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Sementino E, Kadariya Y, Cheung M, Menges CW, Tan Y, Kukuyan AM, Shrestha U, Karchugina S, Cai KQ, Peri S, Duncan JS, Chernoff J, Testa JR. Inactivation of p21-Activated Kinase 2 (Pak2) Inhibits the Development of Nf2-Deficient Tumors by Restricting Downstream Hedgehog and Wnt Signaling. Mol Cancer Res 2022; 20:699-711. [PMID: 35082167 PMCID: PMC9081258 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Because loss of the NF2 tumor suppressor gene results in p21-activated kinase (Pak) activation, PAK inhibitors hold promise for the treatment of NF2-deficient tumors. To test this possibility, we asked if loss of Pak2, a highly expressed group I PAK member, affects the development of malignant mesothelioma in Nf2;Cdkn2a-deficient (NC) mice and the growth properties of NC mesothelioma cells in culture. In vivo, deletion of Pak2 resulted in a markedly decreased incidence and delayed onset of both pleural and peritoneal malignant mesotheliomas in NC mice. In vitro, Pak2 deletion decreased malignant mesothelioma cell viability, migration, clonogenicity, and spheroid formation. RNA-sequencing analysis demonstrated downregulated expression of Hedgehog and Wnt pathway genes in NC;Pak2-/- mesothelioma cells versus NC;Pak2+/+ mesothelioma cells. Targeting of the Hedgehog signaling component Gli1 or its target gene Myc inhibited cell viability and spheroid formation in NC;P+/+ mesothelioma cells. Kinome profiling uncovered kinase changes indicative of EMT in NC;Pak2-/- mesothelioma cells, suggesting that Pak2-deficient malignant mesotheliomas can adapt by reprogramming their kinome in the absence of Pak activity. The identification of such compensatory pathways offers opportunities for rational combination therapies to circumvent resistance to anti-PAK drugs. IMPLICATIONS We provide evidence supporting a role for PAK inhibitors in treating NF2-deficient tumors. NF2-deficient tumors lacking Pak2 eventually adapt by kinome reprogramming, presenting opportunities for combination therapies to bypass anti-PAK drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Sementino
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yuwaraj Kadariya
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mitchell Cheung
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Craig W. Menges
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yinfei Tan
- Genomics Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Anna-Mariya Kukuyan
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ujjawal Shrestha
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sofiia Karchugina
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Kathy Q. Cai
- Histopathology Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Suraj Peri
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - James S. Duncan
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jonathan Chernoff
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Joseph R. Testa
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Joseph R. Testa, Ph.D., Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 1911; Phone: (215) 728-2610; Fax: (215) 214-1619;
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