1
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Zhang C, Liu F, Zhang Y, Song C. Macrocycles and macrocyclization in anticancer drug discovery: Important pieces of the puzzle. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 268:116234. [PMID: 38401189 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116234] [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] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Increasing disease-related proteins have been identified as novel therapeutic targets. Macrocycles are emerging as potential solutions, bridging the gap between conventional small molecules and biomacromolecules in drug discovery. Inspired by successful macrocyclic drugs of natural origins, macrocycles are attracting more attention for enhanced binding affinity and target selectivity. Due to the conformation constraint and structure preorganization, macrocycles can reach bioactive conformations more easily than parent acyclic compounds. Also, rational macrocyclization combined with sequent structural modification will help improve oral bioavailability and combat drug resistance. This review introduces various strategies to enhance membrane permeability in macrocyclization and subsequent modification, such as N-methylation, intramolecular hydrogen bonding modulation, isomerization, and reversible bicyclization. Several case studies highlight macrocyclic inhibitors targeting kinases, HDAC, and protein-protein interactions. Finally, some macrocyclic agents targeting tumor microenvironments are illustrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhang
- Laboratory for Food and Medicine Homologous Natural Resources Development and Utilization, Belgorod College of Food Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou, 253023, China
| | - Fenfen Liu
- Laboratory for Food and Medicine Homologous Natural Resources Development and Utilization, Belgorod College of Food Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou, 253023, China
| | - Youming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China.
| | - Chun Song
- Laboratory for Food and Medicine Homologous Natural Resources Development and Utilization, Belgorod College of Food Sciences, Dezhou University, Dezhou, 253023, China; State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China.
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2
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Abstract
Repotrectinib (AUGTYRO™) is a next-generation, oral, small-molecule kinase inhibitor of proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase ROS1 (ROS1) and tropomyosin receptor tyrosine kinases (TRKs) TRKA, TRKB, and TRKC. It is being developed by Turning Point Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic solid tumours, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Repotrectinib is a next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor rationally designed to inhibit ROS1 and TRK fusion, including in the presence of resistance mutations such as solvent-front mutations. In November 2023, repotrectinib received its first approval in the USA for the treatment of adults with locally advanced or metastatic ROS1-positive NSCLC. Repotrectinib is under regulatory review in China and the EU for NSCLC. Clinical studies of repotrectinib are ongoing in several countries in patients with NSCLC and other solid tumours (including primary central nervous system cancer) across both adult and paediatric patient populations. In addition, preclinical investigation of repotrectinib in multiple myeloma is underway in the USA. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of repotrectinib leading to this first approval for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic ROS1-positive NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohita Dhillon
- Springer Nature, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, 0754, New Zealand.
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3
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Bergaggio E, Tai WT, Aroldi A, Mecca C, Landoni E, Nüesch M, Mota I, Metovic J, Molinaro L, Ma L, Alvarado D, Ambrogio C, Voena C, Blasco RB, Li T, Klein D, Irvine DJ, Papotti M, Savoldo B, Dotti G, Chiarle R. ALK inhibitors increase ALK expression and sensitize neuroblastoma cells to ALK.CAR-T cells. Cancer Cell 2023; 41:2100-2116.e10. [PMID: 38039964 PMCID: PMC10793157 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.11.004] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Selection of the best tumor antigen is critical for the therapeutic success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) receptor is expressed by most neuroblastomas while virtually absent in most normal tissues. ALK is an oncogenic driver in neuroblastoma and ALK inhibitors show promising clinical activity. Here, we describe the development of ALK.CAR-T cells that show potent efficacy in monotherapy against neuroblastoma with high ALK expression without toxicity. For neuroblastoma with low ALK expression, combination with ALK inhibitors specifically potentiates ALK.CAR-T cells but not GD2.CAR-T cells. Mechanistically, ALK inhibitors impair tumor growth and upregulate the expression of ALK, thereby facilitating the activity of ALK.CAR-T cells against neuroblastoma. Thus, while neither ALK inhibitors nor ALK.CAR-T cells will likely be sufficient as monotherapy in neuroblastoma with low ALK density, their combination specifically enhances therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Bergaggio
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Wei-Tien Tai
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Andrea Aroldi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Carmen Mecca
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Elisa Landoni
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Manuel Nüesch
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ines Mota
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jasna Metovic
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Luca Molinaro
- Department of Medical Science, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Leyuan Ma
- Koch Institute and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Chiara Ambrogio
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Claudia Voena
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Rafael B Blasco
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tongqing Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Daryl Klein
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | | | - Mauro Papotti
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Barbara Savoldo
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Gianpietro Dotti
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Roberto Chiarle
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy.
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4
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Ariaei A, Ramezani F. The promising impact of Bemcentinib and Repotrectinib on sleep impairment in Alzheimer's disease. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-17. [PMID: 37909502 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2276876] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, demands effective medication to alleviate symptoms. This study focused on sleep impairment as an overt clinical symptom and tauopathy as a prominent molecular symptom of this disease. Multiple compounds from three biomolecule libraries (719 compounds; ChemDiv:366 - ChEMBL:180 - PubChem:173) were evaluated for potential binding affinity and safety using AutoDock Vina and pkCSM, respectively, resulting in the selection of four candidate compounds (Lestaurtinib, Repotrectinib, Bemcentinib, and Zotiraciclib). Due to the similarity of Repotrectinib and Bemcentinib binding sites to ATP, 300 ns Martini 3 coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) was performed on these two molecules and ATP by NAMD. The stability of tau protein in the presence of drugs was assessed using a 200 ns Martini 3 MD simulation. Binding site analysis discloses Bemcentinib and Repotrectinib as two inhibitors occupying most amino acids in binding with ATP. The RMSD and RMS average correlation results revealed protein containing Bemcentinib and Repotrectinib to have a more stable state compared to ATP in the first 220 ns simulation. There was only a single detachment of Bemcentinib, while Repotrictinib detached twice at the end of the simulation. Eventually, adding Bemcentinib and Repotrectinib to the enzyme-tau complex significantly increased the number of tau detachments during the 200 ns simulation. We report Bemcentinib and Repotrectinib, formerly prescribed for cancer, as potential inhibitors of the CK1 δ. Besides their high binding affinity compared to ATP, they can inhibit all ATP-binding sites and alter the tau binding stability.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Ariaei
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ramezani
- Physiology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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5
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Kiełbowski K, Żychowska J, Becht R. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitors-a review of anticancer properties, clinical efficacy, and resistance mechanisms. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1285374. [PMID: 37954850 PMCID: PMC10634320 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1285374] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Fusions and mutations of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), a tyrosine kinase receptor, have been identified in several neoplastic diseases. Rearranged ALK is a driver of tumorigenesis, which activates various signaling pathway associated with proliferation and survival. To date, several agents that target and inhibit ALK have been developed. The most studied ALK-positive disease is non-small cell lung cancer, and three generations of ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been approved for the treatment of metastatic disease. Nevertheless, the use of ALK-TKIs is associated with acquired resistance (resistance mutations, bypass signaling), which leads to disease progression and may require a substitution or introduction of other treatment agents. Understanding of the complex nature and network of resistance mutations may allow to introduce sequential and targeted therapies. In this review, we aim to summarize the efficacy and safety profile of ALK inhibitors, describe off-target anticancer effects, and discuss resistance mechanisms in the context of personalized oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rafał Becht
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Chemotherapy and Cancer Immunotherapy, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
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6
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Katic L, Priscan A. Multifaceted Roles of ALK Family Receptors and Augmentor Ligands in Health and Disease: A Comprehensive Review. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1490. [PMID: 37892172 PMCID: PMC10605310 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101490] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This review commemorates the 10-year anniversary of the discovery of physiological ligands Augα (Augmentor α; ALKAL2; Fam150b) and Augβ (Augmentor β; ALKAL1; Fam150a) for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and leukocyte tyrosine kinase (LTK), previously considered orphan receptors. This manuscript provides an in-depth review of the biophysical and cellular properties of ALK family receptors and their roles in cancer, metabolism, pain, ophthalmology, pigmentation, central nervous system (CNS) function, and reproduction. ALK and LTK receptors are implicated in the development of numerous cancers, and targeted inhibition of their signaling pathways can offer therapeutic benefits. Additionally, ALK family receptors are involved in regulating body weight and metabolism, modulating pain signaling, and contributing to eye development and pigmentation. In the CNS, these receptors play a role in synapse modulation, neurogenesis, and various psychiatric pathologies. Lastly, ALK expression is linked to reproductive functions, with potential implications for patients undergoing ALK inhibitor therapy. Further research is needed to better understand the complex interactions of ALK family receptors and Aug ligands and to repurpose targeted therapy for a wide range of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luka Katic
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Morningside/West, 1000 Tenth Avenue, New York, NY 10019, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Anamarija Priscan
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA;
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7
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Abstract
Src family protein kinases (SFKs) play a key role in cell adhesion, invasion, proliferation, survival, apoptosis, and angiogenesis during tumor development. In humans, SFKs consists of eight family members with similar structure and function. There is a high level of overexpression or hyperactivity of SFKs in tumor, and they play an important role in multiple signaling pathways involved in tumorigenesis. FYN is a member of the SFKs that regulate normal cellular processes. Additionally, FYN is highly expressed in many cancers and promotes cancer growth and metastasis through diverse biological functions such as cell growth, apoptosis, and motility migration, as well as the development of drug resistance in many tumors. Moreover, FYN is involved in the regulation of multiple cancer-related signaling pathways, including interactions with ERK, COX-2, STAT5, MET and AKT. FYN is therefore an attractive therapeutic target for various tumor types, and suppressing FYN can improve the prognosis and prolong the life of patients. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of FYN's structure, expression, upstream regulators, downstream substrate molecules, and biological functions in tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- SanFei Peng
- grid.412633.10000 0004 1799 0733Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052 China
| | - Yang Fu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
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8
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Li G, Cheng Y, Han C, Song C, Huang N, Du Y. Pyrazole-containing pharmaceuticals: target, pharmacological activity, and their SAR studies. RSC Med Chem 2022; 13:1300-1321. [PMID: 36439976 PMCID: PMC9667768 DOI: 10.1039/d2md00206j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyrazole is a five-membered heterocycle bearing two adjacent nitrogen atoms. Both pharmaceutical agents and natural products with pyrazole as a nucleus have exhibited a broad spectrum of biological activities. In the last few decades, more than 40 pyrazole-containing drugs have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of a broad range of clinical conditions including celecoxib (anti-inflammatory), CDPPB (antipsychotic), difenamizole (analgesic), etc. Owing to the unique physicochemical properties of the pyrazole core, pyrazole-containing drugs may exert better pharmacokinetics and pharmacological effects compared with drugs containing similar heterocyclic rings. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of all the existing drugs bearing a pyrazole nucleus that have been approved or in clinical trials, involving their pharmacological activities and SAR studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangchen Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
| | - Yifu Cheng
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
| | - Chi Han
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
| | - Chun Song
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University Qing Dao City Shandong Province 266237 China
| | - Niu Huang
- National Institution of Biological Sciences Beijing, No. 7 Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park Beijing 102206 China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University Beijing 102206 China
| | - Yunfei Du
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
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9
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Szydzik J, Lind DE, Arefin B, Kurhe Y, Umapathy G, Siaw JT, Claeys A, Gabre JL, Van den Eynden J, Hallberg B, Palmer RH. ATR inhibition enables complete tumour regression in ALK-driven NB mouse models. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6813. [PMID: 34819497 PMCID: PMC8613282 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27057-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
High-risk neuroblastoma (NB) often involves MYCN amplification as well as mutations in ALK. Currently, high-risk NB presents significant clinical challenges, and additional therapeutic options are needed. Oncogenes like MYCN and ALK result in increased replication stress in cancer cells, offering therapeutically exploitable options. We have pursued phosphoproteomic analyses highlighting ATR activity in ALK-driven NB cells, identifying the BAY1895344 ATR inhibitor as a potent inhibitor of NB cell growth and proliferation. Using RNA-Seq, proteomics and phosphoproteomics we characterize NB cell and tumour responses to ATR inhibition, identifying key components of the DNA damage response as ATR targets in NB cells. ATR inhibition also produces robust responses in mouse models. Remarkably, a 2-week combined ATR/ALK inhibition protocol leads to complete tumor regression in two independent genetically modified mouse NB models. These results suggest that NB patients, particularly in high-risk groups with oncogene-induced replication stress, may benefit from ATR inhibition as therapeutic intervention. Effective therapeutic options are still needed in neuroblastoma treatment. Here, the authors, through a comprehensive proteomics analysis, identify ATR as a potential therapeutic target of neuroblastoma and demonstrate the efficacy of the ATR inhibitor BAY1895344 in combination with the ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor lorlatinib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Szydzik
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Dan E Lind
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Badrul Arefin
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Yeshwant Kurhe
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ganesh Umapathy
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Joachim Tetteh Siaw
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Arne Claeys
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Anatomy and Embryology Unit, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jonatan L Gabre
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Human Structure and Repair, Anatomy and Embryology Unit, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jimmy Van den Eynden
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Anatomy and Embryology Unit, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Bengt Hallberg
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Ruth H Palmer
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-40530, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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10
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Schmelz K, Toedling J, Huska M, Cwikla MC, Kruetzfeldt LM, Proba J, Ambros PF, Ambros IM, Boral S, Lodrini M, Chen CY, Burkert M, Guergen D, Szymansky A, Astrahantseff K, Kuenkele A, Haase K, Fischer M, Deubzer HE, Hertwig F, Hundsdoerfer P, Henssen AG, Schwarz RF, Schulte JH, Eggert A. Spatial and temporal intratumour heterogeneity has potential consequences for single biopsy-based neuroblastoma treatment decisions. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6804. [PMID: 34815394 PMCID: PMC8611017 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26870-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Intratumour heterogeneity is a major cause of treatment failure in cancer. We present in-depth analyses combining transcriptomic and genomic profiling with ultra-deep targeted sequencing of multiregional biopsies in 10 patients with neuroblastoma, a devastating childhood tumour. We observe high spatial and temporal heterogeneity in somatic mutations and somatic copy-number alterations which are reflected on the transcriptomic level. Mutations in some druggable target genes including ALK and FGFR1 are heterogeneous at diagnosis and/or relapse, raising the issue whether current target prioritization and molecular risk stratification procedures in single biopsies are sufficiently reliable for therapy decisions. The genetic heterogeneity in gene mutations and chromosome aberrations observed in deep analyses from patient courses suggest clonal evolution before treatment and under treatment pressure, and support early emergence of metastatic clones and ongoing chromosomal instability during disease evolution. We report continuous clonal evolution on mutational and copy number levels in neuroblastoma, and detail its implications for therapy selection, risk stratification and therapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Schmelz
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joern Toedling
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matt Huska
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Maja C Cwikla
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jutta Proba
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter F Ambros
- Children's Cancer Research Institute, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Inge M Ambros
- Children's Cancer Research Institute, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sengül Boral
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marco Lodrini
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Celine Y Chen
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the Charité and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Burkert
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Dennis Guergen
- Experimental Pharmacology and Oncology Berlin-Buch GmbH (EPO), Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Annette Kuenkele
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Kerstin Haase
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Fischer
- Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology, Medical Faculty, University Children's Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hedwig E Deubzer
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the Charité and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Falk Hertwig
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrick Hundsdoerfer
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Helios Klinikum Berlin-Buch, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anton G Henssen
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany.
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the Charité and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany.
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.
| | - Roland F Schwarz
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany.
- BIFOLD-Berlin Institute for the Foundations of Learning and Data, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Johannes H Schulte
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.
| | - Angelika Eggert
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.
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11
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Li W, Sparidans RW, Lebre MC, Beijnen JH, Schinkel AH. ABCB1 and ABCG2 Control Brain Accumulation and Intestinal Disposition of the Novel ROS1/TRK/ALK Inhibitor Repotrectinib, While OATP1A/1B, ABCG2, and CYP3A Limit Its Oral Availability. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13111761. [PMID: 34834176 PMCID: PMC8619046 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111761] [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: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Repotrectinib shows high activity against ROS1/TRK/ALK fusion-positive cancers in preclinical studies. We explored the roles of multidrug efflux transporters ABCB1 and ABCG2, the OATP1A/1B uptake transporter(s), and the CYP3A complex in pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of repotrectinib in genetically modified mouse models. In vitro, human ABCB1 and ABCG2, and mouse Abcg2 efficiently transported repotrectinib with efflux transport ratios of 13.5, 5.6, and 40, respectively. Oral repotrectinib (10 mg/kg) showed higher plasma exposures in Abcg2-deficient mouse strains. Brain-to-plasma ratios were increased in Abcb1a/1b−/− (4.1-fold) and Abcb1a/1b;Abcg2−/− (14.2-fold) compared to wild-type mice, but not in single Abcg2−/− mice. Small intestinal content recovery of repotrectinib was decreased 4.9-fold in Abcb1a/1b−/− and 13.6-fold in Abcb1a/1b;Abcg2−/− mice. Intriguingly, Abcb1a/1b;Abcg2−/− mice displayed transient, mild, likely CNS-localized toxicity. Oatp1a/1b deficiency caused a 2.3-fold increased oral availability and corresponding decrease in liver distribution of repotrectinib. In Cyp3a−/− mice, repotrectinib plasma AUC0–h was 2.3-fold increased, and subsequently reduced 2.0-fold in humanized CYP3A4 transgenic mice. Collectively, Abcb1 and Abcg2 restrict repotrectinib brain accumulation and possibly toxicity, and control its intestinal disposition. Abcg2 also limits repotrectinib oral availability. Oatp1a/1b mediates repotrectinib liver uptake, thus reducing its systemic exposure. Systemic exposure of repotrectinib is also substantially limited by CYP3A activity. These insights may be useful to optimize the therapeutic application of repotrectinib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlong Li
- The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Division of Pharmacology, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (W.L.); (M.C.L.); (J.H.B.)
| | - Rolf W. Sparidans
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands;
| | - Maria C. Lebre
- The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Division of Pharmacology, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (W.L.); (M.C.L.); (J.H.B.)
| | - Jos H. Beijnen
- The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Division of Pharmacology, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (W.L.); (M.C.L.); (J.H.B.)
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology & Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
- The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alfred H. Schinkel
- The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Division of Pharmacology, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (W.L.); (M.C.L.); (J.H.B.)
- Alfred H. Schinkel, Schinkel Group, Division of Pharmacology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-20-512-2046; Fax: +31-20-512-1792
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Brenner AK, Gunnes MW. Therapeutic Targeting of the Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) in Neuroblastoma-A Comprehensive Update. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13091427. [PMID: 34575503 PMCID: PMC8470592 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13091427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NBL) is an embryonic malignancy of the sympathetic nervous system and mostly affects children under the age of five. NBL is highly heterogeneous and ranges from spontaneously regressing to highly aggressive disease. One of the risk factors for poor prognosis are aberrations in the receptor tyrosine kinase anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), which is involved in the normal development and function of the nervous system. ALK mutations lead to constitutive activation of ALK and its downstream signalling pathways, thus driving tumorigenesis. A wide range of steric ALK inhibitors has been synthesized, and several of these inhibitors are already in clinical use. Major challenges are acquired drug resistance to steric inhibitors and pathway evasion strategies of cancer cells upon targeted therapy. This review will give a comprehensive overview on ALK inhibitors in clinical use in high-risk NBL and on the potential and limitations of novel inhibitors. Because combinatory treatment regimens are probably less likely to induce drug resistance, a special focus will be on the combination of ALK inhibitors with drugs that either target downstream signalling pathways or that affect the survival and proliferation of cancer cells in general.
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O'Donohue TJ, Ibáñez G, Coutinho DF, Mauguen A, Siddiquee A, Rosales N, Calder P, Ndengu A, You D, Long M, Roberts SS, Kung AL, Dela Cruz FS. Translational Strategies for Repotrectinib in Neuroblastoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:2189-2197. [PMID: 34482287 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Limited clinical data are available regarding the utility of multikinase inhibition in neuroblastoma. Repotrectinib (TPX-0005) is a multikinase inhibitor that targets ALK, TRK, JAK2/STAT, and Src/FAK, which have all been implicated in the pathogenesis of neuroblastoma. We evaluated the preclinical activity of repotrectinib monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy as a potential therapeutic approach for relapsed/refractory neuroblastoma. In vitro sensitivity to repotrectinib, ensartinib, and cytotoxic chemotherapy was evaluated in neuroblastoma cell lines. In vivo antitumor effect of repotrectinib monotherapy, and in combination with chemotherapy, was evaluated using a genotypically diverse cohort of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of neuroblastoma. Repotrectinib had comparable cytotoxic activity across cell lines irrespective of ALK mutational status. Combination with chemotherapy demonstrated increased antiproliferative activity across several cell lines. Repotrectinib monotherapy had notable antitumor activity and prolonged event-free survival compared with vehicle and ensartinib in PDX models (P < 0.05). Repotrectinib plus chemotherapy was superior to chemotherapy alone in ALK-mutant and ALK wild-type PDX models. These results demonstrate that repotrectinib has antitumor activity in genotypically diverse neuroblastoma models, and that combination of a multikinase inhibitor with chemotherapy may be a promising treatment paradigm for translation to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara J O'Donohue
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Glorymar Ibáñez
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Audrey Mauguen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Armaan Siddiquee
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Nestor Rosales
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Paul Calder
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Andoyo Ndengu
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Daoqi You
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Matthew Long
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Stephen S Roberts
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Andrew L Kung
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
| | - Filemon S Dela Cruz
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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14
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O'Donohue T, Gulati N, Mauguen A, Kushner BH, Shukla N, Rodriguez-Sanchez MI, Bouvier N, Roberts S, Basu E, Cheung NK, Modak S. Differential Impact of ALK Mutations in Neuroblastoma. JCO Precis Oncol 2021; 5:PO.20.00181. [PMID: 34250410 DOI: 10.1200/po.20.00181] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The tyrosine kinase receptor anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) can be abnormally activated in neuroblastoma, and somatic ALK mutations occur in 6%-10% of patients. The differential clinical impact of these mutations has not been clearly elucidated. METHODS Data on patients with neuroblastoma harboring ALK mutations were retrospectively analyzed. ALK sequencing was performed by whole-genome sequencing, hybrid-based capture of targeted exomes, or hotspot ALK mutation profiling. The differential impact of ALK mutation site on clinical characteristics, response to treatment, and survival was analyzed. In a subgroup of patients with locoregional neuroblastoma diagnosed after 2014, the impact of all ALK mutations was compared with wild-type ALK. RESULTS Of 641 patients with neuroblastoma with ALK status analyzed on at least one tumor sample, 103 (16%) had tumors harboring ALK mutations. Mutations existed across all ages (birth to 67.8 years), stages (30% locoregional and 70% metastatic), and risk groups (20%, 11%, and 69% with low-, intermediate-, and high-risk disease, respectively). Mutation sites included F1174 (51%), R1275 (29%), R1245 (10%), and others (10%). Mutation site was not prognostic for progression-free survival or overall survival in the entire cohort, high-risk subgroup, or locoregional subgroup. Locoregional tumors with any ALK mutation were generally invasive: L2 by International Neuroblastoma Research Group staging in 30/31 patients with a 2-year progression-free survival (59%, 95% CI, 37.4 to 80.5) that was inferior to historical controls. This observation was corroborated in the post-2014 subgroup in which gross total resection was less likely for ALK-mutated tumors. CONCLUSION Somatic ALK mutations are present across all stages and risk groups of neuroblastoma. No specific mutation carries differential prognostic significance. Locoregional neuroblastoma has an invasive phenotype when harboring somatic ALK mutations in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara O'Donohue
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Nitya Gulati
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Audrey Mauguen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Brian H Kushner
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Neerav Shukla
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | | | - Nancy Bouvier
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Stephen Roberts
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Ellen Basu
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Nai-Kong Cheung
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Shakeel Modak
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
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Borenäs M, Umapathy G, Lai WY, Lind DE, Witek B, Guan J, Mendoza-Garcia P, Masudi T, Claeys A, Chuang TP, El Wakil A, Arefin B, Fransson S, Koster J, Johansson M, Gaarder J, Van den Eynden J, Hallberg B, Palmer RH. ALK ligand ALKAL2 potentiates MYCN-driven neuroblastoma in the absence of ALK mutation. EMBO J 2021; 40:e105784. [PMID: 33411331 PMCID: PMC7849294 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020105784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [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: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
High‐risk neuroblastoma (NB) is responsible for a disproportionate number of childhood deaths due to cancer. One indicator of high‐risk NB is amplification of the neural MYC (MYCN) oncogene, which is currently therapeutically intractable. Identification of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) as an NB oncogene raised the possibility of using ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in treatment of patients with activating ALK mutations. 8–10% of primary NB patients are ALK‐positive, a figure that increases in the relapsed population. ALK is activated by the ALKAL2 ligand located on chromosome 2p, along with ALK and MYCN, in the “2p‐gain” region associated with NB. Dysregulation of ALK ligand in NB has not been addressed, although one of the first oncogenes described was v‐sis that shares > 90% homology with PDGF. Therefore, we tested whether ALKAL2 ligand could potentiate NB progression in the absence of ALK mutation. We show that ALKAL2 overexpression in mice drives ALK TKI‐sensitive NB in the absence of ALK mutation, suggesting that additional NB patients, such as those exhibiting 2p‐gain, may benefit from ALK TKI‐based therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Borenäs
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ganesh Umapathy
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Wei-Yun Lai
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Dan E Lind
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Barbara Witek
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Jikui Guan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Patricia Mendoza-Garcia
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tafheem Masudi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Arne Claeys
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Anatomy and Embryology Unit, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tzu-Po Chuang
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Abeer El Wakil
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Badrul Arefin
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Susanne Fransson
- Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jan Koster
- Department of Oncogenomics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mathias Johansson
- Clinical Genomics, Science for life laboratory, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jennie Gaarder
- Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jimmy Van den Eynden
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Anatomy and Embryology Unit, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bengt Hallberg
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ruth H Palmer
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neuroblastoma (NB) is the prime cancer of infancy, and accounts for 9% of pediatric cancer deaths. While children diagnosed with clinically stable NB experience a complete cure, those with high-risk disease (HR-NB) do not recover, despite intensive therapeutic strategies. Development of novel and effective targeted therapies is needed to counter disease progression, and to benefit long-term survival of children with HR-NB. AREAS COVERED Recent studies (2017-2020) pertinent to NB evolution are selectively reviewed to recognize novel and effective therapeutic targets. The prospective and promising therapeutic targets/strategies for HR-NB are categorized into (a) targeting oncogene-like and/or reinforcing tumor suppressor (TS)-like lncRNAs; (b) targeting oncogene-like microRNAs (miRs) and/or mimicking TS-miRs; (c) targets for immunotherapy; (d) targeting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cells; (e) novel and beneficial combination approaches; and (f) repurposing drugs and other strategies in development. EXPERT OPINION It is highly unlikely that agents targeting a single candidate or signaling will be beneficial for an HR-NB cure. We must develop efficient drug deliverables for functional targets, which could be integrated and advance clinical therapy. Fittingly, the looming evidence indicated an aggressive evolution of promising novel and integrative targets, development of efficient drugs, and improvised strategies for HR-NB treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Terence Herman
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center , Oklahoma City, USA.,Stephenson Cancer Center , Oklahoma City, USA
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