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Timofeev O, Giron P, Lawo S, Pichler M, Noeparast M. ERK pathway agonism for cancer therapy: evidence, insights, and a target discovery framework. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:70. [PMID: 38485987 PMCID: PMC10940698 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00554-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
At least 40% of human cancers are associated with aberrant ERK pathway activity (ERKp). Inhibitors targeting various effectors within the ERKp have been developed and explored for over two decades. Conversely, a substantial body of evidence suggests that both normal human cells and, notably to a greater extent, cancer cells exhibit susceptibility to hyperactivation of ERKp. However, this vulnerability of cancer cells remains relatively unexplored. In this review, we reexamine the evidence on the selective lethality of highly elevated ERKp activity in human cancer cells of varying backgrounds. We synthesize the insights proposed for harnessing this vulnerability of ERK-associated cancers for therapeutical approaches and contextualize these insights within established pharmacological cancer-targeting models. Moreover, we compile the intriguing preclinical findings of ERK pathway agonism in diverse cancer models. Lastly, we present a conceptual framework for target discovery regarding ERKp agonism, emphasizing the utilization of mutual exclusivity among oncogenes to develop novel targeted therapies for precision oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Timofeev
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Philipps University, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Philippe Giron
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Clinical Sciences, Research group Genetics, Reproduction and Development, Centre for Medical Genetics, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Steffen Lawo
- CRISPR Screening Core Facility, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Martin Pichler
- Translational Oncology, II. Med Clinics Hematology and Oncology, 86156, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Maxim Noeparast
- Translational Oncology, II. Med Clinics Hematology and Oncology, 86156, Augsburg, Germany.
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Tsuruta K, Matsuoka M, Harada S, Enomoto A, Kumagai T, Yasuda S, Koumura T, Yamada KI, Imai H. Slowly progressive cell death induced by GPx4-deficiency occurs via MEK1/ERK2 activation as a downstream signal after iron-independent lipid peroxidation. J Clin Biochem Nutr 2024; 74:97-107. [PMID: 38510679 PMCID: PMC10948347 DOI: 10.3164/jcbn.23-101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) is an antioxidant enzyme that reduces phospholipid hydroperoxide. Studies have reported that the loss of GPx4 activity through anticancer drugs leads to ferroptosis, an iron-dependent lipid peroxidation-induced cell death. In this study, we established Tamoxifen-inducible GPx4-deficient Mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells (ETK1 cells) and found that Tamoxifen-inducible gene disruption of GPx4 induces slow cell death at ~72 h. In contrast, RSL3- or erastin-induced ferroptosis occurred quickly within 24 h. Therefore, we investigated the differences in these mechanisms between GPx4 gene disruption-induced cell death and RSL3- or erastin-induced ferroptosis. We found that GPx4-deficiency induced lipid peroxidation at 24 h in Tamoxifen-treated ETK1 cells, which was not suppressed by iron chelators, although lipid peroxidation in RSL3- or erastin-treated cells induced ferroptosis that was inhibited by iron chelators. We revealed that GPx4-deficient cell death was MEK1-dependent but RSL3- or erastin-induced ferroptosis was not, although MEK1/2 inhibitors suppressed both GPx4-deficient cell death and RSL3- or erastin-induced ferroptosis. In GPx4-deficient cell death, the phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and ERK2 was observed 39 h after lipid peroxidation, but ERK1 was not phosphorylated. Selective inhibitors of ERK2 inhibited GPx4-deficient cell death but not in RSL3- or erastin-induced cell death. These findings suggest that iron-independent lipid peroxidation due to GPx4 disruption induced cell death via the activation of MEK1/ERK2 as a downstream signal of lipid peroxidation in Tamoxifen-treated ETK1 cells. This indicates that GPx4 gene disruption induces slow cell death and involves a different pathway from RSL3- and erastin-induced ferroptosis in ETK1 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kahori Tsuruta
- Department of Hygienic Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
- Laboratory of Microbiology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Masaki Matsuoka
- Department of Hygienic Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Shinsaku Harada
- Department of Hygienic Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Ayaka Enomoto
- Department of Hygienic Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kumagai
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacy Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Shu Yasuda
- Department of Hygienic Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Tomoko Koumura
- Department of Hygienic Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Ken-ichi Yamada
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Made, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Imai
- Department of Hygienic Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
- Medical Research Laboratories, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
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Xu X, Bok I, Jasani N, Wang K, Chadourne M, Mecozzi N, Deng O, Welsh EA, Kinose F, Rix U, Karreth FA. PTEN Lipid Phosphatase Activity Suppresses Melanoma Formation by Opposing an AKT/mTOR/FRA1 Signaling Axis. Cancer Res 2024; 84:388-404. [PMID: 38193852 PMCID: PMC10842853 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-1730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Inactivating mutations in PTEN are prevalent in melanoma and are thought to support tumor development by hyperactivating the AKT/mTOR pathway. Conversely, activating mutations in AKT are relatively rare in melanoma, and therapies targeting AKT or mTOR have shown disappointing outcomes in preclinical models and clinical trials of melanoma. This has led to the speculation that PTEN suppresses melanoma by opposing AKT-independent pathways, potentially through noncanonical functions beyond its lipid phosphatase activity. In this study, we examined the mechanisms of PTEN-mediated suppression of melanoma formation through the restoration of various PTEN functions in PTEN-deficient cells or mouse models. PTEN lipid phosphatase activity predominantly inhibited melanoma cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth, with minimal contribution from its protein phosphatase and scaffold functions. A drug screen underscored the exquisite dependence of PTEN-deficient melanoma cells on the AKT/mTOR pathway. Furthermore, activation of AKT alone was sufficient to counteract several aspects of PTEN-mediated melanoma suppression, particularly invasion and the growth of allograft tumors. Phosphoproteomics analysis of the lipid phosphatase activity of PTEN validated its potent inhibition of AKT and many of its known targets, while also identifying the AP-1 transcription factor FRA1 as a downstream effector. The restoration of PTEN dampened FRA1 translation by inhibiting AKT/mTOR signaling, and FRA1 overexpression negated aspects of PTEN-mediated melanoma suppression akin to AKT. This study supports AKT as the key mediator of PTEN inactivation in melanoma and identifies an AKT/mTOR/FRA1 axis as a driver of melanomagenesis. SIGNIFICANCE PTEN suppresses melanoma predominantly through its lipid phosphatase function, which when lost, elevates FRA1 levels through AKT/mTOR signaling to promote several aspects of melanomagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan Xu
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Ilah Bok
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Cancer Biology PhD program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Neel Jasani
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Cancer Biology PhD program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Kaizhen Wang
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Cancer Biology PhD program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Manon Chadourne
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Nicol Mecozzi
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Cancer Biology PhD program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Ou Deng
- Department of Drug Discovery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Eric A. Welsh
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Fumi Kinose
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Uwe Rix
- Department of Drug Discovery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Florian A. Karreth
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
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Zhou QC, Xiao SL, Lin RK, Li C, Chen ZJ, Chen YF, Luo CH, Mo ZX, Lin YB. Polysaccharide of Alocasia cucullata Exerts Antitumor Effect by Regulating Bcl-2, Caspase-3 and ERK1/2 Expressions during Long-Time Administration. Chin J Integr Med 2024; 30:52-61. [PMID: 37340203 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-023-3700-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of the polysaccharide of Alocasia cucullata (PAC) and the underlying mechanism. METHODS B16F10 and 4T1 cells were cultured with PAC of 40 µg/mL, and PAC was withdrawn after 40 days of administration. The cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8. The expression of Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 proteins were detected by Western blot and the expressions of ERK1/2 mRNA were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). A mouse melanoma model was established to study the effect of PAC during long-time administration. Mice were divided into 3 treatment groups: control group treated with saline water, positive control group (LNT group) treated with lentinan at 100 mg/(kg·d), and PAC group treated with PAC at 120 mg/(kg·d). The pathological changes of tumor tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The apoptosis of tumor tissues was detected by TUNEL staining. Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 protein expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the expressions of ERK1/2, JNK1 and p38 mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR. RESULTS In vitro, no strong inhibitory effects of PAC were found in various tumor cells after 48 or 72 h of administration. Interestingly however, after 40 days of cultivation under PAC, an inhibitory effect on B16F10 cells was found. Correspondingly, the long-time administration of PAC led to downregulation of Bcl-2 protein (P<0.05), up-regulation of Caspase-3 protein (P<0.05) and ERK1 mRNA (P<0.05) in B16F10 cells. The above results were verified by in vivo experiments. In addition, viability of B16F10 cells under long-time administration culture in vitro decreased after drug withdrawal, and similar results were also observed in 4T1 cells. CONCLUSIONS Long-time administration of PAC can significantly inhibit viability and promote apoptosis of tumor cells, and had obvious antitumor effect in tumor-bearing mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Chun Zhou
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
- Clinical and Basic Research Team of TCM Prevention and Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, the Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Shi-Lin Xiao
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Ru-Kun Lin
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Chan Li
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Zhi-Jie Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yi-Fei Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Chao-Hua Luo
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Zhi-Xian Mo
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China.
| | - Ying-Bo Lin
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
- Department of Pharmacy, Jiangmen Central Hospital, Jiangmen, 529000, China.
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5
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Maltas J, Killarney ST, Singleton KR, Strobl MAR, Washart R, Wood KC, Wood KB. Drug dependence in cancer is exploitable by optimally constructed treatment holidays. Nat Ecol Evol 2024; 8:147-162. [PMID: 38012363 PMCID: PMC10918730 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02255-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Cancers with acquired resistance to targeted therapy can become simultaneously dependent on the presence of the targeted therapy drug for survival, suggesting that intermittent therapy may slow resistance. However, relatively little is known about which tumours are likely to become dependent and how to schedule intermittent therapy optimally. Here we characterized drug dependence across a panel of over 75 MAPK-inhibitor-resistant BRAFV600E mutant melanoma models at the population and single-clone levels. Melanocytic differentiated models exhibited a much greater tendency to give rise to drug-dependent progeny than their dedifferentiated counterparts. Mechanistically, acquired loss of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor in differentiated melanoma models drives ERK-JunB-p21 signalling to enforce drug dependence. We identified the optimal scheduling of 'drug holidays' using simple mathematical models that we validated across short and long timescales. Without detailed knowledge of tumour characteristics, we found that a simple adaptive therapy protocol can produce near-optimal outcomes using only measurements of total population size. Finally, a spatial agent-based model showed that optimal schedules derived from exponentially growing cells in culture remain nearly optimal in the context of tumour cell turnover and limited environmental carrying capacity. These findings may guide the implementation of improved evolution-inspired treatment strategies for drug-dependent cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeff Maltas
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Shane T Killarney
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Maximilian A R Strobl
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Rachel Washart
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kris C Wood
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Kevin B Wood
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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6
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Bahar ME, Kim HJ, Kim DR. Targeting the RAS/RAF/MAPK pathway for cancer therapy: from mechanism to clinical studies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:455. [PMID: 38105263 PMCID: PMC10725898 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01705-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic dissemination of solid tumors, a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, underscores the urgent need for enhanced insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying metastasis, chemoresistance, and the mechanistic backgrounds of individuals whose cancers are prone to migration. The most prevalent signaling cascade governed by multi-kinase inhibitors is the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, encompassing the RAS-RAF-MAPK kinase (MEK)-extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) pathway. RAF kinase is a primary mediator of the MAPK pathway, responsible for the sequential activation of downstream targets, such as MEK and the transcription factor ERK, which control numerous cellular and physiological processes, including organism development, cell cycle control, cell proliferation and differentiation, cell survival, and death. Defects in this signaling cascade are associated with diseases such as cancer. RAF inhibitors (RAFi) combined with MEK blockers represent an FDA-approved therapeutic strategy for numerous RAF-mutant cancers, including melanoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, and thyroid cancer. However, the development of therapy resistance by cancer cells remains an important barrier. Autophagy, an intracellular lysosome-dependent catabolic recycling process, plays a critical role in the development of RAFi resistance in cancer. Thus, targeting RAF and autophagy could be novel treatment strategies for RAF-mutant cancers. In this review, we delve deeper into the mechanistic insights surrounding RAF kinase signaling in tumorigenesis and RAFi-resistance. Furthermore, we explore and discuss the ongoing development of next-generation RAF inhibitors with enhanced therapeutic profiles. Additionally, this review sheds light on the functional interplay between RAF-targeted therapies and autophagy in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Entaz Bahar
- Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Sciences and Institute of Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, College of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Hyun Joon Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Convergence Medical Sciences and Institute of Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, College of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea
| | - Deok Ryong Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Convergence Medical Sciences and Institute of Medical Science, Gyeongsang National University, College of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea.
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7
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Ladias C, Papakotoulas P, Papaioannou M, Papanikolaou NA. Overcoming phenotypic switching: targeting protein-protein interactions in cancer. Explor Target Antitumor Ther 2023; 4:1071-1081. [PMID: 38023990 PMCID: PMC10651353 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2023.00181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative protein-protein interactions (PPIs) arising from mutations or post-translational modifications (PTMs), termed phenotypic switching (PS), are critical for the transmission of alternative pathogenic signals and are particularly significant in cancer. In recent years, PPIs have emerged as promising targets for rational drug design, primarily because their high specificity facilitates targeting of disease-related signaling pathways. However, obstacles exist at the molecular level that arise from the properties of the interaction interfaces and the propensity of small molecule drugs to interact with more than one cleft surface. The difficulty in identifying small molecules that act as activators or inhibitors to counteract the biological effects of mutations raises issues that have not been encountered before. For example, small molecules can bind tightly but may not act as drugs or bind to multiple sites (interaction promiscuity). Another reason is the absence of significant clefts on protein surfaces; if a pocket is present, it may be too small, or its geometry may prevent binding. PS, which arises from oncogenic (alternative) signaling, causes drug resistance and forms the basis for the systemic robustness of tumors. In this review, the properties of PPI interfaces relevant to the design and development of targeting drugs are examined. In addition, the interactions between three tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) employed as drugs are discussed. Finally, potential novel targets of one of these drugs were identified in silico.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos Ladias
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Epirus, Greece
| | - Pavlos Papakotoulas
- First Department of Clinical Oncology, Theageneio Cancer Hospital, 54639 Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
| | - Maria Papaioannou
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Section of Biological Sciences and Preventive Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, 54124 Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
| | - Nikolaos A. Papanikolaou
- Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Department of Medicine, Section of Biological Sciences and Preventive Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, 54124 Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
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8
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Macaya I, Roman M, Welch C, Entrialgo-Cadierno R, Salmon M, Santos A, Feliu I, Kovalski J, Lopez I, Rodriguez-Remirez M, Palomino-Echeverria S, Lonfgren SM, Ferrero M, Calabuig S, Ludwig IA, Lara-Astiaso D, Jantus-Lewintre E, Guruceaga E, Narayanan S, Ponz-Sarvise M, Pineda-Lucena A, Lecanda F, Ruggero D, Khatri P, Santamaria E, Fernandez-Irigoyen J, Ferrer I, Paz-Ares L, Drosten M, Barbacid M, Gil-Bazo I, Vicent S. Signature-driven repurposing of Midostaurin for combination with MEK1/2 and KRASG12C inhibitors in lung cancer. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6332. [PMID: 37816716 PMCID: PMC10564741 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41828-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug combinations are key to circumvent resistance mechanisms compromising response to single anti-cancer targeted therapies. The implementation of combinatorial approaches involving MEK1/2 or KRASG12C inhibitors in the context of KRAS-mutated lung cancers focuses fundamentally on targeting KRAS proximal activators or effectors. However, the antitumor effect is highly determined by compensatory mechanisms arising in defined cell types or tumor subgroups. A potential strategy to find drug combinations targeting a larger fraction of KRAS-mutated lung cancers may capitalize on the common, distal gene expression output elicited by oncogenic KRAS. By integrating a signature-driven drug repurposing approach with a pairwise pharmacological screen, here we show synergistic drug combinations consisting of multi-tyrosine kinase PKC inhibitors together with MEK1/2 or KRASG12C inhibitors. Such combinations elicit a cytotoxic response in both in vitro and in vivo models, which in part involves inhibition of the PKC inhibitor target AURKB. Proteome profiling links dysregulation of MYC expression to the effect of both PKC inhibitor-based drug combinations. Furthermore, MYC overexpression appears as a resistance mechanism to MEK1/2 and KRASG12C inhibitors. Our study provides a rational framework for selecting drugs entering combinatorial strategies and unveils MEK1/2- and KRASG12C-based therapies for lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irati Macaya
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Marta Roman
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Connor Welch
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Marina Salmon
- Experimental Oncology Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Center (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alba Santos
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- H12O-CNIO Lung Cancer Clinical Research Unit, Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre & Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Iker Feliu
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Joanna Kovalski
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ines Lopez
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Maria Rodriguez-Remirez
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Sara Palomino-Echeverria
- Navarrabiomed, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra (CHN), Universidad Pública de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Shane M Lonfgren
- Stanford Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Macarena Ferrero
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Fundación Para La Investigación del Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Mixed Unit TRIAL (Principe Felipe Research Centre & Fundación para la Investigación del Hospital General Universitario de Valencia), Valencia, Spain
| | - Silvia Calabuig
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Fundación Para La Investigación del Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Mixed Unit TRIAL (Principe Felipe Research Centre & Fundación para la Investigación del Hospital General Universitario de Valencia), Valencia, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Iziar A Ludwig
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Molecular Therapies Program, Pamplona, Spain
| | - David Lara-Astiaso
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Genomics Platform, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Eloisa Jantus-Lewintre
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Fundación Para La Investigación del Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Mixed Unit TRIAL (Principe Felipe Research Centre & Fundación para la Investigación del Hospital General Universitario de Valencia), Valencia, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Elizabeth Guruceaga
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Bioinformatics Platform, Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- ProteoRed-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Shruthi Narayanan
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
- Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Department of Medical Oncology, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Mariano Ponz-Sarvise
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Department of Medical Oncology, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Antonio Pineda-Lucena
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Molecular Therapies Program, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Fernando Lecanda
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- University of Navarra, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Davide Ruggero
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Purvesh Khatri
- Department of Urology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Navarrabiomed, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra (CHN), Universidad Pública de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Enrique Santamaria
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- ProteoRed-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Joaquin Fernandez-Irigoyen
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- ProteoRed-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Ferrer
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- H12O-CNIO Lung Cancer Clinical Research Unit, Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre & Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Paz-Ares
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- H12O-CNIO Lung Cancer Clinical Research Unit, Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre & Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
- Medical School, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Matthias Drosten
- Experimental Oncology Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Center (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer and Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Mariano Barbacid
- Experimental Oncology Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Center (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio Gil-Bazo
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Department of Medical Oncology, Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Oncology, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain
| | - Silve Vicent
- University of Navarra, Center for Applied Medical Research, Program in Solid Tumors, Pamplona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain.
- IdiSNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain.
- University of Navarra, Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, Pamplona, Spain.
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9
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Champhekar A, Heymans R, Saco J, Turon Font G, Gonzalez C, Gao A, Pham J, Lee J, Maryoung R, Medina E, Campbell KM, Karin D, Austin D, Damioseaux R, Ribas A. ERK mediates interferon gamma-induced melanoma cell death. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:165. [PMID: 37803324 PMCID: PMC10557262 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01868-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interferon-gamma (IFNγ) exerts potent growth inhibitory effects on a wide range of cancer cells through unknown signaling pathways. We pursued complementary screening approaches to characterize the growth inhibition pathway. METHODS We performed chemical genomics and whole genome targeting CRISPR/Cas9 screens using patient-derived melanoma lines to uncover essential nodes in the IFNγ-mediated growth inhibition pathway. We used transcriptomic profiling to identify cell death pathways activated upon IFNγ exposure. Live imaging experiments coupled with apoptosis assays confirmed the involvement of these pathways in IFNγ-mediated cell death. RESULTS We show that IFNγ signaling activated ERK. Blocking ERK activation rescued IFNγ-mediated apoptosis in 17 of 23 (~ 74%) cell lines representing BRAF, NRAS, NF1 mutant, and triple wild type subtypes of cutaneous melanoma. ERK signaling induced a stress response, ultimately leading to apoptosis through the activity of DR5 and NOXA proteins. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide a new understanding of the IFNγ growth inhibition pathway, which will be crucial in defining mechanisms of immunotherapy response and resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ameya Champhekar
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| | - Rachel Heymans
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Justin Saco
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Guillem Turon Font
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Cynthia Gonzalez
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Anne Gao
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - John Pham
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - June Lee
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Ryan Maryoung
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Egmidio Medina
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Katie M Campbell
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Daniel Karin
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - David Austin
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Robert Damioseaux
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Samueli School of Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Antoni Ribas
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, 94129, USA.
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10
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Chen W, Park JI. Tumor Cell Resistance to the Inhibition of BRAF and MEK1/2. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14837. [PMID: 37834284 PMCID: PMC10573597 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BRAF is one of the most frequently mutated oncogenes, with an overall frequency of about 50%. Targeting BRAF and its effector mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2) is now a key therapeutic strategy for BRAF-mutant tumors, and therapies based on dual BRAF/MEK inhibition showed significant efficacy in a broad spectrum of BRAF tumors. Nonetheless, BRAF/MEK inhibition therapy is not always effective for BRAF tumor suppression, and significant challenges remain to improve its clinical outcomes. First, certain BRAF tumors have an intrinsic ability to rapidly adapt to the presence of BRAF and MEK1/2 inhibitors by bypassing drug effects via rewired signaling, metabolic, and regulatory networks. Second, almost all tumors initially responsive to BRAF and MEK1/2 inhibitors eventually acquire therapy resistance via an additional genetic or epigenetic alteration(s). Overcoming these challenges requires identifying the molecular mechanism underlying tumor cell resistance to BRAF and MEK inhibitors and analyzing their specificity in different BRAF tumors. This review aims to update this information.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jong-In Park
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
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11
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Wood KC. Hyperactivation of oncogenic driver pathways as a precision therapeutic strategy. Nat Genet 2023; 55:1613-1614. [PMID: 37749245 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01493-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kris C Wood
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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12
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Rowell MC, Deschênes-Simard X, Lopes-Paciencia S, Le Calvé B, Kalegari P, Mignacca L, Fernandez-Ruiz A, Guillon J, Lessard F, Bourdeau V, Igelmann S, Duman AM, Stanom Y, Kottakis F, Deshpande V, Krizhanovsky V, Bardeesy N, Ferbeyre G. Targeting ribosome biogenesis reinforces ERK-dependent senescence in pancreatic cancer. Cell Cycle 2023; 22:2172-2193. [PMID: 37942963 PMCID: PMC10732607 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2023.2278945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic adenocarcinomas (PDAC) often possess mutations in K-Ras that stimulate the ERK pathway. Aberrantly high ERK activation triggers oncogene-induced senescence, which halts tumor progression. Here we report that low-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia displays very high levels of phospho-ERK consistent with a senescence response. However, advanced lesions that have circumvented the senescence barrier exhibit lower phospho-ERK levels. Restoring ERK hyperactivation in PDAC using activated RAF leads to ERK-dependent growth arrest with senescence biomarkers. ERK-dependent senescence in PDAC was characterized by a nucleolar stress response including a selective depletion of nucleolar phosphoproteins and intranucleolar foci containing RNA polymerase I designated as senescence-associated nucleolar foci (SANF). Accordingly, combining ribosome biogenesis inhibitors with ERK hyperactivation reinforced the senescence response in PDAC cells. Notably, comparable mechanisms were observed upon treatment with the platinum-based chemotherapy regimen FOLFIRINOX, currently a first-line treatment option for PDAC. We thus suggest that drugs targeting ribosome biogenesis can improve the senescence anticancer response in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- MC. Rowell
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - X. Deschênes-Simard
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - S. Lopes-Paciencia
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - B. Le Calvé
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Université de Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - P. Kalegari
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - L. Mignacca
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Université de Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - A. Fernandez-Ruiz
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - J. Guillon
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - F. Lessard
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Université de Montréal, QC, Canada
- Laboratory of Growth and Development, St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Cancer Division of the Quebec University Research Centre, Canada, Present
| | - V. Bourdeau
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Université de Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - S Igelmann
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Université de Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - AM. Duman
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Y. Stanom
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Université de Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - F. Kottakis
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - V. Deshpande
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - V. Krizhanovsky
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - N. Bardeesy
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - G. Ferbeyre
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Université de Montréal, QC, Canada
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13
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Hartman ML, Koziej P, Kluszczyńska K, Czyz M. Pro-Apoptotic Activity of MCL-1 Inhibitor in Trametinib-Resistant Melanoma Cells Depends on Their Phenotypes and Is Modulated by Reversible Alterations Induced by Trametinib Withdrawal. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4799. [PMID: 37835493 PMCID: PMC10571954 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although BRAFV600/MEK inhibitors improved the treatment of melanoma patients, resistance is acquired almost inevitably. METHODS Trametinib withdrawal/rechallenge and MCL-1 inhibition in trametinib-resistance models displaying distinct p-ERK1/2 levels were investigated. RESULTS Trametinib withdrawal/rechallenge caused reversible changes in ERK1/2 activity impacting the balance between pro-survival and pro-apoptotic proteins. Reversible alterations were found in MCL-1 levels and MCL-1 inhibitors, BIM and NOXA. Taking advantage of melanoma cell dependency on MCL-1 for survival, we used S63845. While it was designed to inhibit MCL-1 activity, we showed that it also significantly reduced NOXA levels. S63845-induced apoptosis was detected as the enhancement of Annexin V-positivity, caspase-3/7 activation and histone H2AX phosphorylation. Percentages of Annexin V-positive cells were increased most efficiently in trametinib-resistant melanoma cells displaying the p-ERK1/2low/MCL-1low/BIMhigh/NOXAlow phenotype with EC50 values at concentrations as low as 0.1 μM. Higher ERK1/2 activity associated with increased MCL-1 level and reduced BIM level limited pro-apoptotic activity of S63845 further influenced by a NOXA level. CONCLUSIONS Our study supports the notion that the efficiency of an agent designed to target a single protein can largely depend on the phenotype of cancer cells. Thus, it is important to define appropriate phenotype determinants to stratify the patients for the novel therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Małgorzata Czyz
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (M.L.H.); (P.K.); (K.K.)
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14
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Kwok HS, Freedy AM, Siegenfeld AP, Morriss JW, Waterbury AL, Kissler SM, Liau BB. Drug addiction unveils a repressive methylation ceiling in EZH2-mutant lymphoma. Nat Chem Biol 2023; 19:1105-1115. [PMID: 36973442 PMCID: PMC10522050 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01299-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Drug addiction, a phenomenon where cancer cells paradoxically depend on continuous drug treatment for survival, has uncovered cell signaling mechanisms and cancer codependencies. Here we discover mutations that confer drug addiction to inhibitors of the transcriptional repressor polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Drug addiction is mediated by hypermorphic mutations in the CXC domain of the catalytic subunit EZH2, which maintain H3K27me3 levels even in the presence of PRC2 inhibitors. Discontinuation of inhibitor treatment leads to overspreading of H3K27me3, surpassing a repressive methylation ceiling compatible with lymphoma cell survival. Exploiting this vulnerability, we show that inhibition of SETD2 similarly induces the spread of H3K27me3 and blocks lymphoma growth. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that constraints on chromatin landscapes can yield biphasic dependencies in epigenetic signaling in cancer cells. More broadly, we highlight how approaches to identify drug addiction mutations can be leveraged to discover cancer vulnerabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Si Kwok
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Allyson M Freedy
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Allison P Siegenfeld
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Julia W Morriss
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Amanda L Waterbury
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Stephen M Kissler
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian B Liau
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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15
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Koziej P, Kluszczynska K, Hartman ML, Czyz M. Trametinib-Resistant Melanoma Cells Displaying MITF high/NGFR low/IL-8 low Phenotype Are Highly Responsive to Alternating Periods of Drug Withdrawal and Drug Rechallenge. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097891. [PMID: 37175614 PMCID: PMC10178474 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite significant advances in targeted therapies against the hyperactivated BRAFV600/MEK pathway for patients with unresectable metastatic melanoma, acquired resistance remains an unsolved clinical problem. In this study, we focused on melanoma cells resistant to trametinib, an agent broadly used in combination therapies. Molecular and cellular changes were assessed during alternating periods of trametinib withdrawal and rechallenge in trametinib-resistant cell lines displaying either a differentiation phenotype (MITFhigh/NGFRlow) or neural crest stem-like dedifferentiation phenotype (NGFRhigh/MITFlow). Neither drug withdrawal nor drug rechallenge induced cell death, and instead of loss of fitness, trametinib-resistant melanoma cells adapted to altered conditions by phenotype switching. In resistant cells displaying a differentiation phenotype, trametinib withdrawal markedly decreased MITF level and activity, which was associated with reduced cell proliferation capacity, and induced stemness assessed as NGFR-positive cells and senescence features, including IL-8 expression and secretion. All these changes could be reversed by trametinib re-exposure, which emphasizes melanoma cell plasticity. Trametinib-resistant cells displaying a dedifferentiation phenotype were less responsive presumably due to the already low level of MITF, a master regulator of the melanoma phenotype. Considering new directions of the development of anti-melanoma treatment, our study suggests that the phenotype of melanomas resistant to targeted therapy might be a crucial determinant of the selection of second-line therapy for melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Koziej
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Street, 92-215 Lodz, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kluszczynska
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Street, 92-215 Lodz, Poland
| | - Mariusz L Hartman
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Street, 92-215 Lodz, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Czyz
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, 6/8 Mazowiecka Street, 92-215 Lodz, Poland
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16
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Talebi A, de Laat V, Spotbeen X, Dehairs J, Rambow F, Rogiers A, Vanderhoydonc F, Rizotto L, Planque M, Doglioni G, Motamedi S, Nittner D, Roskams T, Agostinis P, Bechter O, Boecxstaens V, Garmyn M, O'Farrell M, Wagman A, Kemble G, Leucci E, Fendt SM, Marine JC, Swinnen JV. Pharmacological induction of membrane lipid poly-unsaturation sensitizes melanoma to ROS inducers and overcomes acquired resistance to targeted therapy. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:92. [PMID: 37072838 PMCID: PMC10114329 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02664-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the key limitations of targeted cancer therapies is the rapid onset of therapy resistance. Taking BRAF-mutant melanoma as paradigm, we previously identified the lipogenic regulator SREBP-1 as a central mediator of resistance to MAPK-targeted therapy. Reasoning that lipogenesis-mediated alterations in membrane lipid poly-unsaturation lie at the basis of therapy resistance, we targeted fatty acid synthase (FASN) as key player in this pathway to evoke an exquisite vulnerability to clinical inducers of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby rationalizing a novel clinically actionable combination therapy to overcome therapy resistance. METHODS Using gene expression analysis and mass spectrometry-based lipidomics of BRAF-mutant melanoma cell lines, melanoma PDX and clinical data sets, we explored the association of FASN expression with membrane lipid poly-unsaturation and therapy-resistance. Next, we treated therapy-resistant models with a preclinical FASN inhibitor TVB-3664 and a panel of ROS inducers and performed ROS analysis, lipid peroxidation tests and real-time cell proliferation assays. Finally, we explored the combination of MAPK inhibitors, TVB-3664 and arsenic trioxide (ATO, as a clinically used ROS-inducer) in Mel006 BRAF mutant PDX as a gold model of therapy resistance and assessed the effect on tumor growth, survival and systemic toxicity. RESULTS We found that FASN expression is consistently increased upon the onset of therapy resistance in clinical melanoma samples, in cell lines and in Mel006 PDX and is associated with decreased lipid poly-unsaturation. Forcing lipid poly-unsaturation in therapy-resistant models by combining MAPK inhibition with FASN inhibition attenuated cell proliferation and rendered cells exquisitely sensitive to a host of ROS inducers. In particular, the triple combination of MAPK inhibition, FASN inhibition, and the clinical ROS-inducing compound ATO dramatically increased survival of Mel006 PDX models from 15 to 72% with no associated signs of toxicity. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that under MAPK inhibition the direct pharmacological inhibition of FASN evokes an exquisite vulnerability to inducers of ROS by increasing membrane lipid poly-unsaturation. The exploitation of this vulnerability by combining MAPK and/or FASN inhibitors with inducers of ROS greatly delays the onset of therapy resistance and increases survival. Our work identifies a clinically actionable combinatorial treatment for therapy-resistant cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Talebi
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, LKI, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vincent de Laat
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, LKI, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Xander Spotbeen
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, LKI, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jonas Dehairs
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, LKI, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Florian Rambow
- Department of Applied Computational Cancer Research, Institute for AI in Medicine (IKIM), University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Aljosja Rogiers
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frank Vanderhoydonc
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, LKI, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lara Rizotto
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory for RNA Cancer Biology, LKI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, Trace PDX Platform, LKI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mélanie Planque
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, LKI, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ginevra Doglioni
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, LKI, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sahar Motamedi
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, LKI, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - David Nittner
- Histopathology Expertise Center, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tania Roskams
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrizia Agostinis
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Oliver Bechter
- LKI, Department of General Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, KU, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veerle Boecxstaens
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven and Department of Surgical Oncology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marjan Garmyn
- Department of Oncology and Dermatology, Laboratory of Dermatology, University Hospitals Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marie O'Farrell
- Sagimet Biosciences, 155 Bovet Rd, San Mateo, CA, 94402, USA
| | - Alan Wagman
- 3-V Biosciences, Inc, 3715 Haven Ave, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - George Kemble
- Sagimet Biosciences, 155 Bovet Rd, San Mateo, CA, 94402, USA
| | - Eleonora Leucci
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory for RNA Cancer Biology, LKI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, Trace PDX Platform, LKI, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sarah-Maria Fendt
- Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, LKI, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean-Christophe Marine
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johannes V Swinnen
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, LKI, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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17
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Chung JYF, Tang PCT, Chan MKK, Xue VW, Huang XR, Ng CSH, Zhang D, Leung KT, Wong CK, Lee TL, Lam EWF, Nikolic-Paterson DJ, To KF, Lan HY, Tang PMK. Smad3 is essential for polarization of tumor-associated neutrophils in non-small cell lung carcinoma. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1794. [PMID: 37002229 PMCID: PMC10066366 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37515-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils are dynamic with their phenotype and function shaped by the microenvironment, such as the N1 antitumor and N2 pro-tumor states within the tumor microenvironment (TME), but its regulation remains undefined. Here we examine TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling in tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients. Smad3 activation in N2 TANs is negatively correlate with the N1 population and patient survival. In experimental lung carcinoma, TANs switch from a predominant N2 state in wild-type mice to an N1 state in Smad3-KO mice which associate with enhanced neutrophil infiltration and tumor regression. Neutrophil depletion abrogates the N1 anticancer phenotype in Smad3-KO mice, while adoptive transfer of Smad3-KO neutrophils reproduces this protective effect in wild-type mice. Single-cell analysis uncovers a TAN subset showing a mature N1 phenotype in Smad3-KO TME, whereas wild-type TANs mainly retain an immature N2 state due to Smad3. Mechanistically, TME-induced Smad3 target genes related to cell fate determination to preserve the N2 state of TAN. Importantly, genetic deletion and pharmaceutical inhibition of Smad3 enhance the anticancer capacity of neutrophils against NSCLC via promoting their N1 maturation. Thus, our work suggests that Smad3 signaling in neutrophils may represent a therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeff Yat-Fai Chung
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Philip Chiu-Tsun Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Max Kam-Kwan Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Vivian Weiwen Xue
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Carson International Cancer Center, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiao-Ru Huang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Calvin Sze-Hang Ng
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kam-Tong Leung
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Chun-Kwok Wong
- Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Tin-Lap Lee
- Reproduction, Development and Endocrinology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Eric W-F Lam
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong, 510060, China
| | - David J Nikolic-Paterson
- Department of Nephrology and Monash University Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
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18
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Castro MV, Barbero GA, Máscolo P, Villanueva MB, Nsengimana J, Newton-Bishop J, Illescas E, Quezada MJ, Lopez-Bergami P. ROR2 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition by hyperactivating ERK in melanoma. J Cell Commun Signal 2023; 17:75-88. [PMID: 35723796 PMCID: PMC10030744 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-022-00683-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 (ROR2) is a protein with important functions during embryogenesis that is dysregulated in human cancer. An intriguing feature of this receptor is that it plays opposite roles in different tumor types either promoting or inhibiting tumor progression. Understanding the complex role of this receptor requires a more profound exploration of both the altered biological and molecular mechanisms. Here, we describe that ROR2 promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) by inducing cadherin switch and the upregulation of the transcription factors ZEB1, Twist, Slug, Snail, and HIF1A, together with a mesenchymal phenotype and increased migration. We show that ROR2 activates both p38 and ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways independently of Wnt5a. Further, we demonstrated that the upregulation of EMT-related proteins depends on the hyperactivation of the ERK pathway far above the typical high constitutive activity observed in melanoma. In addition, ROR2 also promoted ERK phosphorylation, EMT, invasion, and necrosis in xenotransplanted mice. ROR2 also associates with EMT in tumor samples from melanoma patients where analysis of large cohorts revealed that increased ROR2 levels are linked to EMT signatures. This important role of ROR2 translates into melanoma patient' s prognosis since elevated ROR2 levels reduced overall survival and distant metastasis-free survival of patients with lymph node metastasis. In sum, these results demonstrate that ROR2 contributes to melanoma progression by inducing EMT and necrosis and can be an attractive therapeutic target for melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Victoria Castro
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, 6th Floor, Lab 602., 1405, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), 1425, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gastón Alexis Barbero
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, 6th Floor, Lab 602., 1405, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), 1425, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paula Máscolo
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, 6th Floor, Lab 602., 1405, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Belén Villanueva
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, 6th Floor, Lab 602., 1405, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), 1425, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jérémie Nsengimana
- Biostatistics Research Group, Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | | | - Edith Illescas
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, 6th Floor, Lab 602., 1405, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Josefina Quezada
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, 6th Floor, Lab 602., 1405, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), 1425, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo Lopez-Bergami
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, 6th Floor, Lab 602., 1405, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), 1425, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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19
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Lyon A, Tripathi R, Meeks C, He D, Wu Y, Liu J, Wang C, Chen J, Zhu H, Mukherjee S, Ganguly S, Plattner R. ABL1/2 and DDR1 Drive MEKi Resistance in NRAS-Mutant Melanomas by Stabilizing RAF/MYC/ETS1 and Promoting RAF Homodimerization. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:954. [PMID: 36765910 PMCID: PMC9913232 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanomas harboring NRAS mutations are a particularly aggressive and deadly subtype. If patients cannot tolerate or the melanomas are insensitive to immune checkpoint blockade, there are no effective 2nd-line treatment options. Drugs targeting the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, which are used for BRAF-mutant melanomas, do little to increase progression-free survival (PFS). Here, using both loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches, we show that ABL1/2 and DDR1 are critical nodes during NRAS-mutant melanoma intrinsic and acquired MEK inhibitor (MEKi) resistance. In some acquired resistance cells, ABL1/2 and DDR1 cooperate to stabilize RAF proteins, activate ERK cytoplasmic and nuclear signaling, repress p27/KIP1 expression, and drive RAF homodimerization. In contrast, other acquired resistance cells depend solely on ABL1/2 for their survival, and are sensitive to highly specific allosteric ABL1/2 inhibitors, which prevent β-catenin nuclear localization and destabilize MYC and ETS1 in an ERK-independent manner. Significantly, targeting ABL1/2 and DDR1 with an FDA-approved anti-leukemic drug, reverses intrinsic MEKi resistance, delays acquisition of acquired resistance, and doubles the survival time in a NRAS-mutant mouse model. These data indicate that repurposing FDA-approved drugs targeting ABL1/2 and DDR1 may be a novel and effective strategy for treating patients with treatment-refractory NRAS-driven melanomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Lyon
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Rakshamani Tripathi
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Christina Meeks
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Daheng He
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource Facility, College of Medicine, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40508, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource Facility, College of Medicine, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40508, USA
| | - Jinpeng Liu
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource Facility, College of Medicine, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40508, USA
| | - Chi Wang
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource Facility, College of Medicine, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40508, USA
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Haining Zhu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Sujata Mukherjee
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Saptadwipa Ganguly
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Rina Plattner
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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20
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Pagliuca C, Di Leo L, De Zio D. New Insights into the Phenotype Switching of Melanoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14246118. [PMID: 36551603 PMCID: PMC9776915 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is considered one of the deadliest skin cancers, partly because of acquired resistance to standard therapies. The most recognized driver of resistance relies on acquired melanoma cell plasticity, or the ability to dynamically switch among differentiation phenotypes. This confers the tumor noticeable advantages. During the last year, two new features have been included in the hallmarks of cancer, namely "Unlocking phenotypic plasticity" and "Non-mutational epigenetic reprogramming". Such are inextricably intertwined as, most of the time, plasticity is not discernable at the genetic level, as it rather consists of epigenetic reprogramming heavily influenced by external factors. By analyzing current literature, this review provides reasoning about the origin of plasticity and clarifies whether such features already exist among tumors or are acquired by selection. Moreover, markers of plasticity, molecular effectors, and related tumor advantages in melanoma will be explored. Ultimately, as this new branch of tumor biology opened a wide landscape of therapeutic possibilities, in the final paragraph of this review, we will focus on newly characterized drugs targeting melanoma plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Pagliuca
- Melanoma Research Team, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Luca Di Leo
- Melanoma Research Team, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniela De Zio
- Melanoma Research Team, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Correspondence:
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21
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Farnsworth DA, Inoue Y, Johnson FD, de Rappard-Yuswack G, Lu D, Shi R, Ma LIJ, Mattar MS, Somwar R, Ladanyi M, Unni AM, Lockwood WW. MEK inhibitor resistance in lung adenocarcinoma is associated with addiction to sustained ERK suppression. NPJ Precis Oncol 2022; 6:88. [PMID: 36418460 PMCID: PMC9684561 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-022-00328-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
MEK inhibitors (MEKi) have limited efficacy in KRAS mutant lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients, and this is attributed to both intrinsic and adaptive mechanisms of drug resistance. While many studies have focused on the former, there remains a dearth of data regarding acquired resistance to MEKi in LUAD. We established trametinib-resistant KRAS mutant LUAD cells through dose escalation and performed targeted MSK-IMPACT sequencing to identify drivers of MEKi resistance. Comparing resistant cells to their sensitive counterparts revealed alteration of genes associated with trametinib response. We describe a state of "drug addiction" in resistant cases where cells are dependent on continuous culture in trametinib for survival. We show that dependence on ERK2 suppression underlies this phenomenon and that trametinib removal hyperactivates ERK, resulting in ER stress and apoptosis. Amplification of KRASG12C occurs in drug-addicted cells and blocking mutant-specific activity with AMG 510 rescues the lethality associated with trametinib withdrawal. Furthermore, we show that increased KRASG12C expression is lethal to other KRAS mutant LUAD cells, consequential to ERK hyperactivation. Our study determines the drug-addicted phenotype in lung cancer is associated with KRAS amplification and demonstrates that toxic acquired genetic changes can develop de novo in the background of MAPK suppression with MEK inhibitors. We suggest that the presence of mutant KRAS amplification in patients may identify those that may benefit from a "drug holiday" to circumvent drug resistance. These findings demonstrate the toxic potential of hyperactive ERK signaling and highlight potential therapeutic opportunities in patients bearing KRAS mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan A. Farnsworth
- Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Yusuke Inoue
- Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Fraser D. Johnson
- Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - Daniel Lu
- Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Rocky Shi
- Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Lok In Josephine Ma
- Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Marissa S. Mattar
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Romel Somwar
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA ,grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Marc Ladanyi
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA ,grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Arun M. Unni
- grid.5386.8000000041936877XMeyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY USA
| | - William W. Lockwood
- Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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22
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Nyberg WA, Velasquez‐Pulgarin DA, He T, Sjöstrand M, Pellé L, Covacu R, Espinosa A. The bromodomain protein TRIM28 controls the balance between growth and invasiveness in melanoma. EMBO Rep 2022; 24:e54944. [PMID: 36341538 PMCID: PMC9827549 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202254944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma tumors are highly metastatic partly due to the ability of melanoma cells to transition between invasive and proliferative states. However, the mechanisms underlying this plasticity are still not fully understood. To identify new epigenetic regulators of melanoma plasticity, we combined data mining, tumor models, proximity proteomics, and CUT&RUN sequencing. We focus on the druggable family of bromodomain epigenetic readers and identify TRIM28 as a new regulator of melanoma plasticity. We find that TRIM28 promotes the expression of pro-invasive genes and that TRIM28 controls the balance between invasiveness and growth of melanoma cells. We demonstrate that TRIM28 acts via the transcription factor JUNB that directly regulates the expression of pro-invasive and pro-growth genes. Mechanistically, TRIM28 controls the expression of JUNB by negatively regulating its transcriptional elongation by RNA polymerase II. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that a TRIM28-JUNB axis controls the balance between invasiveness and growth in melanoma tumors and suggest that the bromodomain protein TRIM28 could be targeted to reduce tumor spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- William A Nyberg
- Department of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska InstitutetKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden,Present address:
Department of MedicineUniversity of California San FranciscoSan FranciscoCAUSA
| | - Diego A Velasquez‐Pulgarin
- Department of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska InstitutetKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden,Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of MemphisMemphisTNUSA
| | - Tianlin He
- Department of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska InstitutetKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Maria Sjöstrand
- Department of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska InstitutetKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden,Present address:
Department of Medicine, Center for Cell EngineeringMemorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer CenterNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Lucia Pellé
- Department of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska InstitutetKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Ruxandra Covacu
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska InstitutetKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Alexander Espinosa
- Department of Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska InstitutetKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
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23
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Tang PCT, Chung JYF, Liao J, Chan MKK, Chan ASW, Cheng G, Li C, Huang XR, Ng CSH, Lam EWF, Zhang D, Ho YP, To KF, Leung KT, Jiang X, Ko H, Lee TL, Lan HY, Tang PMK. Single-cell RNA sequencing uncovers a neuron-like macrophage subset associated with cancer pain. Sci Adv 2022; 8:eabn5535. [PMID: 36206343 PMCID: PMC9544324 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn5535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Tumor innervation is a common phenomenon with unknown mechanism. Here, we discovered a direct mechanism of tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) for promoting de novo neurogenesis via a subset showing neuronal phenotypes and pain receptor expression associated with cancer-driven nocifensive behaviors. This subset is rich in lung adenocarcinoma associated with poorer prognosis. By elucidating the transcriptome dynamics of TAM with single-cell resolution, we discovered a phenomenon "macrophage to neuron-like cell transition" (MNT) for directly promoting tumoral neurogenesis, evidenced by macrophage depletion and fate-mapping study in lung carcinoma models. Encouragingly, we detected neuronal phenotypes and activities of the bone marrow-derived MNT cells (MNTs) in vitro. Adoptive transfer of MNTs into NOD/SCID mice markedly enhanced their cancer-associated nocifensive behaviors. We identified macrophage-specific Smad3 as a pivotal regulator for promoting MNT at the genomic level; its disruption effectively blocked the tumor innervation and cancer-dependent nocifensive behaviors in vivo. Thus, MNT may represent a precision therapeutic target for cancer pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Chiu-Tsun Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Jeff Yat-Fai Chung
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Jinyue Liao
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Max Kam-Kwan Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Alex Siu-Wing Chan
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Guangyao Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Chunjie Li
- Department of Head and Neck Oncology, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiao-Ru Huang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Calvin Sze-Hang Ng
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Eric W-F Lam
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510060, China
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi-Ping Ho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Kam-Tong Leung
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Xiaohua Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of the Ministry of Education of China, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Ho Ko
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Tin-Lap Lee
- Reproduction, Development and Endocrinology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077 Hong Kong SAR
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
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24
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Comandante-Lou N, Baumann DG, Fallahi-Sichani M. AP-1 transcription factor network explains diverse patterns of cellular plasticity in melanoma cells. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111147. [PMID: 35926467 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular plasticity associated with fluctuations in transcriptional programs allows individual cells in a tumor to adopt heterogeneous differentiation states and switch phenotype during their adaptive responses to therapies. Despite increasing knowledge of such transcriptional programs, the molecular basis of cellular plasticity remains poorly understood. Here, we combine multiplexed transcriptional and protein measurements at population and single-cell levels with multivariate statistical modeling to show that the state of AP-1 transcription factor network plays a unifying role in explaining diverse patterns of plasticity in melanoma. We find that a regulated balance among AP-1 factors cJUN, JUND, FRA2, FRA1, and cFOS determines the intrinsic diversity of differentiation states and adaptive responses to MAPK inhibitors in melanoma cells. Perturbing this balance through genetic depletion of specific AP-1 proteins, or by MAPK inhibitors, shifts cellular heterogeneity in a predictable fashion. Thus, AP-1 may serve as a critical node for manipulating cellular plasticity with potential therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natacha Comandante-Lou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Douglas G Baumann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Mohammad Fallahi-Sichani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; UVA Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
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25
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Zhang Y, Truong B, Fahl SP, Martinez E, Cai KQ, Al-Saleem ED, Gong Y, Liebermann DA, Soboloff J, Dunbrack R, Levine RL, Fletcher S, Kappes D, Sykes SM, Shapiro P, Wiest DL. The ERK2-DBP domain opposes pathogenesis of a mouse JAK2V617F-driven myeloproliferative neoplasm. Blood 2022; 140:359-373. [PMID: 35436326 PMCID: PMC9335498 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021013068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Although Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling is activated in most human cancers, attempts to target this pathway using kinase-active site inhibitors have not typically led to durable clinical benefit. To address this shortcoming, we sought to test the feasibility of an alternative targeting strategy, focused on the ERK2 substrate binding domains, D and DEF binding pocket (DBP). Disabling the ERK2-DBP domain in mice caused baseline erythrocytosis. Consequently, we investigated the role of the ERK2-D and -DBP domains in disease, using a JAK2-dependent model of polycythemia vera (PV). Of note, inactivation of the ERK2-DBP domain promoted the progression of disease from PV to myelofibrosis, suggesting that the ERK2-DBP domain normally opposes progression. ERK2-DBP inactivation also prevented oncogenic JAK2 kinase (JAK2V617F) from promoting oncogene-induced senescence in vitro. The ERK2-DBP mutation attenuated JAK2-mediated oncogene-induced senescence by preventing the physical interaction of ERK2 with the transcription factor Egr1. Because inactivation of the ERK2-DBP created a functional ERK2 kinase limited to binding substrates through its D domain, these data suggested that the D domain substrates were responsible for promoting oncogene-induced progenitor growth and tumor progression and that pharmacologic targeting of the ERK2-D domain may attenuate cancer cell growth. Indeed, pharmacologic agents targeting the ERK2-D domain were effective in attenuating the growth of JAK2-dependent myeloproliferative neoplasm cell lines. Taken together, these data indicate that the ERK-D and -DBP domains can play distinct roles in the progression of neoplasms and that the D domain has the potential to be a potent therapeutic target in Ras/MAPK-dependent cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhang
- Blood Cell Development and Function Program
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Yulan Gong
- Department of Pathology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Dan A Liebermann
- Fels Institute for Personalized Medicine and Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jonathan Soboloff
- Fels Institute for Personalized Medicine and Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Roland Dunbrack
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Ross L Levine
- Department of Medicine, Leukemia Service, Center for Hematologic Malignancies, Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; and
| | - Steven Fletcher
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
| | | | | | - Paul Shapiro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
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Mohapatra P, Singh P, Singh D, Sahoo S, Sahoo SK. Phytochemical based nanomedicine: a panacea for cancer treatment, present status and future prospective. OpenNano 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.onano.2022.100055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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27
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Zhang Z, Kong X, Ligtenberg MA, van Hal-van Veen SE, Visser NL, de Bruijn B, Stecker K, van der Helm PW, Kuilman T, Hoefsmit EP, Vredevoogd DW, Apriamashvili G, Baars B, Voest EE, Klarenbeek S, Altelaar M, Peeper DS. RNF31 inhibition sensitizes tumors to bystander killing by innate and adaptive immune cells. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100655. [PMID: 35688159 PMCID: PMC9245005 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Tumor escape mechanisms for immunotherapy include deficiencies in antigen presentation, diminishing adaptive CD8+ T cell antitumor activity. Although innate natural killer (NK) cells are triggered by loss of MHC class I, their response is often inadequate. To increase tumor susceptibility to both innate and adaptive immune elimination, we performed parallel genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens under NK and CD8+ T cell pressure. We identify all components, RNF31, RBCK1, and SHARPIN, of the linear ubiquitination chain assembly complex (LUBAC). Genetic and pharmacologic ablation of RNF31, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, strongly sensitizes cancer cells to NK and CD8+ T cell killing. This occurs in a tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-dependent manner, causing loss of A20 and non-canonical IKK complexes from TNF receptor complex I. A small-molecule RNF31 inhibitor sensitizes colon carcinoma organoids to TNF and greatly enhances bystander killing of MHC antigen-deficient tumor cells. These results merit exploration of RNF31 inhibition as a clinical pharmacological opportunity for immunotherapy-refractory cancers. Parallel CRISPR screens in tumor cells identify NK and T cell susceptibility genes Ablation of LUBAC ubiquitination complex sensitizes tumors to immune elimination Small-molecule RNF31 inhibition sensitizes tumor cells in TNF-dependent fashion RNF31 inhibition strongly enhances immune bystander killing
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengkui Zhang
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Xiangjun Kong
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maarten A Ligtenberg
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Susan E van Hal-van Veen
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nils L Visser
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Beaunelle de Bruijn
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kelly Stecker
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, and Netherlands Proteomics Center, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Pim W van der Helm
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Thomas Kuilman
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Esmée P Hoefsmit
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - David W Vredevoogd
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Georgi Apriamashvili
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Beau Baars
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Emile E Voest
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd Klarenbeek
- Experimental Animal Pathology, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maarten Altelaar
- Proteomics Core Facility, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, and Netherlands Proteomics Center, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Daniel S Peeper
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Gutierrez-Prat N, Zuberer HL, Mangano L, Karimaddini Z, Wolf L, Tyanova S, Wellinger LC, Marbach D, Griesser V, Pettazzoni P, Bischoff JR, Rohle D, Palladino C, Vivanco I. DUSP4 protects BRAF- and NRAS-mutant melanoma from oncogene overdose through modulation of MITF. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 5:5/9/e202101235. [PMID: 35580987 PMCID: PMC9113946 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
MAPK inhibitors (MAPKi) remain an important component of the standard of care for metastatic melanoma. However, acquired resistance to these drugs limits their therapeutic benefit. Tumor cells can become refractory to MAPKi by reactivation of ERK. When this happens, tumors often become sensitive to drug withdrawal. This drug addiction phenotype results from the hyperactivation of the oncogenic pathway, a phenomenon commonly referred to as oncogene overdose. Several feedback mechanisms are involved in regulating ERK signaling. However, the genes that serve as gatekeepers of oncogene overdose in mutant melanoma remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that depletion of the ERK phosphatase, DUSP4, leads to toxic levels of MAPK activation in both drug-naive and drug-resistant mutant melanoma cells. Importantly, ERK hyperactivation is associated with down-regulation of lineage-defining genes including MITF Our results offer an alternative therapeutic strategy to treat mutant melanoma patients with acquired MAPKi resistance and those unable to tolerate MAPKi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Gutierrez-Prat
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Oncology Discovery, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hedwig L Zuberer
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Oncology Discovery, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Luca Mangano
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Oncology Discovery, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Zahra Karimaddini
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Informatics, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Luise Wolf
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Informatics, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefka Tyanova
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Informatics, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Daniel Marbach
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vera Griesser
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Piergiorgio Pettazzoni
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Oncology Discovery, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - James R Bischoff
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Oncology Discovery, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Chiara Palladino
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Oncology Discovery, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Igor Vivanco
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, UK
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29
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Olbryt M. Potential Biomarkers of Skin Melanoma Resistance to Targeted Therapy—Present State and Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092315. [PMID: 35565444 PMCID: PMC9102921 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Around 5–10% of advanced melanoma patients progress early on anti-BRAF targeted therapy and 20–30% respond only with the stabilization of the disease. Presumably, these patients could benefit more from first-line immunotherapy. Resistance to BRAF/MEK inhibitors is generated by genetic and non-genetic factors inherent to a tumor or acquired during therapy. Some of them are well documented as a cause of treatment failure. They are potential predictive markers that could improve patients’ selection for both standard and also alternative therapy as some of them have therapeutic potential. Here, a summary of the most promising predictive and therapeutic targets is presented. This up-to-date knowledge may be useful for further study on implementing more accurate genetic/molecular tests in melanoma treatment. Abstract Melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer, the number of which is increasing worldwide every year. It is completely curable in its early stage and fatal when spread to distant organs. In addition to new therapeutic strategies, biomarkers are an important element in the successful fight against this cancer. At present, biomarkers are mainly used in diagnostics. Some biological indicators also allow the estimation of the patient’s prognosis. Still, predictive markers are underrepresented in clinics. Currently, the only such indicator is the presence of the V600E mutation in the BRAF gene in cancer cells, which qualifies the patient for therapy with inhibitors of the MAPK pathway. The identification of response markers is particularly important given primary and acquired resistance to targeted therapies. Reliable predictive tests would enable the selection of patients who would have the best chance of benefiting from treatment. Here, up-to-date knowledge about the most promising genetic and non-genetic resistance-related factors is described. These are alterations in MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and RB signaling pathways, e.g., due to mutations in NRAS, RAC1, MAP2K1, MAP2K2, and NF1, but also other changes activating these pathways, such as the overexpression of HGF or EGFR. Most of them are also potential therapeutic targets and this issue is also addressed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Olbryt
- Center for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, 44-102 Gliwice, Poland
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30
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Song K, Minami JK, Huang A, Dehkordi SR, Lomeli SH, Luebeck J, Goodman MH, Moriceau G, Krijgsman O, Dharanipragada P, Ridgley T, Crosson WP, Salazar J, Pazol E, Karin G, Jayaraman R, Balanis NG, Alhani S, Sheu K, Hoeve JT, Palermo A, Motika SE, Senaratne TN, Paraiso KH, Hergenrother PJ, Rao PN, Multani AS, Peeper DS, Bafna V, Lo RS, Graeber TG. Plasticity of Extrachromosomal and Intrachromosomal BRAF Amplifications in Overcoming Targeted Therapy Dosage Challenges. Cancer Discov 2022; 12:1046-1069. [PMID: 34930786 PMCID: PMC9192483 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-20-0936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Focal amplifications (FA) can mediate targeted therapy resistance in cancer. Understanding the structure and dynamics of FAs is critical for designing treatments that overcome plasticity-mediated resistance. We developed a melanoma model of dual MAPK inhibitor (MAPKi) resistance that bears BRAFV600 amplifications through either extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA)/double minutes (DM) or intrachromosomal homogenously staining regions (HSR). Cells harboring BRAFV600E FAs displayed mode switching between DMs and HSRs, from both de novo genetic changes and selection of preexisting subpopulations. Plasticity is not exclusive to ecDNAs, as cells harboring HSRs exhibit drug addiction-driven structural loss of BRAF amplicons upon dose reduction. FA mechanisms can couple with kinase domain duplications and alternative splicing to enhance resistance. Drug-responsive amplicon plasticity is observed in the clinic and can involve other MAPK pathway genes, such as RAF1 and NRAS. BRAF FA-mediated dual MAPKi-resistant cells are more sensitive to proferroptotic drugs, extending the spectrum of ferroptosis sensitivity in MAPKi resistance beyond cases of dedifferentiation. SIGNIFICANCE Understanding the structure and dynamics of oncogene amplifications is critical for overcoming tumor relapse. BRAF amplifications are highly plastic under MAPKi dosage challenges in melanoma, through involvement of de novo genomic alterations, even in the HSR mode. Moreover, BRAF FA-driven, dual MAPKi-resistant cells extend the spectrum of resistance-linked ferroptosis sensitivity. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 873.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Song
- Department of Bioengineering, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jenna K. Minami
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Arthur Huang
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Siavash R. Dehkordi
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Shirley H. Lomeli
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jens Luebeck
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Mark H. Goodman
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Gatien Moriceau
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Oscar Krijgsman
- Division of Molecular Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Prashanthi Dharanipragada
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Trevor Ridgley
- Bioinformatics Interdepartmental Program, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - William P. Crosson
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jesus Salazar
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Eli Pazol
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Gabriel Karin
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Rachana Jayaraman
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Nikolas G. Balanis
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Salwan Alhani
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kyle Sheu
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Johanna ten Hoeve
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- UCLA Metabolomics Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Amelia Palermo
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- UCLA Metabolomics Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Stephen E. Motika
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Genomic Biology, Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA
| | - T. Niroshi Senaratne
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kim H. Paraiso
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Paul J. Hergenrother
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Genomic Biology, Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA
| | - P. Nagesh Rao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Asha S. Multani
- Department of Genetics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Daniel S. Peeper
- Division of Molecular Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Vineet Bafna
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Roger S. Lo
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Thomas G. Graeber
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- UCLA Metabolomics Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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Kavran AJ, Stuart SA, Hayashi KR, Basken JM, Brandhuber BJ, Ahn NG. Intermittent treatment of BRAF V600E melanoma cells delays resistance by adaptive resensitization to drug rechallenge. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2113535119. [PMID: 35290123 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2113535119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Preclinical studies of metastatic melanoma treated with targeted therapeutics have suggested that alternating periods of treatment and withdrawal might delay the onset of resistance. This has been attributed to drug addiction, where cells lose fitness upon drug removal due to the resulting hyperactivation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling. This study presents evidence that the intermittent treatment response can also be explained by the resensitization of cells following drug removal and enhanced cell loss upon drug rechallenge. Resensitization is accompanied by adaptive transcriptomic switching and occurs despite the sustained expression of resistance genes throughout the intermittent treatment. Patients with melanoma receiving drugs targeting BRAFV600E and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinases 1 and 2 (MEK1/2) invariably develop resistance and face continued progression. Based on preclinical studies, intermittent treatment involving alternating periods of drug withdrawal and rechallenge has been proposed as a method to delay the onset of resistance. The beneficial effect of intermittent treatment has been attributed to drug addiction, where drug withdrawal reduces the viability of resistant cells due to MAP kinase pathway hyperactivation. However, the mechanistic basis of the intermittent effect is incompletely understood. We show that intermittent treatment with the BRAFV600E inhibitor, LGX818/encorafenib, suppresses growth compared with continuous treatment in human melanoma cells engineered to express BRAFV600E, p61-BRAFV600E, or MEK2C125 oncogenes. Analysis of the BRAFV600E-overexpressing cells shows that, while drug addiction clearly occurs, it fails to account for the advantageous effect of intermittent treatment. Instead, growth suppression is best explained by resensitization during periods of drug removal, followed by cell death after drug readdition. Continuous treatment leads to transcriptional responses prominently associated with chemoresistance in melanoma. By contrast, cells treated intermittently reveal a subset of transcripts that reverse expression between successive cycles of drug removal and rechallenge and include mediators of cell invasiveness and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. These transcripts change during periods of drug removal by adaptive switching, rather than selection pressure. Resensitization occurs against a background of sustained expression of melanoma resistance genes, producing a transcriptome distinct from that of the initial drug-naive cell state. We conclude that phenotypic plasticity leading to drug resensitization can underlie the beneficial effect of intermittent treatment.
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Casalino L, Talotta F, Cimmino A, Verde P. The Fra-1/AP-1 Oncoprotein: From the "Undruggable" Transcription Factor to Therapeutic Targeting. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14061480. [PMID: 35326630 PMCID: PMC8946526 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The genetic and epigenetic changes affecting transcription factors, coactivators, and chromatin modifiers are key determinants of the hallmarks of cancer. The acquired dependence on oncogenic transcriptional regulators, representing a major determinant of cancer cell vulnerability, points to transcription factors as ideal therapeutic targets. However, given the unavailability of catalytic activities or binding pockets for small-molecule inhibitors, transcription factors are generally regarded as undruggable proteins. Among components of the AP-1 complex, the FOS-family transcription factor Fra-1, encoded by FOSL1, has emerged as a prominent therapeutic target. Fra-1 is overexpressed in most solid tumors, in response to the BRAF-MAPK, Wnt-beta-catenin, Hippo-YAP, IL-6-Stat3, and other major oncogenic pathways. In vitro functional analyses, validated in onco-mouse models and corroborated by prognostic correlations, show that Fra-1-containing dimers control tumor growth and disease progression. Fra-1 participates in key mechanisms of cancer cell invasion, Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition, and metastatic spreading, by driving the expression of EMT-inducing transcription factors, cytokines, and microRNAs. Here we survey various strategies aimed at inhibiting tumor growth, metastatic dissemination, and drug resistance by interfering with Fra-1 expression, stability, and transcriptional activity. We summarize several tools aimed at the design and tumor-specific delivery of Fra-1/AP-1-specific drugs. Along with RNA-based therapeutics targeting the FOSL1 gene, its mRNA, or cognate regulatory circRNAs, we will examine the exploitation of blocking peptides, small molecule inhibitors, and innovative Fra-1 protein degraders. We also consider the possible caveats concerning Fra-1 inhibition in specific therapeutic contexts. Finally, we discuss a recent suicide gene therapy-based approach, aimed at selectively killing the Fra-1-overexpressing neoplastic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Casalino
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics “Adriano Buzzati Traverso”, Consiglio Nazionale dele Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy;
- Correspondence: (L.C.); (P.V.)
| | | | - Amelia Cimmino
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics “Adriano Buzzati Traverso”, Consiglio Nazionale dele Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Pasquale Verde
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics “Adriano Buzzati Traverso”, Consiglio Nazionale dele Ricerche (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy;
- Correspondence: (L.C.); (P.V.)
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Hong H, Luo B, Qin Y, Li S, Peng Z. RNA-seq and integrated network analysis reveals the hub genes and key pathway of paclitaxel inhibition on Adriamycin resistant diffuse large B cell lymphoma cells. Bioengineered 2022; 13:7607-7621. [PMID: 35263200 PMCID: PMC8973673 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2048772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
About 40% of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) develop drug resistance after first-line chemotherapy, which remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The emergence of DLBCL drug resistance is mainly related to Adriamycin. Our previous research shows that Paclitaxel could be a potential therapeutic drug for the treatment of Adriamycin-resistant DLBCL. Based on the results of RNA-seq and integrated network analysis, we study the potential molecular mechanism of Paclitaxel in the treatment of Adriamycin-resistant DLBCL in multiple dimensions. A CCK-8 assay showed that the inhibitory effect of Paclitaxel on Pfeiffer and Pfeiffer/ADM (Adriamycin-resistant DLBCL cell lines) is significantly higher than that of Adriamycin (P < 0.05). Five hub genes (UBC, TSR1, WDR46, HSP90AA1, and NOP56) were obtained via network analysis from 971 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) based on the RNA-seq of Paclitaxel-intervened Pfeiffer/ADM. The results of the network function module analysis showed that the inhibition of Pfeiffer/ADM by Paclitaxel was closely related to ribosome biosynthesis in eukaryotes. The results of RT-qPCR showed that the mRNA levels of the five hub genes in the Pfeiffer/ADM group were significantly lower than those in the Pfeiffer group and the Pfeiffer/ADM Paclitaxel-treated group (P < 0.05). Consistent with studies, Paclitaxel exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on Adriamycin-resistant DLBCL, which may have played a role in the five hub genes (UBC, TSR1, WDR46, HSP90AA1 and NOP56) and ribosome biosynthesis in eukaryotes pathway, but the specific regulation needs further experimental verification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyuan Hong
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Bin Luo
- Department of Hematology, People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Yingying Qin
- Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Sizhu Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Zhigang Peng
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
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Patel V, Szász I, Koroknai V, Kiss T, Balázs M. Molecular Alterations Associated with Acquired Drug Resistance during Combined Treatment with Encorafenib and Binimetinib in Melanoma Cell Lines. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13236058. [PMID: 34885166 PMCID: PMC8656772 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13236058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Combination treatment using BRAF/MEK inhibitors is a promising therapy for patients with advanced BRAFV600E/K mutant melanoma. However, acquired resistance largely limits the clinical efficacy of this drug combination. Identifying resistance mechanisms is essential to reach long-term, durable responses. During this study, we developed six melanoma cell lines with acquired resistance for BRAFi/MEKi treatment and defined the molecular alterations associated with drug resistance. We observed that the invasion of three resistant cell lines increased significantly compared to the sensitive cells. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed differentially expressed genes that were functionally linked to a variety of biological functions including epithelial-mesenchymal transition, the ROS pathway, and KRAS-signalling. Using proteome profiler array, several differentially expressed proteins were detected, which clustered into a unique pattern. Galectin showed increased expression in four resistant cell lines, being the highest in the WM1617E+BRes cells. We also observed that the resistant cells behaved differently after the withdrawal of the inhibitors, five were not drug addicted at all and did not exhibit significantly increased lethality; however, the viability of one resistant cell line (WM1617E+BRes) decreased significantly. We have selected three resistant cell lines to investigate the protein expression changes after drug withdrawal. The expression patterns of CapG, Enolase 2, and osteopontin were similar in the resistant cells after ten days of "drug holiday", but the Snail protein was only expressed in the WM1617E+BRes cells, which showed a drug-dependent phenotype, and this might be associated with drug addiction. Our results highlight that melanoma cells use several types of resistance mechanisms involving the altered expression of different proteins to bypass drug treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Patel
- Doctoral School of Health Sciences, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - István Szász
- MTA-DE Public Health Research Group, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (I.S.); (V.K.)
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - Viktória Koroknai
- MTA-DE Public Health Research Group, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (I.S.); (V.K.)
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - Tímea Kiss
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - Margit Balázs
- MTA-DE Public Health Research Group, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (I.S.); (V.K.)
- Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
- Correspondence:
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35
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Ingram K, Samson SC, Zewdu R, Zitnay RG, Snyder EL, Mendoza MC. NKX2-1 controls lung cancer progression by inducing DUSP6 to dampen ERK activity. Oncogene 2021; 41:293-300. [PMID: 34689179 PMCID: PMC8738158 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-02076-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The RAS→RAF→MEK→ERK pathway is hyperactivated in the majority of human lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, the initial activating mutations induce homeostatic feedback mechanisms that limit ERK activity. How ERK activation reaches the tumor-promoting levels that overcome the feedback and drive malignant progression is unclear. We show here that the lung lineage transcription factor NKX2-1 suppresses ERK activity. In human tissue samples and cell lines, xenografts, and genetic mouse models, NKX2-1 induces the ERK phosphatase DUSP6, which inactivates ERK. In tumor cells from late-stage LUAD with silenced NKX2-1, re-introduction of NKX2-1 induces DUSP6 and inhibits tumor growth and metastasis. We show that DUSP6 is necessary for NKX2-1-mediated inhibition of tumor progression in vivo and that DUSP6 expression is sufficient to inhibit RAS-driven LUAD. Our results indicate that NKX2-1 silencing, and thereby DUSP6 downregulation, is a mechanism by which early LUAD can unleash ERK hyperactivation for tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelley Ingram
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.,Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Shiela C Samson
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.,Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Rediet Zewdu
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Rebecca G Zitnay
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Eric L Snyder
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.,Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Michelle C Mendoza
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA. .,Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
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Huang F, Santinon F, Flores González RE, del Rincón SV. Melanoma Plasticity: Promoter of Metastasis and Resistance to Therapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:756001. [PMID: 34604096 PMCID: PMC8481945 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.756001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. Although targeted therapies and immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment of metastatic melanoma, most patients are not cured. Therapy resistance remains a significant clinical challenge. Melanoma comprises phenotypically distinct subpopulations of cells, exhibiting distinct gene signatures leading to tumor heterogeneity and favoring therapeutic resistance. Cellular plasticity in melanoma is referred to as phenotype switching. Regardless of their genomic classification, melanomas switch from a proliferative and differentiated phenotype to an invasive, dedifferentiated and often therapy-resistant state. In this review we discuss potential mechanisms underpinning melanoma phenotype switching, how this cellular plasticity contributes to resistance to both targeted therapies and immunotherapies. Finally, we highlight novel strategies to target plasticity and their potential clinical impact in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Huang
- Lady Davis Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - François Santinon
- Lady Davis Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Raúl Ernesto Flores González
- Lady Davis Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Sonia V. del Rincón
- Lady Davis Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
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37
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Li B, Kong X, Post H, Raaijmakers L, Peeper DS, Altelaar M. Proteomics and Phosphoproteomics Profiling of Drug-Addicted BRAFi-Resistant Melanoma Cells. J Proteome Res 2021; 20:4381-4392. [PMID: 34343000 PMCID: PMC8419860 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Acquired resistance to MAPK inhibitors limits the clinical efficacy in melanoma treatment. We and others have recently shown that BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi)-resistant melanoma cells can develop a dependency on the therapeutic drugs to which they have acquired resistance, creating a vulnerability for these cells that can potentially be exploited in cancer treatment. In drug-addicted melanoma cells, it was shown that this induction of cell death was preceded by a specific ERK2-dependent phenotype switch; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely lacking. To increase the molecular understanding of this drug dependency, we applied a mass spectrometry-based proteomic approach on BRAFi-resistant BRAFMUT 451Lu cells, in which ERK1, ERK2, and JUNB were silenced separately using CRISPR-Cas9. Inactivation of ERK2 and, to a lesser extent, JUNB prevents drug addiction in these melanoma cells, while, conversely, knockout of ERK1 fails to reverse this phenotype, showing a response similar to that of control cells. Our analysis reveals that ERK2 and JUNB share comparable proteome responses dominated by reactivation of cell division. Importantly, we find that EMT activation in drug-addicted melanoma cells upon drug withdrawal is affected by silencing ERK2 but not ERK1. Moreover, transcription factor (regulator) enrichment shows that PIR acts as an effector of ERK2 and phosphoproteome analysis reveals that silencing of ERK2 but not ERK1 leads to amplification of GSK3 kinase activity. Our results depict possible mechanisms of drug addiction in melanoma, which may provide a guide for therapeutic strategies in drug-resistant melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohui Li
- Biomolecular
Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Group, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical
Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CH, The Netherlands
- Netherlands
Proteomics Center, Padualaan
8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Xiangjun Kong
- Division
of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, The
Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Harm Post
- Biomolecular
Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Group, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical
Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CH, The Netherlands
- Netherlands
Proteomics Center, Padualaan
8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Linsey Raaijmakers
- Biomolecular
Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Group, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical
Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CH, The Netherlands
- Netherlands
Proteomics Center, Padualaan
8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel S. Peeper
- Division
of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, The
Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten Altelaar
- Biomolecular
Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Group, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical
Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CH, The Netherlands
- Netherlands
Proteomics Center, Padualaan
8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
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38
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Zhang Y, Qiu N, Zhang Y, Yan H, Ji J, Xi Y, Yang X, Zhao X, Zhai G. Oxygen-carrying nanoparticle-based chemo-sonodynamic therapy for tumor suppression and autoimmunity activation. Biomater Sci 2021; 9:3989-4004. [PMID: 33908449 DOI: 10.1039/d1bm00198a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a promising non-invasive approach for cancer therapy. However, tumor hypoxia, a pathological characteristic of most solid tumor types, poses a major challenge in the application of SDT. In this study, a novel CD44 receptor-targeted and redox/ultrasound-responsive oxygen-carrying nanoplatform was constructed using chondroitin sulfate (CS), reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating sonosensitizer Rhein (Rh), and perfluorocarbon (PFC). Perfluoroalkyl groups introduced into the structures preserved the oxygen carrying ability of PFC, increasing the oxygen content in B16F10 melanoma cells and enhancing the efficiency of SDT. Controlled nanoparticles without PFC generated lower ROS levels and exerted inferior tumor inhibition effects, both in vitro and in vivo, under ultrasound-treatment. In addition, SDT promoted immunogenic cell death (ICD) by inducing exposure of calreticulin (CRT) after treatment with CS-Rh-PFC nanoparticles (NPs). The immune system was significantly activated by docetaxel (DTX)-loaded NPs after SDT treatment due to the enhanced secretion of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-6 cytokines and tumor-infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T cell contents. Our findings support the utility of CS-Rh-PFC as an effective anti-tumor nanoplatform that promotes general immunity and accommodates multiple hydrophobic drugs to enhance the beneficial effects of chemo-SDT therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, PR China.
| | - Na Qiu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, PR China.
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, PR China.
| | - Huixian Yan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, PR China.
| | - Jianbo Ji
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, PR China.
| | - Yanwei Xi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, PR China.
| | - Xiaoye Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, PR China.
| | - Xiaogang Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China.
| | - Guangxi Zhai
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, PR China.
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39
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Patton EE, Mueller KL, Adams DJ, Anandasabapathy N, Aplin AE, Bertolotto C, Bosenberg M, Ceol CJ, Burd CE, Chi P, Herlyn M, Holmen SL, Karreth FA, Kaufman CK, Khan S, Kobold S, Leucci E, Levy C, Lombard DB, Lund AW, Marie KL, Marine JC, Marais R, McMahon M, Robles-Espinoza CD, Ronai ZA, Samuels Y, Soengas MS, Villanueva J, Weeraratna AT, White RM, Yeh I, Zhu J, Zon LI, Hurlbert MS, Merlino G. Melanoma models for the next generation of therapies. Cancer Cell 2021; 39:610-631. [PMID: 33545064 PMCID: PMC8378471 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2021.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
There is a lack of appropriate melanoma models that can be used to evaluate the efficacy of novel therapeutic modalities. Here, we discuss the current state of the art of melanoma models including genetically engineered mouse, patient-derived xenograft, zebrafish, and ex vivo and in vitro models. We also identify five major challenges that can be addressed using such models, including metastasis and tumor dormancy, drug resistance, the melanoma immune response, and the impact of aging and environmental exposures on melanoma progression and drug resistance. Additionally, we discuss the opportunity for building models for rare subtypes of melanomas, which represent an unmet critical need. Finally, we identify key recommendations for melanoma models that may improve accuracy of preclinical testing and predict efficacy in clinical trials, to help usher in the next generation of melanoma therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Elizabeth Patton
- MRC Human Genetics Unit and Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, MRC Institute of Genetics & Molecular Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
| | - Kristen L Mueller
- Melanoma Research Alliance, 730 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005, USA.
| | - David J Adams
- Experimental Cancer Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Niroshana Anandasabapathy
- Department of Dermatology, Meyer Cancer Center, Program in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10026, USA
| | - Andrew E Aplin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Corine Bertolotto
- Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France; INSERM, Biology and Pathologies of Melanocytes, Team 1, Equipe Labellisée Ligue 2020, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Nice, France
| | - Marcus Bosenberg
- Departments of Dermatology, Pathology, and Immunobiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Craig J Ceol
- Program in Molecular Medicine and Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Christin E Burd
- Departments of Molecular Genetics, Cancer Biology, and Genetics, The Ohio State University, Biomedical Research Tower, Room 918, 460 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Ping Chi
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Sheri L Holmen
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Florian A Karreth
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Charles K Kaufman
- Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Department of Developmental Biology, McDonnell Science Building, 4518 McKinley Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Shaheen Khan
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sebastian Kobold
- Center of Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPS-M) and Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine IV, Klinikum der Universität München, LMU, Munich, Germany; Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), German Center for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Eleonora Leucci
- Laboratory for RNA Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, LKI, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Trace, Department of Oncology, LKI, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Carmit Levy
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - David B Lombard
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Gerontology, and Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Amanda W Lund
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology and Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Kerrie L Marie
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jean-Christophe Marine
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Richard Marais
- CRUK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Martin McMahon
- Department of Dermatology & Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Carla Daniela Robles-Espinoza
- Laboratorio Internacional de Investigación sobre el Genoma Humano, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, Santiago de Querétaro 76230, Mexico; Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Ze'ev A Ronai
- Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Yardena Samuels
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Maria S Soengas
- Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jessie Villanueva
- The Wistar Institute, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ashani T Weeraratna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Richard M White
- Department of Cancer Biology & Genetics and Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Iwei Yeh
- Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jiyue Zhu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, USA
| | - Leonard I Zon
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marc S Hurlbert
- Melanoma Research Alliance, 730 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005, USA
| | - Glenn Merlino
- Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, 37 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Vachtenheim J, Ondrušová L. Many Distinct Ways Lead to Drug Resistance in BRAF- and NRAS-Mutated Melanomas. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:424. [PMID: 34063141 DOI: 10.3390/life11050424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced melanoma is a relentless tumor with a high metastatic potential. The combat of melanoma by using the targeted therapy is impeded because several major driver mutations fuel its growth (predominantly BRAF and NRAS). Both these mutated oncogenes strongly activate the MAPK (MEK/ERK) pathway. Therefore, specific inhibitors of these oncoproteins or MAPK pathway components or their combination have been used for tumor eradication. After a good initial response, resistant cells develop almost universally and need the drug for further expansion. Multiple mechanisms, sometimes very distant from the MAPK pathway, are responsible for the development of resistance. Here, we review many of the mechanisms causing resistance and leading to the dismal final outcome of mutated BRAF and NRAS therapy. Very heterogeneous events lead to drug resistance. Due to this, each individual mechanism would be in fact needed to be determined for a personalized therapy to treat patients more efficiently and causally according to molecular findings. This procedure is practically impossible in the clinic. Other approaches are therefore needed, such as combined treatment with more drugs simultaneously from the beginning of the therapy. This could eradicate tumor cells more rapidly and greatly diminish the possibility of emerging mechanisms that allow the evolution of drug resistance.
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Tello-Lafoz M, Srpan K, Sanchez EE, Hu J, Remsik J, Romin Y, Calò A, Hoen D, Bhanot U, Morris L, Boire A, Hsu KC, Massagué J, Huse M, Er EE. Cytotoxic lymphocytes target characteristic biophysical vulnerabilities in cancer. Immunity 2021; 54:1037-1054.e7. [PMID: 33756102 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2021.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Immune cells identify and destroy tumors by recognizing cellular traits indicative of oncogenic transformation. In this study, we found that myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTFs), which promote migration and metastatic invasion, also sensitize cancer cells to the immune system. Melanoma and breast cancer cells with high MRTF expression were selectively eliminated by cytotoxic lymphocytes in mouse models of metastasis. This immunosurveillance phenotype was further enhanced by treatment with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) antibodies. We also observed that high MRTF signaling in human melanoma is associated with ICB efficacy in patients. Using biophysical and functional assays, we showed that MRTF overexpression rigidified the filamentous actin cytoskeleton and that this mechanical change rendered mouse and human cancer cells more vulnerable to cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. Collectively, these results suggest that immunosurveillance has a mechanical dimension, which we call mechanosurveillance, that is particularly relevant for the targeting of metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tello-Lafoz
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katja Srpan
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elisa E Sanchez
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jing Hu
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jan Remsik
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yevgeniy Romin
- Molecular Cytology Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Annalisa Calò
- Molecular Cytology Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Douglas Hoen
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Umeshkumar Bhanot
- Precision Pathology Center, Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Luc Morris
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adrienne Boire
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katharine C Hsu
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joan Massagué
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Morgan Huse
- Immunology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Ekrem Emrah Er
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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42
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Cho E, Lou HJ, Kuruvilla L, Calderwood DA, Turk BE. PPP6C negatively regulates oncogenic ERK signaling through dephosphorylation of MEK. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108928. [PMID: 33789117 PMCID: PMC8068315 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Flux through the RAF-MEK-ERK protein kinase cascade is shaped by phosphatases acting on the core components of the pathway. Despite being an established drug target and a hub for crosstalk regulation, little is known about dephosphorylation of MEK, the central kinase within the cascade. Here, we identify PPP6C, a phosphatase frequently mutated or downregulated in melanoma, as a major MEK phosphatase in cells exhibiting oncogenic ERK pathway activation. Recruitment of MEK to PPP6C occurs through an interaction with its associated regulatory subunits. Loss of PPP6C causes hyperphosphorylation of MEK at activating and crosstalk phosphorylation sites, promoting signaling through the ERK pathway and decreasing sensitivity to MEK inhibitors. Recurrent melanoma-associated PPP6C mutations cause MEK hyperphosphorylation, suggesting that they promote disease at least in part by activating the core oncogenic pathway driving melanoma. Collectively, our studies identify a key negative regulator of ERK signaling that may influence susceptibility to targeted cancer therapies. Through an shRNA screen, Cho et al. identify PPP6C as a phosphatase that inactivates the kinase MEK, sensitizing tumor cells to clinical MEK inhibitors. This study suggests that cancer-associated loss-of-function PPP6C mutations prevalent in melanoma serve to activate the core oncogenic RAF-MEK-ERK pathway that drives the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunice Cho
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Hua Jane Lou
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Leena Kuruvilla
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - David A Calderwood
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Benjamin E Turk
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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43
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Mao M, Hu D, Yang J, Chen Y, Zhang X, Shen J, Teng R, Zhou J, Wang L. Regulation of tamoxifen sensitivity by the PLAC8/MAPK pathway axis is antagonized by curcumin-induced protein stability change. J Mol Med (Berl) 2021; 99:845-58. [PMID: 33611659 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-021-02047-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Tamoxifen resistance remains the major obstacle to the estrogen receptor positive breast cancer endocrine therapy. Placenta-specific 8 (PLAC8) has been implicated in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumorigenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying PLAC8 function in the context of tamoxifen resistance are unclear. Curcumin has attracted considerable attention in the last decades. It is isolated from Curcuma longa and has beneficial effects in cancer therapy. We studied this property by using MCF-7 and tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells (MCF-7/TAM) cell lines. PLAC8 can regulate MCF-7/TAM cell drug sensitivity through the MAPK/ERK pathway and shows the potential effects of curcumin or as a possible druggable target against tamoxifen failure.
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44
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Klomp JE, Klomp JA, Der CJ. The ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling network: the final frontier in RAS signal transduction. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:253-67. [PMID: 33544118 DOI: 10.1042/BST20200507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The RAF-MEK-ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is aberrantly activated in a diverse set of human cancers and the RASopathy group of genetic developmental disorders. This protein kinase cascade is one of the most intensely studied cellular signaling networks and has been frequently targeted by the pharmaceutical industry, with more than 30 inhibitors either approved or under clinical evaluation. The ERK-MAPK cascade was originally depicted as a serial and linear, unidirectional pathway that relays extracellular signals, such as mitogenic stimuli, through the cytoplasm to the nucleus. However, we now appreciate that this three-tiered protein kinase cascade is a central core of a complex network with dynamic signaling inputs and outputs and autoregulatory loops. Despite our considerable advances in understanding the ERK-MAPK network, the ability of cancer cells to adapt to the inhibition of key nodes reveals a level of complexity that remains to be fully understood. In this review, we summarize important developments in our understanding of the ERK-MAPK network and identify unresolved issues for ongoing and future study.
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45
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Herrick WG, Kilpatrick CL, Hollingshead MG, Esposito D, O'Sullivan Coyne G, Gross AM, Johnson BC, Chen AP, Widemann BC, Doroshow JH, Parchment RE, Srivastava AK. Isoform- and Phosphorylation-specific Multiplexed Quantitative Pharmacodynamics of Drugs Targeting PI3K and MAPK Signaling in Xenograft Models and Clinical Biopsies. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:749-760. [PMID: 33536190 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK (MAPK) and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways influence several cell functions involved in oncogenesis, making them attractive drug targets. We describe a novel multiplex immunoassay to quantitate isoform-specific phosphorylation of proteins in the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways as a tool to assess pharmacodynamic changes. Isoform-specific assays measuring total protein and site-specific phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2, MEK1/2, AKT1/2/3, and rpS6 were developed on the Luminex platform with validated antibody reagents. The multiplex assay demonstrated satisfactory analytic performance. Fit-for-purpose validation was performed with xenograft models treated with selected agents. In PC3 and HCC70 xenograft tumors, the PI3Kβ inhibitor AZD8186 suppressed phosphorylation of AKT1, AKT2, and rpS6 for 4 to 7 hours post single dose, but levels returned to baseline by 24 hours. AKT3 phosphorylation was suppressed in PC3 xenografts at all doses tested, but only at the highest dose in HCC70. The AKT inhibitor MK-2206 reduced AKT1/2/3 phosphorylation in SW620 xenograft tumors 2 to 4 hours postdose, and the MEK inhibitor selumetinib reduced MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation by up to 50% and >90%, respectively. Clinical utility was demonstrated by analyzing biopsies from untreated patients with plexiform neurofibromas enrolled in a clinical trial of selumetinib (NCT02407405). These biopsies showed MEK and ERK phosphorylation levels sufficient for measuring up to 90% inhibition, and low AKT and rpS6 phosphorylation. This validated multiplex immunoassay demonstrates the degree and duration of phosphorylation modulation for three distinct classes of drugs targeting the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- William G Herrick
- Clinical Pharmacodynamics Biomarker Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, Maryland
| | - Casey L Kilpatrick
- Clinical Pharmacodynamics Biomarker Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, Maryland
| | | | - Dominic Esposito
- Protein Expression Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, Maryland
| | | | - Andrea M Gross
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland.,Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Barry C Johnson
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Alice P Chen
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Brigitte C Widemann
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland.,Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - James H Doroshow
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland.,Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ralph E Parchment
- Clinical Pharmacodynamics Biomarker Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, Maryland
| | - Apurva K Srivastava
- Clinical Pharmacodynamics Biomarker Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, Maryland.
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46
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Wu PK, Hong SK, Park JI. Mortalin depletion induces MEK/ERK-dependent and ANT/CypD-mediated death in vemurafenib-resistant B-Raf V600E melanoma cells. Cancer Lett 2021; 502:25-33. [PMID: 33440231 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.12.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Therapy resistance to a selective B-Raf inhibitor (BRAFi) poses a challenge in treating patients with BRAF-mutant melanomas. Here, we report that RNA interference of mortalin (HSPA9/GRP75), a mitochondrial molecular chaperone often upregulated and mislocalized in melanoma, can effectively induce death of vemurafenib-resistant progenies of human B-RafV600E melanoma cell lines, A375 and Colo-829. Mortalin depletion induced death of vemurafenib-resistant cells at similar efficacy as observed in vemurafenib-naïve parental cells. This lethality was correlated with perturbed mitochondrial permeability and was attenuated by knockdown of adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) and cyclophilin D (CypD), the key regulators of mitochondrial permeability. Chemical inhibition of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 also suppressed mortalin depletion-induced death and mitochondrial permeability in these cells. These data suggest that mortalin and MEK/ERK regulate an ANT/CypD-associated mitochondrial death mechanism(s) in B-RafV600E melanoma cells and that this regulation is conserved even after these cells develop BRAFi resistance. We also show that doxycycline-induced mortalin depletion can effectively suppress the xenografts of vemurafenib-resistant A375 progeny in athymic nude mice. These findings suggest that mortalin has potential as a candidate therapeutic target for BRAFi-resistant BRAF-mutant tumors.
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Christodoulou E, Rashid M, Pacini C, Droop A, Robertson H, van Groningen T, Teunisse AFAS, Iorio F, Jochemsen AG, Adams DJ, van Doorn R. Analysis of CRISPR-Cas9 screens identifies genetic dependencies in melanoma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2021; 34:122-131. [PMID: 32767816 PMCID: PMC7818247 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Targeting the MAPK signaling pathway has transformed the treatment of metastatic melanoma. CRISPR-Cas9 genetic screens provide a genome-wide approach to uncover novel genetic dependencies that might serve as therapeutic targets. Here, we analyzed recently reported CRISPR-Cas9 screens comparing data from 28 melanoma cell lines and 313 cell lines of other tumor types in order to identify fitness genes related to melanoma. We found an average of 1,494 fitness genes in each melanoma cell line. We identified 33 genes, inactivation of which specifically reduced the fitness of melanoma. This set of tumor type-specific genes includes established melanoma fitness genes as well as many genes that have not previously been associated with melanoma growth. Several genes encode proteins that can be targeted using available inhibitors. We verified that genetic inactivation of DUSP4 and PPP2R2A reduces the proliferation of melanoma cells. DUSP4 encodes an inhibitor of ERK, suggesting that further activation of MAPK signaling activity through its loss is selectively deleterious to melanoma cells. Collectively, these data present a resource of genetic dependencies in melanoma that may be explored as potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mamunur Rashid
- Experimental Cancer Genetics GroupWellcome Trust Sanger InstituteCambridgeUK
| | - Clare Pacini
- Cancer Dependency Map AnalyticsWellcome Trust Sanger InstituteCambridgeUK
| | - Alastair Droop
- Experimental Cancer Genetics GroupWellcome Trust Sanger InstituteCambridgeUK
| | - Holly Robertson
- Experimental Cancer Genetics GroupWellcome Trust Sanger InstituteCambridgeUK
| | - Tim van Groningen
- Department of DermatologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Amina F. A. S. Teunisse
- Department of Cell and Chemical BiologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Francesco Iorio
- Cancer Dependency Map AnalyticsWellcome Trust Sanger InstituteCambridgeUK
- Centre for Computational BiologyHuman TechnopoleMilanoItaly
| | - Aart G. Jochemsen
- Department of Cell and Chemical BiologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - David J. Adams
- Experimental Cancer Genetics GroupWellcome Trust Sanger InstituteCambridgeUK
| | - Remco van Doorn
- Department of DermatologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
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48
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Swayden M, Chhouri H, Anouar Y, Grumolato L. Tolerant/Persister Cancer Cells and the Path to Resistance to Targeted Therapy. Cells 2020; 9:E2601. [PMID: 33291749 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The capacity of cancer to adapt to treatment and evolve is a major limitation for targeted therapies. While the role of new acquired mutations is well-established, recent findings indicate that resistance can also arise from subpopulations of tolerant/persister cells that survive in the presence of the treatment. Different processes contribute to the emergence of these cells, including pathway rebound through the release of negative feedback loops, transcriptional rewiring mediated by chromatin remodeling and autocrine/paracrine communication among tumor cells and within the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we discuss the non-genetic mechanisms that eventually result in cancer resistance to targeted therapies, with a special focus on those involving changes in gene expression.
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49
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Rao M, Shi B, Yuan Y, Wang Y, Chen Y, Liu X, Li X, Zhang M, Liu X, Sun X. The positive correlation between drug addiction and drug dosage in vemurafenib-resistant melanoma cells is underpinned by activation of ERK1/2-FRA-1 pathway. Anticancer Drugs 2020; 31:1026-1037. [PMID: 32868647 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000000951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is a kind of highly invasive and deadly diseases. The BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) such as vemurafenib could achieve a high response rate in melanoma patients with BRAF mutation. However, melanoma cells could easily develop resistance as well as addiction to BRAFi. Based on the drug addiction, intermittent treatment has been proposed to select against BRAFi-resistant melanoma cells. Because different dosages of BRAFi might be used in patients, it is necessary to know about the relationship between drug dosage and the degree of addiction. To address the problem, four drug-resistant melanoma cell sublines (A375/R0.5, A375/R2.0, M14/R0.5 and M14/R2.0) were established by continuously exposure of melanoma A375 or M14 cells to 0.5 or 2.0 μM vemurafenib. Vemurafenib withdrawal resulted in much stronger suppression on clone formation in A375/R2.0 and M14/R2.0, compared with A375/R0.5 and M14/R0.5, respectively. Meanwhile, stronger upregulation of ERK1/2-FRA-1 pathway could be observed in A375/R2.0 and M14/R2.0. Further detection showed that some proinflammatory cytokines downstream of ERK1/2-FRA-1 pathway were upregulated after drug withdrawal, and the conditioned medium collected from the resistant A375 cells could inhibit clone formation. Furthermore, vemurafenib withdrawal resulted in suppressed cell proliferation rather than cell senescence, with stronger effect on A375/R2.0 compared with A375/R0.5. This study suggested that the depth of vemurafenib addiction in resistant melanoma cells is positively correlated to the drug dosage, which might be underpinned by the ERK1/2-FRA-1 pathway and the related cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minla Rao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostic, Institute of Aging Research, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan
| | - Benyan Shi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostic, Institute of Aging Research, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Bao'an District, Songgang People's Hospital, Shenzhen
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostic, Institute of Aging Research, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan
| | | | - Yilin Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostic, Institute of Aging Research, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan
- The Second Clinical School
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostic, Institute of Aging Research, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan
- The Second Clinical School
| | - Xiaoyi Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostic, Institute of Aging Research, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan
| | - Mingmeng Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostic, Institute of Aging Research, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan
| | - Xinguang Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostic, Institute of Aging Research, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan
- Institute of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xuerong Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostic, Institute of Aging Research, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan
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50
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Li B, Xie S, Xia A, Suo T, Huang H, Zhang X, Chen Y, Zhou X. Recent advance in the sensing of biomarker transcription factors. Trends Analyt Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2020.116039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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