1
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Joshi H, Tuli HS, Ranjan A, Chauhan A, Haque S, Ramniwas S, Bhatia GK, Kandari D. The Pharmacological Implications of Flavopiridol: An Updated Overview. Molecules 2023; 28:7530. [PMID: 38005250 PMCID: PMC10673037 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28227530] [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: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Flavopiridol is a flavone synthesized from the natural product rohitukine, which is derived from an Indian medicinal plant, namely Dysoxylum binectariferum Hiern. A deeper understanding of the biological mechanisms by which such molecules act may allow scientists to develop effective therapeutic strategies against a variety of life-threatening diseases, such as cancer, viruses, fungal infections, parasites, and neurodegenerative diseases. Mechanistic insight of flavopiridol reveals its potential for kinase inhibitory activity of CDKs (cyclin-dependent kinases) and other kinases, leading to the inhibition of various processes, including cell cycle progression, apoptosis, tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, tumor metastasis, and the inflammation process. The synthetic derivatives of flavopiridol have overcome a few demerits of its parent compound. Moreover, these derivatives have much improved CDK-inhibitory activity and therapeutic abilities for treating severe human diseases. It appears that flavopiridol has potential as a candidate for the formulation of an integrated strategy to combat and alleviate human diseases. This review article aims to unravel the potential therapeutic effectiveness of flavopiridol and its possible mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemant Joshi
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India;
| | - Hardeep Singh Tuli
- Department of Bio-Sciences and Technology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Engineering College, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to Be University), Mullana, Ambala 133207, India;
| | - Anuj Ranjan
- Academy of Biology and Biotechnology, Southern Federal University, Stachki 194/1, Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russia;
| | - Abhishek Chauhan
- Amity Institute of Environmental Toxicology Safety and Management, Amity University, Sector 125, Noida 201301, India;
| | - Shafiul Haque
- Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia;
- Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Beirut 11022801, Lebanon
- Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman 13306, United Arab Emirates
| | - Seema Ramniwas
- University Centre for Research and Development, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali 140413, India;
| | - Gurpreet Kaur Bhatia
- Department of Physics, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala 133207, India;
| | - Divya Kandari
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India;
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2
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Doha ZO, Sears RC. Unraveling MYC's Role in Orchestrating Tumor Intrinsic and Tumor Microenvironment Interactions Driving Tumorigenesis and Drug Resistance. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2023; 30:400-419. [PMID: 37755397 PMCID: PMC10537413 DOI: 10.3390/pathophysiology30030031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor MYC plays a pivotal role in regulating various cellular processes and has been implicated in tumorigenesis across multiple cancer types. MYC has emerged as a master regulator governing tumor intrinsic and tumor microenvironment interactions, supporting tumor progression and driving drug resistance. This review paper aims to provide an overview and discussion of the intricate mechanisms through which MYC influences tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance in cancer. We delve into the signaling pathways and molecular networks orchestrated by MYC in the context of tumor intrinsic characteristics, such as proliferation, replication stress and DNA repair. Furthermore, we explore the impact of MYC on the tumor microenvironment, including immune evasion, angiogenesis and cancer-associated fibroblast remodeling. Understanding MYC's multifaceted role in driving drug resistance and tumor progression is crucial for developing targeted therapies and combination treatments that may effectively combat this devastating disease. Through an analysis of the current literature, this review's goal is to shed light on the complexities of MYC-driven oncogenesis and its potential as a promising therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zinab O. Doha
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
- Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, Taibah University, Al-Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rosalie C. Sears
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA;
- Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97201, USA
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97201, USA
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3
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Sharma R, Incoronato A, Zhang C, Jayanthan A, Shah R, Narendran A. Establishment of a t(11;19), KMT2A Rearranged B-ALL Cell Line for Preclinical Evaluation and Novel Therapeutics Development for Refractory Infant Leukemia. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2023; 45:e750-e756. [PMID: 37494611 DOI: 10.1097/mph.0000000000002697] [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] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Leukemia, diagnosed in children less than 12 months of age, is a rare condition with an aggressive disease presentation and poor response to conventional chemotherapeutic agents. In addition, the unique vulnerability of the affected population does not always permit the use of markedly intense regimens with higher doses of cytotoxic agents. However, the unique biology of these leukemic cells also provides opportunities for the identification of effective and potentially well-tolerated targeted therapeutic strategies. In this report, we describe the establishment and characterization of a cell line from the blasts of an infant diagnosed with refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) carrying the characteristic histone lysine methyltransferase 2A (KMT2A) gene rearrangement. This cell line consists of rapidly proliferating clones of cells with chemosensitivity patterns previously described for KMT2A rearranged leukemia cells, including relative resistance to glucocorticoids and sensitivity to cytarabine. We also show effective targetability with menin inhibitors, indicating the activity of abnormal KMT2A-related pathways and the potential utility of this cell line in comprehensive drug library screens. Overall, our findings report the establishment and in vitro validation of a cell line for research into key aspects of infant leukemia biology and targeted therapeutics development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritul Sharma
- Department of Pediatrics and Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Andrea Incoronato
- Department of Hemato-oncology, Pereira Rossell Hospital, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Chunfen Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics and Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Ravi Shah
- Department of Pediatrics and Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Aru Narendran
- Department of Pediatrics and Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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4
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Zhang P, Brinton LT, Gharghabi M, Sher S, Williams K, Cannon M, Walker JS, Canfield D, Beaver L, Cempre CB, Phillips H, Chen X, Yan P, Lehman A, Scherle P, Wang M, Vaddi K, Baiocchi R, Wang R, Sampath D, Alinari L, Blachly JS, Lapalombella R. Targeting OXPHOS de novo purine synthesis as the nexus of FLT3 inhibitor-mediated synergistic antileukemic actions. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabp9005. [PMID: 36112677 PMCID: PMC9481139 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abp9005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Using a genome-wide CRISPR screen, we identified CDK9, DHODH, and PRMT5 as synthetic lethal partners with gilteritinib treatment in fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)-internal tandem duplication (ITD) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and genetically and pharmacologically validated their roles in gilteritinib sensitivity. The presence of FLT3-ITD is associated with an increase in anaerobic glycolysis, rendering leukemia cells highly sensitive to inhibition of glycolysis. Supportive of this, our data show the enrichment of single guide RNAs targeting 28 glycolysis-related genes upon gilteritinib treatment, suggesting that switching from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) may represent a metabolic adaption of AML in gilteritinib resistance. CDK9i/FLT3i, DHODHi/FLT3i, and PRMT5i/FLT3i pairs mechanistically converge on OXPHOS and purine biosynthesis blockade, implying that targeting the metabolic functions of these three genes and/or proteins may represent attractive strategies to sensitize AML to gilteritinib treatment. Our findings provide the basis for maximizing therapeutic impact of FLT3-ITD inhibitors and a rationale for a clinical trial of these novel combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pu Zhang
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Lindsey T. Brinton
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Mehdi Gharghabi
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Outcomes and Translational Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Steven Sher
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Katie Williams
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Matthew Cannon
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Janek S. Walker
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Daniel Canfield
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Larry Beaver
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Casey B. Cempre
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Hannah Phillips
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Xuyong Chen
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology and BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Pearlly Yan
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Amy Lehman
- Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | - Min Wang
- Prelude Therapeutics, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Kris Vaddi
- Prelude Therapeutics, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Robert Baiocchi
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ruoning Wang
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Hematology/Oncology and BMT, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Deepa Sampath
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Lapo Alinari
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - James S. Blachly
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Leukemia Research Program, The Ohio State University James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Rosa Lapalombella
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Leukemia Research Program, The Ohio State University James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
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5
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Vervoort SJ, Devlin JR, Kwiatkowski N, Teng M, Gray NS, Johnstone RW. Targeting transcription cycles in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2022; 22:5-24. [PMID: 34675395 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-021-00411-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Accurate control of gene expression is essential for normal development and dysregulation of transcription underpins cancer onset and progression. Similar to cell cycle regulation, RNA polymerase II-driven transcription can be considered as a unidirectional multistep cycle, with thousands of unique transcription cycles occurring in concert within each cell. Each transcription cycle comprises recruitment, initiation, pausing, elongation, termination and recycling stages that are tightly controlled by the coordinated action of transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinases and their cognate cyclins as well as the opposing activity of transcriptional phosphatases. Oncogenic dysregulation of transcription can entail defective control of gene expression, either at select loci or more globally, impacting a large proportion of the genome. The resultant dependency on the core-transcriptional machinery is believed to render 'transcriptionally addicted' cancers sensitive to perturbation of transcription. Based on these findings, small molecules targeting transcriptional cyclin-dependent kinases and associated proteins hold promise for the treatment of cancer. Here, we utilize the transcription cycles concept to explain how dysregulation of these finely tuned gene expression processes may drive tumorigenesis and how therapeutically beneficial responses may arise from global or selective transcriptional perturbation. This conceptual framework helps to explain tumour-selective transcriptional dependencies and facilitates the rational design of combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephin J Vervoort
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jennifer R Devlin
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicholas Kwiatkowski
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mingxing Teng
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, CHEM-H and SCI, Stanford Medical School, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Ricky W Johnstone
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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6
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Hayden E, Holliday H, Lehmann R, Khan A, Tsoli M, Rayner BS, Ziegler DS. Therapeutic Targets in Diffuse Midline Gliomas-An Emerging Landscape. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13246251. [PMID: 34944870 PMCID: PMC8699135 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13246251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) remain one of the most devastating childhood brain tumour types, for which there is currently no known cure. In this review we provide a summary of the existing knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of this disease, highlighting current analyses and novel treatment propositions. Together, the accumulation of these data will aid in the understanding and development of more effective therapeutic options for the treatment of DMGs. Abstract Diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) are invariably fatal pediatric brain tumours that are inherently resistant to conventional therapy. In recent years our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of DMG tumorigenicity has resulted in the identification of novel targets and the development of a range of potential therapies, with multiple agents now being progressed to clinical translation to test their therapeutic efficacy. Here, we provide an overview of the current therapies aimed at epigenetic and mutational drivers, cellular pathway aberrations and tumor microenvironment mechanisms in DMGs in order to aid therapy development and facilitate a holistic approach to patient treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisha Hayden
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington 2052, Australia; (E.H.); (H.H.); (R.L.); (A.K.); (M.T.); (B.S.R.)
| | - Holly Holliday
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington 2052, Australia; (E.H.); (H.H.); (R.L.); (A.K.); (M.T.); (B.S.R.)
- School of Women’s and Children’s Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, Australia
| | - Rebecca Lehmann
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington 2052, Australia; (E.H.); (H.H.); (R.L.); (A.K.); (M.T.); (B.S.R.)
- School of Women’s and Children’s Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, Australia
| | - Aaminah Khan
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington 2052, Australia; (E.H.); (H.H.); (R.L.); (A.K.); (M.T.); (B.S.R.)
| | - Maria Tsoli
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington 2052, Australia; (E.H.); (H.H.); (R.L.); (A.K.); (M.T.); (B.S.R.)
- School of Women’s and Children’s Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, Australia
| | - Benjamin S. Rayner
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington 2052, Australia; (E.H.); (H.H.); (R.L.); (A.K.); (M.T.); (B.S.R.)
- School of Women’s and Children’s Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, Australia
| | - David S. Ziegler
- Children’s Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington 2052, Australia; (E.H.); (H.H.); (R.L.); (A.K.); (M.T.); (B.S.R.)
- School of Women’s and Children’s Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Kensington 2052, Australia
- Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick 2031, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-2-9382-1730; Fax: +61-2-9382-1789
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7
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Barlaam B, De Savi C, Dishington A, Drew L, Ferguson AD, Ferguson D, Gu C, Hande S, Hassall L, Hawkins J, Hird AW, Holmes J, Lamb ML, Lister AS, McGuire TM, Moore JE, O'Connell N, Patel A, Pike KG, Sarkar U, Shao W, Stead D, Varnes JG, Vasbinder MM, Wang L, Wu L, Xue L, Yang B, Yao T. Discovery of a Series of 7-Azaindoles as Potent and Highly Selective CDK9 Inhibitors for Transient Target Engagement. J Med Chem 2021; 64:15189-15213. [PMID: 34647738 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Optimization of a series of azabenzimidazoles identified from screening hit 2 and the information gained from a co-crystal structure of the azabenzimidazole-based lead 6 bound to CDK9 led to the discovery of azaindoles as highly potent and selective CDK9 inhibitors. With the goal of discovering a highly selective and potent CDK9 inhibitor administrated intravenously that would enable transient target engagement of CDK9 for the treatment of hematological malignancies, further optimization focusing on physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties led to azaindoles 38 and 39. These compounds are highly potent and selective CDK9 inhibitors having short half-lives in rodents, suitable physical properties for intravenous administration, and the potential to achieve profound but transient inhibition of CDK9 in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Barlaam
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Chris De Savi
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | | | - Lisa Drew
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Andrew D Ferguson
- Discovery Sciences, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Douglas Ferguson
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Chungang Gu
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Sudhir Hande
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | | | - Janet Hawkins
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander W Hird
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Jane Holmes
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle L Lamb
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Andrew S Lister
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jane E Moore
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Nichole O'Connell
- Discovery Sciences, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Anil Patel
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Kurt G Pike
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Ujjal Sarkar
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Wenlin Shao
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Darren Stead
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Jeffrey G Varnes
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | | | - Lei Wang
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road BDA, Beijing 100176, P. R. China
| | - Liangwei Wu
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road BDA, Beijing 100176, P. R. China
| | - Lin Xue
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road BDA, Beijing 100176, P. R. China
| | - Bin Yang
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Tieguang Yao
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road BDA, Beijing 100176, P. R. China
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8
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Nickel AC, Picard D, Qin N, Wolter M, Kaulich K, Hewera M, Pauck D, Marquardt V, Torga G, Muhammad S, Zhang W, Schnell O, Steiger HJ, Hänggi D, Fritsche E, Her NG, Nam DH, Carro MS, Remke M, Reifenberger G, Kahlert UD. Longitudinal stability of molecular alterations and drug response profiles in tumor spheroid cell lines enables reproducible analyses. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 144:112278. [PMID: 34628166 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The utility of patient-derived tumor cell lines as experimental models for glioblastoma has been challenged by limited representation of the in vivo tumor biology and low clinical translatability. Here, we report on longitudinal epigenetic and transcriptional profiling of seven glioblastoma spheroid cell line models cultured over an extended period. Molecular profiles were associated with drug response data obtained for 231 clinically used drugs. We show that the glioblastoma spheroid models remained molecularly stable and displayed reproducible drug responses over prolonged culture times of 30 in vitro passages. Integration of gene expression and drug response data identified predictive gene signatures linked to sensitivity to specific drugs, indicating the potential of gene expression-based prediction of glioblastoma therapy response. Our data thus empowers glioblastoma spheroid disease modeling as a useful preclinical assay that may uncover novel therapeutic vulnerabilities and associated molecular alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Nickel
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - D Picard
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - N Qin
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - M Wolter
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - K Kaulich
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - M Hewera
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - D Pauck
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - V Marquardt
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - G Torga
- Drug Development Unit, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, London, UK
| | - S Muhammad
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - W Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - O Schnell
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - H-J Steiger
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - D Hänggi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - E Fritsche
- Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - N-G Her
- R&D Center, AIMEDBIO Inc., Seoul, South Korea
| | - D-H Nam
- Department of Neurosurgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 06351, South Korea
| | - M S Carro
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - M Remke
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany; Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - G Reifenberger
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - U D Kahlert
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf and Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany; Molecular and Experimental Surgery, Department of General, Visceral, Vascular, and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
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9
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Anshabo AT, Milne R, Wang S, Albrecht H. CDK9: A Comprehensive Review of Its Biology, and Its Role as a Potential Target for Anti-Cancer Agents. Front Oncol 2021; 11:678559. [PMID: 34041038 PMCID: PMC8143439 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.678559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are proteins pivotal to a wide range of cellular functions, most importantly cell division and transcription, and their dysregulations have been implicated as prominent drivers of tumorigenesis. Besides the well-established role of cell cycle CDKs in cancer, the involvement of transcriptional CDKs has been confirmed more recently. Most cancers overtly employ CDKs that serve as key regulators of transcription (e.g., CDK9) for a continuous production of short-lived gene products that maintain their survival. As such, dysregulation of the CDK9 pathway has been observed in various hematological and solid malignancies, making it a valuable anticancer target. This therapeutic potential has been utilized for the discovery of CDK9 inhibitors, some of which have entered human clinical trials. This review provides a comprehensive discussion on the structure and biology of CDK9, its role in solid and hematological cancers, and an updated review of the available inhibitors currently being investigated in preclinical and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abel Tesfaye Anshabo
- Drug Discovery and Development, Centre for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Robert Milne
- Drug Discovery and Development, Centre for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Shudong Wang
- Drug Discovery and Development, Centre for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Hugo Albrecht
- Drug Discovery and Development, Centre for Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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10
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Chen KTJ, Militao GGC, Anantha M, Witzigmann D, Leung AWY, Bally MB. Development and characterization of a novel flavopiridol formulation for treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. J Control Release 2021; 333:246-257. [PMID: 33798663 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.03.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
For more than 30 years, treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has remained largely unchanged and reliant on chemotherapeutic drug combinations, specifically cytarabine and daunorubicin (the 7 + 3 regimen). One broad spectrum drug, flavopiridol (also known as Alvocidib) has shown significant activity against AML through the inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases. Flavopiridol is a semisynthetic flavonoid and our research team recently described methods to formulate another flavonoid, quercetin, through the ability of flavonoids to bind divalent metals. This method relies on use of copper-containing liposomes to enhance the apparent solubility of flavopiridol and to create formulations suitable for intravenous (i.v.) use. Similar to quercetin, flavopiridol is defined as an aqueous-insoluble compound (< 1 mg/mL in water) and this research sought to evaluate whether the copper-binding capabilities of flavopiridol could be used to prepare an injectable formulation that would exhibit enhanced exposure and improved efficacy. Flavopiridol powder was added directly to preformed copper-containing liposomes (DSPC:Chol or DSPC:DSPE-PEG2000) and the resulting formulations were characterized. Pharmacokinetic and efficacy studies were then conducted. The liposomal flavopiridol formulations were well-tolerated in mice following i.v. administration at a dose of 5 mg/kg with no apparent acute or chronic toxicities. In vivo pharmacokinetics of the optimized DSPC/DSPE-PEG2000 liposomal flavopiridol formulation demonstrated a 30-fold increase in AUC (0.804 μg-hr/mL versus 26.92 μg-hr/mL) compared to the free flavopiridol formulation. The resultant liposomal formulation also demonstrated significant therapeutic activity in MV4-11 and MOLM-13 subcutaneous AML models. Additional studies will be required to define whether formulation changes can be made to enhance flavopiridol retention in the selected composition. The results suggest that further increases in flavopiridol retention will result in improved therapeutic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kent T J Chen
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada.
| | - Gardenia G C Militao
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; Federal University of Pernambuco, PE CEP:50.670-901, Brazil
| | - Malathi Anantha
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Dominik Witzigmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada; NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Ada W Y Leung
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; Cuprous Pharmaceuticals, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Marcel B Bally
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada; Cuprous Pharmaceuticals, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada
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11
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Liu Y, Zhu C, Tang L, Chen Q, Guan N, Xu K, Guan X. MYC dysfunction modulates stemness and tumorigenesis in breast cancer. Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17:178-187. [PMID: 33390842 PMCID: PMC7757029 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.51458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
As a transcription factor and proto-oncogene, MYC is known to be deregulated in a variety of tumors, including breast cancer. However, no consistent conclusion on the role and mechanism of MYC deregulation during breast cancer carcinogenesis has been formed. Here, we used the UALCAN, bc-GenExMiner, TCGA, cBioportal, STRING and Kaplan-Meier Plotter databases to explore the mRNA expression, prognosis, transcriptional profile changes, signal pathway rewiring and interaction with the cancer stem cells of MYC in breast cancer. We found that the expression of MYC varies in different subtypes of breast cancer, with relatively high frequency in TNBC. As a transcription factor, MYC not only participates in the rewiring of cancer signaling pathways, such as estrogen, WNT, NOTCH and other pathways, but also interacts with cancer stem cells. MYC is significantly positively correlated with breast cancer stem cell markers such as CD44, CD24, and ALDH1. Collectively, our results highlight that MYC plays an important regulatory role in the occurrence of breast cancer, and its amplification can be used as a predictor of diagnosis and prognosis. The interaction between MYC and cancer stem cells may play a crucial role in regulating the initiation and metastasis of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqiu Liu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Chengjun Zhu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Lin Tang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Qin Chen
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Nan Guan
- College of Letters and Science, University of California, Los Angeles, 405 Hilgard Avenue, California, 90095, USA
| | - Kun Xu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Guan
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China
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12
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The Molecular 'Myc-anisms' Behind Myc-Driven Tumorigenesis and the Relevant Myc-Directed Therapeutics. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249486. [PMID: 33322239 PMCID: PMC7764474 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
MYC, a well-studied proto-oncogene that is overexpressed in >20% of tumors across all cancers, is classically known as “undruggable” due to its crucial roles in cell processes and its lack of a drug binding pocket. Four decades of research and creativity led to the discovery of a myriad of indirect (and now some direct!) therapeutic strategies targeting Myc. This review explores the various mechanisms in which Myc promotes cancer and highlights five key therapeutic approaches to disrupt Myc, including transcription, Myc-Max dimerization, protein stability, cell cycle regulation, and metabolism, in order to develop more specific Myc-directed therapies.
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13
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Barlaam B, Casella R, Cidado J, Cook C, De Savi C, Dishington A, Donald CS, Drew L, Ferguson AD, Ferguson D, Glossop S, Grebe T, Gu C, Hande S, Hawkins J, Hird AW, Holmes J, Horstick J, Jiang Y, Lamb ML, McGuire TM, Moore JE, O'Connell N, Pike A, Pike KG, Proia T, Roberts B, San Martin M, Sarkar U, Shao W, Stead D, Sumner N, Thakur K, Vasbinder MM, Varnes JG, Wang J, Wang L, Wu D, Wu L, Yang B, Yao T. Discovery of AZD4573, a Potent and Selective Inhibitor of CDK9 That Enables Short Duration of Target Engagement for the Treatment of Hematological Malignancies. J Med Chem 2020; 63:15564-15590. [PMID: 33306391 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
A CDK9 inhibitor having short target engagement would enable a reduction of Mcl-1 activity, resulting in apoptosis in cancer cells dependent on Mcl-1 for survival. We report the optimization of a series of amidopyridines (from compound 2), focusing on properties suitable for achieving short target engagement after intravenous administration. By increasing potency and human metabolic clearance, we identified compound 24, a potent and selective CDK9 inhibitor with suitable predicted human pharmacokinetic properties to deliver transient inhibition of CDK9. Furthermore, the solubility of 24 was considered adequate to allow i.v. formulation at the anticipated effective dose. Short-term treatment with compound 24 led to a rapid dose- and time-dependent decrease of pSer2-RNAP2 and Mcl-1, resulting in cell apoptosis in multiple hematological cancer cell lines. Intermittent dosing of compound 24 demonstrated efficacy in xenograft models derived from multiple hematological tumors. Compound 24 is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of hematological malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Barlaam
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Casella
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Justin Cidado
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Calum Cook
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, SK10 2NA, United Kingdom
| | - Chris De Savi
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | | | - Craig S Donald
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa Drew
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Andrew D Ferguson
- Discovery Sciences, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Douglas Ferguson
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Steve Glossop
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Tyler Grebe
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Chungang Gu
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Sudhir Hande
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Janet Hawkins
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander W Hird
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Jane Holmes
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - James Horstick
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Yun Jiang
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road BDA, Beijing, 100176, P. R. China
| | - Michelle L Lamb
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | | | - Jane E Moore
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Nichole O'Connell
- Discovery Sciences, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Andy Pike
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Kurt G Pike
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Theresa Proia
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Bryan Roberts
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ujjal Sarkar
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Wenlin Shao
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Darren Stead
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Neil Sumner
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, United Kingdom
| | - Kumar Thakur
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | | | - Jeffrey G Varnes
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Jianyan Wang
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Lei Wang
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road BDA, Beijing, 100176, P. R. China
| | - Dedong Wu
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Liangwei Wu
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road BDA, Beijing, 100176, P. R. China
| | - Bin Yang
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Boston, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | - Tieguang Yao
- Pharmaron Beijing Co., Ltd., 6 Taihe Road BDA, Beijing, 100176, P. R. China
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14
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Exploitable metabolic dependencies in MLL-ENL-induced leukemia. Blood Adv 2020; 4:3626-3638. [PMID: 32766858 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020001710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) fusions are transcriptional activators that induce leukemia, with a dismal prognosis that mandates further elucidation of their transformation mechanism. In this study, knockdown of the direct MLL-ENL target gene polypyrimidine tract binding protein-1 (PTBP1) was rate limiting for cell proliferation and caused a metabolic phenotype associated with reduced glucose consumption and lactate production. This effect was accompanied by a reduction of splice isoform-2 of pyruvate kinase M (PKM2). Because PKM2 restricts glycolytic outflow to provide anabolic intermediates, we tested the consequences of glucose, energy, and Ser/Gly starvation for cell physiology. Administration of deoxyglucose, energetic decoupling with rotenone, and inhibition of Ser biosynthesis by CBR5884 had a significantly stronger influence on self-renewal and survival of transformed cells than on normal controls. In particular, inhibition of Ser synthesis, which branches off glycolysis caused accumulation of reactive oxygen species, DNA damage, and apoptosis, predominantly in leukemic cells. Depletion of exogenous Ser/Gly affected proliferation and self-renewal of murine and human leukemia samples, even though they are classified as nonessential amino acids. Response to Ser/Gly starvation correlated with glucose transport, but did not involve activation of the AMPK energy homeostasis system. Finally, survival times in transplantation experiments were significantly extended by feeding recipients a Ser/Gly-free diet. These results suggest selective starvation as an option for supportive leukemia treatment.
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15
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Slany RK. MLL fusion proteins and transcriptional control. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2020; 1863:194503. [PMID: 32061883 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2020.194503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The highly leukemogenic MLL fusion proteins have a unique mechanism of action. This review summarizes the current knowledge of how MLL fusions interact with the transcriptional machinery and it proposes a hypothesis how these proteins modify transcriptional control to act as transcriptional amplifiers causing runaway production of certain RNAs that transform hematopoietic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert K Slany
- Department of Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
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16
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Abstract
MYC is a master transcriptional regulator that controls almost all cellular processes. Over the last several decades, researchers have strived to define the context-dependent transcriptional gene programs that are controlled by MYC, as well as the mechanisms that regulate MYC function, in an effort to better understand the contribution of this oncoprotein to cancer progression. There are a wealth of data indicating that deregulation of MYC activity occurs in a large number of cancers and significantly contributes to disease progression, metastatic potential, and therapeutic resistance. Although the therapeutic targeting of MYC in cancer is highly desirable, there remain substantial structural and functional challenges that have impeded direct MYC-targeted drug development and efficacy. While efforts to drug the ‘undruggable’ may seem futile given these challenges and considering the broad reach of MYC, significant strides have been made to identify points of regulation that can be exploited for therapeutic purposes. These include targeting the deregulation of MYC transcription in cancer through small-molecule inhibitors that induce epigenetic silencing or that regulate the G-quadruplex structures within the MYC promoter. Alternatively, compounds that disrupt the DNA-binding activities of MYC have been the long-standing focus of many research groups, since this method would prevent downstream MYC oncogenic activities regardless of upstream alterations. Finally, proteins involved in the post-translational regulation of MYC have been identified as important surrogate targets to reduce MYC activity downstream of aberrant cell stimulatory signals. Given the complex regulation of the MYC signaling pathway, a combination of these approaches may provide the most durable response, but this has yet to be shown. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the different therapeutic strategies being employed to target oncogenic MYC function, with a focus on post-translational mechanisms.
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17
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P-TEFb as A Promising Therapeutic Target. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25040838. [PMID: 32075058 PMCID: PMC7070488 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25040838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) was first identified as a general factor that stimulates transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), but soon afterwards it turned out to be an essential cellular co-factor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transcription mediated by viral Tat proteins. Studies on the mechanisms of Tat-dependent HIV transcription have led to radical advances in our knowledge regarding the mechanism of eukaryotic transcription, including the discoveries that P-TEFb-mediated elongation control of cellular transcription is a main regulatory step of gene expression in eukaryotes, and deregulation of P-TEFb activity plays critical roles in many human diseases and conditions in addition to HIV/AIDS. P-TEFb is now recognized as an attractive and promising therapeutic target for inflammation/autoimmune diseases, cardiac hypertrophy, cancer, infectious diseases, etc. In this review article, I will summarize our knowledge about basic P-TEFb functions, the regulatory mechanism of P-TEFb-dependent transcription, P-TEFb’s involvement in biological processes and diseases, and current approaches to manipulating P-TEFb functions for the treatment of these diseases.
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18
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Massó-Vallés D, Beaulieu ME, Soucek L. MYC, MYCL, and MYCN as therapeutic targets in lung cancer. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:101-114. [PMID: 32003251 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1723548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Despite recent advances with personalized therapies and immunotherapy, the prognosis remains dire and recurrence is frequent. Myc is an oncogene deregulated in human cancers, including lung cancer, where it supports tumorigenic processes and progression. Elevated Myc levels have also been associated with resistance to therapy.Areas covered: This article summarizes the genomic and transcriptomic studies that compile evidence for (i) MYC, MYCN, and MYCL amplification and overexpression in lung cancer patients, and (ii) their prognostic significance. We collected the most recent literature regarding the development of Myc inhibitors where the emphasis is on those inhibitors tested in lung cancer experimental models and their potential for future clinical application.Expert opinion: The targeting of Myc in lung cancer is potentially an unprecedented opportunity for inhibiting a key player in tumor progression and maintenance and therapeutic resistance. Myc inhibitory strategies are on the path to their clinical application but further work is necessary for the assessment of their use in combination with standard treatment approaches. Given the role of Myc in immune suppression, a significant opportunity may exist in the combination of Myc inhibitors with immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura Soucek
- Peptomyc S.L., Edifici Cellex, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.,Edifici Cellex, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain.,Institució Catalana De Recerca I Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma De Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
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19
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Cao L, Mitra P, Gonda TJ. The mechanism of MYB transcriptional regulation by MLL-AF9 oncoprotein. Sci Rep 2019; 9:20084. [PMID: 31882723 PMCID: PMC6934848 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56426-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute leukaemias express high levels of MYB which are required for the initiation and maintenance of the disease. Inhibition of MYB expression or activity has been shown to suppress MLL-fusion oncoprotein-induced acute myeloid leukaemias (AML), which are among the most aggressive forms of AML, and indeed MYB transcription has been reported to be regulated by the MLL-AF9 oncoprotein. This highlights the importance of understanding the mechanism of MYB transcriptional regulation in these leukaemias. Here we have demonstrated that the MLL-AF9 fusion protein regulates MYB transcription directly at the promoter region, in part by recruiting the transcriptional regulator kinase CDK9, and CDK9 inhibition effectively suppresses MYB expression as well as cell proliferation. However, MYB regulation by MLL-AF9 does not require H3K79 methylation mediated by the methyltransferase DOT1L, which has also been shown to be a key mediator of MLL-AF9 leukemogenicity. The identification of specific, essential and druggable transcriptional regulators may enable effective targeting of MYB expression, which in turn could potentially lead to new therapeutic approaches for acute myeloid leukaemia with MLL-AF9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Cao
- School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Partha Mitra
- School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, TRI, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Thomas J Gonda
- School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. .,University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
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20
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Kabir S, Cidado J, Andersen C, Dick C, Lin PC, Mitros T, Ma H, Baik SH, Belmonte MA, Drew L, Corn JE. The CUL5 ubiquitin ligase complex mediates resistance to CDK9 and MCL1 inhibitors in lung cancer cells. eLife 2019; 8:44288. [PMID: 31294695 PMCID: PMC6701926 DOI: 10.7554/elife.44288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of anti-apoptotic proteins MCL1 and Bcl-xL are frequently observed in many cancers. Inhibitors targeting MCL1 are in clinical development, however numerous cancer models are intrinsically resistant to this approach. To discover mechanisms underlying resistance to MCL1 inhibition, we performed multiple flow-cytometry based genome-wide CRISPR screens interrogating two drugs that directly (MCL1i) or indirectly (CDK9i) target MCL1. Remarkably, both screens identified three components (CUL5, RNF7 and UBE2F) of a cullin-RING ubiquitin ligase complex (CRL5) that resensitized cells to MCL1 inhibition. We find that levels of the BH3-only pro-apoptotic proteins Bim and Noxa are proteasomally regulated by the CRL5 complex. Accumulation of Noxa caused by depletion of CRL5 components was responsible for re-sensitization to CDK9 inhibitor, but not MCL1 inhibitor. Discovery of a novel role of CRL5 in apoptosis and resistance to multiple types of anticancer agents suggests the potential to improve combination treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaheen Kabir
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States.,Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States
| | - Justin Cidado
- Bioscience Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Waltham, United States
| | - Courtney Andersen
- Bioscience Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Waltham, United States
| | - Cortni Dick
- Bioscience Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Waltham, United States
| | - Pei-Chun Lin
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Therese Mitros
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Hong Ma
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Seung Hyun Baik
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Matthew A Belmonte
- Bioscience Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Waltham, United States
| | - Lisa Drew
- Bioscience Oncology, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Waltham, United States
| | - Jacob E Corn
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
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21
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Chen KTJ, Gilabert-Oriol R, Bally MB, Leung AWY. Recent Treatment Advances and the Role of Nanotechnology, Combination Products, and Immunotherapy in Changing the Therapeutic Landscape of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Pharm Res 2019; 36:125. [PMID: 31236772 PMCID: PMC6591181 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-019-2654-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common acute leukemia that is becoming more prevalent particularly in the older (65 years of age or older) population. For decades, "7 + 3" remission induction therapy with cytarabine and an anthracycline, followed by consolidation therapy, has been the standard of care treatment for AML. This stagnancy in AML treatment has resulted in less than ideal treatment outcomes for AML patients, especially for elderly patients and those with unfavourable profiles. Over the past two years, six new therapeutic agents have received regulatory approval, suggesting that a number of obstacles to treating AML have been addressed and the treatment landscape for AML is finally changing. This review outlines the challenges and obstacles in treating AML and highlights the advances in AML treatment made in recent years, including Vyxeos®, midostaurin, gemtuzumab ozogamicin, and venetoclax, with particular emphasis on combination treatment strategies. We also discuss the potential utility of new combination products such as one that we call "EnFlaM", which comprises an encapsulated nanoformulation of flavopiridol and mitoxantrone. Finally, we provide a review on the immunotherapeutic landscape of AML, discussing yet another angle through which novel treatments can be designed to further improve treatment outcomes for AML patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kent T J Chen
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Roger Gilabert-Oriol
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Marcel B Bally
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
- Cuprous Pharmaceuticals Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Ada W Y Leung
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Cuprous Pharmaceuticals Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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22
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Mitra P. Transcription regulation of MYB: a potential and novel therapeutic target in cancer. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2018; 6:443. [PMID: 30596073 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2018.09.62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Basal transcription factors have never been considered as a priority target in the field of drug discovery. However, their unparalleled roles in decoding the genetic information in response to the appropriate signal and their association with the disease progression are very well-established phenomena. Instead of considering transcription factors as such a target, in this review, we discuss about the potential of the regulatory mechanisms that control their gene expression. Based on our recent understanding about the critical roles of c-MYB at the cellular and molecular level in several types of cancers, we discuss here how MLL-fusion protein centred SEC in leukaemia, ligand-estrogen receptor (ER) complex in breast cancer (BC) and NF-κB and associated factors in colorectal cancer regulate the transcription of this gene. We further discuss plausible strategies, specific to each cancer type, to target those bona fide activators/co-activators, which control the regulation of this gene and therefore to shed fresh light in targeting the transcriptional regulation as a novel approach to the future drug discovery in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Partha Mitra
- Pre-clinical Division, Vaxxas Pty. Ltd. Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba QLD 4102, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba QLD 4102, Australia
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23
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CDKI-73: an orally bioavailable and highly efficacious CDK9 inhibitor against acute myeloid leukemia. Invest New Drugs 2018; 37:625-635. [PMID: 30194564 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-018-0661-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common form of acute leukemia with dismal long-term prognosis with age. The most aggressive subtype of AML is MLL-AML that is characterized by translocations of the mixed-lineage leukemia gene (MLL) and resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Cyclin dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) plays a crucial role in the MLL-driven oncogenic transcription, and hence, inhibiting activity of CDK9 has been proposed as a promising strategy for treatment of AML. We investigated the therapeutic potential of CDKI-73, one of the most potent CDK9 inhibitors, against a panel of AML cell lines and samples derived from 97 patients. CDKI-73 induced cancer cells undergoing apoptosis through transcriptional downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2, Mcl-1 and XIAP by majorly targeting CDK9. Contrastively, it was relatively low toxic to the bone marrow cells of healthy donors. In MV4-11 xenograft mouse models, oral administration of CDKI-73 resulted in a marked inhibition of tumor growth (p < 0.0001) and prolongation of animal life span (P < 0.001) without causing body weight loss and other overt toxicities. The study suggests that CDKI-73 can be developed as a highly efficacious and orally deliverable therapeutic agent for treatment of AML.
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24
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Abstract
The MYC family oncogene is deregulated in >50% of human cancers, and this deregulation is frequently associated with poor prognosis and unfavorable patient survival. Myc has a central role in almost every aspect of the oncogenic process, orchestrating proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and metabolism. Although Myc inhibition would be a powerful approach for the treatment of many types of cancers, direct targeting of Myc has been a challenge for decades owing to its "undruggable" protein structure. Hence, alternatives to Myc blockade have been widely explored to achieve desirable anti-tumor effects, including Myc/Max complex disruption, MYC transcription and/or translation inhibition, and Myc destabilization as well as the synthetic lethality associated with Myc overexpression. In this review, we summarize the latest advances in targeting oncogenic Myc, particularly for cancer therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- 1Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.,2Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hudan Liu
- 1Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.,2Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoliang Qing
- 1Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.,2Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
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25
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Heijkants R, Willekens K, Schoonderwoerd M, Teunisse A, Nieveen M, Radaelli E, Hawinkels L, Marine JC, Jochemsen A. Combined inhibition of CDK and HDAC as a promising therapeutic strategy for both cutaneous and uveal metastatic melanoma. Oncotarget 2017; 9:6174-6187. [PMID: 29464063 PMCID: PMC5814203 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Very little to no improvement in overall survival has been seen in patients with advanced non-resectable cutaneous melanoma or metastatic uveal melanoma in decades, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic options. In this study we investigated as a potential novel therapeutic intervention for both cutaneous and uveal melanoma patients a combination of the broad spectrum HDAC inhibitor quisinostat and pan-CDK inhibitor flavopiridol. Both drugs are currently in clinical trials reducing time from bench to bedside. Combining quisinostat and flavopiridol shows a synergistic reduction in cell viability of all melanoma cell lines tested, irrespective of their driver mutations. This synergism was also observed in BRAFV600E mutant melanoma that had acquired resistance to BRAF inhibition. Mechanistically, loss of cell viability was, at least partly, due to induction of apoptotic cell death. The combination was also effectively inducing tumor regression in a preclinical setting, namely a patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) model of cutaneous melanoma, without increasing adverse effects. We propose that the quisinostat/flavopiridol combination is a promising therapeutic option for both cutaneous and uveal metastatic melanoma patients, independent of their mutational status or (acquired) resistance to BRAF inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renier Heijkants
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Karen Willekens
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mark Schoonderwoerd
- Department of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Amina Teunisse
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maaike Nieveen
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Enrico Radaelli
- Mouse Histopathology Core Facility, VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Luuk Hawinkels
- Department of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Christophe Marine
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Aart Jochemsen
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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26
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Uncovering BRD4 hyperphosphorylation associated with cellular transformation in NUT midline carcinoma. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017. [PMID: 28630312 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1703071114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The epigenetic reader BRD4 plays a vital role in transcriptional regulation, cellular growth control, and cell-cycle progression. Dysregulation of BRD4 function has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide range of cancers. However, how BRD4 is regulated to maintain its normal function in healthy cells and how alteration of this process leads to cancer remain poorly understood. In this study, we discovered that BRD4 is hyperphosphorylated in NUT midline carcinoma and identified CDK9 as a potential kinase mediating BRD4 hyperphosphorylation. Disruption of BRD4 hyperphosphorylation using both chemical and molecular inhibitors led to the repression of BRD4 downstream oncogenes and abrogation of cellular transformation. BRD4 hyperphosphorylation is also observed in other cancers displaying enhanced BRD4 oncogenic activity. Our study revealed a mechanism that may regulate BRD4 biological function through phosphorylation, which, when dysregulated, could lead to oncogenesis. Our finding points to strategies to target the aberrant BRD4 signaling specifically for cancer intervention.
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27
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Inhibition of CDK9 as a therapeutic strategy for inflammatory arthritis. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31441. [PMID: 27511630 PMCID: PMC4980610 DOI: 10.1038/srep31441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis is characterised by synovial inflammation and proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes. The induction of apoptosis has long been proposed as a target for proliferative autoimmune diseases, and has further been shown to act as a successful treatment of experimental models of arthritis, such as collagen-induced arthritis. Here we examined the effects of specific oral small-molecule inhibitors of the transcription regulating cyclin-dependent kinase 9 on the development and progression of collagen-induced arthritis. DBA/1 mice were immunised with bovine collagen type II and treated orally with specific CDK9 inhibitors. The effects of CDK9 inhibition on RNA levels and protein expression, apoptosis induction, caspase activation and lymphocyte phenotype were further analysed. Mice showed a significant delay in disease onset and a reduction in disease severity following treatment with CDK9 inhibitors. Inhibiting CDK9 activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells resulted in the loss of Mcl-1 expression at both the protein and RNA levels, along with a subsequent increase in apoptosis. CDK9 specific inhibitors may be a potential alternative treatment not only of cancer, but also for autoimmune- and inflammatory diseases. Taken together, these results show that transient inhibition of CDK9 induces apoptosis in leukocyte subsets and modulates the immune response.
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28
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Xie Q, Wu Q, Kim L, Miller TE, Liau BB, Mack SC, Yang K, Factor DC, Fang X, Huang Z, Zhou W, Alazem K, Wang X, Bernstein BE, Bao S, Rich JN. RBPJ maintains brain tumor-initiating cells through CDK9-mediated transcriptional elongation. J Clin Invest 2016; 126:2757-72. [PMID: 27322055 DOI: 10.1172/jci86114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastomas co-opt stem cell regulatory pathways to maintain brain tumor-initiating cells (BTICs), also known as cancer stem cells. NOTCH signaling has been a molecular target in BTICs, but NOTCH antagonists have demonstrated limited efficacy in clinical trials. Recombining binding protein suppressor of hairless (RBPJ) is considered a central transcriptional mediator of NOTCH activity. Here, we report that pharmacologic NOTCH inhibitors were less effective than targeting RBPJ in suppressing tumor growth. While NOTCH inhibitors decreased canonical NOTCH gene expression, RBPJ regulated a distinct profile of genes critical to BTIC stemness and cell cycle progression. RBPJ was preferentially expressed by BTICs and required for BTIC self-renewal and tumor growth. MYC, a key BTIC regulator, bound the RBPJ promoter and treatment with a bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family bromodomain inhibitor decreased MYC and RBPJ expression. Proteomic studies demonstrated that RBPJ binds CDK9, a component of positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), to target gene promoters, enhancing transcriptional elongation. Collectively, RBPJ links MYC and transcriptional control through CDK9, providing potential nodes of fragility for therapeutic intervention, potentially distinct from NOTCH.
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29
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The molecular mechanics of mixed lineage leukemia. Oncogene 2016; 35:5215-5223. [PMID: 26923329 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2016.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mixed lineage leukemia caused by MLL fusion proteins is still a mostly incurable disease. Research on novel treatment strategies has gained momentum in the last years with the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the transforming potential of these powerful oncoproteins. This review summarizes the recent developments in this area including new attempts to treat MLL in a rational way by exploiting the biochemical vulnerabilities of the leukemogenic process.
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30
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Baker A, Gregory GP, Verbrugge I, Kats L, Hilton JJ, Vidacs E, Lee EM, Lock RB, Zuber J, Shortt J, Johnstone RW. The CDK9 Inhibitor Dinaciclib Exerts Potent Apoptotic and Antitumor Effects in Preclinical Models of MLL-Rearranged Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancer Res 2015; 76:1158-69. [PMID: 26627013 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-1070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Translocations of the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene occur in 60% to 80% of all infant acute leukemias and are markers of poor prognosis. MLL-AF9 and other MLL fusion proteins aberrantly recruit epigenetic regulatory proteins, including histone deacetylases (HDAC), histone methyltransferases, bromodomain-containing proteins, and transcription elongation factors to mediate chromatin remodeling and regulate tumorigenic gene expression programs. We conducted a small-molecule inhibitor screen to test the ability of candidate pharmacologic agents targeting epigenetic and transcriptional regulatory proteins to induce apoptosis in leukemic cells derived from genetically engineered mouse models of MLL-AF9-driven acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We found that the CDK inhibitor dinaciclib and HDAC inhibitor panobinostat were the most potent inducers of apoptosis in short-term in vitro assays. Treatment of MLL-rearranged leukemic cells with dinaciclib resulted in rapidly decreased expression of the prosurvival protein Mcl-1, and accordingly, overexpression of Mcl-1 protected AML cells from dinaciclib-induced apoptosis. Administration of dinaciclib to mice bearing MLL-AF9-driven human and mouse leukemias elicited potent antitumor responses and significantly prolonged survival. Collectively, these studies highlight a new therapeutic approach to potentially overcome the resistance of MLL-rearranged AML to conventional chemotherapies and prompt further clinical evaluation of CDK inhibitors in AML patients harboring MLL fusion proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adele Baker
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Gareth P Gregory
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. Monash Haematology, Monash Health, Clayton, Australia
| | - Inge Verbrugge
- Division of Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lev Kats
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Joshua J Hilton
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Eva Vidacs
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Erwin M Lee
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Richard B Lock
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Johannes Zuber
- Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna, Austria
| | - Jake Shortt
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. Monash Haematology, Monash Health, Clayton, Australia. School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.
| | - Ricky W Johnstone
- Gene Regulation Laboratory, Cancer Therapeutics Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
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31
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Cruickshank VA, Sroczynska P, Sankar A, Miyagi S, Rundsten CF, Johansen JV, Helin K. SWI/SNF Subunits SMARCA4, SMARCD2 and DPF2 Collaborate in MLL-Rearranged Leukaemia Maintenance. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142806. [PMID: 26571505 PMCID: PMC4646637 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations in chromatin structure caused by deregulated epigenetic mechanisms collaborate with underlying genetic lesions to promote cancer. SMARCA4/BRG1, a core component of the SWI/SNF ATP-dependent chromatin-remodelling complex, has been implicated by its mutational spectrum as exerting a tumour-suppressor function in many solid tumours; recently however, it has been reported to sustain leukaemogenic transformation in MLL-rearranged leukaemia in mice. Here we further explore the role of SMARCA4 and the two SWI/SNF subunits SMARCD2/BAF60B and DPF2/BAF45D in leukaemia. We observed the selective requirement for these proteins for leukaemic cell expansion and self-renewal in-vitro as well as in leukaemia. Gene expression profiling in human cells of each of these three factors suggests that they have overlapping functions in leukaemia. The gene expression changes induced by loss of the three proteins demonstrate that they are required for the expression of haematopoietic stem cell associated genes but in contrast to previous results obtained in mouse cells, the three proteins are not required for the expression of c-MYC regulated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. Adam Cruickshank
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Epigenetics, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Patrycja Sroczynska
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Epigenetics, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Aditya Sankar
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Epigenetics, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Satoru Miyagi
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Epigenetics, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Danish Stem Cell Centre (Danstem), University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carsten Friis Rundsten
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Vilstrup Johansen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristian Helin
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Epigenetics, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Danish Stem Cell Centre (Danstem), University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- * E-mail:
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32
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Ballabio E, Milne TA. Epigenetic control of gene expression in leukemogenesis: Cooperation between wild type MLL and MLL fusion proteins. Mol Cell Oncol 2014; 1:e955330. [PMID: 27308325 PMCID: PMC4905190 DOI: 10.1080/23723548.2014.955330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2014] [Revised: 07/14/2014] [Accepted: 07/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Although there has been great progress in the treatment of human cancers, especially leukemias, many remain resistant to treatment. A major current focus is the development of so-called epigenetic drugs. Epigenetic states are stable enough to persist through multiple cell divisions, but by their very nature are reversible and thus are amenable to therapeutic manipulation. Exciting work in this area has produced a new breed of highly specific small molecules designed to inhibit epigenetic proteins, some of which have entered clinical trials. The current and future development of epigenetic drugs is greatly aided by highly detailed information about normal and aberrant epigenetic changes at the molecular level. In this review we focus on a class of aggressive acute leukemias caused by mutations in the Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) gene. We provide an overview of how detailed molecular analysis of MLL leukemias has provided several early-stage epigenetic drugs and propose that further study of MLL leukemogenesis may continue to provide molecular details that potentially have a wider range of applications in human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Ballabio
- MRC Molecular Hematology Unit; Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine; University of Oxford ; Oxford, UK
| | - Thomas A Milne
- MRC Molecular Hematology Unit; Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine; University of Oxford ; Oxford, UK
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