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Kumar D, Jain S, Coulter DW, Joshi SS, Chaturvedi NK. PRMT5 as a Potential Therapeutic Target in MYC-Amplified Medulloblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5855. [PMID: 38136401 PMCID: PMC10741595 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
MYC amplification or overexpression is most common in Group 3 medulloblastomas and is positively associated with poor clinical outcomes. Recently, protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) overexpression has been shown to be associated with tumorigenic MYC functions in cancers, particularly in brain cancers such as glioblastoma and medulloblastoma. PRMT5 regulates oncogenes, including MYC, that are often deregulated in medulloblastomas. However, the role of PRMT5-mediated post-translational modification in the stabilization of these oncoproteins remains poorly understood. The potential impact of PRMT5 inhibition on MYC makes it an attractive target in various cancers. PRMT5 inhibitors are a promising class of anti-cancer drugs demonstrating preclinical and preliminary clinical efficacies. Here, we review the publicly available preclinical and clinical studies on PRMT5 targeting using small molecule inhibitors and discuss the prospects of using them in medulloblastoma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devendra Kumar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 69198, USA; (D.K.); (S.J.); (D.W.C.)
| | - Stuti Jain
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 69198, USA; (D.K.); (S.J.); (D.W.C.)
| | - Don W. Coulter
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 69198, USA; (D.K.); (S.J.); (D.W.C.)
- Child Health Research Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 69198, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 69198, USA
| | - Shantaram S. Joshi
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 69198, USA;
| | - Nagendra K. Chaturvedi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 69198, USA; (D.K.); (S.J.); (D.W.C.)
- Child Health Research Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 69198, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 69198, USA
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2
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Freire NH, Jaeger MDC, de Farias CB, Nör C, Souza BK, Gregianin L, Brunetto AT, Roesler R. Targeting the epigenome of cancer stem cells in pediatric nervous system tumors. Mol Cell Biochem 2023; 478:2241-2255. [PMID: 36637615 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-022-04655-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, and pediatric glioma account for almost 30% of all cases of pediatric cancers. Recent evidence indicates that pediatric nervous system tumors originate from stem or progenitor cells and present a subpopulation of cells with highly tumorigenic and stem cell-like features. These cancer stem cells play a role in initiation, progression, and resistance to treatment of pediatric nervous system tumors. Histone modification, DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, and microRNA regulation display a range of regulatory activities involved in cancer origin and progression, and cellular identity, especially those associated with stem cell features, such as self-renewal and pluripotent differentiation potential. Here, we review the contribution of different epigenetic mechanisms in pediatric nervous system tumor cancer stem cells. The choice between a differentiated and undifferentiated state can be modulated by alterations in the epigenome through the regulation of stemness genes such as CD133, SOX2, and BMI1 and the activation neuronal of differentiation markers, RBFOX3, GFAP, and S100B. Additionally, we highlighted the stage of development of epigenetic drugs and the clinical benefits and efficacy of epigenetic modulators in pediatric nervous system tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Hogetop Freire
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center of Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500 (Setor IV - Campus do Vale), Porto Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil.
| | - Mariane da Cunha Jaeger
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Caroline Brunetto de Farias
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Carolina Nör
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Lauro Gregianin
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Pediatric Oncology Service, Clinical Hospital, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - André Tesainer Brunetto
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Children's Cancer Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Rafael Roesler
- Cancer and Neurobiology Laboratory, Experimental Research Center, Clinical Hospital (CPE-HCPA), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center of Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500 (Setor IV - Campus do Vale), Porto Alegre, 91501-970, Brazil
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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Slika H, Alimonti P, Raj D, Caraway C, Alomari S, Jackson EM, Tyler B. The Neurodevelopmental and Molecular Landscape of Medulloblastoma Subgroups: Current Targets and the Potential for Combined Therapies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3889. [PMID: 37568705 PMCID: PMC10417410 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15153889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. Despite the use of multiple therapeutic approaches consisting of surgical resection, craniospinal irradiation, and multiagent chemotherapy, the prognosis of many patients with medulloblastoma remains dismal. Additionally, the high doses of radiation and the chemotherapeutic agents used are associated with significant short- and long-term complications and adverse effects, most notably neurocognitive delay. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development and clinical integration of targeted treatment regimens with greater efficacy and superior safety profiles. Since the adoption of the molecular-based classification of medulloblastoma into wingless (WNT) activated, sonic hedgehog (SHH) activated, group 3, and group 4, research efforts have been directed towards unraveling the genetic, epigenetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic profiles of each subtype. This review aims to delineate the progress that has been made in characterizing the neurodevelopmental and molecular features of each medulloblastoma subtype. It further delves into the implications that these characteristics have on the development of subgroup-specific targeted therapeutic agents. Furthermore, it highlights potential future avenues for combining multiple agents or strategies in order to obtain augmented effects and evade the development of treatment resistance in tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Slika
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut P.O. Box 11-0236, Lebanon;
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (D.R.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (E.M.J.)
| | - Paolo Alimonti
- School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Divyaansh Raj
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (D.R.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (E.M.J.)
| | - Chad Caraway
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (D.R.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (E.M.J.)
| | - Safwan Alomari
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (D.R.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (E.M.J.)
| | - Eric M. Jackson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (D.R.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (E.M.J.)
| | - Betty Tyler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (D.R.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (E.M.J.)
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4
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Gorini F, Miceli M, de Antonellis P, Amente S, Zollo M, Ferrucci V. Epigenetics and immune cells in medulloblastoma. Front Genet 2023; 14:1135404. [PMID: 36968588 PMCID: PMC10036437 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1135404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is a highly malignant childhood tumor of the cerebellum. Transcriptional and epigenetic signatures have classified MB into four molecular subgroups, further stratified into biologically different subtypes with distinct somatic copy-number aberrations, driver genes, epigenetic alterations, activated pathways, and clinical outcomes. The brain tumor microenvironment (BTME) is of importance to regulate a complex network of cells, including immune cells, involved in cancer progression in brain malignancies. MB was considered with a “cold” immunophenotype due to the low influx of immune cells across the blood brain barrier (BBB). Recently, this assumption has been reconsidered because of the identification of infiltrating immune cells showing immunosuppressive phenotypes in the BTME of MB tumors. Here, we are providing a comprehensive overview of the current status of epigenetics alterations occurring during cancer progression with a description of the genomic landscape of MB by focusing on immune cells within the BTME. We further describe how new immunotherapeutic approaches could influence concurring epigenetic mechanisms of the immunosuppressive cells in BTME. In conclusion, the modulation of these molecular genetic complexes in BTME during cancer progression might enhance the therapeutic benefit, thus firing new weapons to fight MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Gorini
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology (DMMBM), University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Miceli
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate “Franco Salvatore”, Naples, Italy
| | - Pasqualino de Antonellis
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology (DMMBM), University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Stefano Amente
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology (DMMBM), University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Massimo Zollo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology (DMMBM), University of Naples, Naples, Italy
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate “Franco Salvatore”, Naples, Italy
- DAI Medicina di Laboratorio e Trasfusionale, ‘AOU Federico II Policlinico, Naples, Italy
| | - Veronica Ferrucci
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology (DMMBM), University of Naples, Naples, Italy
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate “Franco Salvatore”, Naples, Italy
- *Correspondence: Veronica Ferrucci,
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5
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Zou H, Poore B, Brown EE, Qian J, Xie B, Asimakidou E, Razskazovskiy V, Ayrapetian D, Sharma V, Xia S, Liu F, Chen A, Guan Y, Li Z, Wanggou S, Saulnier O, Ly M, Fellows-Mayle W, Xi G, Tomita T, Resnick AC, Mack SC, Raabe EH, Eberhart CG, Sun D, Stronach BE, Agnihotri S, Kohanbash G, Lu S, Herrup K, Rich JN, Gittes GK, Broniscer A, Hu Z, Li X, Pollack IF, Friedlander RM, Hainer SJ, Taylor MD, Hu B. A neurodevelopmental epigenetic programme mediated by SMARCD3-DAB1-Reelin signalling is hijacked to promote medulloblastoma metastasis. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:493-507. [PMID: 36849558 PMCID: PMC10014585 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01093-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
How abnormal neurodevelopment relates to the tumour aggressiveness of medulloblastoma (MB), the most common type of embryonal tumour, remains elusive. Here we uncover a neurodevelopmental epigenomic programme that is hijacked to induce MB metastatic dissemination. Unsupervised analyses of integrated publicly available datasets with our newly generated data reveal that SMARCD3 (also known as BAF60C) regulates Disabled 1 (DAB1)-mediated Reelin signalling in Purkinje cell migration and MB metastasis by orchestrating cis-regulatory elements at the DAB1 locus. We further identify that a core set of transcription factors, enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) and nuclear factor I X (NFIX), coordinates with the cis-regulatory elements at the SMARCD3 locus to form a chromatin hub to control SMARCD3 expression in the developing cerebellum and in metastatic MB. Increased SMARCD3 expression activates Reelin-DAB1-mediated Src kinase signalling, which results in a MB response to Src inhibition. These data deepen our understanding of how neurodevelopmental programming influences disease progression and provide a potential therapeutic option for patients with MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zou
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Brain Tumor Research, Changsha, China
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Bradley Poore
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Emily E Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jieqi Qian
- John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Bin Xie
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Evridiki Asimakidou
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Vladislav Razskazovskiy
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Deanna Ayrapetian
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Vaibhav Sharma
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shunjin Xia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Apeng Chen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yongchang Guan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Zhengwei Li
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Siyi Wanggou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Olivier Saulnier
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michelle Ly
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wendy Fellows-Mayle
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Guifa Xi
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Tadanori Tomita
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Adam C Resnick
- Center for Data-Driven Discovery in Biomedicine, Division of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stephen C Mack
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Eric H Raabe
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Charles G Eberhart
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dandan Sun
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Beth E Stronach
- Office of Research, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sameer Agnihotri
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Gary Kohanbash
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Songjian Lu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Karl Herrup
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jeremy N Rich
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - George K Gittes
- John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alberto Broniscer
- John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Zhongliang Hu
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xuejun Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Brain Tumor Research, Changsha, China
| | - Ian F Pollack
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Robert M Friedlander
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sarah J Hainer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Baoli Hu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- John G. Rangos Sr Research Center, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Kanit N, Uysal Yoca O, Ince D, Olgun N, Ozer E. Gene-Specific DNA Methylation Profiles in Pediatric Medulloblastomas. Pediatr Dev Pathol 2022; 25:82-90. [PMID: 34554028 DOI: 10.1177/10935266211036680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Medulloblastoma is the most common pediatric central nervous tumor of high malignancy that has been classified into both histological subtypes and molecular subgroups by the 2016 World Health Organization classification. However, there is a still need to understand the genomic characteristics and predict the clinical course. The aim of the study is to investigate the significance of the methylation profiles in molecular subclassification and precision medicine of the disease. METHODS The study enrolled 47 pediatric medulloblastoma patients. DNA methylation levels of KLF4, SPINT2, RASSF1A, EZH2, ZIC2, and PTCH1 genes were analyzed using methylation-specific pyrosequencing. The significance of the statistical relationship between methylation profiles and clinicopathological parameters including molecular subgroups and histological subtypes, the status of metastasis, and event-free survival were analyzed. RESULTS DNA methylation analysis demonstrated that KLF4, PTCH1, and ZIC2 hypermethylation were associated with the SHH-activated subgroup, whereas both SPINT2 and RASSF1A hypermethylation were associated with metastatic disease. EZH2 gene was not methylated in any of the samples. CONCLUSION We think that customized DNA methylation profiling may be a useful tool in the molecular subclassification of pediatric medulloblastoma and a potential technical approach in precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naz Kanit
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University Institute of Health Sciences, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ozge Uysal Yoca
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Dokuz Eylul University Institute of Health Sciences, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Dilek Ince
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Dokuz Eylul University Institute of Oncology, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Nur Olgun
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Dokuz Eylul University Institute of Oncology, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Erdener Ozer
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University Institute of Health Sciences, Izmir, Turkey
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Qi L, Lindsay H, Kogiso M, Du Y, Braun FK, Zhang H, Guo L, Zhao S, Injac SG, Baxter PA, Su JM, Xiao S, Erickson SW, Earley EJ, Teicher B, Smith MA, Li XN. Evaluation of an EZH2 inhibitor in patient-derived orthotopic xenograft models of pediatric brain tumors alone and in combination with chemo- and radiation therapies. J Transl Med 2022; 102:185-193. [PMID: 34802040 PMCID: PMC10228180 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-021-00700-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in children. Tazemetostat is an FDA-approved enhancer of zeste homolog (EZH2) inhibitor. To determine its role in difficult-to-treat pediatric brain tumors, we examined EZH2 levels in a panel of 22 PDOX models and confirmed EZH2 mRNA over-expression in 9 GBM (34.6 ± 12.7-fold) and 11 medulloblastoma models (6.2 ± 1.7 in group 3, 6.0 ± 2.4 in group 4) accompanied by elevated H3K27me3 expression. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated in 4 models (1 GBM, 2 medulloblastomas and 1 ATRT) via systematically administered tazemetostat (250 and 400 mg/kg, gavaged, twice daily) alone and in combination with cisplatin (5 mg/kg, i.p., twice) and/or radiation (2 Gy/day × 5 days). Compared with the untreated controls, tazemetostat significantly (Pcorrected < 0.05) prolonged survival times in IC-L1115ATRT (101% at 400 mg/kg) and IC-2305GBM (32% at 250 mg/kg, 45% at 400 mg/kg) in a dose-dependent manner. The addition of tazemetostat with radiation was evaluated in 3 models, with only one [IC-1078MB (group 4)] showing a substantial, though not statistically significant, prolongation in survival compared to radiation treatment alone. Combining tazemetostat (250 mg/kg) with cisplatin was not superior to cisplatin alone in any model. Analysis of in vivo drug resistance detected predominance of EZH2-negative cells in the remnant PDOX tumors accompanied by decreased H3K27me2 and H3K27me3 expressions. These data supported the use of tazemetostat in a subset of pediatric brain tumors and suggests that EZH2-negative tumor cells may have caused therapy resistance and should be prioritized for the search of new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Qi
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Holly Lindsay
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mari Kogiso
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yuchen Du
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Frank K Braun
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Huiyuan Zhang
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lei Guo
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sibo Zhao
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sarah G Injac
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Patricia A Baxter
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jack Mf Su
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sophie Xiao
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Xiao-Nan Li
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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8
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The Current Landscape of Targeted Clinical Trials in Non-WNT/Non-SHH Medulloblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030679. [PMID: 35158947 PMCID: PMC8833659 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Medulloblastoma is a form of malignant brain tumor that arises predominantly in infants and young children and can be divided into different groups based on molecular markers. The group of non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma includes a spectrum of heterogeneous subgroups that differ in their biological characteristics, genetic underpinnings, and clinical course of disease. Non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma is currently treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy; however, new drugs are needed to treat patients who are not yet curable and to reduce treatment-related toxicity and side effects. We here review which new treatment options for non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma are currently clinically tested. Furthermore, we illustrate the challenges that have to be overcome to reach a new therapeutic standard for non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma, for instance the current lack of good preclinical models, and the necessity to conduct trials in a comparably small patient collective. Abstract Medulloblastoma is an embryonal pediatric brain tumor and can be divided into at least four molecularly defined groups. The category non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma summarizes medulloblastoma groups 3 and 4 and is characterized by considerable genetic and clinical heterogeneity. New therapeutic strategies are needed to increase survival rates and to reduce treatment-related toxicity. We performed a noncomprehensive targeted review of the current clinical trial landscape and literature to summarize innovative treatment options for non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma. A multitude of new drugs is currently evaluated in trials for which non-WNT/non-SHH patients are eligible, for instance immunotherapy, kinase inhibitors, and drugs targeting the epigenome. However, the majority of these trials is not restricted to medulloblastoma and lacks molecular classification. Whereas many new molecular targets have been identified in the last decade, which are currently tested in clinical trials, several challenges remain on the way to reach a new therapeutic strategy for non-WNT/non-SHH medulloblastoma. These include the severe lack of faithful preclinical models and predictive biomarkers, the question on how to stratify patients for clinical trials, and the relative lack of studies that recruit large, homogeneous patient collectives. Innovative trial designs and international collaboration will be a key to eventually overcome these obstacles.
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Exosomal miR-101-3p and miR-423-5p inhibit medulloblastoma tumorigenesis through targeting FOXP4 and EZH2. Cell Death Differ 2022; 29:82-95. [PMID: 34294888 PMCID: PMC8738741 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-021-00838-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the development and progression of a variety of tumors; however, whether they contribute to medulloblastoma (MB) tumorigenesis remains to be elucidated. To address this, we first characterized the miRNA profiles of circulating exosomes by miRNA sequencing to identify miRNAs differentially expressed between children with MB and healthy controls. Then, we conducted in vitro and in vivo functional assays with the identified miRNAs and their predicted targets. We found that, compared with healthy controls, 35 miRNAs were upregulated and 5 downregulated in exosomes isolated from the plasma of MB patients. We further found that the expression of miR-101-3p and miR-423-5p was significantly higher in plasma exosomes from MB patients than in healthy controls in an expanded cohort and these exosomal miRNAs could be delivered to tumor cells via exosomes. An in vitro functional analysis of miR-101-3p and miR-423-5p showed that treating MB cells with the corresponding mimics significantly inhibited the proliferation, colony-forming ability, migratory ability, and invasive capacity of tumor cells, and promoted cell apoptosis. Additionally, miR-101-3p and miR-423-5p were found to act as tumor suppressors by directly targeting a common gene, FOXP4, which encodes a transcription factor with a vital role in embryonic development and tumorigenesis. Moreover, miR-101-3p also targeted EZH2, a histone methyltransferase, to reinforce its tumor inhibitory effects. Using a xenograft nude mouse model of MB, we further identified that the overexpression of miR-101-3p and miR-423-5p inhibited tumorigenesis in vivo. Our findings provide novel insights into the functions of exosomal miRNAs in mediating MB progression and suggest a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of children with MB.
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10
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Targeting cancer stem cells in medulloblastoma by inhibiting AMBRA1 dual function in autophagy and STAT3 signalling. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 142:537-564. [PMID: 34302498 PMCID: PMC8357694 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02347-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is a childhood malignant brain tumour comprising four main subgroups characterized by different genetic alterations and rate of mortality. Among MB subgroups, patients with enhanced levels of the c-MYC oncogene (MBGroup3) have the poorest prognosis. Here we identify a previously unrecognized role of the pro-autophagy factor AMBRA1 in regulating MB. We demonstrate that AMBRA1 expression depends on c-MYC levels and correlates with Group 3 patient poor prognosis; also, knockdown of AMBRA1 reduces MB stem potential, growth and migration of MBGroup3 stem cells. At a molecular level, AMBRA1 mediates these effects by suppressing SOCS3, an inhibitor of STAT3 activation. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of autophagy profoundly affects both stem and invasion potential of MBGroup3 stem cells, and a combined anti-autophagy and anti-STAT3 approach impacts the MBGroup3 outcome. Taken together, our data support the c-MYC/AMBRA1/STAT3 axis as a strong oncogenic signalling pathway with significance for both patient stratification strategies and targeted treatments of MBGroup3.
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11
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Singh N. Role of mammalian long non-coding RNAs in normal and neuro oncological disorders. Genomics 2021; 113:3250-3273. [PMID: 34302945 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are expressed at lower levels than protein-coding genes but have a crucial role in gene regulation. LncRNA is distinct, they are being transcribed using RNA polymerase II, and their functionality depends on subcellular localization. Depending on their niche, they specifically interact with DNA, RNA, and proteins and modify chromatin function, regulate transcription at various stages, forms nuclear condensation bodies and nucleolar organization. lncRNAs may also change the stability and translation of cytoplasmic mRNAs and hamper signaling pathways. Thus, lncRNAs affect the physio-pathological states and lead to the development of various disorders, immune responses, and cancer. To date, ~40% of lncRNAs have been reported in the nervous system (NS) and are involved in the early development/differentiation of the NS to synaptogenesis. LncRNA expression patterns in the most common adult and pediatric tumor suggest them as potential biomarkers and provide a rationale for targeting them pharmaceutically. Here, we discuss the mechanisms of lncRNA synthesis, localization, and functions in transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and other forms of gene regulation, methods of lncRNA identification, and their potential therapeutic applications in neuro oncological disorders as explained by molecular mechanisms in other malignant disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neetu Singh
- Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Centre for Advance Research, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226 003, India.
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12
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Shrestha S, Morcavallo A, Gorrini C, Chesler L. Biological Role of MYCN in Medulloblastoma: Novel Therapeutic Opportunities and Challenges Ahead. Front Oncol 2021; 11:694320. [PMID: 34195095 PMCID: PMC8236857 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.694320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The constitutive and dysregulated expression of the transcription factor MYCN has a central role in the pathogenesis of the paediatric brain tumour medulloblastoma, with an increased expression of this oncogene correlating with a worse prognosis. Consequently, the genomic and functional alterations of MYCN represent a major therapeutic target to attenuate tumour growth in medulloblastoma. This review will provide a comprehensive synopsis of the biological role of MYCN and its family components, their interaction with distinct signalling pathways, and the implications of this network in medulloblastoma development. We will then summarise the current toolbox for targeting MYCN and highlight novel therapeutic avenues that have the potential to results in better-tailored clinical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumana Shrestha
- Division of Clinical Studies, Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London and Royal Marsden NHS Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom
| | - Alaide Morcavallo
- Division of Clinical Studies, Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London and Royal Marsden NHS Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom
| | - Chiara Gorrini
- Division of Clinical Studies, Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London and Royal Marsden NHS Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom
| | - Louis Chesler
- Division of Clinical Studies, Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London and Royal Marsden NHS Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom.,Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), and The Royal Marsden NHS Trust, Sutton, United Kingdom
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Veo B, Danis E, Pierce A, Wang D, Fosmire S, Sullivan KD, Joshi M, Khanal S, Dahl N, Karam S, Serkova N, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R. Transcriptional control of DNA repair networks by CDK7 regulates sensitivity to radiation in MYC-driven medulloblastoma. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109013. [PMID: 33910002 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
MYC-driven medulloblastoma is a major therapeutic challenge due to frequent metastasis and a poor 5-year survival rate. MYC gene amplification results in transcriptional dysregulation, proliferation, and survival of malignant cells. To identify therapeutic targets in MYC-amplified medulloblastoma, we employ a CRISPR-Cas9 essentiality screen targeting 1,140 genes. We identify CDK7 as a mediator of medulloblastoma tumorigenesis. Using chemical inhibitors and genetic depletion, we observe cessation of tumor growth in xenograft mouse models and increases in apoptosis. The results are attributed to repression of a core set of MYC-driven transcriptional programs mediating DNA repair. CDK7 inhibition alters RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) and MYC association at DNA repair genes. Blocking CDK7 activity sensitizes cells to ionizing radiation leading to accrual of DNA damage, extending survival and tumor latency in xenograft mouse models. Our studies establish the selective inhibition of MYC-driven medulloblastoma by CDK7 inhibition combined with radiation as a viable therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany Veo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Etienne Danis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Angela Pierce
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's, Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Susan Fosmire
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | | | | | - Nathan Dahl
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's, Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sana Karam
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Natalie Serkova
- Department of Radiology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's, Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's, Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA.
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14
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Huq S, Kannapadi NV, Casaos J, Lott T, Felder R, Serra R, Gorelick NL, Ruiz-Cardozo MA, Ding AS, Cecia A, Medikonda R, Ehresman J, Brem H, Skuli N, Tyler BM. Preclinical efficacy of ribavirin in SHH and group 3 medulloblastoma. J Neurosurg Pediatr 2021; 27:482-488. [PMID: 33545678 DOI: 10.3171/2020.8.peds20561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Medulloblastoma, the most common pediatric brain malignancy, has Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) and group 3 (Myc driven) subtypes that are associated with the activity of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), a critical mediator of translation, and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a histone methyltransferase and master regulator of transcription. Recent drug repurposing efforts in multiple solid and hematologic malignancies have demonstrated that eIF4E and EZH2 are both pharmacologically inhibited by the FDA-approved antiviral drug ribavirin. Given the molecular overlap between medulloblastoma biology and known ribavirin activity, the authors investigated the preclinical efficacy of repurposing ribavirin as a targeted therapeutic in cell and animal models of medulloblastoma. METHODS Multiple in vitro assays were performed using human ONS-76 (a primitive SHH model) and D425 (an aggressive group 3 model) cells. The impacts of ribavirin on cellular growth, death, migration, and invasion were quantified using proliferation and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, flow cytometry with annexin V (AnnV) staining, scratch wound assays, and Matrigel invasion chambers, respectively. Survival following daily ribavirin treatment (100 mg/kg) was assessed in vivo in immunodeficient mice intracranially implanted with D425 cells. RESULTS Compared to controls, ribavirin treatment led to a significant reduction in medulloblastoma cell growth (ONS-76 proliferation assay, p = 0.0001; D425 CCK-8 assay, p < 0.0001) and a significant increase in cell death (flow cytometry for AnnV, ONS-76, p = 0.0010; D425, p = 0.0284). In ONS-76 cells, compared to controls, ribavirin significantly decreased cell migration and invasion (Matrigel invasion chamber assay, p = 0.0012). In vivo, ribavirin significantly extended survival in an aggressive group 3 medulloblastoma mouse model compared to vehicle-treated controls (p = 0.0004). CONCLUSIONS The authors demonstrate that ribavirin, a clinically used drug known to inhibit eIF4E and EZH2, has significant antitumor effects in multiple preclinical models of medulloblastoma, including an aggressive group 3 animal model. Ribavirin may represent a promising targeted therapeutic in medulloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakibul Huq
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Nivedha V. Kannapadi
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Joshua Casaos
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Tarik Lott
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Raphael Felder
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Riccardo Serra
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Noah L. Gorelick
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Miguel A. Ruiz-Cardozo
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Andy S. Ding
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Arba Cecia
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ravi Medikonda
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jeff Ehresman
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Henry Brem
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Nicolas Skuli
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Betty M. Tyler
- Hunterian Neurosurgical Research Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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15
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Epigenetic-Targeted Treatments for H3K27M-Mutant Midline Gliomas. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1283:73-84. [PMID: 33155139 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-8104-5_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a lethal midline brainstem tumor that most commonly occurs in children and is genetically defined by substitution of methionine for lysine at site 27 of histone 3 (H3K27M) in the majority of cases. This mutation has since been shown to exert an influence on the posttranslational epigenetic landscape of this disease, with the loss of trimethylation at lysine 27 (H3K27me3) the most common alteration. Based on these findings, a number of drugs targeting these epigenetic changes have been proposed, specifically that alter histone trimethylation, acetylation, or phosphorylation. Various mechanisms have been explored, including inhibition of H327 demethylase and methyltransferase to target trimethylation, inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) and bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) to target acetylation, and inhibition of phosphatase-related enzymes to target phosphorylation. This chapter reviews the current rationales and progress made to date in epigenetically targeting DIPG via these mechanisms.
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16
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Miele E, Po A, Mastronuzzi A, Carai A, Besharat ZM, Pediconi N, Abballe L, Catanzaro G, Sabato C, De Smaele E, Canettieri G, Di Marcotullio L, Vacca A, Mai A, Levrero M, Pfister SM, Kool M, Giangaspero F, Locatelli F, Ferretti E. Downregulation of miR-326 and its host gene β-arrestin1 induces pro-survival activity of E2F1 and promotes medulloblastoma growth. Mol Oncol 2020; 15:523-542. [PMID: 32920979 PMCID: PMC7858128 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Persistent mortality rates of medulloblastoma (MB) and severe side effects of the current therapies require the definition of the molecular mechanisms that contribute to tumor progression. Using cultured MB cancer stem cells and xenograft tumors generated in mice, we show that low expression of miR-326 and its host gene β-arrestin1 (ARRB1) promotes tumor growth enhancing the E2F1 pro-survival function. Our models revealed that miR-326 and ARRB1 are controlled by a bivalent domain, since the H3K27me3 repressive mark is found at their regulatory region together with the activation-associated H3K4me3 mark. High levels of EZH2, a feature of MB, are responsible for the presence of H3K27me3. Ectopic expression of miR-326 and ARRB1 provides hints into how their low levels regulate E2F1 activity. MiR-326 targets E2F1 mRNA, thereby reducing its protein levels; ARRB1, triggering E2F1 acetylation, reverses its function into pro-apoptotic activity. Similar to miR-326 and ARRB1 overexpression, we also show that EZH2 inhibition restores miR-326/ARRB1 expression, limiting E2F1 pro-proliferative activity. Our results reveal a new regulatory molecular axis critical for MB progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Miele
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Agnese Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Mastronuzzi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Carai
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Natalia Pediconi
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Luana Abballe
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Sabato
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico De Smaele
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Alessandra Vacca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonello Mai
- Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drugs, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Levrero
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL), UMR Inserm 1052 CNRS 5286 Mixte CLB, Université de Lyon 1 (UCBL1), France.,Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcel Kool
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felice Giangaspero
- Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Science, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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17
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Balakrishnan I, Danis E, Pierce A, Madhavan K, Wang D, Dahl N, Sanford B, Birks DK, Davidson N, Metselaar DS, Meel MH, Lemma R, Donson A, Vijmasi T, Katagi H, Sola I, Fosmire S, Alimova I, Steiner J, Gilani A, Hulleman E, Serkova NJ, Hashizume R, Hawkins C, Carcaboso AM, Gupta N, Monje M, Jabado N, Jones K, Foreman N, Green A, Vibhakar R, Venkataraman S. Senescence Induced by BMI1 Inhibition Is a Therapeutic Vulnerability in H3K27M-Mutant DIPG. Cell Rep 2020; 33:108286. [PMID: 33086074 PMCID: PMC7574900 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is an incurable brain tumor of childhood characterized by histone mutations at lysine 27, which results in epigenomic dysregulation. There has been a failure to develop effective treatment for this tumor. Using a combined RNAi and chemical screen targeting epigenomic regulators, we identify the polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) component BMI1 as a critical factor for DIPG tumor maintenance in vivo. BMI1 chromatin occupancy is enriched at genes associated with differentiation and tumor suppressors in DIPG cells. Inhibition of BMI1 decreases cell self-renewal and attenuates tumor growth due to induction of senescence. Prolonged BMI1 inhibition induces a senescence-associated secretory phenotype, which promotes tumor recurrence. Clearance of senescent cells using BH3 protein mimetics co-operates with BMI1 inhibition to enhance tumor cell killing in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilango Balakrishnan
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Etienne Danis
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Angela Pierce
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Krishna Madhavan
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nathan Dahl
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Bridget Sanford
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Diane K Birks
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nate Davidson
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dennis S Metselaar
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht and Departments of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michaël Hananja Meel
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht and Departments of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rakeb Lemma
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Andrew Donson
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Trinka Vijmasi
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Hiroaki Katagi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ismail Sola
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Susan Fosmire
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Irina Alimova
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jenna Steiner
- Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, and Anesthesiology, Colorado Animal Imaging Shared Resource (AISR), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ahmed Gilani
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Esther Hulleman
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht and Departments of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Natalie J Serkova
- Departments of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, and Anesthesiology, Colorado Animal Imaging Shared Resource (AISR), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rintaro Hashizume
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Cynthia Hawkins
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Angel M Carcaboso
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona 08950, Spain
| | - Nalin Gupta
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michelle Monje
- Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Pediatrics, and Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nada Jabado
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1B1, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, and The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Kenneth Jones
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nicholas Foreman
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Adam Green
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- Department of Pediatrics and Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/BMT, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; The Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
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18
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Xu YJ, Liu PP, Ng SC, Teng ZQ, Liu CM. Regulatory networks between Polycomb complexes and non-coding RNAs in the central nervous system. J Mol Cell Biol 2020; 12:327-336. [PMID: 31291646 PMCID: PMC7288736 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjz058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
High-throughput sequencing has facilitated the identification of many types of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) involved in diverse cellular processes. NcRNAs as epigenetic mediators play key roles in neuronal development, maintenance, and dysfunction by controlling gene expression at multiple levels. NcRNAs may not only target specific DNA or RNA for gene silence but may also directly interact with chromatin-modifying proteins like Polycomb group (PcG) proteins to drive orchestrated transcriptional programs. Recent significant progress has been made in characterizing ncRNAs and PcG proteins involved in transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic regulation. More importantly, dysregulation of ncRNAs, PcG proteins, and interplay among them is closely associated with the pathogenesis of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. In this review, we focus on the interplay between ncRNAs and PcG proteins in the CNS and highlight the functional roles of the partnership during neural development and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Jie Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Pei-Pei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Shyh-Chang Ng
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zhao-Qian Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chang-Mei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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19
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Bahmad HF, Poppiti RJ. Medulloblastoma cancer stem cells: molecular signatures and therapeutic targets. J Clin Pathol 2020; 73:243-249. [PMID: 32034059 DOI: 10.1136/jclinpath-2019-206246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant primary intracranial neoplasm diagnosed in childhood. Although numerous efforts have been made during the past few years to exploit novel targeted therapies for this aggressive neoplasm, there still exist substantial hitches hindering successful management of MB. Lately, progress in cancer biology has shown evidence that a subpopulation of cells within the tumour, namely cancer stem cells (CSCs), are thought to be responsible for the resistance to most chemotherapeutic agents and radiation therapy, accounting for cancer recurrence. Hence, it is crucial to identify the molecular signatures and genetic aberrations that characterise those CSCs and develop therapies that specifically target them. In this review, we aim to give an overview of the main genetic and molecular cues that depict MB-CSCs and provide a synopsis of the novel therapeutic approaches that specifically target this population of cells to attain enhanced antitumorous effects and therefore overcome resistance to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisham F Bahmad
- Arkadi M Rywlin MD Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida, USA.,Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Robert J Poppiti
- Arkadi M Rywlin MD Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Florida, USA .,Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
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20
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Ballabio C, Anderle M, Gianesello M, Lago C, Miele E, Cardano M, Aiello G, Piazza S, Caron D, Gianno F, Ciolfi A, Pedace L, Mastronuzzi A, Tartaglia M, Locatelli F, Ferretti E, Giangaspero F, Tiberi L. Modeling medulloblastoma in vivo and with human cerebellar organoids. Nat Commun 2020; 11:583. [PMID: 31996670 PMCID: PMC6989674 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13989-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in children and among the subtypes, Group 3 MB has the worst outcome. Here, we perform an in vivo, patient-specific screen leading to the identification of Otx2 and c-MYC as strong Group 3 MB inducers. We validated our findings in human cerebellar organoids where Otx2/c-MYC give rise to MB-like organoids harboring a DNA methylation signature that clusters with human Group 3 tumors. Furthermore, we show that SMARCA4 is able to reduce Otx2/c-MYC tumorigenic activity in vivo and in human cerebellar organoids while SMARCA4 T910M, a mutant form found in human MB patients, inhibits the wild-type protein function. Finally, treatment with Tazemetostat, a EZH2-specific inhibitor, reduces Otx2/c-MYC tumorigenesis in ex vivo culture and human cerebellar organoids. In conclusion, human cerebellar organoids can be efficiently used to understand the role of genes found altered in cancer patients and represent a reliable tool for developing personalized therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Ballabio
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Marica Anderle
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Matteo Gianesello
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Chiara Lago
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Evelina Miele
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marina Cardano
- University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Aiello
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Silvano Piazza
- University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Davide Caron
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Francesca Gianno
- Department of Radiologic, Oncologic and Anatomo Pathological Sciences, University Sapienza of Rome, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy
| | - Andrea Ciolfi
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Pedace
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Mastronuzzi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Tartaglia
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Department of Pediatrics, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Felice Giangaspero
- Department of Radiologic, Oncologic and Anatomo Pathological Sciences, University Sapienza of Rome, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy
| | - Luca Tiberi
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy.
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21
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Chaturvedi NK, Mahapatra S, Kesherwani V, Kling MJ, Shukla M, Ray S, Kanchan R, Perumal N, McGuire TR, Sharp JG, Joshi SS, Coulter DW. Role of protein arginine methyltransferase 5 in group 3 (MYC-driven) Medulloblastoma. BMC Cancer 2019; 19:1056. [PMID: 31694585 PMCID: PMC6836472 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-019-6291-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND MYC amplification or overexpression is common in Group 3 medulloblastoma and is associated with the worst prognosis. Recently, protein arginine methyl transferase (PRMT) 5 expression has been closely associated with aberrant MYC function in various cancers, including brain tumors such as glioblastoma. However, the role of PRMT5 and its association with MYC in medulloblastoma have not been explored. Here, we report the role of PRMT5 as a novel regulator of MYC and implicate PRMT5 as a potential therapeutic target in MYC-driven medulloblastoma. METHODS Expression and association between PRMT5 and MYC in primary medulloblastoma tumors were investigated using publicly available databases. Expression levels of PRMT5 protein were also examined using medulloblastoma cell lines and primary tumors by western blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Using MYC-driven medulloblastoma cells, we examined the physical interaction between PRMT5 and MYC by co-immunoprecipitation and co-localization experiments. To determine the functional role of PRMT5 in MYC-driven medulloblastoma, PRMT5 was knocked-down in MYC-amplified cells using siRNA and the consequences of knockdown on cell growth and MYC expression/stability were investigated. In vitro therapeutic potential of PRMT5 in medulloblastoma was also evaluated using a small molecule inhibitor, EPZ015666. RESULTS We observed overexpression of PRMT5 in MYC-driven primary medulloblastoma tumors and cell lines compared to non-MYC medulloblastoma tumors and adjacent normal tissues. We also found that high expression of PRMT5 is inversely correlated with patient survival. Knockdown of PRMT5 using siRNA in MYC-driven medulloblastoma cells significantly decreased cell growth and MYC expression. Mechanistically, we found that PRMT5 physically associated with MYC by direct protein-protein interaction. In addition, a cycloheximide chase experiment showed that PRMT5 post-translationally regulated MYC stability. In the context of therapeutics, we observed dose-dependent efficacy of PRMT5 inhibitor EPZ015666 in suppressing cell growth and inducing apoptosis in MYC-driven medulloblastoma cells. Further, the expression levels of PRMT5 and MYC protein were downregulated upon EPZ015666 treatment. We also observed a superior efficacy of this inhibitor against MYC-amplified medulloblastoma cells compared to non-MYC-amplified medulloblastoma cells, indicating specificity. CONCLUSION Our results reveal the regulation of MYC oncoprotein by PRMT5 and suggest that targeting PRMT5 could be a potential therapeutic strategy for MYC-driven medulloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagendra K Chaturvedi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
| | - Sidharth Mahapatra
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Varun Kesherwani
- Child Health Research Institute Cancer, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Matthew J Kling
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Mamta Shukla
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Sutapa Ray
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Ranjana Kanchan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Naveenkumar Perumal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Timothy R McGuire
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 69198, USA
| | - J Graham Sharp
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Shantaram S Joshi
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Don W Coulter
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
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22
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Zeng Q, Lei F, Chang Y, Gao Z, Wang Y, Gao Q, Niu P, Li Q. An oncogenic gene, SNRPA1, regulates PIK3R1, VEGFC, MKI67, CDK1 and other genes in colorectal cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 117:109076. [PMID: 31203132 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.109076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 05/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Colorectal cancer (CRC) caused more than 65,000 mortalities worldwide per year. It is a result of one or a combination of chromosomal instability, CpG island methylator phenotype, and microsatellite instability. SNRPA1 (small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide A) is a subunit of spliceosome complex that is involved in the RNA processing. Overexpression of SNRPA1 has been implicated in a variety of cancers including CRC. Besides from its role in mediating the RNA processing, the other aspects regarding its function in the progression of colorectal cancer have not been revealed. METHODS Herein, we combined regular gene overexpression or knock down in vitro and in vivo and microarray gene profiling analysis to decipher the unknow regulatory role of SNRPA1 in CRC. RESULTS We found SNRPA1 widely expression in many representative CRC cell lines. Knocking down expression of SNRPA1 by shRNA lentivirus inhibited the cell proliferation in vitro and impaired tumor formation from implanted CRC cells transduced with SNRPA1 silencing shRNA lentivirus in nude mice. It also promoted the cell apoptosis by upregulating the caspase 3/7 activity. Additional microarray gene profiling analysis uncovered the gene interaction network of SNRPA1, special focus was placed on its association with tumor suppressor or oncogenes. CONCLUSIONS According to the results of gene interaction network as well as qRT-PCR verification, it revealed that SNPRA1 regulates PIK3R1, VEGFC, MKI67, CDK1 in CRC. These novel findings identified new roles played by SNRPA1 in the progression of CRC and it may become a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingmin Zeng
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer & Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Fuming Lei
- Department of General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Jin Yuan Zhuang Road No. 9, Beijing 100144, China
| | - Yigang Chang
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer & Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Zhaoya Gao
- Department of General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Jin Yuan Zhuang Road No. 9, Beijing 100144, China
| | - Yanzhao Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Jin Yuan Zhuang Road No. 9, Beijing 100144, China
| | - Qingkun Gao
- Department of General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Jin Yuan Zhuang Road No. 9, Beijing 100144, China
| | - Pengfei Niu
- Department of General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Jin Yuan Zhuang Road No. 9, Beijing 100144, China
| | - Qiang Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer & Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China.
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23
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Abstract
Epigenetics is the process by which gene expression is regulated by events other than alterations of the genome. This includes DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, microRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs. Methylation of DNA, chromatin remodeling, and histone modifications regulate the chromatin and access of transcription factors to DNA and in turn gene transcription. Alteration of chromatin is now recognized to be deregulated in many cancers. Medulloblastoma is an embryonal tumor of the cerebellum and the most common malignant brain tumor in children, that occurs only rarely in adults. Medulloblastoma is characterized by four major molecularly and histopathologically distinct groups, wingless (WNT), sonic hedgehog (SHH), group 3 (G3), and group 4 (G4), that, except for WNT, are each now subdivided in several subgroups. Gene expression array, next-generation sequencing, and methylation profiling of several hundred primary tumors by several consortia and independent groups revealed that medulloblastomas harbor a paucity of mutations most of which occur in epigenetic regulators, genetic alterations in oncogenes and tumor suppressors, in addition to copy number alterations and chromosome gains and losses. Remarkably, some tumors have no reported mutations, suggesting that some genes required for oncogenesis might be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms which are still to be uncovered and validated. This review will highlight several epigenetic regulators focusing mainly on histone modifiers identified in medulloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine F Roussel
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.
| | - Jennifer L Stripay
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
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24
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Natsumeda M, Liu Y, Nakata S, Miyahara H, Hanaford A, Ahsan S, Stearns D, Skuli N, Kahlert UD, Raabe EH, Rodriguez FJ, Eberhart CG. Inhibition of enhancer of zest homologue 2 is a potential therapeutic target for high-MYC medulloblastoma. Neuropathology 2019; 39:71-77. [PMID: 30632221 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
MYC amplification is common in Group 3 medulloblastoma and is associated with poor survival. Group 3 and Group 4 medulloblastomas are also known to have elevated levels of histone H3-lysine 27-tri-methylation (H3K27me3), at least in part due to high expression of the H3K27 methyltransferase enhancer of zest homologue 2 (EZH2), which can be regulated by MYC. We therefore examined whether MYC expression is associated with elevated EZH2 and H3K27me3 in medulloblastoma, and if high-MYC medulloblastomas are particularly sensitive to pharmacological EZH2 blockade. Western blot analysis of low (DAOY, UW228, CB SV40) and high (DAOY-MYC, UW228-MYC, CB-MYC, D425) MYC cell lines showed that higher levels of EZH2 and H3K27me3 were associated with elevated MYC. In fixed medulloblastoma samples examined using immunohistochemistry, most MYC positive tumors also had high H3K27me3, but many MYC negative ones did as well, and the correlation was not statistically significant. All high MYC lines tested were sensitive to the EZH2 inhibitor EPZ6438. Many low MYC lines also grew more slowly in the presence of EPZ6438, although DAOY-MYC cells responded more strongly than parent DAOY cultures with lower MYC levels. We find that higher MYC levels are associated with increased EZH2, and pharmacological blockade of EZH2 is a potential therapeutic strategy for aggressive medulloblastoma with elevated MYC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manabu Natsumeda
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Satoshi Nakata
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hiroaki Miyahara
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan
| | - Allison Hanaford
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sama Ahsan
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Duncan Stearns
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Nicolas Skuli
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ulf D Kahlert
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Eric H Raabe
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Division of Pediatric Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Fausto J Rodriguez
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Charles G Eberhart
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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25
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Veo B, Danis E, Pierce A, Sola I, Wang D, Foreman NK, Jin J, Ma A, Serkova N, Venkataraman S, Vibhakar R. Combined functional genomic and chemical screens identify SETD8 as a therapeutic target in MYC-driven medulloblastoma. JCI Insight 2019; 4:122933. [PMID: 30626740 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.122933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most prevalent malignant brain tumor in children, accounting for 20% of all childhood brain tumors. The molecular profiling of MB into 4 major subgroups (WNT, SHH, Grp3, and Grp4) emphasizes the heterogeneity of MB and opens paths in which treatments may be targeted to molecularly aggressive and distinct tumors. Current therapeutic strategies for Group 3 MB are challenging and can be accompanied by long-term side effects from treatment. The involvement of altered epigenetic machinery in neoplastic transformation in MB has become more evident. Thus, we performed an epigenomic RNAi and chemical screen and identified SETD8/PRE-SET7/KMT5a as a critical player in maintaining proliferation and cell survival of MB cells. We have found that inhibition of SETD8 effects the migration/invasive ability of MB cells. SETD8 alters H4K20me chromatin occupancy at key genes involved in tumor invasiveness and pluripotency. Interestingly, these results link the aggressive and metastatic behavior of MYC-driven MB with SETD8 activity. Based on our results, we suggest that SETD8 has a critical role mediating Group 3 MB tumorigenesis. Establishing a role for SETD8 as a factor in MYC-driven MB has potential to lead to more effective therapies needed to improve outcomes in high-risk patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany Veo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Etienne Danis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Angela Pierce
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Ismail Sola
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Nicholas K Foreman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Jian Jin
- Center for Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anqi Ma
- Center for Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Sujatha Venkataraman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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26
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Khatua S, Song A, Citla Sridhar D, Mack SC. Childhood Medulloblastoma: Current Therapies, Emerging Molecular Landscape and Newer Therapeutic Insights. Curr Neuropharmacol 2018; 16:1045-1058. [PMID: 29189165 PMCID: PMC6120114 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x15666171129111324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children, currently treated uniformly based on histopathology and clinico-radiological risk stratification leading to unpredictable relapses and therapeutic failures. Identification of molecular subgroups have thrown light on the reasons for these and now reveals clues to profile molecularly based personalized therapy against these tumors. Methods: Research and online contents were evaluated for pediatric medulloblastoma which included latest information on the molecular subgroups and their clinical relevance and update on efforts to translate them into clinics. Results: Scientific endeavors over the last decade have clearly identified four molecular variants (WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4) and their demographic, genomic, and epigenetic profile. Latest revelations include significant heterogeneity within these subgroups and 12 different subtypes of MB are now identified with disparate outcomes and biology. These findings have important implications for stratification and profiling future clinical trials against these formidable tumors. Conclusion: With the continued outpouring of genomic/epigenomic data of these molecular subgroups and evolution of further subtypes in each subgroup, the challenge lies in comprehensive evaluation of these informations. Current and future endeavors are now needed to profile personalized therapy for each child based on the molecular risk stratification of medulloblastoma, with a hope to improve survival outcome and reduce relapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumen Khatua
- Department of Pediatrics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Pediatrics Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Anne Song
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Pediatrics Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Divyaswathi Citla Sridhar
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Pediatrics Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Stephen C Mack
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Pediatrics Houston, Texas, United States
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27
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Azzarelli R, Simons BD, Philpott A. The developmental origin of brain tumours: a cellular and molecular framework. Development 2018; 145:145/10/dev162693. [PMID: 29759978 PMCID: PMC6001369 DOI: 10.1242/dev.162693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The development of the nervous system relies on the coordinated regulation of stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. The discovery that brain tumours contain a subpopulation of cells with stem/progenitor characteristics that are capable of sustaining tumour growth has emphasized the importance of understanding the cellular dynamics and the molecular pathways regulating neural stem cell behaviour. By focusing on recent work on glioma and medulloblastoma, we review how lineage tracing contributed to dissecting the embryonic origin of brain tumours and how lineage-specific mechanisms that regulate stem cell behaviour in the embryo may be subverted in cancer to achieve uncontrolled proliferation and suppression of differentiation. Summary: Lineage-tracing work in glioma and medulloblastoma reveals similarities between neuronal development and brain tumours, identifying potential new therapeutic avenues that exploit vulnerabilities in tumour growth patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Azzarelli
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK.,Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK.,Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Benjamin D Simons
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK.,The Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.,Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Anna Philpott
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK .,Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
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28
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Miranda Kuzan-Fischer C, Juraschka K, Taylor MD. Medulloblastoma in the Molecular Era. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 2018; 61:292-301. [PMID: 29742881 PMCID: PMC5957312 DOI: 10.3340/jkns.2018.0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood and remains a major cause of cancer related mortality in children. Significant scientific advancements have transformed the understanding of medulloblastoma, leading to the recognition of four distinct clinical and molecular subgroups, namely wingless (WNT), sonic hedgehog, group 3, and group 4. Subgroup classification combined with the recognition of subgroup specific molecular alterations has also led to major changes in risk stratification of medulloblastoma patients and these changes have begun to alter clinical trial design, in which the newly recognized subgroups are being incorporated as individualized treatment arms. Despite these recent advancements, identification of effective targeted therapies remains a challenge for several reasons. First, significant molecular heterogeneity exists within the four subgroups, meaning this classification system alone may not be sufficient to predict response to a particular therapy. Second, the majority of novel agents are currently tested at the time of recurrence, after which significant selective pressures have been exerted by radiation and chemotherapy. Recent studies demonstrate selection of tumor sub-clones that exhibit genetic divergence from the primary tumor, exist within metastatic and recurrent tumor populations. Therefore, tumor resampling at the time of recurrence may become necessary to accurately select patients for personalized therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Miranda Kuzan-Fischer
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kyle Juraschka
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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29
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Zwergel C, Romanelli A, Stazi G, Besharat ZM, Catanzaro G, Tafani M, Valente S, Mai A. Application of Small Epigenetic Modulators in Pediatric Medulloblastoma. Front Pediatr 2018; 6:370. [PMID: 30560106 PMCID: PMC6286966 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2018.00370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is one of the most frequent among pediatric brain tumors, and it has been classified in various subgroups. Some of them already benefit from quite good therapeutic options, whereas others urgently need novel therapeutic approaches. Epigenetic modulators have long been studied in various types of cancer. Within this review, we summarize the main preclinical studies regarding epigenetic targets (such as HDAC, SIRT, BET, EZH2, G9a, LSD1, and DNMT) inhibitors in medulloblastoma. Furthermore, we shed light on the increasing number of applications of drug combinations as well as hybrid compounds involving epigenetic mechanisms. Nevertheless, in the studies published so far, mainly un-specific or old modulators have been used, and the PKs (brain permeability) have not been well-evaluated. Thus, these findings should be considered as a starting point for further improvement and not as a final result.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clemens Zwergel
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Romanelli
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Stazi
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Marco Tafani
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sergio Valente
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonello Mai
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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30
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Yi J, Wu J. Epigenetic regulation in medulloblastoma. Mol Cell Neurosci 2017; 87:65-76. [PMID: 29269116 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant childhood brain tumor. The heterogeneous tumors are classified into four subgroups based on transcription profiles. Recent developments in genome-wide sequencing techniques have rapidly advanced the understanding of these tumors. The high percentages of somatic alterations of genes encoding chromatin regulators in all subgroups suggest that epigenetic deregulation is a major driver of medulloblastoma. In this report, we review the current understanding of epigenetic regulation in medulloblastoma with a focus on the functional studies of chromatin regulators in the initiation and progression of specific subgroups of medulloblastoma. We also discuss the potential usage of epigenetic inhibitors for medulloblastoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqing Yi
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9040, USA
| | - Jiang Wu
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9040, USA.
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31
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Liu PP, Xu YJ, Teng ZQ, Liu CM. Polycomb Repressive Complex 2: Emerging Roles in the Central Nervous System. Neuroscientist 2017; 24:208-220. [DOI: 10.1177/1073858417747839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is responsible for catalyzing both di- and trimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27me2/3). The subunits of PRC2 are widely expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). PRC2 as well as H3K27me2/3, play distinct roles in neuronal identity, proliferation and differentiation of neural stem/progenitor cells, neuronal morphology, and gliogenesis. Mutations or dysregulations of PRC2 subunits often cause neurological diseases. Therefore, PRC2 might represent a common target of different pathological processes that drive neurodegenerative diseases. A better understanding of the intricate and complex regulatory networks mediated by PRC2 in CNS will help to develop new therapeutic approaches and to generate specific brain cell types for treating neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Pei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ya-Jie Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhao-Qian Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chang-Mei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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32
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Mir SE, Smits M, Biesmans D, Julsing M, Bugiani M, Aronica E, Kaspers GJL, Cloos J, Würdinger T, Hulleman E. Trimethylation of H3K27 during human cerebellar development in relation to medulloblastoma. Oncotarget 2017; 8:78978-78988. [PMID: 29108280 PMCID: PMC5668013 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB), the most common malignant childhood brain tumor, encompasses a collection of four clinically and molecularly distinct tumor subgroups, i.e. WNT, SHH, Group 3 and Group 4. These tumors are believed to originate from precursor cells during cerebellar development. Although the exact etiology of these brain tumors is not yet known, histone modifications are increasingly recognized as key events during cerebellum development and MB tumorigenesis. Recent studies show that key components involved in post-translational modifications of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) are commonly deregulated in MB. In this descriptive study, we have investigated the trimethylation status of H3K27, as well as the expression of the H3K27 methylase EZH2 and demethylases KDM6A and KDM6B, during human cerebellum development in relation to MB. H3K27 Trimethylation status differed between the MB subgroups. Moreover, trimethylation of H3K27 and expression of its modifiers EZH2, KDM6A and KDM6B were detected in a spatio-temporal manner during development of the human cerebellum, with consistent high occurrence in the four proliferative zones, which are believed to harbor the precursor cells of the different MB subgroups. Our results suggest that H3K27 trimethylation in MB is deregulated by EZH2, KDM6A and KDM6B. Moreover, we provide evidence that during development of the human cerebellum H3K27me3 and its regulators are expressed in a spatio-temporal manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahryar E Mir
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Neuro-oncology Research Group, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michiel Smits
- Neuro-oncology Research Group, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis Biesmans
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Neuro-oncology Research Group, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Machteld Julsing
- Neuro-oncology Research Group, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marianna Bugiani
- Department of Pathology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of (Neuro) Pathology, Academic Medical Center and Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gertjan J L Kaspers
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Neuro-oncology Research Group, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline Cloos
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Neuro-oncology Research Group, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Würdinger
- Neuro-oncology Research Group, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Esther Hulleman
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Neuro-oncology Research Group, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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33
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Holgado BL, Guerreiro Stucklin A, Garzia L, Daniels C, Taylor MD. Tailoring Medulloblastoma Treatment Through Genomics: Making a Change, One Subgroup at a Time. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2017; 18:143-166. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-091416-035434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Borja L. Holgado
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Ana Guerreiro Stucklin
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Livia Garzia
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Craig Daniels
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Michael D. Taylor
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
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34
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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] [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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35
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Zhongchao W, Liyuan F, Dan T, Cong Z, Shijun L. [Therapeutic effect of enhancer of Zeste homolog 2 inhibitor GSK343 on periodontitis by regulating macrophage differentiation]. HUA XI KOU QIANG YI XUE ZA ZHI = HUAXI KOUQIANG YIXUE ZAZHI = WEST CHINA JOURNAL OF STOMATOLOGY 2017; 35:264-268. [PMID: 28675010 DOI: 10.7518/hxkq.2017.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the therapeutic effect of enhancer of Zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) inhibitor GSK343 on periodontitis by regulating microphage differentiation. METHODS Macrophage RAW264.7 cells were divided into the blank (A group), control (B group), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation (C group), and LPS+GSK343 (D group) groups. Phenotype transformations was determined through Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay by detecting the differentiation of phenotypic biological markers, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and Arginase-1 (Arg-1). Metergasis was identified by performing a phagocytosis test on Escherichia coli (E. coli). RESULTS Macrophage RAW264.7 cells produced classical phenotypic biomarkers (M1) TNF-α and iNOS under LPS stimulation. The expression levels of IL-10 and Arg-1 increased after adding GSK343 into the culture medium. GSK343 also induced the conversion of M1 macrophages into M2 macrophages. Macrophage RAW264.7 cells exerted a phagocytic effect on E. coli, and this effect was enhanced after adding LPS into the culture medium. GSK343 regulated the macrophage RAW264.7 phagocytosis of E. coli. CONCLUSIONS GSK343 possibly participates in the regulation of macrophage differentiation and, consequently, in the latent treatment of periodontitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Zhongchao
- Orofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China;Dept. of Oral Medicine, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Fan Liyuan
- Orofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China;Dept. of Prosthodontics, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Tan Dan
- Orofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China;Dept. of Oral Medicine, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Zhou Cong
- Orofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China;Dept. of Oral Medicine, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Luo Shijun
- Orofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China;Dept. of Prosthodontics, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
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36
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The Expression of Cyclin D1, VEGF, EZH2, and H3K27me3 in Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumors of the CNS: A Possible Role in Targeted Therapy. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2017; 24:729-737. [PMID: 26469332 DOI: 10.1097/pai.0000000000000247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) is an uncommon malignancy with a dismal outcome, which responds poorly to multimodality therapies. Animal studies have revealed Cyclin D1 as a possible therapeutic target. The addition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors to chemotherapeutic regimens has shown promising results in pediatric central nervous system tumors. Enhancer of Zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) overexpression has been implicated in various cancers, including medulloblastomas. H3K27me3 is a new marker for pediatric high-grade gliomas. However, their role in AT/RT has not been evaluated sufficiently. We retrieved cases of AT/RT, and reviewed their clinical data and histopathologic features. Immunohistochemistry for Cyclin D1, VEGF, EZH2, and H3K27me3 was performed. Follow-up was noted when available. Fourteen cases of AT/RT were identified (mean age, 3.4 y; range, 10 mo to 8 y). Cyclin D1 immunopositivity was noted in all cases [labeling index (LI): 5% to 98%; mean, 41.3%]. VEGF positivity was seen in 83.3% of the cases. All cases showed EZH2 overexpression (mean LI, 74.3%; range, 32% to 96%). Reduction of H3K27me3 expression was noted in 63% of the cases, with no correlation with EZH2 LI. Two patients died of postoperative complications. Of the rest, follow-up was available for 7 (range, 7 to 120 wk): 1 achieved clinical remission, whereas 6 developed progressive disease, including 3 deaths. Varying degrees of immunoreactivity to Cyclin D1, VEGF, and EZH2 were noted in the majority of the AT/RTs, and detection of these markers may be of value in the development of novel therapeutic agents and in determining which patients can benefit from them. AT/RTs show reduction in H3K27me3 expression, independent of EZH2 expression, indicating that their interaction requires further evaluation.
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37
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Liu H, Sun Q, Sun Y, Zhang J, Yuan H, Pang S, Qi X, Wang H, Zhang M, Zhang H, Yu C, Gu C. MELK and EZH2 Cooperate to Regulate Medulloblastoma Cancer Stem-like Cell Proliferation and Differentiation. Mol Cancer Res 2017; 15:1275-1286. [PMID: 28536141 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-17-0105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Revised: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Although accumulated research has suggested that cancer stem-like cells play a key role in medulloblastoma tumorigenesis, the specific molecular mechanism regarding proliferation remains elusive. Here, we reported more abundant expression of maternal embryonic leucine-zipper kinase (MELK) and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) in medulloblastoma stem-like cells than in neural stem cells and the interaction between the two proteins could mediate the self-renewal of sonic hedgehog subtype medulloblastoma. In human medulloblastoma, extensive nodularity and large-cell/anaplastic subgroups differed according to the staining levels of MELK and EZH2 from the other two subgroups. The proportion of MELK- or EZH2-positive staining status could be considered as a potential indicator for survival. Mechanistically, MELK bound to and phosphorylated EZH2, and its methylation was induced by EZH2 in medulloblastoma, which could regulate the proliferation of cancer stem-like cells. In xenografts, loss of MELK or EZH2 attenuated medulloblastoma stem-like cell-derived tumor growth and promoted differentiation. These findings indicate that MELK-induced phosphorylation and EZH2-mediated methylation in MELK/EZH2 pathway are essential for medulloblastoma stem-like cell-derived tumor proliferation, thereby identifying a potential therapeutic strategy for these patients.Implications: This study demonstrates that the interaction occurring between MELK and EZH2 promotes self-proliferation and stemness, thus representing an attractive therapeutic target and potential candidate for diagnosis of medulloblastoma. Mol Cancer Res; 15(9); 1275-86. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailong Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanbo Brain Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Qianwen Sun
- Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China
| | - Youliang Sun
- School of Basic Medical Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Junping Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanbo Brain Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Hongyu Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
| | | | - Xueling Qi
- Department of Pathology, Sanbo Brain Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Haoran Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanbo Brain Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Mingshan Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanbo Brain Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Hongwei Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanbo Brain Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Chunjiang Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanbo Brain Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.
| | - Chunyu Gu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanbo Brain Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, P.R. China.
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Liu KW, Pajtler KW, Worst BC, Pfister SM, Wechsler-Reya RJ. Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets in pediatric brain tumors. Sci Signal 2017; 10:10/470/eaaf7593. [PMID: 28292958 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aaf7593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Brain tumors are among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in children. Although surgery, aggressive radiation, and chemotherapy have improved outcomes, many patients still die of their disease. Moreover, those who survive often suffer devastating long-term side effects from the therapies. A greater understanding of the molecular underpinnings of these diseases will drive the development of new therapeutic approaches. Advances in genomics and epigenomics have provided unprecedented insight into the molecular diversity of these diseases and, in several cases, have revealed key genes and signaling pathways that drive tumor growth. These not only serve as potential therapeutic targets but also have facilitated the creation of animal models that faithfully recapitulate the human disease for preclinical studies. In this Review, we discuss recent progress in understanding the molecular basis of the three most common malignant pediatric brain tumors-medulloblastoma, ependymoma, and high-grade glioma-and the implications for development of safer and more effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun-Wei Liu
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kristian W Pajtler
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Centre (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, University Hospital, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung, DKTK), Core Center Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Barbara C Worst
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Centre (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, University Hospital, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung, DKTK), Core Center Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Centre (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. .,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, University Hospital, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung, DKTK), Core Center Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Robert J Wechsler-Reya
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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Sak A, Kübler D, Bannik K, Groneberg M, Strunz S, Kriehuber R, Stuschke M. Epigenetic silencing and activation of transcription: influence on the radiation sensitivity of glioma cell lines. Int J Radiat Biol 2017; 93:494-506. [DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2017.1270472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Sak
- Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Dennis Kübler
- Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Kristina Bannik
- Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Groneberg
- Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sonja Strunz
- Department of Biomathematics and Bioinformatics, Institute of Genetics and Biometry, Leibniz-Institute for Farm Animal Biology, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Ralf Kriehuber
- Department of Safety and Radiation Protection, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Martin Stuschke
- Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
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40
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Akizu N, Martínez-Balbás MA. EZH2 orchestrates apicobasal polarity and neuroepithelial cell renewal. NEUROGENESIS 2016; 3:e1250034. [PMID: 28090544 DOI: 10.1080/23262133.2016.1250034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
During early stages of neural development, neuroepithelial cells translocate their nuclei along the apicobasal axis in a harmonized manner with the cell cycle. How cell cycle progression and neuroepithelium polarity are coordinated remains unclear. It has been proposed that developmental cues, epigenetic mechanisms and cell cycle regulators must be linked in order to orchestrate these processes. We have recently discovered that a master epigenetic factor, EZH2 is essential to coordinate these events. EZH2 directly represses the cell cycle regulator p21WAF1/CIP in the chicken spinal cord. By doing so, EZH2 controls neural progenitor cell renewal and fine-tunes Rho signaling pathway, which is essential to maintain neuroepithelial structure. Our findings point to a new role of EZH2 during development that could have potential implication in other areas as cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiara Akizu
- Department of Molecular Genomics, Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) , Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marian A Martínez-Balbás
- Department of Molecular Genomics, Instituto de Biología Molecular de Barcelona (IBMB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) , Barcelona, Spain
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41
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de la Rosa J, Sáenz Antoñanzas A, Shahi MH, Meléndez B, Rey JA, Castresana JS. Laminin-adherent versus suspension-non-adherent cell culture conditions for the isolation of cancer stem cells in the DAOY medulloblastoma cell line. Tumour Biol 2016; 37:12359-12370. [DOI: 10.1007/s13277-016-5119-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
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42
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Zhou X, Zang X, Ponnusamy M, Masucci MV, Tolbert E, Gong R, Zhao TC, Liu N, Bayliss G, Dworkin LD, Zhuang S. Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Inhibition Attenuates Renal Fibrosis by Maintaining Smad7 and Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Expression. J Am Soc Nephrol 2015; 27:2092-108. [PMID: 26701983 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2015040457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a methyltransferase that induces histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) and functions as an oncogenic factor in many cancer types. However, the role of EZH2 in renal fibrogenesis remains unexplored. In this study, we found high expression of EZH2 and H3K27me3 in cultured renal fibroblasts and fibrotic kidneys from mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction and humans with CKD. Pharmacologic inhibition of EZH2 with 3-deazaneplanocin A (3-DZNeP) or GSK126 or siRNA-mediated silencing of EZH2 inhibited serum- and TGFβ1-induced activation of renal interstitial fibroblasts in vitro, and 3-DZNeP administration abrogated deposition of extracellular matrix proteins and expression of α-smooth muscle actin in the obstructed kidney. Injury to the kidney enhanced Smad7 degradation, Smad3 phosphorylation, and TGFβ receptor 1 expression, and 3-DZNeP administration prevented these effects. 3-DZNeP also suppressed phosphorylation of the renal EGF and PDGFβ receptors and downstream signaling molecules signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 after injury. Moreover, EZH2 inhibition increased the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a protein previously associated with dephosphorylation of tyrosine kinase receptors in the injured kidney and serum-stimulated renal interstitial fibroblasts. Finally, blocking PTEN with SF1670 largely diminished the inhibitory effect of 3-DZNeP on renal myofibroblast activation. These results uncovered the important role of EZH2 in mediating the development of renal fibrosis by downregulating expression of Smad7 and PTEN, thus activating profibrotic signaling pathways. Targeted inhibition of EZH2, therefore, could be a novel therapy for treating CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxu Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiujuan Zang
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Songjiang District Central Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Murugavel Ponnusamy
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Monica V Masucci
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Evelyn Tolbert
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Rujun Gong
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Ting C Zhao
- Department of Surgery, Boston University Medical School, Roger Williams Medical Center, Boston University, Providence, Rhode Island; and
| | - Na Liu
- Department of Nephrology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - George Bayliss
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Lance D Dworkin
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Shougang Zhuang
- Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Department of Nephrology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Analysis of the antiproliferative effects of 3-deazaneoplanocin A in combination with standard anticancer agents in rhabdoid tumor cell lines. Anticancer Drugs 2015; 26:301-11. [PMID: 25415657 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000000181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Rhabdoid tumors (RTs) are highly aggressive pediatric malignancies with a rather poor prognosis. New therapeutic approaches and optimization of already established treatment protocols are urgently needed. The histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is highly overexpressed in RTs and associated strongly with epigenetic silencing in cancer. EZH2 is involved in aggressive cell growth and stem cell maintenance. Thus, EZH2 is an attractive therapeutic target in RTs. The aim of the study presented here was to analyze the effects of a pharmacological inhibition of EZH2 alone and in combination with other anticancer drugs on RTs cells in vitro. The antitumor activity of the S-adenosyl-homocysteine-hydrolase inhibitor 3-deazaneplanocin A (DZNep) alone and in combination with conventional cytostatic drugs (doxorubicin, etoposide) or epigenetic active compounds [5-Aza-CdR, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA)] was assessed by MTT cell proliferation assays on three RT cell lines (A204, BT16, G401). Combinatorial treatment with DZNep synergistically and significantly enhanced the antiproliferative activity of etoposide, 5-Aza-CdR, and SAHA. In functional analyses, pretreatment with DZNep significantly increased the effects of 5-Aza-CdR and SAHA on apoptosis, cell cycle progression, and clonogenicity. Microarray analyses following sequential treatment with DZNep and 5-Aza-CdR or SAHA showed changes in global gene expression affecting apoptosis, neuronal development, and metabolic processes. In-vitro analyses presented here show that pharmacological inhibition of EZH2 synergistically affects the antitumor activity of the epigenetic active compounds 5-Aza-CdR and SAHA. Sequential treatment with these drugs combined with DZNep may represent a new therapeutic approach in RTs.
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Wang W, Qin JJ, Voruganti S, Nag S, Zhou J, Zhang R. Polycomb Group (PcG) Proteins and Human Cancers: Multifaceted Functions and Therapeutic Implications. Med Res Rev 2015; 35:1220-67. [PMID: 26227500 DOI: 10.1002/med.21358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are transcriptional repressors that regulate several crucial developmental and physiological processes in the cell. More recently, they have been found to play important roles in human carcinogenesis and cancer development and progression. The deregulation and dysfunction of PcG proteins often lead to blocking or inappropriate activation of developmental pathways, enhancing cellular proliferation, inhibiting apoptosis, and increasing the cancer stem cell population. Genetic and molecular investigations of PcG proteins have long been focused on their PcG functions. However, PcG proteins have recently been shown to exert non-classical-Pc-functions, contributing to the regulation of diverse cellular functions. We and others have demonstrated that PcG proteins regulate the expression and function of several oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in a PcG-independent manner, and PcG proteins are associated with the survival of patients with cancer. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the research on PcG proteins, including both the Pc-repressive and non-classical-Pc-functions. We specifically focus on the mechanisms by which PcG proteins play roles in cancer initiation, development, and progression. Finally, we discuss the potential value of PcG proteins as molecular biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer, and as molecular targets for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106.,Center for Cancer Biology and Therapy, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106
| | - Jiang-Jiang Qin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106
| | - Sukesh Voruganti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106
| | - Subhasree Nag
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106
| | - Jianwei Zhou
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Toxicology, Cancer Center, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, P. R. China
| | - Ruiwen Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106.,Center for Cancer Biology and Therapy, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, 79106
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45
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Schneider C, Ramaswamy V, Kulkarni AV, Rutka JT, Remke M, Tabori U, Hawkins C, Bouffet E, Taylor MD. Clinical implications of medulloblastoma subgroups: incidence of CSF diversion surgery. J Neurosurg Pediatr 2015; 15:236-42. [PMID: 25525930 DOI: 10.3171/2014.9.peds14280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECT While medulloblastoma was initially thought to comprise a single homogeneous entity, it is now accepted that it in fact comprises 4 discrete subgroups, each with its own distinct demographics, clinical presentation, transcriptomics, genetics, and outcome. Hydrocephalus is a common complication of medulloblastoma and not infrequently requires CSF diversion. The authors report the incidence of CSF diversion surgery in each of the subgroups of medulloblastoma (Wnt, Shh, Group 3, and Group 4). METHODS The medical and imaging records for patients who underwent surgery for medulloblastoma at The Hospital for Sick Children were retrospectively reviewed. The primary outcome was the requirement for CSF diversion surgery either before or within 60 days of tumor resection. The modified Canadian Preoperative Prediction Rule for Hydrocephalus (mCPPRH) was compared among subgroups. RESULTS Of 143 medulloblastoma patients, treated from 1991 to 2013, sufficient data were available for 130 patients (15 with Wnt, 30 with Shh, 30 with Group 3, and 55 with Group 4 medulloblastomas). Of these, 28 patients (22%) ultimately underwent CSF diversion surgery: 0% with Wnt, 29% with Shh, 29% with Group 3, and 43% with Group 4 tumors. Patients in the Wnt subgroup had a lower incidence of CSF diversion than all other patients combined (p = 0.04). Wnt patients had a lower mCPPRH score (lower risk of CSF diversion, p = 0.045), were older, had smaller ventricles at diagnosis, and had no leptomeningeal metastases. CONCLUSIONS The overall rate of CSF diversion surgery for Shh, Group 3, and Group 4 medulloblastomas is around 30%, but no patients in the present series with a Wnt medulloblastoma required shunting. The low incidence of hydrocephalus in patients with Wnt medulloblastoma likely reflects both host factors (age) and disease factors (lack of metastases). The absence of hydrocephalus in patients with Wnt medulloblastomas likely contributes to their excellent rate of survival and may also contribute to a higher quality of life than for patients in other subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Schneider
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Division of Neurosurgery, Neurooncology and Neuropathology, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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46
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Khatua S, Zaky W. The biologic era of childhood medulloblastoma and clues to novel therapies. Future Oncol 2015; 10:637-45. [PMID: 24754593 DOI: 10.2217/fon.13.185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, the treatment of childhood medulloblastoma (MB) is tailored to risk groups defined by clinical parameters. Growing evidence of tumoral heterogeneity is apparent as response remains varied and unpredictable based on current treatment strategies, indicating the lack of understanding of the elusive biology that drives oncogenesis of these tumors. Advances in genomic technologies are revealing newer insights into the molecular pathogenesis of MB. Utilization of the genomic machinery has enabled the definition of new molecular markers and signaling pathways, resulting in a paradigm shift in the classification of childhood MB. Recent focus into the postgenomic era has revealed varied perturbations in the epigenetic machinery in these subtypes as likely predictive biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. Ahead lies the task and challenge in the ability to comprehensively evaluate all these data, which could provide clues to profile the next-generation clinical trials combining conventional with molecularly targeted novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumen Khatua
- Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, Children's Cancer Hospital, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 87, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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47
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Ren X, Bai X, Zhang X, Li Z, Tang L, Zhao X, Li Z, Ren Y, Wei S, Wang Q, Liu C, Ji J. Quantitative nuclear proteomics identifies that miR-137-mediated EZH2 reduction regulates resveratrol-induced apoptosis of neuroblastoma cells. Mol Cell Proteomics 2014; 14:316-28. [PMID: 25505154 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m114.041905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is the most common pediatric extracranial solid tumor with a broad spectrum of clinical behavior and poor prognosis. Despite intensive multimodal therapy, ongoing clinical trials, and basic science investigations, neuroblastoma remains a complex medical challenge with a long-term survival rate less than 40%. In our study, we found that resveratrol (3, 5, 4'-trihydroxystilbene, RSV), a naturally occurring phytoalexin, possesses an anticancer activity through blocking cell growth and inducing apoptosis in neuroblastoma cell line Neuro-2a (N-2a) cells. Using stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) and quantitative proteomic analysis, we found that 395 proteins were up-regulated and 302 proteins were down-regulated in the nucleus of N-2a cells treated with RSV. Among these, the polycomb protein histone methyltransferase EZH2 was reduced significantly, which is aberrantly overexpressed in neuroblastoma and crucial to maintain the malignant phenotype of neuroblastoma by epigenetic repression of multiple tumor suppressor genes. EZH2 reduction further led to decreased H3K27me3 level and reactivation of neuroblastoma tumor suppressor genes CLU and NGFR. Disruption EZH2 expression by RNA interference-mediated knockdown or pharmacologic inhibition with DZNep triggered cellular apoptosis in N-2a cells. We found that the up-regulation of miR-137 level was responsible for reduced EZH2 level in tumor suppression induced by RSV. Inhibition of miR-137 expression rescued the cellular apoptosis phenotypes, EZH2 reduction, and CLU and NGFR reactivation, associated with RSV treatment. Taken together, our findings present for the first time, an epigenetic mechanism involving miR-137-mediated EZH2 repression in RSV-induced apoptosis and tumor suppression of neuroblastoma, which would provide a key potential therapeutic target in neuroblastoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Ren
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; ¶Center for Biomedical Materials and Tissue Engineering, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xue Bai
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xuefei Zhang
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Zheyi Li
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Lingfang Tang
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xuyang Zhao
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; §Institute of System Biomedicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zeyang Li
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yanfei Ren
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Shicheng Wei
- ¶Center for Biomedical Materials and Tissue Engineering, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; ‖Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Studies, School of Stomatology, Peking University, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Qingsong Wang
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;
| | - Cong Liu
- ‡‡Laboratory of Genome Stability, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jianguo Ji
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; §Institute of System Biomedicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China;
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Polycomb protein EZH2 suppresses apoptosis by silencing the proapoptotic miR-31. Cell Death Dis 2014; 5:e1486. [PMID: 25341040 PMCID: PMC4237267 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2014.454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2014] [Revised: 09/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is the catalytic subunit of the polycomb repressive complex 2 and suppresses gene expression by catalyzing histone H3 methylation on lysine 27. EZH2 is overexpressed in metastatic prostate cancer and has been shown to promote cell proliferation and metastasis. Here we show that EZH2 also suppresses prostate cancer apoptosis by coordinating the epigenetic silencing of two proapoptotic microRNAs (miRNA), miR-205 and miR-31. We previously reported that miR-205 promotes apoptosis by targeting antiapoptotic protein Bcl-w and miR-205 is silenced in prostate cancer through promoter methylation. In this study, we found that EZH2 suppresses miR-31 expression by trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone 3 on the miR-31 promoter. SiRNA knockdown of EZH2 increased miR-31 expression and decreased the antiapoptotic protein E2F6 (E2F transcription factor 6) (a target of miR-31), resulting in the sensitization of prostate cancer cells to docetaxel-induced apoptosis. Conversely, overexpression of EZH2 blocked docetaxel-induced apoptosis. We further demonstrated that miR-205 silencing is linked to miR-31 silencing through EZH2. Suppression of miR-205 with an miRNA inhibitor caused an increase of EZH2 protein, which in turn inhibited miR-31 expression. Conversely, overexpression of miR-205 decreased EZH2 protein and increased miR-31 expression. In paired human prostate cancer specimens and adjacent normal tissues, we observed that the decrease of miR-205 expression correlated with EZH2 overexpression and miR-31 silencing. Thus, EZH2 integrates the epigenetic silencing of miR-205 and miR-31 to confer resistance to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis.
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49
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Chow KH, Shin DM, Jenkins MH, Miller EE, Shih DJ, Choi S, Low BE, Philip V, Rybinski B, Bronson RT, Taylor MD, Yun K. Epigenetic states of cells of origin and tumor evolution drive tumor-initiating cell phenotype and tumor heterogeneity. Cancer Res 2014; 74:4864-74. [PMID: 25136069 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-13-3293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A central confounding factor in the development of targeted therapies is tumor cell heterogeneity, particularly in tumor-initiating cells (TIC), within clinically identical tumors. Here, we show how activation of the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway in neural stem and progenitor cells creates a foundation for tumor cell evolution to heterogeneous states that are histologically indistinguishable but molecularly distinct. In spontaneous medulloblastomas that arise in Patched (Ptch)(+/-) mice, we identified three distinct tumor subtypes. Through cell type-specific activation of the SHH pathway in vivo, we determined that different cells of origin evolved in unique ways to generate these subtypes. Moreover, TICs in each subtype had distinct molecular and cellular phenotypes. At the bulk tumor level, the three tumor subtypes could be distinguished by a 465-gene signature and by differential activation levels of the ERK and AKT pathways. Notably, TICs from different subtypes were differentially sensitive to SHH or AKT pathway inhibitors, highlighting new mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies. In summary, our results show how evolutionary processes act on distinct cells of origin to contribute to tumoral heterogeneity, at both bulk tumor and TIC levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dong-Mi Shin
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, NIAID/NIH, Bethesda, Maryland. Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | | | | | - David J Shih
- Division of Neurosurgery, Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Michael D Taylor
- Division of Neurosurgery, Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kyuson Yun
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine.
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50
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Yamaguchi H, Hung MC. Regulation and Role of EZH2 in Cancer. Cancer Res Treat 2014; 46:209-22. [PMID: 25038756 PMCID: PMC4132442 DOI: 10.4143/crt.2014.46.3.209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2014] [Accepted: 06/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is the epigenetic regulator that induces histone H3 lysine 27 methylation (H3K27me3) and silences specific gene transcription. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is an enzymatic subunit of PRC2, and evidence shows that EZH2 plays an essential role in cancer initiation, development, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. EZH2 expression is indeed regulated by various oncogenic transcription factors, tumor suppressor miRNAs, and cancer-associated non-coding RNA. EZH2 activity is also controlled by post-translational modifications, which are deregulated in cancer. The canonical role of EZH2 is gene silencing through H3K27me3, but accumulating evidence shows that EZH2 methlyates substrates other than histone and has methylase-independent functions. These non-canonical functions of EZH2 are shown to play a role in cancer progression. In this review, we summarize current information on the regulation and roles of EZH2 in cancer. We also discuss various therapeutic approaches to targeting EZH2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirohito Yamaguchi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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