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Ye BJ, Li DF, Li XY, Hao JL, Liu DJ, Yu H, Zhang CD. Methylation synthetic lethality: Exploiting selective drug targets for cancer therapy. Cancer Lett 2024:217010. [PMID: 38849016 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.217010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
In cancer, synthetic lethality refers to the drug-induced inactivation of one gene and the inhibition of another in cancer cells by a drug, resulting in the death of only cancer cells; however, this effect is not present in normal cells, leading to targeted killing of cancer cells. Recent intensive epigenetic research has revealed that aberrant epigenetic changes are more frequently observed than gene mutations in certain cancers. Recently, numerous studies have reported various methylation synthetic lethal combinations involving DNA damage repair genes, metabolic pathway genes, and paralogs with significant results in cellular models, some of which have already entered clinical trials with promising results. This review systematically introduces the advantages of methylation synthetic lethality and describes the lethal mechanisms of methylation synthetic lethal combinations that have recently demonstrated success in cellular models. Furthermore, we discuss the future opportunities and challenges of methylation synthetic lethality in targeted anticancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Jie Ye
- Clinical Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China
| | - Di-Fei Li
- Clinical Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China
| | - Xin-Yun Li
- Clinical Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China
| | - Jia-Lin Hao
- Central Laboratory, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China
| | - Di-Jie Liu
- Central Laboratory, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China
| | - Hang Yu
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China
| | - Chun-Dong Zhang
- Central Laboratory, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China;; Department of Surgical Oncology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China;.
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2
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Wei H, Wang Z, Huang Y, Gao L, Wang W, Liu S, Sun YL, Liu H, Weng Y, Fan HY, Zhang M. DCAF2 regulates the proliferation and differentiation of mouse progenitor spermatogonia by targeting p21 and thymine DNA glycosylase. Cell Prolif 2024:e13676. [PMID: 38837535 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
DDB1-Cullin-4-associated factor-2 (DCAF2, also known as DTL or CDT2), a conserved substrate recognition protein of Cullin-RING E3 ligase 4 (CRL4), recognizes and degrades several substrate proteins during the S phase to maintain cell cycle progression and genome stability. Dcaf2 mainly expressed in germ cells of human and mouse. Our study found that Dcaf2 was expressed in mouse spermatogonia and spermatocyte. The depletion of Dcaf2 in germ cells by crossing Dcaf2fl/fl mice with stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8(Stra8)-Cre mice caused a reduction in progenitor spermatogonia and differentiating spermatogonia, eventually leading to the failure of meiosis initiation and male infertility. Further studies showed that depletion of Dcaf2 in germ cells caused abnormal accumulation of the substrate proteins, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (p21) and thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG), decreasing of cell proliferation, increasing of DNA damage and apoptosis. Overexpression of p21 or TDG attenuates proliferation and increases DNA damage and apoptosis in GC-1 cells, which is exacerbated by co-overexpression of p21 and TDG. The findings indicate that DCAF2 maintains the proliferation and differentiation of progenitor spermatogonia by targeting the substrate proteins p21 and TDG during the S phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Wei
- The Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, The second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhijuan Wang
- The Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, The second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yating Huang
- The Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, The second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Longwei Gao
- The Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, The second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weiyong Wang
- The Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, The second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- The Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, The second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan-Li Sun
- The Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, The second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huiyu Liu
- The Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, The second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yashuang Weng
- The Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, The second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Heng-Yu Fan
- MOE Key Laboratory for Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Meijia Zhang
- The Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, The second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
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3
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Scattolin D, Dal Maso A, Ferro A, Frega S, Bonanno L, Guarneri V, Pasello G. The emerging role of Schlafen-11 (SLFN11) in predicting response to anticancer treatments: Focus on small cell lung cancer. Cancer Treat Rev 2024; 128:102768. [PMID: 38797062 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2024.102768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by a dismal prognosis. Many efforts have been made so far for identifying novel biomarkers for a personalized treatment for SCLC patients. Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) is a protein differently expressed in many cancers and recently emerged as a new potential biomarker. Lower expression of SLFN11 correlates with a worse prognosis in SCLC and other tumors. SLFN11 has a role in tumorigenesis, inducing replication arrest in the presence of DNA damage through the block of the replication fork. SLFN11 interacts also with chromatin accessibility, proteotoxic stress and mammalian target of rapamycin signalling pathway. The expression of SLFN11 is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms, including promoter methylation, histone deacetylation, and the histone methylation. The downregulation of SLFN11 correlates with a worse response to topoisomerase I and II inhibitors, alkylating agents, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors in different cancer types. Some studies exploring strategies for overcoming drug resistance in tumors with low levels of SLFN11 showed promising results. One of these strategies includes the interaction with the Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-related pathway, constitutively activated and leading to cell survival and tumor growth in the presence of low levels of SLFN11. Furthermore, the expression of SLFN11 is dynamic through time and different anticancer therapy and liquid biopsy seems to be an attractive tool for catching SLFN11 different expressions. Despite this, further investigations exploring SLFN11 as a predictive biomarker, its longitudinal changes, and new strategies to overcome drug resistances are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Scattolin
- Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy; Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Alessandra Ferro
- Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Frega
- Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Laura Bonanno
- Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy; Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Valentina Guarneri
- Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy; Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giulia Pasello
- Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy; Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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4
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Boon NJ, Oliveira RA, Körner PR, Kochavi A, Mertens S, Malka Y, Voogd R, van der Horst SEM, Huismans MA, Smabers LP, Draper JM, Wessels LFA, Haahr P, Roodhart JML, Schumacher TNM, Snippert HJ, Agami R, Brummelkamp TR. DNA damage induces p53-independent apoptosis through ribosome stalling. Science 2024; 384:785-792. [PMID: 38753784 DOI: 10.1126/science.adh7950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
In response to excessive DNA damage, human cells can activate p53 to induce apoptosis. Cells lacking p53 can still undergo apoptosis upon DNA damage, yet the responsible pathways are unknown. We observed that p53-independent apoptosis in response to DNA damage coincided with translation inhibition, which was characterized by ribosome stalling on rare leucine-encoding UUA codons and globally curtailed translation initiation. A genetic screen identified the transfer RNAse SLFN11 and the kinase GCN2 as factors required for UUA stalling and global translation inhibition, respectively. Stalled ribosomes activated a ribotoxic stress signal conveyed by the ribosome sensor ZAKα to the apoptosis machinery. These results provide an explanation for the frequent inactivation of SLFN11 in chemotherapy-unresponsive tumors and highlight ribosome stalling as a signaling event affecting cell fate in response to DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolaas J Boon
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Division of Biochemistry, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rafaela A Oliveira
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Division of Biochemistry, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Pierré-René Körner
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Division of Oncogenomics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Adva Kochavi
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Division of Oncogenomics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sander Mertens
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Yuval Malka
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Division of Oncogenomics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rhianne Voogd
- Department of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Suzanne E M van der Horst
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Maarten A Huismans
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Lidwien P Smabers
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jonne M Draper
- Division of Biochemistry, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Lodewyk F A Wessels
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Peter Haahr
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Division of Biochemistry, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Center for Gene Expression, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jeanine M L Roodhart
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ton N M Schumacher
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Department of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hugo J Snippert
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Reuven Agami
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Division of Oncogenomics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Thijn R Brummelkamp
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Division of Biochemistry, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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5
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Perez RE, Eckerdt F, Platanias LC. Schlafens: Emerging Therapeutic Targets. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1805. [PMID: 38791884 PMCID: PMC11119473 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The interferon (IFN) family of immunomodulatory cytokines has been a focus of cancer research for over 50 years with direct and indirect implications in cancer therapy due to their properties to inhibit malignant cell proliferation and modulate immune responses. Among the transcriptional targets of the IFNs is a family of genes referred to as Schlafens. The products of these genes, Schlafen proteins, exert important roles in modulating cellular proliferation, differentiation, immune responses, viral replication, and chemosensitivity of malignant cells. Studies have demonstrated that abnormal expression of various Schlafens contributes to the pathophysiology of various cancers. Schlafens are now emerging as promising biomarkers and potentially attractive targets for drug development in cancer research. Here, we highlight research suggesting the use of Schlafens as cancer biomarkers and the rationale for the development of specific drugs targeting Schlafen proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo E. Perez
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; (R.E.P.); (F.E.)
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Frank Eckerdt
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; (R.E.P.); (F.E.)
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Leonidas C. Platanias
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; (R.E.P.); (F.E.)
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Medicine, Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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6
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Alvi E, Mochizuki AL, Katsuki Y, Ogawa M, Qi F, Okamoto Y, Takata M, Mu A. Mouse Slfn8 and Slfn9 genes complement human cells lacking SLFN11 during the replication stress response. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1038. [PMID: 37833372 PMCID: PMC10575959 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05406-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Schlafen (SLFN)11 gene has been implicated in various biological processes such as suppression of HIV replication, replication stress response, and sensitization of cancer cells to chemotherapy. Due to the rapid diversification of the SLFN family members, it remains uncertain whether a direct ortholog of human SLFN11 exists in mice. Here we show that mSLFN8/9 and hSLFN11 were rapidly recruited to microlaser-irradiated DNA damage tracks. Furthermore, Slfn8/9 expression could complement SLFN11 loss in human SLFN11-/- cells, and as a result, reduced the growth rate to wild-type levels and partially restored sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents. In addition, both Slfn8/9 and SLFN11 expression accelerated stalled fork degradation and decreased RPA and RAD51 foci numbers after DNA damage. Based on these results, we propose that mouse Slfn8 and Slfn9 genes may share an orthologous function with human SLFN11. This notion may facilitate understanding of SLFN11's biological role through in vivo studies via mouse modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Alvi
- Laboratory of DNA Damage Signaling, Department of Late Effects Studies, Radiation Biology Center, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Biochemical Cell Dynamics, Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ayako L Mochizuki
- Laboratory of DNA Damage Signaling, Department of Late Effects Studies, Radiation Biology Center, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- CiRA Foundation, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoko Katsuki
- Laboratory of DNA Damage Signaling, Department of Late Effects Studies, Radiation Biology Center, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Minori Ogawa
- Laboratory of DNA Damage Signaling, Department of Late Effects Studies, Radiation Biology Center, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Fei Qi
- Laboratory of DNA Damage Signaling, Department of Late Effects Studies, Radiation Biology Center, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yusuke Okamoto
- Laboratory of DNA Damage Signaling, Department of Late Effects Studies, Radiation Biology Center, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Minoru Takata
- Laboratory of DNA Damage Signaling, Department of Late Effects Studies, Radiation Biology Center, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Multilayer Network Research Unit, Research Coordination Alliance, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Anfeng Mu
- Laboratory of DNA Damage Signaling, Department of Late Effects Studies, Radiation Biology Center, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
- Multilayer Network Research Unit, Research Coordination Alliance, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
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7
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Qi F, Alvi E, Ogawa M, Kobayashi J, Mu A, Takata M. The ribonuclease domain function is dispensable for SLFN11 to mediate cell fate decision during replication stress response. Genes Cells 2023; 28:663-673. [PMID: 37469008 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.13056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
The SLFN11 gene participates in cell fate decision following cancer chemotherapy and encodes the N-terminal ribonuclease (RNase) domain and the C-terminal helicase/ATPase domain. How these domains contribute to the chemotherapeutic response remains controversial. Here, we expressed SLFN11 containing mutations in two critical residues required for RNase activity in SLFN11-/- cells. We found that this mutant was still able to suppress DNA damage tolerance, destabilized the stalled replication forks, and perturbed recruitment of the fork protector RAD51. In contrast, we confirmed that the helicase domain was essential to accelerate fork degradation. The fork degradation by the RNase mutant was dependent on both DNA2 and MRE11 nuclease, but not on MRE11's novel interactor FXR1. Collectively, these results supported the view that the RNase domain function is dispensable for SLFN11 to mediate cell fate decision during replication stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Qi
- Department of Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Laboratory of DNA Damage Signaling, Department of Late Effects Studies, Radiation Biology Center, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Cancer Cell Biology, Department of Genome Dynamics, Radiation Biology Center, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Erin Alvi
- Laboratory of DNA Damage Signaling, Department of Late Effects Studies, Radiation Biology Center, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Minori Ogawa
- Laboratory of DNA Damage Signaling, Department of Late Effects Studies, Radiation Biology Center, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Junya Kobayashi
- Department of Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Cancer Cell Biology, Department of Genome Dynamics, Radiation Biology Center, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Anfeng Mu
- Laboratory of DNA Damage Signaling, Department of Late Effects Studies, Radiation Biology Center, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Multilayer Network Research Unit, Research Coordination Alliance, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Minoru Takata
- Department of Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Laboratory of DNA Damage Signaling, Department of Late Effects Studies, Radiation Biology Center, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Multilayer Network Research Unit, Research Coordination Alliance, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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Schultz CW, Zhang Y, Elmeskini R, Zimmermann A, Fu H, Murai Y, Wangsa D, Kumar S, Takahashi N, Atkinson D, Saha LK, Lee C, Elenbaas B, Desai P, Sebastian R, Sharma AK, Abel M, Schroeder B, Krishnamurthy M, Kumar R, Roper N, Aladjem M, Zenke FT, Ohler ZW, Pommier Y, Thomas A. ATR inhibition augments the efficacy of lurbinectedin in small-cell lung cancer. EMBO Mol Med 2023; 15:e17313. [PMID: 37491889 PMCID: PMC10405061 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202217313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most lethal type of lung cancer. Specifically, MYC-driven non-neuroendocrine SCLC is particularly resistant to standard therapies. Lurbinectedin was recently approved for the treatment of relapsed SCLC, but combinatorial approaches are needed to increase the depth and duration of responses to lurbinectedin. Using high-throughput screens, we found inhibitors of ataxia telangiectasia mutated and rad3 related (ATR) as the most effective agents for augmenting lurbinectedin efficacy. First-in-class ATR inhibitor berzosertib synergized with lurbinectedin in multiple SCLC cell lines, organoid, and in vivo models. Mechanistically, ATR inhibition abrogated S-phase arrest induced by lurbinectedin and forced cell cycle progression causing mitotic catastrophe and cell death. High CDKN1A/p21 expression was associated with decreased synergy due to G1 arrest, while increased levels of ERCC5/XPG were predictive of increased combination efficacy. Importantly, MYC-driven non-neuroendocrine tumors which are resistant to first-line therapies show reduced CDKN1A/p21 expression and increased ERCC5/XPG indicating they are primed for response to lurbinectedin-berzosertib combination. The combination is being assessed in a clinical trial NCT04802174.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W Schultz
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Yang Zhang
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Rajaa Elmeskini
- Center for Advanced Preclinical Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, IncFrederick National Laboratory for Cancer ResearchFrederickMDUSA
| | - Astrid Zimmermann
- Translational Innovation Platform OncologyMerck KGaA, Biopharma R&DDarmstadtGermany
| | - Haiqing Fu
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Yasuhisa Murai
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Darawalee Wangsa
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Suresh Kumar
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Nobuyuki Takahashi
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
- Medical Oncology BranchNational Center for Global Health and MedicineTokyoJapan
| | - Devon Atkinson
- Center for Advanced Preclinical Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, IncFrederick National Laboratory for Cancer ResearchFrederickMDUSA
| | - Liton Kumar Saha
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Chien‐Fei Lee
- Translational Innovation Platform OncologyEMD Serono Research and Development Institute Inc., Biopharma R&DBillericaMAUSA
| | - Brian Elenbaas
- Translational Innovation Platform OncologyEMD Serono Research and Development Institute Inc., Biopharma R&DBillericaMAUSA
| | - Parth Desai
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Robin Sebastian
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Ajit Kumar Sharma
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Melissa Abel
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Brett Schroeder
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Manan Krishnamurthy
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Rajesh Kumar
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Nitin Roper
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Mirit Aladjem
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Frank T Zenke
- Translational Innovation Platform OncologyMerck KGaA, Biopharma R&DDarmstadtGermany
| | - Zoe Weaver Ohler
- Center for Advanced Preclinical Research, Leidos Biomedical Research, IncFrederick National Laboratory for Cancer ResearchFrederickMDUSA
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Anish Thomas
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
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9
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Murai J, Ceribelli M, Fu H, Redon CE, Jo U, Murai Y, Aladjem MI, Thomas CJ, Pommier Y. Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) Kills Cancer Cells Undergoing Unscheduled Re-replication. Mol Cancer Ther 2023; 22:985-995. [PMID: 37216280 PMCID: PMC10524552 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-22-0552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) is an increasingly prominent predictive biomarker and a molecular sensor for a wide range of clinical drugs: topoisomerases, PARP and replication inhibitors, and platinum derivatives. To expand the spectrum of drugs and pathways targeting SLFN11, we ran a high-throughput screen with 1,978 mechanistically annotated, oncology-focused compounds in two isogenic pairs of SLFN11-proficient and -deficient cells (CCRF-CEM and K562). We identified 29 hit compounds that selectively kill SLFN11-proficient cells, including not only previously known DNA-targeting agents, but also the neddylation inhibitor pevonedistat (MLN-4924) and the DNA polymerase α inhibitor AHPN/CD437, which both induced SLFN11 chromatin recruitment. By inactivating cullin-ring E3 ligases, pevonedistat acts as an anticancer agent partly by inducing unscheduled re-replication through supraphysiologic accumulation of CDT1, an essential factor for replication initiation. Unlike the known DNA-targeting agents and AHPN/CD437 that recruit SLFN11 onto chromatin in 4 hours, pevonedistat recruited SLFN11 at late time points (24 hours). While pevonedistat induced unscheduled re-replication in SLFN11-deficient cells after 24 hours, the re-replication was largely blocked in SLFN11-proficient cells. The positive correlation between sensitivity to pevonedistat and SLFN11 expression was also observed in non-isogenic cancer cells in three independent cancer cell databases (NCI-60, CTRP: Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal and GDSC: Genomic of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer). The present study reveals that SLFN11 not only detects stressed replication but also inhibits unscheduled re-replication induced by pevonedistat, thereby enhancing its anticancer efficacy. It also suggests SLFN11 as a potential predictive biomarker for pevonedistat in ongoing and future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junko Murai
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-0052, Japan
- Department of Cell Growth and Tumor Regulation, Proteo-Science Center, Ehime University, Toon 791-0295, Japan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon 791-0295, Japan
| | - Michele Ceribelli
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Haiqing Fu
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Christophe E. Redon
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ukhyun Jo
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yasuhisa Murai
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mirit I. Aladjem
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Craig J. Thomas
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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10
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Hou P, Hao W, Qin B, Li M, Zhao R, Cui S. Structural and biochemical characterization of Schlafen11 N-terminal domain. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:7053-7070. [PMID: 37293979 PMCID: PMC10359600 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Schlafen11 (SLFN11) is one of the most studied Schlafen proteins that plays vital roles in cancer therapy and virus-host interactions. Herein, we determined the crystal structure of the Sus scrofa SLFN11 N-terminal domain (NTD) to 2.69 Å resolution. sSLFN11-NTD is a pincer-shaped molecule that shares an overall fold with other SLFN-NTDs but exhibits distinct biochemical characteristics. sSLFN11-NTD is a potent RNase cleaving type I and II tRNAs and rRNAs, and with preference to type II tRNAs. Consistent with the codon usage-based translation suppression activity of SLFN11, sSLFN11-NTD cleaves synonymous serine and leucine tRNAs with different efficiencies in vitro. Mutational analysis revealed key determinates of sSLFN11-NTD nucleolytic activity, including the Connection-loop, active site, and key residues essential for substrate recognition, among which E42 constrains sSLFN11-NTD RNase activity, and all nonconservative mutations of E42 stimulated RNase activities. sSLFN11 inhibited the translation of proteins with a low codon adaptation index in cells, which mainly dependent on the RNase activity of the NTD because E42A enhanced the inhibitory effect, but E209A abolished inhibition. Our findings provide structural characterization of an important SLFN11 protein and expand our understanding of the Schlafen family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengjiao Hou
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Infection Prevention and Control (Peking Union Medical College), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100730, PR China
| | - Wei Hao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Infection Prevention and Control (Peking Union Medical College), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100730, PR China
| | - Bo Qin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Infection Prevention and Control (Peking Union Medical College), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100730, PR China
| | - Mengyun Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Infection Prevention and Control (Peking Union Medical College), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100730, PR China
| | - Rong Zhao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Infection Prevention and Control (Peking Union Medical College), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100730, PR China
| | - Sheng Cui
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Pathogen Infection Prevention and Control (Peking Union Medical College), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100730, PR China
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11
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Nakata S, Murai J, Okada M, Takahashi H, Findlay TH, Malebranche K, Parthasarathy A, Miyashita S, Gabdulkhaev R, Benkimoun I, Druillennec S, Chabi S, Hawkins E, Miyahara H, Tateishi K, Yamashita S, Yamada S, Saito T, On J, Watanabe J, Tsukamoto Y, Yoshimura J, Oishi M, Nakano T, Imamura M, Imai C, Yamamoto T, Takeshima H, Sasaki AT, Rodriguez FJ, Nobusawa S, Varlet P, Pouponnot C, Osuka S, Pommier Y, Kakita A, Fujii Y, Raabe EH, Eberhart CG, Natsumeda M. Epigenetic upregulation of Schlafen11 renders
WNT- and SHH-activated medulloblastomas sensitive to cisplatin. Neuro Oncol 2023; 25:899-912. [PMID: 36273330 PMCID: PMC10158119 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intensive chemotherapeutic regimens with craniospinal irradiation have greatly improved survival in medulloblastoma patients. However, survival markedly differs among molecular subgroups and their biomarkers are unknown. Through unbiased screening, we found Schlafen family member 11 (SLFN11), which is known to improve response to DNA damaging agents in various cancers, to be one of the top prognostic markers in medulloblastomas. Hence, we explored the expression and functions of SLFN11 in medulloblastoma. METHODS SLFN11 expression for each subgroup was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 98 medulloblastoma patient samples and by analyzing transcriptomic databases. We genetically or epigenetically modulated SLFN11 expression in medulloblastoma cell lines and determined cytotoxic response to the DNA damaging agents cisplatin and topoisomerase I inhibitor SN-38 in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS High SLFN11 expressing cases exhibited significantly longer survival than low expressing cases. SLFN11 was highly expressed in the WNT-activated subgroup and in a proportion of the SHH-activated subgroup. While WNT activation was not a direct cause of the high expression of SLFN11, a specific hypomethylation locus on the SLFN11 promoter was significantly correlated with high SLFN11 expression. Overexpression or deletion of SLFN11 made medulloblastoma cells sensitive and resistant to cisplatin and SN-38, respectively. Pharmacological upregulation of SLFN11 by the brain-penetrant histone deacetylase-inhibitor RG2833 markedly increased sensitivity to cisplatin and SN-38 in SLFN11-negative medulloblastoma cells. Intracranial xenograft studies also showed marked sensitivity to cisplatin by SLFN11-overexpression in medulloblastoma cells. CONCLUSIONS High SLFN11 expression is one factor which renders favorable outcomes in WNT-activated and a subset of SHH-activated medulloblastoma possibly through enhancing response to cisplatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Nakata
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Junko Murai
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Japan
| | - Masayasu Okada
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Takahashi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Tyler H Findlay
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kristen Malebranche
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Akhila Parthasarathy
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Satoshi Miyashita
- Department of System Pathology for Neurological Disorders, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Ramil Gabdulkhaev
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Ilan Benkimoun
- Department of Neuropathology, GHU Paris-Psychiatrie Et Neurosciences, Sainte-Anne Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Sabine Druillennec
- Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, F-91405, Orsay, France
- INSERM U1021, Centre Universitaire, F-91405, Orsay, France
- CNRS UMR 3347, Centre Universitaire, F-91405, Orsay, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405, Orsay, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, F-91405, Orsay, France
| | - Sara Chabi
- Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, F-91405, Orsay, France
- INSERM U1021, Centre Universitaire, F-91405, Orsay, France
- CNRS UMR 3347, Centre Universitaire, F-91405, Orsay, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405, Orsay, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, F-91405, Orsay, France
| | - Eleanor Hawkins
- Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, F-91405, Orsay, France
- INSERM U1021, Centre Universitaire, F-91405, Orsay, France
- CNRS UMR 3347, Centre Universitaire, F-91405, Orsay, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405, Orsay, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, F-91405, Orsay, France
| | - Hiroaki Miyahara
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan
| | - Kensuke Tateishi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Shinji Yamashita
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Shiori Yamada
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Taiki Saito
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Jotaro On
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Jun Watanabe
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Tsukamoto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Junichi Yoshimura
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Makoto Oishi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Toshimichi Nakano
- Department of Radiology and Radiation Oncology Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, Niigata, Japan
| | - Masaru Imamura
- Department of Pediatrics, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, Niigata, Japan
| | - Chihaya Imai
- Department of Pediatrics, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, Niigata, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Yamamoto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Hideo Takeshima
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Atsuo T Sasaki
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Japan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Fausto J Rodriguez
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor Center at UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Pascale Varlet
- Department of Neuropathology, GHU Paris-Psychiatrie Et Neurosciences, Sainte-Anne Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Celio Pouponnot
- Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, F-91405, Orsay, France
- INSERM U1021, Centre Universitaire, F-91405, Orsay, France
- CNRS UMR 3347, Centre Universitaire, F-91405, Orsay, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405, Orsay, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, F-91405, Orsay, France
| | - Satoru Osuka
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine and O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, USA
| | - Akiyoshi Kakita
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yukihiko Fujii
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Eric H Raabe
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Charles G Eberhart
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Manabu Natsumeda
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
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12
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Lin X, Chen J, Li X, Chen D, Luo K, Deng Y, Yang D, Huang Z, Tao C. Dimeric oxyberberine CT4-1 targets LINC02331 to induce cytotoxicity and inhibit chemoresistance via suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:1627-1647. [PMID: 37120773 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03501-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a type of cancer characterized by high recurrence rates. Overcoming chemoresistance can reduce HCC recurrence and improve patients' prognosis. This work aimed to identify HCC chemoresistance-associated long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and find an effective drug targeting the identified lncRNA for ameliorating the chemoresistance. In this investigation, bioinformatics analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas revealed a new chemoresistance index and suggested LINC02331 as an HCC chemoresistance and patients' prognosis-associated lncRNA that served as an independent prognostic indicator. Moreover, LINC02331 promoted DNA damage repair, DNA replication, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition as well as attenuated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling, thus stimulating HCC resistance to cisplatin cytotoxicity, proliferation, and metastasis. Interestingly, we developed a novel oxidative coupling approach to synthesize a dimeric oxyberberine CT4-1, which exerted superior anti-HCC activities without obvious side effects measured by in vivo mice model and could downregulate LINC02331 mice model and could downregulate LINC02331 to mitigate LINC02331-induced HCC progression by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling. RNA sequencing analyses verified the involvement of CT4-1-affected differential expression genes in dysregulated pathways and processes, including Wnt, DNA damage repair, cell cycle, DNA replication, apoptosis, and cell adhesion molecules. Furthermore, CT4-1 was demonstrated to be an effective cytotoxic drug in ameliorating HCC patients' prognosis with a prediction model constructed based on RNA-sequencing data from CT4-1-treated cancer cells and public cancer database. In summary, HCC chemoresistance-associated LINC02331 independently predicted poor patients' prognosis and enhanced HCC progression by promoting resistance to cisplatin cytotoxicity, proliferation, and metastasis. Targeting LINC02331 by the dimeric oxyberberine CT4-1 that exhibited synergistic cytotoxicity with cisplatin could alleviate HCC progression and improve patients' prognosis. Our study identified LINC02331 as an alternative target and suggested CT4-1 as an effective cytotoxic drug in HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, and School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Inflammatory and Immunology Diseases, Shenzhen, 518036, China
- Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, China
| | - Xin Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, and School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | - Dong Chen
- Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, China
| | - Kaixuan Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, and School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | - Yongxing Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, and School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | - Dinghua Yang
- Unit of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Zunnan Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, and School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China.
- Key Laboratory of Big Data Mining and Precision Drug Design of Guangdong Medical University, Key Laboratory of Computer-Aided Drug Design of Dongguan City, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China.
| | - Cheng Tao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Natural Drugs, and School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China.
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13
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Liu D, Sonalkar J, Prasanth SG. ORChestra coordinates the replication and repair music. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2200229. [PMID: 36811379 PMCID: PMC10023367 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202200229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Error-free genome duplication and accurate cell division are critical for cell survival. In all three domains of life, bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes, initiator proteins bind replication origins in an ATP-dependent manner, play critical roles in replisome assembly, and coordinate cell-cycle regulation. We discuss how the eukaryotic initiator, Origin recognition complex (ORC), coordinates different events during the cell cycle. We propose that ORC is the maestro driving the orchestra to coordinately perform the musical pieces of replication, chromatin organization, and repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dazhen Liu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 601S Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
| | - Jay Sonalkar
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 601S Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
| | - Supriya G. Prasanth
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 601S Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
- Cancer center at Illinois, UIUC
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14
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Zhou C, Weng J, Liu C, Liu S, Hu Z, Xie X, Gao D, Zhou Q, Sun J, Xu R, Li H, Shen Y, Yi Y, Shi Y, Sheng X, Dong Q, Hung MC, Ren N. Disruption of SLFN11 Deficiency-Induced CCL2 Signaling and Macrophage M2 Polarization Potentiates Anti-PD-1 Therapy Efficacy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Gastroenterology 2023; 164:1261-1278. [PMID: 36863689 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The therapeutic effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is poor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and varies greatly among individuals. Schlafen (SLFN) family members have important functions in immunity and oncology, but their roles in cancer immunobiology remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the role of the SLFN family in immune responses against HCC. METHODS Transcriptome analysis was performed in human HCC tissues with or without response to ICIs. A humanized orthotopic HCC mouse model and a co-culture system were constructed, and cytometry by time-of-flight technology was used to explore the function and mechanism of SLFN11 in the immune context of HCC. RESULTS SLFN11 was significantly up-regulated in tumors that responded to ICIs. Tumor-specific SLFN11 deficiency increased the infiltration of immunosuppressive macrophages and aggravated HCC progression. HCC cells with SLFN11 knockdown promoted macrophage migration and M2-like polarization in a C-C motif chemokine ligand 2-dependent manner, which in turn elevated their own PD-L1 expression by activating the nuclear factor-κB pathway. Mechanistically, SLFN11 suppressed the Notch pathway and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 transcription by binding competitively with tripartite motif containing 21 to the RNA recognition motif 2 domain of RBM10, thereby inhibiting tripartite motif containing 21-mediated RBM10 degradation to stabilize RBM10 and promote NUMB exon 9 skipping. Pharmacologic antagonism of C-C motif chemokine receptor 2 potentiated the antitumor effect of anti-PD-1 in humanized mice bearing SLFN11 knockdown tumors. ICIs were more effective in patients with HCC with high serum SLFN11 levels. CONCLUSIONS SLFN11 serves as a critical regulator of microenvironmental immune properties and an effective predictive biomarker of ICIs response in HCC. Blockade of C-C motif chemokine ligand 2/C-C motif chemokine receptor 2 signaling sensitized SLFN11low HCC patients to ICI treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenhao Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jialei Weng
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunxiao Liu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Shaoqing Liu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiqiu Hu
- Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Institute of Fudan-Minhang Academic Health System, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoli Xie
- Department of Pathology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongmei Gao
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jialei Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruchen Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinghao Shen
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Yi
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Shi
- Biomedical Research Centre, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xia Sheng
- Department of Pathology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiongzhu Dong
- Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Institute of Fudan-Minhang Academic Health System, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Mien-Chie Hung
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Research Centers for Cancer Biology and Molecular Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
| | - Ning Ren
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Institute of Fudan-Minhang Academic Health System, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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15
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Hamada S, Kano S, Murai J, Suzuki T, Tsushima N, Mizumachi T, Suzuki M, Takashima T, Taniyama D, Sakamoto N, Fujioka Y, Ohba Y, Homma A. Schlafen family member 11 indicates favorable prognosis of patients with head and neck cancer following platinum-based chemoradiotherapy. Front Oncol 2023; 12:978875. [PMID: 36741698 PMCID: PMC9892834 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.978875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, Schlafen family member 11 (SLFN11) has been reported to increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to DNA-damaging agents, including platinum derivatives; thus, SLFN11 may be a predictive biomarker for platinum-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT). In this study, we examined whether SLFN11 expression was associated with the therapeutic outcome of platinum-based CRT in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We performed immunohistochemical analyses for SLFN11 expression in 161 HNSCC tissues from patients who had been administered cisplatin-based CRT and examined the correlation between SLFN11 expression and progression-free survival (PFS). Additionally, SLFN11 expression was examined in 10 paired samples obtained before and after CRT in patients with local failure. Furthermore, in vitro experiments were performed using several HNSCC cell lines and isogenic SLFN11-knockout cells to assess the association between SLFN11 expression and drug sensitivity. PFS was found to be significantly better in the SLFN11-positive group than in the SLFN11-negative group among the 161 patients (5-year PFS: 78.8% vs. 52.8%, respectively, p < 0.001). Similar results were observed for the PFS at each primary site. The percentage of SLFN11 positivity was lower in tumor samples from patients with local failure after CRT than that in the corresponding primary tumors before CRT in 8 of 10 cases. Results of the in vitro assay demonstrated that SLFN11-knockout cells exhibited reduced sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents but not to the non-DNA-damaging agent docetaxel. Our findings suggest that SLFN11 may serve as a potential biomarker for predicting the response of HNSCC patients to platinum-based CRT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seijiro Hamada
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kano
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan,*Correspondence: Satoshi Kano,
| | - Junko Murai
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Suzuki
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Nayuta Tsushima
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takatsugu Mizumachi
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Masanobu Suzuki
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Takashima
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Daiki Taniyama
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Naoya Sakamoto
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yoichiro Fujioka
- Department of Cell Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yusuke Ohba
- Department of Cell Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Akihiro Homma
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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16
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Li S, Wang T, Fei X, Zhang M. ATR Inhibitors in Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14235902. [PMID: 36497387 PMCID: PMC9740197 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) is one of the deadliest types of epithelial ovarian cancer, and it is associated with a poor prognosis as the median overall survival (OS) is less than 12 months. Targeted therapy is a popular emerging treatment method. Several targeted therapies, including those using bevacizumab and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi), have been used to treat PROC. Ataxia telangiectasia and RAD3-Related Protein Kinase inhibitors (ATRi) have attracted attention as a promising class of targeted drugs that can regulate the cell cycle and influence homologous recombination (HR) repair. In recent years, many preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of ATRis in PROC. This review focuses on the anticancer mechanism of ATRis and the progress of research on ATRis for PROC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
- Department of Oncology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
- Department of Oncology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Xichang Fei
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
- Department of Oncology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Mingjun Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
- Department of Oncology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230031, China
- Correspondence:
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17
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Metzner FJ, Wenzl SJ, Kugler M, Krebs S, Hopfner KP, Lammens K. Mechanistic understanding of human SLFN11. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5464. [PMID: 36115853 PMCID: PMC9482658 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33123-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) is an interferon-inducible antiviral restriction factor with tRNA endoribonuclease and DNA binding functions. It is recruited to stalled replication forks in response to replication stress and inhibits replication of certain viruses such as the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) by modulating the tRNA pool. SLFN11 has been identified as a predictive biomarker in cancer, as its expression correlates with a beneficial response to DNA damage inducing anticancer drugs. However, the mechanism and interdependence of these two functions are largely unknown. Here, we present cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of human SLFN11 in its dimeric apoenzyme state, bound to tRNA and in complex with single-strand DNA. Full-length SLFN11 neither hydrolyses nor binds ATP and the helicase domain appears in an autoinhibited state. Together with biochemical and structure guided mutagenesis studies, our data give detailed insights into the mechanism of endoribonuclease activity as well as suggestions on how SLFN11 may block stressed replication forks. Schlafen 11 serves as an antiviral restriction factor and a predictive biomarker in cancer. Here, the authors use cryoelectron microscopy and biochemical assays to understand tRNA endoribonuclease and DNA binding functions of human Schlafen 11.
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18
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Fischietti M, Eckerdt F, Perez RE, Guillen Magaña JN, Mazewski C, Ho S, Gonzalez C, Streich LD, Beauchamp EM, Heimberger AB, Baran AH, Yue F, James CD, Platanias LC. SLFN11 Negatively Regulates Noncanonical NFκB Signaling to Promote Glioblastoma Progression. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:966-978. [PMID: 36382088 PMCID: PMC9648417 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-22-0192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive and incurable brain tumor in nearly all instances, whose disease progression is driven in part by the glioma stem cell (GSC) subpopulation. Here, we explored the effects of Schlafen family member 11 (SLFN11) in the molecular, cellular, and tumor biology of GBM. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of SLFN11 inhibited GBM cell proliferation and neurosphere growth and was associated with reduced expression of progenitor/stem cell marker genes, such as NES, SOX2, and CD44. Loss of SLFN11 stimulated expression of NFκB target genes, consistent with a negative regulatory role for SLFN11 on the NFκB pathway. Furthermore, our studies identify p21 as a direct transcriptional target of NFκB2 in GBM whose expression was stimulated by loss of SLFN11. Genetic disruption of SLFN11 blocked GBM growth and significantly extended survival in an orthotopic patient-derived xenograft model. Together, our results identify SLFN11 as a novel component of signaling pathways that contribute to GBM and GSC with implications for future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Significance:
We identify a negative regulatory role for SLFN11 in noncanonical NFκB signaling that results in suppression of the cell-cycle inhibitor p21. We provide evidence that SLFN11 contributes to regulation of stem cell markers in GBM, promoting the malignant phenotype. In addition, SLFN11 targeting triggers p21 expression and antitumor responses. Our studies define a highly novel function for SLFN11 and identify it as a potential therapeutic target for GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariafausta Fischietti
- 1Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- 2Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Frank Eckerdt
- 1Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- 2Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- 3Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ricardo E. Perez
- 1Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- 2Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Candice Mazewski
- 1Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- 2Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Sang Ho
- 1Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Christopher Gonzalez
- 1Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Lukas D. Streich
- 4Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Elspeth M. Beauchamp
- 1Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- 2Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- 5Department of Medicine, Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Amy B. Heimberger
- 3Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Aneta H. Baran
- 1Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- 2Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- 5Department of Medicine, Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Feng Yue
- 1Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- 6Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - C. David James
- 1Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- 3Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Leonidas C. Platanias
- 1Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- 2Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
- 5Department of Medicine, Jesse Brown Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
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19
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Murai Y, Jo U, Arakawa Y, Takebe N, Pommier Y. SLFN11's surveillance role in protein homeostasis. Oncoscience 2022; 9:35-37. [PMID: 35903760 PMCID: PMC9313520 DOI: 10.18632/oncoscience.560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhisa Murai
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Ukhyun Jo
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yasuhiro Arakawa
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Naoko Takebe
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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20
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Onji H, Murai J. Reconsidering the mechanisms of action of PARP inhibitors based on clinical outcomes. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:2943-2951. [PMID: 35766436 PMCID: PMC9459283 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
PARP inhibitors (PARPis) were initially developed as DNA repair inhibitors that inhibit the catalytic activity of PARP1 and PARP2 and are expected to induce synthetic lethality in BRCA‐ or homologous recombination (HR)‐deficient tumors. However, the clinical indications for PARPis are not necessarily limited to BRCA mutations or HR deficiency; BRCA wild‐type and HR‐proficient cancers can also derive some benefit from PARPis. These facts are interpretable by an additional primary antitumor mechanism of PARPis named PARP trapping, resulting from the stabilization of PARP‐DNA complexes. Favorable response to platinum derivatives (cisplatin and carboplatin) in preceding treatment is used as a clinical biomarker for some PARPis, implying that sensitivity factors for platinum derivatives and PARPis are mainly common. Such common sensitivity factors include not only HR defects (HRD) but also additional factors. One of them is Schlafen 11 (SLFN11), a putative DNA/RNA helicase, that sensitizes cancer cells to a broad type of DNA‐damaging agents, including platinum and topoisomerase inhibitors. Mechanistically, SLFN11 induces a lethal replication block in response to replication stress (ie, DNA damage). As SLFN11 acts upon replication stress, trapping PARPis can activate SLFN11. Preclinical models show the importance of SLFN11 in PARPi sensitivity. However, the relevance of SLFN11 in PARPi response is less evident in clinical data compared with the significance of SLFN11 for platinum sensitivity. In this review, we consider the reasons for variable indications of PARPis resulting from clinical outcomes and review the mechanisms of action for PARPis as anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Onji
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Junko Murai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.,Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Japan
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21
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Structural, molecular, and functional insights into Schlafen proteins. EXPERIMENTAL & MOLECULAR MEDICINE 2022; 54:730-738. [PMID: 35768579 PMCID: PMC9256597 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00794-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Schlafen (SLFN) genes belong to a vertebrate gene family encoding proteins with high sequence homology. However, each SLFN is functionally divergent and differentially expressed in various tissues and species, showing a wide range of expression in cancer and normal cells. SLFNs are involved in various cellular and tissue-specific processes, including DNA replication, proliferation, immune and interferon responses, viral infections, and sensitivity to DNA-targeted anticancer agents. The fundamental molecular characteristics of SLFNs and their structures are beginning to be elucidated. Here, we review recent structural insights into the N-terminal, middle and C-terminal domains (N-, M-, and C-domains, respectively) of human SLFNs and discuss the current understanding of their biological roles. We review the distinct molecular activities of SLFN11, SLFN5, and SLFN12 and the relevance of SLFN11 as a predictive biomarker in oncology. The diverse roles that Schlafen family proteins play in cell proliferation, immune modulation, and other biological processes make them promising targets for treating and tracking diseases, especially cancer. Ukhyun Jo and Yves Pommier from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, USA, review the molecular characteristics and structural features of Schlafen proteins. These proteins take their name from the German word for “sleep”, as the first described Schlafen proteins caused cells to stop dividing, although later reports found that related members of the same protein family serve myriad cellular functions, including in the regulation of DNA replication. A better understanding of Schlafen proteins could open up new avenues in cancer management, for instance, diagnostics that monitor activity levels of one such protein, SLFN11, could help oncologists predict how well patients might respond to anti-cancer therapies.
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22
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Can Schlafen 11 Help to Stratify Ovarian Cancer Patients Treated with DNA-Damaging Agents? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14102353. [PMID: 35625957 PMCID: PMC9139752 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Platinum-based chemotherapy has been the cornerstone of systemic treatment in ovarian cancer. Since no validated molecular predictive markers have been identified yet, the response to platinum-based chemotherapy has been evaluated clinically, based on platinum-free interval. The new promising marker Schlafen 11 seems to correlate with sensitivity or resistance to DNA-damaging agents, including platinum compounds or PARP inhibitors in various types of cancer. We provide background information about the function of Schlafen 11, its evaluation in tumor tissue, and its prevalence in ovarian cancer. We discuss the current evidence of the correlation of Schlafen 11 expression in ovarian cancer with treatment outcomes and the potential use of Schlafen 11 as the key predictive and prognostic marker that could help to better stratify ovarian cancer patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy or PARP inhibitors. We also provide perspectives on future directions in the research on this promising marker.
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23
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Kashima J, Okuma Y. Advances in biology and novel treatments of SCLC: The four-color problem in uncharted territory. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:386-395. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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24
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Hofste Op Bruinink D, Kuiper R, van Duin M, Cupedo T, van der Velden VHJ, Hoogenboezem R, van der Holt B, Beverloo HB, Valent ET, Vermeulen M, Gay F, Broijl A, Avet-Loiseau H, Munshi NC, Musto P, Moreau P, Zweegman S, van de Donk NWCJ, Sonneveld P. Identification of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma With a Plasma Cell Leukemia-Like Transcriptomic Profile. J Clin Oncol 2022; 40:3132-3150. [PMID: 35357885 PMCID: PMC9509081 DOI: 10.1200/jco.21.01217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary plasma cell leukemia (pPCL) is an aggressive subtype of multiple myeloma, which is distinguished from newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) on the basis of the presence of ≥ 20% circulating tumor cells (CTCs). A molecular marker for pPCL is currently lacking, which could help identify NDMM patients with high-risk PCL-like disease, despite not having been recognized as such clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davine Hofste Op Bruinink
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rowan Kuiper
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,SkylineDx, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mark van Duin
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tom Cupedo
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Remco Hoogenboezem
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bronno van der Holt
- HOVON Data Center, Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - H Berna Beverloo
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Michael Vermeulen
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Francesca Gay
- Myeloma Unit, Division of Hematology, University of Torino, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Annemiek Broijl
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Nikhil C Munshi
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Pellegrino Musto
- "Aldo Moro" University School of Medicine, Unit of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, AOUC Policlinico, Bari, Italy
| | - Philippe Moreau
- Hematology Department, University Hospital Hôtel-Dieu, Nantes, France
| | - Sonja Zweegman
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Niels W C J van de Donk
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Pieter Sonneveld
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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25
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Schlafens Can Put Viruses to Sleep. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020442. [PMID: 35216035 PMCID: PMC8875196 DOI: 10.3390/v14020442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Schlafen gene family encodes for proteins involved in various biological tasks, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and T cell development. Schlafens were initially discovered in mice, and have been studied in the context of cancer biology, as well as their role in protecting cells during viral infection. This protein family provides antiviral barriers via direct and indirect effects on virus infection. Schlafens can inhibit the replication of viruses with both RNA and DNA genomes. In this review, we summarize the cellular functions and the emerging relationship between Schlafens and innate immunity. We also discuss the functions and distinctions of this emerging family of proteins as host restriction factors against viral infection. Further research into Schlafen protein function will provide insight into their mechanisms that contribute to intrinsic and innate host immunity.
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26
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Kundu K, Cardnell RJ, Zhang B, Shen L, Stewart CA, Ramkumar K, Cargill KR, Wang J, Gay CM, Byers LA. SLFN11 biomarker status predicts response to lurbinectedin as a single agent and in combination with ATR inhibition in small cell lung cancer. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2022; 10:4095-4105. [PMID: 35004241 PMCID: PMC8674596 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-21-437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Background Lurbinectedin recently received FDA accelerated approval as a second line treatment option for metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, there are currently no established biomarkers to predict SCLC sensitivity or resistance to lurbinectedin or preclinical studies to guide rational combinations. Methods Drug sensitivity was assayed in proliferation assays and xenograft models. Baseline proteomic profiling was performed by reverse-phase protein array. Lurbinectedin-induced changes in intracellular signaling pathways were assayed by Western blot. Results Among 21 human SCLC cell lines, cytotoxicity was observed following lurbinectedin treatment at a low dose (median IC50 0.46 nM, range, 0.06–1.83 nM). Notably, cell lines with high expression of Schlafen-11 (SLFN11) protein, a promising biomarker of response to other DNA damaging agents (e.g., chemotherapy, PARP inhibitors), were more sensitive to single-agent lurbinectedin (FC =3.2, P=0.005). SLFN11 was validated as a biomarker of sensitivity to lurbinectedin using siRNA knockdown and in xenografts representing SLFN11 high and low SCLC. Replication stress and DNA damage markers (e.g., γH2AX, phosphorylated CHK1, phosphorylated RPA32) increased in SCLC cell lines following treatment with lurbinectedin. Lurbinectedin also induced PD-L1 expression via cGAS-STING pathway activation. Finally, the combination of lurbinectedin with the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR) inhibitors ceralasertib and berzosertib showed a greater than additive effect in SLFN11-low models. Conclusions Together our data confirm the activity of lurbinectedin across a large cohort of SCLC models and identify SLFN11 as a top candidate biomarker for lurbinectedin sensitivity. In SLFN11-low SCLC cell lines which are relatively resistance to lurbinectedin, the addition of an ATR inhibitor to lurbinectedin re-sensitized otherwise resistant cells, confirming previous observations that SLFN11 is a master regulator of DNA damage response independent of ATR, and the absence of SLFN11 leads to synthetic lethality with ATR inhibition. This study provides a rationale for lurbinectedin in combination with ATR inhibitors to overcome resistance in SCLC with low SLFN11 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Kundu
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Robert J Cardnell
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bingnan Zhang
- Division of Cancer Medicine, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Li Shen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - C Allison Stewart
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kavya Ramkumar
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kasey R Cargill
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Carl M Gay
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lauren A Byers
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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27
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A wake-up call for cancer DNA damage: the role of Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) across multiple cancers. Br J Cancer 2021; 125:1333-1340. [PMID: 34294893 PMCID: PMC8576031 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01476-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA-damaging agents exploit increased genomic instability, a hallmark of cancer. Recently, inhibitors targeting the DNA damage response (DDR) pathways, such as PARP inhibitors, have also shown promising therapeutic potential. However, not all tumors respond well to these treatments, suggesting additional determinants of response are required. Schlafen 11 (SLFN11), a putative DNA/RNA helicase that induces irreversible replication block, is emerging as an important regulator of cellular response to DNA damage. Preclinical and emerging clinical trial data suggest that SLFN11 is a predictive biomarker of response to a wide range of therapeutics that cause DNA damage including platinum salts and topoisomerase I/II inhibitors, as well as PARP inhibitors, which has raised exciting possibilities for its clinical application. In this article, we review the function, prevalence, and clinical testing of SLFN11 in tumor biopsy samples and circulating tumor cells. We discuss mounting evidence of SLFN11 as a key predictive biomarker for a wide range of cancer therapeutics and as a prognostic marker across several cancer types. Furthermore, we discuss emerging areas of investigation such as epigenetic reactivation of SLFN11 and its role in activating immune response. We then provide perspectives on open questions and future directions in studying this important biomarker.
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28
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Murai Y, Jo U, Murai J, Fukuda S, Takebe N, Pommier Y. Schlafen 11 expression in human acute leukemia cells with gain-of-function mutations in the interferon-JAK signaling pathway. iScience 2021; 24:103173. [PMID: 34693224 PMCID: PMC8517841 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Schlafen11 (SLFN11) is referred to as interferon (IFN)-inducible. Based on cancer genomic databases, we identified human acute myeloid and lymphoblastic leukemia cells with gain-of-function mutations in the Janus kinase (JAK) family as exhibiting high SLFN11 expression. In these cells, the clinical JAK inhibitors cerdulatinib, ruxolitinib, and tofacitinib reduced SLFN11 expression, but IFN did not further induce SLFN11 despite phosphorylated STAT1. We provide evidence that suppression of SLFN11 by JAK inhibitors is caused by inactivation of the non-canonical IFN pathway controlled by AKT and ERK. Accordingly, the AKT and ERK inhibitors MK-2206 and SCH77284 suppressed SLFN11 expression. Both also suppressed the E26 transformation-specific (ETS)-family genes ETS-1 and FLI-1 that act as transcription factors for SLFN11. Moreover, SLFN11 expression was inhibited by the ETS inhibitor TK216. Our study reveals that SLFN11 expression is regulated via the JAK, AKT and ERK, and ETS axis. Pharmacological suppression of SLFN11 warrants future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhisa Murai
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Ukhyun Jo
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Junko Murai
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Shinsaku Fukuda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Naoko Takebe
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Jo U, Murai Y, Takebe N, Thomas A, Pommier Y. Precision Oncology with Drugs Targeting the Replication Stress, ATR, and Schlafen 11. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4601. [PMID: 34572827 PMCID: PMC8465591 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13184601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Precision medicine aims to implement strategies based on the molecular features of tumors and optimized drug delivery to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment. DNA replication is a logical approach because it can be targeted by a broad range of anticancer drugs that are both clinically approved and in development. These drugs increase deleterious replication stress (RepStress); however, how to selectively target and identify the tumors with specific molecular characteristics are unmet clinical needs. Here, we provide background information on the molecular processes of DNA replication and its checkpoints, and discuss how to target replication, checkpoint, and repair pathways with ATR inhibitors and exploit Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) as a predictive biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ukhyun Jo
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA; (Y.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Yasuhisa Murai
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA; (Y.M.); (A.T.)
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki 036-8562, Japan
| | - Naoko Takebe
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA;
| | - Anish Thomas
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA; (Y.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4264, USA; (Y.M.); (A.T.)
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Schlafens: Emerging Proteins in Cancer Cell Biology. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092238. [PMID: 34571887 PMCID: PMC8465726 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Schlafens (SLFN) are a family of genes widely expressed in mammals, including humans and rodents. These intriguing proteins play different roles in regulating cell proliferation, cell differentiation, immune cell growth and maturation, and inhibiting viral replication. The emerging evidence is implicating Schlafens in cancer biology and chemosensitivity. Although Schlafens share common domains and a high degree of homology, different Schlafens act differently. In particular, they show specific and occasionally opposing effects in some cancer types. This review will briefly summarize the history, structure, and non-malignant biological functions of Schlafens. The roles of human and mouse Schlafens in different cancer types will then be outlined. Finally, we will discuss the implication of Schlafens in the anti-tumor effect of interferons and the use of Schlafens as predictors of chemosensitivity.
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Utilizing Patient-Derived Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Tumor Organoids to Predict Carboplatin Resistance. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9081021. [PMID: 34440225 PMCID: PMC8394135 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9081021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of patient-derived tumor organoids (TOs) from an epithelial ovarian cancer tumor obtained at the time of primary or interval debulking surgery has the potential to play an important role in precision medicine. Here, we utilized TOs to test front-line chemotherapy sensitivity and to investigate genomic drivers of carboplatin resistance. We developed six high-grade, serous epithelial ovarian cancer tumor organoid lines from tissue obtained during debulking surgery (two neoadjuvant-carboplatin-exposed and four chemo-naïve). Each organoid line was screened for sensitivity to carboplatin at four different doses (100, 10, 1, and 0.1 µM). Cell viability curves and resultant EC50 values were determined. One organoid line, UK1254, was predicted to be resistant to carboplatin based on its EC50 value (50.2 µM) being above clinically achievable Cmax. UK1254 had a significantly shorter PFS than the rest of the subjects (p = 0.0253) and was treated as a platinum-resistant recurrence. Subsequent gene expression analysis revealed extensively interconnected, differentially expressed pathways related to NF-kB, cellular differentiation (PRDM6 activation), and the linkage of B-cell receptor signaling to the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway (PI3KAP1 activation). This study demonstrates that patient-derived tumor organoids can be developed from patients at the time of primary or interval debulking surgery and may be used to predict clinical platinum sensitivity status or to investigate drivers of carboplatin resistance.
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Jo U, Senatorov IS, Zimmermann A, Saha LK, Murai Y, Kim SH, Rajapakse VN, Elloumi F, Takahashi N, Schultz CW, Thomas A, Zenke FT, Pommier Y. Novel and Highly Potent ATR Inhibitor M4344 Kills Cancer Cells With Replication Stress, and Enhances the Chemotherapeutic Activity of Widely Used DNA Damaging Agents. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:1431-1441. [PMID: 34045232 PMCID: PMC9398135 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-1026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Although several ATR inhibitors are in development, there are unresolved questions regarding their differential potency, molecular signatures of patients with cancer for predicting activity, and most effective therapeutic combinations. Here, we elucidate how to improve ATR-based chemotherapy with the newly developed ATR inhibitor, M4344 using in vitro and in vivo models. The potency of M4344 was compared with the clinically developed ATR inhibitors BAY1895344, berzosertib, and ceralasertib. The anticancer activity of M4344 was investigated as monotherapy and combination with clinical DNA damaging agents in multiple cancer cell lines, patient-derived tumor organoids, and mouse xenograft models. We also elucidated the anticancer mechanisms and potential biomarkers for M4344. We demonstrate that M4344 is highly potent among the clinically developed ATR inhibitors. Replication stress (RepStress) and neuroendocrine (NE) gene expression signatures are significantly associated with a response to M4344 treatment. M4344 kills cancer cells by inducing cellular catastrophe and DNA damage. M4344 is highly synergistic with a broad range of DNA-targeting anticancer agents. It significantly synergizes with topotecan and irinotecan in patient-derived tumor organoids and xenograft models. Taken together, M4344 is a promising and highly potent ATR inhibitor. It enhances the activity of clinical DNA damaging agents commonly used in cancer treatment including topoisomerase inhibitors, gemcitabine, cisplatin, and talazoparib. RepStress and NE gene expression signatures can be exploited as predictive markers for M4344.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ukhyun Jo
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland.,Corresponding Authors: Ukhyun Jo and Yves Pommier, 37 Convent Dr., Building 37-Room 5068, Bethesda, MD 20892. Phone: 240-760-6142; Fax: 240-541-4475; E-mail: and
| | - Ilya S. Senatorov
- Laboratory of Genitourinary Cancer Pathogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Astrid Zimmermann
- Merck KGaA, Biopharma R&D, Translational Innovation Platform Oncology, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Liton Kumar Saha
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yasuhisa Murai
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Se Hyun Kim
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland.,Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Vinodh N. Rajapakse
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Fathi Elloumi
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland.,General Dynamics Information Technology Inc., Fairfax, Virginia
| | - Nobuyuki Takahashi
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Christopher W. Schultz
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Anish Thomas
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Frank T. Zenke
- Merck KGaA, Biopharma R&D, Translational Innovation Platform Oncology, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Bethesda, Maryland.,Corresponding Authors: Ukhyun Jo and Yves Pommier, 37 Convent Dr., Building 37-Room 5068, Bethesda, MD 20892. Phone: 240-760-6142; Fax: 240-541-4475; E-mail: and
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Murai Y, Jo U, Murai J, Jenkins LM, Huang SYN, Chakka S, Chen L, Cheng K, Fukuda S, Takebe N, Pommier Y. SLFN11 Inactivation Induces Proteotoxic Stress and Sensitizes Cancer Cells to Ubiquitin Activating Enzyme Inhibitor TAK-243. Cancer Res 2021; 81:3067-3078. [PMID: 33863777 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-2694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Schlafen11 (SLFN11) inactivation occurs in approximately 50% of cancer cell lines and in a large fraction of patient tumor samples, which leads to chemoresistance. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches are needed to target SLFN11-deficient cancers. To that effect, we conducted a drug screen with the NCATS mechanistic drug library of 1,978 compounds in isogenic SLFN11-knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) leukemia cell lines. Here we report that TAK-243, a first-in-class ubiquitin activating enzyme UBA1 inhibitor in clinical development, causes preferential cytotoxicity in SLFN11-KO cells; this effect is associated with claspin-mediated DNA replication inhibition by CHK1 independently of ATR. Additional analyses showed that SLFN11-KO cells exhibit consistently enhanced global protein ubiquitylation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, unfolded protein response (UPR), and protein aggregation. TAK-243 suppressed global protein ubiquitylation and activated the UPR transducers PERK, phosphorylated eIF2α, phosphorylated IRE1, and ATF6 more effectively in SLFN11-KO cells than in WT cells. Proteomic analysis using biotinylated mass spectrometry and RNAi screening also showed physical and functional interactions of SLFN11 with translation initiation complexes and protein folding machinery. These findings uncover a previously unknown function of SLFN11 as a regulator of protein quality control and attenuator of ER stress and UPR. Moreover, they suggest the potential value of TAK-243 in SLFN11-deficient tumors. SIGNIFICANCE: This study uncovers that SLFN11 deficiency induces proteotoxic stress and sensitizes cancer cells to TAK-243, suggesting that profiling SLFN11 status can serve as a therapeutic biomarker for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhisa Murai
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Ukhyun Jo
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Junko Murai
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Lisa M Jenkins
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Shar-Yin N Huang
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Sirisha Chakka
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Functional Genomics Laboratory, NIH, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Lu Chen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Functional Genomics Laboratory, NIH, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Ken Cheng
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Functional Genomics Laboratory, NIH, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Shinsaku Fukuda
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Naoko Takebe
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.,Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Yves Pommier
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch and Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.
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