1
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Liang Y, Qu X, Shah NM, Wang T. Towards targeting transposable elements for cancer therapy. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:123-140. [PMID: 38228901 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00653-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) represent almost half of the human genome. Historically deemed 'junk DNA', recent technological advancements have stimulated a wave of research into the functional impact of TEs on gene-regulatory networks in evolution and development, as well as in diseases including cancer. The genetic and epigenetic evolution of cancer involves the exploitation of TEs, whereby TEs contribute directly to cancer-specific gene activities. This Review provides a perspective on the role of TEs in cancer as being a 'double-edged sword', both promoting cancer evolution and representing a vulnerability that could be exploited in cancer therapy. We discuss how TEs affect transcriptome regulation and other cellular processes in cancer. We highlight the potential of TEs as therapeutic targets for cancer. We also summarize technical hurdles in the characterization of TEs with genomic assays. Last, we outline open questions and exciting future research avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghao Liang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Xuan Qu
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Nakul M Shah
- Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
- Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
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2
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Wang T, Wagner RT, Hlady RA, Pan X, Zhao X, Kim S, Wang L, Lee J, Luo H, Castle EP, Lake DF, Ho TH, Robertson KD. SETD2 loss in renal epithelial cells drives epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in a TGF-β-independent manner. Mol Oncol 2024; 18:44-61. [PMID: 37418588 PMCID: PMC10766198 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13487] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase SETD2 (SETD2), the sole histone methyltransferase that catalyzes trimethylation of lysine 36 on histone H3 (H3K36me3), is often mutated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). SETD2 mutation and/or loss of H3K36me3 is linked to metastasis and poor outcome in ccRCC patients. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a major pathway that drives invasion and metastasis in various cancer types. Here, using novel kidney epithelial cell lines isogenic for SETD2, we discovered that SETD2 inactivation drives EMT and promotes migration, invasion, and stemness in a transforming growth factor-beta-independent manner. This newly identified EMT program is triggered in part through secreted factors, including cytokines and growth factors, and through transcriptional reprogramming. RNA-seq and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing uncovered key transcription factors upregulated upon SETD2 loss, including SOX2, POU2F2 (OCT2), and PRRX1, that could individually drive EMT and stemness phenotypes in SETD2 wild-type (WT) cells. Public expression data from SETD2 WT/mutant ccRCC support the EMT transcriptional signatures derived from cell line models. In summary, our studies reveal that SETD2 is a key regulator of EMT phenotypes through cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic mechanisms that help explain the association between SETD2 loss and ccRCC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianchu Wang
- Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical SciencesMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Ryan T. Wagner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Ryan A. Hlady
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Xiaoyu Pan
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Xia Zhao
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Sungho Kim
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Liguo Wang
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Department of Health Science ResearchMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Jeong‐Heon Lee
- Epigenomics Development LaboratoryMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
| | - Huijun Luo
- Division of Hematology and OncologyMayo Clinic ArizonaPhoenixAZUSA
| | | | | | - Thai H. Ho
- Division of Hematology and OncologyMayo Clinic ArizonaPhoenixAZUSA
| | - Keith D. Robertson
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental TherapeuticsMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
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3
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Lu X, Vano YA, Su X, Helleux A, Lindner V, Mouawad R, Spano JP, Rouprêt M, Compérat E, Verkarre V, Sun CM, Bennamoun M, Lang H, Barthelemy P, Cheng W, Xu L, Davidson I, Yan F, Fridman WH, Sautes-Fridman C, Oudard S, Malouf GG. Silencing of genes by promoter hypermethylation shapes tumor microenvironment and resistance to immunotherapy in clear-cell renal cell carcinomas. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101287. [PMID: 37967556 PMCID: PMC10694769 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101287] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
The efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors varies in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), with notable primary resistance among patients. Here, we integrate epigenetic (DNA methylation) and transcriptome data to identify a ccRCC subtype characterized by cancer-specific promoter hypermethylation and epigenetic silencing of Polycomb targets. We develop and validate an index of methylation-based epigenetic silencing (iMES) that predicts primary resistance to immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) in the BIONIKK trial. High iMES is associated with VEGF pathway silencing, endothelial cell depletion, immune activation/suppression, EZH2 activation, BAP1/SETD2 deficiency, and resistance to ICI. Combination therapy with hypomethylating agents or tyrosine kinase inhibitors may benefit patients with high iMES. Intriguingly, tumors with low iMES exhibit increased endothelial cells and improved ICI response, suggesting the importance of angiogenesis in ICI treatment. We also develop a transcriptome-based analogous system for extended applicability of iMES. Our study underscores the interplay between epigenetic alterations and tumor microenvironment in determining immunotherapy response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofan Lu
- Department of Cancer and Functional Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, CNRS/INSERM/UNISTRA, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Yann-Alexandre Vano
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, AP-HP, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France; Centre de Recherche Cordeliers, INSERM 1138, Université de Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, Equipe labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Xiaoping Su
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexandra Helleux
- Department of Cancer and Functional Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, CNRS/INSERM/UNISTRA, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Véronique Lindner
- Department of Pathology, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Roger Mouawad
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sorbonne University, AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Spano
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sorbonne University, AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Morgan Rouprêt
- Sorbonne University, GRC 5 P, UKredictive Onco-Uro, AP-HP, Urology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Eva Compérat
- Department of Pathology, Sorbonne University, AP-HP, Hôpital Tenon, Paris, France
| | - Virginie Verkarre
- Department of Pathology, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, AP-HP, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Cheng-Ming Sun
- Centre de Recherche Cordeliers, INSERM 1138, Université de Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, Equipe labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Mostefa Bennamoun
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, Paris, France
| | - Hervé Lang
- Department of Urology, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Philippe Barthelemy
- Department of Medical Oncology, Strasbourg University, Institut de Cancérologie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Wenxuan Cheng
- Research Center of Biostatistics and Computational Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Li Xu
- Research Center of Biostatistics and Computational Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Irwin Davidson
- Department of Cancer and Functional Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, CNRS/INSERM/UNISTRA, 67400 Illkirch, France
| | - Fangrong Yan
- Research Center of Biostatistics and Computational Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, P.R. China
| | - Wolf Hervé Fridman
- Centre de Recherche Cordeliers, INSERM 1138, Université de Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, Equipe labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Catherine Sautes-Fridman
- Centre de Recherche Cordeliers, INSERM 1138, Université de Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, Equipe labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Oudard
- Centre de Recherche Cordeliers, INSERM 1138, Université de Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, Equipe labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Gabriel G Malouf
- Department of Cancer and Functional Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, CNRS/INSERM/UNISTRA, 67400 Illkirch, France; Department of Medical Oncology, Strasbourg University, Institut de Cancérologie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
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4
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Zhou X, Sekino Y, Li HT, Fu G, Yang Z, Zhao S, Gujar H, Zu X, Weisenberger DJ, Gill IS, Tulpule V, D’souza A, Quinn DI, Han B, Liang G. SETD2 Deficiency Confers Sensitivity to Dual Inhibition of DNA Methylation and PARP in Kidney Cancer. Cancer Res 2023; 83:3813-3826. [PMID: 37695044 PMCID: PMC10843145 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-0401] [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: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
SETD2 deficiency alters the epigenetic landscape by causing depletion of H3K36me3 and plays an important role in diverse forms of cancer, most notably in aggressive and metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC). Development of an effective treatment scheme targeting SETD2-compromised cancer is urgently needed. Considering that SETD2 is involved in DNA methylation and DNA repair, a combination treatment approach using DNA hypomethylating agents (HMA) and PARP inhibitors (PARPi) could have strong antitumor activity in SETD2-deficient kidney cancer. We tested the effects of the DNA HMA 5-aza-2'-dexoxydytidine (DAC), the PARPi talazoparib (BMN-673), and both in combination in human ccRCC models with or without SETD2 deficiency. The combination treatment of DAC and BMN-673 synergistically increased cytotoxicity in vitro in SETD2-deficient ccRCC cell lines but not in SETD2-proficient cell lines. DAC and BMN-673 led to apoptotic induction, increased DNA damage, insufficient DNA damage repair, and increased genomic instability. Furthermore, the combination treatment elevated immune responses, upregulated STING, and enhanced viral mimicry by activating transposable elements. Finally, the combination effectively suppressed the growth of SETD2-deficient ccRCC in in vivo mouse models. Together, these findings indicate that combining HMA and PARPi is a promising potential therapeutic strategy for treating SETD2-compromised ccRCC. SIGNIFICANCE SETD2 deficiency creates a vulnerable epigenetic status that is targetable using a DNA hypomethylating agent and PARP inhibitor combination to suppress renal cell carcinoma, identifying a precision medicine-based approach for SETD2-compromised cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Zhou
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Yohei Sekino
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hong-Tao Li
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Guanghou Fu
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
| | - Zhi Yang
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California; Department of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, Keck School of Medicine USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shuqing Zhao
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California; Department of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, Keck School of Medicine USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hemant Gujar
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Xiongbing Zu
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Daniel J Weisenberger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Inderbir S. Gill
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Varsha Tulpule
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Anishka D’souza
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David I Quinn
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bo Han
- Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California; Department of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, Keck School of Medicine USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gangning Liang
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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5
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Yu M, Qian K, Wang G, Xiao Y, Zhu Y, Ju L. Histone methyltransferase SETD2: An epigenetic driver in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1114461. [PMID: 37025591 PMCID: PMC10070805 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1114461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
SET domain-containing 2 (SETD2) is a lysine methyltransferase that catalyzes histone H3 lysine36 trimethylation (H3K36me3) and has been revealed to play important roles in the regulation of transcriptional elongation, RNA splicing, and DNA damage repair. SETD2 mutations have been documented in several cancers, including clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). SETD2 deficiency is associated with cancer occurrence and progression by regulating autophagy flux, general metabolic activity, and replication fork speed. Therefore, SETD2 is considered a potential epigenetic therapeutic target and is the subject of ongoing research on cancer-related diagnosis and treatment. This review presents an overview of the molecular functions of SETD2 in H3K36me3 regulation and its relationship with ccRCC, providing a theoretical basis for subsequent antitumor therapy based on SETD2 or H3K36me3 targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxue Yu
- Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kaiyu Qian
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Human Genetic Resources Preservation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Xiao
- Human Genetic Resources Preservation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Wuhan Research Center for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuan Zhu
- Human Genetic Resources Preservation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Yuan Zhu, ; Lingao Ju,
| | - Lingao Ju
- Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Yuan Zhu, ; Lingao Ju,
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