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Venkataraman S, Balakrishnan I, Madhavan K, Chetty SL, Pierce A, Fosmire S, Nuss Z, Coleman P, Green A, Vibhakar R. DIPG-56. Development and application of a novel antibody against CD99 as a therapeutic strategy in Diffuse Midline Glioma. Neuro Oncol 2022. [PMCID: PMC9164746 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac079.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is an unmet need to identify novel targeted therapies for Diffuse Midline glioma (DMG) which is currently a refractory disease. Recently, we identified high expression of a cell surface antigen, CD99 in H3K27M-mutant expressing DMGs compared to other normal brain counterparts. We developed a novel chimeric CD99 antibody and tested the anti-tumor efficacy of this antibody in vitro and in vivo. METHOD: Bio-legend cell-surface screening was performed in H3K27M-mutant and WT DMG cells. Functional role of CD99 was studied using CD99 proficient and depleted tumors. Designed and synthesized CD99 antibody with a new binding sequence on a human IgG scaffold and performed cell toxicity and growth-inhibitory studies using DMG tumor and normal cells. We also performed these studies in combination with radiation. Multiple patient-derived orthotopic DMG xenograft models was used to test the antibody efficacy. Different antibody delivery routes, that are clinically relevant were investigated. RESULTS: CD99 expression is transcriptionally regulated by H3K27M and is enriched on the cell surface of K27M tumors compared to WT DMG tumors. Our new CD99 antibody (10D1 clone) significantly reduced DIPG tumor cell proliferation in vitro. Intravenous infusion of this antibody in DIPG tumor bearing mice showed complete clearance of tumor that prolonged animal survival suggesting the enhanced anti-tumor efficacy of 10D1-CD99 and importantly, its ability in crossing the blood-brain-barrier and reaching the pons target site. Loco-regional administration of 10D1 showed similar anti-tumor effects even at much reduced antibody concentrations while toxicity to CD99-expressing T cells was minimum. Radiation increased CD99 expression and enhanced the cytotoxic effect of 10D1-CD99. CONCLUSION: We have developed a novel CNS penetrant CD99 antibody that is an attractive therapeutic strategy in treating DMG. 10D1 is currently in development as a therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Zachary Nuss
- University of Colorado, Denver , Aurora, CO , USA
| | | | - Adam Green
- University of Colorado, Denver , Aurora, CO , USA
- Childrens Hospital of Colorado, Denver , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- University of Colorado, Denver , Aurora, CO , USA
- Childrens Hospital of Colorado, Denver , Aurora, CO , USA
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Madhavan K, Balakrishnan I, Lakshmanachetty S, Pierce A, Sanford B, Fosmire S, Elajaili H, Walker F, Wang D, Nozik-Grayck E, Mitra S, Dahl N, Vibhakar R, Venkataraman S. DIPG-61. Preclinical efficacy of combined radiotherapy with venetoclax treatment in targeting diffuse midline gliomas. Neuro Oncol 2022. [PMCID: PMC9165325 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac079.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: H3K27M diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) are highly aggressive pediatric tumors of pons, thalamus or spinal cord. The only standard-of-care for DMGs is radiation therapy (RT) since the anatomical location of such tumors does not allow surgical resection. Tumor response to RT is at best transient as tumor becomes refractory due to radioresistance. Tumor relapse after RT is a major hurdle in treating DMGs. The mechanism of development of radioresistance due to RT-induced stress has not been studied in DMGs yet. METHODS: We performed an integrated genomic analysis to determine genes responsible for radioresistance and a targeted drug screen to identify drugs synergizing with radiation in DMG. Effect of venetoclax on radiation-naïve and 6Gy radiated DMG cells was evaluated by studying cell death and apoptosis. The efficacy of combining venetoclax with radiation was evaluated in vivo using orthotopic xenograft models. RESULTS: We identified that BCL2 as a key regulator of tumor growth in DMGs after radiation. Radiation sensitizes DMGs to venetoclax treatment. While venetoclax as a monotherapy was not cytotoxic to DMG cells, post-radiation venetoclax significantly increased cell death and apoptosis. Combining venetoclax with RT significantly enhanced the survival of mice with DMG tumors in vivo. Further, we found that the mechanism of radiation-induced cytotoxic effect of venetoclax is p53-independent in DMGs. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that venetoclax impedes the anti-apoptotic function of radiation-induced BCL2 in DMG leading to apoptosis. Our results are encouraging because, in clinical settings, majority of the DMG patients, irrespective of the tumor p53 status, will benefit from combining RT with venetoclax treatment. Since venetoclax either alone or in combination with chemotherapy drugs are currently in clinical trials for other pediatric cancers, a phase 1b trial is imminent for treating DMGs with venetoclax in combination with radiation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Madhavan
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Ilango Balakrishnan
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Senthilnath Lakshmanachetty
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Angela Pierce
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Bridget Sanford
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Susan Fosmire
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Hanan Elajaili
- Cardiovascular Pulmonary Research Laboratories and Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Faye Walker
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Dong Wang
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Eva Nozik-Grayck
- Cardiovascular Pulmonary Research Laboratories and Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Siddhartha Mitra
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Children’s Hospital Colorado and University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Nathan Dahl
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Children’s Hospital Colorado and University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Children’s Hospital Colorado and University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Children’s Hospital Colorado and University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora, CO , USA
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Balakrishnan I, Leach L, Lakshmanachetty S, Pierce A, Madhavan K, Chatwin H, Fosmire S, Meadows C, Green A, Fry T, Vibhakar R, Kohler EM, Venkataraman S. IMMU-23. Novel gene-edited CAR-T cell therapy against Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. Neuro Oncol 2022. [PMCID: PMC9165007 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac079.316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We identified high expression of CD99 in DIPG tumors and developed a CAR using our newly identified single chain variable fragment (scFv) targeting CD99 incorporating a 4-1BB co-stimulatory domain. This CD99 CAR demonstrated the ability to dramatically shrink the established orthotopic DIPG tumor, however tumor recurrence remains an obstacle to cure, due to a loss of the CAR-T cells as they also express the target antigen, CD99 (fratricide). To overcome this obstacle, we modified these CAR-T by editing out CD99. METHODS: CD99 was knocked-out from the human T cells using CRISPR-cas9 gene-editing and subsequently transduced with our CD99 CAR-encoding virus, and isolated the pure population of CD99KO T-cells. These novel, gene-edited T-cells expressing CD99 CAR (“CD99KO CARs”) and the un-edited ones (“CD99 CAR”) were tested for tumor-lysis function when co-cultured with DIPG cells. DIPG tumor-bearing mice infused with a one-time dose of CD99KO CAR-T cells or CD99 CAR- or CD19 control CAR-T cells and were monitored for changes in the tumor burden. At the endpoint spleen and bone marrow were isolated to test for CAR+ cell persistence. RESULTS: The CD99KO CAR-T cells demonstrated effective tumor-lysis when co-cultured with DIPG cells. CD99KO CAR-T cells targeting CD99 showed complete clearance of DIPG tumor in orthotopic DIPG mouse models, and no tumor recurrence was seen well-beyond the time frame of expected tumor recurrence after treatment with un-edited CD99 CAR-T cells. There was an un-precedented increase in the xenograft survival, > 200 days, in mice treated with CD99KO CARs and at which time point sustained persistence of CAR+ cells were evident in the animal spleen and bone marrow. CONCLUSIONS: We have generated a new and promising CAR-T cell therapy that is effective against DIPG with enhanced persistence in animal models which is critical for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lillie Leach
- University of Colorado, Denver , Aurora, CO , USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Adam Green
- University of Colorado, Denver , Aurora, CO , USA
- Children's Hospital of Colorado, Denver , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Terry Fry
- University of Colorado, Denver , Aurora, CO , USA
- Children's Hospital of Colorado, Denver , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- University of Colorado, Denver , Aurora, CO , USA
- Children's Hospital of Colorado, Denver , Aurora, CO , USA
| | - Eric M Kohler
- University of Colorado, Denver , Aurora, CO , USA
- Children's Hospital of Colorado, Denver , Aurora, CO , USA
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Madhavan K, Balakrishnan I, Lakshmanachetty S, Pierce A, Sanford B, Fosmire S, Elajaili HB, Walker F, Wang D, Nozik ES, Mitra SS, Dahl NA, Vibhakar R, Venkataraman S. Venetoclax cooperates with ionizing radiation to attenuate Diffuse Midline Glioma tumor growth. Clin Cancer Res 2022; 28:2409-2424. [PMID: 35344040 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-4002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Tumor relapse after radiation therapy (RT) is a major hurdle in treating pediatric H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs). RT-induced stress increases association of BCL2 family of proteins with BH3 pro-apoptotic activators preventing apoptosis. We hypothesized that inhibition of RT-induced BCL2 with a clinically relevant inhibitor, venetoclax, will block BCL2 activity leading to increased apoptosis. BCL2 has never been implicated in DMG as a RT-induced resistant mechanism. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We performed an integrated genomic analysis to determine genes responsible for radioresistance and a targeted drug screen to identify drugs that synergize with radiation in DMG. Effect of venetoclax on radiation-na�ve and 6Gy radiation on cells was evaluated by studying cell death, changes in BCL2 phosphorylation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptosis, as well as BCL2 association with BH3 apoptosis initiators. The efficacy of combining venetoclax with radiation was evaluated in vivo using orthotopic xenograft models. RESULTS BCL2 was identified as a key regulator of tumor growth after radiation in DMGs. Radiation sensitizes DMGs to venetoclax treatment independent of p53 status. Venetoclax as a monotherapy was not cytotoxic to DMG cells. Post-radiation venetoclax treatment significantly increased cell death, reduced BCL2-BIM association and augmented mitochondrial ROS leading to increased apoptosis. Combining venetoclax with RT significantly enhanced the survival of mice with DMG tumors. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that venetoclax impedes the anti-apoptotic function of radiation-induced BCL2 in DMG leading to increased apoptosis. Results from these pre-clinical studies demonstrate the potential use of the BCL2 inhibitor, venetoclax, combined with RT for pediatric DMG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Madhavan
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | | | | | - Angela Pierce
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
| | - Bridget Sanford
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, United States
| | - Susan Fosmire
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Hanan B Elajaili
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Faye Walker
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Dong Wang
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Eva S Nozik
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Siddhartha S Mitra
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Nathan A Dahl
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
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Wang D, Veo B, Pierce A, Fosmire S, Madhavan K, Balakrishnan I, Donson A, Alimova I, Sullivan KD, Joshi M, Erlander M, Ridinger M, Foreman NK, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R. A novel PLK1 inhibitor onvansertib effectively sensitizes MYC-driven medulloblastoma to radiotherapy. Neuro Oncol 2022; 24:414-426. [PMID: 34477871 PMCID: PMC8917408 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noab207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Group 3 medulloblastoma (MB) is often accompanied by MYC amplification. PLK1 is an oncogenic kinase that controls cell cycle and proliferation and has been preclinically validated as a cancer therapeutic target. Onvansertib (PCM-075) is a novel, orally available PLK1 inhibitor, which shows tumor growth inhibition in various types of cancer. We aim to explore the effect of onvansertib on MYC-driven medulloblastoma as a monotherapy or in combination with radiation. METHODS Crisper-Cas9 screen was used to discover essential genes for MB tumor growth. Microarray and immunohistochemistry on pediatric patient samples were performed to examine the expression of PLK1. The effect of onvansertib in vitro was measure by cell viability, colony-forming assays, extreme limiting dilution assay, and RNA-Seq. ALDH activity, cell-cycle distribution, and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. DNA damage was assessed by immunofluorescence staining. Medulloblastoma xenografts were generated to explore the monotherapy or radio-sensitizing effect. RESULTS PLK1 is overexpressed in Group 3 MB. The IC50 concentrations of onvansertib in Group 3 MB cell lines were in a low nanomolar range. Onvansertib reduced colony formation, cell proliferation, stem cell renewal and induced G2/M arrest in vitro. Moreover, onvansertib in combination with radiation increased DNA damage and apoptosis compared with radiation treatment alone. The combination radiotherapy resulted in marked tumor regression in xenografts. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate the efficacy of a novel PLK1 inhibitor onvansertib in vitro and in xenografts of Group 3 MB, which suggests onvansertib is an effective strategy as monotherapy or in combination with radiotherapy in MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Bethany Veo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Angela Pierce
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Susan Fosmire
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Krishna Madhavan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Ilango Balakrishnan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Andrew Donson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Irina Alimova
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Kelly D Sullivan
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Developmental Biology, Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Molishree Joshi
- Functional Genomics Facility, University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | | | | | - Nicholas K Foreman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Corresponding Author: Rajeev Vibhakar, MD, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA ()
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Balakrishnan I, Chetty SL, Madhavan K, Fosmire S, Pierce A, walker F, Dahl N, Mitra S, Vibhakar R, Venkataraman S. HGG-29. VENETOCLAX SYNERGIZES WITH RADIATION THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF DIPG. Neuro Oncol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noab090.093] [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: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background and Rationale
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is one of the most aggressive pediatric brain tumors. Currently, the main treatment for DIPG is radiation and it’s only a palliative care, as the tumor eventually becomes resistant to radiation. In this study we found that radiation leads to an increase in anti-apoptotic BH3 proteins mainly BCL2 in DIPG. Previous studies in other tumor types have shown that increase in these pro-survival BCL2 family members are associated with treatment resistance and poor prognosis. Therefore, we hypothesize that inhibition of BCL2 using a small-molecule inhibitor, venetoclax that crosses the blood-brain barrier, will represent a possible therapeutic strategy to overcome radiation resistance in DIPG. Approach: For in vitro studies, DIPG cells were exposed to different radiation doses (0–10 Gy) and the magnitude of the sensitizing effect of venetoclax (with IC15) was calculated by clonogenic assay. Evaluated BCL2 family proteins by western and cytotoxicity by cleaved caspase incucyte assays. For in vivo studies, NSG mice orthotopically engrafted with a human H3K27M-DIPG luciferase-expressing cells in the pons were exposed to a focal fractionated radiation of 2Gy/day for 3 days. Mice were randomized into 2 groups based on bioluminescence IVIS signal intensity; each group receiving either venetoclax (15 mg/kg, by i.p) 3 days/week for 10 weeks or vehicle. Decrease in tumor burden was measured by IVIS and survival was evaluated compared to vehicle treated mice.
Results
Single agent venetoclax showed no significant activity against DIPG tumors in in vitro and in vivo DIPG xenografts. Single-agent radiation cleared the tumor burden but only transiently. Combination of radiation with venetoclax showed considerable synergistic anti-tumor effect in vitro and in vivo leading to a significant increase in animal survival beyond either single agent treatments. The metabolic reprogramming that results in this enhanced cell-killing effect will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Faye walker
- University of Colorado, Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nathan Dahl
- University of Colorado, Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
- Children’s Hospital, Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- University of Colorado, Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
- Children’s Hospital, Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
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Veo B, Danis E, Pierce A, Wang D, Fosmire S, Sullivan KD, Joshi M, Khanal S, Dahl N, Karam S, Serkova N, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R. Transcriptional control of DNA repair networks by CDK7 regulates sensitivity to radiation in MYC-driven medulloblastoma. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109013. [PMID: 33910002 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [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: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
MYC-driven medulloblastoma is a major therapeutic challenge due to frequent metastasis and a poor 5-year survival rate. MYC gene amplification results in transcriptional dysregulation, proliferation, and survival of malignant cells. To identify therapeutic targets in MYC-amplified medulloblastoma, we employ a CRISPR-Cas9 essentiality screen targeting 1,140 genes. We identify CDK7 as a mediator of medulloblastoma tumorigenesis. Using chemical inhibitors and genetic depletion, we observe cessation of tumor growth in xenograft mouse models and increases in apoptosis. The results are attributed to repression of a core set of MYC-driven transcriptional programs mediating DNA repair. CDK7 inhibition alters RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) and MYC association at DNA repair genes. Blocking CDK7 activity sensitizes cells to ionizing radiation leading to accrual of DNA damage, extending survival and tumor latency in xenograft mouse models. Our studies establish the selective inhibition of MYC-driven medulloblastoma by CDK7 inhibition combined with radiation as a viable therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany Veo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Etienne Danis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Angela Pierce
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's, Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Susan Fosmire
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | | | | | - Nathan Dahl
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's, Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sana Karam
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Natalie Serkova
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's, Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's, Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA.
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Wang D, Pierce A, Veo B, Fosmire S, Danis E, Donson A, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R. A Regulatory Loop of FBXW7-MYC-PLK1 Controls Tumorigenesis of MYC-Driven Medulloblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13030387. [PMID: 33494392 PMCID: PMC7865656 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13030387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Group 3 medulloblastoma (MB) is often accompanied by MYC amplification and has a poor prognosis. FBXW7, a critical tumor suppressor in many types of cancer, regulates the proteasome-mediated degradation of oncoproteins including MYC. However, the role of FBXW7 in the tumorigenesis of group 3 MB has not been well studied. In this study, we show that FBXW7 is downregulated in group 3 MB patient samples, and FBXW7 stabilization is crucial for inhibiting c-MYC. We identified a FBXW7-MYC-PLK1 regulatory loop in MYC-driven MB, which provides a mechanism of using protein kinase inhibitors for translation in the future. Abstract Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is highly expressed in group 3 medulloblastoma (MB), and it has been preclinically validated as a cancer therapeutic target in medulloblastoma. Here, we demonstrate that PLK1 inhibition with PCM-075 or BI6727 significantly reduces the growth of MB cells and causes a decrease of c-MYC mRNA and protein levels. We show that MYC activates PLK1 transcription, while the inhibition of PLK1 suppresses MB tumor development and causes a decrease in c-MYC protein level by suppressing FBXW7 auto poly-ubiquitination. FBXW7 physically interacts with PLK1 and c-MYC, facilitating their protein degradation by promoting ubiquitination. These results demonstrate a PLK1-FBXW7-MYC regulatory loop in MYC-driven medulloblastoma. Moreover, FBXW7 is significantly downregulated in group 3 patient samples. The overexpression of FBXW7 induced apoptosis and suppressed proliferation in vitro and in vivo, while constitutive phosphorylation mutation attenuated its tumor suppressor function. Altogether, these findings demonstrated that PLK1 inhibition stabilizes FBXW7 in MYC-driven MB, thus revealing an important function of FBXW7 in suppressing medulloblastoma progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (D.W.); (A.P.); (B.V.); (S.F.); (E.D.); (A.D.); (S.V.)
| | - Angela Pierce
- Department of Pediatrics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (D.W.); (A.P.); (B.V.); (S.F.); (E.D.); (A.D.); (S.V.)
| | - Bethany Veo
- Department of Pediatrics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (D.W.); (A.P.); (B.V.); (S.F.); (E.D.); (A.D.); (S.V.)
| | - Susan Fosmire
- Department of Pediatrics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (D.W.); (A.P.); (B.V.); (S.F.); (E.D.); (A.D.); (S.V.)
| | - Etienne Danis
- Department of Pediatrics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (D.W.); (A.P.); (B.V.); (S.F.); (E.D.); (A.D.); (S.V.)
| | - Andrew Donson
- Department of Pediatrics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (D.W.); (A.P.); (B.V.); (S.F.); (E.D.); (A.D.); (S.V.)
| | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- Department of Pediatrics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (D.W.); (A.P.); (B.V.); (S.F.); (E.D.); (A.D.); (S.V.)
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Department of Pediatrics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; (D.W.); (A.P.); (B.V.); (S.F.); (E.D.); (A.D.); (S.V.)
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Correspondence:
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Morin A, Veo B, Fosmire S, Crespo M, Zahedi S, Vibhakar R, Levy JMM. ATRT-20. CDK7 INHIBITION IN AT/RT. Neuro Oncol 2020. [PMCID: PMC7715874 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa222.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT) are characterized by loss-of-function mutations in the SMARCB1 component (and less commonly SMARCA4) of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex. AT/RT demonstrate an overall silent genomic landscape with epigenetic dysregulation of the genome. CDK7 is a key transcriptional regulator that preferentially phosphorylates the Ser5 and Ser7 positions on RNA Polymerase C terminal domain and is involved early in transcription. In tumor cells, CDK7 is enriched at super enhancers which preferentially regulate genes involved in cell transformation, and expressed at significantly higher levels in transformed tissues than the surrounding normal brain. Our preliminary data shows that CDK7 is expressed in a number of AT/RT tumor cell lines and patient-derived tumor cultures, and that loss of CDK7 function though exposure to the novel CDK7 inhibitor THZ2 results in lack of proliferation at lower doses, and caspase-mediated apoptosis at higher concentrations. shRNA-based inhibition confirms that this effect is due specifically to loss of CDK7. RNA sequencing of cells treated with lower doses of THZ2 show significant alterations in transcript expression consistent with altered balance between antagonistic SWI/SNF and PRC2 chromatin-modeling complex activities, as well as alterations in DNA damage response pathways, cell cycle checkpoints, miRNA transcription, and numerous proliferative factors. THZ2 penetrates the blood brain barrier (BBB), is well tolerated, and results in prolonged survival in murine xenograft models of AT/RT. CDK7 inhibition also synergizes with a number of currently-approved oncology drugs, as well as with ionizing radiation, in order to inhibit AT/RT growth and viability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
- Childrens Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jean M Mulcahy Levy
- University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
- Childrens Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
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Veo B, Danis E, Fosmire S, Wang D, Pierce A, Dahl N, Karam S, Serkova N, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R. MBRS-26. CDK7 MEDIATED TRANSCRIPTIONAL PROCESSIVITY OF DNA REPAIR NETWORKS REGULATES SENSITIVITY TO RADIATION IN MYC DRIVEN MEDULLOBLASTOMA. Neuro Oncol 2020. [PMCID: PMC7715894 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa222.541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Myc-driven Medulloblastoma remains a major therapeutic challenge due to frequent metastasis and a poor 5-year survival rate. Myc overexpression results in transcriptional dysregulation, proliferation, and survival of malignant cells. To identify therapeutic targets in Myc-amplified medulloblastoma we performed a CRISPR-Cas9 essentiality screen targeting 1140 genes annotated as the druggable genome. The cyclin-dependent kinase, CDK7, was identified as a top candidate. CDK7 phosphorylates the c-terminal domain of RNA Pol II facilitating transcriptional initiation and elongation. We subjected Myc-amplified cells treated with CDK7 inhibitors to whole transcriptomic analysis. The resultant data revealed gene networks mediating DNA repair were functionally repressed. Consistent with this data, ChIP-sequencing showed the most significant reduction in RNA Pol II and Myc promoter occupancy within a subset of DNA repair genes including BRCA2 and RAD51 but not across the whole genome. These data suggest that inhibition of CDK7 mechanistically limits Myc driven transcriptional processivity of DNA repair networks. Further, evaluation of genes mediating DNA repair show a muted response to DNA damage and increased cell death with CDK7 inhibition. We next evaluated Myc-amplified MB cell response to ionizing radiation in vitro and in vivo with CDK7 inhibition. Inhibition of CDK7 enhanced radiation sensitivity of Myc MB cells by potentiating DNA damage. Further, cotreatment produced decreased MRI T2 tumor volumes and enhanced survival benefit in orthotopic PDX xenografted mice compared to radiation alone. Our studies establish a mechanism for selective inhibition of Myc-driven MB by CDK7 inhibition combined with radiation as a viable therapeutic strategy for Myc-amplified medulloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany Veo
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Etienne Danis
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Susan Fosmire
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Angela Pierce
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nathan Dahl
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sana Karam
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Natalie Serkova
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
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11
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Dahl N, Danis E, Balakrishnan I, Wang D, Pierce A, Walker F, Gilani A, Serkova N, Madhaven K, Fosmire S, Green A, Foreman N, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R. DIPG-34. SUPER ELONGATION COMPLEX AS A TARGETABLE DEPENDENCY IN H3K27M+ DIFFUSE MIDLINE GLIOMA. Neuro Oncol 2020. [PMCID: PMC7715266 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa222.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Mutations in the histone 3 gene (H3K27M) are the eponymous driver in diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) and other diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs), aggressive pediatric brain tumors for which no curative therapy currently exists. To identify specific epigenetic dependencies within the context of the H3K27M mutation, we performed an shRNA screen targeting 408 genes classified as epigenetic/chromatin-associated molecules in patient-derived DMG cultures. This identified AFF4, a component of the super elongation complex (SEC), as necessary for DMG cells to maintain growth and self-renewal. We hypothesized that aberrant SEC expression occurs as a consequence of the H3K27M mutation and that this dysregulated SEC signaling overcomes repressive transcriptional regulation in order to suppresses differentiation and promote self-renewal of DMG tumor stem cells. We interrogated the role of AFF4 in DMG using an shRNA lentiviral approach. We demonstrate a significant decrease in in vitro clonogenicity and stem cell maintenance following AFF4 depletion. We employed RNA-seq-based gene set enrichment analysis to delineate differentiation programs under SEC regulatory control. Finally, we sought to determine whether CDK9, the catalytic subunit of the SEC, represents a therapeutic vulnerability in DMG. Using RNA polymerase II ChIP-seq, we demonstrate that CDK9 pharmacologic inhibition restores regulatory Pol II pausing, promotes cellular differentiation, and leads to potent anti-tumor effect both in vitro and in patient-derived xenograft models. These studies present a biologic rationale for the translational exploration of CDK9 inhibition as a promising therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dong Wang
- University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
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12
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Balakrishnan I, Danis E, Pierce A, Madhavan K, Wang D, Dahl N, Bridget S, Birks DK, Davidson N, Metselaar DS, Neel H, Donson A, Griesinger A, Katagi H, Vijmasi T, Sola I, Alimova I, Fosmire S, Hulleman E, Serkova NJ, Hashizume R, Hawkins C, Carcaboso AM, Gupta N, Jones K, Foreman N, Green A, Vibhakar R, Venkataraman S. DIPG-73. SENESCENCE ASSOCIATED SECRETORY PHENOTYPE AS A MECHANISM OF RESISTANCE AND THERAPEUTIC VULNERABILITY IN BMI1 INHIBITOR TREATED DIPG. Neuro Oncol 2020. [PMCID: PMC7715943 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa222.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) driven by mutations in the histone 3 (H3) gene (H3K27M) are aggressive pediatric brain tumors for which there is no curative therapy. METHODS To identify novel therapeutic targets we performed a high throughput drug screen combined with an epigenetically targeted RNAi screen using H3K27M and H3.3 WT DIPG cells. RESULTS Chemical and genetic depletion of BMI1 in vitro resulted in inhibition of clonogenicity and cell self-renewal consistent with previous studies. We show for the first time that clinically relevant BMI1 inhibitors attenuates growth of orthotopic DIPG xenografts as measured by MRI and prolong survival in vivo. We found that BMI1 inhibition drives phenotypic cellular senescence and that the senescent cells were able reactivate to form new neurospheres in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. RNA-seq, ChIP-Seq and immuno-proteomic analysis revealed that the senescent cells induced the expression of the Senescence Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP) cytokines by increasing occupancy of activated histone marks at SASP factor promoters. The SASP results in increased expression of anti-apoptotic BH3 proteins including BCLxl, and BCL2. Treatment of the PTC028 treated senescent DIPG cells with BH3 mimetics induces apoptosis and clears the senescent cells. Combining BH3 mimetics with BMI1 inhibition attenuates tumor growth in vivo synergistically and significantly prolongs survival of DIPG bearing mice compared to BMI1 inhibition alone. CONCLUSION These data inform the current trial of BMI1 inhibition as a monotherapy and predict the need for adding BH3 mimetics to achieve efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilango Balakrishnan
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Etienne Danis
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Angela Pierce
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Krishna Madhavan
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nathan Dahl
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sanford Bridget
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Diane K Birks
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nate Davidson
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dennis S Metselaar
- Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands and Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hans Neel
- Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands and Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Andrew Donson
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Andrea Griesinger
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Hiroaki Katagi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Trinka Vijmasi
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ismail Sola
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Irina Alimova
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Susan Fosmire
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Esther Hulleman
- Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands and Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Natalie J Serkova
- Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Anesthesiology, Colorado Animal Imaging Shared Resource (AISR), Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rintaro Hashizume
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Cynthia Hawkins
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Nalin Gupta
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ken Jones
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nicholas Foreman
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Adam Green
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
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13
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Wang D, Pierce A, Veo B, Fosmire S, Madhavan K, Balakrishnan I, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R. MBRS-65. FBXW7 ACTS A TUMOR SUPPRESSOR IN MYC-DRIVEN MEDULLOBLASTOMA BY CONTROLLING A FEED-FORWARD REGULATORY LOOP OF PLK1 AND MYC. Neuro Oncol 2020. [PMCID: PMC7715689 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa222.569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Group 3 medulloblastoma (MB) is often accompanied by MYC amplification and has a higher rate of metastatic disease. So, it is critical to have more effective therapies for high MYC expressing sub-groups. Here we report that FBXW7, a substrate recognition component of the SKP1-CUL1-Fbox (SCF) E3 ligase, interacts with and targets c-MYC for polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. FBXW7 shows lower expression level in MYC-driven MB compared with other MB subgroups suggesting activity as a tumor suppressor. Genomic deletion or mutation of Fbxw7 has frequently been identified in many human cancers but not in MB. We demonstrate that overexpression of Fbxw7 in MB cells induces apoptosis and suppresses proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Both phospho-deficient (T205A) and phosphomimetic aspartic acid (T205D) mutants deactivate its tumor suppressor function suggesting a conformational change of its protein structure. Mechanistically, PLK1 kinase specifically phosphorylates FBXW7 and promotes its auto-polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, counteracting FBXW7-mediated degradation of oncogene substrates, including c-MYC and PLK1. Chip-Seq results show stabilized c-MYC in turn directly activates PLK1 and FBXW7 transcription, constituting a feedforward regulatory loop. Co-immunoprecipitation demonstrates that FBXW7 directly binds to PLK1 and c-MYC, facilitating their protein degradation by promoting the ubiquitination of both proteins. Furthermore, we show that FBXW7 protein can be stabilized by various kinase inhibitors, proposing a mechanism of kinase-targeted agents to treat MYC-driven MB. These results collectively demonstrate how kinase inhibition stabilizes the tumor suppressor FBXW7 in MYC-driven MB, thus revealing an important function of FBXW7 in suppressing MB progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Wang
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Angela Pierce
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Bethany Veo
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Susan Fosmire
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | | | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA
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14
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Balakrishnan I, Danis E, Pierce A, Madhavan K, Wang D, Dahl N, Sanford B, Birks DK, Davidson N, Metselaar DS, Meel MH, Lemma R, Donson A, Vijmasi T, Katagi H, Sola I, Fosmire S, Alimova I, Steiner J, Gilani A, Hulleman E, Serkova NJ, Hashizume R, Hawkins C, Carcaboso AM, Gupta N, Monje M, Jabado N, Jones K, Foreman N, Green A, Vibhakar R, Venkataraman S. Senescence Induced by BMI1 Inhibition Is a Therapeutic Vulnerability in H3K27M-Mutant DIPG. Cell Rep 2020; 33:108286. [PMID: 33086074 PMCID: PMC7574900 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is an incurable brain tumor of childhood characterized by histone mutations at lysine 27, which results in epigenomic dysregulation. There has been a failure to develop effective treatment for this tumor. Using a combined RNAi and chemical screen targeting epigenomic regulators, we identify the polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) component BMI1 as a critical factor for DIPG tumor maintenance in vivo. BMI1 chromatin occupancy is enriched at genes associated with differentiation and tumor suppressors in DIPG cells. Inhibition of BMI1 decreases cell self-renewal and attenuates tumor growth due to induction of senescence. Prolonged BMI1 inhibition induces a senescence-associated secretory phenotype, which promotes tumor recurrence. Clearance of senescent cells using BH3 protein mimetics co-operates with BMI1 inhibition to enhance tumor cell killing in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilango Balakrishnan
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Etienne Danis
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Angela Pierce
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Krishna Madhavan
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nathan Dahl
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Bridget Sanford
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Diane K Birks
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nate Davidson
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dennis S Metselaar
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht and Departments of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michaël Hananja Meel
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht and Departments of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rakeb Lemma
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Andrew Donson
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Trinka Vijmasi
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Hiroaki Katagi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ismail Sola
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Susan Fosmire
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Irina Alimova
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jenna Steiner
- Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, and Anesthesiology, Colorado Animal Imaging Shared Resource (AISR), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ahmed Gilani
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Esther Hulleman
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht and Departments of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Natalie J Serkova
- Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, and Anesthesiology, Colorado Animal Imaging Shared Resource (AISR), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rintaro Hashizume
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Cynthia Hawkins
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Angel M Carcaboso
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona 08950, Spain
| | - Nalin Gupta
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michelle Monje
- Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Pediatrics, and Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nada Jabado
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1B1, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, and The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Kenneth Jones
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nicholas Foreman
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Adam Green
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
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15
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Dahl NA, Danis E, Balakrishnan I, Wang D, Pierce A, Walker FM, Gilani A, Serkova NJ, Madhavan K, Fosmire S, Green AL, Foreman NK, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R. Super Elongation Complex as a Targetable Dependency in Diffuse Midline Glioma. Cell Rep 2020; 31:107485. [PMID: 32268092 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.03.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone 3 gene mutations are the eponymous drivers in diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs), aggressive pediatric brain cancers for which no curative therapy currently exists. These recurrent oncohistones induce a global loss of repressive H3K27me3 residues and broad epigenetic dysregulation. In order to identify therapeutically targetable dependencies within this disease context, we performed an RNAi screen targeting epigenetic/chromatin-associated genes in patient-derived DMG cultures. This identified AFF4, the scaffold protein of the super elongation complex (SEC), as a molecular dependency in DMG. Interrogation of SEC function demonstrates a key role for maintaining clonogenic potential while promoting self-renewal of tumor stem cells. Small-molecule inhibition of SEC using clinically relevant CDK9 inhibitors restores regulatory RNA polymerase II pausing, promotes cellular differentiation, and leads to potent anti-tumor effect both in vitro and in patient-derived xenograft models. These studies present a rationale for further exploration of SEC inhibition as a promising therapeutic approach to this intractable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A Dahl
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Etienne Danis
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ilango Balakrishnan
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Angela Pierce
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Faye M Walker
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ahmed Gilani
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Natalie J Serkova
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Krishna Madhavan
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Susan Fosmire
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Adam L Green
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nicholas K Foreman
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA; Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
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16
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Sola I, Fosmire S, Venkataraman S, Balakrishnan I, Birks D, Pierce A, Foreman NK, Vibhakar R. MEDU-19. EZH2-REGULATED INHIBITION OF HIPK2 SUPPRESSES TREATMENT-INDUCED APOPTOSIS IN GROUP 3 MEDULLOBLASTOMA. Neuro Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noz036.178] [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: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Sola
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Susan Fosmire
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | | | - Diane Birks
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Angela Pierce
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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17
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Dahl N, Balakrishnan I, Wang D, Danis E, Madhavan K, Fosmire S, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R. DIPG-07. EPIGENOME SCREENING IDENTIFIES TRANSCRIPTIONAL ELONGATION AS THERAPEUTIC VULNERABILITY IN H3K27M-MUTANT DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA. Neuro Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noz036.028] [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: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Dahl
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Dong Wang
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Etienne Danis
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Susan Fosmire
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
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18
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Veo B, Fosmire S, Wang D, Madhavan K, Pierce A, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R. MEDU-13. FUNCTIONAL CRISPR-CAS9 SCREEN IDENTIFIES DRUGGABLE DEPENDENCIES IN MYC-DRIVEN MEDULLOBLASTOMA. Neuro Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noz036.172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bethany Veo
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Susan Fosmire
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Angela Pierce
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, CO, Aurora, USA
| | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, CO, Aurora, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, CO, Aurora, USA
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19
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Dahl N, Venkataraman S, Balakrishnan I, Madhavan K, Fosmire S, Wang D, Vibhakar R. PDTM-41. SUPER ELONGATION COMPLEX-MEDIATED TRANSCRIPTIONAL DEPENDENCY IN H3K27M-MUTANT DIFFUSE MIDLINE GLIOMAS. Neuro Oncol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noy148.880] [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: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Dahl
- Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | | | | | - Susan Fosmire
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
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20
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Balakrishnan I, Madhavan K, Pierce A, Dahl N, Lemma R, Fosmire S, Wang D, Prince E, Alimova I, Hashizume R, Huellman E, Hawkins C, Carcaboso AM, Gupta N, Monje M, Jones K, Green A, Foreman N, Vibhakar R, Venkataraman S. DIPG-55. TARGETING SENESCENT CELLS WITH ABT-263 ENHANCES CELL DEATH INDUCED BY BMI1 INHIBITION AND IONIZING RADIATION IN DIPG. Neuro Oncol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noy059.148] [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: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Krishna Madhavan
- University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation, Denver, CO, USA
| | | | - Nathan Dahl
- Childrens Hospital of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation, Denver, CO, USA
| | | | | | - Dong Wang
- University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA
| | | | | | - Rintaro Hashizume
- Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Adam Green
- Childrens Hospital of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Nicholas Foreman
- Childrens Hospital of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Childrens Hospital of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation, Denver, CO, USA
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21
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Fosmire S, Joshi M, Smith T, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R. MBRS-23. EFFECT OF KNOCKDOWN OF KDM6A BY CRISPR/CAS9 EDITING IN MEDULLOBLASTOMA. Neuro Oncol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noy059.468] [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: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Susan Fosmire
- University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Molishree Joshi
- University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Tim Smith
- University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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22
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Gari HH, Gearheart CM, Fosmire S, DeGala GD, Fan Z, Torkko KC, Edgerton SM, Lucia MS, Ray R, Thor AD, Porter CC, Lambert JR. Genome-wide functional genetic screen with the anticancer agent AMPI-109 identifies PRL-3 as an oncogenic driver in triple-negative breast cancers. Oncotarget 2017; 7:15757-71. [PMID: 26909599 PMCID: PMC4941275 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) are among the most aggressive and heterogeneous cancers with a high propensity to invade, metastasize and relapse. Here, we demonstrate that the anticancer compound, AMPI-109, is selectively efficacious in inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis of multiple TNBC subtype cell lines as assessed by activation of pro-apoptotic caspases-3 and 7, PARP cleavage and nucleosomal DNA fragmentation. AMPI-109 had little to no effect on growth in the majority of non-TNBC cell lines examined. We therefore utilized AMPI-109 in a genome-wide shRNA screen in the TNBC cell line, BT-20, to investigate the utility of AMPI-109 as a tool in helping to identify molecular alterations unique to TNBC. Our screen identified the oncogenic phosphatase, PRL-3, as a potentially important driver of TNBC growth, migration and invasion. Through stable lentiviral knock downs and transfection with catalytically impaired PRL-3 in TNBC cells, loss of PRL-3 expression, or functionality, led to substantial growth inhibition. Moreover, AMPI-109 treatment, downregulation of PRL-3 expression or impairment of PRL-3 activity reduced TNBC cell migration and invasion. Histological evaluation of human breast cancers revealed PRL-3 was significantly, though not exclusively, associated with the TNBC subtype and correlated positively with regional and distant metastases, as well as 1 and 3 year relapse free survival. Collectively, our study is proof-of-concept that AMPI-109, a selectively active agent against TNBC cell lines, can be used as a molecular tool to uncover unique drivers of disease progression, such as PRL-3, which we show promotes oncogenic phenotypes in TNBC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid H Gari
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Christy M Gearheart
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Susan Fosmire
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Gregory D DeGala
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Zeying Fan
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kathleen C Torkko
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Susan M Edgerton
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - M Scott Lucia
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rahul Ray
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ann D Thor
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Christopher C Porter
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - James R Lambert
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
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23
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Balakrishnan I, Venkataraman S, Pierce AM, Alimova I, Prince E, Moreira DC, Fosmire S, Madhavan K, Foreman N, Vibhakar R. MEDU-33. PLK1 INHIBITION IN COMBINATION WITH STANDARD THERAPIES FOR MYC-DRIVEN MEDULLOBLASTOMA. Neuro Oncol 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/nox083.183] [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: 11/15/2022] Open
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24
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Dimberg LY, Towers CG, Behbakht K, Hotz TJ, Kim J, Fosmire S, Porter CC, Tan AC, Thorburn A, Ford HL. A Genome-Wide Loss-of-Function Screen Identifies SLC26A2 as a Novel Mediator of TRAIL Resistance. Mol Cancer Res 2017; 15:382-394. [PMID: 28108622 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-16-0234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
TRAIL is a potent death-inducing ligand that mediates apoptosis through the extrinsic pathway and serves as an important endogenous tumor suppressor mechanism. Because tumor cells are often killed by TRAIL and normal cells are not, drugs that activate the TRAIL pathway have been thought to have potential clinical value. However, to date, most TRAIL-related clinical trials have largely failed due to the tumor cells having intrinsic or acquired resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Previous studies to identify resistance mechanisms have focused on targeted analysis of the canonical apoptosis pathway and other known regulators of TRAIL receptor signaling. To identify novel mechanisms of TRAIL resistance in an unbiased way, we performed a genome-wide shRNA screen for genes that regulate TRAIL sensitivity in sublines that had been selected for acquired TRAIL resistance. This screen identified previously unknown mediators of TRAIL resistance including angiotensin II receptor 2, Crk-like protein, T-Box Transcription Factor 2, and solute carrier family 26 member 2 (SLC26A2). SLC26A2 downregulates the TRAIL receptors, DR4 and DR5, and this downregulation is associated with resistance to TRAIL. Its expression is high in numerous tumor types compared with normal cells, and in breast cancer, SLC26A2 is associated with a significant decrease in relapse-free survival.Implication: Our results shed light on novel resistance mechanisms that could affect the efficacy of TRAIL agonist therapies and highlight the possibility of using these proteins as biomarkers to identify TRAIL-resistant tumors, or as potential therapeutic targets in combination with TRAIL. Mol Cancer Res; 15(4); 382-94. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Y Dimberg
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Christina G Towers
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Kian Behbakht
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Taylor J Hotz
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Jihye Kim
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Susan Fosmire
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Christopher C Porter
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Aik-Choon Tan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Andrew Thorburn
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Heide L Ford
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
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Jones CL, Fleenor CJ, Welsh S, Noetzli L, Fosmire S, Baturin D, Di Paola J, Hagman JR, Porter CC. Abstract 2000: ETV6 represses Pax5 in early B-cell development. Cancer Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2016-2000] [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 goal of this project is to determine the role of ETV6 in early B cell development and define how germline ETV6 mutations result in predisposition to leukemia.
Methods: B cell fractions- B cell progenitors from wild type mice were purified using flow cytometry. Gene Expression- RNA was collected and reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR was performed to quantitate Pax5, Etv6, Ebf1 and actin transcripts. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation- Cells were collected; proteins were cross-linked to DNA with formaldehyde, cell lysates were sonicated and immunoprecipitation was performed using 5μg indicated antibody or species-matched IgG as a negative control. DNA was recovered and assayed by quantitative PCR.
Results: Recent studies have revealed a role for ETV6 germline mutations (P214L amino acid change) in the predisposition to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). These mutations impair the transcriptional activity of ETV6 in a dominant negative fashion. Here, we demonstrate that Etv6 expression is inversely correlated to Pax5 and Ebf1 expression during B cell development (r2 = .9993; P = 0.0167). In a murine lymphoid progenitor line (Ba/F3), ETV6, but not ETV6 P214L overexpression significantly decreased Pax5 expression (P≤0.05). In addition, Pax5 expression was increased by overexpression of EBF1, a known Pax5 transcriptional activator, in cells expressing the ETV6 P214L mutant (P≤0.05). This data suggests that loss of functional ETV6 is necessary for EBF1 to induce Pax5 expression. To further interrogate the role of ETV6 in regulating Pax5 transcription we measured the association of ETV6 with putative ETS factor binding sites (GGAA sequence) within the Pax5 transcription start site (TSS) using ChIP-PCR. ETV6 is associated with the proximal GGAA site 72 base pairs upstream of the Pax5 TSS, but not GGAA sites further from the TSS. In addition, the transcriptional repressors SIN3A and HDAC3 were detected on the same regions of the Pax5 locus. We next determined the consequences of ETV6 mutation on the recruitment of ETV6, SIN3A, and HDAC3 to the Pax5 locus by performing ChIP-PCR in Ba/F3 cells that express a FLAG-tagged WT ETV6 or ETV6 P214L. We detected association of ETV6, SIN3A and HDAC3 with the proximal GGAA site upon expression of WT ETV6, but not ETV6 P214L. We conclude that ETV6, SIN3A and HDAC3 are responsible for the repression of Pax5 transcription. Moreover, mutant ETV6 inhibits the ability of normal ETV6 to bind and recruit SIN3A and HDAC3 to the Pax5 locus. Aberrant expression of Pax5 leads to myeloid lineage skewing and an increase in biphenotypic and myeloid leukemias. Patients with ETV6 germline mutations have a higher percentage of monocytes compared to unaffected family members, which we hypothesize, is due to aberrant PAX5 expression (P = 0.008).
Conclusions: ETV6 regulates Pax5 expression through the recruitment of SIN3A and HDAC3 to the Pax5 locus. These findings are significant because Pax5 misregulation results in a B cell development halt, lineage infidelity and leukemogenesis.
Citation Format: Courtney L. Jones, Courtney J. Fleenor, Seth Welsh, Leila Noetzli, Susan Fosmire, Dmitry Baturin, Jorge Di Paola, James R. Hagman, Christopher C. Porter. ETV6 represses Pax5 in early B-cell development. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2000.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney L. Jones
- 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO
| | | | - Seth Welsh
- 2Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
| | - Leila Noetzli
- 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO
| | - Susan Fosmire
- 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO
| | - Dmitry Baturin
- 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO
| | - Jorge Di Paola
- 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO
| | - James R. Hagman
- 2Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO
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26
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Jones CL, Gearheart CM, Fosmire S, Delgado-Martin C, Evensen NA, Bride K, Waanders AJ, Pais F, Wang J, Bhatla T, Bitterman DS, de Rijk SR, Bourgeois W, Dandekar S, Park E, Burleson TM, Madhusoodhan PP, Teachey DT, Raetz EA, Hermiston ML, Müschen M, Loh ML, Hunger SP, Zhang J, Garabedian MJ, Porter CC, Carroll WL. MAPK signaling cascades mediate distinct glucocorticoid resistance mechanisms in pediatric leukemia. Blood 2015; 126:2202-12. [PMID: 26324703 PMCID: PMC4635116 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2015-04-639138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The outcome for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients who relapse is dismal. A hallmark of relapsed disease is acquired resistance to multiple chemotherapeutic agents, particularly glucocorticoids. In this study, we performed a genome-scale short hairpin RNA screen to identify mediators of prednisolone sensitivity in ALL cell lines. The incorporation of these data with an integrated analysis of relapse-specific genetic and epigenetic changes allowed us to identify the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway as a mediator of prednisolone resistance in pediatric ALL. We show that knockdown of the specific MAPK pathway members MEK2 and MEK4 increased sensitivity to prednisolone through distinct mechanisms. MEK4 knockdown increased sensitivity specifically to prednisolone by increasing the levels of the glucocorticoid receptor. MEK2 knockdown increased sensitivity to all chemotherapy agents tested by increasing the levels of p53. Furthermore, we demonstrate that inhibition of MEK1/2 with trametinib increased sensitivity of ALL cells and primary samples to chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo. To confirm a role for MAPK signaling in patients with relapsed ALL, we measured the activation of the MEK1/2 target ERK in matched diagnosis-relapse primary samples and observed increased phosphorylated ERK levels at relapse. Furthermore, relapse samples have an enhanced response to MEK inhibition compared to matched diagnosis samples in xenograft models. Together, our data indicate that inhibition of the MAPK pathway increases chemosensitivity to glucocorticoids and possibly other agents and that the MAPK pathway is an attractive target for prevention and/or treatment of relapsed disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney L Jones
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Christy M Gearheart
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
| | - Susan Fosmire
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
| | | | - Nikki A Evensen
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Karen Bride
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Angela J Waanders
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Faye Pais
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA
| | - Jinhua Wang
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY; Center for Health Informatics and Bioinformatics, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Teena Bhatla
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Danielle S Bitterman
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Simone R de Rijk
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Wallace Bourgeois
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Smita Dandekar
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Eugene Park
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Tamara M Burleson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
| | | | - David T Teachey
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Elizabeth A Raetz
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Michelle L Hermiston
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA
| | - Markus Müschen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Mignon L Loh
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA
| | - Stephen P Hunger
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jinghui Zhang
- Department of Computational Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; and
| | - Michael J Garabedian
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | | | - William L Carroll
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
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27
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Gari HH, Ray R, Lucia S, Porter CC, Gearheart CM, Fosmire S, DeGala GD, Fan Z, Ru Y, Thor AD, Lambert JR. Abstract 4604: PTP4A3 is oncogenic and modulates triple negative breast cancer growth. Cancer Res 2014. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2014-4604] [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
Triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are among the most aggressive and heterogenous breast cancers characterized by a high propensity to invade, metastasize, and relapse; the exact mechanisms by which TNBCs mediate progression is unclear and thus, new insights into the biology of TNBC are desperately needed. We have developed a novel anti-cancer compound (AMPI-109) that is selectively efficacious against TNBC cell-lines. We conducted a genome-wide functional genomic shRNA screen to identify modifiers of AMPI-109 sensitivity and identified PTP4A3 (P3), a protein tyrosine phosphatase implicated in invasive, node positive TNBC tumors and associates with poor survival outcome, as a mediator of AMPI-109 action. In silico modeling predicted that AMPI-109 binds the catalytic site of P3 with favorable energetics. To investigate whether AMPI-109 could impact the activity of P3, we performed an in vitro phosphatase assay and demonstrated that AMPI-109 impaired the catalytic activity of P3. To investigate an oncogenic role of P3 in TNBC, we conducted stable lentiviral knockdown of P3 (ShP3) in BT-20 TNBC cells and demonstrated that loss of P3 leads to substantial growth inhibition (48%, p = 0.0055), similar in magnitude to AMPI-109 at 100 nM dose (66%, p = 0.00005). AMPI-109 also decreased P3 mRNA and protein levels. Accordingly, we blocked de novo protein synthesis and observed enhanced P3 protein degradation in the presences of AMPI-109. This degradation was reversible in the presence of the proteasome inhibitor MG-132, suggesting that AMPI-109 may induce P3 degradation through a proteasome-dependent mechanism. Functionally, high expression of P3 has been implicated in driving metastatic phenotypes in colorectal cancer but its role in TNBC cell migration has not been investigated. Wound-healing assays demonstrated that both AMPI-109 and ShP3 significantly impeded the migratory capacity of BT-20 cells (AMPI-109: 85% reduction, shP3: 80% reduction). AMPI-109 and ShP3 also conferred a higher rate of apoptosis induction as measured by activation of pro-apoptotic caspases-3 and 7 suggesting that the growth inhibitory phenotypes observed could potentially be attributed to increases in apoptotic cell death. To determine how P3 mechanistically exerts its oncogenic effect in the context of modulating cell signaling pathways, we carried out co-expression analysis of mRNAs that tracked with P3 expression across a suite of TNBC cell lines. We identified TRAPPC9, an activator of the NF-kappa B pathway, as correlating positively with P3 (r =0.652). Collectively, our results identify P3 as a target of AMPI-109 and that P3 has an oncogenic role in TNBC. Future studies will further characterize the relationship between AMPI-109, P3 and the NF-kappa B pathway. Furthermore, because of the specificity of AMPI-109 for TNBC cells, it may represent a new tool for understanding the molecular basis underlying the aggressive nature of this disease.
Citation Format: Hamid H. Gari, Rahul Ray, Scott Lucia, Christopher C. Porter, Christy M. Gearheart, Susan Fosmire, Gregory D. DeGala, Zeying Fan, Yuanbin Ru, Ann D. Thor, James R. Lambert. PTP4A3 is oncogenic and modulates triple negative breast cancer growth. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4604. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4604
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Zeying Fan
- 1University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO
| | - Yuanbin Ru
- 3Windber Breast Cancer Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA
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Choudhary R, Baturin D, Fosmire S, Freed B, Porter CC. Knockdown of HPRT for selection of genetically modified human hematopoietic progenitor cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e59594. [PMID: 23555045 PMCID: PMC3598703 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2012] [Accepted: 02/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The inability to obtain sufficient numbers of transduced cells remains a limitation in gene therapy. One strategy to address this limitation is in vivo pharmacologic selection of transduced cells. We have previously shown that knockdown of HPRT using lentiviral delivered shRNA facilitates efficient selection of transduced murine hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) using 6-thioguanine (6TG). Herein, we now extend these studies to human HPC. We tested multiple shRNA constructs in human derived cell lines and identified the optimal shRNA sequence for knockdown of HPRT and 6TG resistance. We then tested this vector in human umbilical cord blood derived HPC in vitro and in NOD/SCID recipients. Knockdown of HPRT effectively provided resistance to 6TG in vitro. 6TG treatment of mice resulted in increased percentages of transduced human CD45(+) cells in the peripheral blood and in the spleen in particular, in both myeloid and lymphoid compartments. 6TG treatment of secondary recipients resulted in higher percentages of transduced human cells in the bone marrow, confirming selection from the progeny of long-term repopulating HPCs. However, the extent of selection of cells in the bone marrow at the doses of 6TG tested and the toxicity of higher doses, suggest that this strategy may be limited to selection of more committed progenitor cells. Together, these data suggest that human HPC can be programmed to be resistant to purine analogs, but that HPRT knockdown/6TG-based selection may not be robust enough for in vivo selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashmi Choudhary
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Dmitry Baturin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Susan Fosmire
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Brian Freed
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- Department of Immunology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Christopher C. Porter
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Porter CC, Kim J, Fosmire S, Gearheart CM, van Linden A, Baturin D, Zaberezhnyy V, Patel PR, Gao D, Tan AC, DeGregori J. Integrated genomic analyses identify WEE1 as a critical mediator of cell fate and a novel therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 2012; 26:1266-76. [PMID: 22289989 PMCID: PMC3678731 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2011.392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains a therapeutic challenge despite increasing knowledge about the molecular origins of the disease, as the mechanisms of AML cell escape from chemotherapy remain poorly defined. We hypothesized that AML cells are addicted to molecular pathways in the context of chemotherapy and used complementary approaches to identify these addictions. Using novel molecular and computational approaches, we performed genome-wide shRNA screens to identify proteins that mediate AML cell fate after cytarabine exposure, gene expression profiling of AML cells exposed to cytarabine to identify genes with induced expression in this context, and examination of existing gene expression data from primary patient samples. The integration of these independent analyses strongly implicates cell cycle checkpoint proteins, particularly WEE1, as critical mediators of AML cell survival after cytarabine exposure. Knockdown of WEE1 in a secondary screen confirmed its role in AML cell survival. Pharmacologic inhibition of WEE1 in AML cell lines and primary cells is synergistic with cytarabine. Further experiments demonstrate that inhibition of WEE1 prevents S-phase arrest induced by cytarabine, broadening the functions of WEE1 that may be exploited therapeutically. These data highlight the power of integrating functional and descriptive genomics, and identify WEE1 as potential therapeutic target in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- C C Porter
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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Abstract
We describe here a previously unrecognized property of dendritic cells (DCs), the ability to deacylate the lipid A moiety of gram-negative bacterial LPSs. Both immature DCs of the XS52 cell line and bone marrow-derived DCs produce acyloxyacyl hydrolase, an enzyme that detoxifies LPS by selectively removing the secondary acyl chains from lipid A. Acyloxyacyl hydrolase expression decreased when DCs were incubated with IL-4, IL-1 beta, TNF alpha, and an agonistic CD40 antibody (maturation cocktail), and increased after treatment with LPS, CpG oligodeoxynucleotides, or a gram-positive bacterium (Micococcus luteus). Maturation cocktail treatment also diminished, whereas LPS treatment enhanced or maintained the cells' ability to kill Escherichia coli, deacylate LPS, and degrade bacterial protein. Enzymatic deacylation of LPS is an intrinsic, regulated mechanism by which DCs may modulate host responses to this potent bacterial agonist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingfang Lu
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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Baksh S, Widlund HR, Frazer-Abel AA, Du J, Fosmire S, Fisher DE, DeCaprio JA, Modiano JF, Burakoff SJ. NFATc2-mediated repression of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 expression. Mol Cell 2002; 10:1071-81. [PMID: 12453415 DOI: 10.1016/s1097-2765(02)00701-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The calcineurin-regulated transcription factor, nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), controls many aspects of T cell function. Here, we demonstrate that the calcineurin/NFAT pathway negatively regulates the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4). A canonical NFAT binding site was identified and found to be sensitive to calcium signals, FK506/CsA, and histone deacetylase activity and to not require AP-1. Ectopic expression of NFATc2 inhibited the basal activity of the human CDK4 promoter. Additionally, both calcineurin Aalpha(-/-) and NFATc2(-/-) mice had elevated protein levels of CDK4, confirming a negative regulatory role for the calcineurin/NFAT pathway. This pathway may thus regulate the expression of CDK4 at the transcriptional level and control how cells re-enter a resting, nonproliferative state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shairaz Baksh
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Koenig A, Bianco SR, Fosmire S, Wojcieszyn J, Modiano JF. Expression and significance of p53, rb, p21/waf-1, p16/ink-4a, and PTEN tumor suppressors in canine melanoma. Vet Pathol 2002; 39:458-72. [PMID: 12126149 DOI: 10.1354/vp.39-4-458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [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: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The role of tumor suppressor genes in the pathogenesis of canine melanoma is incompletely understood. The genes encoding the tumor suppressors p53, Rb, p21 (waf-1), p16 (ink-4a), and PTEN have been postulated to contribute to the pathogenesis of melanoma in humans and experimental animal models. To assess whether inactivation of these genes similarly contributes to the origin and progression of canine melanoma, we examined their expression in seven distinct canine melanoma cell lines and in 31 retrospective samples (representing 29 dogs) of spontaneous canine melanoma. Various patterns suggestive of loss of tumor suppressor function emerged in these cell lines. The most frequently observed abnormality was loss or significant reduction of p16 expression in six of seven cell lines and in 21 of 26 tumor samples. Loss or significant reduction of PTEN expression was seen in four of seven cell lines and in 13 of 27 tumor samples. Although p53 was detectable in all the cell lines and in 24 of 30 tumors, exclusion of p53 from the nuclear compartment was observed in each of the cell lines and in 18 of 25 tumor samples. These results indicate that loss of function of these tumor suppressor proteins is a common occurrence that may contribute to the origin of canine melanoma. In our sample population, abnormalities in the expression or localization of one or more tumor suppressor proteins occurred with similar frequency in malignant and benign tumors; thus, additional work is necessary to determine how these proteins may impact disease progression and response to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Koenig
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A & M University, College Station, USA
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Dickerson EB, Fosmire S, Padilla ML, Modiano JF, Helfand SC. Potential to target dysregulated interleukin-2 receptor expression in canine lymphoid and hematopoietic malignancies as a model for human cancer. J Immunother 2002; 25:36-45. [PMID: 11924909 DOI: 10.1097/00002371-200201000-00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Lymphohematopoietic malignancies are common spontaneous diseases of dogs whose clinical presentation and biologic behavior closely resemble their human counterparts. The goal of this study was to define the potential to use canine lymphoma and leukemia as suitable models to refine therapeutic approaches targeting the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R). The authors evaluated the patterns of IL-2R expression in 13 dogs with multicentric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and in six dogs with leukemia (acute lymphocytic leukemia, n = 3; chronic lymphocytic leukemia in blast crisis, n = 1; acute monoblastic leukemia, n = 2). The authors first cloned and sequenced the complete coding domains of the wild-type canine IL-2R alpha-chain gene. They next used qualitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis to examine IL-2R alpha, beta, and gamma(c) subunit expression in the tumors. Messenger RNA (mRNA) for the interleukin-2 receptor alpha, beta, and gammac subunits that comprise the high-affinity receptor was present in samples from all dogs with NHL. Expression of functional surface IL-2R also was observed flow cytometrically in NHL cells from all four dogs tested. Leukemic cells from one dog with B cell acute lymphocytic leukemia and two dogs with acute monoblastic leukemia expressed mRNA for all three subunits, whereas cells from another dog with B cell leukemia and both dogs with T cell leukemia expressed only mRNA for the beta and gammac subunits that comprise the intermediate-affinity receptor. These results indicate that the IL-2R is commonly expressed in canine lymphohematopoietic malignancies, and support the suitability of this large-animal model to evaluate targeted IL-2R cancer therapy using approaches of interest in the treatment of humans with hemolymphatic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin B Dickerson
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
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Abstract
The development of reactive arthritis, a sterile inflammatory polyarthropathy that primarily affects HLA-B27 positive individuals, has been associated with previous enteric infections caused by various gram-negative bacteria. The possibility that a common bacterial epitope triggers the disease was investigated by screening a panel of documented arthritogenic Shigella strains as well as 2 epidemic-associated nonarthritogenic Shigella controls. A 2-Md plasmid specific to the arthritogenic strains was identified and sequenced. The plasmid encodes a number of small peptides that could be related to the development of reactive arthritis. Within 1 of these is a stretch of 5 consecutive amino acids, inferred from the DNA sequence and contained within an open reading frame, that is homologous to amino acid residues 71-75 of the polymorphic region of the alpha 1 domain of HLA-B27. The data indicate that there is a bacterial plasmid common to arthritogenic Shigella strains that may play a role in triggering reactive arthritis. The finding that this plasmid encodes an epitope shared with HLA-B27 suggests that molecular mimicry may play a role in the induction of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Stieglitz
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235
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Abstract
A panel of documented arthritogenic Shigella flexneri strains as well as an epidemic-associated non-arthritogenic Shigella sonnei control was used to identify a 2-megadalton plasmid specific to the arthritogenic strains. The plasmid, pHS-2, contains a DNA sequence that encodes a 22-amino acid polypeptide encompassing a pentapeptide homologous to part of the polymorphic region of the alpha-1 domain of HLA-B27. These results suggest that molecular mimicry between arthritogenic bacterial-encoded epitopes and the HLA-B27 molecule may play a role in the development of reactive arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Stieglitz
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235
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