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Wierdl M, Tsurkan L, Chi L, Hatfield MJ, Tollemar V, Bradley C, Chen X, Qu C, Potter PM. Targeting ALK in pediatric RMS does not induce antitumor activity in vivo. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2018; 82:251-263. [PMID: 29855693 PMCID: PMC6054567 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-018-3615-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) has been demonstrated to be a valid clinical target in diseases such as anaplastic large cell lymphoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Recent studies have indicated that ALK is overexpressed in pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and hence we hypothesized that this kinase may be a suitable candidate for therapeutic intervention in this tumor. METHODS We evaluated the expression of ALK in a panel of pediatric RMS cell lines and patient-derived xenografts (PDX), and sensitivity to ALK inhibitors was assessed both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS Essentially, all RMS lines were sensitive to crizotinib, NVP-TAE684 or LDK-378 in vitro, and molecular analyses demonstrated inhibition of RMS cell proliferation following siRNA-mediated reduction of ALK expression. However, in vivo PDX studies using ALK kinase inhibitors demonstrated no antitumor activity when used as single agents or when combined with standard of care therapy (vincristine, actinomycin D and cyclophosphamide). More alarmingly, however, crizotinib actually accelerated the growth of these tumors in vivo. CONCLUSIONS While ALK appears to be a relevant target in RMS in vitro, targeting this kinase in vivo yields no therapeutic efficacy, warranting extreme caution when considering the use of these agents in pediatric RMS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Wierdl
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105-2794, USA
| | - Lyudmila Tsurkan
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105-2794, USA
| | - Liying Chi
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105-2794, USA
| | - M Jason Hatfield
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105-2794, USA
| | - Viktor Tollemar
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105-2794, USA
| | - Cori Bradley
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105-2794, USA
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105-2794, USA
| | - Chunxu Qu
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105-2794, USA
| | - Philip M Potter
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105-2794, USA.
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Abbou S, Lanvers-Kaminsky C, Daudigeos-Dubus E, LE Dret L, Laplace-Builhe C, Molenaar J, Vassal G, Geoerger B. Polo-like Kinase Inhibitor Volasertib Exhibits Antitumor Activity and Synergy with Vincristine in Pediatric Malignancies. Anticancer Res 2016; 36:599-609. [PMID: 26851014] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) controls the main cell-cycle checkpoints, suggesting utility of its inhibition for cancer treatment, including of highly proliferative pediatric cancer. This preclinical study explored the selective PLK1 inhibitor volasertib (BI 6727) alone and combined with chemotherapy in pediatric malignancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS Inhibition of proliferation was explored in vitro using dimethylthiazol carboxymethoxyphenyl sulfophenyl tetrazolium (MTS) assay. Mice bearing human xenografts were treated with weekly intravenous injections of volasertib. RESULTS Volasertib inhibited proliferation in all 40 cell lines tested, with a mean half-maximal growth inhibitory concentration of 313 nmol/l (range: 4-5000 nmol/l). Volasertib was highly active against RMS-1 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma xenografts, resulting in 100% tumor regression. Activity was associated with complete and prolonged G2/M arrest and subsequent apoptotic cell death. Volasertib showed synergistic activity with vincristine but antagonistic effects with etoposide. CONCLUSION These findings support the further exploration of volasertib for pediatric malignancies, particularly alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, and its combination with mitotic spindle poison.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Abbou
- Vectorology and Anticancer Therapies, UMR 8203, CNRS, Paris-Sud University, Gustave Roussy Institute, Paris-Saclay University, Villejuif, France
| | - Claudia Lanvers-Kaminsky
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Muenster, Germany
| | - Estelle Daudigeos-Dubus
- Vectorology and Anticancer Therapies, UMR 8203, CNRS, Paris-Sud University, Gustave Roussy Institute, Paris-Saclay University, Villejuif, France
| | - Ludivine LE Dret
- Vectorology and Anticancer Therapies, UMR 8203, CNRS, Paris-Sud University, Gustave Roussy Institute, Paris-Saclay University, Villejuif, France
| | - Corinne Laplace-Builhe
- Gustave Roussy Institute, Optical Imaging and Flow Cytometry Platform, UMR8081 - IR4M, Villejuif, France
| | - Jan Molenaar
- Amsterdam Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gilles Vassal
- Vectorology and Anticancer Therapies, UMR 8203, CNRS, Paris-Sud University, Gustave Roussy Institute, Paris-Saclay University, Villejuif, France
| | - Birgit Geoerger
- Vectorology and Anticancer Therapies, UMR 8203, CNRS, Paris-Sud University, Gustave Roussy Institute, Paris-Saclay University, Villejuif, France
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Stehle A, Hugle M, Fulda S. Eribulin synergizes with Polo-like kinase 1 inhibitors to induce apoptosis in rhabdomyosarcoma. Cancer Lett 2015; 365:37-46. [PMID: 25917079 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2015.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Revised: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Eribulin, a novel microtubule-interfering drug, was recently shown to exhibit high antitumor activity in vivo against various pediatric cancers. Here, we identify a novel synthetic lethal interaction of Eribulin together with Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibitors against rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) in vitro and in vivo. Eribulin and the PLK1 inhibitor BI 2536 at subtoxic concentrations synergize to induce apoptosis in RMS cells as confirmed by calculation of combination index (CI). Also, Eribulin/BI 2536 co-treatment is significantly more effective than monotherapy to reduce cell viability and inhibit colony formation of RMS cells. Similarly, Eribulin and BI 2536 act in concert to trigger apoptosis in a primary, patient-derived ARMS culture, underscoring the clinical relevance of this combination. Importantly, Eribulin and BI 2536 cooperate to suppress tumor growth in an in vivo model of RMS. On molecular grounds, Eribulin/BI 2536 co-treatment causes profound mitotic arrest, which is critically required for synergism, since inhibition of mitotic arrest by CDK1 inhibitor RO-3306 abolishes Eribulin/BI 2536-mediated apoptosis. Eribulin and BI 2536 cooperate to activate caspase-9, -3 and -8, which is necessary for apoptosis induction, since the broad-range caspase inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone (zVAD.fmk) reduces Eribulin/BI 2536-induced apoptosis significantly, yet partially. Intriguingly, knockdown of endonuclease G (ENDOG) also significantly inhibits Eribulin/BI 2536-triggered apoptosis, demonstrating the involvement of both caspase-dependent and -independent effector pathways. Synergistic induction of apoptosis is similarly found for Eribulin/BI 2536 co-treatment in neuroblastoma cells and for the combination of vincristine (another antimicrotubule chemotherapeutic) with Poloxin (another PLK1 inhibitor), thus pointing to a broader significance of this concomitant microtubule- and PLK1-targeting strategy for pediatric oncology. In conclusion, the identification of a novel synthetic lethality by dual targeting of mitosis using microtubule-interfering and PLK1-targeted drugs, i.e. Eribulin and BI 2536, has important implications for the development of more effective treatment strategies for RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelika Stehle
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University, Komturstr. 3a, Frankfurt 60528, Germany
| | - Manuela Hugle
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University, Komturstr. 3a, Frankfurt 60528, Germany
| | - Simone Fulda
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University, Komturstr. 3a, Frankfurt 60528, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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Peron M, Lovisa F, Poli E, Basso G, Bonvini P. Understanding the Interplay between Expression, Mutation and Activity of ALK Receptor in Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells for Clinical Application of Small-Molecule Inhibitors. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132330. [PMID: 26147305 PMCID: PMC4493009 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 06/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) have a central role in cancer initiation and progression, since changes in their expression and activity potentially results in cell transformation. This concept is essential from a therapeutic standpoint, as clinical evidence indicates that tumours carrying deregulated RTKs are particularly susceptible to their activity but also to their inhibition. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an aggressive childhood cancer where emerging therapies rely on the use kinase inhibitors, and among druggable kinases ALK represents a potential therapeutic target to commit efforts against. However, the functional relevance of ALK in RMS is not known, likewise the multi-component deregulated RTK profile to which ALK belongs. METHODS In this study we used RMS cell lines representative of the alveolar and embrional histotype and looked at ALK intracellular localization, activity and cell signalling. RESULTS We found that ALK was properly located at the plasma membrane of RMS cells, though in an unphosphorylated and inactive state due to intracellular tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) activity. Indeed, increase of ALK phosphorylation was observed upon PTPase inhibition, as well as after ligand binding or protein overexpression. In these conditions, ALK signalling proceeded through the MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways, and it was susceptible to ATP-competitive inhibitors exposure. However, drug-induced growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis did not correlate with ALK expression only, but relied also on the expression of other RTKs with akin drug binding affinity. Indeed, analysis of baseline and inducible RTK phosphorylation confirmed that RMS cells were susceptible to ALK kinase inhibitors even in the absence of the primary intended target, due to the presence of compensatory RTKs signalling pathways. CONCLUSIONS These data, hence, provided evidences of a potentially active role of ALK in RMS cells, but also suggest caution in considering ALK a major therapeutic target in this malignancy, particularly if expression and activity cannot be accurately determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marica Peron
- Clinica di Oncoematologia Pediatrica di Padova, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università di Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Federica Lovisa
- Clinica di Oncoematologia Pediatrica di Padova, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università di Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Poli
- Clinica di Oncoematologia Pediatrica di Padova, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università di Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Basso
- Clinica di Oncoematologia Pediatrica di Padova, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università di Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Paolo Bonvini
- Clinica di Oncoematologia Pediatrica di Padova, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università di Padova, Padua, Italy
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
- * E-mail:
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5
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Guenther MK, Graab U, Fulda S. Synthetic lethal interaction between PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Ras/MEK/ERK pathway inhibition in rhabdomyosarcoma. Cancer Lett 2013; 337:200-9. [PMID: 23684925 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2013.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2013] [Revised: 05/09/2013] [Accepted: 05/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) frequently exhibits concomitant activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and the Ras/MEK/ERK pathways. Therefore, we investigated whether pharmacological cotargeting of these two key survival pathways suppresses RMS growth. Here, we identify a synthetic lethal interaction between PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Ras/MEK/ERK pathway inhibition in RMS. The dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor PI103 and the MEK inhibitor UO126 synergize to trigger apoptosis in several RMS cell lines in a highly synergistic manner (combination index <0.1), whereas either agent alone induces minimal cell death. Similarly, genetic knockdown of p110α and MEK1/2 cooperates to induce apoptosis. Molecular studies reveal that cotreatment with PI103/UO126 cooperates to suppress PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Ras/MEK/ERK signaling, whereas either compound alone is not only less effective to inhibit signaling, but even cross-activates the other pathway. Accordingly, PI103 alone increases ERK phosphorylation, while UO126 enhances Akt phosphorylation, consistent with negative crosstalks between these two signaling pathways. Furthermore, PI103/UO126 cotreatment causes downregulation of several antiapoptotic proteins such as XIAP, Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 as well as increased expression and decreased phosphorylation of the proapoptotic protein BimEL, thus shifting the balance towards apoptosis. Consistently, PI103/UO126 cotreatment cooperates to trigger Bax activation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, caspase activation and caspase-dependent apoptosis. This identification of a synthetic lethal interaction between PI3K/mTOR and MEK inhibitors has important implications for the development of novel treatment strategies in RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Katharina Guenther
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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Marampon F, Gravina GL, Di Rocco A, Bonfili P, Di Staso M, Fardella C, Polidoro L, Ciccarelli C, Festuccia C, Popov VM, Pestell RG, Tombolini V, Zani BM. MEK/ERK inhibitor U0126 increases the radiosensitivity of rhabdomyosarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo by downregulating growth and DNA repair signals. Mol Cancer Ther 2011; 10:159-68. [PMID: 21220498 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-10-0631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Multimodal treatment has improved the outcome of many solid tumors, and in some cases the use of radiosensitizers has significantly contributed to this gain. Activation of the extracellular signaling kinase pathway (MEK/ERK) generally results in stimulation of cell growth and confers a survival advantage playing the major role in human cancer. The potential involvement of this pathway in cellular radiosensitivity remains unclear. We previously reported that the disruption of c-Myc through MEK/ERK inhibition blocks the expression of the transformed phenotype; affects in vitro and in vivo growth and angiogenic signaling; and induces myogenic differentiation in the embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) cell lines (RD). This study was designed to examine whether the ERK pathway affects intrinsic radiosensitivity of rhabdomyosarcoma cancer cells. Exponentially growing human ERMS, RD, xenograft-derived RD-M1, and TE671 cell lines were used. The specific MEK/ERK inhibitor, U0126, reduced the clonogenic potential of the three cell lines, and was affected by radiation. U0126 inhibited phospho-active ERK1/2 and reduced DNA protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) suggesting that ERKs and DNA-PKcs cooperate in radioprotection of rhabdomyosarcoma cells. The TE671 cell line xenotransplanted in mice showed a reduction in tumor mass and increase in the time of tumor progression with U0126 treatment associated with reduced DNA-PKcs, an effect enhanced by radiotherapy. Thus, our results show that MEK/ERK inhibition enhances radiosensitivity of rhabdomyosarcoma cells suggesting a rational approach in combination with radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Marampon
- Francesco Marampon, Department of Experimental Medicine, Division of Radiotherapy and Radiobiology Laboratory, University of L'Aquila Via Vetoio, Coppito 2, 67100, Italy. L'Aquila.
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Hu K, Lee C, Qiu D, Fotovati A, Davies A, Abu-Ali S, Wai D, Lawlor ER, Triche TJ, Pallen CJ, Dunn SE. Small interfering RNA library screen of human kinases and phosphatases identifies polo-like kinase 1 as a promising new target for the treatment of pediatric rhabdomyosarcomas. Mol Cancer Ther 2009; 8:3024-35. [PMID: 19887553 PMCID: PMC2783569 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-09-0365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [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: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma, consisting of alveolar (aRMS) and embryonal (eRMS) subtypes, is the most common type of sarcoma in children. Currently, there are no targeted drug therapies available for rhabdomyosarcoma. In searching for new molecular therapeutic targets, we carried out genome-wide small interfering RNA (siRNA) library screens targeting human phosphatases (n = 206) and kinases (n = 691) initially against an aRMS cell line, RH30. Sixteen phosphatases and 50 kinases were identified based on growth inhibition after 72 hours. Inhibiting polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) had the most remarkable impact on growth inhibition (approximately 80%) and apoptosis on all three rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines tested, namely, RH30, CW9019 (aRMS), and RD (eRMS), whereas there was no effect on normal muscle cells. The loss of PLK1 expression and subsequent growth inhibition correlated with decreased p-CDC25C and Cyclin B1. Increased expression of WEE 1 was also noted. The induction of apoptosis after PLK1 silencing was confirmed by increased p-H2AX, propidium iodide uptake, and chromatin condensation, as well as caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Pediatric Ewing's sarcoma (TC-32), neuroblastoma (IMR32 and KCNR), and glioblastoma (SF188) models were also highly sensitive to PLK1 inhibition. Finally, based on cDNA microarray analyses, PLK1 mRNA was overexpressed (>1.5 fold) in 10 of 10 rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines and in 47% and 51% of primary aRMS (17 of 36 samples) and eRMS (21 of 41 samples) tumors, respectively, compared with normal muscles. Similarly, pediatric Ewing's sarcoma, neuroblastoma, and osteosarcoma tumors expressed high PLK1. We conclude that PLK1 could be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of a wide range of pediatric solid tumors including rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiji Hu
- Laboratory for Oncogenomic Research, Departments of Pediatrics, Experimental Medicine, and Medical Genetics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Cathy Lee
- Laboratory for Oncogenomic Research, Departments of Pediatrics, Experimental Medicine, and Medical Genetics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dexin Qiu
- Cell Phosphosignaling Laboratory, Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Experimental Medicine, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Abbas Fotovati
- Laboratory for Oncogenomic Research, Departments of Pediatrics, Experimental Medicine, and Medical Genetics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alastair Davies
- Laboratory for Oncogenomic Research, Departments of Pediatrics, Experimental Medicine, and Medical Genetics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Samah Abu-Ali
- Laboratory for Oncogenomic Research, Departments of Pediatrics, Experimental Medicine, and Medical Genetics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Daniel Wai
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Elizabeth R. Lawlor
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Timothy J. Triche
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Catherine J. Pallen
- Cell Phosphosignaling Laboratory, Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Experimental Medicine, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sandra E. Dunn
- Laboratory for Oncogenomic Research, Departments of Pediatrics, Experimental Medicine, and Medical Genetics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Armistead PM, Salganick J, Roh JS, Steinert DM, Patel S, Munsell M, El-Naggar AK, Benjamin RS, Zhang W, Trent JC. Expression of receptor tyrosine kinases and apoptotic molecules in rhabdomyosarcoma: correlation with overall survival in 105 patients. Cancer 2008; 110:2293-303. [PMID: 17896786 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.23038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [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: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare mesenchymal tumor with few treatment options after the failure of first-line therapy. Understanding the expression of kinases and apoptotic molecules in RMS tumors may lead to elucidation of mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy and development of new therapies. METHODS Paraffin-embedded tissue samples were collected from 105 RMS patients treated at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and examined for the immunohistochemical expression of kinases and apoptotic molecules deemed potential therapeutic targets. Clinicopathologic information was collected on all patients and analyzed for correlation with overall survival (OS). RESULTS Of the 105 patients, 44 (42%) were female and 89 (85%) were older than 10 years of age. The 5-year OS for this cohort was 24.7%, with inferior median OS in patients with genitourinary primary tumors and those with invasion through the deep fascial plane. Immunohistochemistry revealed Kit and c-erb-b2 to be present on < 10% of tumors but EGFR, PDGFR-alpha, PDGFR-beta, Bcl-2, and Bax were present in > 40% of tumors. Patients whose tumors expressed PDGFR-alpha were found to have a shorter median OS by multivariate analysis (26 vs 266 months, P = .076). Conversely, patients whose tumors expressed Bax were found to have a longer OS (31 vs 19 months, P = .047). CONCLUSIONS EGFR, PDGFR-alpha, PDGFR-beta, Bcl-2, and Bax are frequently expressed in human RMS tissue and may represent new therapeutic targets. Absence of PDGFR-alpha and the presence of Bax are associated with a longer median OS in patients with RMS. Targeting these molecules may be a successful therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Armistead
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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9
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Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common paediatric soft-tissue sarcoma including two major subtypes, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS). Increasing evidence suggests that oncogenesis of RMS involves multistages of signalling protein dysregulation which may include prolonged activation of serine/threonine kinases such as phosphoinositide-dependant kinase-1 (PDK-1) and AKT. To date, whether PDK-1/AKT pathway is activated in RMS is unknown. This study was to examine phosphorylation status of AKT and to evaluate a novel small molecular inhibitor, OSU-03012 targeting PDK-1 in RMS. We examined phosphorylation levels of AKT using ARMS and ERMS tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry staining. Our results showed phospho-AKTThr308 level is elevated 42 and 35% in ARMS and ERMS, respectively. Phospho-AKTSer473 level is also increased 43% in ARMS and 55% in ERMS. Furthermore, we showed that OSU-03012 inhibits cell viability and induces apoptosis in ARMS and ERMS cell lines (RH30, SMS-CTR), which express elevated phospho-AKT levels. Normal cells are much less sensitive to OSU-03012 and in which no detectable apoptosis was observed. This study showed, for the first time, that PDK-1/AKT pathway is activated in RMS and may play an important role in survival of RMS. PDK-1/AKT pathway may be an attractive therapeutic target for cancer intervention in RMS using OSU-03012.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Cen
- Center for Childhood Cancer, Columbus Children's Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - F-C Hsieh
- Center for Childhood Cancer, Columbus Children's Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - H-J Lin
- Division of Medical Technology, School of Allied Medical Professions, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - C-S Chen
- Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - S J Qualman
- Center for Childhood Cancer, Columbus Children's Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - J Lin
- Center for Childhood Cancer, Columbus Children's Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Center for Childhood Cancer, Columbus Children's Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; E-mail:
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Shor AC, Keschman EA, Lee FY, Muro-Cacho C, Letson GD, Trent JC, Pledger WJ, Jove R. Dasatinib inhibits migration and invasion in diverse human sarcoma cell lines and induces apoptosis in bone sarcoma cells dependent on SRC kinase for survival. Cancer Res 2007; 67:2800-8. [PMID: 17363602 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-06-3469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Sarcomas are rare malignant mesenchymal tumors for which there are limited treatment options. One potential molecular target for sarcoma treatment is the Src tyrosine kinase. Dasatinib (BMS-354825), a small-molecule inhibitor of Src kinase activity, is a promising cancer therapeutic agent with p.o. bioavailability. Dasatinib exhibits antitumor effects in cultured human cell lines derived from epithelial tumors, including prostate and lung carcinomas. However, the action of dasatinib in mesenchymally derived tumors has yet to be shown. Based on our previous findings of Src activation in human sarcomas, we evaluated the effects of dasatinib in 12 cultured human sarcoma cell lines derived from bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Dasatinib inhibited Src kinase activity at nanomolar concentrations in these sarcoma cell lines. Downstream components of Src signaling, including focal adhesion kinase and Crk-associated substrate (p130(CAS)), were also inhibited at similar concentrations. This inhibition of Src signaling was accompanied by blockade of cell migration and invasion. Moreover, apoptosis was induced in the osteosarcoma and Ewing's subset of bone sarcomas at nanomolar concentrations of dasatinib. Inhibition of Src protein expression by small interfering RNA also induced apoptosis, indicating that these bone sarcoma cell lines are dependent on Src activity for survival. These results show that dasatinib inhibits migration and invasion of diverse sarcoma cell types and selectively blocks the survival of bone sarcoma cells. Therefore, dasatinib may provide therapeutic benefit by preventing the growth and metastasis of sarcomas in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey C Shor
- Gonzmart Laboratory, Sarcoma Program, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
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Saab R, Bills JL, Miceli AP, Anderson CM, Khoury JD, Fry DW, Navid F, Houghton PJ, Skapek SX. Pharmacologic inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 activity arrests proliferation in myoblasts and rhabdomyosarcoma-derived cells. Mol Cancer Ther 2006; 5:1299-308. [PMID: 16731763 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-05-0383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Myoblast cell cycle exit and differentiation are mediated in part by down-regulation of cyclin D1 and associated cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) activity. Because rhabdomyosarcoma may represent a malignant tumor composed of myoblast-like cells failing to exit the cell cycle and differentiate, we considered whether excess Cdk activity might contribute to this biology. Cyclin D-dependent Cdk4 and Cdk6 were expressed in most of a panel of six human rhabdomyosarcoma-derived cell lines. Cdk4 was expressed in 73% of alveolar and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma tumors evaluated using a human tissue microarray. When challenged to differentiate by mitogen deprivation in vitro, mouse C2C12 myoblasts arrested in G(1) phase of the cell cycle, whereas four in the panel of rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines failed to do so. C2C12 myoblasts maintained in mitogen-rich media and exposed to a Cdk4/Cdk6 inhibitor PD 0332991 accumulated in G(1) cell cycle phase. Similar treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines caused G(1) arrest and prevented cell accumulation in vitro, and it delayed growth of rhabdomyosarcoma xenografts in vivo. Consistent with a role for Cdk4/Cdk6 activity as a regulator of myogenic differentiation, we observed that PD 0332991 exposure promoted morphologic changes and enhanced the expression of muscle-specific proteins in cultured myoblasts and in the Rh30 cell line. Our findings support the concept that pharmacologic inhibition of Cdk4/Cdk6 may represent a useful therapeutic strategy to control cell proliferation and possibly promote myogenic differentiation in rhabdomyosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raya Saab
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 North Lauderdale Street, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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12
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Klüttermann K, Banning U, Kachel M, Krause C, Körholz D, Mauz-Körholz C. TRAIL-induced cytotoxicity in a melphalan-resistant rhabdomyosarcoma cell line via activation of caspase-2. Anticancer Res 2006; 26:351-6. [PMID: 16475717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The prognosis for patients with chemo-refractory rhabdomyosarcoma remains poor. The tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a hopeful candidate for new strategies in chemotherapy. The effects of TRAIL and melphalan (Mel) in the rhabdomyosarcoma cell line TE-671 were investigated by colorimetric caspase assays and flow cytometry. TRAIL induced the activation of caspases-2, -3 and -8, but not the activation of caspase-9, in the Mel-resistant TE-671 cells. Inhibition of caspase-2 with the caspase-2 inhibitor z-VDVAD-fmk significantly down-regulated the TRAIL-induced caspase-3 activation, as well as the TRAIL-induced cytotoxicity. When TE-671 cells were treated with a combination of Mel and TRAIL, a significant synergism of drug-induced cytotoxicity was obtained. The inhibition of caspase-2 could completely abolish caspase-3 activation, suggesting that TRAIL sensitises TE-671 cells for Mel-induced cytotoxicity via a caspase-2- and -3-dependent mechanism. In conclusion, it was shown, for the first time, that TRAIL could sensitise Mel-resistant tumour cells to melphalan.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Klüttermann
- Division of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Department of Paediatrics, University of Leipzig, Germany
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13
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Izeradjene K, Douglas L, Delaney A, Houghton JA. Acknowledgment and apology: Text copied from Biochemical Journal. Clin Cancer Res 2005; 11:5329. [PMID: 16033852 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-11-14-ltr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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14
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Scotlandi K, Manara MC, Nicoletti G, Lollini PL, Lukas S, Benini S, Croci S, Perdichizzi S, Zambelli D, Serra M, García-Echeverría C, Hofmann F, Picci P. Antitumor activity of the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor kinase inhibitor NVP-AEW541 in musculoskeletal tumors. Cancer Res 2005; 65:3868-76. [PMID: 15867386 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-04-3192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 233] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Identification of new drugs is strongly needed for sarcomas. Insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) was found to provide a major contribution to the malignant behavior of these tumors, therefore representing a very promising therapeutic target. In this study, we analyzed the therapeutic potential of a novel kinase inhibitor of IGF-IR, NVP-AEW541, in Ewing's sarcoma, osteosarcoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma, the three most frequent solid tumors in children and adolescents. NVP-AEW541 inhibits IGF-I-mediated receptor activation and downstream signaling. Ewing's sarcoma cells were generally found to be more sensitive to the effects of this drug compared with rhabdomyosarcoma and osteosarcoma, in agreement with the high dependency of this neoplasm to IGF-IR signaling. NVP-AEW541 induced a G1 cell cycle block in all cells tested, whereas apoptosis was observed only in those cells that show a high level of sensitivity. Concurrent exposure of cells to NVP-AEW541 and other chemotherapeutic agents resulted in positive interactions with vincristine, actinomycin D, and ifosfamide and subadditive effects with doxorubicin and cisplatin. Accordingly, combined treatment with NVP-AEW541 and vincristine significantly inhibited tumor growth of Ewing's sarcoma xenografts in nude mice. Therefore, results encourage inclusion of this drug especially in the treatment of patients with Ewing's sarcoma. For the broadest applicability and best efficacy in sarcomas, NVP-AEW541 may be combined with vincristine, actinomycin D, and ifosfamide, three major drugs in the treatment of sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katia Scotlandi
- Laboratory of Oncologic Research, Orthopaedic Rizzoli Institute, Bologna, Italy.
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15
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Werner M, Sacher J, Hohenegger M. Mutual amplification of apoptosis by statin-induced mitochondrial stress and doxorubicin toxicity in human rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Br J Pharmacol 2004; 143:715-24. [PMID: 15289292 PMCID: PMC1575923 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0705928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2004] [Revised: 05/19/2004] [Accepted: 06/01/2004] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Besides their cholesterol-lowering effect, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) show antiproliferative behaviour, which has been suggested as a promising anticancer strategy. However, the signalling cascades leading to statin-induced death of cancer cells are poorly characterized. Here we show that statins activate the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis in rhabdomyosarcoma RD cells via translocation of Bax from the cytosol to mitochondria. The prototypical representative of statins, simvastatin, induced consecutive activation of caspase 9 and 3 in a concentration-dependent manner. The permeability transition pore inhibitor bongkrekic acid was capable of completely preventing simvastatin-induced caspase 9 and 3 activity, corroborating the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis as the sole mechanism of statin action. Alternative pathways via death receptors, that is, caspase 8 or calpain activation, were not triggered by simvastatin. Simvastatin-treated RD cells could be completely rescued from apoptosis by the co-application of mevalonic acid, indicating that deprivation of cholesterol precursors is essential for statin-induced apoptosis. However, pretreatment with subthreshold concentrations of simvastatin was sufficient to augment doxorubicin toxicity via the mitochondrial apoptotic machinery. Moreover, the presence of doxorubicin increased the potency of simvastatin to trigger caspase activation. Taken together, these data highlight the therapeutic anticancer potential of statins and their additivity and mutual sensitization, in combination with doxorubicin in human rhabdomyosarcoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Werner
- Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringerstrasse 13A, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Sacher
- Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringerstrasse 13A, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Hohenegger
- Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringerstrasse 13A, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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Ishikawa J, Taniguchi T, Higashi H, Miura K, Suzuki K, Takeshita A, Maekawa M. High Lactate Dehydrogenase Isoenzyme 1 in a Patient with Malignant Germ Cell Tumor Is Attributable to Aberrant Methylation of the LDHA Gene. Clin Chem 2004; 50:1826-8. [PMID: 15297388 DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2004.037739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jinko Ishikawa
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 431-3192, Japan
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17
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Abstract
The genetic mechanisms that control proliferation of childhood musculoskeletal malignancies, notably Ewing's tumor (ET) and rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), remain largely unknown. Most human cancers appear to overexpress at least one of the G1 cyclins (cyclins D1, D2, D3, E1, and E2) to bypass normal regulation of cell cycle G1 progression. We compared the gene expression profiles of 7 ET and 13 RMS primary tumor samples and found overexpression of cyclin D1 in all 7 ET samples. In contrast, RMS samples expressed higher levels of cyclin D2, cyclin D3, and cyclin E1. This was confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. The relative roles of RAS-extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)-AKT pathways in the regulation of D-type cyclin expression in these tumors were then assessed. Inhibition of either pathway reduced expression of cyclins D1, D2, and D3 in RMS lines, whereas only PI3K inhibitors blocked cyclin D1, D2, and D3 expression in ET lines. Furthermore, PI3K-AKT appeared to regulate D-type cyclin transcription in RMS lines through FKHR and FKHRL1. Finally, the role of the ET-associated EWS-FLI1 fusion gene in regulating D cyclin expression was studied. Inhibition of EWS-FLI1 expression in the TC71 ET line decreased cyclin D1 levels but increased cyclin D3 levels. In contrast, induction of EWS-FLI1 expression in the RD RMS cell line increased cyclin D1 expression but decreased cyclin D3 expression. Our results demonstrate distinct regulation of D-type cyclins in ET and RMS and indicate that EWS-FLI1 can modulate the expression of D-type cyclins independent of cellular backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingsong Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90027, USA
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18
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Ito H, Duxbury M, Benoit E, Farivar RS, Gardner-Thorpe J, Zinner MJ, Ashley SW, Whang EE. Fibronectin-induced COX-2 mediates MMP-2 expression and invasiveness of rhabdomyosarcoma. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2004; 318:594-600. [PMID: 15120641 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.04.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2004] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Although accumulating evidence suggests the importance of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in the pathogenesis of many cancers, the mechanism by which this enzyme and its metabolite promote cancer progression is unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of COX-2 in fibronectin-induced up-regulation of rhabdomyosarcoma matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 activity and cellular invasiveness. We tested three human rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines: RMS559, RD, and SJRH30. Cell attachment to fibronectin up-regulated both COX-2 expression and PGE(2) production and concomitantly enhanced MMP-2 activity. Exogenous PGE(2) stimulated MMP-2 promoter activity, increased MMP-2 expression, and increased cellular invasiveness. Aspirin and rofecoxib (non-selective and selective COX-2 inhibitor, respectively) each abolished fibronectin-associated induction of MMP-2 and induced dose-dependent reductions in cellular invasiveness. These data implicated a role for inducible COX-2 and PGE(2) in the regulation of rhabdomyosarcoma cellular invasiveness and MMP-2 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiromichi Ito
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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19
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Yeager ND, Dolan ME, Gastier JM, Gross TG, Delaney S, Frick J, Ruymann FB, Ewesuedo R. O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase activity and promoter methylation status in pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2003; 25:941-7. [PMID: 14663276 DOI: 10.1097/00043426-200312000-00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine the activity of the DNA repair protein O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and MGMT promoter methylation status of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and examine MGMT in RMS tumors from different prognostic groups. METHODS Fifteen samples each of the alveolar (ARMS) and embryonal (ERMS) subtypes were obtained for analysis of MGMT activity and promoter methylation status. MGMT activity was assayed by measuring the removal of O6-[3H] methylguanine from [3H]-methylated substrate by a tumor extract containing the enzyme. Promoter methylation status was examined using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS MGMT activity was successfully assayed from 25 samples, 10 ERMS and 15 ARMS. All ERMS and 11 of the 15 ARMS samples displayed high activity levels. There was significant intertumor variability among both subtypes but no significant difference in mean activity between the two histologic groups. There were trends toward increased activity in ERMS tumors and tumors from anatomically unfavorable locations. Only one tumor was hypermethylated at the MGMT promoter region. CONCLUSIONS This analysis suggests that a low percentage of RMS samples are hypermethylated at the MGMT promoter and that most have significant MGMT activity, implying that clinical trials with MGMT-modulating agents may have a role in the treatment of these tumors. This analysis does not support MGMT activity as an explanation of the differential response to chemotherapy demonstrated by ARMS and ERMS, but does suggest that MGMT may be involved in RMS treatment failure regardless of subtype and in the poorer response shown by tumors from unfavorable locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas D Yeager
- Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA.
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20
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Abstract
PURPOSE To determine if expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, an inducible enzyme with known tumor-promoting activity, correlates with outcome in pediatric sarcomas. COX-2 overexpression correlates with more aggressive disease in a variety of adult solid tumors. METHODS Archived human osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and Ewing sarcoma tumors were retrospectively evaluated, blinded to outcome, for COX-2 expression by immunohistochemistry and correlated with patient characteristics and survival. RESULTS COX-2 expression was detected in 94 of 142 (66%) tumors (osteosarcoma, 66/99 [67%]; rhabdomyosarcoma, 21/35 [60%]; Ewing sarcoma, 7/8 [88%]) and 51 of 85 (60%) diagnostic biopsies (osteosarcoma, 26/45 [58%]; rhabdomyosarcoma, 21/35 [60%]; Ewing sarcoma, 4/5 [80%]). COX-2 expression did not vary with clinicopathologic features and was not predictive of prognosis in these cases. CONCLUSIONS This study does not support the use of COX-2 expression as an upfront prognostic variable in patients with osteosarcoma or rhabdomyosarcoma. Results from the small number of patients studied with Ewing sarcoma suggest a similar lack of predictive value for COX-2 expression. However, COX-2 inhibitors are not entirely dependent upon enzyme expression for their antitumor effects; this study does not necessarily preclude the use of COX-2 inhibitors for the treatment of pediatric sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Dickens
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
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21
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Thimmaiah KN, Easton J, Huang S, Veverka KA, Germain GS, Harwood FC, Houghton PJ. Insulin-like growth factor I-mediated protection from rapamycin-induced apoptosis is independent of Ras-Erk1-Erk2 and phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase-Akt signaling pathways. Cancer Res 2003; 63:364-74. [PMID: 12543789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
The mTOR inhibitor rapamycin induces G1 cell cycle accumulation and p53-independent apoptosis of the human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line Rh1. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulin, but not epidermal growth factor or platelet-derived growth factor, completely prevented apoptosis of this cell line. Because the Ras-Erk1-Erk2 and phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathways are implicated in the survival of various cancer cells, we determined whether protection from rapamycin-induced apoptosis by IGF-I requires one or both of these pathways. Despite the blocking of Ras-Erk signaling by the addition of PD 98059 (a MEK1 inhibitor) or by the overexpression of dominant-negative RasN17, IGF-I completely prevented rapamycin-induced death. Inhibition of Ras signaling did not prevent Akt activation by IGF-I. To determine the role of the PI3K-Akt pathway in rescuing cells from apoptosis caused by rapamycin, cells expressing dominant-negative Akt were tested. This mutant protein inhibited IGF-I-induced phosphorylation of Akt and blocked phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3. The prevention of rapamycin-induced apoptosis by IGF-I was not inhibited by expression of dominant-negative Akt either alone or under conditions in which LY 294002 inhibited PI3K signaling. Furthermore, IGF-I prevented rapamycin-induced apoptosis when the Ras-Erk1-Erk2 and PI3K-Akt pathways were blocked simultaneously. Similar experiments in a second rhabdomyosarcoma cell line, Rh30, using pharmacological inhibitors of PI3K or MEK1, alone or in combination, failed to block IGF-I rescue from rapamycin-induced apoptosis. Therefore, we conclude that a novel pathway(s) is responsible for the IGF-I-mediated protection against rapamycin-induced apoptosis in these rhabdomyosarcoma cells.
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22
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Ostrovsky O, Bengal E, Aronheim A. Induction of terminal differentiation by the c-Jun dimerization protein JDP2 in C2 myoblasts and rhabdomyosarcoma cells. J Biol Chem 2002; 277:40043-54. [PMID: 12171923 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m205494200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscle cell differentiation is a result of a complex interplay between transcription factors and cell signaling proteins. Proliferating myoblasts must exit from the cell cycle prior to their differentiation. The muscle regulatory factor and myocyte enhancer factor-2 protein families play a major role in promoting muscle cell differentiation. Conversely, members of the AP-1 family of transcription factors that promote cell proliferation antagonize muscle cell differentiation. Here we tested the role of the c-Jun dimerization protein JDP2 in muscle cell differentiation. Endogenous expression of JDP2 was induced in both C2C12 myoblast and rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells programmed to differentiate. Ectopic expression of JDP2 in C2C12 myoblast cells inhibited cell cycle progression and induced spontaneous muscle cell differentiation. Likewise, constitutive expression of JDP2 in RD cells reduced their tumorigenic characteristics and restored their ability to differentiate into myotubes. JDP2 potentiated and synergized with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate to induce muscle cell differentiation of RD cells. In addition, JDP2 induced p38 activity in both C2 and RD cells programmed to differentiate. This is the first demonstration of a single transcription factor that rescues the myogenic program in an otherwise non-differentiating cancer cell line. Our results indicate that the JDP2 protein plays a major role in promoting skeletal muscle differentiation via its involvement in cell cycle arrest and activation of the myogenic program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Ostrovsky
- Department of Molecular Genetics, B. Rappaport Institute for Research in the Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel
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23
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Mauro A, Ciccarelli C, De Cesaris P, Scoglio A, Bouché M, Molinaro M, Aquino A, Zani BM. PKCalpha-mediated ERK, JNK and p38 activation regulates the myogenic program in human rhabdomyosarcoma cells. J Cell Sci 2002; 115:3587-99. [PMID: 12186945 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously suggested that PKCalpha has a role in 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-mediated growth arrest and myogenic differentiation in human embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cells (RD). Here, by monitoring the signalling pathways triggered by TPA, we demonstrate that PKCalpha mediates these effects by inducing transient activation of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinases (JNKs) and sustained activation of both p38 kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) (all referred to as MAPKs). Activation of MAPKs following ectopic expression of constitutively active PKCalpha, but not its dominant-negative form, is also demonstrated. We investigated the selective contribution of MAPKs to growth arrest and myogenic differentiation by monitoring the activation of MAPK pathways, as well as by dissecting MAPK pathways using MEK1/2 inhibitor (UO126), p38 inhibitor (SB203580) and JNK and p38 agonist (anisomycin) treatments. Growth-arresting signals are triggered either by transient and sustained JNK activation (by TPA and anisomycin, respectively) or by preventing both ERK and JNK activation (UO126) and are maintained, rather than induced, by p38. We therefore suggest a key role for JNK in controlling ERK-mediated mitogenic activity. Notably, sarcomeric myosin expression is induced by both TPA and UO126 but is abrogated by the p38 inhibitor. This finding indicates a pivotal role for p38 in controlling the myogenic program. Anisomycin persistently activates p38 and JNKs but prevents myosin expression induced by TPA. In accordance with this negative role, reactivation of JNKs by anisomycin, in UO126-pre-treated cells, also prevents myosin expression. This indicates that, unlike the transient JNK activation that occurs in the TPA-mediated myogenic process, long-lasting JNK activation supports the growth-arrest state but antagonises p38-mediated myosin expression. Lastly, our results with the MEK inhibitor suggest a key role of the ERK pathway in regulating myogenic-related morphology in differentiated RD cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annunziata Mauro
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, Coppito II, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
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Abstract
Therapies for metastatic pediatric sarcomas have reached maximum tolerated doses, but continue to provide suboptimal cure rates. Additionally, these treatments are associated with numerous short- and long-term side effects. Therefore, the search for newer, less toxic therapeutic agents is warranted. Overexpression of the inducible enzyme, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), has been discovered in a variety of adult solid tumors and numerous studies have shown COX-2 inhibitors to have significant antiproliferative effects. Therefore, we sought to determine the expression of COX-2 in pediatric sarcomas. We evaluated rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), osteosarcoma (OS), and Ewing sarcoma (EWS) samples for COX-2 expression by immunohistochemical analysis as well as by cDNA microarray analysis. COX-2 expression was detected in 48/58 (82.8%) tumors by immunohistochemistry and in an additional 52/59 (88.1%) tumors tested by microarray gene analysis. There was a trend toward increased COX-2 expression in metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma and osteosarcoma, though it did not reach clinical significance. The degree of COX-2 immunoreactivity did not vary significantly with other clinicopathologic features such as age, gender, or histologic classification. We conclude that the majority of these pediatric sarcoma samples express COX-2 to varying degrees. Therefore, studies testing the efficacy of COX-2 inhibitors in the treatment of pediatric sarcomas are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Dickens
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
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25
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Castro B, Alonso-Varona A, del Olmo M, Bilbao P, Palomares T. Role of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase on the response of poorly and moderately differentiated rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines to buthionine sulfoximine-induced inhibition of glutathione synthesis. Anticancer Drugs 2002; 13:281-91. [PMID: 11984072 DOI: 10.1097/00001813-200203000-00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Glutathione (GSH) is involved in many cellular functions, including cell growth and differentiation. GSH also plays an important role in the protection of cells against oxidative damage and hence in determining the sensitivity of cells to the cytotoxicity of anticancer agents. Because of this, induction of GSH depletion has been proposed as a good strategy for sensitizing tumor cells to antitumor agents. The aim of the present work is to study the effect of buthionine sulfoximine (BSO, a specific cellular GSH-depleting agent) in two rat tumor cell lines derived from the same rhabdomyosarcoma tumor model, the moderately differentiated and low metastatic F21 cell line, and the poorly differentiated and high metastatic S4MH cell line, to investigate the influence of the degree of differentiation in the induction of GSH depletion-based therapy. We observed that, whereas in the S4MH cell line BSO induced a dose-dependent inhibition of both cell growth in vitro and tumorigenic potential in vivo, in F21 cells the administration of moderate doses of BSO enhanced tumor growth and only at high doses was there a slight reduction of their tumorigenic potential. These effects were in consonance with the fact that the activity of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GT) present in the F21 cells was 4 times higher than in the S4MH cells. Indeed, inhibition of gamma-GT activity by acivicin not only abrogated the BSO-induced increase of GSH content and of cell growth, but also the combination of acivicin + BSO significantly decreased intracellular GSH levels and cell proliferation, and induced F21 cells to apoptosis. These studies suggest that, as occurs in the rhabdomyosarcoma tumor model, gamma-GT levels and the degree of differentiation of tumor cells might influence the response of tumor cells to inducers of GSH depletion, and should be taken into account in therapies based on GSH metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Begoña Castro
- Department of Cell Biology and Morphological Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, 48940 Vizcaya, Spain
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26
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Houghton
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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27
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Wierdl M, Morton CL, Weeks JK, Danks MK, Harris LC, Potter PM. Sensitization of human tumor cells to CPT-11 via adenoviral-mediated delivery of a rabbit liver carboxylesterase. Cancer Res 2001; 61:5078-82. [PMID: 11431344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
Irinotecan, 7-ethyl-10-[4-(1-piperidino)-1-piperidino]carbonyloxycamptothecin (CPT-11) is activated by carboxylesterases (CE) to yield the potent topoisomerase I inhibitor, SN-38. We have demonstrated previously that a rabbit liver CE is approximately 100-1000-fold more efficient at drug activation than a highly homologous human CE. In an attempt to use rabbit CE expression in combination with CPT-11 for gene therapy approaches for the treatment of cancer, we have developed an adenoviral vector expressing this intracellular CE. After transduction, this virus produces very high levels of CE activity in a panel of human tumor cell lines and results in marked sensitization to CPT-11 of all of the transduced cells. Reductions in IC(50) values for this drug ranged from 11-127-fold. Additionally, comparison with an adenovirus expressing a secreted form of the rabbit CE indicated that a collateral effect could be achieved with reductions in the IC(50) values ranging from 4-19-fold. These data suggest that the described reagents may be suitable for use in vivo in a viral-directed enzyme prodrug therapy approach using CPT-11.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Wierdl
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
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Ito H, Seyama Y, Kubota S. Calreticulin is directly involved in anti-alpha3 integrin antibody-mediated secretion and activation of matrix metalloprotease-2. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2001; 283:297-302. [PMID: 11327697 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.2001.4833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP-2) plays a pivotal role in cancer invasion and metastasis. Invasive human rhabdomyosarcoma cells (RD) secrete proMMP-2. We recently reported that anti-alpha3 integrin antibody induced the activated form of MMP-2 and enhanced proMMP-2 secretion by RD cells with concomitant enhancement of RD cell invasion. Since recent studies showed that calreticulin interacts with integrin alpha subunit, we hypothesized that calreticulin may be involved in signal transduction of anti-alpha3 integrin antibody-mediated MMP-2 secretion and activation. Here we demonstrate that anti-alpha3 integrin antibody induced a transient enhanced interaction of calreticulin with alpha3 integrin. Transfection of antisense oligonucleotides of calreticulin in RD cells abrogated the interaction between calreticulin and alpha3 integrin, and completely suppressed activation of MMP-2 and enhanced secretion of proMMP-2 induced by anti-alpha3 integrin antibody. Transient overexpression of calreticulin cDNA in RD cells significantly increased secretion of proMMP-2. The results demonstrate for the first time that calreticulin is directly involved in MMP-2 secretion and activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Ito
- Department of Physiological Chemistry and Metabolism, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan
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29
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Theys J, Landuyt W, Nuyts S, Van Mellaert L, van Oosterom A, Lambin P, Anné J. Specific targeting of cytosine deaminase to solid tumors by engineered Clostridium acetobutylicum. Cancer Gene Ther 2001; 8:294-7. [PMID: 11393282 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7700303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The presence of severe hypoxia and necrosis in solid tumors offers the potential to apply an anaerobic bacterial enzyme/prodrug approach in cancer treatment. In this context the apathogenic C. acetobutylicum was genetically engineered to express and secrete E. coli cytosine deaminase (CDase). Considerable levels of functional cytosine deaminase were detected in lysates and supernatants of recombinant C acetobutylicum cultures. After administration of the recombinant Clostridium to rhabdomyosarcoma bearing rats used as a model, cytosine deaminase could be detected at the tumor site. Moreover, following administration of the vascular targeting agent combretastatin A-4 phosphate significantly increased levels of cytosine deaminase were detected at the tumor site as a consequence of enlarged tumor necrosis and subsequently improved growth of C. acetobutylicum. The results provide evidence for the potential application of Clostrisdium-based therapeutic protein transfer to tumors in anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Theys
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
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30
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Tanimoto H, Shigemasa K, Sasaki M, Katayama H, Kusumi I, Parmley TH, O'Brien TJ, Ohama K. Differential expression of matrix metalloprotease-7 in each component of uterine carcinosarcoma. Oncol Rep 2000; 7:1209-12. [PMID: 11032915 DOI: 10.3892/or.7.6.1209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [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: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of matrix metalloprotease-7 (MMP-7) in each component of uterine carcinosarcoma. Surgical specimens of primary tumors of uterine carcinosarcomas were obtained from 13 patients. The carcinomatous component consisted of adenocarcinoma with or without squamous differentiation. The sarcomatous component consisted of spindle cell sarcoma, chondrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, either alone or in combination. The immunohistochemical expression of MMP-7 protein was examined using the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex technique employing the anti-MMP-7 monoclonal antibody. Expression of MMP-7 protein was detected in 9 (69.2%) of 13 adenocarcinoma components, while no staining was observed in any of the sarcomatous components examined. There was a statistically significant difference of the positive rate for MMP-7 between epithelial components and sarcomatous components of uterine carcinosarcoma (p<0.01). In some cases, MMP-7 was abundantly expressed at the invasive front of adenocarcinomas. It is concluded that MMP-7 protein is differentially expressed between the carcinomatous component and the sarcomatous component of uterine carcinosarcoma. Each component of carcinosarcoma may have its own potential for invasion and metastasis. MMP-7 may contribute to the invasive nature or growth capacity of the carcinomatous component of uterine carcinosarcoma, while it may not have a relation to that of the sarcomatous components.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Tanimoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Asada General Hospital, Marugame, Japan
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31
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Pawlik CA, Iyengar RV, Krull EJ, Mason SE, Khanna R, Harris LC, Potter PM, Danks MK, Guichard SM. Use of the ornithine decarboxylase promoter to achieve N-MYC-mediated overexpression of a rabbit carboxylesterase to sensitize neuroblastoma cells to CPT-11. Mol Ther 2000; 1:457-63. [PMID: 10933967 DOI: 10.1006/mthe.2000.0064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of specific transcription factors by tumor cells can be exploited to regulate expression of proteins that induce apoptosis or activate prodrugs, thereby producing tumor-selective toxicity. A majority of advanced-stage neuroblastomas overexpress the transcription factor N-MYC, and this overexpression is associated with poor prognosis. This study describes regulation of expression by N-MYC, via the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) promoter, of a rabbit liver carboxylesterase (CE) that activates the prodrug CPT-11. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter assays and CE activity assays in transiently transfected neuroblastoma cell lines (SJNB-1, SJNB-4, NB-1691) and rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines (JR1neo20, JR1Nmyc6, JR1Nmyc9) support this approach as a potential method for sensitizing tumor cells to CPT-11. Clonogenic assays with IMR32 human neuroblastoma cells which express N-MYC and that had been stably transfected with a plasmid containing an ODC promoter/CE cassette corroborated results of enzyme activity assays. Specifically, IMR32.ODC.CE cells expressed approximately eightfold more CE activity than IMR32.CMV.neo cells; and 5 microM CPT-11 reduced the clonogenic potential of IMR32.ODC.CE cells to zero, while 50 microM CPT-11 was required to produce the same effect with IMR32.CMV.neo cells. Current experiments focus on adenoviral delivery of an ODC promoter/CE cDNA cassette for potential virus-directed enzyme prodrug therapy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Pawlik
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
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32
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Puri PL, Wu Z, Zhang P, Wood LD, Bhakta KS, Han J, Feramisco JR, Karin M, Wang JY. Induction of terminal differentiation by constitutive activation of p38 MAP kinase in human rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Genes Dev 2000; 14:574-84. [PMID: 10716945 PMCID: PMC316418] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/1999] [Accepted: 01/28/2000] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
MyoD inhibits cell proliferation and promotes muscle differentiation. A paradoxical feature of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a tumor arising from muscle precursors, is the block of the differentiation program and the deregulated proliferation despite MyoD expression. A deficiency in RMS of a factor required for MyoD activity has been implicated by previous studies. We report here that p38 MAP kinase (MAPK) activation, which is essential for muscle differentiation, is deficient in RMS cells. Enforced induction of p38 MAPK by an activated MAPK kinase 6 (MKK6EE) restored MyoD function and enhanced MEF2 activity in RMS deficient for p38 MAPK activation, leading to growth arrest and terminal differentiation. Stress and cytokines could activate the p38 MAPK in RMS cells, however, these stimuli did not promote differentiation, possibly because they activated p38 MAPK only transiently and they also activated JNK, which could antagonize differentiation. Thus, the selective and sustained p38 MAPK activation, which is distinct from the stress-activated response, is required for differentiation and can be disrupted in human tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- P L Puri
- Department of Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
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33
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate whether telomerase is reactivated in soft tissue tumor and whether telomerase activity is regulated at the transcriptional level. DESIGN Fresh tissue samples of 24 soft tissue sarcomas were analyzed for telomerase activity by a radioactive polymerase chain reaction-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay and for human telomerase RNA (hTR) by an in situ hybridization assay. SETTING Tertiary care teaching hospital. PATIENTS Twenty-four patients with soft tissue tumor were surgically treated. Twelve patients had malignant fibrous histiocytoma, 5 had liposarcoma, 6 had leiomyosarcoma, and 1 had rhabdomyosarcoma. RESULTS Telomerase activity was detected in 4 sarcoma samples (17%), all of which were positive for hTR. Expression of hTR was demonstrated in 13 sarcomas (54%), 4 of which were positive for telomerase and 9 of which were negative for telomerase. One (50%) of 2 grade 1 tumors, 9 (50%) of 18 grade 2 tumors, and 3 (75%) of 4 grade 3 tumors showed hTR expression. CONCLUSIONS The relatively low frequency of telomerase activity in soft tissue sarcomas suggests that telomerase may not play an important role in tumorigenesis in these tumors. Telomerase ladders were demonstrated only in association with tumors expressing hTR. It is noteworthy that half of the patients with grade 1 and 2 tumors expressed hTR, suggesting that telomerase RNA may be useful as a marker for identifying tumor aggressiveness earlier than the conventional histopathologic grading scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Yoo
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242-1009, USA
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34
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Storz P, Döppler H, Pfizenmaier K, Müller G. Insulin selectively activates STAT5b, but not STAT5a, via a JAK2-independent signalling pathway in Kym-1 rhabdomyosarcoma cells. FEBS Lett 1999; 464:159-63. [PMID: 10618497 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(99)01689-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The STAT multigene family of transcriptional regulators conveys signals from several cytokines and growth factors upon phosphorylation by janus kinases (JAK). Activation of STAT5 is typically mediated by JAK2, but more recent data indicate a direct activation by the insulin receptor kinase. STAT5 exists in two closely homologous isoforms, STAT5a and b. We here describe the selective tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT5b in Kym-1 cells in response to insulin. Blocking insulin signalling by HNMPA-(AM)(3), an insulin receptor kinase inhibitor, resulted in the loss of insulin-induced STAT5b tyrosine phosphorylation, whereas the inhibition of JAK2 by the JAK selective inhibitor tyrphostin AG490 had no effect. By contrast, in the same cells, IFNgamma-induced STAT5b activation was JAK2-dependent, indicating that this signal pathway is functional in Kym-1 cells. We conclude from this rhabdomyosarcoma model that STAT5b, but not STAT5a is a direct target of the insulin receptor kinase.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Storz
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
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35
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Sawabe S, Hara K, Maekawa M. [High creatine kinase MB concentration and activity in patients with rhabdomyosarcoma]. Rinsho Byori 1999; 47:1079-82. [PMID: 10590688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
A 14-year-old boy with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) of the left palm showed increased concentration and activity of creatine kinase (CK; EC 2.7.3.2) MB in his serum. CK isoenzyme analysis revealed no extra band. Other laboratory data including high lactate dehydrogenase (LD) isoenzyme 2, CK isoenzyme BB and MB, neuron specific enolase (NSE), and clinical findings did not support the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. The high activity and concentration of CK-MB in serum is possibly originated from the tumor. We could follow his time-course and analyze laboratory data of him and other 6 patients with RMS. We concluded that CK-MB, both concentration and activity, was the more sensitive marker of disease states of RMS than NSE and LD to follow up the patients with RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Sawabe
- Division of Clinical Laboratory, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo
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36
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Abstract
In normal somatic cells, the methylation pattern of DNA is stably maintained by DNA (cytosine-5-)-methyltransferase (DNA methyltransferase). Increased expression of DNA methyltransferase has been detected in many types of human cancer and has been thought to play an important role in tumorigenesis. In our study, we developed a standardized reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay to determine the mRNA levels of DNA methyltransferase in rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft tissue cancer in children. Using this assay, expression of DNA methyltransferase was analyzed for 32 rhabdomyosarcomas and 12 normal skeletal muscle samples. All tumor samples, of which 18 were embryonal and 14 were alveolar subtype, showed increased expression of DNA methyltransferase after normalization to beta-actin. Compared to normal skeletal muscle, the average increase of DNA methyltransferase expression was 6.7-fold (6.7 +/-()0.96) in the embryonal tumors and 3.7-fold (3.7 +/- 0.46) in the alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas. The difference in the average increase of the DNA methyltransferase expression was statistically significant in the 2 rhabdomyosarcoma subtypes, which have distinct etiologies and clinical behaviors. Our results are consistent with previous reports that an increase in DNA methyltransferase activity is associated with neoplastic transformation; however, the role of increased DNA methyltransferase expression in the development and progression of rhabdomyosarcoma needs to be investigated in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Chen
- Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA.
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37
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Hosoi H, Dilling MB, Liu LN, Danks MK, Shikata T, Sekulic A, Abraham RT, Lawrence JC, Houghton PJ. Studies on the mechanism of resistance to rapamycin in human cancer cells. Mol Pharmacol 1998; 54:815-24. [PMID: 9804616 DOI: 10.1124/mol.54.5.815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapamycin is a potent cytostatic agent that arrests cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. The relationships between cellular sensitivity to rapamycin, drug accumulation, expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and inhibition of growth factor activation of ribosomal p70S6 kinase (p70(S6k)) and dephosphorylation of pH acid stable protein I (eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein) were examined. We show that some cell lines derived from childhood tumors are highly sensitive to growth inhibition by rapamycin, whereas others have high intrinsic resistance (>1000-fold). Accumulation and retention of [14C]rapamycin were similar in sensitive and resistant cells, with all cells examined demonstrating a stable tight binding component. Western analysis showed levels of mTOR were similar in each cell line (<2-fold variation). The activity of p70(S6k), activated downstream of mTOR, was similar in four cell lines (range, 11.75-41. 8 pmol/2 x 10(6) cells/30 min), but activity was equally inhibited in cells that were highly resistant to rapamycin-induced growth arrest. Rapamycin equally inhibited serum-induced phosphorylation of pH acid stable protein I in Rh1 (intrinsically resistant) and sensitive Rh30 cells. In serum-fasted Rh30 and Rh1 cells, the addition of serum rapidly induced c-MYC (protein) levels. Rapamycin blocked induction in Rh30 cells but not in Rh1 cells. Serum-fasted Rh30/rapa10K cells, selected for high level acquired resistance to rapamycin, showed >/=10-fold increased c-MYC compared with Rh30. These results suggest that the ability of rapamycin to inhibit c-MYC induction correlates with intrinsic sensitivity, whereas failure of rapamycin to inhibit induction or overexpression of c-MYC correlates with intrinsic and acquired resistance, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Hosoi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
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38
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Morton CL, Potter PM. Rhabdomyosarcoma-specific expression of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene confers sensitivity to ganciclovir. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1998; 286:1066-73. [PMID: 9694970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We examined a panel of cell lines for the expression of the myogenic proteins myoD and myogenin. High level expression of both proteins was seen in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). To determine whether promoter elements from these genes could direct RMS cell-specific expression, we generated reporter constructs containing one or two copies of the myoD enhancer coupled to the SV40 promoter. Transient transfection reporter assays confirmed the selective expression of beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) in 8 RMS cell lines. In contrast, very low expression from the myoD enhancer/SV40 promoter was detected in four non-RMS cell lines. To determine whether the hybrid promoter could elicit RMS-specific cytotoxicity, a mammalian expression vector containing the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) under control of the hybrid myoD enhancer/SV40 promoter was constructed. After electroporation into several cell lines, selective RMS cell kill was observed after treatment with ganciclovir. These data suggest that in vivo tumor-specific expression of HSVtk from the myoD enhancer/SV40 promoter may provide an alternative to current chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Morton
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
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39
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Lollini PL, Landuzzi L, Frabetti F, Rossi I, Nicoletti G, Scotlandi K, Serra M, Baldini N, De Giovanni C, Nanni P. Expression of functional CD40 on human osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma cells. Clin Cancer Res 1998; 4:1843-9. [PMID: 9717810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
CD40, a membrane glycoprotein of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, is expressed by several tumor types, including B-cell lymphomas, carcinomas, and melanoma, but little is known concerning its expression by sarcoma. We used flow cytometry to analyze the expression of CD40 in human cell lines derived from 12 osteosarcomas, 6 Ewing's sarcomas, and 5 rhabdomyosarcomas. Detectable CD40 levels ranging from low to very high were found in one-third of osteosarcomas, whereas five of six Ewing's sarcomas expressed intermediate levels of CD40; all rhabdomyosarcomas were CD40-negative. At the tissue level, two of eight primary high-grade osteosarcomas showed CD40-positive immunostaining. Osteosarcoma cells and Ewing's sarcoma cells expressing CD40 were treated with recombinant soluble CD40 ligand to analyze CD40 function. Treatment with soluble CD40 ligand increased the level of apoptotic cells and stimulated the transcription of matrix metalloproteinase 9 gene, enhancing matrix metalloproteinase 9 enzyme secretion. The results indicate that in human osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma, CD40 is a functional receptor whose engagement can have opposite effects on tumor cell survival and malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- P L Lollini
- Institute for Cancer Research, University of Bologna, Italy.
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40
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Bouché M, Zappelli F, Polimeni M, Adamo S, Wetsel WC, Senni MI, Molinaro M. Rapid activation and down-regulation of protein kinase C alpha in 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced differentiation of human rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Cell Growth Differ 1995; 6:845-852. [PMID: 7547506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Human rhabdomyosarcoma RD cells express the myogenic regulatory factors MyoD and myogenin but differentiate spontaneously very poorly. Prolonged treatment of RD cells with the protein kinase C (PKC) activator 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) induces growth arrest and myogenic differentiation as shown by the accumulation of alpha-actin and myosin light and heavy chains, without affecting the expression of MyoD and myogenin. In this study, we show that short-term phorbol ester treatment of the cultures is sufficient to trigger myogenic differentiation but not growth arrest. Furthermore, PKC inhibitors, such as staurosporine or calphostin C, prevent TPA-induced differentiation but not cell growth arrest. These data suggest that the two events are mediated by different pathways; a possible interpretation is that the activation of one or more PKC isoforms mediates the induction of differentiation, whereas the down-regulation of the same or different isoforms mediates the growth arrest. To address the mechanism whereby TPA affects cell growth and differentiation in RD cells, we first analyzed PKC isoenzyme distribution. We found that RD cells express the alpha, beta 1, gamma, and sigma PKC isoenzymes. Only the alpha isoform is exclusively found in the soluble fraction, but it translocates to the membrane fraction within 5 min of TPA treatment and is completely down-regulated after 6 h. The other isoenzymes are found associated to both the soluble and the particulate fractions and are down-regulated after long-term TPA treatment. By immunofluorescence analysis, we show that the PKC alpha down-regulation is specific for those cells that respond to TPA by activating the muscle phenotype. We propose that TPA-induced differentiation in RD cells is mediated by the transient activation of PKC alpha, which activates some of the intracellular events that are necessary for MyoD and myogenin transacting activity and for the induction of terminal differentiation of RD cells. By contrast, the constitutively active beta 1 and sigma are responsible for the maintenance of cell growth, and their down-regulation is responsible for long-term TPA-induced cell growth arrest.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bouché
- Institute of Histology and General Embryology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy
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41
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Fernández JE, Prados J, Melguizo C, Rodríguez F, Alvarez L, Aránega A. Creatine kinase isoenzymes as markers of differentiation in rhabdomyosarcoma cells in culture. Pathol Res Pract 1994; 190:1169-73. [PMID: 7792206 DOI: 10.1016/s0344-0338(11)80443-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcomas have been classified on the basis of their degree of differentiation, a feature closely related with their response to chemotherapy. We recently reported the role of creatine kinase isoenzymes as tumoral markers in the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma. The present study was designed to determine whether these isoenzymes are also good markers of the degree of differentiation of these neoplasm. Dimethyl sulfoxide, a well-known differentiating agent, was used to induce myogenic differentiation. This agent increased CK-MM and/or CK-MB fractions, and decreased CK-BB isoenzyme in rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines. The variable behavior of MCK-1 macromolecule was unrelated to the degree of differentiation. Our findings suggest that CK-MM, CK-MB and CK-BB isoenzymes are good markers of the degree of differentiation in rhabdomyosarcomas and could be used as specific markers of prognostic and diagnostic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Fernández
- Department of Morphological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Spain
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42
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Wasowicz W, Gromadzińska J, Skłodowska M, Popadiuk S. Selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity in blood of children with cancer. J Trace Elem Electrolytes Health Dis 1994; 8:53-7. [PMID: 7804031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
In this work we studied 205 children with cancer, aged 6 months to 7 years, who had been diagnosed as suffering from various types of neoplasm. In blood of these children we determined the selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity by fluorometric and spectrophometric methods, respectively. The control group consisted of 128 healthy children. In all groups of children with cancer we observed a significantly lower selenium concentration and lowered glutathione peroxidase activity. We found statistical differences in selenium concentration between first or second and third, and between first and fourth or fifth stages of the disease, only in 3-7 year-old patients. Glutathione peroxidase activity was statistically depressed in the same age group between the first or second and third stages of the disease. Generally, there were no differences in the concentration of the microelement or in the glutathione peroxidase activity between children before and during treatment with cytostatics.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Wasowicz
- Zakład Biochemii, Instytutu Nauk Podstawowych Wojskowej Akademii Medycznej, Gdansk, Poland
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43
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Szeinfeld D, de Villiers N. Cholinesterase response in the rhabdomyosarcoma tumor and small intestine of the BALB/c mice and the radioprotective actions of exogenous ATP after lethal dose of neutron radiation. Strahlenther Onkol 1993; 169:311-6. [PMID: 8503091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The rhabdomyosarcoma tumors were subjected to different doses of 2.0, 3.8 and 7.0 Gy from a neutron beam facility p(66 MeV)/Be. Elevated levels of cholinesterase activity are observed in which there is a correlation between the different doses of neutron radiation and the augmentation response of this enzyme. The increase of cholinesterase activity after 7 Gy neutron irradiation as a feature of involvement in the homeostatic mechanism maintaining the proper choline/acetylcholine ratio in the cell is also observed at 1 and 24 h in both tissues, rhabdomyosarcoma and small intestine. The activity of the enzyme after neutron irradiation with prior administration of ATP showed smaller increases when compared with increases observed after neutron irradiation alone. Moreover in the present work the protective mechanism of ATP in the response of cholinesterase activity is marked differential between both, normal and tumoral tissue and correlated inversely with the administered of the following concentrations of exogenous ATP (8, 25, 80, 250, and 700 mg/kg body weight) prior to exposure to 7 Gy neutron radiation. These results reflect the radioprotective ability of exogenous ATP to exert a number of metabolic adaptations as a defense mechanism in which the cell exposed to neutron radiation could remain viable because the injury is potentially repairable.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Szeinfeld
- Research Institute for Medical Biophysics, Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa
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44
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Gerharz CD, Bracke ME, Mareel MM, Gabbert HE. Modulation of invasive potential in different clonal subpopulations of a rat rhabdomyosarcoma cell line (BA-HAN-1) by differentiation induction. Clin Exp Metastasis 1993; 11:55-67. [PMID: 8422707 DOI: 10.1007/bf00880066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Three clonal subpopulations (A, B, C) isolated from the same rhabdomyosarcoma of the rat and differing in their degree of spontaneous differentiation were tested for their invasive potential before and after differentiation induction with retinoic acid (RA), N-monomethylformamide (NMF) and sodium butyrate (NaBut). Invasive potential was analysed in an in vitro assay using embryonic chick heart fragments in organotypic culture. In standard culture medium, all three subpopulations were shown to be invasive, progressively replacing the chick heart fragments within 7-11 days after confrontation. After exposure to RA, NMF or NaBut, marked differences in the invasive potential of these subpopulations were, however, observed. Subpopulation C exhibited a pronounced decline in invasive potential, as evidenced by a significant decrease (P = 0.005) in the proportion of chick heart fragments with advanced stages of invasion. This response, however, was confined to the differentiation-inducing agents RA and NaBut, which had also produced a marked increase in morphological and/or biochemical differentiation (P = 0.0001). In contrast, NMF, which had only minor effects on differentiation, failed to affect the invasive potential of subpopulation C. In subpopulation B, a transient inhibition of single cell invasion became evident after exposure to RA, whereas NMF and NaBut failed to affect the invasive potential in spite of minor effects on differentiation. In the least differentiated subpopulation A, which was shown to be refractory to the differentiation-inducing effects of RA, NMF and NaBut, there was also no observation of any reduction of invasive potential. The results of our study demonstrate that differentiation-inducing agents can significantly reduce the invasive potential of malignant tumors, although marked differences of response are to be expected between the different subpopulations of a tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- C D Gerharz
- Department of Pathology, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, Germany
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Wolverton JS, Danks MK, Granzen B, Beck WT. DNA topoisomerase II immunostaining in human leukemia and rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines and their responses to topoisomerase II inhibitors. Cancer Res 1992; 52:4248-53. [PMID: 1322239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
DNA topoisomerase II is an enzyme that affects nuclear structure and function and is the target of a number of anticancer drugs in clinical use, including teniposide (VM-26). We have used our polyclonal antisera that recognize both the M(r) 170,000 and 180,000 forms of topoisomerase II to examine the nuclear distribution of topoisomerase II in cytospin preparations of drug-sensitive (CEM) and VM-26-resistant (CEM/VM-1 and CEM/VM-1-5) human leukemic lymphoblasts. We have also examined the nuclear distribution of topoisomerase II in monolayer cultures of a human rhabdomyosarcoma (Rh30) cell line. In the absence of drug, we observed a focal "patchy" staining of nuclear topoisomerase II in all cell lines, that was especially notable in the lymphoblastic cells. Treatment of CEM and Rh30 cells with VM-26 under conditions that increase the number of covalent topoisomerase II-DNA complexes increased both the intensity and the homogeneity of nuclear topoisomerase II staining in a subpopulation of cells; focal staining was less evident after treatment with drug. These responses were roughly proportional to the concentration of VM-26 used and required only brief (approximately 25-min) incubation with drug. We also found that treatment of CEM cells with 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide similarly increased the intensity and homogeneity of nuclear topoisomerase II immunostaining. In contrast, 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-o-anisidide and 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine, agents that do not inhibit topoisomerase II, did not produce this effect. Finally, the VM-26-mediated alteration in topoisomerase II staining intensity and distribution was attenuated in proportion to the degree of VM-26 resistance in the CEM/VM-1 and CEM/VM-1-5 sublines. These results appear to be related to the ability of the drug to stabilize DNA-topoisomerase covalent ("cleavable") complexes in intact cells. Our findings indicate that anti-topoisomerase II drugs, such as VM-26, have profound effects on the ability to detect topoisomerase II in the nucleus and provide a novel way of examining drug-stabilized DNA topoisomerase II complexes in intact single tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Wolverton
- Department of Biochemical and Clinical Pharmacology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38101
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Gündüz U, Elliott MS, Seubert PH, Houghton JA, Houghton PJ, Trewyn RW, Katze JR. Absence of tRNA-guanine transglycosylase in a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line. Biochim Biophys Acta 1992; 1139:229-38. [PMID: 1378304 DOI: 10.1016/0925-4439(92)90139-e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Queuosine (Q), found exclusively in the first position of the anticodons of tRNA(Asp), tRNA(Asn), tRNA(His) and tRNA(Tyr), is synthesized in eucaryotes by a base-for-base exchange of queuine, the base of Q, for guanine at tRNA position 34. This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme tRNA-guanine transglycosylase (EC 2.4.2.29). We measured the specific release of queuine from Q-5'-phosphate (queuine salvage) and the extent of tRNA Q modification in 6 human tumors carried as xenografts in immune-deprived mice. Q-deficient tRNA was found in 3 of the tumors but it did not correlate with diminished queuine salvage. The low tRNA Q content of one tumor, the HxGC3 colon adenocarcinoma, prompted us to examine a HxGC3-derived cell line, GC3/M. GC3/M completely lacks Q in its tRNA and measurable tRNA-guanine transglycosylase activity; the first example of a higher eucaryotic cell which lacks this enzyme. Exposure of GC3/M cells to 5-azacytidine induces the transient appearance of Q-positive tRNA. This result suggests that at least one allele of the transglycosylase gene in GC3/M cells may have been inactivated by DNA methylation. In clinical samples, we found Q-deficient tRNA in 10 of 46 solid tumors, including 2 of 13 colonic carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Gündüz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38163
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47
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Abstract
Cell sublines were derived from Ni-induced rat rhabdomyosarcoma which differed in their degree of tumorigenicity. We compared the expression of protein kinase C isoforms alpha, beta, gamma and epsilon in three sublines developing tumors in syngeneic rats (Sy+) and in two sublines devoid of tumorigenicity in these animals (Sy-), with that of normal skeletal muscle. Northern and Western blotting experiments showed that PKC alpha was dramatically overexpressed in Sy- cells whereas it was underexpressed in Sy+ cells. Southern blot analysis provided evidence for a 3-fold increase of PKC alpha-related DNA fragments in Sy- cells. Steady-state levels of the PKC epsilon-related transcript were also markedly decreased in Sy+ cells. However, the expression of PKC beta-related RNA was increased in these cells. Our data support the concept that the differential expression of the PKC isoforms may play a critical role in determining the neoplastic phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Hanania
- Groupe de laboratoires de l'IRSC, Villejuif, France
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Fernández JE, Rodríguez F, Recio MA, Vélez C, Aránega AE, Alvarez L, Aránega A. Detection of creatine kinase isoenzymes as tumoral markers of rhabdomyosarcoma. Enzyme 1992; 46:245-8. [PMID: 1292934 DOI: 10.1159/000468795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
We analyzed the expression profile of isoenzymatic fractions of creatine phosphokinase (EC 2.7.3.2) isotypes MM, MB and BB in three cell lines derived from embryonic rhabdomyosarcomas and a normal counterpart cell line. Electrophoretic data showed that the BB fraction was consistently expressed de novo, in contrast with its counterpart in normal tissue. The BB fraction may serve as new tumoral marker for the diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma. In addition, the appearance of macrocreatine kinase type-1 in this type of neoplasm may serve to reinforce the diagnosis when rhabdomyosarcoma is suspected.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Fernández
- Department of Morphological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Spain
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Lilley ER, Elion GB, Dewhirst MW, Schold SC, Blum MR, Savina PM, Laskowitz DT, Bigner DD, Friedman HS. Therapeutic analysis of melphalan-resistant human rhabdomyosarcoma xenograft TE-671 MR. Cancer Res 1991; 51:3906-9. [PMID: 1855207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Investigations with the melphalan-resistant human rhabdomyosarcoma xenograft TE-671 MR were carried out to identify patterns of cross-resistance and collateral sensitivity and to define the mechanism(s) mediating melphalan resistance. TE-671 MR was cross-resistant to thio-TEPA, mitomycin, vincristine, and cisplatin, and partially resistant to chlorambucil and cyclophosphamide. TE-671 MR and the parent line TE-671 were both resistant to 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-nitrosourea and expressed similar levels of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase. TE-671 MR retained full sensitivity to actinomycin D and demonstrated enhanced sensitivity to VP-16 compared to TE-671. Treatment of TE-671 MR with melphalan plus VP-16 resulted in greater than additive growth delays. The frequency of hypoxic regions was similar in TE-671 MR and TE-671, respectively. Measurement of tumor-to-plasma levels at 180 min following i.p. administration of melphalan at 0.5 of the 10% lethal dosage showed mean tumor-to-plasma ratios of 3.81 in TE-671 MR and 7.38 in TE-671, respectively. The lower drug levels in TE-671 MR may be contributing to the resistance to melphalan and thus indicate the need for further studies to define the reasons for these differences in tumor drug level.
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Affiliation(s)
- E R Lilley
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
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Szeinfeld D, de Villiers N. Acid phosphatase response in murine rhabdomyosarcoma for various tumour volumes and after different doses of neutron irradiation, alone or combined with exogenous ATP. Strahlenther Onkol 1991; 167:494-7. [PMID: 1887367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Acid phosphatase activity measured in a methylocholanthrene-induced murine rhabdomyosarcoma showed a monotonically increasing relation between enzyme activity and tumour volume. This could be related to the lytic activity of the enzyme in large tumours which become more hypoxic and necrotic, and hence enhance degradation and turnover of damaged tumour cells. The tumours were also subjected to irradiation using doses of 2.0, 3.8 and 6.0 Gy from a neutron therapy facility p(66MeV)/Be. The correlation between different doses and response of acid phosphatase activity could reflect the relation of magnitude of damage from metabolic disturbances, with dose. Furthermore exogenous ATP was shown to provide radioprotective action against neutron irradiation in two different experiments. The ATP reduced the activity of this lytic enzyme in irradiated tumours and also decreased tumour growth delay. This radioprotective role of exogenous ATP in a murine tumour could be related to physiological regulatory processes during defence mechanisms to maintain self-organisation in response to the radiation damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Szeinfeld
- Research Institute for Medical Biophysics, S A Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa
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