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Fernandez A, Artola M, Leon S, Otegui N, Jimeno A, Serrano D, Calvo A. Cancer Vulnerabilities Through Targeting the ATR/Chk1 and ATM/Chk2 Axes in the Context of DNA Damage. Cells 2025; 14:748. [PMID: 40422251 DOI: 10.3390/cells14100748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2025] [Revised: 05/08/2025] [Accepted: 05/10/2025] [Indexed: 05/28/2025] Open
Abstract
Eliciting DNA damage in tumor cells continues to be one of the most successful strategies against cancer. This is the case for classical chemotherapy drugs and radiotherapy. In the modern era of personalized medicine, this strategy tries to identify specific vulnerabilities found in each patient's tumor, to inflict DNA damage in certain cell contexts that end up in massive cancer cell death. Cells rely on multiple DNA repair pathways to fix DNA damage, but cancer cells frequently exhibit defects in these pathways, many times being tolerant to the damage. Key vulnerabilities, such as BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations, have been exploited with PARP inhibitors, leveraging synthetic lethality to selectively kill tumor cells and improving patients' survival. In the DNA damage response (DDR) network, kinases ATM, ATR, Chk1, and Chk2 coordinate DNA repair, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. Inhibiting these proteins enhances tumor sensitivity to DNA-damaging therapies, especially in DDR-deficient cancers. Several small-molecule inhibitors targeting ATM/Chk2 or ATR/Chk1 are currently being tested in preclinical and/or clinical settings, showing promise in cancer models and patients. Additionally, pharmacological blockade of ATM/Chk2 and ATR/Chk1 axes enhances the effects of immunotherapy by increasing tumor immunogenicity, promoting T-cell infiltration and activating immune responses. Combining ATM/Chk2- or ATR/Chk1-targeting drugs with conventional chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors offers a compelling strategy to improve treatment efficacy, overcome resistance, and enhance patients' survival in modern oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anell Fernandez
- Program in Solid Tumors, CIMA, Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), University of Navarra, Avenida de Pio XII, 55, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Maider Artola
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Sergio Leon
- Program in Solid Tumors, CIMA, Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), University of Navarra, Avenida de Pio XII, 55, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERONC, ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Nerea Otegui
- Program in Solid Tumors, CIMA, Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), University of Navarra, Avenida de Pio XII, 55, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERONC, ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Aroa Jimeno
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Diego Serrano
- Program in Solid Tumors, CIMA, Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), University of Navarra, Avenida de Pio XII, 55, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERONC, ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- IDISNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Alfonso Calvo
- Program in Solid Tumors, CIMA, Cancer Center Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), University of Navarra, Avenida de Pio XII, 55, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERONC, ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- IDISNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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2
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Rawling MJ, Ray-Sinha A, Bestwick M, Carter MK, Chahal SK, Chalmers AJ, Elsey DJ, Giddings A, Gold J, Henderson SH, MacGregor C, Malcolm A, Ortega F, Phelan A, Savory ED, Schwartz AC, Stevenson NG, Turner EL, Vass M, Wright JA, Watson C. Discovery of a Potent, Selective, and Brain-Penetrant Checkpoint Kinase 1 Inhibitor, BEN-28010, for the Treatment of Glioblastoma. J Med Chem 2025; 68:9101-9125. [PMID: 40273287 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5c00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2025]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) patients face a dire prognosis and alternative therapeutic options are desperately needed. Inhibition of checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) represents a potential therapeutic strategy for GBM through regulation of the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway, but no suitable brain-penetrant CHK1 inhibitors have been reported to date. In this study, we disclose the discovery and optimization of clinical candidate 38 (BEN-28010) as a freely brain-penetrant, potent, and selective CHK1 inhibitor, derived from virtual screening hit 1. In vivo pharmacological studies demonstrated efficacy of orally administered 38 in several GBM CDX and PDX models as a monotherapy and in combination with ionizing radiation, including improved overall survival in an intracranially implanted GBM PDX mouse model. Additionally, 38 utilizes an underrepresented aminoimidazole kinase hinge-binding motif that may have broader utility within kinase inhibitor drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Rawling
- BenevolentAI, Minerva Building, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
| | | | - Michael Bestwick
- BenevolentAI, Minerva Building, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
| | | | - Sandeep K Chahal
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, U.K
| | | | | | | | - Jennie Gold
- BenevolentAI, Minerva Building, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
| | - Scott H Henderson
- BenevolentAI, Minerva Building, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
| | | | - Andrew Malcolm
- BenevolentAI, Minerva Building, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
| | - Fernando Ortega
- BenevolentAI, Minerva Building, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
| | - Anne Phelan
- BenevolentAI, Minerva Building, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
| | - Edward D Savory
- BenevolentAI, Minerva Building, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
| | - Alejandro C Schwartz
- BenevolentAI, Minerva Building, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
| | - Neil G Stevenson
- BenevolentAI, Minerva Building, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
| | - Emma L Turner
- BenevolentAI, Minerva Building, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
| | - Márton Vass
- BenevolentAI, 4-8 Maple Street, London W1T 5HD, U.K
| | - Jamie A Wright
- BenevolentAI, Minerva Building, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
| | - Christine Watson
- BenevolentAI, Minerva Building, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, U.K
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3
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Zhou M, Yang Y, He S, Xu Q, Du C, Tian W, Chen H. Ingenane Diterpenoids from Euphorbia peplus as Potential New CHK1 Inhibitors That Sensitize Cancer Cells to Chemotherapy. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2025; 88:688-705. [PMID: 40056138 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.4c01343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2025]
Abstract
Phosphorylation of checkpoint kinase 1 at Ser-345 (p-CHK1(S345)) mediates the replication stress response in cancer cells, leading to chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, finding inhibitors of p-CHK1(S345) is currently a promising strategy to prevent acquired drug resistance. In this study, 14 ingenane diterpenoids (1-14), involving two undescribed compounds possessing an unprecedented exocyclic double bond Δ6(20), were identified from Euphorbia peplus. The inhibitory effects of the isolated compounds on p-CHK1(S345) and their structure-activity relationship (SAR) were investigated. Compounds 7 and 8 presented the strongest inhibitory effects, abrogated cell cycle arrest, and caused the accumulation of DNA damage, improving the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. An in vivo assay confirmed the enhancement of 8 on the anticancer effect of topotecan via blocking of p-CHK1(S345). Mechanistically, 8 increased CHK1 ubiquitination to inhibit p-CHK1(S345) via activation of protein kinase C (PKC). PKC activation was first found to enhance CHK1 ubiquitination to block p-CHK1(S345). Above all, this finding not only indicates that compound 8 could be developed as a novel CHK1 inhibitor but also reveals a previously unrecognized role of PKC in regulating cancer chemotherapy sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361002, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Institute of Marine Drugs, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530200, China
| | - Yanlan Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361002, China
| | - Shoulun He
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361002, China
| | - Qiannan Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361002, China
| | - Chunchun Du
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361002, China
| | - Wenjing Tian
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361002, China
| | - Haifeng Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361002, China
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Jose S, Sharma H, Insan J, Sharma K, Arora V, Puranapanda S, Dhamija S, Eid N, Menon MB. Kinase Inhibitor-Induced Cell-Type Specific Vacuole Formation in the Absence of Canonical ATG5-Dependent Autophagy Initiation Pathway. Mol Cell Biol 2025; 45:99-115. [PMID: 39895059 DOI: 10.1080/10985549.2025.2454421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 11/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2025] [Indexed: 02/04/2025] Open
Abstract
Pyridinyl-imidazole class p38 MAPKα/β (MAPK14/MAPK11) inhibitors including SB202190 have been shown to induce cell-type specific defective autophagy resulting in micron-scale vacuole formation, cell death, and tumor suppression. We had earlier shown that this is an off-target effect of SB202190. Here we provide evidence that this vacuole formation is independent of ATG5-mediated canonical autophagosome initiation. While SB202190 interferes with autophagic flux in many cell lines parallel to vacuolation, autophagy-deficient DU-145 cells and CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited ATG5-knockout A549 cells also undergo vacuolation upon SB202190 treatment. Late-endosomal GTPase RAB7 colocalizes with these compartments and RAB7 GTP-binding is essential for SB202190-induced vacuolation. A screen for modulators of SB202190-induced vacuolation revealed molecules including multi-kinase inhibitor sorafenib as inhibitors of vacuolation and sorafenib co-treatment enhanced cytotoxicity of SB202190. Moreover, VE-821, an ATR inhibitor was found to phenocopy the cell-type specific vacuolation response of SB202190. To identify the factors determining the cell-type specificity of vacuolation induced by SB-compounds and VE-821, we compared the transcriptomics data from vacuole-forming and non-vacuole-forming cancer cell lines and identified a gene expression signature that may define sensitivity of cells to these small-molecules. Further analyses using small molecule tools and the gene signature discovered here, could reveal novel mechanisms regulating this interesting anti-cancer phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Jose
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Himanshi Sharma
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Janki Insan
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Khushboo Sharma
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Varun Arora
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Sonam Dhamija
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Nabil Eid
- Department of Anatomy, Division of Human Biology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Manoj B Menon
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
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5
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Li L, Hu X, Nkwocha J, Kmieciak M, Meads MB, Shain KH, Alugubelli RR, Silva AS, Mann H, Sudalagunta PR, Canevarolo RR, Zhou L, Grant S. Combined MEK1/2 and ATR inhibition promotes myeloma cell death through a STAT3-dependent mechanism in vitro and in vivo. Br J Haematol 2024; 205:2338-2348. [PMID: 39379134 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19796] [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: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/18/2024] [Indexed: 10/10/2024]
Abstract
Mechanisms underlying potentiation of the anti-myeloma (MM) activity of ataxia telangiectasia Rad3 (ATR) antagonists by MAPK (Mitogen-activated protein kinases)-related extracellular kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2) inhibitors were investigated. Co-administration of the ATR inhibitor (ATRi) BAY1895344 (BAY) and MEK1/2 inhibitors, for example, cobimetinib, synergistically increased cell death in diverse MM cell lines. Mechanistically, BAY and cobimetinib blocked STAT3 Tyr705 and Ser727 phosphorylation, respectively, and dual dephosphorylation triggered marked STAT3 inactivation and downregulation of STAT3 (Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) downstream targets (c-Myc and BCL-XL). Similar events occurred in highly bortezomib-resistant (PS-R) cells, in the presence of patient-derived conditioned medium, and with alternative ATR (e.g. M1774) and MEK1/2 (trametinib) inhibitors. Notably, constitutively active STAT3 c-MYC or BCL-XL ectopic expression significantly protected cells from BAY/cobimetinib. In contrast, transfection of cells with a dominant-negative form of STAT3 (Y705F) sensitized cells to cobimetinib, as did ATR shRNA knockdown. Conversely, MEK1/2 knockdown markedly increased ATRi sensitivity. The BAY/cobimetinib regimen was also active against primary CD138+ MM cells, but not normal CD34+ cells. Finally, the ATR inhibitor/cobimetinib regimen significantly improved survival in MM xenografts, including bortezomib-resistant models, with minimal toxicity. Collectively, these findings suggest that combined ATR/MEK1/2 inhibition triggers dual STAT3 Tyr705 and Ser727 dephosphorylation, pronounced downregulation of cytoprotective targets and MM cell death, warranting attention as a novel therapeutic strategy in MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Li
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Hu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Jewel Nkwocha
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Maciej Kmieciak
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Mark B Meads
- Department of Malignant Hematology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Kenneth H Shain
- Department of Malignant Hematology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | | | - Ariosto S Silva
- Department of Metabolism and Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Hashim Mann
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Praneeth R Sudalagunta
- Department of Metabolism and Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Rafael R Canevarolo
- Department of Metabolism and Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Liang Zhou
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- Department of Translational Medicine, Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Steven Grant
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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6
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Técher H, Kemiha S, Aobuli X, Kolinjivadi AM. Oncogenic RAS in Cancers from the DNA Replication Stress and Senescence Perspective. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:3993. [PMID: 39682179 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16233993] [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: 09/11/2024] [Revised: 11/15/2024] [Accepted: 11/24/2024] [Indexed: 12/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Rat Sarcoma (RAS)-driven cancers have been one of the main foci in the field of cancer science for over four decades. Despite significant improvement in understanding the biology of RAS oncogene, the method to target RAS-mutated cancers is still unclear. In recent years, the role for RAS beyond its hyperproliferation has been extensively documented. In this review, we systematically address and dwell on the details of the mechanisms of RAS oncogene-mediated alteration in the DNA replication and DNA damage response (DDR) pathways, focusing on lung cancers. We further extend this molecular connection towards cytosolic DNA accumulation, innate immune activation and senescence in RAS-addicted cancers. At the end, we briefly speculate on the potential strategies for targeting RAS mutated lung cancers, considering various approaches targeting DNA replication, DNA repair and the cGAS-STING pro-inflammatory pathway. These new lines of therapy, especially when used in combinations, may enhance treatment efficacy and overcome the challenges associated with these mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hervé Técher
- Université Côte d'Azur, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice-IRCAN, CNRS, INSERM, 06100 Nice, France
| | - Samira Kemiha
- Université Côte d'Azur, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice-IRCAN, CNRS, INSERM, 06100 Nice, France
| | - Xieraili Aobuli
- Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Arun Mouli Kolinjivadi
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
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Chang TY, Yan Y, Yu ZY, Rathore M, Lee NZ, Tseng HJ, Cheng LH, Huang WJ, Zhang W, Chan ER, Qing Y, Kang ML, Wang R, Tsai KK, Pink JJ, Harte WE, Gerson SL, Lee SB. Combined HDAC8 and checkpoint kinase inhibition induces tumor-selective synthetic lethality in preclinical models. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e165448. [PMID: 39436709 PMCID: PMC11601943 DOI: 10.1172/jci165448] [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: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2024] [Indexed: 10/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The elevated level of replication stress is an intrinsic characteristic of cancer cells. Targeting the mechanisms that maintain genome stability to further increase replication stress and thus induce severe genome instability has become a promising approach for cancer treatment. Here, we identify histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) as a drug target whose inactivation synergizes with the inhibition of checkpoint kinases to elicit substantial replication stress and compromise genome integrity selectively in cancer cells. We showed that simultaneous inhibition of HDAC8 and checkpoint kinases led to extensive replication fork collapse, irreversible cell-cycle arrest, and synergistic vulnerability in various cancer cells. The efficacy of the combination treatment was further validated in patient tumor-derived organoid (PDO) and xenograft mouse (PDX) models, providing important insights into patient-specific drug responses. Our data revealed that HDAC8 activity was essential for reducing the acetylation level of structural maintenance of chromosomes protein 3 (SMC3) ahead of replication forks and preventing R loop formation. HDAC8 inactivation resulted in slowed fork progression and checkpoint kinase activation. Our findings indicate that HDAC8 guards the integrity of the replicating genome, and the cancer-specific synthetic lethality between HDAC8 and checkpoint kinases provides a promising replication stress-targeting strategy for treating a broad range of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Yu Chang
- PhD Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yan Yan
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and
| | - Zih-Yao Yu
- PhD Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Moeez Rathore
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and
- Department of Surgery, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Nian-Zhe Lee
- PhD Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Ju Tseng
- PhD Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Hsin Cheng
- Laboratory of Advanced Molecular Therapeutics, Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine
- Core Laboratory of Organoids Technology, Office of R&D
| | - Wei-Jan Huang
- Graduate Institute of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei Zhang
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and
- Department of Surgery, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Ernest R. Chan
- Institute for Computational Biology, CWRU School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Ming-Lun Kang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Rui Wang
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and
- Department of Surgery, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Kelvin K. Tsai
- Laboratory of Advanced Molecular Therapeutics, Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine
- Core Laboratory of Organoids Technology, Office of R&D
| | | | | | - Stanton L. Gerson
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and
- Department of Medicine, CWRU School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Sung-Bau Lee
- PhD Program in Drug Discovery and Development Industry, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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8
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Zhen T, Sun T, Xiong B, Liu H, Wang L, Chen Y, Sun H. New insight into targeting the DNA damage response in the treatment of glioblastoma. Chin J Nat Med 2024; 22:869-886. [PMID: 39428180 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(24)60694-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 10/22/2024]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common invasive malignant tumor in human brain tumors, representing the most severe grade of gliomas. Despite existing therapeutic approaches, patient prognosis remains dismal, necessitating the exploration of novel strategies to enhance treatment efficacy and extend survival. Due to the restrictive nature of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), small-molecule inhibitors are prioritized in the treatment of central nervous system tumors. Among these, DNA damage response (DDR) inhibitors have garnered significant attention due to their potent therapeutic potential across various malignancies. This review provides a detailed analysis of DDR pathways as therapeutic targets in GBM, summarizes recent advancements, therapeutic strategies, and ongoing clinical trials, and offers perspectives on future directions in this rapidly evolving field. The goal is to present a comprehensive outlook on the potential of DDR inhibitors in improving GBM management and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengfei Zhen
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Tianyu Sun
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Baichen Xiong
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Yao Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Haopeng Sun
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
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9
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Jess J, Sorensen KM, Boguslawski EA, Stout MC, Madaj ZB, Caiello BP, Pomaville M, Wilson ER, Kinn-Gurzo SS, Parker CC, Veluvolu SM, Brysgel TV, Kaufman R, Kitchen-Goosen SM, Gedminas JM, Grohar PJ. Cell Context Is the Third Axis of Synergy for the Combination of ATR Inhibition and Cisplatin in Ewing Sarcoma. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:3533-3548. [PMID: 38506712 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-3063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The importance of cellular context to the synergy of DNA damage response (DDR)-targeted agents is important for tumors with mutations in DDR pathways, but less well-established for tumors driven by oncogenic transcription factors. In this study, we exploit the widespread transcriptional dysregulation of the EWS-FLI1 transcription factor to identify an effective DDR-targeted combination therapy for Ewing sarcoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We used matrix drug screening to evaluate synergy between a DNA-PK inhibitor (M9831) or an ATR inhibitor (berzosertib) and chemotherapy. The combination of berzosertib and cisplatin was selected for broad synergy, mechanistically evaluated for Ewing sarcoma selectivity, and optimized for in vivo schedule. RESULTS Berzosertib combined with cisplatin demonstrates profound synergy in multiple Ewing sarcoma cell lines at clinically achievable concentrations. The synergy is due to loss of expression of the ATR downstream target CHEK1, loss of cell-cycle check-points, and mitotic catastrophe. Consistent with the goals of the project, EWS-FLI1 drives the expression of CHEK1 and five other ATR pathway members. The loss of CHEK1 expression is not due to transcriptional repression and instead caused by degradation coupled with suppression of protein translation. The profound synergy is realized in vivo with a novel optimized schedule of this combination in subsets of Ewing sarcoma models, leading to durable complete responses in 50% of animals bearing two different Ewing sarcoma xenografts. CONCLUSIONS These data exploit EWS-FLI1 driven alterations in cell context to broaden the therapeutic window of berzosertib and cisplatin to establish a promising combination therapy and a novel in vivo schedule. See related commentary by Ohmura and Grünewald, p. 3358.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Jess
- Center for Cancer and Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Katie M Sorensen
- Center for Cancer and Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Elissa A Boguslawski
- Center for Cancer and Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Division of Oncology, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Matthew C Stout
- Division of Oncology, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Zachary B Madaj
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Benjamin P Caiello
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Monica Pomaville
- Division of Oncology, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Elizabeth R Wilson
- Division of Oncology, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Seneca S Kinn-Gurzo
- Division of Oncology, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Curtis C Parker
- Division of Oncology, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sridhar M Veluvolu
- Division of Oncology, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Taylor V Brysgel
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Rebecca Kaufman
- Division of Oncology, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Susan M Kitchen-Goosen
- Center for Cancer and Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Jenna M Gedminas
- Center for Cancer and Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Division of Oncology, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Patrick J Grohar
- Center for Cancer and Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Division of Oncology, Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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10
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Mao X, Lee NK, Saad SE, Fong IL. Clinical translation for targeting DNA damage repair in non-small cell lung cancer: a review. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2024; 13:375-397. [PMID: 38496700 PMCID: PMC10938103 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-23-742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Despite significant advancements in screening, diagnosis, and treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), it remains the primary cause of cancer-related deaths globally. DNA damage is caused by the exposure to exogenous and endogenous factors and the correct functioning of DNA damage repair (DDR) is essential to maintain of normal cell circulation. The presence of genomic instability, which results from defective DDR, is a critical characteristic of cancer. The changes promote the accumulation of mutations, which are implicated in cancer cells, but these may be exploited for anti-cancer therapies. NSCLC has a distinct genomic profile compared to other tumors, making precision medicine essential for targeting actionable gene mutations. Although various treatment options for NSCLC exist including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, drug resistance inevitably arises. The identification of deleterious DDR mutations in 49.6% of NSCLC patients has led to the development of novel target therapies that have the potential to improve patient outcomes. Synthetic lethal treatment using poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors is a breakthrough in biomarker-driven therapy. Additionally, promising new compounds targeting DDR, such as ATR, CHK1, CHK2, DNA-PK, and WEE1, had demonstrated great potential for tumor selectivity. In this review, we provide an overview of DDR pathways and discuss the clinical translation of DDR inhibitors in NSCLC, including their application as single agents or in combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinru Mao
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
| | - Nung Kion Lee
- Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
| | | | - Isabel Lim Fong
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
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11
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Kawale AS, Ran X, Patel PS, Saxena S, Lawrence MS, Zou L. APOBEC3A induces DNA gaps through PRIMPOL and confers gap-associated therapeutic vulnerability. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk2771. [PMID: 38241374 PMCID: PMC10798555 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk2771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Mutation signatures associated with apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like 3A/B (APOBEC3A/B) cytidine deaminases are prevalent across cancers, implying their roles as mutagenic drivers during tumorigenesis and tumor evolution. APOBEC3A (A3A) expression induces DNA replication stress and increases the cellular dependency on the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase for survival. Nonetheless, how A3A induces DNA replication stress remains unclear. We show that A3A induces replication stress without slowing replication forks. We find that A3A induces single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) gaps through PrimPol-mediated repriming. A3A-induced ssDNA gaps are repaired by multiple pathways involving ATR, RAD51, and translesion synthesis. Both ATR inhibition and trapping of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) on DNA by PARP inhibitor impair the repair of A3A-induced gaps, preferentially killing A3A-expressing cells. When used in combination, PARP and ATR inhibitors selectively kill A3A-expressing cells synergistically in a manner dependent on PrimPol-generated gaps. Thus, A3A-induced replication stress arises from PrimPol-generated ssDNA gaps, which confer a therapeutic vulnerability to gap-targeted DNA repair inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajinkya S. Kawale
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xiaojuan Ran
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Parasvi S. Patel
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sneha Saxena
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael S. Lawrence
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lee Zou
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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12
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Brunner A, Li Q, Fisicaro S, Kourtesakis A, Viiliäinen J, Johansson HJ, Pandey V, Mayank AK, Lehtiö J, Wohlschlegel JA, Spruck C, Rantala JK, Orre LM, Sangfelt O. FBXL12 degrades FANCD2 to regulate replication recovery and promote cancer cell survival under conditions of replication stress. Mol Cell 2023; 83:3720-3739.e8. [PMID: 37591242 PMCID: PMC10592106 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.07.026] [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: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Fanconi anemia (FA) signaling, a key genomic maintenance pathway, is activated in response to replication stress. Here, we report that phosphorylation of the pivotal pathway protein FANCD2 by CHK1 triggers its FBXL12-dependent proteasomal degradation, facilitating FANCD2 clearance at stalled replication forks. This promotes efficient DNA replication under conditions of CYCLIN E- and drug-induced replication stress. Reconstituting FANCD2-deficient fibroblasts with phosphodegron mutants failed to re-establish fork progression. In the absence of FBXL12, FANCD2 becomes trapped on chromatin, leading to replication stress and excessive DNA damage. In human cancers, FBXL12, CYCLIN E, and FA signaling are positively correlated, and FBXL12 upregulation is linked to reduced survival in patients with high CYCLIN E-expressing breast tumors. Finally, depletion of FBXL12 exacerbated oncogene-induced replication stress and sensitized cancer cells to drug-induced replication stress by WEE1 inhibition. Collectively, our results indicate that FBXL12 constitutes a vulnerability and a potential therapeutic target in CYCLIN E-overexpressing cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrä Brunner
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna 17165, Stockholms län, Sweden.
| | - Qiuzhen Li
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna 17165, Stockholms län, Sweden
| | - Samuele Fisicaro
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna 17165, Stockholms län, Sweden
| | - Alexandros Kourtesakis
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna 17165, Stockholms län, Sweden
| | - Johanna Viiliäinen
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna 17165, Stockholms län, Sweden
| | - Henrik J Johansson
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna 17165, Stockholms län, Sweden
| | - Vijaya Pandey
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, CA, USA
| | - Adarsh K Mayank
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, CA, USA
| | - Janne Lehtiö
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna 17165, Stockholms län, Sweden
| | - James A Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095, CA, USA
| | - Charles Spruck
- NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla 92037, CA, USA
| | - Juha K Rantala
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, South Yorkshire, UK; Misvik Biology, Turku 20520, Finland
| | - Lukas M Orre
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Science for Life Laboratory, Solna 17165, Stockholms län, Sweden
| | - Olle Sangfelt
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna 17165, Stockholms län, Sweden.
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13
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Su H, Yuan Y, Tang J, Zhang Y, Wu H, Zhang Y, Liang J, Wang L, Zou X, Huang S, Zhang S, Lv Y. The ATR inhibitor VE-821 increases the sensitivity of gastric cancer cells to cisplatin. Transl Oncol 2023; 36:101743. [PMID: 37517142 PMCID: PMC10400920 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101743] [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: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemoresistance is a common event after cancer chemotherapy, including gastric cancer (GC). Cisplatin has been reported to induce the DNA damage response (DDR), thus leading to chemoresistance. VE-821, a specific inhibitor of ATR, has been proven to suppress a variety of solid malignancies effectively. Our study aimed to explore the effect of VE-821 on enhancing the chemical sensitivity to cisplatin and clarify the potential molecular mechanisms. METHODS Cell viability and apoptosis of MKN-45 and AGS were measured by CCK8 and flow cytometry assay respectively. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of target proteins. TCGA database was used to analyze the correlation between the ATR expression with the prognosis of GC patients. The viability of GC organoids was detected by Cell Titer Glo (CTG) through luminescence. RESULTS Cisplatin inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of GC cells with a relatively high IC50 value, and increased the phosphorylation levels of ATR-CHK1 and H2AX. VE-821 achieved the same effects but by downregulating the phosphorylation levels of the ATR-CHK1 pathway. Besides, higher ATR expression in GC tissues was positively correlated with higher pathological stage in GC patients. Interestingly, ATR inhibition reversed cisplatin-induced STAT3 activation and enhanced H2AX levels. Moreover, VE-821 significantly sensitized GC cells to cisplatin, and these two drugs had synergistic effects in GC cell lines, organoids, and in vivo. CONCLUSION Our results suggested VE-821 sensitized GC cells to cisplatin via reversing DDR activation. And VE-821 treatment may be a promising therapeutic strategy for GC patients with cisplatin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haochen Su
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China; Institute of Pancreatology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China
| | - Yue Yuan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China; Department of Gastroenterology, The Third People's Hospital of Yancheng, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224000, PR China
| | - Jiatong Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China
| | - Yixuan Zhang
- Institute of Pancreatology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China
| | - Hao Wu
- Institute of Pancreatology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China
| | - Yin Zhang
- Institute of Pancreatology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China
| | - Jiawei Liang
- Institute of Pancreatology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China
| | - Lei Wang
- Institute of Pancreatology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China
| | - Xiaoping Zou
- Institute of Pancreatology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China
| | - Shuling Huang
- Institute of Pancreatology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China
| | - Shu Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China; Institute of Pancreatology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China.
| | - Ying Lv
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China; Institute of Pancreatology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China; Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, PR China.
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14
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Duan Y, Zhuang L, Xu Y, Cheng H, Xia J, Lu T, Chen Y. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives as novel ATR inhibitors. Bioorg Chem 2023; 136:106535. [PMID: 37086581 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
Targeting ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase is being pursued as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of advanced solid tumor with specific DNA damage response deficiency. Herein, we report a series of pyrido[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives with potent ATR inhibitory activity through structure-based drug design. Among them, the representative compound 10q exhibited excellent potency against ATR in both biochemical and cellular assays. More importantly, 10q exhibited good liver microsomes stability in different species and also showed moderate inhibitory activity against HT-29 cells in combination treatment with the ATM inhibitor AZD1390. Thus, this work provides a promising lead compound against ATR for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxin Duan
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Lili Zhuang
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Yerong Xu
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Haodong Cheng
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Jiawei Xia
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China
| | - Tao Lu
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Yadong Chen
- School of Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, PR China.
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15
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Yusoh NA, Tiley PR, James SD, Harun SN, Thomas JA, Saad N, Hii LW, Chia SL, Gill MR, Ahmad H. Discovery of Ruthenium(II) Metallocompound and Olaparib Synergy for Cancer Combination Therapy. J Med Chem 2023; 66:6922-6937. [PMID: 37185020 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Synergistic drug combinations can extend the use of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) such as Olaparib to BRCA-proficient tumors and overcome acquired or de novo drug resistance. To identify new synergistic combinations for PARPi, we screened a "micro-library" comprising a mix of commercially available drugs and DNA-binding ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes (RPCs) for Olaparib synergy in BRCA-proficient triple-negative breast cancer cells. This identified three hits: the natural product Curcumin and two ruthenium(II)-rhenium(I) polypyridyl metallomacrocycles. All combinations identified were effective in BRCA-proficient breast cancer cells, including an Olaparib-resistant cell line, and spheroid models. Mechanistic studies indicated that synergy was achieved via DNA-damage enhancement and resultant apoptosis. Combinations showed low cytotoxicity toward non-malignant breast epithelial cells and low acute and developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos. This work identifies RPC metallomacrocycles as a novel class of agents for cancer combination therapy and provides a proof of concept for the inclusion of metallocompounds within drug synergy screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Aininie Yusoh
- UPM-MAKNA Cancer Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Paul R Tiley
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, U.K
| | - Steffan D James
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, U.K
| | - Siti Norain Harun
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Jim A Thomas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HF, U.K
| | - Norazalina Saad
- UPM-MAKNA Cancer Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ling-Wei Hii
- Center for Cancer and Stem Cell Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), Institute for Research, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
| | - Suet Lin Chia
- UPM-MAKNA Cancer Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Martin R Gill
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, U.K
| | - Haslina Ahmad
- UPM-MAKNA Cancer Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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16
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Wright GM, Menzel J, Tatman PD, Black JC. Transition from Transient DNA Rereplication to Inherited Gene Amplification Following Prolonged Environmental Stress. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.08.539886. [PMID: 37214911 PMCID: PMC10197558 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.08.539886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Cells require the ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions, however, it is unclear how these changes elicit stable permanent changes in genomes. We demonstrate that, in response to environmental metal exposure, the metallothionein (MT) locus undergoes DNA rereplication generating transient site-specific gene amplifications (TSSGs). Chronic metal exposure allows transition from MT TSSG to inherited MT gene amplification through homologous recombination within and outside of the MT locus. DNA rereplication of the MT locus is suppressed by H3K27me3 and EZH2. Long-term ablation of EZH2 activity eventually leads to integration and inheritance of MT gene amplifications without the selective pressure of metal exposure. The rereplication and inheritance of MT gene amplification is an evolutionarily conserved response to environmental metal from yeast to human. Our results describe a new paradigm for adaptation to environmental stress where targeted, transient DNA rereplication precedes stable inherited gene amplification.
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17
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Tozaki Y, Aoki H, Kato R, Toriuchi K, Arame S, Inoue Y, Hayashi H, Kubota E, Kataoka H, Aoyama M. The Combination of ATM and Chk1 Inhibitors Induces Synthetic Lethality in Colorectal Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15030735. [PMID: 36765693 PMCID: PMC9913148 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic abnormalities induce the DNA damage response (DDR), which enables DNA repair at cell cycle checkpoints. Although the DDR is thought to function in preventing the onset and progression of cancer, DDR-related proteins are also thought to contribute to tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and drug resistance by preventing irreparable genomic abnormalities from inducing cell death. In the present study, the combination of ataxia telangiectasia-mutated serine/threonine kinase (ATM) and checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) inhibition exhibited synergistic antitumor effects and induced synergistic lethality in colorectal cancer cells at a low dose. The ATM and Chk1 inhibitors synergistically promoted the activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 by decreasing the phosphorylation levels of T14 and Y15. Furthermore, the combined treatment increased the number of sub-G1-stage cells, phospho-histone H2A.X-positive cells, and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling-positive cells among colon cancer cells, suggesting that the therapy induces apoptosis. Finally, the combined treatment exhibited a robust antitumor activity in syngeneic tumor model mice. These findings should contribute to the development of new treatments for colorectal cancer that directly exploit the genomic instability of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Tozaki
- Department of Pathobiology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Hiromasa Aoki
- Department of Pathobiology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Rina Kato
- Department of Pathobiology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Kohki Toriuchi
- Department of Pathobiology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Saki Arame
- Department of Pathobiology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Yasumichi Inoue
- Department of Cell Signaling, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
- Department of Innovative Therapeutic Sciences, Cooperative Major in Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Hayashi
- Department of Cell Signaling, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
- Department of Innovative Therapeutic Sciences, Cooperative Major in Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
| | - Eiji Kubota
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Hiromi Kataoka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Mineyoshi Aoyama
- Department of Pathobiology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8603, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-52-836-3451
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18
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Schuhwerk H, Kleemann J, Gupta P, van Roey R, Armstark I, Kreileder M, Feldker N, Ramesh V, Hajjaj Y, Fuchs K, Mahapatro M, Hribersek M, Volante M, Groenewoud A, Engel FB, Ceppi P, Eckstein M, Hartmann A, Müller F, Kroll T, Stemmler MP, Brabletz S, Brabletz T. The EMT transcription factor ZEB1 governs a fitness-promoting but vulnerable DNA replication stress response. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111819. [PMID: 36516781 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The DNA damage response (DDR) and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are two crucial cellular programs in cancer biology. While the DDR orchestrates cell-cycle progression, DNA repair, and cell death, EMT promotes invasiveness, cellular plasticity, and intratumor heterogeneity. Therapeutic targeting of EMT transcription factors, such as ZEB1, remains challenging, but tumor-promoting DDR alterations elicit specific vulnerabilities. Using multi-omics, inhibitors, and high-content microscopy, we discover a chemoresistant ZEB1-high-expressing sub-population (ZEB1hi) with co-rewired cell-cycle progression and proficient DDR across tumor entities. ZEB1 stimulates accelerated S-phase entry via CDK6, inflicting endogenous DNA replication stress. However, DDR buildups involving constitutive MRE11-dependent fork resection allow homeostatic cycling and enrichment of ZEB1hi cells during transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)-induced EMT and chemotherapy. Thus, ZEB1 promotes G1/S transition to launch a progressive DDR benefitting stress tolerance, which concurrently manifests a targetable vulnerability in chemoresistant ZEB1hi cells. Our study thus highlights the translationally relevant intercept of the DDR and EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Schuhwerk
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Julia Kleemann
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Pooja Gupta
- Core Unit for Bioinformatics, Data Integration and Analysis, Center for Medical Information and Communication Technology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen Germany
| | - Ruthger van Roey
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Isabell Armstark
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Martina Kreileder
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nora Feldker
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Vignesh Ramesh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Yussuf Hajjaj
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Fuchs
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Mousumi Mahapatro
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Mojca Hribersek
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Marco Volante
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Orbassano, Turin, Italy
| | - Arwin Groenewoud
- Experimental Renal and Cardiovascular Research, Department of Nephropathology, Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Felix B Engel
- Experimental Renal and Cardiovascular Research, Department of Nephropathology, Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Paolo Ceppi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Markus Eckstein
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen- Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Arndt Hartmann
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen- Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fabian Müller
- Department of Internal Medicine 5, Haematology and Oncology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen Germany
| | - Torsten Kroll
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz-Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Marc P Stemmler
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Simone Brabletz
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas Brabletz
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany; Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
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19
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Golder A, Nelson L, Tighe A, Barnes B, Coulson-Gilmer C, Morgan R, McGrail J, Taylor S. Multiple-low-dose therapy: effective killing of high-grade serous ovarian cancer cells with ATR and CHK1 inhibitors. NAR Cancer 2022; 4:zcac036. [PMID: 36381271 PMCID: PMC9653014 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcac036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is an aggressive disease that typically develops drug resistance, thus novel biomarker-driven strategies are required. Targeted therapy focuses on synthetic lethality-pioneered by PARP inhibition of BRCA1/2-mutant disease. Subsequently, targeting the DNA replication stress response (RSR) is of clinical interest. However, further mechanistic insight is required for biomarker discovery, requiring sensitive models that closely recapitulate HGSOC. We describe an optimized proliferation assay that we use to screen 16 patient-derived ovarian cancer models (OCMs) for response to RSR inhibitors (CHK1i, WEE1i, ATRi, PARGi). Despite genomic heterogeneity characteristic of HGSOC, measurement of OCM proliferation was reproducible and reflected intrinsic tumour-cell properties. Surprisingly, RSR targeting drugs were not interchangeable, as sensitivity to the four inhibitors was not correlated. Therefore, to overcome RSR redundancy, we screened the OCMs with all two-, three- and four-drug combinations in a multiple-low-dose strategy. We found that low-dose CHK1i-ATRi had a potent anti-proliferative effect on 15 of the 16 OCMs, and was synergistic with potential to minimise treatment resistance and toxicity. Low-dose ATRi-CHK1i induced replication catastrophe followed by mitotic exit and post-mitotic arrest or death. Therefore, this study demonstrates the potential of the living biobank of OCMs as a drug discovery platform for HGSOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anya Golder
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, and Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4GJ, UK
| | - Louisa Nelson
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, and Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4GJ, UK
| | - Anthony Tighe
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, and Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4GJ, UK
| | - Bethany Barnes
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, and Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4GJ, UK
| | - Camilla Coulson-Gilmer
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, and Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4GJ, UK
| | - Robert D Morgan
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, and Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4GJ, UK
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Wilmslow Rd, Manchester M20 4BX, UK
| | - Joanne C McGrail
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, and Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4GJ, UK
| | - Stephen S Taylor
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, and Manchester Cancer Research Centre, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4GJ, UK
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20
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Overexpressed c-Myc Sensitizes Cells to TH1579, a Mitotic Arrest and Oxidative DNA Damage Inducer. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12121777. [PMID: 36551206 PMCID: PMC9775511 DOI: 10.3390/biom12121777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we reported that MTH1 inhibitors TH588 and TH1579 selectively induce oxidative damage and kill Ras-expressing or -transforming cancer cells, as compared to non-transforming immortalized or primary cells. While this explains the impressive anti-cancer properties of the compounds, the molecular mechanism remains elusive. Several oncogenes induce replication stress, resulting in under replicated DNA and replication continuing into mitosis, where TH588 and TH1579 treatment causes toxicity and incorporation of oxidative damage. Hence, we hypothesized that oncogene-induced replication stress explains the cancer selectivity. To test this, we overexpressed c-Myc in human epithelial kidney cells (HA1EB), resulting in increased proliferation, polyploidy and replication stress. TH588 and TH1579 selectively kill c-Myc overexpressing clones, enforcing the cancer cell selective killing of these compounds. Moreover, the toxicity of TH588 and TH1579 in c-Myc overexpressing cells is rescued by transcription, proteasome or CDK1 inhibitors, but not by nucleoside supplementation. We conclude that the molecular toxicological mechanisms of how TH588 and TH1579 kill c-Myc overexpressing cells have several components and involve MTH1-independent proteasomal degradation of c-Myc itself, c-Myc-driven transcription and CDK activation.
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21
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DNA Damage Response in Cancer Therapy and Resistance: Challenges and Opportunities. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314672. [PMID: 36499000 PMCID: PMC9735783 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy is a common event among cancer patients and a reason why new cancer therapies and therapeutic strategies need to be in continuous investigation and development. DNA damage response (DDR) comprises several pathways that eliminate DNA damage to maintain genomic stability and integrity, but different types of cancers are associated with DDR machinery defects. Many improvements have been made in recent years, providing several drugs and therapeutic strategies for cancer patients, including those targeting the DDR pathways. Currently, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARP inhibitors) are the DDR inhibitors (DDRi) approved for several cancers, including breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancer. However, PARPi resistance is a growing issue in clinical settings that increases disease relapse and aggravate patients' prognosis. Additionally, resistance to other DDRi is also being found and investigated. The resistance mechanisms to DDRi include reversion mutations, epigenetic modification, stabilization of the replication fork, and increased drug efflux. This review highlights the DDR pathways in cancer therapy, its role in the resistance to conventional treatments, and its exploitation for anticancer treatment. Biomarkers of treatment response, combination strategies with other anticancer agents, resistance mechanisms, and liabilities of treatment with DDR inhibitors are also discussed.
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22
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O’Leary PC, Chen H, Doruk YU, Williamson T, Polacco B, McNeal AS, Shenoy T, Kale N, Carnevale J, Stevenson E, Quigley DA, Chou J, Feng FY, Swaney DL, Krogan NJ, Kim M, Diolaiti ME, Ashworth A. Resistance to ATR Inhibitors Is Mediated by Loss of the Nonsense-Mediated Decay Factor UPF2. Cancer Res 2022; 82:3950-3961. [PMID: 36273492 PMCID: PMC9633439 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-4335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Over one million cases of gastric cancer are diagnosed each year globally, and the metastatic disease continues to have a poor prognosis. A significant proportion of gastric tumors have defects in the DNA damage response pathway, creating therapeutic opportunities through synthetic lethal approaches. Several small-molecule inhibitors of ATR, a key regulator of the DNA damage response, are now in clinical development as targeted agents for gastric cancer. Here, we performed a large-scale CRISPR interference screen to discover genetic determinants of response and resistance to ATR inhibitors (ATRi) in gastric cancer cells. Among the top hits identified as mediators of ATRi response were UPF2 and other components of the nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) pathway. Loss of UPF2 caused ATRi resistance across multiple gastric cancer cell lines. Global proteomic, phosphoproteomic, and transcriptional profiling experiments revealed that cell-cycle progression and DNA damage responses were altered in UPF2-mutant cells. Further studies demonstrated that UPF2-depleted cells failed to accumulate in G1 following treatment with ATRi. UPF2 loss also reduced transcription-replication collisions, which has previously been associated with ATRi response, thereby suggesting a possible mechanism of resistance. Our results uncover a novel role for NMD factors in modulating response to ATRi in gastric cancer, highlighting a previously unknown mechanism of resistance that may inform the clinical use of these drugs. SIGNIFICANCE Loss of NMD proteins promotes resistance to ATR inhibitors in gastric cancer cells, which may provide a combination of therapeutic targets and biomarkers to improve the clinical utility of these drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick C. O’Leary
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Huadong Chen
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Yagmur U. Doruk
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Tess Williamson
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Benjamin Polacco
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Andrew S. McNeal
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Tanushree Shenoy
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Nupura Kale
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Julia Carnevale
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Erica Stevenson
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - David A. Quigley
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jonathan Chou
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Felix Y. Feng
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA
| | - Danielle L. Swaney
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Nevan J. Krogan
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Minkyu Kim
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Morgan E. Diolaiti
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Alan Ashworth
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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23
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Guo L, Dou Y, Xia D, Yin Z, Xiang Y, Luo L, Zhang Y, Wang J, Liang T. SLOAD: a comprehensive database of cancer-specific synthetic lethal interactions for precision cancer therapy via multi-omics analysis. Database (Oxford) 2022; 2022:6677988. [PMID: 36029479 PMCID: PMC9419874 DOI: 10.1093/database/baac075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Synthetic lethality has been widely concerned because of its potential role in cancer treatment, which can be harnessed to selectively kill cancer cells via identifying inactive genes in a specific cancer type and further targeting the corresponding synthetic lethal partners. Herein, to obtain cancer-specific synthetic lethal interactions, we aimed to predict genetic interactions via a pan-cancer analysis from multiple molecular levels using random forest and then develop a user-friendly database. First, based on collected public gene pairs with synthetic lethal interactions, candidate gene pairs were analyzed via integrating multi-omics data, mainly including DNA mutation, copy number variation, methylation and mRNA expression data. Then, integrated features were used to predict cancer-specific synthetic lethal interactions using random forest. Finally, SLOAD (http://www.tmliang.cn/SLOAD) was constructed via integrating these findings, which was a user-friendly database for data searching, browsing, downloading and analyzing. These results can provide candidate cancer-specific synthetic lethal interactions, which will contribute to drug designing in cancer treatment that can promote therapy strategies based on the principle of synthetic lethality.
Database URL http://www.tmliang.cn/SLOAD/
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Guo
- Department of Bioinformatics, Smart Health Big Data Analysis and Location Services Engineering Lab of Jiangsu Province, School of Geographic and Biologic Information, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications , No. 9, Wenyuan Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Yuyang Dou
- Department of Bioinformatics, Smart Health Big Data Analysis and Location Services Engineering Lab of Jiangsu Province, School of Geographic and Biologic Information, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications , No. 9, Wenyuan Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Daoliang Xia
- Department of Bioinformatics, Smart Health Big Data Analysis and Location Services Engineering Lab of Jiangsu Province, School of Geographic and Biologic Information, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications , No. 9, Wenyuan Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Zibo Yin
- Department of Bioinformatics, Smart Health Big Data Analysis and Location Services Engineering Lab of Jiangsu Province, School of Geographic and Biologic Information, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications , No. 9, Wenyuan Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Yangyang Xiang
- Department of Bioinformatics, Smart Health Big Data Analysis and Location Services Engineering Lab of Jiangsu Province, School of Geographic and Biologic Information, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications , No. 9, Wenyuan Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Lulu Luo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University , No. 1, Wenyuan Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Yuting Zhang
- Department of Bioinformatics, Smart Health Big Data Analysis and Location Services Engineering Lab of Jiangsu Province, School of Geographic and Biologic Information, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications , No. 9, Wenyuan Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics, Smart Health Big Data Analysis and Location Services Engineering Lab of Jiangsu Province, School of Geographic and Biologic Information, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications , No. 9, Wenyuan Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Tingming Liang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University , No. 1, Wenyuan Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
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24
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Njauw CN, Ji Z, Pham DM, Simoneau A, Kumar R, Flaherty KT, Zou L, Tsao H. Oncogenic KIT Induces Replication Stress and Confers Cell Cycle Checkpoint Vulnerability in Melanoma. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 142:1413-1424.e6. [PMID: 34687746 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.07.188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Acral and mucosal melanomas arise from sun-protected sites, disproportionately impact darker-skinned individuals, and exact higher mortality than common types of cutaneous melanoma. Genetically, acral and mucosal melanomas harbor more alterations of KIT than typical cutaneous melanomas. Because KIT-mutated melanomas remain largely treatment resistant, we set out to create a faithful murine KIT-driven allograft model to define newer therapeutic strategies. Using the prevalent human KITK642E activating mutation, the murine mKITK641E cellular avatars show features of transformation in vitro and tumorigenicity in immunocompetent C57BL/6J mice. mKITK641E cells proliferate more rapidly, exhibit greater chromosomal aberrations, and sustain three-dimensional spheroid expansion and aggressive tumor growth in C57BL/6J mice compared with their vector-controlled cells. We further verified the functional dependence of these cells on KITK641E with both genetic and pharmacologic suppression. Using these cells, we performed a screen of 199 kinase inhibitors and identified a selective vulnerability to Chk1/ATR inhibition in the KITK641E-activated cells. Mechanistically, we subsequently showed that KITK641E induces a significantly increased level of replication stress compared with murine vector‒controlled cells. These results showcase an allograft model of human KIT-driven melanomas, which uncovered an unappreciated role for replication stress in KIT melanomagenesis and implicated a possible therapeutic strategy with Chk1/ATR inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Ni Njauw
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Zhenyu Ji
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Duc Minh Pham
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Antoine Simoneau
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Raj Kumar
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Keith T Flaherty
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lee Zou
- Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hensin Tsao
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Mass General Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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25
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Wanderley CWS, Correa TS, Scaranti M, Cunha FQ, Barroso-Sousa R. Targeting PARP1 to Enhance Anticancer Checkpoint Immunotherapy Response: Rationale and Clinical Implications. Front Immunol 2022; 13:816642. [PMID: 35572596 PMCID: PMC9094400 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.816642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Reinvigorating the antitumor immune response using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized the treatment of several malignancies. However, extended use of ICIs has resulted in a cancer-specific response. In tumors considered to be less immunogenic, the response rates were low or null. To overcome resistance and improve the beneficial effects of ICIs, novel strategies focused on ICI-combined therapies have been tested. In particular, poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) are a class of agents with potential for ICI combined therapy. PARPi impairs single-strand break DNA repair; this mechanism involves synthetic lethality in tumor cells with deficient homologous recombination. More recently, novel evidence indicated that PAPRi has the potential to modulate the antitumor immune response by activating antigen-presenting cells, infiltrating effector lymphocytes, and upregulating programmed death ligand-1 in tumors. This review covers the current advances in the immune effects of PARPi, explores the potential rationale for combined therapy with ICIs, and discusses ongoing clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Wagner S. Wanderley
- Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID), Ribeirao Preto Medical School, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | | | | | - Fernando Queiroz Cunha
- Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID), Ribeirao Preto Medical School, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
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26
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Maresca L, Stecca B, Carrassa L. Novel Therapeutic Approaches with DNA Damage Response Inhibitors for Melanoma Treatment. Cells 2022; 11:1466. [PMID: 35563772 PMCID: PMC9099918 DOI: 10.3390/cells11091466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapies against components of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and immunotherapies, which block immune checkpoints, have shown important clinical benefits in melanoma patients. However, most patients develop resistance, with consequent disease relapse. Therefore, there is a need to identify novel therapeutic approaches for patients who are resistant or do not respond to the current targeted and immune therapies. Melanoma is characterized by homologous recombination (HR) and DNA damage response (DDR) gene mutations and by high replicative stress, which increase the endogenous DNA damage, leading to the activation of DDR. In this review, we will discuss the current experimental evidence on how DDR can be exploited therapeutically in melanoma. Specifically, we will focus on PARP, ATM, CHK1, WEE1 and ATR inhibitors, for which preclinical data as single agents, taking advantage of synthetic lethal interactions, and in combination with chemo-targeted-immunotherapy, have been growing in melanoma, encouraging the ongoing clinical trials. The overviewed data are suggestive of considering DDR inhibitors as a valid therapeutic approach, which may positively impact the future of melanoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Maresca
- Tumor Cell Biology Unit, Core Research Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research and Prevention (ISPRO), Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy;
| | - Barbara Stecca
- Tumor Cell Biology Unit, Core Research Laboratory, Institute for Cancer Research and Prevention (ISPRO), Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy;
| | - Laura Carrassa
- Fondazione Cesalpino, Arezzo Hospital, USL Toscana Sud-Est, Via Pietro Nenni 20, 52100 Arezzo, Italy
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27
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Wang LW, Jiang S, Yuan YH, Duan J, Mao ND, Hui Z, Bai R, Xie T, Ye XY. Recent Advances in Synergistic Antitumor Effects Exploited from the Inhibition of Ataxia Telangiectasia and RAD3-Related Protein Kinase (ATR). Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27082491. [PMID: 35458687 PMCID: PMC9029554 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27082491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
As one of the key phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related kinases (PIKKs) family members, ataxia telangiectasia and RAD3-related protein kinase (ATR) is crucial in maintaining mammalian cell genomic integrity in DNA damage response (DDR) and repair pathways. Dysregulation of ATR has been found across different cancer types. In recent years, the inhibition of ATR has been proven to be effective in cancer therapy in preclinical and clinical studies. Importantly, tumor-specific alterations such as ATM loss and Cyclin E1 (CCNE1) amplification are more sensitive to ATR inhibition and are being exploited in synthetic lethality (SL) strategy. Besides SL, synergistic anticancer effects involving ATRi have been reported in an increasing number in recent years. This review focuses on the recent advances in different forms of synergistic antitumor effects, summarizes the pharmacological benefits and ongoing clinical trials behind the biological mechanism, and provides perspectives for future challenges and opportunities. The hope is to draw awareness to the community that targeting ATR should have great potential in developing effective anticancer medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Wei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Songwei Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Ying-Hui Yuan
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Jilong Duan
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Nian-Dong Mao
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Zi Hui
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Renren Bai
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Correspondence: (R.B.); (T.X.); (X.-Y.Y.); Tel.: +86-571-28860236 (X.-Y.Y.)
| | - Tian Xie
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Correspondence: (R.B.); (T.X.); (X.-Y.Y.); Tel.: +86-571-28860236 (X.-Y.Y.)
| | - Xiang-Yang Ye
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (L.-W.W.); (S.J.); (Y.-H.Y.); (J.D.); (N.-D.M.); (Z.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Correspondence: (R.B.); (T.X.); (X.-Y.Y.); Tel.: +86-571-28860236 (X.-Y.Y.)
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Yang HT, Chien MY, Chiang JH, Lin PC. Literature-based translation from synthetic lethality screening into therapeutics targets: CD82 is a novel target for KRAS mutation in colon cancer. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:5287-5295. [PMID: 36212540 PMCID: PMC9519430 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic lethality (SL) is an emerging therapeutic paradigm in cancer. We introduced a different approach to prioritize SL gene pairs through literature mining and RAS-mutant high-throughput screening (HTS) data. We matched essential genes from text-mining and mutant genes from the COSMIC and CCLE HTS datasets to build a prediction model of SL gene pairs. CCLE gene expression data were used to enrich the essential-mutant SL gene pairs using Spearman’s correlation coefficient and literature mining. In total, 223 essential trigger terms were extracted and ranked. The threshold of the essential gene score (Sg) was set to 10. We identified 586 genes essential for the SL prediction model of colon cancer. Seven essential RAS-mutant SL gene pairs were identified in our model, including CD82-KRAS/NRAS, PEBP1-NRAS, MT-CO2-HRAS, IFI27-NRAS/KRAS, and SUMO1-HRAS gene pairs. Using RAS-mutant HTS data validation, we identified two potential SL gene pairs, including the CD82 (essential gene)–KRAS (mutant gene) pair and CD82–NRAS pair in the DLD-1 colon cancer cell line (Spearman’s correlation p-values = 0.004786 and 0.00249, respectively). Based on further annotations by PubChem, we observed that digitonin targeted the complex comprising CD82, especially in KRAS-mutated HCT116 cancer cells. Moreover, we experimentally demonstrated that CD82 exhibited selective vulnerability in KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer. We used literature mining and HTS data to identify candidates for SL targets for RAS-mutant colon cancer.
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Pan Y, Yang Y, Huang R, Yang H, Huang Q, Ji Y, Dai J, Qiao K, Tang W, Xie L, Yin M, Ouyang J, Ning S, Su D. Ring finger protein 126 promotes breast cancer metastasis and serves as a potential target to improve the therapeutic sensitivity of ATR inhibitors. Breast Cancer Res 2022; 24:92. [PMID: 36539893 PMCID: PMC9764525 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-022-01586-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS This study explores the relationship between the E3 ubiquitin ligase Ring finger protein 126 (RNF126) and early breast cancer metastasis and tests the hypothesis that RNF126 determines the efficacy of inhibitors targeting Ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related kinase (ATR). METHODS Various metastasis-related genes were identified by univariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis based on the GSE11121 dataset. The RNF126-related network modules were identified by WGCNA, whereas cell viability, invasion, and migration assays were performed to evaluate the biological characteristics of breast cancer cells with or without RNF126 knockdown. MTT, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, and DNA fiber assays were conducted to determine the efficiency of ATR inhibitor in cells with or without RNF126 knockdown. RESULTS RNF126 was associated with early breast cancer metastasis. RNF126 promoted breast cancer cell proliferation, growth, migration, and invasion. ATR inhibitors were more effective at killing breast cancer cells with intact RNF126 due to replication stress compared with the corresponding cells with RNF126 knockdown. Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) was involved in regulating replication stress in breast cancer cells with intact RNF126. CONCLUSION A high level of expression of RNF126 in early breast cancer patients without lymph node metastases may indicate a high-risk type of metastatic disease, possibly due to RNF126, which may increase breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion. RNF126-expressing breast cancer cells exhibit CDK2-mediated replication stress that makes them potential targets for ATR inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Pan
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Guangxi Department of Education, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
| | - Yuchao Yang
- grid.284723.80000 0000 8877 7471Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics & Nation Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 China
| | - Rong Huang
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Guangxi Department of Education, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
| | - Huawei Yang
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Guangxi Department of Education, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
| | - Qinghua Huang
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Guangxi Department of Education, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
| | - Yinan Ji
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Guangxi Department of Education, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
| | - Jingxing Dai
- grid.284723.80000 0000 8877 7471Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics & Nation Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 China
| | - Kun Qiao
- grid.412651.50000 0004 1808 3502Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150000 China
| | - Wei Tang
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Guangxi Department of Education, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
| | - Longgui Xie
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Guangxi Department of Education, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
| | - Ming Yin
- grid.284723.80000 0000 8877 7471Department of Imaging, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 China
| | - Jun Ouyang
- grid.284723.80000 0000 8877 7471Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics & Nation Key Discipline of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 China
| | - Shipeng Ning
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Breast Surgery, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research of Guangxi Department of Education, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
| | - Danke Su
- grid.256607.00000 0004 1798 2653Department of Radiology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, 530000 China
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Botrugno OA, Tonon G. Genomic Instability and Replicative Stress in Multiple Myeloma: The Final Curtain? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:cancers14010025. [PMID: 35008191 PMCID: PMC8750813 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Genomic instability is recognized as a driving force in most cancers as well as in the haematological cancer multiple myeloma and remains among the leading cause of drug resistance. Several evidences suggest that replicative stress exerts a fundamental role in fuelling genomic instability. Notably, cancer cells rely on a single protein, ATR, to cope with the ensuing DNA damage. In this perspective, we provide an overview depicting how replicative stress represents an Achilles heel for multiple myeloma, which could be therapeutically exploited either alone or in combinatorial regimens to preferentially ablate tumor cells. Abstract Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a genetically complex and heterogeneous hematological cancer that remains incurable despite the introduction of novel therapies in the clinic. Sadly, despite efforts spanning several decades, genomic analysis has failed to identify shared genetic aberrations that could be targeted in this disease. Seeking alternative strategies, various efforts have attempted to target and exploit non-oncogene addictions of MM cells, including, for example, proteasome inhibitors. The surprising finding that MM cells present rampant genomic instability has ignited concerted efforts to understand its origin and exploit it for therapeutic purposes. A credible hypothesis, supported by several lines of evidence, suggests that at the root of this phenotype there is intense replicative stress. Here, we review the current understanding of the role of replicative stress in eliciting genomic instability in MM and how MM cells rely on a single protein, Ataxia Telangiectasia-mutated and Rad3-related protein, ATR, to control and survive the ensuing, potentially fatal DNA damage. From this perspective, replicative stress per se represents not only an opportunity for MM cells to increase their evolutionary pool by increasing their genomic heterogeneity, but also a vulnerability that could be leveraged for therapeutic purposes to selectively target MM tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oronza A. Botrugno
- Functional Genomics of Cancer Unit, Experimental Oncology Division, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (O.A.B.); (G.T.); Tel.: +39-02-2643-6661 (O.A.B.); +39-02-2643-5624 (G.T.); Fax: +39-02-2643-6352 (O.A.B. & G.T.)
| | - Giovanni Tonon
- Functional Genomics of Cancer Unit, Experimental Oncology Division, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Center for Omics Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: (O.A.B.); (G.T.); Tel.: +39-02-2643-6661 (O.A.B.); +39-02-2643-5624 (G.T.); Fax: +39-02-2643-6352 (O.A.B. & G.T.)
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Wang M, Chen S, Ao D. Targeting DNA repair pathway in cancer: Mechanisms and clinical application. MedComm (Beijing) 2021; 2:654-691. [PMID: 34977872 PMCID: PMC8706759 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last decades, the growing understanding on DNA damage response (DDR) pathways has broadened the therapeutic landscape in oncology. It is becoming increasingly clear that the genomic instability of cells resulted from deficient DNA damage response contributes to the occurrence of cancer. One the other hand, these defects could also be exploited as a therapeutic opportunity, which is preferentially more deleterious in tumor cells than in normal cells. An expanding repertoire of DDR-targeting agents has rapidly expanded to inhibitors of multiple members involved in DDR pathways, including PARP, ATM, ATR, CHK1, WEE1, and DNA-PK. In this review, we sought to summarize the complex network of DNA repair machinery in cancer cells and discuss the underlying mechanism for the application of DDR inhibitors in cancer. With the past preclinical evidence and ongoing clinical trials, we also provide an overview of the history and current landscape of DDR inhibitors in cancer treatment, with special focus on the combination of DDR-targeted therapies with other cancer treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manni Wang
- Department of BiotherapyCancer CenterWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Siyuan Chen
- Department of BiotherapyCancer CenterWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Danyi Ao
- Department of BiotherapyCancer CenterWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
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Bermúdez-Guzmán L. Pan-cancer analysis of non-oncogene addiction to DNA repair. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23264. [PMID: 34853396 PMCID: PMC8636604 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02773-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells usually depend on the aberrant function of one or few driver genes to initiate and promote their malignancy, an attribute known as oncogene addiction. However, cancer cells might become dependent on the normal cellular functions of certain genes that are not oncogenes but ensure cell survival (non-oncogene addiction). The downregulation or silencing of DNA repair genes and the consequent genetic and epigenetic instability is key to promote malignancy, but the activation of the DNA-damage response (DDR) has been shown to become a type of non-oncogene addiction that critically supports tumour survival. In the present study, a systematic evaluation of DNA repair addiction at the pan-cancer level was performed using data derived from The Cancer Dependency Map and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). From 241 DDR genes, 59 were identified as commonly essential in cancer cell lines. However, large differences were observed in terms of dependency scores in 423 cell lines and transcriptomic alterations across 18 cancer types. Among these 59 commonly essential genes, 14 genes were exclusively associated with better overall patient survival and 19 with worse overall survival. Notably, a specific molecular signature among the latter, characterized by DDR genes like UBE2T, RFC4, POLQ, BRIP1, and H2AFX showing the weakest dependency scores, but significant upregulation was strongly associated with worse survival. The present study supports the existence and importance of non-oncogenic addiction to DNA repair in cancer and may facilitate the identification of prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Bermúdez-Guzmán
- Robotic Radiosurgery Center, International Cancer Center, San José, Costa Rica. .,Section of Genetics and Biotechnology, School of Biology, University of Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica.
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Beyond the Double-Strand Breaks: The Role of DNA Repair Proteins in Cancer Stem-Cell Regulation. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194818. [PMID: 34638302 PMCID: PMC8508278 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a tumor cell population maintaining tumor growth and promoting tumor relapse if not wholly eradicated during treatment. CSCs are often equipped with molecular mechanisms making them resistant to conventional anti-cancer therapies whose curative potential depends on DNA damage-induced cell death. An elevated expression of some key DNA repair proteins is one of such defense mechanisms. However, new research reveals that the role of critical DNA repair proteins is extending far beyond the DNA repair mechanisms. This review discusses the diverse biological functions of DNA repair proteins in CSC maintenance and the adaptation to replication and oxidative stress, anti-cancer immune response, epigenetic reprogramming, and intracellular signaling mechanisms. It also provides an overview of their potential therapeutic targeting. Abstract Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are pluripotent and highly tumorigenic cells that can re-populate a tumor and cause relapses even after initially successful therapy. As with tissue stem cells, CSCs possess enhanced DNA repair mechanisms. An active DNA damage response alleviates the increased oxidative and replicative stress and leads to therapy resistance. On the other hand, mutations in DNA repair genes cause genomic instability, therefore driving tumor evolution and developing highly aggressive CSC phenotypes. However, the role of DNA repair proteins in CSCs extends beyond the level of DNA damage. In recent years, more and more studies have reported the unexpected role of DNA repair proteins in the regulation of transcription, CSC signaling pathways, intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, DNA damage signaling plays an essential role in the immune response towards tumor cells. Due to its high importance for the CSC phenotype and treatment resistance, the DNA damage response is a promising target for individualized therapies. Furthermore, understanding the dependence of CSC on DNA repair pathways can be therapeutically exploited to induce synthetic lethality and sensitize CSCs to anti-cancer therapies. This review discusses the different roles of DNA repair proteins in CSC maintenance and their potential as therapeutic targets.
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Calzetta NL, González Besteiro MA, Gottifredi V. PARP Activity Fine-tunes the DNA Replication Choreography of Chk1-depleted Cells. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:166949. [PMID: 33744317 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.166949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Checkpoint Kinase 1 (Chk1) prevents DNA damage by adjusting the replication choreography in the face of replication stress. Chk1 depletion provokes slow and asymmetrical fork movement, yet the signals governing such changes remain unclear. We sought to investigate whether poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs), key players of the DNA damage response, intervene in the DNA replication of Chk1-depleted cells. We demonstrate that PARP inhibition selectively alleviates the reduced fork elongation rates, without relieving fork asymmetry in Chk1-depleted cells. While the contribution of PARPs to fork elongation is not unprecedented, we found that their role in Chk1-depleted cells extends beyond fork movement. PARP-dependent fork deceleration induced mild dormant origin firing upon Chk1 depletion, augmenting the global rates of DNA synthesis. Thus, we have identified PARPs as novel regulators of replication fork dynamics in Chk1-depleted cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Luis Calzetta
- Fundación Instituto Leloir - Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires, Consejo de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Avenida Patricias Argentinas 435, C1405BWE Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marina Alejandra González Besteiro
- Fundación Instituto Leloir - Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires, Consejo de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Avenida Patricias Argentinas 435, C1405BWE Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Vanesa Gottifredi
- Fundación Instituto Leloir - Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires, Consejo de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Avenida Patricias Argentinas 435, C1405BWE Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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35
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Abstract
Tumor metastasis is a singularly important determinant of survival in most cancers. Historically, radiation therapy (RT) directed at a primary tumor mass was associated infrequently with remission of metastasis outside the field of irradiation. This away-from-target or "abscopal effect" received fringe attention because of its rarity. With the advent of immunotherapy, there are now increasing reports of abscopal effects upon RT in combination with immune checkpoint inhibition. This sparked investigation into underlying mechanisms and clinical trials aimed at enhancement of this effect. While these studies clearly attribute the abscopal effect to an antitumor immune response, the initial molecular triggers for its onset and specificity remain enigmatic. Here, we propose that DNA damage-induced inflammation coupled with neoantigen generation is essential during this intriguing phenomenon of systemic tumor regression and discuss the implications of this model for treatment aimed at triggering the abscopal effect in metastatic cancer.
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36
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The Targeting of MRE11 or RAD51 Sensitizes Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells to CHK1 Inhibition. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081957. [PMID: 33921638 PMCID: PMC8073980 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The ATR-CHK1 axis of the DNA damage response is crucial for the survival of most colorectal cancer stem cells (CRC-SCs), but a significant fraction of primary CRC-SCs either is resistant to ATR or CHK1 inhibitors or survives the abrogation of the ATR-CHK1 cascade despite an initial response. Here, we demonstrate that the targeting of RAD51 or MRE11 improves the sensitivity of primary CRC-SCs to the CHK1/2 inhibitor prexasertib by sequentially inducing replication stress, the abrogation of cell cycle checkpoints, and the emergence of mitotic defects. This results in the induction of mitotic catastrophe and CRC-SC killing via a caspase-dependent apoptosis. Abstract Cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive not only tumor initiation and expansion, but also therapeutic resistance and tumor relapse. Therefore, CSC eradication is required for effective cancer therapy. In preclinical models, CSCs demonstrated high capability to tolerate even extensive genotoxic stress, including replication stress, because they are endowed with a very robust DNA damage response (DDR). This favors the survival of DNA-damaged CSCs instead of their inhibition via apoptosis or senescence. The DDR represents a unique CSC vulnerability, but the abrogation of the DDR through the inhibition of the ATR-CHK1 axis is effective only against some subtypes of CSCs, and resistance often emerges. Here, we analyzed the impact of druggable DDR players in the response of patient-derived colorectal CSCs (CRC-SCs) to CHK1/2 inhibitor prexasertib, identifying RAD51 and MRE11 as sensitizing targets enhancing prexasertib efficacy. We showed that combined inhibition of RAD51 and CHK1 (via B02+prexasertib) or MRE11 and CHK1 (via mirin+prexasertib) kills CSCs by affecting multiple genoprotective processes. In more detail, these two prexasertib-based regimens promote CSC eradication through a sequential mechanism involving the induction of elevated replication stress in a context in which cell cycle checkpoints usually activated during the replication stress response are abrogated. This leads to uncontrolled proliferation and premature entry into mitosis of replication-stressed cells, followed by the induction of mitotic catastrophe. CRC-SCs subjected to RAD51+CHK1 inhibitors or MRE11+CHK1 inhibitors are eventually eliminated, and CRC-SC tumorspheres inhibited or disaggregated, via a caspase-dependent apoptosis. These results support further clinical development of these prexasertib-based regimens in colorectal cancer patients.
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Garcia G, Sharma A, Ramaiah A, Sen C, Purkayastha A, Kohn DB, Parcells MS, Beck S, Kim H, Bakowski MA, Kirkpatrick MG, Riva L, Wolff KC, Han B, Yuen C, Ulmert D, Purbey PK, Scumpia P, Beutler N, Rogers TF, Chatterjee AK, Gabriel G, Bartenschlager R, Gomperts B, Svendsen CN, Betz UAK, Damoiseaux RD, Arumugaswami V. Antiviral drug screen identifies DNA-damage response inhibitor as potent blocker of SARS-CoV-2 replication. Cell Rep 2021; 35:108940. [PMID: 33784499 PMCID: PMC7969873 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has currently precipitated the COVID-19 global health crisis. We developed a medium-throughput drug-screening system and identified a small-molecule library of 34 of 430 protein kinase inhibitors that were capable of inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2 cytopathic effect in human epithelial cells. These drug inhibitors are in various stages of clinical trials. We detected key proteins involved in cellular signaling pathways mTOR-PI3K-AKT, ABL-BCR/MAPK, and DNA-damage response that are critical for SARS-CoV-2 infection. A drug-protein interaction-based secondary screen confirmed compounds, such as the ATR kinase inhibitor berzosertib and torin2 with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. Berzosertib exhibited potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in multiple cell types and blocked replication at the post-entry step. Berzosertib inhibited replication of SARS-CoV-1 and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) as well. Our study highlights key promising kinase inhibitors to constrain coronavirus replication as a host-directed therapy in the treatment of COVID-19 and beyond as well as provides an important mechanism of host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Garcia
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Arun Sharma
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Arunachalam Ramaiah
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Chandani Sen
- UCLA Children's Discovery and Innovation Institute, Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Arunima Purkayastha
- UCLA Children's Discovery and Innovation Institute, Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Donald B Kohn
- UCLA Children's Discovery and Innovation Institute, Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Mark S Parcells
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Sebastian Beck
- Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Heeyoung Kim
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Malina A Bakowski
- Calibr, a division of Scripps Research Institute, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Melanie G Kirkpatrick
- Calibr, a division of Scripps Research Institute, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Laura Riva
- Calibr, a division of Scripps Research Institute, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Karen C Wolff
- Calibr, a division of Scripps Research Institute, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Brandon Han
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Constance Yuen
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - David Ulmert
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Prabhat K Purbey
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Philip Scumpia
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Nathan Beutler
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Thomas F Rogers
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; UC San Diego Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Arnab K Chatterjee
- Calibr, a division of Scripps Research Institute, 11119 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Gülsah Gabriel
- Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Bartenschlager
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research, Heidelberg partner site, Heidelberg, Germany; Division Virus-Associated Carcinogenesis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Brigitte Gomperts
- UCLA Children's Discovery and Innovation Institute, Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Clive N Svendsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | | | - Robert D Damoiseaux
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Vaithilingaraja Arumugaswami
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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38
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Janysek DC, Kim J, Duijf PHG, Dray E. Clinical use and mechanisms of resistance for PARP inhibitors in homologous recombination-deficient cancers. Transl Oncol 2021; 14:101012. [PMID: 33516088 PMCID: PMC7847957 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2021.101012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells are continuously subjected to DNA damaging agents. DNA damages are repaired by one of the many pathways guarding genomic integrity. When one or several DNA damage pathways are rendered inefficient, cells can accumulate mutations, which modify normal cellular pathways, favoring abnormal cell growth. This supports malignant transformation, which can occur when cells acquire resistance to cell cycle checkpoints, apoptosis, or growth inhibition signals. Mutations in genes involved in the repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), such as BRCA1, BRCA2, or PALB2, significantly increase the risk of developing cancer of the breast, ovaries, pancreas, or prostate. Fortunately, the inability of these tumors to repair DNA breaks makes them sensitive to genotoxic chemotherapies, allowing for the development of therapies precisely tailored to individuals' genetic backgrounds. Unfortunately, as with many anti-cancer agents, drugs used to treat patients carrying a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation create a selective pressure, and over time tumors can become drug resistant. Here, we detail the cellular function of tumor suppressors essential in DNA damage repair pathways, present the mechanisms of action of inhibitors used to create synthetic lethality in BRCA carriers, and review the major molecular sources of drug resistance. Finally, we present examples of the many strategies being developed to circumvent drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn C Janysek
- School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Jennifer Kim
- School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Pascal H G Duijf
- Queensland University of Technology, IHBI at the Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Eloïse Dray
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States; Mays Cancer Center, UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson, San Antonio, TX, United States.
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39
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Zhao X, Kim IK, Kallakury B, Chahine JJ, Iwama E, Pierobon M, Petricoin E, McCutcheon JN, Zhang YW, Umemura S, Chen V, Wang C, Giaccone G. Acquired small cell lung cancer resistance to Chk1 inhibitors involves Wee1 up-regulation. Mol Oncol 2021; 15:1130-1145. [PMID: 33320980 PMCID: PMC8024728 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Platinum‐based chemotherapy has been the cornerstone treatment for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) for decades, but no major progress has been made in the past 20 years with regard to overcoming chemoresistance. As the cell cycle checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) plays a key role in DNA damage response to chemotherapeutic drugs, we explored the mechanisms of acquired drug resistance to the Chk1 inhibitor prexasertib in SCLC. We established prexasertib resistance in two SCLC cell lines and found that DNA copy number, messengerRNA (mRNA) and protein levels of the cell cycle regulator Wee1 significantly correlate with the level of acquired resistance. Wee1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) or Wee1 inhibitor reversed prexasertib resistance, whereas Wee1 transfection induced prexasertib resistance in parental cells. Reverse phase protein microarray identified up‐regulated proteins in the resistant cell lines that are involved in apoptosis, cell proliferation and cell cycle. Down‐regulation of CDK1 and CDC25C kinases promoted acquired resistance in parental cells, whereas down‐regulation of p38MAPK reversed the resistance. High Wee1 expression was significantly correlated with better prognosis of resected SCLC patients. Our results indicate that Wee1 overexpression plays an important role in acquired resistance to Chk1 inhibition. We also show that bypass activation of the p38MAPK signaling pathway may contribute to acquired resistance to Chk1 inhibition. The combination of Chk1 and Wee1 inhibitors may provide a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoliang Zhao
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, China
| | - In-Kyu Kim
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.,Department of Surgery, Open NBI Convergence Technology Research Laboratory, Yonsei Cancer Center, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Bhaskar Kallakury
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Joeffrey J Chahine
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Eiji Iwama
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | - Justine N McCutcheon
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Yu-Wen Zhang
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Shigeki Umemura
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Vincent Chen
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Changli Wang
- Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, China
| | - Giuseppe Giaccone
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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40
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He X, Sun X, Shao Y. Network-based survival analysis to discover target genes for developing cancer immunotherapies and predicting patient survival. J Appl Stat 2021; 48:1352-1373. [PMID: 35444359 DOI: 10.1080/02664763.2020.1812543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recently, cancer immunotherapies have been life-savers, however, only a fraction of treated patients have durable responses. Consequently, statistical methods that enable the discovery of target genes for developing new treatments and predicting patient survival are of importance. This paper introduced a network-based survival analysis method and applied it to identify candidate genes as possible targets for developing new treatments. RNA-seq data from a mouse study was used to select differentially expressed genes, which were then translated to those in humans. We constructed a gene network and identified gene clusters using a training set of 310 human gliomas. Then we conducted gene set enrichment analysis to select the gene clusters with significant biological function. A penalized Cox model was built to identify a small set of candidate genes to predict survival. An independent set of 690 human glioma samples was used to evaluate predictive accuracy of the survival model. The areas under time-dependent ROC curves in both the training and validation sets are more than 90%, indicating strong association between selected genes and patient survival. Consequently, potential biomedical interventions targeting these genes might be able to alter their expressions and prolong patient survival.
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41
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Li F, Kozono D, Deraska P, Branigan T, Dunn C, Zheng XF, Parmar K, Nguyen H, DeCaprio J, Shapiro GI, Chowdhury D, D'Andrea AD. CHK1 Inhibitor Blocks Phosphorylation of FAM122A and Promotes Replication Stress. Mol Cell 2020; 80:410-422.e6. [PMID: 33108758 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
While effective anti-cancer drugs targeting the CHK1 kinase are advancing in the clinic, drug resistance is rapidly emerging. Here, we demonstrate that CRISPR-mediated knockout of the little-known gene FAM122A/PABIR1 confers cellular resistance to CHK1 inhibitors (CHK1is) and cross-resistance to ATR inhibitors. Knockout of FAM122A results in activation of PP2A-B55α, a phosphatase that dephosphorylates the WEE1 protein and rescues WEE1 from ubiquitin-mediated degradation. The resulting increase in WEE1 protein expression reduces replication stress, activates the G2/M checkpoint, and confers cellular resistance to CHK1is. Interestingly, in tumor cells with oncogene-driven replication stress, CHK1 can directly phosphorylate FAM122A, leading to activation of the PP2A-B55α phosphatase and increased WEE1 expression. A combination of a CHK1i plus a WEE1 inhibitor can overcome CHK1i resistance of these tumor cells, thereby enhancing anti-cancer activity. The FAM122A expression level in a tumor cell can serve as a useful biomarker for predicting CHK1i sensitivity or resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - David Kozono
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Peter Deraska
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Timothy Branigan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 01115
| | - Connor Dunn
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Xiao-Feng Zheng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Kalindi Parmar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Huy Nguyen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - James DeCaprio
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 01115
| | - Geoffrey I Shapiro
- Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 01115; Early Drug Development Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Dipanjan Chowdhury
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Alan D D'Andrea
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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42
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Cetin B, Wabl CA, Gumusay O. The DNA damaging revolution. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2020; 156:103117. [PMID: 33059228 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.103117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is a nuclear enzyme that plays a critical role in the repair of single-strand DNA damage via the base excision repair pathway. PARP inhibitors have substantial single-agent antitumor activity by inducing synthetic lethality. They have also emerged as promising anticancer targeted therapies, especially in tumors harboring deleterious germline or somatic breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA) mutations. PARP inhibition produces single-strand DNA breaks, which may be repaired by homologous recombination, a process partially dependent on BRCA1 and BRCA2. The PARP inhibitors olaparib, veliparib, talazoparib, niraparib, and rucaparib have predominantly been studied in patients with breast or ovarian cancers associated with deleterious germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating the role of PARP inhibitors alone and in combination with other therapies, including selective inhibitors against key targets involved in the DNA damage response. In this review we summarize the use of PARP inhibitors in various tumor types, as well as possible approaches for overcoming resistance to PARP inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bulent Cetin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Suleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey.
| | - Chiara A Wabl
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California, United States
| | - Ozge Gumusay
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, California, United States
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43
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Lee KJ, Mann E, Wright G, Piett CG, Nagel ZD, Gassman NR. Exploiting DNA repair defects in triple negative breast cancer to improve cell killing. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2020; 12:1758835920958354. [PMID: 32994807 PMCID: PMC7502856 DOI: 10.1177/1758835920958354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The lack of molecular targets for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has limited treatment options and reduced survivorship. Identifying new molecular targets may help improve patient survival and decrease recurrence and metastasis. As DNA repair defects are prevalent in breast cancer, we evaluated the expression and repair capacities of DNA repair proteins in preclinical models. Methods: DNA repair capacity was analyzed in four TNBC cell lines, MDA-MB-157 (MDA-157), MDA-MB-231 (MDA-231), MDA-MB-468 (MDA-468), and HCC1806, using fluorescence multiplex host cell reactivation (FM-HCR) assays. Expression of DNA repair genes was analyzed with RNA-seq, and protein expression was evaluated with immunoblot. Responses to the combination of DNA damage response inhibitors and primary chemotherapy drugs doxorubicin or carboplatin were evaluated in the cell lines. Results: Defects in base excision and nucleotide excision repair were observed in preclinical TNBC models. Gene expression analysis showed a limited correlation between these defects. Loss in protein expression was a better indicator of these DNA repair defects. Over-expression of PARP1, XRCC1, RPA, DDB1, and ERCC1 was observed in TNBC preclinical models, and likely contributed to altered sensitivity to chemotherapy and DNA damage response (DDR) inhibitors. Improved cell killing was achieved when primary therapy was combined with DDR inhibitors for ATM, ATR, or CHK1. Conclusion: Base excision and nucleotide excision repair pathways may offer new molecular targets for TNBC. The functional status of DNA repair pathways should be considered when evaluating new therapies and may improve the targeting for primary and combination therapies with DDR inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Lee
- College of Medicine, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA
| | - Elise Mann
- College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA
| | - Griffin Wright
- College of Medicine, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA
| | - Cortt G Piett
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zachary D Nagel
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Natalie R Gassman
- Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, 1660 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, AL 36607, USA
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44
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Lodovichi S, Cervelli T, Pellicioli A, Galli A. Inhibition of DNA Repair in Cancer Therapy: Toward a Multi-Target Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E6684. [PMID: 32932697 PMCID: PMC7554826 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations in DNA repair pathways are one of the main drivers of cancer insurgence. Nevertheless, cancer cells are more susceptible to DNA damage than normal cells and they rely on specific functional repair pathways to survive. Thanks to advances in genome sequencing, we now have a better idea of which genes are mutated in specific cancers and this prompted the development of inhibitors targeting DNA repair players involved in pathways essential for cancer cells survival. Currently, the pivotal concept is that combining the inhibition of mechanisms on which cancer cells viability depends is the most promising way to treat tumorigenesis. Numerous inhibitors have been developed and for many of them, efficacy has been demonstrated either alone or in combination with chemo or radiotherapy. In this review, we will analyze the principal pathways involved in cell cycle checkpoint and DNA repair focusing on how their alterations could predispose to cancer, then we will explore the inhibitors developed or in development specifically targeting different proteins involved in each pathway, underscoring the rationale behind their usage and how their combination and/or exploitation as adjuvants to classic therapies could help in patients clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuele Lodovichi
- Bioscience Department, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20131 Milan, Italy;
| | - Tiziana Cervelli
- Yeast Genetics and Genomics Group, Laboratory of Functional Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Clinical Physiology CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, 56125 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Achille Pellicioli
- Bioscience Department, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20131 Milan, Italy;
| | - Alvaro Galli
- Yeast Genetics and Genomics Group, Laboratory of Functional Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Clinical Physiology CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, 56125 Pisa, Italy;
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45
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Hu Y, Guo M. Synthetic lethality strategies: Beyond BRCA1/2 mutations in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Sci 2020; 111:3111-3121. [PMID: 32639661 PMCID: PMC7469842 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells are often characterized by abnormalities in DNA damage response including defects in cell cycle checkpoints and/or DNA repair. Synthetic lethality between DNA damage repair (DDR) pathways has provided a paradigm for cancer therapy by targeting DDR. The successful example is that cancer cells with BRCA1/2 mutations are sensitized to poly(adenosine diphosphate [ADP]-ribose)polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. Beyond the narrow scope of defects in the BRCA pathway, "BRCAness" provides more opportunities for synthetic lethality strategy. In human pancreatic cancer, frequent mutations were found in cell cycle and DDR genes, including P16, P73, APC, MLH1, ATM, PALB2, and MGMT. Combined DDR inhibitors and chemotherapeutic agents are under preclinical or clinical trials. Promoter region methylation was found frequently in cell cycle and DDR genes. Epigenetics joins the Knudson's "hit" theory and "BRCAness." Aberrant epigenetic changes in cell cycle or DDR regulators may serve as a new avenue for synthetic lethality strategy in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlong Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Mingzhou Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Esophageal Cancer Research, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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46
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Brunner A, Suryo Rahmanto A, Johansson H, Franco M, Viiliäinen J, Gazi M, Frings O, Fredlund E, Spruck C, Lehtiö J, Rantala JK, Larsson LG, Sangfelt O. PTEN and DNA-PK determine sensitivity and recovery in response to WEE1 inhibition in human breast cancer. eLife 2020; 9:57894. [PMID: 32628111 PMCID: PMC7338058 DOI: 10.7554/elife.57894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of WEE1 kinase by AZD1775 has shown promising results in clinical cancer trials, but markers predicting AZD1775 response are lacking. Here we analysed AZD1775 response in a panel of human breast cancer (BC) cell lines by global proteome/transcriptome profiling and identified two groups of basal-like BC (BLBCs): ‘PTEN low’ BLBCs were highly sensitive to AZD1775 and failed to recover following removal of AZD1775, while ‘PTEN high’ BLBCs recovered. AZD1775 induced phosphorylation of DNA-PK, protecting cells from replication-associated DNA damage and promoting cellular recovery. Deletion of DNA-PK or PTEN, or inhibition of DNA-PK sensitized recovering BLBCs to AZD1775 by abrogating replication arrest, allowing replication despite DNA damage. This was linked to reduced CHK1 activation, increased cyclin E levels and apoptosis. In conclusion, we identified PTEN and DNA-PK as essential regulators of replication checkpoint arrest in response to AZD1775 and defined PTEN as a promising biomarker for efficient WEE1 cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrä Brunner
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Henrik Johansson
- Cancer Proteomics Mass Spectrometry, Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marcela Franco
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johanna Viiliäinen
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mohiuddin Gazi
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Oliver Frings
- Cancer Proteomics Mass Spectrometry, Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Fredlund
- Cancer Proteomics Mass Spectrometry, Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Charles Spruck
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, United States
| | - Janne Lehtiö
- Cancer Proteomics Mass Spectrometry, Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Juha K Rantala
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Lars-Gunnar Larsson
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olle Sangfelt
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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47
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Muralidharan SV, Nilsson LM, Lindberg MF, Nilsson JA. Small molecule inhibitors and a kinase-dead expressing mouse model demonstrate that the kinase activity of Chk1 is essential for mouse embryos and cancer cells. Life Sci Alliance 2020; 3:3/8/e202000671. [PMID: 32571801 PMCID: PMC7335382 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202000671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The study use small molecule inhibitors and a kinase-dead expressing mouse model to demonstrate that the kinase activity of Chk1 is essential for mouse embryos and cancer cells. Chk1 kinase is downstream of the ATR kinase in the sensing of improper replication. Previous cell culture studies have demonstrated that Chk1 is essential for replication. Indeed, Chk1 inhibitors are efficacious against tumors with high-level replication stress such as Myc-induced lymphoma cells. Treatment with Chk1 inhibitors also combines well with certain chemotherapeutic drugs, and effects associate with the induction of DNA damage and reduction of Chk1 protein levels. Most studies of Chk1 function have relied on the use of inhibitors. Whether or not a mouse or cancer cells could survive if a kinase-dead form of Chk1 is expressed has not been investigated before. Here, we generate a mouse model that expresses a kinase-dead (D130A) allele in the mouse germ line. We find that this mouse is overtly normal and does not have problems with erythropoiesis with aging as previously been shown for a mouse expressing one null allele. However, similar to a null allele, homozygous kinase-dead mice cannot be generated, and timed pregnancies of heterozygous mice suggest lethality of homozygous blastocysts at around the time of implantation. By breeding the kinase-dead Chk1 mouse with a conditional allele, we are able to demonstrate that expression of only one kinase-dead allele, but no wild-type allele, of Chek1 is lethal for Myc-induced cancer cells. Finally, treatment of melanoma cells with tumor-infiltrating T cells or CAR-T cells is effective even if Chk1 is inhibited, suggesting that Chk1 inhibitors can be safely administered in patients where immunotherapy is an essential component of the arsenal against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somsundar V Muralidharan
- Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska Cancer Center, Institute of Clinical Sciences at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lisa M Nilsson
- Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska Cancer Center, Institute of Clinical Sciences at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mattias F Lindberg
- Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska Cancer Center, Institute of Clinical Sciences at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jonas A Nilsson
- Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska Cancer Center, Institute of Clinical Sciences at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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48
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Abstract
DNA damage response (DDR) pathway prevents high level endogenous and environmental DNA damage being replicated and passed on to the next generation of cells via an orchestrated and integrated network of cell cycle checkpoint signalling and DNA repair pathways. Depending on the type of damage, and where in the cell cycle it occurs different pathways are involved, with the ATM-CHK2-p53 pathway controlling the G1 checkpoint or ATR-CHK1-Wee1 pathway controlling the S and G2/M checkpoints. Loss of G1 checkpoint control is common in cancer through TP53, ATM mutations, Rb loss or cyclin E overexpression, providing a stronger rationale for targeting the S/G2 checkpoints. This review will focus on the ATM-CHK2-p53-p21 pathway and the ATR-CHK1-WEE1 pathway and ongoing efforts to target these pathways for patient benefit.
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ATR-CHK1 pathway as a therapeutic target for acute and chronic leukemias. Cancer Treat Rev 2020; 88:102026. [PMID: 32592909 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2020.102026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Progress in cancer therapy changed the outcome of many patients and moved therapy from chemotherapy agents to targeted drugs. Targeted drugs already changed the clinical practice in treatment of leukemias, such as imatinib (BCR/ABL inhibitor) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), ibrutinib (Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), venetoclax (BCL2 inhibitor) in CLL and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or midostaurin (FLT3 inhibitor) in AML. In this review, we focused on DNA damage response (DDR) inhibition, specifically on inhibition of ATR-CHK1 pathway. Cancer cells harbor often defects in different DDR pathways, which render them vulnerable to DDR inhibition. Some DDR inhibitors showed interesting single-agent activity even in the absence of cytotoxic drug especially in cancers with underlying defects in DDR or DNA replication. Almost no mutations were found in ATR and CHEK1 genes in leukemia patients. Together with the fact that ATR-CHK1 pathway is essential for cell development and survival of leukemia cells, it represents a promising therapeutic target for treatment of leukemia. ATR-CHK1 inhibition showed excellent results in preclinical testing in acute and chronic leukemias. However, results in clinical trials are so far insufficient. Therefore, the ongoing and future clinical trials will decide on the success of ATR/CHK1 inhibitors in clinical practice of leukemia treatment.
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Gorecki L, Andrs M, Rezacova M, Korabecny J. Discovery of ATR kinase inhibitor berzosertib (VX-970, M6620): Clinical candidate for cancer therapy. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 210:107518. [PMID: 32109490 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chemoresistance, radioresistance, and the challenge of achieving complete resection are major driving forces in the search for more robust and targeted anticancer therapies. Targeting the DNA damage response has recently attracted research interest, as these processes are enhanced in tumour cells. The major replication stress responder is ATM and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase, which is attracting attention worldwide with four drug candidates currently in phase I/II clinical trials. This review addresses a potent and selective small-molecule ATR inhibitor, which is known as VX-970 (also known as berzosertib or M6620), and summarizes the existing preclinical data to provide deep insight regarding its real potential. We also outline the transition from preclinical to clinical studies, as well as its relationships with other clinical candidates (AZD6738, VX-803 [M4344], and BAY1895344). The results suggest that VX-970 is indeed a promising anticancer drug that can be used both as monotherapy and in combination with either chemotherapy or radiotherapy strategies. Based on patient anamnesis and biomarker identification, VX-970 could become a valuable tool for oncologists in the fight against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Gorecki
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Andrs
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; Laboratory of Cancer Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Rezacova
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Simkova 870, 500 38 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Korabecny
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, 500 05 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
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