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Sengal AT, Pollock PM. Development and Expansion of Patient-Derived Xenografts for Endometrial Cancer. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2806:101-115. [PMID: 38676799 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3858-3_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Patient-Derived Xenografts (PDXs) are established by implanting a fragment of a patient tumor into rodents either subcutaneously or orthotopically. PDX models faithfully recapitulate the histologic and molecular profile of the donor patient's cancer and are regarded as authentic preclinical models for drug testing, understanding of tumor biology and biomarker discovery. This Chapter describes the detailed method for establishing robust PDXs for endometrial cancer and provide important notes for users of the protocol to consider during PDXs development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmerom T Sengal
- Endometrial Cancer Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, The Queensland University of Technology Located at the Translational Research Institute (TRI), Woolloongabba, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- Endometrial Cancer Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, The Queensland University of Technology Located at the Translational Research Institute (TRI), Woolloongabba, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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Sengal AT, Smith D, Snell CE, Leung S, Talhouk A, Williams ED, McAlpine JN, Pollock PM. Spatial expression of the FGFR2b splice isoform and its prognostic significance in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. J Pathol Clin Res 2022; 8:521-537. [PMID: 35866380 PMCID: PMC9535101 DOI: 10.1002/cjp2.286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is the most common gynecological malignancy and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) is a frequently dysregulated receptor tyrosine kinase. FGFR2b and FGFR2c are the two main splice isoforms of FGFR2 and are normally localized in epithelial and mesenchymal cells, respectively. Previously, we demonstrated that FGFR2c mRNA expression was associated with aggressive tumor characteristics, shorter progression-free survival (PFS), and disease-specific survival (DSS) in endometrioid ECs (EECs). The objectives of this study were to investigate the spatial expression of FGFR2b in normal and hyperplasia with and without atypia of human endometrium and to assess the prognostic significance of FGFR2b expression in EC. FGFR2b and FGFR2c mRNA expression was evaluated in normal (proliferative [n = 10], secretory [n = 15], and atrophic [n = 10] endometrium), hyperplasia with and without atypia (n = 19) as well as two patient cohorts of EC samples (discovery [n = 78] and Vancouver [n = 460]) using isoform-specific BaseScope RNA in situ hybridization assays. Tumors were categorized based on FGFR2 isoform expression (one, both, or neither) and categories were correlated with clinicopathologic markers, molecular subtypes, and clinical outcomes. The FGFR2b splice isoform was exclusively expressed in the epithelial compartment of normal endometrium and hyperplasia without atypia. We observed FGFR2c expression at the basalis layer of glands in 33% (3/9) of hyperplasia with atypia. In patients with EEC, FGFR2b+/FGFR2c- expression was found in 48% of the discovery cohort and 35% of the validation Vancouver cohort. In univariate analyses, tumors with FGFR2b+/FGFR2c- expression had longer PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.265; 95% CI 0.145-0.423; log-rank p < 0.019) and DSS (HR 0.31; 95% CI 0.149-0.622; log-rank p < 0.001) compared to tumors with FGFR2b-/FGFR2c+ expression in the large EEC Vancouver cohort. In multivariable Cox regression analyses, tumors with FGFR2b+/FGFR2c- expression were significantly associated with longer DSS (HR 0.37; 95% CI 0.153-0.872; log-rank p < 0.023) compared to FGFR2b-/FGFR2c+ tumors. In conclusion, FGFR2b+/FGFR2c- expression is associated with favorable clinicopathologic markers and clinical outcomes suggesting that FGFR2b could play a role in tailoring the management of EEC patients in the clinic if these findings are confirmed in an independent cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmerom T Sengal
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of HealthQueensland University of Technology (QUT) located at the Translational Research Institute (TRI)BrisbaneAustralia
| | - Deborah Smith
- Mater PathologyMater Research and University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Cameron E Snell
- Mater PathologyMater Research and University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Samuel Leung
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Genetic Pathology Evaluation CentreUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - Aline Talhouk
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Division of Gynaecologic OncologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - Elizabeth D Williams
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of HealthQueensland University of Technology (QUT) located at the Translational Research Institute (TRI)BrisbaneAustralia
| | - Jessica N McAlpine
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Division of Gynaecologic OncologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of HealthQueensland University of Technology (QUT) located at the Translational Research Institute (TRI)BrisbaneAustralia
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Bonazzi VF, Kondrashova O, Smith D, Nones K, Sengal AT, Ju R, Packer LM, Koufariotis LT, Kazakoff SH, Davidson AL, Ramarao-Milne P, Lakis V, Newell F, Rogers R, Davies C, Nicklin J, Garrett A, Chetty N, Perrin L, Pearson JV, Patch AM, Waddell N, Pollock PM. Patient-derived xenograft models capture genomic heterogeneity in endometrial cancer. Genome Med 2022; 14:3. [PMID: 35012638 PMCID: PMC8751371 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-021-00990-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Endometrial cancer (EC) is a major gynecological cancer with increasing incidence. It comprises four molecular subtypes with differing etiology, prognoses, and responses to chemotherapy. In the future, clinical trials testing new single agents or combination therapies will be targeted to the molecular subtype most likely to respond. As pre-clinical models that faithfully represent the molecular subtypes of EC are urgently needed, we sought to develop and characterize a panel of novel EC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Methods Here, we report whole exome or whole genome sequencing of 11 PDX models and their matched primary tumor. Analysis of multiple PDX lineages and passages was performed to study tumor heterogeneity across lineages and/or passages. Based on recent reports of frequent defects in the homologous recombination (HR) pathway in EC, we assessed mutational signatures and HR deficiency scores and correlated these with in vivo responses to the PARP inhibitor (PARPi) talazoparib in six PDXs representing the copy number high/p53-mutant and mismatch-repair deficient molecular subtypes of EC. Results PDX models were successfully generated from grade 2/3 tumors, including three uterine carcinosarcomas. The models showed similar histomorphology to the primary tumors and represented all four molecular subtypes of EC, including five mismatch-repair deficient models. The different PDX lineages showed a wide range of inter-tumor and intra-tumor heterogeneity. However, for most PDX models, one arm recapitulated the molecular landscape of the primary tumor without major genomic drift. An in vivo response to talazoparib was detected in four copy number high models. Two models (carcinosarcomas) showed a response consistent with stable disease and two models (one copy number high serous EC and another carcinosarcoma) showed significant tumor growth inhibition, albeit one consistent with progressive disease; however, all lacked the HR deficiency genomic signature. Conclusions EC PDX models represent the four molecular subtypes of disease and can capture intra-tumor heterogeneity of the original primary tumor. PDXs of the copy number high molecular subtype showed sensitivity to PARPi; however, deeper and more durable responses will likely require combination of PARPi with other agents. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13073-021-00990-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa F Bonazzi
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology located at the Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Olga Kondrashova
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Deborah Smith
- Mater Health Services, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Mater Pathology, Mater Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Katia Nones
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Asmerom T Sengal
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology located at the Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Robert Ju
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology located at the Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Leisl M Packer
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology located at the Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Lambros T Koufariotis
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Stephen H Kazakoff
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Aimee L Davidson
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Priya Ramarao-Milne
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Vanessa Lakis
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Felicity Newell
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Rebecca Rogers
- Mater Pathology, Mater Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Claire Davies
- Mater Pathology, Mater Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - James Nicklin
- The Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower, QLD, Australia.,Icon Cancer Centre Wesley, Auchenflower, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrea Garrett
- The Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower, QLD, Australia.,Icon Cancer Centre Wesley, Auchenflower, QLD, Australia
| | - Naven Chetty
- Mater Health Services, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Mater Pathology, Mater Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Lewis Perrin
- Mater Health Services, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Mater Pathology, Mater Research, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - John V Pearson
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ann-Marie Patch
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicola Waddell
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology located at the Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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Sengal AT, Bonazzi V, Kondrashova O, Perrin L, Chetty N, Smith D, Gil-Moreno A, Colas E, Pollock PM. Abstract LBA020: Targeting FGFR2c isoform, a novel therapeutic target with FGFR inhibitor in endometrial cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2021. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.targ-21-lba020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most frequently diagnosed gynaecological cancer. The majority of women with EC are treated surgically and have a good outcome, however 25-30% of patients presenting with metastases or recurrent disease do not have effective therapies and have <12 months survival. Recent investigations demonstrated radio-chemotherapy has little benefit for women with high-risk EC within the deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) and p53 wild type (p53wt) molecular subtypes. We reported isoform switching from the FGFR2b (epithelial) splice-isoform to the FGFR2c (mesenchymal) splice-isoform in 40% of dMMR and 30% of p53wt ECs. This isoform switching was associated with adverse clinicopathologic markers, shorter recurrence free survival and disease specific survival in the Canadian cohort used to identify and validate the ProMisE molecular risk stratification approach. The objectives of the current study were i) to identify patient derived xenograft (PDX) models with FGFR2c expression and develop PDX derived organoids (PDXOs) for preclinical drug testing, ii) assess the efficacy of the BGJ398 FGFR inhibitor (FGFRi) in FGFR2c expressing models and generate preclinical data that would support an early phase clinical trial in FGFR2c stratified EC patients. Method: BaseScope RNA ISH was used to detect FGFR2c expression in patient tumours, PDX models and PDXOs. PDXOs derived from three independent PDX tumours were established from each of five PDX models (3 showing high FGFR2c expression, 2 showing low/no FGFR2c expression). Each PDXO culture was treated with 300nM BGJ398 (pan-FGFRi) or DMSO for 72 h and assessed using a live-dead assay and confocal microscopy. PDXs from three models were engrafted subcutaneously into 8 weeks female NSG mice and when tumours reached 100-150mm3, mice were randomized (4 mice/arm) and treated with 30mg/Kg BGJ398 or vehicle daily for 21 days. Tumours were measured 3x/week and mice sacrificed when tumours reached 900mm3. Results and conclusion: FGFR2c expression was higher in PDXs representing the dMMR and p53wt subtype compared to p53mut subtype and similar expression levels were seen between patient tumours, PDXs and PDXOs. In vitro FGFRi with BGJ398 showed significant cell death occurred in PDXOs with high FGFR2c expression (p< 0.0001, 2-way ANOVA). These in vitro findings were validated in vivo using PDX68 carrying a FGFR2 C383R mutation and PDX52 and PDX59, both showing FGFR2 isoform switching. Significant tumour growth inhibition and a ~2-fold increase in survival was seen in all three models (PDX68, p<0.0001 and p<0.007; PDX52, p<0.02 and P<0.03; and PDX59 P<0.0001 and P<0.0006 respectively). In conclusion, our investigation revealed FGFRi (BGJ398) was effective in EC PDX models representing both mutational activation and isoform switching of FGFR2. As FGFR isoform switching occurs most commonly in the dMMR subtype where immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are approved, we propose the combination of ICIs and FGFRi may be more effective in women with FGFR2 activation compared to ICIs alone.
Citation Format: Asmerom T Sengal, Vanessa Bonazzi, Olga Kondrashova, Lewis Perrin, Naven Chetty, Deborah Smith, Antonio Gil-Moreno, Eva Colas, Pamela M Pollock. Targeting FGFR2c isoform, a novel therapeutic target with FGFR inhibitor in endometrial cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2021 Oct 7-10. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2021;20(12 Suppl):Abstract nr LBA020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmerom T Sengal
- 1Queensland University of Technology (QUT)/Translational Research Institute (TRI), Brisbane, QLD, Australia,
| | - Vanessa Bonazzi
- 2University of Queensland/Translational Research Institute (TRI), Brisbane, QLD, Australia,
| | - Olga Kondrashova
- 3QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia,
| | - Lewis Perrin
- 4Mater Cancer, Mater Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia,
| | | | - Deborah Smith
- 6Mater Pathology, Mater Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia,
| | | | - Eva Colas
- 7Vall Hebron Institute of Research, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- 1Queensland University of Technology (QUT)/Translational Research Institute (TRI), Brisbane, QLD, Australia,
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McGovern JA, Bock N, Shafiee A, Martine LC, Wagner F, Baldwin JG, Landgraf M, Lahr CA, Meinert C, Williams ED, Pollock PM, Denham J, Russell PJ, Risbridger GP, Clements JA, Loessner D, Holzapfel BM, Hutmacher DW. A humanized orthotopic tumor microenvironment alters the bone metastatic tropism of prostate cancer cells. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1014. [PMID: 34462519 PMCID: PMC8405640 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02527-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, and bone is the most frequent site of metastasis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) impacts tumor growth and metastasis, yet the role of the TME in PCa metastasis to bone is not fully understood. We used a tissue-engineered xenograft approach in NOD-scid IL2Rγnull (NSG) mice to incorporate two levels of humanization; the primary tumor and TME, and the secondary metastatic bone organ. Bioluminescent imaging, histology, and immunohistochemistry were used to study metastasis of human PC-3 and LNCaP PCa cells from the prostate to tissue-engineered bone. Here we show pre-seeding scaffolds with human osteoblasts increases the human cellular and extracellular matrix content of bone constructs, compared to unseeded scaffolds. The humanized prostate TME showed a trend to decrease metastasis of PC-3 PCa cells to the tissue-engineered bone, but did not affect the metastatic potential of PCa cells to the endogenous murine bones or organs. On the other hand, the humanized TME enhanced LNCaP tumor growth and metastasis to humanized and murine bone. Together this demonstrates the importance of the TME in PCa bone tropism, although further investigations are needed to delineate specific roles of the TME components in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqui A McGovern
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering (MMPE), Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Faculty of Engineering, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences at Translational Research Institute (TRI), Faculty of Health, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nathalie Bock
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences at Translational Research Institute (TRI), Faculty of Health, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Abbas Shafiee
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,UQ Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Herston Biofabrication Institute, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Laure C Martine
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ferdinand Wagner
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Musculoskeletal University Centre Munich, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Campus Großhadern, Munich, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jeremy G Baldwin
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Marietta Landgraf
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences at Translational Research Institute (TRI), Faculty of Health, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Christoph A Lahr
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering (MMPE), Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Faculty of Engineering, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Musculoskeletal University Centre Munich, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Campus Großhadern, Munich, Germany
| | - Christoph Meinert
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Herston Biofabrication Institute, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Elizabeth D Williams
- School of Biomedical Sciences at Translational Research Institute (TRI), Faculty of Health, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Queensland Bladder Cancer Initiative (QBCI), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- School of Biomedical Sciences at Translational Research Institute (TRI), Faculty of Health, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jim Denham
- School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Pamela J Russell
- School of Biomedical Sciences at Translational Research Institute (TRI), Faculty of Health, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Gail P Risbridger
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Judith A Clements
- School of Biomedical Sciences at Translational Research Institute (TRI), Faculty of Health, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Daniela Loessner
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Boris M Holzapfel
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Musculoskeletal University Centre Munich, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Campus Großhadern, Munich, Germany
| | - Dietmar W Hutmacher
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia. .,School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering (MMPE), Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Faculty of Engineering, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. .,School of Biomedical Sciences at Translational Research Institute (TRI), Faculty of Health, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. .,Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. .,ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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Kane AM, Liu C, Fennell LJ, McKeone DM, Bond CE, Pollock PM, Young G, Leggett BA, Whitehall VLJ. Aspirin reduces the incidence of metastasis in a pre-clinical study of Braf mutant serrated colorectal neoplasia. Br J Cancer 2021; 124:1820-1827. [PMID: 33782564 PMCID: PMC8144376 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01339-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aspirin reduces the incidence of conventional adenomas driven by APC mutation and thus colorectal cancer. The effect of aspirin on the ~20% of colorectal cancers arising via BRAF mutation is yet to be established. METHODS BrafV637E/+;Villin-CreERT2/+ mice were allocated to a control (n = 86) or aspirin-supplemented (n = 83) diet. After 14 months the incidence of murine serrated lesions, carcinoma and distant metastases were measured by histological examination. RNA was extracted from carcinomas from each cohort and subjected to sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes and molecular pathways. RESULTS Aspirin did not reduce the incidence of murine serrated lesions or carcinoma when compared to control, however, did significantly reduce lesion size (P = 0.0042). Among the mice with carcinoma there was a significant reduction in the incidence of distant metastasis with aspirin treatment (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.48-0.90, P = 0.0134). Key pathways underlying metastasis of carcinoma cells include NOTCH, FGFR and PI3K signalling, were significantly downregulated in carcinomas sampled from mice on an aspirin-supplemented diet. CONCLUSIONS Aspirin reduces the incidence of metastatic Braf mutant carcinoma, although this is not due to a reduction in primary disease. The reduction in metastasis could be attributed to a delay or prevention of molecular changes within the primary site driving metastatic growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M. Kane
- grid.1049.c0000 0001 2294 1395QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia ,grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia ,grid.415606.00000 0004 0380 0804Conjoint Internal Medicine Laboratory, Pathology Queensland, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Cheng Liu
- grid.1049.c0000 0001 2294 1395QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia ,grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia ,Envoi Specialist Pathologists, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Lochlan J. Fennell
- grid.1049.c0000 0001 2294 1395QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia ,grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Diane M. McKeone
- grid.1049.c0000 0001 2294 1395QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Catherine E. Bond
- grid.1049.c0000 0001 2294 1395QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Pamela M. Pollock
- grid.1024.70000000089150953Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology and Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Graeme Young
- grid.1014.40000 0004 0367 2697Flinders University, Adelaide, SA Australia
| | - Barbara A. Leggett
- grid.1049.c0000 0001 2294 1395QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia ,grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia ,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Vicki L. J. Whitehall
- grid.1049.c0000 0001 2294 1395QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD Australia ,grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia ,grid.415606.00000 0004 0380 0804Conjoint Internal Medicine Laboratory, Pathology Queensland, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD Australia
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7
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Sengal AT, Smith D, Rogers R, Snell CE, Williams ED, Pollock PM. Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 Isoforms Detected via Novel RNA ISH as Predictive Biomarkers for Progestin Therapy in Atypical Hyperplasia and Low-Grade Endometrial Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13071703. [PMID: 33916719 PMCID: PMC8038411 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Women diagnosed with low-grade endometrioid cancer (EEC) and its precursor lesion, atypical hyperplasia (AH) are frequently treated with hormonal therapy including levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) as an alternative to surgery. Biomarkers that inform which group of patients are more likely to respond to LNG-IUD are not available. The aim of this study was to document the response rate to LNG-IUD therapy in women with AH and EEC and identify potential biomarkers to guide treatment response. The overall response rate (ORR) for the whole cohort was 30/69 (~44%) with a higher ORR seen in AH (64%) compared to EEC (23%). Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR2) isoforms were detected using RNA in situ hybridization. The FGFR2c isoform was expressed in 16.7% of the samples, with those expressing FGFR2c 5-times more likely to have treatment failure. FGFR2 isoform expression could be used to guide treatment decisions following confirmation of this finding in an independent study. Abstract Women with atypical hyperplasia (AH) or well-differentiated early-stage endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (EEC) who wish to retain fertility and/or with comorbidities precluding surgery, are treated with progestin. Clinically approved predictive biomarkers for progestin therapy remain an unmet need. The objectives of this study were to document the overall response rate (ORR) of levonorgestrel intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) treatment, and determine the association of FGFR2b and FGFR2c expression with treatment outcome. BaseScope RNA ISH assay was utilized to detect expression of FGFR2b and FGFR2c mRNA in the diagnostic biopsies of 89 women (40 AH and 49 EEC) treated with LNG-IUD. Detailed clinical follow-up was available for 69 women which revealed an overall response rate (ORR) of 44% (30/69) with a higher ORR seen in AH (64%) compared to EEC (23%). The recurrence rate in women who initially responded to LNG-IUD was 10/30 (33.3%). RNA ISH was successful in 72 patients and showed FGFR2c expression in 12/72 (16.7%) samples. In the 59 women with detailed clinical follow-up and RNA-ISH data, women with tumours expressing FGFR2c were 5-times more likely to have treatment failure in both univariable (HR 5.08, p < 0.0001) and multivariable (HR 4.5, p < 0.002) Cox regression analyses. In conclusion, FGFR2c expression appears to be strongly associated with progestin treatment failure, albeit the ORR is lower in this cohort than previously reported. Future work to validate these findings in an independent multi-institutional cohort is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmerom T. Sengal
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Princess Alexandra (PA) Hospital Campus, 37 Kent St., Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia; (A.T.S.); (E.D.W.)
| | - Deborah Smith
- Mater Pathology, Mater Research and University of Queensland, Mater Hospital, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia; (D.S.); (C.E.S.)
| | - Rebecca Rogers
- Mater Pathology, Mater Research, Mater Hospital, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia;
| | - Cameron E. Snell
- Mater Pathology, Mater Research and University of Queensland, Mater Hospital, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia; (D.S.); (C.E.S.)
| | - Elizabeth D. Williams
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Princess Alexandra (PA) Hospital Campus, 37 Kent St., Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia; (A.T.S.); (E.D.W.)
| | - Pamela M. Pollock
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Princess Alexandra (PA) Hospital Campus, 37 Kent St., Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia; (A.T.S.); (E.D.W.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-733437237
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8
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León-Castillo A, de Boer SM, Powell ME, Mileshkin LR, Mackay HJ, Leary A, Nijman HW, Singh N, Pollock PM, Bessette P, Fyles A, Haie-Meder C, Smit VTHBM, Edmondson RJ, Putter H, Kitchener HC, Crosbie EJ, de Bruyn M, Nout RA, Horeweg N, Creutzberg CL, Bosse T. Molecular Classification of the PORTEC-3 Trial for High-Risk Endometrial Cancer: Impact on Prognosis and Benefit From Adjuvant Therapy. J Clin Oncol 2020; 38:3388-3397. [PMID: 32749941 PMCID: PMC7527156 DOI: 10.1200/jco.20.00549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 343] [Impact Index Per Article: 85.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The randomized Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Versus Radiotherapy Alone in Women With High-Risk Endometrial Cancer (PORTEC-3) trial investigated the benefit of combined adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CTRT) versus radiotherapy alone (RT) for women with high-risk endometrial cancer (EC). Because The Cancer Genome Atlas defined an EC molecular classification with strong prognostic value, we investigated prognosis and impact of chemotherapy for each molecular subgroup using tissue samples from PORTEC-3 trial participants. METHODS Paraffin-embedded tissues of 423 consenting patients were collected. Immunohistochemistry for p53 and mismatch repair (MMR) proteins, and DNA sequencing for POLE exonuclease domain were done to classify tumors as p53 abnormal (p53abn), POLE-ultramutated (POLEmut), MMR-deficient (MMRd), or no specific molecular profile (NSMP). The primary end point was recurrence-free survival (RFS). Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox model were used for analysis. RESULTS Molecular analysis was successful in 410 high-risk EC (97%), identifying the 4 subgroups: p53abn EC (n = 93; 23%), POLEmut (n = 51; 12%), MMRd (n = 137; 33%), and NSMP (n = 129; 32%). Five-year RFS was 48% for patients with p53abn EC, 98% for POLEmut EC, 72% for MMRd EC, and 74% for NSMP EC (P < .001). The 5-year RFS with CTRT versus RT for p53abn EC was 59% versus 36% (P = .019); 100% versus 97% for patients with POLEmut EC (P = .637); 68% versus 76% (P = .428) for MMRd EC; and 80% versus 68% (P = .243) for NSMP EC. CONCLUSION Molecular classification has strong prognostic value in high-risk EC, with significantly improved RFS with adjuvant CTRT for p53abn tumors, regardless of histologic type. Patients with POLEmut EC had an excellent RFS in both trial arms. EC molecular classification should be incorporated in the risk stratification of these patients as well as in future trials to target specific subgroups of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia León-Castillo
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Stephanie M de Boer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Melanie E Powell
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Barts Health National Health Service Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Linda R Mileshkin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Helen J Mackay
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alexandra Leary
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Hans W Nijman
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.,Department of Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Naveena Singh
- Department of Pathology, Barts Health National Health Service Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul Bessette
- Canadian Cancer Trials Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Anthony Fyles
- Canadian Cancer Trials Group, Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Vincent T H B M Smit
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Richard J Edmondson
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Hein Putter
- Department of Biostatistics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Henry C Kitchener
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Emma J Crosbie
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Marco de Bruyn
- Department of Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Remi A Nout
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Nanda Horeweg
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Carien L Creutzberg
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Tjalling Bosse
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
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Sengal AT, Patch AM, Snell CE, Smith DS, Leung SCY, Talhouk A, Williams ED, McAlpine JN, Pollock PM. FGFR2c Mesenchymal Isoform Expression Is Associated with Poor Prognosis and Further Refines Risk Stratification within Endometrial Cancer Molecular Subtypes. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:4569-4580. [PMID: 32414751 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-4088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The two most common molecular subtypes of endometrial cancers, mismatch repair deficient (MMRd) and p53 wild-type (p53wt) comprise the majority of endometrial cancers and have intermediate prognoses where additional risk stratification biomarkers are needed. Isoform switching of FGFR2 from FGFR2b to FGFR2c (normally expressed in mesenchymal cells), has been reported in other solid carcinomas. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of FGFR2c in risk stratification of endometrial cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We have developed and optimized a BaseScope RNA ISH assay to detect FGFR2c. FGFR2c expression was determined in a preliminary screening cohort of 78 endometrial cancers and a clinically and molecularly annotated Vancouver cohort (n = 465). Cox regression model analyses were performed to assess the prognostic value of FGFR2c. RESULTS Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed FGFR2c expression was significantly associated with shorter disease-specific survival (DSS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC, n = 302). Notably, FGFR2c expression was significantly associated with shorter PFS and DSS in patients with grade 3 EECs (P < 0.003 and P < 0.002) and the European Society Medical Oncology (ESMO) high-risk group (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.002), respectively. Moreover, within the MMRd subtype, FGFR2c expression was significantly associated with shorter PFS (P < 0.048) and DSS (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS FGFR2c expression appears an independent prognostic biomarker in patients with EEC and further discerns the outcomes within grade 3 tumors, ESMO high-risk groups, as well as within the MMRd and p53wt subtypes. FGFR2c inclusion into future molecular subtyping can further refine risk stratification of EEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmerom T Sengal
- Queensland University of Technology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, located at the Translational Research Institute, PA Hospital Campus, 37 Kent St Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ann-Marie Patch
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cameron E Snell
- Mater Pathology, Mater Research and University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Deborah S Smith
- Mater Pathology, Mater Research and University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Samuel C Y Leung
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Genetic Pathology Evaluation Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Aline Talhouk
- Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Elizabeth D Williams
- Queensland University of Technology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, located at the Translational Research Institute, PA Hospital Campus, 37 Kent St Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jessica N McAlpine
- Division of Gynaecologic Oncology, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- Queensland University of Technology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, located at the Translational Research Institute, PA Hospital Campus, 37 Kent St Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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10
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Landgraf M, Lahr CA, Sanchez-Herrero A, Meinert C, Shokoohmand A, Pollock PM, Hutmacher DW, Shafiee A, McGovern JA. Correction: Humanized bone facilitates prostate cancer metastasis and recapitulates therapeutic effects of Zoledronic acid in vivo. Bone Res 2020; 8:17. [PMID: 32284891 PMCID: PMC7118404 DOI: 10.1038/s41413-020-0092-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/s41413-019-0072-9.].
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Affiliation(s)
- Marietta Landgraf
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Christoph A. Lahr
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Alvaro Sanchez-Herrero
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Christoph Meinert
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ali Shokoohmand
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Pamela M. Pollock
- School of Biomedical Science, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Dietmar W. Hutmacher
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Abbas Shafiee
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
- UQ Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Jacqui A. McGovern
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
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11
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Harrington BS, He Y, Khan T, Puttick S, Conroy PJ, Kryza T, Cuda T, Sokolowski KA, Tse BWC, Robbins KK, Arachchige BJ, Stehbens SJ, Pollock PM, Reed S, Weroha SJ, Haluska P, Salomon C, Lourie R, Perrin LC, Law RHP, Whisstock JC, Hooper JD. Anti-CDCP1 immuno-conjugates for detection and inhibition of ovarian cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:2095-2114. [PMID: 32104500 PMCID: PMC7019151 DOI: 10.7150/thno.30736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
CUB-domain containing protein 1 (CDCP1) is a cancer associated cell surface protein that amplifies pro-tumorigenic signalling by other receptors including EGFR and HER2. Its potential as a cancer target is supported by studies showing that anti-CDCP1 antibodies inhibit cell migration and survival in vitro, and tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Here we characterize two anti-CDCP1 antibodies, focusing on immuno-conjugates of one of these as a tool to detect and inhibit ovarian cancer. Methods: A panel of ovarian cancer cell lines was examined for cell surface expression of CDCP1 and loss of expression induced by anti-CDCP1 antibodies 10D7 and 41-2 using flow cytometry and Western blot analysis. Surface plasmon resonance analysis and examination of truncation mutants was used to analyse the binding properties of the antibodies for CDCP1. Live-cell spinning-disk confocal microscopy of GFP-tagged CDCP1 was used to track internalization and intracellular trafficking of CDCP1/antibody complexes. In vivo, zirconium 89-labelled 10D7 was detected by positron-emission tomography imaging, of an ovarian cancer patient-derived xenograft grown intraperitoneally in mice. The efficacy of cytotoxin-conjugated 10D7 was examined against ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Results: Our data indicate that each antibody binds with high affinity to the extracellular domain of CDCP1 causing rapid internalization of the receptor/antibody complex and degradation of CDCP1 via processes mediated by the kinase Src. Highlighting the potential clinical utility of CDCP1, positron-emission tomography imaging, using zirconium 89-labelled 10D7, was able to detect subcutaneous and intraperitoneal xenograft ovarian cancers in mice, including small (diameter <3 mm) tumor deposits of an ovarian cancer patient-derived xenograft grown intraperitoneally in mice. Furthermore, cytotoxin-conjugated 10D7 was effective at inhibiting growth of CDCP1-expressing ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that CDCP1 internalizing antibodies have potential for killing and detection of CDCP1 expressing ovarian cancer cells.
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12
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Landgraf M, Lahr CA, Sanchez-Herrero A, Meinert C, Shokoohmand A, Pollock PM, Hutmacher DW, Shafiee A, McGovern JA. Humanized bone facilitates prostate cancer metastasis and recapitulates therapeutic effects of zoledronic acid in vivo. Bone Res 2019; 7:31. [PMID: 31646018 PMCID: PMC6804745 DOI: 10.1038/s41413-019-0072-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced prostate cancer (PCa) is known for its high prevalence to metastasize to bone, at which point it is considered incurable. Despite significant effort, there is no animal model capable of recapitulating the complexity of PCa bone metastasis. The humanized mouse model for PCa bone metastasis used in this study aims to provide a platform for the assessment of new drugs by recapitulating the human-human cell interactions relevant for disease development and progression. The humanized tissue-engineered bone construct (hTEBC) was created within NOD-scid IL2rgnull (NSG) mice and was used for the study of experimental PC3-Luc bone metastases. It was confirmed that PC3-Luc cells preferentially grew in the hTEBC compared with murine bone. The translational potential of the humanized mouse model for PCa bone metastasis was evaluated with two clinically approved osteoprotective therapies, the non-species-specific bisphosphonate zoledronic acid (ZA) or the human-specific antibody Denosumab, both targeting Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa-Β Ligand. ZA, but not Denosumab, significantly decreased metastases in hTEBCs, but not murine femora. These results highlight the importance of humanized models for the preclinical research on PCa bone metastasis and indicate the potential of the bioengineered mouse model to closely mimic the metastatic cascade of PCa cells to human bone. Eventually, it will enable the development of new effective antimetastatic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marietta Landgraf
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Christoph A. Lahr
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Alvaro Sanchez-Herrero
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Christoph Meinert
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ali Shokoohmand
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Pamela M. Pollock
- School of Biomedical Science, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Dietmar W. Hutmacher
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Abbas Shafiee
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
- UQ Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Jacqui A. McGovern
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
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Shokoohmand A, Ren J, Baldwin J, Atack A, Shafiee A, Theodoropoulos C, Wille ML, Tran PA, Bray LJ, Smith D, Chetty N, Pollock PM, Hutmacher DW, Clements JA, Williams ED, Bock N. Microenvironment engineering of osteoblastic bone metastases reveals osteomimicry of patient-derived prostate cancer xenografts. Biomaterials 2019; 220:119402. [PMID: 31400612 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.119402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Representative in vitro models that mimic the native bone tumor microenvironment are warranted to support the development of more successful treatments for bone metastases. Here, we have developed a primary cell 3D model consisting of a human osteoblast-derived tissue-engineered construct (hOTEC) indirectly co-cultured with patient-derived prostate cancer xenografts (PDXs), in order to study molecular interactions in a patient-derived microenvironment context. The engineered biomimetic microenvironment had high mineralization and embedded osteocytes, and supported a high degree of cancer cell osteomimicry at the gene, protein and mineralization levels when co-cultured with prostate cancer PDXs from a lymph node metastasis (LuCaP35) and bone metastasis (BM18) from patients with primary prostate cancer. This fully patient-derived model is a promising tool for the assessment of new molecular mechanisms and as a personalized pre-clinical platform for therapy testing for patients with prostate cancer bone metastases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Shokoohmand
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty (SEF), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre, Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Translational Research Institute (TRI), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre in Regenerative Medicine, IHBI, QUT, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Jiongyu Ren
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty (SEF), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre in Regenerative Medicine, IHBI, QUT, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Jeremy Baldwin
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty (SEF), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre in Regenerative Medicine, IHBI, QUT, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Anthony Atack
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre, Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Translational Research Institute (TRI), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Abbas Shafiee
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty (SEF), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre in Regenerative Medicine, IHBI, QUT, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Christina Theodoropoulos
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty (SEF), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre in Regenerative Medicine, IHBI, QUT, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Marie-Luise Wille
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty (SEF), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre in Regenerative Medicine, IHBI, QUT, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Phong A Tran
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty (SEF), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre in Regenerative Medicine, IHBI, QUT, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Laura J Bray
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty (SEF), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Translational Research Institute (TRI), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre in Regenerative Medicine, IHBI, QUT, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Deborah Smith
- Cancer Pathology Research Group, Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia; Department of Anatomical Pathology, Mater Hospital Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Naven Chetty
- Cancer Pathology Research Group, Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia; Department of Anatomical Pathology, Mater Hospital Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Translational Research Institute (TRI), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Dietmar W Hutmacher
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty (SEF), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre, Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Translational Research Institute (TRI), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre in Regenerative Medicine, IHBI, QUT, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia; Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing, QUT, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Judith A Clements
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre, Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Translational Research Institute (TRI), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Australian Research Council (ARC) Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing, QUT, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Elizabeth D Williams
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre, Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Translational Research Institute (TRI), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nathalie Bock
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre, Queensland (APCRC-Q), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Translational Research Institute (TRI), QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre in Regenerative Medicine, IHBI, QUT, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, QUT, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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Packer LM, Stehbens SJ, Bonazzi VF, Gunter JH, Ju RJ, Ward M, Gartside MG, Byron SA, Pollock PM. Bcl-2 inhibitors enhance FGFR inhibitor-induced mitochondrial-dependent cell death in FGFR2-mutant endometrial cancer. Mol Oncol 2019; 13:738-756. [PMID: 30537101 PMCID: PMC6441928 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Revised: 11/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer is the most commonly diagnosed gynaecological malignancy. Unfortunately, 15–20% of women demonstrate persistent or recurrent tumours that are refractory to current chemotherapies. We previously identified activating mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) in 12% (stage I/II) to 17% (stage III/IV) endometrioid ECs and found that these mutations are associated with shorter progression‐free and cancer‐specific survival. Although FGFR inhibitors are undergoing clinical trials for treatment of several cancer types, little is known about the mechanism by which they induce cell death. We show that treatment with BGJ398, AZD4547 and PD173074 causes mitochondrial depolarization, cytochrome c release and impaired mitochondrial respiration in two FGFR2‐mutant EC cell lines (AN3CA and JHUEM2). Despite this mitochondrial dysfunction, we were unable to detect caspase activation following FGFR inhibition; in addition, the pan‐caspase inhibitor Z‐VAD‐FMK was unable to prevent cell death, suggesting that the cell death is caspase‐independent. Furthermore, while FGFR inhibition led to an increase in LC3 puncta, treatment with bafilomycin did not further increase lipidated LC3, suggesting that FGFR inhibition led to a block in autophagosome degradation. We confirmed that cell death is mitochondrial‐dependent as it can be blocked by overexpression of Bcl‐2 and/or Bcl‐XL. Importantly, we show that combining FGFR inhibitors with the BH3 mimetics ABT737/ABT263 markedly increased cell death in vitro and is more effective than BGJ398 alone in vivo, where it leads to marked tumour regression. This work may have implications for the design of clinical trials to treat a wide range of patients with FGFR‐dependent malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leisl M Packer
- School of Biomedical Science, Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology located within the Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Samantha J Stehbens
- School of Biomedical Science, Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology located within the Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Vanessa F Bonazzi
- School of Biomedical Science, Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology located within the Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jennifer H Gunter
- School of Biomedical Science, Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology located within the Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Robert J Ju
- School of Biomedical Science, Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology located within the Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Micheal Ward
- Mater-UQ located within the Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Michael G Gartside
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Sara A Byron
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- School of Biomedical Science, Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology located within the Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
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15
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Stehbens SJ, Ju RJ, Adams MN, Perry SR, Haass NK, Bryant DM, Pollock PM. FGFR2-activating mutations disrupt cell polarity to potentiate migration and invasion in endometrial cancer cell models. J Cell Sci 2018; 131:jcs.213678. [PMID: 30002137 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.213678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are a family of receptor tyrosine kinases that control a diverse range of biological processes during development and in adult tissues. We recently reported that somatic FGFR2 mutations are associated with shorter survival in endometrial cancer. However, little is known about how these FGFR2 mutations contribute to endometrial cancer metastasis. Here, we report that expression of the activating mutations FGFR2N550K and FGFR2Y376C in an endometrial cancer cell model induce Golgi fragmentation, and loss of polarity and directional migration. In mutant FGFR2-expressing cells, this was associated with an inability to polarise intracellular pools of FGFR2 towards the front of migrating cells. Such polarization defects were exacerbated in three-dimensional culture, where FGFR2 mutant cells were unable to form well-organised acini, instead undergoing exogenous ligand-independent invasion. Our findings uncover collective cell polarity and invasion as common targets of disease-associated FGFR2 mutations that lead to poor outcome in endometrial cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Stehbens
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) located at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia .,The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Robert J Ju
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) located at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.,The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Mark N Adams
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) located at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Samuel R Perry
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) located at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Nikolas K Haass
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - David M Bryant
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK.,Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) located at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
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16
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Stark MS, Tom LN, Boyle GM, Bonazzi VF, Soyer HP, Herington AC, Pollock PM, Hayward NK. The "melanoma-enriched" microRNA miR-4731-5p acts as a tumour suppressor. Oncotarget 2018; 7:49677-49687. [PMID: 27331623 PMCID: PMC5226538 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously identified miR-4731-5p (miR-4731) as a melanoma-enriched microRNA following comparison of melanoma with other cell lines from solid malignancies. Additionally, miR-4731 has been found in serum from melanoma patients and expressed less abundantly in metastatic melanoma tissues from stage IV patients relative to stage III patients. As miR-4731 has no known function, we used biotin-labelled miRNA duplex pull-down to identify binding targets of miR-4731 in three melanoma cell lines (HT144, MM96L and MM253). Using the miRanda miRNA binding algorithm, all pulled-down transcripts common to the three cell lines (n=1092) had potential to be targets of miR-4731 and gene-set enrichment analysis of these (via STRING v9.1) highlighted significantly associated genes related to the 'cell cycle' pathway and the 'melanosome'. Following miR-4731 overexpression, a selection (n=81) of pull-down transcripts underwent validation using a custom qRT-PCR array. These data revealed that miR-4731 regulates multiple genes associated with the cell cycle (e.g. CCNA2, ORC5L, and PCNA) and the melanosome (e.g. RAB7A, CTSD, and GNA13). Furthermore, members of the synovial sarcoma X breakpoint family (SSX) (melanoma growth promoters) were also down-regulated (e.g. SSX2, SSX4, and SSX4B) as a result of miR-4731 overexpression. Moreover, this down-regulation of mRNA expression resulted in ablation or reduction of SSX4 protein, which, in keeping with previous studies, resulted in loss of 2D colony formation. We therefore speculate that loss of miR-4731 expression in stage IV patient tumours supports melanoma growth by, in part; reducing its regulatory control of SSX expression levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell S Stark
- Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Lisa N Tom
- Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Glen M Boyle
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Vanessa F Bonazzi
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, at The Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - H Peter Soyer
- Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Adrian C Herington
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, at The Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, at The Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicholas K Hayward
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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17
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Karlsson T, Krakstad C, Tangen IL, Hoivik EA, Pollock PM, Salvesen HB, Lewis AE. Endometrial cancer cells exhibit high expression of p110β and its selective inhibition induces variable responses on PI3K signaling, cell survival and proliferation. Oncotarget 2018; 8:3881-3894. [PMID: 28002804 PMCID: PMC5354802 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PTEN loss and constitutive activation of the class I phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway are key drivers of endometrial tumorigenesis. In some cancer types, PTEN-deficient tumors are reliant on class I PI3K p110β (encoded by PIK3CB) activity but little is known about this contribution in endometrial tumorigenesis. In this study, we find that p110β is overexpressed in a panel of 7 endometrial cancer cell lines compared to non-transformed cells. Furthermore, in 234 clinically annotated patient samples, PIK3CB mRNA levels increase significantly in the early phase of tumorigenesis from precursors to low grade primary malignant lesions whereas PIK3CA levels are higher in non-endometrioid compared to endometrioid primary tumors. While high levels of either PIK3CA or PIK3CB associate with poor prognosis, only elevated PIK3CB mRNA levels correlate with a high cell cycle signature score in clinical samples. In cancer cell lines, p110α inhibition reduces cell viability by inducing cell death in PIK3CA mutant cells while p110β inhibition delayed proliferation in PTEN-deficient cells, but not in WT cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that PIK3CB/p110β contributes to some of the pleiotropic functions of PI3K in endometrial cancer, particularly in the early steps by contributing to cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Karlsson
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Camilla Krakstad
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ingvild Løberg Tangen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Erling A Hoivik
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Helga B Salvesen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Aurélia E Lewis
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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18
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Packer L, Byron S, Stehbens S, Bonazzi V, Loch D, Wortmann A, Gartside M, Waterhouse N, Gunter J, Pollock PM. Abstract LB-B31: FGFR inhibition in endometrial cancer induces caspase-independent cell death that can be augmented with ABT-737. Mol Cancer Ther 2018. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.targ-17-lb-b31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy of the female reproductive tract. Unfortunately, 15-20% of women demonstrate persistent or recurrent tumors that are refractory to current chemotherapies with an associated poor prognosis. Our laboratory identified activating mutations in Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 (FGFR2) in 12% (stage I/II) to 17% (stage III/IV) endometrioid endometrial tumors and have since shown in a large (n=970) multi-institutional cohort they are associated with shorter progression free and cancer specific survival. Although FGFR inhibitors are in clinical trials in several cancer types, no detailed study of the mechanism of cell death has been published. We now show that treatment with BGJ398, AZD4547 and PD173074 leads to the induction of mitochondrial depolarization and changes in metabolic flux in two endometrial cancer cell lines (JHUEM2 and AN3CA) carrying activating mutations (C383R and N550K respectively). Despite this mitochondrial dysfunction, we have convincingly shown that the cell death following FGFR inhibition was caspase-independent, as evidenced by the lack of caspase-3, -7, and -9 activation, absence of PARP cleavage, and the inability of the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-FMK, to prevent cell death. Knockdown of EndoG and AIF, common mediators of caspase-independent death, had no effect. Detailed quantification of LC3 positive puncta shows an increase in autophagy in JHUEM2 and AN3CA cells treated with all FGFR inhibitors. Knockdown of ATG3, ATG7 and ATG12 resulted in a slight increase in Annexin positive cell death indicating that the autophagy was cytoprotective in this context. We have now confirmed this novel caspase-independent cell death is mitochondrial dependent as it can be blocked by overexpression of Bcl-2 and/or Bcl-XL. Importantly we have shown that the combination of FGFR inhibitors with the BH3 mimetic ABT737 can markedly augment this caspase-independent cell death which may have implications for the design of more effective clinical trials.
Citation Format: Leisl Packer, Sara Byron, Samantha Stehbens, Vanessa Bonazzi, David Loch, Andreas Wortmann, Mike Gartside, Nigel Waterhouse, Jennifer Gunter, Pamela M. Pollock. FGFR inhibition in endometrial cancer induces caspase-independent cell death that can be augmented with ABT-737 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2017 Oct 26-30; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2018;17(1 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-B31.
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19
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Ashton NW, Paquet N, Shirran SL, Bolderson E, Kariawasam R, Touma C, Fallahbaghery A, Gamsjaeger R, Cubeddu L, Botting C, Pollock PM, O'Byrne KJ, Richard DJ. hSSB1 phosphorylation is dynamically regulated by DNA-PK and PPP-family protein phosphatases. DNA Repair (Amst) 2017; 54:30-39. [PMID: 28448822 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2017.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The maintenance of genomic stability is essential for cellular viability and the prevention of diseases such as cancer. Human single-stranded DNA-binding protein 1 (hSSB1) is a protein with roles in the stabilisation and restart of stalled DNA replication forks, as well as in the repair of oxidative DNA lesions and double-strand DNA breaks. In the latter process, phosphorylation of threonine 117 by the ATM kinase is required for hSSB1 stability and efficient DNA repair. The regulation of hSSB1 in other DNA repair pathways has however remained unclear. Here we report that hSSB1 is also directly phosphorylated by DNA-PK at serine residue 134. While this modification is largely suppressed in undamaged cells by PPP-family protein phosphatases, S134 phosphorylation is enhanced following the disruption of replication forks and promotes cellular survival. Together, these data thereby represent a novel mechanism for hSSB1 regulation following the inhibition of replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas W Ashton
- School of Biomedical Research, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at the Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba 4102, QLD, Australia.
| | - Nicolas Paquet
- School of Biomedical Research, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at the Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba 4102, QLD, Australia.
| | - Sally L Shirran
- School of Biology, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST, UK.
| | - Emma Bolderson
- School of Biomedical Research, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at the Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba 4102, QLD, Australia.
| | - Ruvini Kariawasam
- School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith 2751, NSW, Australia.
| | - Christine Touma
- School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith 2751, NSW, Australia.
| | - Azadeh Fallahbaghery
- School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith 2751, NSW, Australia.
| | - Roland Gamsjaeger
- School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith 2751, NSW, Australia.
| | - Liza Cubeddu
- School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith 2751, NSW, Australia.
| | - Catherine Botting
- School of Biology, Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST, UK.
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- School of Biomedical Research, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at the Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba 4102, QLD, Australia.
| | - Kenneth J O'Byrne
- School of Biomedical Research, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at the Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba 4102, QLD, Australia.
| | - Derek J Richard
- School of Biomedical Research, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at the Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba 4102, QLD, Australia.
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20
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Jeske YW, Ali S, Byron SA, Gao F, Mannel RS, Ghebre RG, DiSilvestro PA, Lele SB, Pearl ML, Schmidt AP, Lankes HA, Ramirez NC, Rasty G, Powell M, Goodfellow PJ, Pollock PM. FGFR2 mutations are associated with poor outcomes in endometrioid endometrial cancer: An NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group study. Gynecol Oncol 2017; 145:366-373. [PMID: 28314589 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2017.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [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: 11/16/2016] [Revised: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Activating FGFR2 mutations have been identified in ~10% of endometrioid endometrial cancers (ECs). We have previously reported that mutations in FGFR2 are associated with shorter disease free survival (DFS) in stage I/II EC patients. Here we sought to validate the prognostic importance of FGFR2 mutations in a large, multi-institutional patient cohort. METHODS Tumors were collected as part of the GOG 210 clinical trial "Molecular Staging of Endometrial Cancer" where samples underwent rigorous pathological review and had more than three years of detailed clinical follow-up. DNA was extracted and four exons encompassing the FGFR2 mutation hotspots were amplified and sequenced. RESULTS Mutations were identified in 144 of the 973 endometrioid ECs, of which 125 were classified as known activating mutations and were included in the statistical analyses. Consistent with FGFR2 having an association with more aggressive disease, FGFR2 mutations were more common in patients initially diagnosed with stage III/IV EC (29/170;17%) versus stage I/II EC (96/803; 12%; p=0.07, Chi-square test). Additionally, incidence of progression (progressed, recurred or died from disease) was significantly more prevalent (32/125, 26%) among patients with FGFR2 mutation versus wild type (120/848, 14%; p<0.001, Chi-square test). Using Cox regression analysis adjusting for known prognostic factors, patients with FGFR2 mutation had significantly (p<0.025) shorter progression-free survival (PFS; HR 1.903; 95% CI 1.177-3.076) and endometrial cancer specific survival (ECS; HR 2.013; 95% CI 1.096-3.696). CONCLUSION In summary, our findings suggest that clinical trials testing the efficacy of FGFR inhibitors in the adjuvant setting to prevent recurrence and death are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette W Jeske
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT) at the Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Shamshad Ali
- NRG Oncology Statistics and Data Management Center, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Sara A Byron
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Feng Gao
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Robert S Mannel
- Gynecologic Oncology, The Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Rahel G Ghebre
- University of Minnesota Medical Center - Fairview, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Shashikant B Lele
- Gynecologic Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Michael L Pearl
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Amy P Schmidt
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Heather A Lankes
- NRG Oncology Statistics and Data Management Center, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Nilsa C Ramirez
- GOG Tissue Bank/NRG Oncology Biospecimen Bank - Columbus, Biopathology Center, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Golnar Rasty
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Toronto, ON, M5G2C, CANADA
| | - Matthew Powell
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Paul J Goodfellow
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT) at the Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
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21
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Packer LM, Geng X, Bonazzi VF, Ju RJ, Mahon CE, Cummings MC, Stephenson SA, Pollock PM. PI3K Inhibitors Synergize with FGFR Inhibitors to Enhance Antitumor Responses in FGFR2 mutant Endometrial Cancers. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 16:637-648. [PMID: 28119489 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-16-0415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Revised: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Improved therapeutic approaches are needed for the treatment of recurrent and metastatic endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancers display hyperactivation of the MAPK and PI3K pathways, the result of somatic aberrations in genes such as FGFR2, KRAS, PTEN, PIK3CA, and PIK3R1 The FGFR2 and PI3K pathways, have emerged as potential therapeutic targets in endometrial cancer. Activation of the PI3K pathway is seen in more than 90% of FGFR2mutant endometrial cancers. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of the pan-FGFR inhibitor BGJ398 with pan-PI3K inhibitors (GDC-0941, BKM120) and the p110α-selective inhibitor BYL719. We assessed synergy in three FGFR2mutant endometrial cancer cell lines (AN3CA, JHUEM2, and MFE296), and the combination of BGJ398 and GDC-0941 or BYL719 showed strong synergy. A significant increase in cell death and decrease in long-term survival was seen when PI3K inhibitors were combined with BGJ398. Importantly, these effects were seen at low concentrations correlating to only partial inhibition of AKT. The combination of BGJ398 and GDC-0941 showed tumor regressions in vivo, whereas each drug alone only showed moderate tumor growth inhibition. BYL719 alone resulted in increased tumor growth of AN3CA xenografts but in combination with BGJ398 resulted in tumor regression in both AN3CA- and JHUEM2-derived xenografts. These data provide evidence that subtherapeutic doses of PI3K inhibitors enhance the efficacy of anti-FGFR therapies, and a combination therapy may represent a superior therapeutic treatment in patients with FGFR2mutant endometrial cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(4); 637-48. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leisl M Packer
- Endometrial Cancer Laboratory, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Queensland, Australia
| | - Xinyan Geng
- Endometrial Cancer Laboratory, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Queensland, Australia
| | - Vanessa F Bonazzi
- Endometrial Cancer Laboratory, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Queensland, Australia
| | - Robert J Ju
- Endometrial Cancer Laboratory, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Queensland, Australia
| | - Clare E Mahon
- Endometrial Cancer Laboratory, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Queensland, Australia
| | - Margaret C Cummings
- School of Medicine, University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sally-Anne Stephenson
- Eph Receptor Biology Group, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Queensland, Australia
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- Endometrial Cancer Laboratory, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute, Queensland, Australia.
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22
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Eggink FA, Van Gool IC, Leary A, Pollock PM, Crosbie EJ, Mileshkin L, Jordanova ES, Adam J, Freeman-Mills L, Church DN, Creutzberg CL, De Bruyn M, Nijman HW, Bosse T. Immunological profiling of molecularly classified high-risk endometrial cancers identifies POLE-mutant and microsatellite unstable carcinomas as candidates for checkpoint inhibition. Oncoimmunology 2016; 6:e1264565. [PMID: 28344870 PMCID: PMC5353925 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2016.1264565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
High-risk endometrial cancer (EC) is an aggressive disease for which new therapeutic options are needed. Aims of this study were to validate the enhanced immune response in highly mutated ECs and to explore immune profiles in other EC subgroups. We evaluated immune infiltration in 116 high-risk ECs from the TransPORTEC consortium, previously classified into four molecular subtypes: (i) ultramutated POLE exonuclease domain-mutant ECs (POLE-mutant); (ii) hypermutated microsatellite unstable (MSI); (iii) p53-mutant; and (iv) no specific molecular profile (NSMP). Within The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) EC cohort, significantly higher numbers of predicted neoantigens were demonstrated in POLE-mutant and MSI tumors compared with NSMP and p53-mutants. This was reflected by enhanced immune expression and infiltration in POLE-mutant and MSI tumors in both the TCGA cohort (mRNA expression) and the TransPORTEC cohort (immunohistochemistry) with high infiltration of CD8+ (90% and 69%), PD-1+ (73% and 69%) and PD-L1+ immune cells (100% and 71%). Notably, a subset of p53-mutant and NSMP cancers was characterized by signs of an antitumor immune response (43% and 31% of tumors with high infiltration of CD8+ cells, respectively), despite a low number of predicted neoantigens. In conclusion, the presence of enhanced immune infiltration, particularly high numbers of PD-1 and PD-L1 positive cells, in highly mutated, neoantigen-rich POLE-mutant and MSI endometrial tumors suggests sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florine A Eggink
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen , Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Inge C Van Gool
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Alexandra Leary
- Department of Medical Oncology, INSERM U981, Gustave Roussy Cancer Center , Villejuif, France
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Translational Research Institute , Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Emma J Crosbie
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, St Marys Hospital , Manchester, UK
| | - Linda Mileshkin
- Division of Cancer Medicine, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre , East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ekaterina S Jordanova
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Center for Gynecological Oncology Amsterdam, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Julien Adam
- Department of Medical Oncology, INSERM U981, Gustave Roussy Cancer Center , Villejuif, France
| | - Luke Freeman-Mills
- Tumour Genomics and Immunology Group, Oxford Centre for Cancer Gene Research, The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford , Oxford, UK
| | - David N Church
- Tumour Genomics and Immunology Group, Oxford Centre for Cancer Gene Research, The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Oxford Cancer Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Carien L Creutzberg
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marco De Bruyn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen , Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Hans W Nijman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen , Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Tjalling Bosse
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden, the Netherlands
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23
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Stark MS, Tom L, Boyle GM, Bonazzi VF, Herington AC, Pollock PM, Hayward NK. Abstract 1093: The melanoma-enriched microRNA miR-4731 regulates genes involved in cell cycle and the melanosome. Cancer Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2016-1093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
We previously identified miR-4731-5p (miR-4731) as a melanoma-enriched microRNA following comparison of melanoma with other cell lines from solid malignancies. Additionally, miR-4731 has been found in serum from melanoma patients and expressed less abundantly in metastatic melanomas from stage IV patients relative to stage III patients. As miR-4731 has no known function, we used biotin-labelled miRNA duplex pull-down to identify binding targets of miR-4731 in three melanoma cell lines. Using the miRanda miRNA binding algorithm, all pulled-down transcripts common to the three cell lines (n = 1092) were predicted to be targets of miR-4731 and gene-set enrichment analysis of these (via STRING v9.1) highlighted significantly associated genes related to the ‘cell cycle’ and ‘melanosome’ pathways. Following miR-4731 overexpression, a selection (n = 81) of pull-down transcripts underwent validation using a custom qRT-PCR array. These data revealed that miR-4731 regulates multiple genes associated with the cell cycle (e.g. CCNA2, ORC5L, and PCNA) and melanosome (e.g. RAB7A, CTSD, and GNA13). Furthermore, members of the synovial sarcoma X breakpoint family (SSX) (melanoma growth promoters) were also down-regulated (e.g. SSX2, SSX4, and SSX4B) as result of miR-4731 overexpression. We therefore speculate that loss of miR-4731 expression supports melanoma growth by, in part; reducing its regulatory control of SSX expression levels together with members of the cell cycle pathway, which warrants further investigation.
Citation Format: Mitchell S. Stark, Lisa Tom, Glen M. Boyle, Vanessa F. Bonazzi, Adrian C. Herington, Pamela M. Pollock, Nicholas K. Hayward. The melanoma-enriched microRNA miR-4731 regulates genes involved in cell cycle and the melanosome. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1093.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lisa Tom
- 1University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Glen M. Boyle
- 2QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
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24
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Painter JN, Kaufmann S, O'Mara TA, Hillman KM, Sivakumaran H, Darabi H, Cheng THT, Pearson J, Kazakoff S, Waddell N, Hoivik EA, Goode EL, Scott RJ, Tomlinson I, Dunning AM, Easton DF, French JD, Salvesen HB, Pollock PM, Thompson DJ, Spurdle AB, Edwards SL. A Common Variant at the 14q32 Endometrial Cancer Risk Locus Activates AKT1 through YY1 Binding. Am J Hum Genet 2016; 98:1159-1169. [PMID: 27259051 PMCID: PMC4908177 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2016.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A recent meta-analysis of multiple genome-wide association and follow-up endometrial cancer case-control datasets identified a novel genetic risk locus for this disease at chromosome 14q32.33. To prioritize the functional SNP(s) and target gene(s) at this locus, we employed an in silico fine-mapping approach using genotyped and imputed SNP data for 6,608 endometrial cancer cases and 37,925 controls of European ancestry. Association and functional analyses provide evidence that the best candidate causal SNP is rs2494737. Multiple experimental analyses show that SNP rs2494737 maps to a silencer element located within AKT1, a member of the PI3K/AKT/MTOR intracellular signaling pathway activated in endometrial tumors. The rs2494737 risk A allele creates a YY1 transcription factor-binding site and abrogates the silencer activity in luciferase assays, an effect mimicked by transfection of YY1 siRNA. Our findings suggest YY1 is a positive regulator of AKT1, mediating the stimulatory effects of rs2494737 increasing endometrial cancer risk. Identification of an endometrial cancer risk allele within a member of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, more commonly activated in tumors by somatic alterations, raises the possibility that well tolerated inhibitors targeting this pathway could be candidates for evaluation as chemopreventive agents in individuals at high risk of developing endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodie N Painter
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Susanne Kaufmann
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Tracy A O'Mara
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Kristine M Hillman
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Haran Sivakumaran
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Hatef Darabi
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden
| | - Timothy H T Cheng
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - John Pearson
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Stephen Kazakoff
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Nicola Waddell
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Erling A Hoivik
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, Department of Clinical Science, The University of Bergen, N5020 Bergen, Norway; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haukeland University Hospital, N5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Ellen L Goode
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Rodney J Scott
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia; Pathology North (Newcastle) John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia; Centre for Information Based Medicine, University of Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Ian Tomlinson
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Alison M Dunning
- Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB1 8RN, UK
| | - Douglas F Easton
- Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB1 8RN, UK; Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB1 8RN, UK
| | - Juliet D French
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Helga B Salvesen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, Department of Clinical Science, The University of Bergen, N5020 Bergen, Norway; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haukeland University Hospital, N5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Science, Queensland University of Technology at the Translation Research Institute, Brisbane 4102, Australia
| | - Deborah J Thompson
- Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB1 8RN, UK
| | - Amanda B Spurdle
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Stacey L Edwards
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia.
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25
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Stark MS, Bonazzi VF, Boyle GM, Palmer JM, Symmons J, Lanagan CM, Schmidt CW, Herington AC, Ballotti R, Pollock PM, Hayward NK. miR-514a regulates the tumour suppressor NF1 and modulates BRAFi sensitivity in melanoma. Oncotarget 2016; 6:17753-63. [PMID: 25980496 PMCID: PMC4627343 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To identify 'melanoma-specific' microRNAs (miRNAs) we used an unbiased microRNA profiling approach to comprehensively study cutaneous melanoma in relation to other solid malignancies, which revealed 233 differentially expressed (≥ 2 fold, p < 0.05) miRNAs. Among the top 20 most significantly different miRNAs was hsa-miR-514a-3p. miR-514a is a member of a cluster of miRNAs (miR-506-514) involved in initiating melanocyte transformation and promotion of melanoma growth. We found miR-514a was expressed in 38/55 (69%) melanoma cell lines but in only 1/34 (3%) other solid cancers. To identify miR-514a regulated targets we conducted a miR-514a-mRNA 'pull-down' experiment, which revealed hundreds of genes, including: CTNNB1, CDK2, MC1R, and NF1, previously associated with melanoma. NF1 was selected for functional validation because of its recent implication inacquired resistance to BRAFV600E-targeted therapy. Luciferase-reporter assays confirmed NF1 as a direct target of miR-514a and over-expression of miR-514a in melanoma cell lines inhibited NF1 expression, which correlated with increased survival of BRAFV600E cells treated with PLX4032. These data provide another mechanism for the dysregulation of the MAPK pathway which may contribute to the profound resistance associated with current RAF-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell S Stark
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Vanessa F Bonazzi
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Equipe 1, Biologie et Pathologies des Mélanocytes, Nice, France
| | - Glen M Boyle
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jane M Palmer
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Judith Symmons
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Catherine M Lanagan
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Adrian C Herington
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Robert Ballotti
- Inserm U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Equipe 1, Biologie et Pathologies des Mélanocytes, Nice, France
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicholas K Hayward
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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26
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Abstract
In this issue of Cancer Discovery, Hagel and colleagues report the design and the in vitro and in vivo activity of a novel, irreversible, paralog-specific kinase inhibitor of FGFR4, BLU9931. This compound binds covalently to a cysteine residue in the hinge region of FGFR4 but not in FGFR1-3. BLU9931 induces tumor shrinkage in hepatocellular carcinoma models that express a functioning ligand/receptor complex consisting of FGF19/FGFR4/KLB and adds to a growing list of anti-FGFR4 agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leisl M Packer
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
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Pollock PM, Geng X, Bonazzi VF, Mahon C, Stephenson S, Packer L. Abstract B114: Combination of BGJ398 with either a pan-PI3K inhibitor or a specific PIK3CA inhibitor shows synergy in FGFR2 mutant endometrial cancer cell lines. Mol Cancer Ther 2015. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.targ-15-b114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Our lab has identified FGFR2 mutations in 12% of over 1500 endometrioid endometrial cancers (ECs) analyzed. The majority of these tumors harbor genetic aberrations in the PI3K/AKT pathway resulting in constitutive activation. In other tissue types, PTEN loss has been shown to provide resistance to specific PIK3CA inhibition. We have previously reported that FGFR inhibition with PD173074 induced cell death despite loss of PTEN. We hypothesize that dual inhibition of FGFR2 and the PI3K pathway will lead to increased cell death and more effective tumor growth inhibition.
Materials and Methods: Two FGFR2 mutant EC cell lines were treated with BGJ398 (pan FGFR inhibitor) alone or in combination with either a pan-PI3K inhibitor (GDC0941) or a specific PI3KA inhibitor (BYL719). Synergy was assessed using the fixed ratio method proposed by Chou and Talalay. Cell death was determined by Annexin V staining and colony formation assays using low clinically relevant drug concentrations. Downstream signaling pathways were analyzed by Western blot analysis and BGJ398 in combination with either GDC0941 or BYL719 was assessed in vivo.
Results: Synergy was observed between BGJ398 and either the pan-PI3K inhibitor (GDC0941), or the specific PI3KA inhibitor (BYL719). Regression of tumor xenografts was observed in mice treated with BGJ398 and GDC0941 as well as BGJ398 and BYL719, despite PTEN inactivation.
Conclusions: Dual targeting of the FGFR and PI3K pathways is more effective than targeting either of them alone. PTEN loss does not provide resistance to PIK3CA inhibition in our EC models suggesting context dependent differences in PI3K signaling.
Citation Format: Pamela M. Pollock, Xinyan Geng, Vanessa F. Bonazzi, Clare Mahon, Sally Stephenson, Leisl Packer. Combination of BGJ398 with either a pan-PI3K inhibitor or a specific PIK3CA inhibitor shows synergy in FGFR2 mutant endometrial cancer cell lines. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr B114.
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Stelloo E, Bosse T, Nout RA, MacKay HJ, Church DN, Nijman HW, Leary A, Edmondson RJ, Powell ME, Crosbie EJ, Kitchener HC, Mileshkin L, Pollock PM, Smit VT, Creutzberg CL. Refining prognosis and identifying targetable pathways for high-risk endometrial cancer; a TransPORTEC initiative. Mod Pathol 2015; 28:836-44. [PMID: 25720322 DOI: 10.1038/modpathol.2015.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 301] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2014] [Revised: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate whether molecular analysis can be used to refine risk assessment, direct adjuvant therapy, and identify actionable alterations in high-risk endometrial cancer. TransPORTEC, an international consortium related to the PORTEC3 trial, was established for translational research in high-risk endometrial cancer. In this explorative study, routine molecular analyses were used to detect prognostic subgroups: p53 immunohistochemistry, microsatellite instability and POLE proofreading mutation. Furthermore, DNA was analyzed for hotspot mutations in 13 additional genes (BRAF, CDKNA2, CTNNB1, FBXW7, FGFR2, FGFR3, FOXL2, HRAS, KRAS, NRAS, PIK3CA, PPP2R1A, and PTEN) and protein expression of ER, PR, PTEN, and ARID1a was analyzed. Rates of distant metastasis, recurrence-free, and overall survival were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. In total, samples of 116 high-risk endometrial cancer patients were included: 86 endometrioid; 12 serous; and 18 clear cell. For endometrioid, serous, and clear cell cancers, 5-year recurrence-free survival rates were 68%, 27%, and 50% (P=0.014) and distant metastasis rates 23%, 64%, and 50% (P=0.001), respectively. Four prognostic subgroups were identified: (1) a group of p53-mutant tumors; (2) microsatellite instable tumors; (3) POLE proofreading-mutant tumors; and (4) a group with no specific molecular profile (NSMP). In group 3 (POLE-mutant; n=14) and group 2 (microsatellite instable; n=19) patients, no distant metastasis occurred, compared with 50% distant metastasis rate in group 1 (p53-mutant; n=36) and 39% in group 4 (NSMP; P<0.001). Five-year recurrence-free survival was 93% and 95% for group 3 (POLE-mutant) and group 2 (microsatellite instable) vs 42% (group 1, p53-mutant) and 52% (group 4, NSMP; P<0.001). Targetable FBXW7 and FGFR2 mutations (6%), alterations in the PI3K-AKT pathway (60%) and hormone receptor positivity (45%) were frequently found. In conclusion, molecular analysis of high-risk endometrial cancer identifies four distinct prognostic subgroups, with potential therapeutic implications. High frequencies of targetable alterations were identified and may serve as targets for individualized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Stelloo
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tjalling Bosse
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Remi A Nout
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Helen J MacKay
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David N Church
- Molecular and Population Genetics Laboratory, The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Hans W Nijman
- Department of Gynecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Alexandra Leary
- Department of Medicine, Gynecology Unit, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Richard J Edmondson
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, St Marys Hospital, Manchester, UK
| | - Melanie E Powell
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Emma J Crosbie
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, St Marys Hospital, Manchester, UK
| | - Henry C Kitchener
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, St Marys Hospital, Manchester, UK
| | - Linda Mileshkin
- Division of Cancer Medicine, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Vincent T Smit
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Carien L Creutzberg
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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29
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Stark MS, Klein K, Weide B, Haydu LE, Pflugfelder A, Tang YH, Palmer JM, Whiteman DC, Scolyer RA, Mann GJ, Thompson JF, Long GV, Barbour AP, Soyer HP, Garbe C, Herington A, Pollock PM, Hayward NK. The Prognostic and Predictive Value of Melanoma-related MicroRNAs Using Tissue and Serum: A MicroRNA Expression Analysis. EBioMedicine 2015; 2:671-80. [PMID: 26288839 PMCID: PMC4534690 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2015.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Revised: 05/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The overall 5-year survival for melanoma is 91%. However, if distant metastasis occurs (stage IV), cure rates are < 15%. Hence, melanoma detection in earlier stages (stages I–III) maximises the chances of patient survival. We measured the expression of a panel of 17 microRNAs (miRNAs) (MELmiR-17) in melanoma tissues (stage III; n = 76 and IV; n = 10) and serum samples (collected from controls with no melanoma, n = 130; and patients with melanoma (stages I/II, n = 86; III, n = 50; and IV, n = 119)) obtained from biobanks in Australia and Germany. In melanoma tissues, members of the ‘MELmiR-17’ panel were found to be predictors of stage, recurrence, and survival. Additionally, in a minimally-invasive blood test, a seven-miRNA panel (MELmiR-7) detected the presence of melanoma (relative to controls) with high sensitivity (93%) and specificity (≥ 82%) when ≥ 4 miRNAs were expressed. Moreover, the ‘MELmiR-7’ panel characterised overall survival of melanoma patients better than both serum LDH and S100B (delta log likelihood = 11, p < 0.001). This panel was found to be superior to currently used serological markers for melanoma progression, recurrence, and survival; and would be ideally suited to monitor tumour progression in patients diagnosed with early metastatic disease (stages IIIa–c/IV M1a–b) to detect relapse following surgical or adjuvant treatment. A seven-miRNA panel (MELmiR-7) detected the presence of melanoma with high sensitivity (93%) and specificity (≥ 82%). In serially collected stage IV specimens, members of the ‘MELmiR-7’ panel confirmed tumour progression in 100% of cases. The ‘MELmiR-7’ panel is superior to currently used serological markers for melanoma progression, recurrence, and survival.
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Key Words
- AGO2, argonaute RISC catalytic component 2
- AJCC, American Joint Committee on Cancer
- AUC, area under the curve
- AUROC, area under the receiver operator curve
- Biomarker
- CI, confidence interval
- Ct, threshold cycle
- DOR, diagnostic odds ratio
- Diagnostic
- FFPE, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded
- HR, hazard ratio
- LDH, lactate dehydrogenase
- M1a, metastasis to skin, subcutaneous (below the skin) tissue, or lymph nodes in distant parts of the body, with a normal blood LDH level
- M1b, metastasis to the lungs, with a normal blood LDH level
- M1c, metastasis to any other organs, OR distant spread to any site along with an elevated blood LDH level
- MIA, Melanoma Institute of Australia
- Melanoma
- MiRNA
- MicroRNA
- N stage, nodal or number of lymph nodes stage
- NA, not applicable
- NM, nodular melanoma
- OR, odds ratio
- PD1, programmed cell death protein
- Prognostic
- RNA, ribonucleic acid
- S100B, S100 calcium-binding protein B
- SMM, superficial spreading melanoma
- USA, United States of America
- miR, microRNA
- miRNA, microRNA
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell S Stark
- Oncogenomics Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia ; School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
| | - Kerenaftali Klein
- Statistics Unit, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia ; Clinical Trials and Biostatistics Unit, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia
| | - Benjamin Weide
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Tubingen, Germany
| | - Lauren E Haydu
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia ; The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Sydney, Australia
| | - Annette Pflugfelder
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Tubingen, Germany ; Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yue Hang Tang
- Surgical Oncology Group, The University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jane M Palmer
- Oncogenomics Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia
| | - David C Whiteman
- Cancer Control Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia
| | - Richard A Scolyer
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia ; The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Sydney, Australia
| | - Graham J Mann
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia ; The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Sydney, Australia
| | - John F Thompson
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia ; The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Sydney, Australia
| | - Georgina V Long
- Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia ; The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Sydney, Australia
| | - Andrew P Barbour
- Surgical Oncology Group, The University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - H Peter Soyer
- Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Claus Garbe
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Tubingen, Germany
| | - Adrian Herington
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
| | - Nicholas K Hayward
- Oncogenomics Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia
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Powell MA, Sill MW, Goodfellow PJ, Benbrook DM, Lankes HA, Leslie KK, Jeske Y, Mannel RS, Spillman MA, Lee PS, Hoffman JS, McMeekin DS, Pollock PM. A phase II trial of brivanib in recurrent or persistent endometrial cancer: an NRG Oncology/Gynecologic Oncology Group Study. Gynecol Oncol 2014; 135:38-43. [PMID: 25019571 PMCID: PMC4278402 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2014.07.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [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: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 07/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Brivanib, an oral, multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor with activity against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) was investigated as a single agent in a phase II trial to assess the activity and tolerability in recurrent or persistent endometrial cancer (EMC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Eligible patients had persistent or recurrent EMC after receiving one to two prior cytotoxic regimens, measurable disease, and performance status of ≤2. Treatment consisted of brivanib 800 mg orally every day until disease progression or prohibitive toxicity. Primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) at six months and objective tumor response. Expression of multiple angiogenic proteins and FGFR2 mutation status was assessed. RESULTS Forty-five patients were enrolled. Forty-three patients were eligible and evaluable. Median age was 64 years. Twenty-four patients (55.8%) received prior radiation. Median number of cycles was two (range 1-24). No GI perforations but one rectal fistula were seen. Nine patients had grade 3 hypertension, with one experiencing grade 4 confusion. Eight patients (18.6%; 90% CI 9.6%-31.7%) had responses (one CR and seven PRs), and 13 patients (30.2%; 90% CI 18.9%-43.9%) were PFS at six months. Median PFS and overall survival (OS) were 3.3 and 10.7 months, respectively. When modeled jointly, VEGF and angiopoietin-2 expression may diametrically predict PFS. Estrogen receptor-α (ER) expression was positively correlated with OS. CONCLUSION Brivanib is reasonably well tolerated and worthy of further investigation based on PFS at six months in recurrent or persistent EMC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Powell
- OB/GYN, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
| | - Michael W Sill
- Gynecologic Oncology Group Statistical and Data Center, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.
| | - Paul J Goodfellow
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Doris M Benbrook
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, USA.
| | - Heather A Lankes
- Gynecologic Oncology Group Statistical and Data Center, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.
| | - Kimberly K Leslie
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| | - Yvette Jeske
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Robert S Mannel
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, USA.
| | | | - Paula S Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - James S Hoffman
- The Hospital of Central Connecticut, New Britain, CT 06050, USA.
| | - D Scott McMeekin
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, USA.
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
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Abstract
In this issue of Cancer Discovery, Guagnano and colleagues use a large and diverse annotated collection of cancer cell lines, the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, to correlate whole-genome expression and genomic alteration datasets with cell line sensitivity data to the novel pan-fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor NVP-BGJ398. Their findings underscore not only the preclinical use of such cell line panels in identifying predictive biomarkers, but also the emergence of the FGFRs as valid therapeutic targets, across an increasingly broad range of malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Loch
- Cancer Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia
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Byron SA, Loch DC, Wellens CL, Wortmann A, Wu J, Wang J, Nomoto K, Pollock PM. Sensitivity to the MEK inhibitor E6201 in melanoma cells is associated with mutant BRAF and wildtype PTEN status. Mol Cancer 2012; 11:75. [PMID: 23039341 PMCID: PMC3554420 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-11-75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2012] [Accepted: 10/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer, but recent advances in molecularly targeted agents against the Ras/Raf/MAPK pathway demonstrate promise as effective therapies. Despite these advances, resistance remains an issue, as illustrated recently by the clinical experience with vemurafenib. Such acquired resistance appears to be the result of parallel pathway activation, such as PI3K, to overcome single-agent inhibition. In this report, we describe the cytotoxicity and anti-tumour activity of the novel MEK inhibitor, E6201, in a broad panel of melanoma cell lines (n = 31) of known mutational profile in vitro and in vivo. We further test the effectiveness of combining E6201 with an inhibitor of PI3K (LY294002) in overcoming resistance in these cell lines. Results The majority of melanoma cell lines were either sensitive (IC50 < 500 nM, 24/31) or hypersensitive (IC50 < 100 nM, 18/31) to E6201. This sensitivity correlated with wildtype PTEN and mutant BRAF status, whereas mutant RAS and PI3K pathway activation were associated with resistance. Although MEK inhibitors predominantly exert a cytostatic effect, E6201 elicited a potent cytocidal effect on most of the sensitive lines studied, as evidenced by Annexin positivity and cell death ELISA. Conversely, E6201 did not induce cell death in the two resistant melanoma cell lines tested. E6201 inhibited xenograft tumour growth in all four melanoma cell lines studied to varying degrees, but a more pronounced anti-tumour effect was observed for cell lines that previously demonstrated a cytocidal response in vitro. In vitro combination studies of E6201 and LY294002 showed synergism in all six melanoma cell lines tested, as defined by a mean combination index < 1. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that E6201 elicits a predominantly cytocidal effect in vitro and in vivo in melanoma cells of diverse mutational background. Resistance to E6201 was associated with disruption of PTEN and activation of downstream PI3K signalling. In keeping with these data we demonstrate that co-inhibition of MAPK and PI3K is effective in overcoming resistance inherent in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A Byron
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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Byron SA, Gartside M, Powell MA, Wellens CL, Gao F, Mutch DG, Goodfellow PJ, Pollock PM. FGFR2 point mutations in 466 endometrioid endometrial tumors: relationship with MSI, KRAS, PIK3CA, CTNNB1 mutations and clinicopathological features. PLoS One 2012; 7:e30801. [PMID: 22383975 PMCID: PMC3285611 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2011] [Accepted: 12/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in multiple oncogenes including KRAS, CTNNB1, PIK3CA and FGFR2 have been identified in endometrial cancer. The aim of this study was to provide insight into the clinicopathological features associated with patterns of mutation in these genes, a necessary step in planning targeted therapies for endometrial cancer. 466 endometrioid endometrial tumors were tested for mutations in FGFR2, KRAS, CTNNB1, and PIK3CA. The relationships between mutation status, tumor microsatellite instability (MSI) and clinicopathological features including overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard models. Mutations were identified in FGFR2 (48/466); KRAS (87/464); CTNNB1 (88/454) and PIK3CA (104/464). KRAS and FGFR2 mutations were significantly more common, and CTNNB1 mutations less common, in MSI positive tumors. KRAS and FGFR2 occurred in a near mutually exclusive pattern (p = 0.05) and, surprisingly, mutations in KRAS and CTNNB1 also occurred in a near mutually exclusive pattern (p = 0.0002). Multivariate analysis revealed that mutation in KRAS and FGFR2 showed a trend (p = 0.06) towards longer and shorter DFS, respectively. In the 386 patients with early stage disease (stage I and II), FGFR2 mutation was significantly associated with shorter DFS (HR = 3.24; 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.35-7.77; p = 0.008) and OS (HR = 2.00; 95% CI 1.09-3.65; p = 0.025) and KRAS was associated with longer DFS (HR = 0.23; 95% CI 0.05-0.97; p = 0.045). In conclusion, although KRAS and FGFR2 mutations share similar activation of the MAPK pathway, our data suggest very different roles in tumor biology. This has implications for the implementation of anti-FGFR or anti-MEK biologic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A. Byron
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Michael Gartside
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Matthew A. Powell
- Divisions of Gynecologic Oncology, Biostatistics and Endocrine Oncology, Siteman Cancer Center and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Candice L. Wellens
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Feng Gao
- Divisions of Gynecologic Oncology, Biostatistics and Endocrine Oncology, Siteman Cancer Center and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - David G. Mutch
- Divisions of Gynecologic Oncology, Biostatistics and Endocrine Oncology, Siteman Cancer Center and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Paul J. Goodfellow
- Divisions of Gynecologic Oncology, Biostatistics and Endocrine Oncology, Siteman Cancer Center and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Pamela M. Pollock
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Wortmann A, He Y, Christensen ME, Linn M, Lumley JW, Pollock PM, Waterhouse NJ, Hooper JD. Cellular settings mediating Src Substrate switching between focal adhesion kinase tyrosine 861 and CUB-domain-containing protein 1 (CDCP1) tyrosine 734. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:42303-42315. [PMID: 21994943 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.227462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Reciprocal interactions between Src family kinases (SFKs) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) are critical during changes in cell attachment. Recently it has been recognized that another SFK substrate, CUB-domain-containing protein 1 (CDCP1), is differentially phosphorylated during these events. However, the molecular processes underlying SFK-mediated phosphorylation of CDCP1 are poorly understood. Here we identify a novel mechanism in which FAK tyrosine 861 and CDCP1-Tyr-734 compete as SFK substrates and demonstrate cellular settings in which SFKs switch between these sites. Our results show that stable CDCP1 expression induces robust SFK-mediated phosphorylation of CDCP1-Tyr-734 with concomitant loss of p-FAK-Tyr-861 in adherent HeLa cells. SFK substrate switching in these cells is dependent on the level of expression of CDCP1 and is also dependent on CDCP1-Tyr-734 but is independent of CDCP1-Tyr-743 and -Tyr-762. In HeLa CDCP1 cells, engagement of SFKs with CDCP1 is accompanied by an increase in phosphorylation of Src-Tyr-416 and a change in cell morphology to a fibroblastic appearance dependent on CDCP1-Tyr-734. SFK switching between FAK-Tyr-861 and CDCP1-Tyr-734 also occurs during changes in adhesion of colorectal cancer cell lines endogenously expressing these two proteins. Consistently, increased p-FAK-Tyr-861 levels and a more epithelial morphology are seen in colon cancer SW480 cells silenced for CDCP1. Unlike protein kinase Cδ, FAK does not appear to form a trimeric complex with Src and CDCP1. These data demonstrate novel aspects of the dynamics of SFK-mediated cell signaling that may be relevant during cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Wortmann
- Mater Medical Research Institute, Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101; Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059
| | - Yaowu He
- Mater Medical Research Institute, Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101
| | - Melinda E Christensen
- Mater Medical Research Institute, Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101
| | - MayLa Linn
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059
| | - John W Lumley
- Wesley Medical Centre, Auchenflower, Queensland 4066, Australia
| | - Pamela M Pollock
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059
| | - Nigel J Waterhouse
- Mater Medical Research Institute, Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101
| | - John D Hooper
- Mater Medical Research Institute, Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101.
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Byron SA, Chen H, Mohammadi M, Pollock PM. Abstract 4733: Activating FGFR2 kinase domain mutations provide resistance to dovitinib (TKI258). Cancer Res 2011. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2011-4733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Members of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) family are amplified or mutationally activated in a variety of cancers, including breast, endometrial, ovarian, lung, gastric, and bladder cancers, glioblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. Consequently FGFRs are attractive therapeutic targets in cancer, with a number of FGFR inhibitors currently progressing through clinical trials. Dovitinib, a lead FGFR kinase inhibitor exhibits activity against FLT3, FGFRs, VEGFRs, and PDGFR, and has demonstrated considerable preclinical activity in cancer models with FGFR activation. Though targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have shown dramatic clinical responses, the long-term efficacy of these agents is frequently limited by development of resistance to the targeted agent, often due to mutation of the target kinase. Here we sought to identify the mutational mechanisms of resistance to Dovitinib using a BaF3 cell line screening strategy. The BaF3 cell line is an IL-3 dependent murine pro-B cell line that is commonly employed to model TKI resistant mutations. These cells do not express any FGF ligands or receptors and introduction and activation of FGFRs has been shown to substitute for IL-3 to promote cell proliferation. BaF3 cells transduced with FGFR2 were treated with TKI258 at 5x, 10x, and 15x the cellular IC50 for Dovitinib in these cells. Following clonal selection of Dovitinib resistant cells, the exons encoding the intracellular domain of FGFR2 were sequenced. Mutations in FGFR2 kinase domain were identified in 26 out of 63 (41.2%) resistant clones screened, with an increase in frequency of mutation with increasing selective pressure. Ten distinct Dovitinib-resistant mutations in FGFR2 were identified and subsequently confirmed to result in Dovitinib-resistance and kinase activation. The binding mode of Dovitinib and the mechanisms of action of the resistance mutations were studied using the crystal structures of unphosphorylated and phosphorylated FGFR2Ks. Mutations at N550 and E566 at the kinase hinge/interlobe region are expected to drive the kinase into the active state by disengaging the molecular brake that keeps the kinase in an autoinhibited state. Five additional mutations are also predicted to stabilize the active conformation of the kinase by strengthening a network of hydrophobic interactions between N- and C-terminal lobes of the kinase, termed the hydrophobic spine, that is a hallmark of the active state of the kinase. Hence our biochemical and structural data show that the drug predominantly binds the inactive state of the FGFR2 kinase. Our data have clinical ramifications as they suggest that cancer patients harboring these FGFR2 mutations may not respond to the anti-FGFR activity of Dovitinib. Taken together our study provides the first report of TKI-resistant mutations in FGFR2 and suggests that the active state of the FGFR2 kinase should be targeted for anti-cancer drug discovery.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4733. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4733
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A. Byron
- 1Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ
| | - Huaibin Chen
- 2New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
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Greulich H, Pollock PM. Targeting mutant fibroblast growth factor receptors in cancer. Trends Mol Med 2011; 17:283-92. [PMID: 21367659 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2011.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2010] [Revised: 01/19/2011] [Accepted: 01/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) play diverse roles in the control of cell proliferation, cell differentiation, angiogenesis and development. Activating the mutations of FGFRs in the germline has long been known to cause a variety of skeletal developmental disorders, but it is only recently that a similar spectrum of somatic FGFR mutations has been associated with human cancers. Many of these somatic mutations are gain-of-function and oncogenic and create dependencies in tumor cell lines harboring such mutations. A combination of knockdown studies and pharmaceutical inhibition in preclinical models has further substantiated genomically altered FGFR as a therapeutic target in cancer, and the oncology community is responding with clinical trials evaluating multikinase inhibitors with anti-FGFR activity and a new generation of specific pan-FGFR inhibitors.
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Terzian T, Torchia EC, Dai D, Robinson SE, Murao K, Stiegmann RA, Gonzalez V, Boyle GM, Powell MB, Pollock PM, Lozano G, Robinson WA, Roop DR, Box NF. p53 prevents progression of nevi to melanoma predominantly through cell cycle regulation. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2011; 23:781-94. [PMID: 20849464 DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-148x.2010.00773.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
p53 is the central member of a critical tumor suppressor pathway in virtually all tumor types, where it is silenced mainly by missense mutations. In melanoma, p53 predominantly remains wild type, thus its role has been neglected. To study the effect of p53 on melanocyte function and melanomagenesis, we crossed the ‘high-p53’Mdm4+/− mouse to the well-established TP-ras0/+ murine melanoma progression model. After treatment with the carcinogen dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA), TP-ras0/+ mice on the Mdm4+/− background developed fewer tumors with a delay in the age of onset of melanomas compared to TP-ras0/+ mice. Furthermore, we observed a dramatic decrease in tumor growth, lack of metastasis with increased survival of TP-ras0/+: Mdm4+/− mice. Thus, p53 effectively prevented the conversion of small benign tumors to malignant and metastatic melanoma. p53 activation in cultured primary melanocyte and melanoma cell lines using Nutlin-3, a specific Mdm2 antagonist, supported these findings. Moreover, global gene expression and network analysis of Nutlin-3-treated primary human melanocytes indicated that cell cycle regulation through the p21WAF1/CIP1 signaling network may be the key anti-melanomagenic activity of p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Terzian
- Department of Dermatology and Charles C Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, UC Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Byron SA, Gartside MG, Wellens CL, Goodfellow PJ, Birrer MJ, Campbell IG, Pollock PM. FGFR2 mutations are rare across histologic subtypes of ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol 2010; 117:125-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2009.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2009] [Revised: 11/30/2009] [Accepted: 12/02/2009] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Byron SA, Gartside MG, Pollock PM. Abstract C86: FGFR inhibition potentiates the effect of conventional chemotherapeutic agents in endometrial cancer cells. Mol Cancer Ther 2009. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.targ-09-c86] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy and the fourth most common cancer in women in the United States. Most women present with early stage disease confined to the uterus and thus have a favorable prognosis. However, for the subset of women who present with advanced disease or that recur, prognosis is poor, with a median survival after recurrence of 10 months, reflecting a lack of effective treatment options. We identified activating mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) receptor tyrosine kinase in 10–15% of endometrial tumors, and hypothesized that FGFR inhibition may be a viable therapeutic option for patients with FGFR2 mutation positive tumors. Indeed, we have shown that treatment of FGFR2 mutation positive endometrial cancer cell lines with PD173074, a pan-FGFR small molecular inhibitor, induces cell death both in vitro and in vivo. We have shown this cell death is caspase-independent, raising the possibility that combination of an FGFR inhibitor with chemotherapeutic agents may exhibit synergistic activity due to their non-redundant mechanisms of action. Moreover, as FGF ligand expression has been associated with chemoresistance and poor prognosis in a number of other cancer types, including lung, breast, ovarian, prostate, and head and neck carcinomas, we hypothesized that FGFR inhibition may also sensitize wildtype FGFR2 endometrial cancer cell lines to chemotherapeutic agents. We therefore sought to evaluate whether FGFR inhibition synergizes with conventional chemotherapeutic agents in endometrial cancer. Using combination index and Bliss additivity analysis, we evaluated whether FGFR inhibition potentiated the effect of paclitaxel and doxorubicin in a panel of FGFR2 mutant and non-mutant endometrial cancer cell lines. FGFR2 mutation status did not alter sensitivity to either chemotherapeutic agent alone. The combination of PD173074 with paclitaxel or doxorubicin showed synergistic activity in all three FGFR2 mutant cell lines. In addition, though non-mutant cell lines were resistant to FGFR inhibition alone, the addition of PD173074 potentiated the effect of paclitaxel and doxorubicin in a subset of FGFR2-wildtype cell lines tested. Together these data suggest a therapeutic benefit to combining an FGFR inhibitor with standard chemotherapeutic agents, and, importantly, this may extend to patients whose tumors possess wildtype FGFR2.
Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):C86.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A. Byron
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ
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Pinnix CC, Lee JT, Liu ZJ, McDaid R, Balint K, Beverly LJ, Brafford PA, Xiao M, Himes B, Zabierowski SE, Yashiro-Ohtani Y, Nathanson KL, Bengston A, Pollock PM, Weeraratna AT, Nickoloff BJ, Pear WS, Capobianco AJ, Herlyn M. Active Notch1 confers a transformed phenotype to primary human melanocytes. Cancer Res 2009; 69:5312-20. [PMID: 19549918 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-08-3767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The importance of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in melanoma is underscored by the prevalence of activating mutations in N-Ras and B-Raf, yet clinical development of inhibitors of this pathway has been largely ineffective, suggesting that alternative oncogenes may also promote melanoma. Notch is an interesting candidate that has only been correlated with melanoma development and progression; a thorough assessment of tumor-initiating effects of activated Notch on human melanocytes would clarify the mounting correlative evidence and perhaps identify a novel target for an otherwise untreatable disease. Analysis of a substantial panel of cell lines and patient lesions showed that Notch activity is significantly higher in melanomas than their nontransformed counterparts. The use of a constitutively active, truncated Notch transgene construct (N(IC)) was exploited to determine if Notch activation is a "driving" event in melanocytic transformation or instead a "passenger" event associated with melanoma progression. N(IC)-infected melanocytes displayed increased proliferative capacity and biological features more reminiscent of melanoma, such as dysregulated cell adhesion and migration. Gene expression analyses supported these observations and aided in the identification of MCAM, an adhesion molecule associated with acquisition of the malignant phenotype, as a direct target of Notch transactivation. N(IC)-positive melanocytes grew at clonal density, proliferated in limiting media conditions, and also exhibited anchorage-independent growth, suggesting that Notch alone is a transforming oncogene in human melanocytes, a phenomenon not previously described for any melanoma oncogene. This new information yields valuable insight into the basic epidemiology of melanoma and launches a realm of possibilities for drug intervention in this deadly disease.
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Abstract
Although molecularly targeted therapies have been effective in some cancer types, no targeted therapy is approved for use in endometrial cancer. The recent identification of activating mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) in endometrial tumors has generated a new avenue for the development of targeted therapeutic agents. The majority of the mutations identified are identical to germline mutations in FGFR2 and FGFR3 that cause craniosynostosis and hypochondroplasia syndromes and result in both ligand-independent and ligand-dependent receptor activation. Mutations that predominantly occur in the endometrioid subtype of endometrial cancer, are mutually exclusive with KRAS mutation, but occur in the presence of PTEN abrogation. In vitro studies have shown that endometrial cancer cell lines with activating FGFR2 mutations are selectively sensitive to a pan-FGFR inhibitor, PD173074. Several agents with activity against FGFRs are currently in clinical trials. Investigation of these agents in endometrial cancer patients with activating FGFR2 mutations is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A Byron
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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Gartside MG, Chen H, Ibrahimi OA, Byron SA, Curtis AV, Wellens CL, Bengston A, Yudt LM, Eliseenkova AV, Ma J, Curtin JA, Hyder P, Harper UL, Riedesel E, Mann GJ, Trent JM, Bastian BC, Meltzer PS, Mohammadi M, Pollock PM. Loss-of-function fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 mutations in melanoma. Mol Cancer Res 2009; 7:41-54. [PMID: 19147536 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-08-0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
We report that 10% of melanoma tumors and cell lines harbor mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene. These novel mutations include three truncating mutations and 20 missense mutations occurring at evolutionary conserved residues in FGFR2 as well as among all four FGFRs. The mutation spectrum is characteristic of those induced by UV radiation. Mapping of these mutations onto the known crystal structures of FGFR2 followed by in vitro and in vivo studies show that these mutations result in receptor loss of function through several distinct mechanisms, including loss of ligand binding affinity, impaired receptor dimerization, destabilization of the extracellular domains, and reduced kinase activity. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of loss-of-function mutations in a class IV receptor tyrosine kinase in cancer. Taken into account with our recent discovery of activating FGFR2 mutations in endometrial cancer, we suggest that FGFR2 may join the list of genes that play context-dependent opposing roles in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Gartside
- Division of Cancer and Cell Biology, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
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Byron SA, Gartside MG, Wellens CL, Mallon MA, Keenan JB, Powell MA, Goodfellow PJ, Pollock PM. Inhibition of activated fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 in endometrial cancer cells induces cell death despite PTEN abrogation. Cancer Res 2008; 68:6902-7. [PMID: 18757403 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-08-0770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
KRAS activation and PTEN inactivation are frequent events in endometrial tumorigenesis, occurring in 10% to 30% and 26% to 80% of endometrial cancers, respectively. Because we have recently shown activating mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) in 16% of endometrioid endometrial cancers, we sought to determine the genetic context in which FGFR2 mutations occur. Analysis of 116 primary endometrioid endometrial cancers revealed that FGFR2 and KRAS mutations were mutually exclusive, whereas FGFR2 mutations were seen concomitantly with PTEN mutations. Here, we show that shRNA knockdown of FGFR2 or treatment with a pan-FGFR inhibitor, PD173074, resulted in cell cycle arrest and induction of cell death in endometrial cancer cells with activating mutations in FGFR2. This cell death in response to FGFR2 inhibition occurred within the context of loss-of-function mutations in PTEN and constitutive AKT phosphorylation, and was associated with a marked reduction in extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation. Together, these data suggest that inhibition of FGFR2 may be a viable therapeutic option in endometrial tumors possessing activating mutations in FGFR2, despite the frequent abrogation of PTEN in this cancer type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A Byron
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, USA
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Zhao ZZ, Pollock PM, Thomas S, Treloar SA, Nyholt DR, Montgomery GW. Common variation in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 gene is not associated with endometriosis risk. Hum Reprod 2008; 23:1661-8. [PMID: 18285324 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/den035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endometriosis is a polygenic disease with a complex and multifactorial aetiology that affects 8-10% of women of reproductive age. Epidemiological data support a link between endometriosis and cancers of the reproductive tract. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) has recently been implicated in both endometrial and breast cancer. Our previous studies on endometriosis identified significant linkage to a novel susceptibility locus on chromosome 10q26 and the FGFR2 gene maps within this linkage region. We therefore hypothesized that variation in FGFR2 may contribute to the risk of endometriosis. METHODS We genotyped 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) densely covering a 27 kb region within intron 2 of FGFR2 including two SNPs (rs2981582 and rs1219648) significantly associated with breast cancer and a total 40 tagSNPs across 150 kb of the FGFR2 gene. SNPs were genotyped in 958 endometriosis cases and 959 unrelated controls. RESULTS We found no evidence for association between endometriosis and FGFR2 intron 2 SNPs or SNP haplotypes and no evidence for association between endometriosis and variation across the FGFR2 gene. CONCLUSIONS Common variation in the breast-cancer implicated intron 2 and other highly plausible causative candidate regions of FGFR2 do not appear to be a major contributor to endometriosis susceptibility in our large Australian sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zhen Zhao
- Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, 300 Herston RD, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia.
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Pollock PM, Gartside MG, Dejeza LC, Powell MA, Mallon MA, Davies H, Mohammadi M, Futreal PA, Stratton MR, Trent JM, Goodfellow PJ. Frequent activating FGFR2 mutations in endometrial carcinomas parallel germline mutations associated with craniosynostosis and skeletal dysplasia syndromes. Oncogene 2007; 26:7158-62. [PMID: 17525745 PMCID: PMC2871595 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1210529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 229] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Endometrial carcinoma is the most common gynecological malignancy in the United States. Although most women present with early disease confined to the uterus, the majority of persistent or recurrent tumors are refractory to current chemotherapies. We have identified a total of 11 different FGFR2 mutations in 3/10 (30%) of endometrial cell lines and 19/187 (10%) of primary uterine tumors. Mutations were seen primarily in tumors of the endometrioid histologic subtype (18/115 cases investigated, 16%). The majority of the somatic mutations identified were identical to germline activating mutations in FGFR2 and FGFR3 that cause Apert Syndrome, Beare-Stevenson Syndrome, hypochondroplasia, achondroplasia and SADDAN syndrome. The two most common somatic mutations identified were S252W (in eight tumors) and N550K (in five samples). Four novel mutations were identified, three of which are also likely to result in receptor gain-of-function. Extensive functional analyses have already been performed on many of these mutations, demonstrating they result in receptor activation through a variety of mechanisms. The discovery of activating FGFR2 mutations in endometrial carcinoma raises the possibility of employing anti-FGFR molecularly targeted therapies in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- P M Pollock
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
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Abstract
Notch receptor-mediated intracellular events represent an ancient cell signaling system, and alterations in Notch expression are associated with various malignancies in which Notch may function as an oncogene or less commonly as a tumor suppressor. Notch signaling regulates cell fate decisions in the epidermis, including influencing stem cell dynamics and growth/differentiation control of cells in skin. Because of increasing evidence that the Notch signaling network is deregulated in human malignancies, Notch receptors have become attractive targets for selective killing of malignant cells. Compared with proliferating normal human melanocytes, melanoma cell lines are characterized by markedly enhanced levels of activated Notch-1 receptor. By using a small molecule gamma-secretase inhibitor (GSI) consisting of a tripeptide aldehyde, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Leu-Leu-Nle-CHO, which can block processing and activation of all four different Notch receptors, we identified a specific apoptotic vulnerability in melanoma cells. GSI triggers apoptosis in melanoma cells, but only G2/M growth arrest in melanocytes without subsequent cell death. Moreover, GSI treatment induced a pro-apoptotic BH3-only protein, NOXA, in melanoma cells but not in normal melanocytes. The use of GSI to induce NOXA induction overcomes the apoptotic resistance of melanoma cells, which commonly express numerous cell survival proteins such as Mcl-1, Bcl-2, and survivin. Taken together, these results highlight the concept of synthetic lethality in which exposure to GSI, in combination with melanoma cells overexpressing activated Notch receptors, has lethal consequences, producing selective killing of melanoma cells, while sparing normal melanocytes. By identifying signaling pathways that contribute to the transformation of melanoma cells (e.g. Notch signaling), and anti-cancer agents that achieve tumor selectivity (e.g., GSI-induced NOXA), this experimental approach provides a useful framework for future therapeutic strategies in cutaneous oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Nickoloff
- Department of Pathology, Oncology Institute, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois 60153-5385, USA.
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Qin JZ, Ziffra J, Stennett L, Bodner B, Bonish BK, Chaturvedi V, Bennett F, Pollock PM, Trent JM, Hendrix MJC, Rizzo P, Miele L, Nickoloff BJ. Proteasome inhibitors trigger NOXA-mediated apoptosis in melanoma and myeloma cells. Cancer Res 2005; 65:6282-93. [PMID: 16024630 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-05-0676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 246] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [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
Patients with metastatic melanoma or multiple myeloma have a dismal prognosis because these aggressive malignancies resist conventional treatment. A promising new oncologic approach uses molecularly targeted therapeutics that overcomes apoptotic resistance and, at the same time, achieves tumor selectivity. The unexpected selectivity of proteasome inhibition for inducing apoptosis in cancer cells, but not in normal cells, prompted us to define the mechanism of action for this class of drugs, including Food and Drug Administration-approved bortezomib. In this report, five melanoma cell lines and a myeloma cell line are treated with three different proteasome inhibitors (MG-132, lactacystin, and bortezomib), and the mechanism underlying the apoptotic pathway is defined. Following exposure to proteasome inhibitors, effective killing of human melanoma and myeloma cells, but not of normal proliferating melanocytes, was shown to involve p53-independent induction of the BH3-only protein NOXA. Induction of NOXA at the protein level was preceded by enhanced transcription of NOXA mRNA. Engagement of mitochondrial-based apoptotic pathway involved release of cytochrome c, second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases, and apoptosis-inducing factor, accompanied by a proteolytic cascade with processing of caspases 9, 3, and 8 and poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase. Blocking NOXA induction using an antisense (but not control) oligonucleotide reduced the apoptotic response by 30% to 50%, indicating a NOXA-dependent component in the overall killing of melanoma cells. These results provide a novel mechanism for overcoming the apoptotic resistance of tumor cells, and validate agents triggering NOXA induction as potential selective cancer therapeutics for life-threatening malignancies such as melanoma and multiple myeloma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Zhong Qin
- Department of Pathology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois 60153-5385, USA
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Qin JZ, Stennett L, Bacon P, Bodner B, Hendrix MJ, Seftor RE, Seftor EA, Margaryan NV, Pollock PM, Curtis A, Trent JM, Bennett F, Miele L, Nickoloff BJ. p53-independent NOXA induction overcomes apoptotic resistance of malignant melanomas. Mol Cancer Ther 2004. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.895.3.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Once melanoma metastasizes, no effective treatment modalities prolong survival in most patients. This notorious refractoriness to therapy challenges investigators to identify agents that overcome melanoma resistance to apoptosis. Whereas many survival pathways contribute to the death-defying phenotype in melanoma, a defect in apoptotic machinery previously highlighted inactivation of Apaf-1, an apoptosome component engaged after mitochondrial damage. During studies involving Notch signaling in melanoma, we observed a γ-secretase tripeptide inhibitor (GSI; z-Leu-Leu-Nle-CHO), selected from a group of compounds originally used in Alzheimer's disease, induced apoptosis in nine of nine melanoma lines. GSI only induced G2-M growth arrest (but not killing) in five of five normal melanocyte cultures tested. Effective killing of melanoma cells by GSI involved new protein synthesis and a mitochondrial-based pathway mediated by up-regulation of BH3-only members (Bim and NOXA). p53 activation was not necessary for up-regulation of NOXA in melanoma cells. Blocking GSI-induced NOXA using an antisense (but not control) oligonucleotide significantly reduced the apoptotic response. GSI also killed melanoma cell lines with low Apaf-1 levels. We conclude that GSI is highly effective in killing melanoma cells while sparing normal melanocytes. Direct enhancement of BH3-only proteins executes an apoptotic program overcoming resistance of this lethal tumor. Identification of a p53-independent apoptotic pathway in melanoma cells, including cells with low Apaf-1, bypasses an impediment to current cytotoxic therapy and provides new targets for future therapeutic trials involving chemoresistant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Zhong Qin
- 1Department of Pathology, Loyola University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Lawrence Stennett
- 1Department of Pathology, Loyola University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Patricia Bacon
- 1Department of Pathology, Loyola University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Barbara Bodner
- 1Department of Pathology, Loyola University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Mary J.C. Hendrix
- 2 Children's Memorial Institute for Education and Research, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Richard E.B. Seftor
- 2 Children's Memorial Institute for Education and Research, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Elisabeth A. Seftor
- 2 Children's Memorial Institute for Education and Research, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Naira V. Margaryan
- 2 Children's Memorial Institute for Education and Research, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Amy Curtis
- 3Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona
| | | | | | - Lucio Miele
- 5Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Brian J. Nickoloff
- 1Department of Pathology, Loyola University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
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Qin JZ, Stennett L, Bacon P, Bodner B, Hendrix MJC, Seftor REB, Seftor EA, Margaryan NV, Pollock PM, Curtis A, Trent JM, Bennett F, Miele L, Nickoloff BJ. p53-independent NOXA induction overcomes apoptotic resistance of malignant melanomas. Mol Cancer Ther 2004; 3:895-902. [PMID: 15299072] [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: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Once melanoma metastasizes, no effective treatment modalities prolong survival in most patients. This notorious refractoriness to therapy challenges investigators to identify agents that overcome melanoma resistance to apoptosis. Whereas many survival pathways contribute to the death-defying phenotype in melanoma, a defect in apoptotic machinery previously highlighted inactivation of Apaf-1, an apoptosome component engaged after mitochondrial damage. During studies involving Notch signaling in melanoma, we observed a gamma-secretase tripeptide inhibitor (GSI; z-Leu-Leu-Nle-CHO), selected from a group of compounds originally used in Alzheimer's disease, induced apoptosis in nine of nine melanoma lines. GSI only induced G2-M growth arrest (but not killing) in five of five normal melanocyte cultures tested. Effective killing of melanoma cells by GSI involved new protein synthesis and a mitochondrial-based pathway mediated by up-regulation of BH3-only members (Bim and NOXA). p53 activation was not necessary for up-regulation of NOXA in melanoma cells. Blocking GSI-induced NOXA using an antisense (but not control) oligonucleotide significantly reduced the apoptotic response. GSI also killed melanoma cell lines with low Apaf-1 levels. We conclude that GSI is highly effective in killing melanoma cells while sparing normal melanocytes. Direct enhancement of BH3-only proteins executes an apoptotic program overcoming resistance of this lethal tumor. Identification of a p53-independent apoptotic pathway in melanoma cells, including cells with low Apaf-1, bypasses an impediment to current cytotoxic therapy and provides new targets for future therapeutic trials involving chemoresistant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Zhong Qin
- Department of Pathology, Loyola University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
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50
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Pavey S, Johansson P, Packer L, Taylor J, Stark M, Pollock PM, Walker GJ, Boyle GM, Harper U, Cozzi SJ, Hansen K, Yudt L, Schmidt C, Hersey P, Ellem KAO, O'Rourke MGE, Parsons PG, Meltzer P, Ringnér M, Hayward NK. Microarray expression profiling in melanoma reveals a BRAF mutation signature. Oncogene 2004; 23:4060-7. [PMID: 15048078 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1207563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We have used microarray gene expression profiling and machine learning to predict the presence of BRAF mutations in a panel of 61 melanoma cell lines. The BRAF gene was found to be mutated in 42 samples (69%) and intragenic mutations of the NRAS gene were detected in seven samples (11%). No cell line carried mutations of both genes. Using support vector machines, we have built a classifier that differentiates between melanoma cell lines based on BRAF mutation status. As few as 83 genes are able to discriminate between BRAF mutant and BRAF wild-type samples with clear separation observed using hierarchical clustering. Multidimensional scaling was used to visualize the relationship between a BRAF mutation signature and that of a generalized mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation (either BRAF or NRAS mutation) in the context of the discriminating gene list. We observed that samples carrying NRAS mutations lie somewhere between those with or without BRAF mutations. These observations suggest that there are gene-specific mutation signals in addition to a common MAPK activation that result from the pleiotropic effects of either BRAF or NRAS on other signaling pathways, leading to measurably different transcriptional changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Pavey
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, 300 Herston Rd, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia
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