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Miele E, Valente S, Alfano V, Silvano M, Mellini P, Borovika D, Marrocco B, Po A, Besharat ZM, Catanzaro G, Battaglia G, Abballe L, Zwergel C, Stazi G, Milite C, Castellano S, Tafani M, Trapencieris P, Mai A, Ferretti E. The histone methyltransferase EZH2 as a druggable target in SHH medulloblastoma cancer stem cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:68557-68570. [PMID: 28978137 PMCID: PMC5620277 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [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: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The histone methyltransferase EZH2 plays a role in maintenance of the stem component of cancer, and its overexpression and/or mutation typically drives tumor aggressiveness, drug resistance and patients’ poor prognosis. In this study, we use mouse and human medulloblastoma stem-like cells belonging to the Sonic Hedgehog subgroup (SHH MB-SLCs) and demonstrate that genetic suppression of EZH2 reduces the level of its histone mark H3K27me3 and lowers proliferation and self-renewal. We designed an EZH2 inhibitor (EZH2i) as a simplified analog of EPZ005687 and GSK2816126, MC3629, and we tested its biological activity in SHH MB-SLCs. Pharmacological inhibition of EZH2 impairs SHH MB cells proliferation and self-renewal, and induces apoptosis in vitro. Finally, we generated xenograft MB-SLCs orthotopic tumors in nude mice to test MC3629 in vivo. In treated mice, we observed impairment of tumor growth, together with induction of apoptosis and reduction of proliferation and stemness. Overall, these findings describe EZH2 as a druggable target in MB and provide insight into the biological activity of MC3629 as an EZH2i.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Miele
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome 00161, Italy.,Current address: Department of Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Bambino Gesù, 28 Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome 00165, Italy
| | - Sergio Valente
- Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Alfano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Marianna Silvano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Paolo Mellini
- Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Diana Borovika
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga LV-1006, Latvia
| | - Biagina Marrocco
- Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Agnese Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppina Catanzaro
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | | | - Luana Abballe
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Clemens Zwergel
- Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Giulia Stazi
- Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Ciro Milite
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano 84084, Italy
| | - Sabrina Castellano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Fisciano 84084, Italy.,Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Baronissi 84084, Italy
| | - Marco Tafani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy
| | | | - Antonello Mai
- Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy.,Pasteur Institute, Cenci-Bolognetti Foundation, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ferretti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy.,Neuromed Institute, Località Camerelle, Pozzilli 86077, Italy
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