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Sorino C, Iezzi S, Ciuffreda L, Falcone I. Immunotherapy in melanoma: advances, pitfalls, and future perspectives. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1403021. [PMID: 39086722 PMCID: PMC11289331 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1403021] [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: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is the deadliest and most aggressive form of skin cancer owing to its high capacity for metastasis. Over the past few decades, the management of this type of malignancy has undergone a significant revolution with the advent of both targeted therapies and immunotherapy, which have greatly improved patient quality of life and survival. Nevertheless, the response rates are still unsatisfactory for the presence of side effects and development of resistance mechanisms. In this context, tumor microenvironment has emerged as a factor affecting the responsiveness and efficacy of immunotherapy, and the study of its interplay with the immune system has offered new promising clinical strategies. This review provides a brief overview of the currently available immunotherapeutic strategies for melanoma treatment by analyzing both the positive aspects and those that require further improvement. Indeed, a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the immune evasion of melanoma cells, with particular attention on the role of the tumor microenvironment, could provide the basis for improving current therapies and identifying new predictive biomarkers.
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2
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Battaglia L, Scomparin A, Dianzani C, Milla P, Muntoni E, Arpicco S, Cavalli R. Nanotechnology Addressing Cutaneous Melanoma: The Italian Landscape. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1617. [PMID: 34683910 PMCID: PMC8540596 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is one of the most aggressive solid tumors, with a low survival for the metastatic stage. Currently, clinical melanoma treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy. Of note, innovative therapeutic regimens concern the administration of multitarget drugs in tandem, in order to improve therapeutic efficacy. However, also, if this drug combination is clinically relevant, the patient's response is not yet optimal. In this scenario, nanotechnology-based delivery systems can play a crucial role in the clinical treatment of advanced melanoma. In fact, their nano-features enable targeted drug delivery at a cellular level by overcoming biological barriers. Various nanomedicines have been proposed for the treatment of cutaneous melanoma, and a relevant number of them are undergoing clinical trials. In Italy, researchers are focusing on the pharmaceutical development of nanoformulations for malignant melanoma therapy. The present review reports an overview of the main melanoma-addressed nanomedicines currently under study in Italy, alongside the state of the art of melanoma therapy. Moreover, the latest Italian advances concerning the pre-clinical evaluation of nanomedicines for melanoma are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Battaglia
- . Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, 10125 Turin, Italy; (L.B.); (A.S.); (C.D.); (P.M.); (E.M.); (S.A.)
| | - Anna Scomparin
- . Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, 10125 Turin, Italy; (L.B.); (A.S.); (C.D.); (P.M.); (E.M.); (S.A.)
- . Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Chiara Dianzani
- . Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, 10125 Turin, Italy; (L.B.); (A.S.); (C.D.); (P.M.); (E.M.); (S.A.)
| | - Paola Milla
- . Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, 10125 Turin, Italy; (L.B.); (A.S.); (C.D.); (P.M.); (E.M.); (S.A.)
| | - Elisabetta Muntoni
- . Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, 10125 Turin, Italy; (L.B.); (A.S.); (C.D.); (P.M.); (E.M.); (S.A.)
| | - Silvia Arpicco
- . Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, 10125 Turin, Italy; (L.B.); (A.S.); (C.D.); (P.M.); (E.M.); (S.A.)
| | - Roberta Cavalli
- . Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Torino, 10125 Turin, Italy; (L.B.); (A.S.); (C.D.); (P.M.); (E.M.); (S.A.)
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3
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Kadrmas JL, Beckerle MC, Yoshigi M. Genetic analyses in mouse fibroblast and melanoma cells demonstrate novel roles for PDGF-AB ligand and PDGF receptor alpha. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19303. [PMID: 33168840 PMCID: PMC7653911 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75774-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Platelet Derived Growth Factor Receptor (PDGFR) signaling is a central mitogenic pathway in development, as well as tissue repair and homeostasis. The rules governing the binding of PDGF ligand to the receptor to produce activation and downstream signaling have been well defined over the last several decades. In cultured cells after a period of serum deprivation, treatment with PDGF leads to the rapid formation of dramatic, actin-rich Circular Dorsal Ruffles (CDRs). Using CDRs as a robust visual readout of early PDGFR signaling, we have identified several contradictory elements in the widely accepted model of PDGF activity. Employing CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to disrupt the Pdgfra gene in two different murine cell lines, we show that in addition to the widely accepted function for PDGFR-beta in CDR formation, PDGFR-alpha is also clearly capable of eliciting CDRs. Moreover, we demonstrate activity for heterodimeric PDGF-AB ligand in the vigorous activation of PDGFR-beta homodimers to produce CDRs. These findings are key to a more complete understanding of PDGF ligand-receptor interactions and their downstream signaling consequences. This knowledge will allow for more rigorous experimental design in future studies of PDGFR signaling and its contributions to development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie L Kadrmas
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA. .,Department of Oncological Sciences, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
| | - Mary C Beckerle
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA. .,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
| | - Masaaki Yoshigi
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
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4
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Grigore F, Yang H, Hanson ND, VanBrocklin MW, Sarver AL, Robinson JP. BRAF inhibition in melanoma is associated with the dysregulation of histone methylation and histone methyltransferases. Neoplasia 2020; 22:376-389. [PMID: 32629178 PMCID: PMC7338995 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2020.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of mutant BRAF inhibitors has improved the outcome for melanoma patients with BRAFV600E mutations. Although the initial response to these inhibitors can be dramatic, sometimes resulting in complete tumor regression, the majority of melanomas become resistant. To study resistance to BRAF inhibition, we developed a novel mouse model of melanoma using a tetracycline/doxycycline-regulated system that permits control of mutant BRAF expression. Treatment with doxycycline leads to loss of mutant BRAF expression and tumor regression, but tumors recur after a prolonged period of response to treatment. Vemurafenib, encorafenib and dabrafenib induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in BRAF melanoma cell lines; however, a residual population of tumor cells survive. Comparing gene expression in human cell lines and mouse tumors can assist with the identification of novel mechanisms of resistance. Accordingly, we conducted RNA sequencing analysis and immunoblotting on untreated and doxycycline-treated dormant mouse melanomas and human mutant BRAF melanoma cell lines treated with 2 μM vemurafenib for 20 days. We found conserved expression changes in histone methyltransferase genes ASH2, EZH2, PRMT5, SUV39H1, SUV39H2, and SYMD2 in P-ERK low, p-38 high melanoma cells following prolonged BRAF inhibition. Quantitative mass spectrometry, determined a corresponding reduction in histone Lys9 and Lys27 methylation and increase in Lys36 methylation in melanoma cell lines treated with 2 μM vemurafenib for 20 days. Thus, these changes as are part of the initiate response to BRAF inhibition and likely contribute to the survival of melanoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florina Grigore
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, 801 16th Avenue NE, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Hana Yang
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, 801 16th Avenue NE, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Nicholas D Hanson
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, 801 16th Avenue NE, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Matthew W VanBrocklin
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA; Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Aaron L Sarver
- Masonic Cancer Center, 2231 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN 5545, USA; Institute for Health Informatics, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - James P Robinson
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, 801 16th Avenue NE, Austin, MN 55912, USA; Masonic Cancer Center, 2231 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN 5545, USA.
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5
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Richards JR, Yoo JH, Shin D, Odelberg SJ. Mouse models of uveal melanoma: Strengths, weaknesses, and future directions. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2020; 33:264-278. [PMID: 31880399 PMCID: PMC7065156 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Uveal melanoma is the most common primary malignancy of the eye, and a number of discoveries in the last decade have led to a more thorough molecular characterization of this cancer. However, the prognosis remains dismal for patients with metastases, and there is an urgent need to identify treatments that are effective for this stage of disease. Animal models are important tools for preclinical studies of uveal melanoma. A variety of models exist, and they have specific advantages, disadvantages, and applications. In this review article, these differences are explored in detail, and ideas for new models that might overcome current challenges are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson R. Richards
- Department of Oncological SciencesUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUTUSA
- Program in Molecular MedicineUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUTUSA
| | - Jae Hyuk Yoo
- Program in Molecular MedicineUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUTUSA
| | - Donghan Shin
- Program in Molecular MedicineUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUTUSA
| | - Shannon J. Odelberg
- Program in Molecular MedicineUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUTUSA
- Department of Internal MedicineDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUTUSA
- Department of Neurobiology and AnatomyUniversity of UtahSalt Lake CityUTUSA
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6
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Kircher DA, Trombetti KA, Silvis MR, Parkman GL, Fischer GM, Angel SN, Stehn CM, Strain SC, Grossmann AH, Duffy KL, Boucher KM, McMahon M, Davies MA, Mendoza MC, VanBrocklin MW, Holmen SL. AKT1 E17K Activates Focal Adhesion Kinase and Promotes Melanoma Brain Metastasis. Mol Cancer Res 2019; 17:1787-1800. [PMID: 31138602 PMCID: PMC6726552 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-18-1372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Alterations in the PI3K/AKT pathway occur in up to 70% of melanomas and are associated with disease progression. The three AKT paralogs are highly conserved but data suggest they have distinct functions. Activating mutations of AKT1 and AKT3 occur in human melanoma but their role in melanoma formation and metastasis remains unclear. Using an established melanoma mouse model, we evaluated E17K, E40K, and Q79K mutations in AKT1, AKT2, and AKT3 and show that mice harboring tumors expressing AKT1E17K had the highest incidence of brain metastasis and lowest mean survival. Tumors expressing AKT1E17K displayed elevated levels of focal adhesion factors and enhanced phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). AKT1E17K expression in melanoma cells increased invasion and this was reduced by pharmacologic inhibition of either AKT or FAK. These data suggest that the different AKT paralogs have distinct roles in melanoma brain metastasis and that AKT and FAK may be promising therapeutic targets. IMPLICATIONS: This study suggests that AKT1E17K promotes melanoma brain metastasis through activation of FAK and provides a rationale for the therapeutic targeting of AKT and/or FAK to reduce melanoma metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Kircher
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Kirby A Trombetti
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Mark R Silvis
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Gennie L Parkman
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Grant M Fischer
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Stephanie N Angel
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Christopher M Stehn
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Sean C Strain
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Allie H Grossmann
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- ARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Keith L Duffy
- Department of Dermatology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Kenneth M Boucher
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Martin McMahon
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Department of Dermatology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Michael A Davies
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Michelle C Mendoza
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Matthew W VanBrocklin
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Sheri L Holmen
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
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7
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Yoo JH, Brady SW, Acosta-Alvarez L, Rogers A, Peng J, Sorensen LK, Wolff RK, Mleynek T, Shin D, Rich CP, Kircher DA, Bild A, Odelberg SJ, Li DY, Holmen SL, Grossmann AH. The Small GTPase ARF6 Activates PI3K in Melanoma to Induce a Prometastatic State. Cancer Res 2019; 79:2892-2908. [PMID: 31048499 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-3026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma has an unusual capacity to spread in early-stage disease, prompting aggressive clinical intervention in very thin primary tumors. Despite these proactive efforts, patients with low-risk, low-stage disease can still develop metastasis, indicating the presence of permissive cues for distant spread. Here, we show that constitutive activation of the small GTPase ARF6 (ARF6Q67L) is sufficient to accelerate metastasis in mice with BRAFV600E/Cdkn2aNULL melanoma at a similar incidence and severity to Pten loss, a major driver of PI3K activation and melanoma metastasis. ARF6Q67L promoted spontaneous metastasis from significantly smaller primary tumors than PTENNULL, implying an enhanced ability of ARF6-GTP to drive distant spread. ARF6 activation increased lung colonization from circulating melanoma cells, suggesting that the prometastatic function of ARF6 extends to late steps in metastasis. Unexpectedly, ARF6Q67L tumors showed upregulation of Pik3r1 expression, which encodes the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3K. Tumor cells expressing ARF6Q67L displayed increased PI3K protein levels and activity, enhanced PI3K distribution to cellular protrusions, and increased AKT activation in invadopodia. ARF6 is necessary and sufficient for activation of both PI3K and AKT, and PI3K and AKT are necessary for ARF6-mediated invasion. We provide evidence for aberrant ARF6 activation in human melanoma samples, which is associated with reduced survival. Our work reveals a previously unknown ARF6-PI3K-AKT proinvasive pathway, it demonstrates a critical role for ARF6 in multiple steps of the metastatic cascade, and it illuminates how melanoma cells can acquire an early metastatic phenotype in patients. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings reveal a prometastatic role for ARF6 independent of tumor growth, which may help explain how melanoma spreads distantly from thin, early-stage primary tumors.Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/79/11/2892/F1.large.jpg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Hyuk Yoo
- Department of Medicine, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Samuel W Brady
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | | | - Aaron Rogers
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Jingfu Peng
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Lise K Sorensen
- Department of Medicine, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Roger K Wolff
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Tara Mleynek
- Department of Medicine, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Donghan Shin
- Department of Medicine, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Coulson P Rich
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - David A Kircher
- Department of Oncological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Andrea Bild
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Oncological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Monrovia, California
| | - Shannon J Odelberg
- Department of Medicine, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Dean Y Li
- Department of Medicine, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Sheri L Holmen
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Oncological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Allie H Grossmann
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. .,Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah.,ARUP Laboratories, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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8
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Sarasamma S, Lai YH, Liang ST, Liu K, Hsiao CD. The Power of Fish Models to Elucidate Skin Cancer Pathogenesis and Impact the Discovery of New Therapeutic Opportunities. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E3929. [PMID: 30544544 PMCID: PMC6321611 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal models play important roles in investigating the pathobiology of cancer, identifying relevant pathways, and developing novel therapeutic tools. Despite rapid progress in the understanding of disease mechanisms and technological advancement in drug discovery, negative trial outcomes are the most frequent incidences during a Phase III trial. Skin cancer is a potential life-threatening disease in humans and might be medically futile when tumors metastasize. This explains the low success rate of melanoma therapy amongst other malignancies. In the past decades, a number of skin cancer models in fish that showed a parallel development to the disease in humans have provided important insights into the fundamental biology of skin cancer and future treatment methods. With the diversity and breadth of advanced molecular genetic tools available in fish biology, fish skin cancer models will continue to be refined and expanded to keep pace with the rapid development of skin cancer research. This review begins with a brief introduction of molecular characteristics of skin cancers, followed by an overview of teleost models that have been used in the last decades in melanoma research. Next, we will detail the importance of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) animal model and other emerging fish models including platyfish (Xiphophorus sp.), and medaka (Oryzias latipes) in future cutaneous malignancy studies. The last part of this review provides the recent development and genome editing applications of skin cancer models in zebrafish and the progress in small molecule screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreeja Sarasamma
- Department of Chemistry, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 32023, Taiwan.
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 32023, Taiwan.
| | - Yu-Heng Lai
- Department of Chemistry, Chinese Culture University, Taipei 11114, Taiwan.
| | - Sung-Tzu Liang
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 32023, Taiwan.
| | - Kechun Liu
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250103, China.
| | - Chung-Der Hsiao
- Department of Chemistry, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 32023, Taiwan.
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 32023, Taiwan.
- Taiwan Center for Biomedical Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 32023, Taiwan.
- Center for Nanotechnology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 32023, Taiwan.
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9
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Yu Y, Schleich K, Yue B, Ji S, Lohneis P, Kemper K, Silvis MR, Qutob N, van Rooijen E, Werner-Klein M, Li L, Dhawan D, Meierjohann S, Reimann M, Elkahloun A, Treitschke S, Dörken B, Speck C, Mallette FA, Zon LI, Holmen SL, Peeper DS, Samuels Y, Schmitt CA, Lee S. Targeting the Senescence-Overriding Cooperative Activity of Structurally Unrelated H3K9 Demethylases in Melanoma. Cancer Cell 2018; 33:322-336.e8. [PMID: 29438700 PMCID: PMC5977991 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2015] [Revised: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Oncogene-induced senescence, e.g., in melanocytic nevi, terminates the expansion of pre-malignant cells via transcriptional silencing of proliferation-related genes due to decoration of their promoters with repressive trimethylated histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) marks. We show here that structurally distinct H3K9-active demethylases-the lysine-specific demethylase-1 (LSD1) and several Jumonji C domain-containing moieties (such as JMJD2C)-disable senescence and permit Ras/Braf-evoked transformation. In mouse and zebrafish models, enforced LSD1 or JMJD2C expression promoted Braf-V600E-driven melanomagenesis. A large subset of established melanoma cell lines and primary human melanoma samples presented with a collective upregulation of related and unrelated H3K9 demethylase activities, whose targeted inhibition restored senescence, even in Braf inhibitor-resistant melanomas, evoked secondary immune effects and controlled tumor growth in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Yu
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kolja Schleich
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medical Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Virchow Campus, and Molekulares Krebsforschungszentrum, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bin Yue
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medical Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Virchow Campus, and Molekulares Krebsforschungszentrum, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sujuan Ji
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medical Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Virchow Campus, and Molekulares Krebsforschungszentrum, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Lohneis
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Pathology, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kristel Kemper
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mark R Silvis
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center & Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Nouar Qutob
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Ellen van Rooijen
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stem Cell Program and the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Melanie Werner-Klein
- Regensburg Center for Interventional Immunology (RCI) and University Medical Center of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany; Experimental Medicine and Therapy Research, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lianjie Li
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medical Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Virchow Campus, and Molekulares Krebsforschungszentrum, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dhriti Dhawan
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medical Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Virchow Campus, and Molekulares Krebsforschungszentrum, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Svenja Meierjohann
- University of Würzburg, Physiological Chemistry, Biocenter, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Maurice Reimann
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medical Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Virchow Campus, and Molekulares Krebsforschungszentrum, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Abdel Elkahloun
- National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Steffi Treitschke
- Fraunhofer-Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Dörken
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medical Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Virchow Campus, and Molekulares Krebsforschungszentrum, 13353 Berlin, Germany; Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (German Cancer Consortium), Partner Site Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Speck
- Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, and MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Frédérick A Mallette
- Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada
| | - Leonard I Zon
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stem Cell Program and the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Sheri L Holmen
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center & Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Daniel S Peeper
- Division of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yardena Samuels
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Clemens A Schmitt
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medical Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Virchow Campus, and Molekulares Krebsforschungszentrum, 13353 Berlin, Germany; Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (German Cancer Consortium), Partner Site Berlin, Germany.
| | - Soyoung Lee
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Medical Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Virchow Campus, and Molekulares Krebsforschungszentrum, 13353 Berlin, Germany; Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (German Cancer Consortium), Partner Site Berlin, Germany
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10
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Robinson JP, Rebecca VW, Kircher DA, Silvis MR, Smalley I, Gibney GT, Lastwika KJ, Chen G, Davies MA, Grossman D, Smalley KS, Holmen SL, VanBrocklin MW. Resistance mechanisms to genetic suppression of mutant NRAS in melanoma. Melanoma Res 2017; 27:545-557. [PMID: 29076949 PMCID: PMC5683096 DOI: 10.1097/cmr.0000000000000403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Targeted therapies have revolutionized cancer care, but the development of resistance remains a challenge in the clinic. To identify rational targets for combination strategies, we used an established melanoma mouse model and selected for resistant tumors following genetic suppression of NRAS expression. Complete tumor regression was observed in all mice, but 40% of tumors recurred. Analysis of resistant tumors showed that the most common mechanism of resistance was overexpression and activation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Interestingly, the most commonly overexpressed RTK was Met and inhibition of Met overcame NRAS resistance in this context. Analysis of NRAS mutant human melanoma cells showed enhanced efficacy of cytotoxicity with combined RTK and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibition. In this study, we establish the importance of adaptive RTK signaling in the escape of NRAS mutant melanoma from inhibition of RAS and provide the rationale for combined blockade of RAS and RTK signaling in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vito W. Rebecca
- Department of Medicine and Abramson Cancer Center; University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - David A. Kircher
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Mark R. Silvis
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Inna Smalley
- Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Geoffrey T. Gibney
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington DC, USA
| | - Kristin J. Lastwika
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Guo Chen
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael A. Davies
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Douglas Grossman
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Dermatology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Keiran S.M. Smalley
- Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Sheri L. Holmen
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Matthew W. VanBrocklin
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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11
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Pérez-Guijarro E, Day CP, Merlino G, Zaidi MR. Genetically engineered mouse models of melanoma. Cancer 2017; 123:2089-2103. [PMID: 28543694 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.30684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2017] [Revised: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 02/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is a complex disease that exhibits highly heterogeneous etiological, histopathological, and genetic features, as well as therapeutic responses. Genetically engineered mouse (GEM) models provide powerful tools to unravel the molecular mechanisms critical for melanoma development and drug resistance. Here, we expound briefly the basis of the mouse modeling design, the available technology for genetic engineering, and the aspects influencing the use of GEMs to model melanoma. Furthermore, we describe in detail the currently available GEM models of melanoma. Cancer 2017;123:2089-103. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Pérez-Guijarro
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Chi-Ping Day
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Glenn Merlino
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - M Raza Zaidi
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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12
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Activated MEK cooperates with Cdkn2a and Pten loss to promote the development and maintenance of melanoma. Oncogene 2017; 36:3842-3851. [PMID: 28263969 PMCID: PMC5501768 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2016.526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Revised: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The development of targeted inhibitors, vemurafenib and dabrafenib, has led to improved clinical outcome for melanoma patients with BRAFV600E mutations. Although the initial response to these inhibitors can be dramatic, sometimes causing complete tumor regression, the majority of melanomas eventually become resistant. Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) mutations are found in primary melanomas and frequently reported in BRAF melanomas that develop resistance to targeted therapy; however, melanoma is a molecularly heterogeneous cancer, and which mutations are drivers and which are passengers remains to be determined. In this study, we demonstrate that in BRAFV600E melanoma cell lines, activating MEK mutations drive resistance and contribute to suboptimal growth of melanoma cells following the withdrawal of BRAF inhibition. In this manner, the cells are drug-addicted, suggesting that melanoma cells evolve a ‘just right’ level of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and the additive effects of MEK and BRAF mutations are counterproductive. We also used a novel mouse model of melanoma to demonstrate that several of these MEK mutants promote the development, growth and maintenance of melanoma in vivo in the context of Cdkn2a and Pten loss. By utilizing a genetic approach to control mutant MEK expression in vivo, we were able to induce tumor regression and significantly increase survival; however, after a long latency, all tumors subsequently became resistant. These data suggest that resistance to BRAF or MEK inhibitors is probably inevitable, and novel therapeutic approaches are needed to target dormant tumors.
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13
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Deken MA, Song JY, Gadiot J, Bins AD, Kroon P, Verbrugge I, Blank CU. Dermal Delivery of Constructs Encoding Cre Recombinase to Induce Skin Tumors in Pten LoxP/LoxP;Braf CA/+ Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17122149. [PMID: 27999416 PMCID: PMC5187949 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17122149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Revised: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Current genetically-engineered mouse melanoma models are often based on Tyr::CreERT2-controlled MAPK pathway activation by the BRAFV600E mutation and PI3K pathway activation by loss of PTEN. The major drawback of these models is the occurrence of spontaneous tumors caused by leakiness of the Tyr::CreERT2 system, hampering long-term experiments. To address this problem, we investigated several approaches to optimally provide local delivery of Cre recombinase, including injection of lentiviral particles, DNA tattoo administration and particle-mediated gene transfer, to induce melanomas in PtenLoxP/LoxP;BrafCA/+ mice lacking the Tyr::CreERT2 allele. We found that dermal delivery of the Cre recombinase gene under the control of a non-specific CAG promoter induced the formation of melanomas, but also keratoacanthoma and squamous cell carcinomas. Delivery of Cre recombinase DNA under the control of melanocyte-specific promoters in PtenLoxP/LoxP;BrafCA/+ mice resulted in sole melanoma induction. The growth rate and histological features of the induced tumors were similar to 4-hydroxytamoxifen-induced tumors in Tyr::CreERT2;PtenLoxP/LoxP;BrafCA/+ mice, while the onset of spontaneous tumors was prevented completely. These novel induction methods will allow long-term experiments in mouse models of skin malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel A Deken
- Department of Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Ji-Ying Song
- Department of Experimental Animal Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Jules Gadiot
- Department of Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Adriaan D Bins
- Division of Medical Oncology, Academic Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Paula Kroon
- Department of Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Inge Verbrugge
- Department of Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Christian U Blank
- Department of Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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14
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Meeth K, Wang JX, Micevic G, Damsky W, Bosenberg MW. The YUMM lines: a series of congenic mouse melanoma cell lines with defined genetic alterations. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2016; 29:590-7. [PMID: 27287723 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The remarkable success of immune therapies emphasizes the need for immune-competent cancer models. Elegant genetically engineered mouse models of a variety of cancers have been established, but their effective use is limited by cost and difficulties in rapidly generating experimental data. Some mouse cancer cell lines are transplantable to immunocompetent host mice and have been utilized extensively to study cancer immunology. Here, we describe the Yale University Mouse Melanoma (YUMM) lines, a comprehensive system of mouse melanoma cell lines that are syngeneic to C57BL/6, have well-defined human-relevant driver mutations, and are genomically stable. This will be a useful tool for the study of tumor immunology and genotype-specific cancer biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina Meeth
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jake Xiao Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Goran Micevic
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - William Damsky
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Marcus W Bosenberg
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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15
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Cho JH, Robinson JP, Arave RA, Burnett WJ, Kircher DA, Chen G, Davies MA, Grossmann AH, VanBrocklin MW, McMahon M, Holmen SL. AKT1 Activation Promotes Development of Melanoma Metastases. Cell Rep 2015; 13:898-905. [PMID: 26565903 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.09.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Revised: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastases are the major cause of melanoma-related mortality. Previous studies implicating aberrant AKT signaling in human melanoma metastases led us to evaluate the effect of activated AKT1 expression in non-metastatic BRAF(V600E)/Cdkn2a(Null) mouse melanomas in vivo. Expression of activated AKT1 resulted in highly metastatic melanomas with lung and brain metastases in 67% and 17% of our mice, respectively. Silencing of PTEN in BRAF(V600E)/Cdkn2a(Null) melanomas cooperated with activated AKT1, resulting in decreased tumor latency and the development of lung and brain metastases in nearly 80% of tumor-bearing mice. These data demonstrate that AKT1 activation is sufficient to elicit lung and brain metastases in this context and reveal that activation of AKT1 is distinct from PTEN silencing in metastatic melanoma progression. These findings advance our knowledge of the mechanisms driving melanoma metastasis and may provide valuable insights for clinical management of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph H Cho
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - James P Robinson
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
| | - Rowan A Arave
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - William J Burnett
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - David A Kircher
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Guo Chen
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michael A Davies
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Allie H Grossmann
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Matthew W VanBrocklin
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Martin McMahon
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Sheri L Holmen
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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16
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Kuzu OF, Nguyen FD, Noory MA, Sharma A. Current State of Animal (Mouse) Modeling in Melanoma Research. CANCER GROWTH AND METASTASIS 2015; 8:81-94. [PMID: 26483610 PMCID: PMC4597587 DOI: 10.4137/cgm.s21214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Revised: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite the considerable progress in understanding the biology of human cancer and technological advancement in drug discovery, treatment failure remains an inevitable outcome for most cancer patients with advanced diseases, including melanoma. Despite FDA-approved BRAF-targeted therapies for advanced stage melanoma showed a great deal of promise, development of rapid resistance limits the success. Hence, the overall success rate of melanoma therapy still remains to be one of the worst compared to other malignancies. Advancement of next-generation sequencing technology allowed better identification of alterations that trigger melanoma development. As development of successful therapies strongly depends on clinically relevant preclinical models, together with the new findings, more advanced melanoma models have been generated. In this article, besides traditional mouse models of melanoma, we will discuss recent ones, such as patient-derived tumor xenografts, topically inducible BRAF mouse model and RCAS/TVA-based model, and their advantages as well as limitations. Although mouse models of melanoma are often criticized as poor predictors of whether an experimental drug would be an effective treatment, development of new and more relevant models could circumvent this problem in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omer F Kuzu
- Department of Pharmacology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Felix D Nguyen
- The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mohammad A Noory
- Department of Pharmacology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Arati Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
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17
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Sex disparities in melanoma outcomes: The role of biology. Arch Biochem Biophys 2014; 563:42-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2014.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2014] [Revised: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 06/18/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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18
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Burd CE, Liu W, Huynh MV, Waqas MA, Gillahan JE, Clark KS, Fu K, Martin BL, Jeck WR, Souroullas GP, Darr DB, Zedek DC, Miley MJ, Baguley BC, Campbell SL, Sharpless NE. Mutation-specific RAS oncogenicity explains NRAS codon 61 selection in melanoma. Cancer Discov 2014; 4:1418-29. [PMID: 25252692 PMCID: PMC4258185 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-14-0729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED NRAS mutation at codons 12, 13, or 61 is associated with transformation; yet, in melanoma, such alterations are nearly exclusive to codon 61. Here, we compared the melanoma susceptibility of an NrasQ61R knock-in allele to similarly designed KrasG12D and NrasG12D alleles. With concomitant p16INK4a inactivation, KrasG12D or NrasQ61R expression efficiently promoted melanoma in vivo, whereas NrasG12D did not. In addition, NrasQ61R mutation potently cooperated with Lkb1/Stk11 loss to induce highly metastatic disease. Functional comparisons of NrasQ61R and NrasG12D revealed little difference in the ability of these proteins to engage PI3K or RAF. Instead, NrasQ61R showed enhanced nucleotide binding, decreased intrinsic GTPase activity, and increased stability when compared with NrasG12D. This work identifies a faithful model of human NRAS-mutant melanoma, and suggests that the increased melanomagenecity of NrasQ61R over NrasG12D is due to heightened abundance of the active, GTP-bound form rather than differences in the engagement of downstream effector pathways. SIGNIFICANCE This work explains the curious predominance in human melanoma of mutations of codon 61 of NRAS over other oncogenic NRAS mutations. Using conditional "knock-in" mouse models, we show that physiologic expression of NRASQ61R, but not NRASG12D, drives melanoma formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christin E Burd
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Wenjin Liu
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Minh V Huynh
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Meriam A Waqas
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - James E Gillahan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Kelly S Clark
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Kailing Fu
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Brit L Martin
- Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - William R Jeck
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - George P Souroullas
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - David B Darr
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Daniel C Zedek
- Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Michael J Miley
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Bruce C Baguley
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sharon L Campbell
- The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Norman E Sharpless
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
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19
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Dubruc E, Balme B, Dijoud F, Disant F, Thomas L, Wang Q, Pissaloux D, de la Fouchardiere A. Mutated and amplifiedNRASin a subset of cutaneous melanocytic lesions with dermal spitzoid morphology: report of two pediatric cases located on the ear. J Cutan Pathol 2014; 41:866-72. [DOI: 10.1111/cup.12389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Revised: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 07/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Dubruc
- Département de Biopathologie; Centre Léon Bérard; Lyon France
| | - Brigitte Balme
- Département de Pathologie; hôpital Lyon Sud; Lyon France
| | | | | | - Luc Thomas
- Service de Dermatologie Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud; Pierre Bénite France
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1; Lyon France
| | - Qing Wang
- Département de Biopathologie; Centre Léon Bérard; Lyon France
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20
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Wang AX, Qi XY. Targeting RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling in metastatic melanoma. IUBMB Life 2013; 65:748-58. [PMID: 23893853 DOI: 10.1002/iub.1193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2013] [Revised: 05/26/2013] [Accepted: 06/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ao-Xue Wang
- Department of Dermatology; The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University; Dalian; People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Yi Qi
- Department of Dermatology; The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University; Dalian; People's Republic of China
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21
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Abstract
Melanoma is often considered one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant human cancers. It is a disease that, due to the presence of melanin pigment, was accurately diagnosed earlier than most other malignancies and that has been subjected to countless therapeutic strategies. Aside from early surgical resection, no therapeutic modality has been found to afford a high likelihood of curative outcome. However, discoveries reported in recent years have revealed a near avalanche of breakthroughs in the melanoma field-breakthroughs that span fundamental understanding of the molecular basis of the disease all the way to new therapeutic strategies that produce unquestionable clinical benefit. These discoveries have been born from the successful fruits of numerous researchers working in many-sometimes-related, although also distinct-biomedical disciplines. Discoveries of frequent mutations involving BRAF(V600E), developmental and oncogenic roles for the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) pathway, clinical efficacy of BRAF-targeted small molecules, and emerging mechanisms underlying resistance to targeted therapeutics represent just a sample of the findings that have created a striking inflection in the quest for clinically meaningful progress in the melanoma field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hensin Tsao
- Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
- The Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
| | - Lynda Chin
- Department of Genomic Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Levi A. Garraway
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - David E. Fisher
- Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
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22
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Fernandez TL, Dawson RA, Van Lonkhuyzen DR, Kimlin MG, Upton Z. A tan in a test tube -in vitro models for investigating ultraviolet radiation-induced damage in skin. Exp Dermatol 2012; 21:404-10. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2012.01485.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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23
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24
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McKinney AJ, Holmen SL. Animal models of melanoma: a somatic cell gene delivery mouse model allows rapid evaluation of genes implicated in human melanoma. CHINESE JOURNAL OF CANCER 2011; 30:153-62. [PMID: 21352692 PMCID: PMC4013311 DOI: 10.5732/cjc.011.10007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2011] [Revised: 01/10/2011] [Accepted: 01/26/2011] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The increasing incidence and mortality associated with advanced stages of melanoma are cause for concern. Few treatment options are available for advanced melanoma and the 5-year survival rate is less than 15%. Targeted therapies may revolutionize melanoma treatment by providing less toxic and more effective strategies. However, maximizing effectiveness requires further understanding of the molecular alterations that drive tumor formation, progression, and maintenance, as well as elucidating the mechanisms of resistance. Several different genetic alterations identified in human melanoma have been recapitulated in mice. This review outlines recent progress made in the development of mouse models of melanoma and summarizes what these findings reveal about the human disease. We begin with a discussion of traditional models and conclude with the recently developed RCAS/TVA somatic cell gene delivery mouse model of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea J McKinney
- Department of Drug and Target Discovery, Nevada Cancer Institute, Las Vegas, NV 89135, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- William E Damsky
- Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, 15 York Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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