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Loo SY, Syn NL, Koh APF, Teng JCF, Deivasigamani A, Tan TZ, Thike AA, Vali S, Kapoor S, Wang X, Wang JW, Tan PH, Yip GW, Sethi G, Huang RYJ, Hui KM, Wang L, Goh BC, Kumar AP. Epigenetic derepression converts PPARγ into a druggable target in triple-negative and endocrine-resistant breast cancers. Cell Death Discov 2021; 7:265. [PMID: 34580286 PMCID: PMC8476547 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-021-00635-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical trials repurposing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) agonists as anticancer agents have exhibited lackluster efficacy across a variety of tumor types. Here, we report that increased PPARG expression is associated with a better prognosis but is anticorrelated with histone deacetylase (HDAC) 1 and 2 expressions. We show that HDAC overexpression blunts anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic responses to PPARγ agonists via transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms, however, these can be neutralized with clinically approved and experimental HDAC inhibitors. Supporting this notion, concomitant treatment with HDAC inhibitors was required to license the tumor-suppressive effects of PPARγ agonists in triple-negative and endocrine-refractory breast cancer cells, and combination therapy also restrained angiogenesis in a tube formation assay. This combination was also synergistic in estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα)-positive cells because HDAC blockade abrogated ERα interference with PPARγ-regulated transcription. Following a pharmacokinetics optimization study, the combination of rosiglitazone and a potent pan-HDAC inhibitor, LBH589, stalled disease progression in a mouse model of triple-negative breast cancer greater than either of the monotherapies, while exhibiting a favorable safety profile. Our findings account for historical observations of de-novo resistance to PPARγ agonist monotherapy and propound a therapeutically cogent intervention against two aggressive breast cancer subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ser Yue Loo
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore and Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nicholas L Syn
- Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Angele Pei-Fern Koh
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Janet Cheng-Fei Teng
- Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Amudha Deivasigamani
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Research, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tuan Zea Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Aye Aye Thike
- Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shireen Vali
- Cellworks Research India Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru, India
| | - Shweta Kapoor
- Cellworks Research India Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru, India
| | - Xiaoyuan Wang
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI), National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS), National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jiong Wei Wang
- Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Puay Hoon Tan
- Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - George W Yip
- Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ruby Yun-Ju Huang
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kam Man Hui
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Research, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lingzhi Wang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Boon Cher Goh
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,National University Cancer Institute, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alan Prem Kumar
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. .,NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. .,National University Cancer Institute, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
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Syn NL, Lim PL, Kong LR, Wang L, Wong ALA, Lim CM, Loh TKS, Siemeister G, Goh BC, Hsieh WS. Pan-CDK inhibition augments cisplatin lethality in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines and xenograft models. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2018; 3:9. [PMID: 29666673 PMCID: PMC5897350 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-018-0010-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2017] [Revised: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In addition to their canonical roles in regulating cell cycle transition and transcription, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) have been shown to coordinate DNA damage response pathways, suggesting a rational pairing of CDK inhibitors with genotoxic chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of human malignancies. Here, we report that roniciclib (BAY1000394), a potent pan-CDK inhibitor, displays promising anti-neoplastic activity as a single agent and potentiates cisplatin lethality in preclinical nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) models. Proliferation of the NPC cell lines HONE-1, CNE-2, C666-1, and HK-1 was effectively curbed by roniciclib treatment, with IC50 values between 11 and 38 nmol/L. These anticancer effects were mediated by pleiotropic mechanisms consistent with successful blockade of cell cycle CDKs 1, 2, 3, and 4 and transcriptional CDKs 7 and 9, ultimately resulting in arrest at G1/S and G2/M, downregulation of the transcriptional apparatus, and repression of anti-apoptotic proteins. Considerably enhanced tumor cell apoptosis was achieved following combined treatment with 10 nmol/L roniciclib and 2.0 μmol/L cisplatin; this combination therapy achieved a response over 250% greater than either drug alone. Although roniciclib chemosensitized NPC cells to cisplatin, it did not sensitize untransformed (NP69) cells. The administration of 0.5 mg/kg roniciclib to BALB/c xenograft mice was well tolerated and effectively restrained tumor growth comparable to treatment with 6 mg/kg cisplatin, whereas combining these two agents produced far greater tumor suppression than either of the monotherapies. In summary, these data demonstrate that roniciclib has strong anti-NPC activity and synergizes with cisplatin chemotherapy at clinically relevant doses, thus justifying further evaluation of this combinatorial approach in clinical settings. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an uncommon malignancy arising from the nasopharynx epithelium, and is endemic to east and southeast parts of Asia where they account for 70% of worldwide incidence. Researchers from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore examined the anti-tumor effects of roniciclib—a small-molecule drug that blocks a family of enzymes known as cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) which are classically involved in cell cycle progression and transcription—in cell lines and mouse models of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Because CDK/cyclin complexes have a putative role in DNA repair, roniciclib was combined with cisplatin, a DNA-damaging agent which is currently used in chemotherapy of NPC. The authors found that roniciclib had potent anti-NPC effects when given alone, whereas the combination of roniciclib and cisplatin proved to be highly synergistic and restrained tumor growth to a greater extent than either drugs given alone. Interestingly, roniciclib appeared to selectively enhance the anti-cancer effects of cisplatin in cancerous cells while this “chemo-sensitizing” phenomenon was not seen in non-cancerous cells, suggesting that giving both drugs together could improve the effectiveness of standard chemotherapy without incurring additional toxicities. These findings suggest that roniciclib should be evaluated clinically in patients with NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas L Syn
- 1Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,2Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pei Li Lim
- 1Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Li Ren Kong
- 1Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lingzhi Wang
- 1Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,3Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrea Li-Ann Wong
- 1Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,2Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chwee Ming Lim
- 4Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Thomas Kwok Seng Loh
- 4Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Boon Cher Goh
- 1Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,2Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,3Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wen-Son Hsieh
- 1Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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