNA is a widely used method to analyze the cell cycle (see UNIT 7.7). However, DNA denaturation is required for BrdU detection with the consequence that most protein epitopes are destroyed and their immunocytochemical detection for multiplex analysis is not possible. A novel assay is presented for identifying cells in active S-phase that does not require the DNA denaturation step but nevertheless detects BrdU. For this purpose, cells were pulsed for a short time by an alkenyl deoxyuridine (5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, EdU), which is incorporated into DNA. The nucleotide exposed ethynyl residue was then derivatized by a copper-catalyzed cycloaddition reaction ("click chemistry" coupling) using a BrdU azide probe. The resulting DNA-bound bromouracil moieties were then detected by commercial anti-BrdU monoclonal antibodies without the need for a denaturation step. This method has been tested using several cell lines and is preferred over traditional BrdU detection since it is more sensitive and allows multicolor and multiplex analysis in FCM and imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Cappella
- Department of Biology, Drug Discovery Oncology, Nerviano Medical Sciences Srl, Milan, Italy
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Montagnoli A, Vanotti E, Rainoldi S, Marchesi V, Ciavolella A, Croci V, Patton V, Albanese C, Santocanale C, Moll J. 368 POSTER Discovery and characterization of a new potent orally available Cdc7 inhibitor with anti-tumor activity. EJC Suppl 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/s1359-6349(08)72302-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Beria I, Valsasina B, Brasca M, Caruso M, Ferguson R, Lansen J, Moll J, Pesenti E, Posteri H, Rocchetti M. 434 POSTER Antitumoral activity of pyrazoloquinazoline derivatives as potent oral Plk-1 specific inhibitors. EJC Suppl 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/s1359-6349(08)72368-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Abstract
With the growing number of putative molecular targets and increased economic pressure on companies developing novel drugs, particularly in the cancer area, the need to work on highly validated targets is essential. The use of biomarkers for proof of mechanism of action is becoming an important tool in validation efforts in the preclinical phase of drug development, helping to reduce the attrition rate of candidate drugs once they have entered the clinic. In this review, we highlight how RNA interference (RNAi) has become the method of choice to perform both target validation and identification in academia and industry. RNAi takes advantage of a naturally occurring mechanism whereby cells regulate the expression of genes at the post-transcriptional level, and it introduces a new era in loss-of-function experiments, allowing for the rapid measurement of the phenotype observed upon target expression abrogation. Design of both small-interfering RNA and short-hairpin RNA constructs and their delivery into cells have emerged as the most important aspects of this technology, and reduction or measurement of potential unwanted off-target effects must also be taken into consideration. A number of successes have already been described, and several oncology targets and biomarkers have been identified and validated with this technique.
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Abstract
The strong link between gene expression of mitotic Aurora kinases and cancer has stimulated a very high interest in developing Aurora kinase inhibitors for cancer therapy. Validation of Aurora kinases as targets, and development of pharmacodynamic biomarkers for inhibitors of Aurora kinases, provides an example of how target validation can help the drug discovery process, and also of how to interpret results depending on the technology used. In this review, we outline the principal tools, concepts, and strategies of target and biomarker validation for Aurora kinases, with emphasis on validation results derived from RNA-interference experiments. These data were essential for the decision to enter the next steps in drug development and for the selection of the appropriate biomarkers for clinical trials.
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