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Pitolli C, Marini A, Guerra M, Pieraccioli M, Marabitti V, Palluzzi F, Giacò L, Tamburrini G, Cecconi F, Nazio F, Sette C, Pagliarini V. MYC up-regulation confers vulnerability to dual inhibition of CDK12 and CDK13 in high-risk Group 3 medulloblastoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:214. [PMID: 37599362 PMCID: PMC10440921 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02790-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common cerebellar malignancy during childhood. Among MB, MYC-amplified Group 3 tumors display the worst prognosis. MYC is an oncogenic transcription factor currently thought to be undruggable. Nevertheless, targeting MYC-dependent processes (i.e. transcription and RNA processing regulation) represents a promising approach. METHODS We have tested the sensitivity of MYC-driven Group 3 MB cells to a pool of transcription and splicing inhibitors that display a wide spectrum of targets. Among them, we focus on THZ531, an inhibitor of the transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 12 and 13. High-throughput RNA-sequencing analyses followed by bioinformatics and functional analyses were carried out to elucidate the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the susceptibility of Group 3 MB to CDK12/13 chemical inhibition. Data from International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and other public databases were mined to evaluate the functional relevance of the cellular pathway/s affected by the treatment with THZ531 in Group 3 MB patients. RESULTS We found that pharmacological inhibition of CDK12/13 is highly selective for MYC-high Group 3 MB cells with respect to MYC-low MB cells. We identified a subset of genes enriched in functional terms related to the DNA damage response (DDR) that are up-regulated in Group 3 MB and repressed by CDK12/13 inhibition. Accordingly, MYC- and CDK12/13-dependent higher expression of DDR genes in Group 3 MB cells limits the toxic effects of endogenous DNA lesions in these cells. More importantly, chemical inhibition of CDK12/13 impaired the DDR and induced irreparable DNA damage exclusively in MYC-high Group 3 MB cells. The augmented sensitivity of MYC-high MB cells to CDK12/13 inhibition relies on the higher elongation rate of the RNA polymerase II in DDR genes. Lastly, combined treatments with THZ531 and DNA damage-inducing agents synergically suppressed viability of MYC-high Group 3 MB cells. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that CDK12/13 activity represents an exploitable vulnerability in MYC-high Group 3 MB and may pave the ground for new therapeutic approaches for this high-risk brain tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Consuelo Pitolli
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Marini
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy
- GSTEP-Organoids Research Core Facility, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Marika Guerra
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Pieraccioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy
- GSTEP-Organoids Research Core Facility, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Marabitti
- Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Fernando Palluzzi
- Bioinformatics Research Core Facility, Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP), IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy
- Present Address: Integrated Omics Department, Novo Nordisk, 2860, Søborg, Denmark
| | - Luciano Giacò
- Bioinformatics Research Core Facility, Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP), IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianpiero Tamburrini
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy
- Pediatric Neurosurgery, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Cecconi
- Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Basic Biotechnological Sciences, Intensive Care and Perioperative Clinics Research, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy
- Unit of Cell Stress and Survival, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Francesca Nazio
- Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Sette
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy.
- GSTEP-Organoids Research Core Facility, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy.
| | - Vittoria Pagliarini
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168, Rome, Italy.
- GSTEP-Organoids Research Core Facility, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, 00168, Rome, Italy.
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Shaikh R, Weil BR, Weldon CB, Chen N, London WB, Krush M, Anderson M, Gebhardt M, Church AJ, DuBois SG, Pikman Y, Spidle J, Wall CB, Feraco A, Ullrich NJ, Mack JW, Mullen E, Kamihara J, Forrest S, Shusterman S, Janeway KA, Alomari A, Padua H, Rodriguez-Galindo C, O'Neill AF. A single-institution pediatric and young adult interventional oncology collaborative: Novel therapeutic options for relapsed/refractory solid tumors. Cancer Med 2023. [PMID: 37264747 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pediatric interventional oncology (PIO) is a growing field intended to provide additional or alternative treatment options for pediatric patients with benign or malignant tumors. Large series of patients treated uniformly and subjected to rigorous endpoints for efficacy are not available. METHODS We designed a collaborative initiative to capture data from pediatric patients with benign and malignant tumors who underwent a therapeutic interventional radiology procedure. Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) was utilized as a measure of radiologic response and data were collected regarding improvement in pain and functional endpoints. Cumulative incidence of progressive disease was calculated using both the treated site and the patient as the analytic unit. FINDINGS Forty patients, 16 with malignant tumors and 24 with benign tumors, underwent a total of 88 procedures. Cryo- and radiofrequency ablation were the most frequently utilized techniques for both cohorts of patients. A complete or partial response, or prolonged disease stability, were achieved in approximately 40% of patients with malignant tumors and 60% of patients with benign tumors. No patients had progressive disease as their best response. Resolution of pain and improved mobility with return-to-baseline activity were demonstrated across patients from both cohorts. Only minor complications were experienced. INTERPRETATION Interventional radiology-guided interventions can serve as an alternative or complementary approach to the treatment of benign and malignant tumors in pediatric patients. Prospective, multi-institutional trials are required to adequately study utility, treatment endpoints, and durability of response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raja Shaikh
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Brent R Weil
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christopher B Weldon
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nan Chen
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Wendy B London
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Morgan Krush
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Megan Anderson
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mark Gebhardt
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alanna J Church
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Steven G DuBois
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yana Pikman
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jennifer Spidle
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Catherine B Wall
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Angela Feraco
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nicole J Ullrich
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jennifer W Mack
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elizabeth Mullen
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Junne Kamihara
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Suzanne Forrest
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Suzanne Shusterman
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Katherine A Janeway
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ahmad Alomari
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Horacio Padua
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo
- Departments of Global Pediatric Medicine and Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Allison F O'Neill
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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